LGBTQ: Alphabet Anthology

August 5th, 2016

ALPHABETfabricsmall-1024x1024In honor of the Prism Comics annual Queer Press Grant and to raise money for this wonderful, inclusive, friendly queer comics consortium, the folks at Prism gathered 40 popular and successful queer comics artists and built a book. Alphabet Anthology is that book.

It is…well, it’s really quite wonderful. ^_^

It celebrates  and agonizes over sexuality, gender, race and being part of a queer comic community, with all the many ways to inflict self-torture all of these can provide.

Alphabet is wry, and honest, and a little painful, sometimes. It’s snarky and funny and fun and annoying all at the same time – exactly as you’d expect with this meeting of the great queer comic minds. In fact, it’s awfully like attending a conference and sitting in on panels with these folks. You find yourself laughing-crying, sharing heartache and joy and facepalming constantly.

There are so many good comics in this book it’s impossible to call out just a few. The names in this book are names you should know in contemporary queer comics art.

So if you want a really sweet glimpse of the current state of queer comics, check out these comics by amazing comic artists like Ahri Almeida, Elizabeth Beier, Christianne Benedict, Bex, Jennifer Camper, Vi Cao, Tyler Cohen, Howard Cruse, Dave Davenport, Dylan Edwards, Tana Ford, Melanie Gillman, Diego Gomez, Soizick Jaffre, Emeric Kennard, Robert Kirby, Hanna-Pirita Lehkonen, Ed Luce, Steve MacIsaac, Hazel Newlevant, Hanna Oliver, Eric Orner, David Quantic, Carlo Quispe, Sonya Saturday, Mike Sullivan, Dax Tran-Caffee, Josh Trujillo, Kelsey Wroten, and many more!

Please excuse me a second while I kvell at the fact that I have had a chance to meet so many of these amazing, talented folks. Squee. If there is one best reason to go to comic events like SPX, Flamecon, Nijicon, Queer and Comics and the like it’s the chance to meet and speak with this extraordinary talent and all the really interesting and fun people who admire them.

You can still purchase Alphabet Anthology from Prism, and they now have it available in hardcover, which would make a stellar donation to your local or university library.

Ratings:

It’s an anthology – so everything is variable.

Overall – 10

Speaking of events, I will be at Flame Con this year, but I’m going to be just in from Europe the night before. So if you want to catch me as I fall, do drop by and look for me staggering around the new location. If you keep me upright, I’ll be giving away random crap as a reward. ^_^

 

Posted in LGBTQ, Western Comic/Comix | No Comments »


Yuri Manga: Kannazuki no Miko, Volume 1 (English)

August 1st, 2016

t_x400Well, here we are again. ^_^

In 2005, I wrote that the Japanese edition of Kannazuki no Miko manga, “is a piece of utter, plotless dreck, wrapped up in frisson of hormonal angst, senseless screaming and a rape scene that has no meaning or context.”

In 2008, I said of Tokyopop’s edition, “Why, one has to ask, if both Souma and Chikane love Himeko so much, do they allow her to be bullied, outcast and victimized instead of stepping up and claiming their friendship publicly?”

Here it is in 2016, and once again, I come face to face with my old nemesis the Kannazuki no Miko manga, this time localized by Viz Media, and made available digitally on Global Bookwalker for a mere $6, so if you have never yet read it, you can do so for the price of a fast-food lunch. Which is a good analogy for the quality you’re getting.

It may not be obvious, but I always go into watching or reading media for Okazu with the idea that I will give it a fair chance. Even this series, which has had more than it’s share of fair chances. So, yes, there I am reading Kannazuki no Miko by Kaishaku, for the third time. And for the third time, I am convinced that Kaishaku are a pair of hacks. ^_^

The story, which takes place in a town called “Magical Place” is imbued with magic and mecha. Himeko, an average student, with little to recommend her, is the object of attention for both of the school’s stars, beautiful, rich Chikane, and handsome, Souma. Both Chikane and Souma have secrets they are keeping from Himeko.

As Himeko and Chikane celebrate their 16th birthday all the secrets come to light – they are the key figures in an ancient legend of their town. Himeko is Priestess of the Sun, Chikane is Priestess of the Moon and Souma is one of the 8 necks of the fearsome Orochi, the harbingers of destruction. Souma defies his fate and decides to protect Himeko against the rest of the Orochi. If you have ever seen any of Kaishaku’s other works, several of the Orochi will be familiar to you, as they get recycled in other series, like Kyoshiro to Towa no Sora (Shattered Angels) and Zettai Shoujo Seiiki Amnesium.

