Yuri Manga: Cocoon, Entwined, Volume 1 (English)

August 30th, 2019

This past winter, I took a look at Mayu, Matou, Volume 1 in Japanese which I had wanted to read before the English-language volume hit shelves. Today, I’m taking a look at the much-anticipated English-language release from Yen Press, Yuriko Hara’s Cocoon, Entwined. Volume 1.

My initial review covered the most visible of the symbols in this volume – namely, hair. More specifically, that hair chews up the scenery in nearly every panel. In my original review I said, “their hair is the main character and the people attached to that hair are merely abstractions.” which is still partly true. The characterizations of both people and place are overtly inspired by Maria-sama ga Miteru‘s Ibara no Mori, with Saeki very clearly a Sei-stand-in. Whether either Hoshimiya or Yokozawa is ultimately her Shiori or Youko, we’ll have to  stick around to learn to find out.

What I was able to enjoy this time around, is the building of a love triangle in which only one participant has any idea that they are participating. This story builds up in non-linear, almost episodic fashion and it’s easy enough to take each chapter on its own without applying it to a macro narrative, but by the final chapter, a very solid whole has been constructed. One finds that there is a backstory; histories, both institutional and personal, and a clear dynamic between the characters and the situations.

I still would caution anyone skeeved by hair as a fetish/major imagery/plot point/conflict that hair takes up a lot of space in both the narrative and on the page. But aside from that, it’s a pretty intriguing story, with solid art. I look forward to the next volume. The translation has been handled smoothly although any added Keigo formality has been stripped from the dialogue by translator Amanda Haley. It makes for a slightly more casual read in English. I feel as if I am reading by looking through a curtain of hair, but the story, I hope, will be worth it.

Ratings:

Art – 8
Story – 8
Characters – 8
Service – Hair
Yuri – 3

Overall – 8

High marks for this unique look at love and obsession at an elite girls school, the classic Yuri manga trope.

Thanks very much to Yen Press for the review copy for today’s review.

The story has grown on me, and no I will not make a stupid hair joke here. Fill one in on your own time.

Posted in English Manga, Yuri Manga | 3 Comments »


Yuri Manga: Vanilla Nonhuman x Nonhuman Yuri Anthology ( バニラ人外×人外百合アンソロジー)

August 29th, 2019

In the middle of a number of very excellent working life Yuri, I found myself facing down a manga anthology that was vastly out of my wheelhouse. Vanilla Nonhuman x Nonhuman Yuri Anthology ( バニラ人外×人外百合アンソロジー) was…not bad. It had a niceish mix of non-human as in animal girls and non-human as in supernatural.

The stories about supernatural non-humans appealed to me far more than the animal-eared girl stories, but even so, Mintarou (whose bouldering Yuri manga began in the recent issue of Comic Yuri Hime,) has a cute little story about the animals at a zoo who take on human form at night and the romance between a wombat and a Tasmanian Devil.

Likewise the love story by Nanamiya Tsugumi between a raven and a goose, I think, was kind of bittersweet.

My favorite story by Takeshima Shin (creator of Mansoufutou no Gikami Meikyuu), was also kind of creepy. A shinagami helps heal the emotional wounds of a girl who has lost her lover.

Unsurprisingly a number of the stories had very infantile art and, like the cover, paired characters I couldn’t get behind as a couple, but overall, I was able to read and enjoyed a number of the stories in this collection. So if nonhumans are your thing, this seems like a decent enough attempt at a Yuri collection of same!

Ratings:

Overall – 7

Lots of moe, a little creepy sometimes at the same time.