Chikane too, promises to protect Himeko, but almost immediately rapes her, so not so much on the protection. There will be explanation, but we already know it will be lame. ^_^;

On the positive side, Viz has done miracles with the messy writing of the original, wrangling what I clearly remember as being almost-incoherently bad narration into something that makes sense. And the art has been reproduced so cleanly, it’s impressive, while remaining amateurish. So yay translation and cleanup/lettering folks. You deserve extra cookies for an excellent job. I thought as I read this, “Hey, I understand what’s going on! That’s never happened before with this series!”

Had the series chosen either Chikane or Souma as lead, it could have been a very interesting look at how good intentions get warped or how lying to one’s self can makes good people do terrible things, but instead we focus on baby seal Himeko, and watch, irritated and horrified, as everyone takes a whack at her.

Ratings:

Art – 6
Story – 5
Characters – 6
Yuri – 8
Service – 8

Overall – 6

As the books ends, I am left once again, thinking that this could have really been a decent story…but was clearly never designed to be one, by a team of creators for whom rape is a matter of course, and who have no particular knack for writing or art.

If you want to see how this whole series just eventually breaks down completely, check out my review of Zettai Shoujo Seiiki Amnesium in 2010.

Posted in Kannazuki no Miko | 4 Comments »


Yuri Network News – (百合ネットワークニュース) – July 30, 2016

July 30th, 2016

YNN_Lissa

Yuri Manga

Top News this week – Yen Press has announced that they’ve licensed Canno’s school-life Yuri series, Anoko ni Kiss to Shirayuri wo as A Kiss and White Lily For Her. ANN has the report.

With this and the MURCIELAGO license announcement, it’s pretty obvious that Yen is serious about getting some interesting Yuri manga in their catalog. Thanks, Yen Press folks! ^_^

From Comic Natalie, we have news that the third volume of 2DK, G Pen, Mezamashitokei by Ohsawa Yayoi will be getting special bromides with illustrations, depending on where you get your copy. Gamers, Toranoana and COMIC ZIN are participating.

Also from ANN, we see that Kodansha is planning a deluxe English edition of the Ghost in the Shell manga. Uncut, which means that one page of gratuitous lesbian sex, if that’s important to you. ^_^;

Crunchyroll News tells us that the 10th volume of the Non Non Biyori manga is being packaged with an original animation, for those of you who like that series (Greg, this one’s for you!)

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Kickstarter Watch

The Kickstarter of the Week that we really, really, really need help with is Year 4 of Sparkler Monthly! 3 days left to go and we’re so close we can taste it! Please, if you have an extra few bucks, send it their way and give this wonderful magazine another year of life! More Yuri, more BL, more voice dramas!

Yuri Anime

Also from ANN we learn that Media Blasters will be releasing Yamibou on Blu-Ray (which won’t actually help with the visuals, but will look as nice as possible, one assumes.)

ANN also reports on the agreement between Viz Media and TubiTV that will bring all 5 seasons of the original Sailor Moon anime streaming to Canada.

Crunchyroll News tells us that the second season of Smile! Precure has been licensed to Netflix – still renamed as Glitter Force.

Other News

Scott Green on Crunchyroll News has gathered some video clips from the Takarazuka shows in New York City last week. Enjoy!

One more from Crunchyroll – Kaiohsha is bringing Japanese classic literature to life as Drama CDs with well-known voice actors. What a fantastic idea, huh?

In the American comics world, Roxanne Gay is the first black, gay woman to write a comic for Marvel. Gay and Ta-Nehisi Coates are teaming up to work on a comic about two women in love in Black Panther’s kingdom of Wakanda.

We’ll finish up with some sweet news from Comic-Con, where Steven Universe creator, Rebecca Sugar came out as bisexual and spoke of the personal importance of media representation for sexual and gender minorities.

Know some cool Yuri News you want people to know about? Become a Yuri Network Correspondent by sending me any Yuri-related news you find. Emails go to anilesbocon01 at hotmail dot com. Not to the comments here, please, or they might be forgotten or missed. There’s a reason for this madness. This way I know you are a real human, not Anonymous (which I do not encourage – stand by your words with your name!) and I can send you a YNN correspondent’s badge.

Thanks to all of you – you make this a great Yuri Network!

Posted in Yuri Network News | No Comments »


Yuri Manga: Comic Yuri Hime July 2016 (コミック百合姫2016年7月号)

July 25th, 2016

Comic Yuri Hime for July 2016 (コミック百合姫2016年7月号) wasn’t as wretched as the May issue, but the divide between stories I like and the super creepy fanservice that is pretty much indefensibly vile is widening.