 

Posted in Yuri Anthology, Yuri Manga | 1 Comment »


Yuri Manga: Yuritora Jump ~ Ultra Jump Yuri Digital Anthology~, Volume 2 (ユリトラジャンプ～ウルトラジャンプ百合アンソロジー～ Vol.2)

August 28th, 2019

Last year Ultra Jump (Shonen Jump‘s older brother magazine) did an awkwardly titled Yuri anthology called Yuritora Jump.The title’s awkwardness comes from it being an “Ultra Jump” off-shoot, so  Ultora Jump ウルトラジャンプ becomes Yuritora Jump ユリトラジャンプ…yeah…, no, it doesn’t work in Japanese either and people keep making fun of it. ^_^;

I could have sworn I did a review of the volume, but don’t see it anywhere. ^_^; There wasn’t much in it I liked, except the excellent story by Hayate x Blade creator Hayashiya Shizuru-sensei. (Quick synopsis of Tanerabo manga do it! (『たねラボ manga do it』) : A manga editor asks an author for any kind of a Yuri story except isekai and the author keep proposing nothing but isekai. The proposal I liked the most was a girl asking to fight her onee-sama at a school for warriors in a series titled “Shiritsu Amazoness.” It was a fantastic mashup idea…I would love to see it for real. ^_^ This year, the Yuri Anthology by Ultra Jump magazine artists got a second volume. Generally speaking I enjoyed this much more than the first volume.

Yuritora Jump ~ Ultra Jump Yuri Digital Anthology~, Volume 2 (ユリトラジャンプ～ウルトラジャンプ百合アンソロジー～ Vol.2) is a digital comic and is available globally on Bookwalker Global for a mere 500 yen. The cover is a bit less infantile than Volume 1 and this time there are two stories which I really liked.

The first story that I want to tell you about is, again, by Hayashiya-sensei. Called “FRIDAY IS THE DAY” in English, this may well be the story I have waited all my life to read. In a gym, two women compete in a no-holds barred, brutal, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) competition, after hours. The two of them seem to be working through some kind of grudge, but as the other folks in the gym watch this increasingly violent fight, it becomes apparent that this fight is a confession of love. As the fight ends with the two women confessing their feelings, the spectators break out into applause.

This is what I mean when I say I want to read a sports manga.  Funny, as all of Hayashiya-sensei’s work is, ridiculous, violent as fuck. It was beautiful. Can I have a 8 volume series of this? Please~~~? I would be so happy.

Aoki Juntaro and Shina Yoshinao paired up to create “Italian Beef” (イタリアンビーフ) a Yakuza daughter vs Yakuza assassin story that was also a happy romance wrapped in death and destruction.

Hrm. I see to have a type.

Despite my fixation with fighting manga, there were a number of rather pleasant school girl stories. Fewer really annoyingly infantile entries. If you have $5 and can only get one of these volumes…go for this one!

Ratings:

Overall – 8

Everything is so variable, but overall, I read and enjoyed way more of this volume than the first.

Frankly, the whole thing was worth it for FRIDAY IS THE DAY.

 

Posted in Yuri Anthology, Yuri Manga | 16 Comments »


Yuri Manga: Comic Yuri Hime September 2019 ( コミック百合姫2019年9月号)

August 27th, 2019

After a lovely cover image by Shiromisakana to give this issue flavor, Takashima Eku’s “Sasayakuyouni Koi wo Uta,” an over-flowing with emotion first love story starts off Comic Yuri Hime September 2019 (コミック百合姫2019年9月号) with a good feel. It’s not ground breaking, but I really like it.

One slice-of-life high school story is followed by another, as “Tsurezure Biyori” continues. Koharu and Mafuyu share a watermelon-flavored kiss, as one does in summer.

“Hayama-sensei to Terano-sensei ha Tsukiatteiru” remains painfully adorable as date night ends up being interrupted by Hayama-sensei being a kind soul and helping a lost child.

“Kaketa Tsuki to Donuts” finally hits a jump-off point, as Uno-san starts to push back at the limitations of her “perfect” life and finds herself getting to know Satou-san better. Satou is a very honest and grounded person; she’s the kind of character we need to see more of, to teach other characters (and readers!)  to live your life, not what’s expected of you.

I skipped the next third of the magazine, straight to Ohsawa Yayoi’s “Hello, Melancholic,” which is hitting a number of buttons I had no idea I still had. I remember what it felt like to play music with others, when it all just worked. I have a particularly fond memory of a post-performance marching band jam, when were all locked out of the bad room and just played an arrangement of “My Favorite Things”…and it was just perfect. Hibiki obviously wants that for Minato and for her emotional wounds to heal… I do, too.

Oh thank the gods “Luminous Blue” did what I wanted it to do! ^_^ I was getting a little worried, but I can see that Iwami Kyouko-sensei has her characters well in hand.

“Watashi no Yuri ha Oshigoto desu!” by Miman-sensei has also finally taken the turn into the story it’s been running parallel along and fully committed and I am here for it. I am so looking forward to seeing where this goes. – and how it gets there.

This issue includes a short prose story called “Love Song wo Sakebu wake” by Suo, which is also available on Pixiv. We are definitely witnessing a shift in Yuri…

Ratings:

Overall – 9

…next issue of the magazine will include a bouldering comic; we’re seeing a foray into prose from Hayakawa publishing putting out more science fiction Yuri and LN’s from J-Novel club. Yuri is changing and that’s always a good sign of a healthy genre. ^_^

The October 2019 issue is out and we’re gonna pick it up today! I am slightly caught up for a day. ^_^

 

Posted in Comic Yuri Hime, Magazines | No Comments »


J-Novel Club Lines Up Yuri Light Novels

August 26th, 2019

This summer J-Novel club announced a number of Yuri light novels for English-language distribution.

This is the beginning of a really ambitious program, about which I spoke briefly at Otakuthon with founder Sam Pinansky (the same Sam Pinansky who started Anime Sols kickstarters for classic anime series.)

Here is a rundown of the first set of licenses, with a reminder that these are Light Novels, which generally are written to an 8th grade reading level and sensibility. While there are a few LNs that really reach above this, like the Maria-sama ga Miteru series, most are dead set in the written, reading and thinking style of 12 year-old boys. ^_^;

Here’s the full line up of this first batch, with synopses and a little light editorializing:

Sexiled: My Sexist Party Leader Kicked Me Out, So I Teamed Up With a Mythical Sorceress!

Tanya Artemiciov is a talented Mage-class adventurer who just got kicked out of her party by a sexist scumbag. So what’s a girl to do? Go to the wasteland and blow stuff up of course! One small problem though: she inadvertently frees a mythical Sorceress named Laplace who was sealed away for the past 300 years… Surprise! Turns out this so-called “wicked” Sorceress is actually pretty cool. Laplace wants to start a party of her own, Tanya wants revenge, and the solution is obvious: team up. It’s time to kick ass, kiss girls, and dismantle the patriarchy!

E: I’m mostly looking forward to this, despite having maxed out on isekai/D&D adventures in my teens, and expecting the word “boobalicious” to appear. More than once. ^_^

You know, I’m not looking for high art here, but this had better be fun! Lady, you have a sword and an evil sorceress – there had better be vengeful violence.

 

Otherside Picnic

Her first encounter with Toriko Nishina was on the Otherside after seeing “that thing” and nearly dying. Ever since that day, exhausted university student Sorawo Kamikoshi’s life changed. In this Otherworld, full of mystery, which exists alongside our own, dangerous beings like the Kunekune and Hasshaku-sama that are spoken of in real ghost stories appear. For research, for profit, and to find an important person, Toriko and Sorawo set foot into the abnormal. A tale of two girls’ bizarre exploration and survival, brought to you by an up-and-coming Sci-fi author!

E: I’m looking forward to reading this one a lot, having read the first volume of the manga. It seems to be a little more imaginative and science fiction than the others. I might save this one for last, just because I expect it to be good.

Miyazawa is not a bad writer, from the stuff I’ve already read, so consider me on board for this.

 

Side-by-Side Dreamers

Saya Hokage, a high school girl who is unable to sleep due to insomnia, encounters Hitsuji Konparu, a girl who can put anyone to sleep as a “lover” in a dream. When Hitsuji’s senpai – Ran Aizome – sees potential in Saya, she ends up joining them and their group of Sleepwalkers. As it turns out, unbeknownst to the common citizens in their town, a battle has been unfolding between the Suiju – beings that possess people’s spirits in the land of sleep – and the Sleepwalkers, who have the power to move about freely in their dreams. Sleeping together as a team, Saya and her newfound group are doing a good job hunting Suiju. That is, until an unexpected darkness comes along… Will the girls be able defend humanity’s sleep?

E: Another Miyazawa story and an interesting premise. Could be anything from okay to fantastic. I’m betting on at least “good.” ^_^

And you know what I always say about entertainment – all it has to do is be entertaining.

 

Last and First Idol

“Bye-bye, Earth! My idol activities here were so much fun!” 4th Hayakawa SF Contest Special Prize 48th Seiun Award (Japanese Short Story Division) 27th Dark Seiun Award (Guest Division) 16th Sense of Gender Award (Future Idol Award) Last and First Idol earned the first ever special prize in the Hayakawa SF Contest, and the first debut work to win the Seiun Award in 42 years! This existential widescreen yuri baroque proletariat hard sci-fi idol story has carved out a new legend in science fiction history! Also includes Evolution Girls, in which some gacha-expert friends race to find the truth of the universe, and Dark Seiyuu, a brand-new space opera about voice actors! Gengen Kusano’s astounding debut collection!

E: OMG, “yuri baroque proletariat hard sci-fi idol story”. Who wouldn’t want to read that?! I mean…and all those awards.

I guess this is going to be my first review of the bunch, just for that synopsis. Holy crap that sounds awesome.

 

Seriously Seeking Sister! Ultimate Vampire Princess Just Wants Little Sister; Plenty of Service Will Be Provided!

Long ago, on the continent of Ephenia, there existed the feared tribe of vampires called “True Bloods,” whose great strength allowed them to reign supreme over all other tribes. However, a millennium has passed, and any trace of them has vanished off the face of the planet. That is, until the youngest and most talented royal daughter of the True Bloods awakens in the modern day. Vampire Princess Ristia has only one wish—a cute little sister! Monstrously strong, skilled in magic, and incredibly beautiful, people regard her as an “angel,” but she assures everyone she’s just a normal girl. Can this “normal girl” be the elder sister she so desires? Follow this (unusual) vampire through a fanservice-filled sibling-searching fantasy adventure.

E: I tried to read this, despite the fact that every single thing about it is lined up against me liking it. ^_^;

As I read it, I had a lot of feelings. I’m currently re-reading Count of Monte Cristo in which Dumas’ grasp of and love of human nature and his humor and delight in life is so clear and wonderful. As I read Seriously Seeking Sister, a part of me wept for the me that read Madelyn Arnold’s Year of Full Moons, or Jane Rule’s Desert Hearts, back when I was young and foolish and would never had read a vampire isekai imouto-fetish story written for an audience who need to be assured that, despite her chronological age of a millennium, the main character is not-yet 18 and be told her matching bra and panty set are blue.  The translation is not adapted, it’s pretty much a literal translation and I have no doubt David Evelyn did a fine job of communicating just how not-all-that-well-written this book is.  That said, if you think a vampire isekai imouto-fetish story is up your alley, here is Yurimother’s review of it! Enjoy both review and book. I will never think less of you for enjoying something I don’t. That’s why it’s good that there is variety in the world. ^_^

 

J-Novel Club is looking to expand their Yuri offerings and, as I said, is planning an ambitious rollout, so if any of these sound good to you, give them a try! I think there’s a lot to look forward to!

Posted in Light Novel | 12 Comments »