Looking at girl’s crotches, even fictitious, drawn, completely not-at -all real ones, when the “plot” literally has to contort itself around that, just to make it constantly possible, is still utterly repulsive to me in every possible way. And, too, I’m finding it harder and harder to tolerate Amano Shuninta’s “Ayame 14,” which might be sincerely meant, but feels just exactly like another way to pander.

“Prince Princess” wraps up with a (if you think about it too hard) bizarre affirmation that girls don’t have to be masculine if they don’t want to. Being girly is A-OK. Since that’s not usually a problem – and, in fact, the opposite is usually the problem –  it kind of fails as an analogy for inclusivity. But it’s a happy ending, so…yay?

Thankfully for me, Takemiya Jin, Ohsawa Yayoi and Kuzushiro all have continuing series. Phew. I long for the covers drawn by Kazuaki, as the entire magazine steadily falls back into the most banal and egregious moe tropes. Okay, pendulum, it’s time to swing back now!

Ratings:

Overall – 6

Thank *heavens* for Ohsawa Yayoi. She’s the only one drawing adults right now and I cling to “2DK, G Pen, Alarm Clock” like a life preserver.

Posted in Comic Yuri Hime, Yuri Manga | 6 Comments »


Takarazuka: Chicago at Lincoln Center

July 23rd, 2016

Chicago.We’re finishing up Takarazuka Week here on Okazu with the reason we started in the first place – the iconic all-female revue troupe is performing Kander and Ebb’s Chicago at Lincoln Center in New York City. There are still three shows, two today and one tomorrow and if you are near, in or can get to New York City, absolutely, definitely go see this show.

It was fantastic.

Not kitschy funny. Fantastic. The performers were stellar.

Because the group performing are all retired, (an OG group) they have a rotating cast. We saw Saki Asaji as Billy Flynn, Natsuki Mizu as Velma Kelly, Yuga Yamato as Roxie Hart, and Jun Hatsukaze as Mama Morton.

Natsuki Mizu, holy crap was she good.

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I have had a theory for years, that the dancers of Takarazuka are all exceptionally talented, but that their choreographers are just not very good. Its not that they are bad, per se, but watching them dance, using the same repertoire of moves over and over, I feel like I’m watching dancing routines created by a really talented high school student. My theory was wholly confirmed last night as the ladies of Takarazuka absolutely KILLED Bob Fosse’s choreography. And if you know anything about Fosse’s work, you know he demands a high level of physicality and sensuality from the dancers.

The New York Times article on the show had this to say:

Gary Chryst, a Broadway veteran who supervises dance for the licensed foreign shows of “Chicago,” spent a month drilling the cast before its run, which also includes several weeks of performances in Japan. Even for male roles, the “feminine” and “feline” choreography in Bob Fosse’s original staging works in Takarazuka’s favor, he said. Bringing out the musical’s cynical tone was harder. Takarazuka’s performers aren’t accustomed to playing women who blatantly “use sex to get what they want,” he said.

Takarazuka has been providing an idealized image of silver screen Hollywood in the 1920s for 100 years to audiences.  How, I wondered, would they do showing reprehensible people doing terrible things with no regret? This a story of greed and corruption and manipulation.

They did great. ^_^

After Chicago completed, to our delight, they did a retrospective revue portion, with songs and costumes that really gave you a sense of the Takarazuka’s history, with a 50s style mambo, to “Roxanne” sung by a singer in a stunning pimpin’ purple outfit, to “That’s Life” Las Vegas style and finishing up with a classic rendition of “Sumire no Hana no Sakukoro.”

But…we were going to get what we were all waiting for? YES! All three of the leads took their final bow in shiny tuxedo and feathers. The audience was obviously ready and waiting for this, because the roar was deafening.

The other thing I really wanted to pay attention to was the audience. Who was coming? What were they looking for?

What I found was a nice slice of New York life, with a lot of younger people in the audience (a lot of beautiful young people. Sheesh, New York, how do you do that?) The man sitting behind us had seen Takarazuka in the 1960s in Japan, and loved them. And for once, when I wanted desperately to jump to my feet and scream with applause, I could! That’s always so trying watching a show in Japan. They never scream wildly. But last night the audience roared with approval. It was great.

Before I wrap up here, I want to point you to a couple of amazing articles on the Lincoln Center website that you should totally read:

Portrait of a Superfan: Takarazuka Revue
Interview by Madeline Rogers

10 Things to Know about the Takarazuka Revue by Ryan Wenzel

Takarazuka: A History by Jennifer Robertson

I’ve never seen Lincoln Center put out the welcome mat in such a huge way, and New York has really jumped up with open arms and embraced Takarazuka. I hope we’ll be able to see many more shows here.

Ratings:

Everything – 10

Seriously, if you can get there today or tomorrow, get there! There are still tickets available and it is an experience of a lifetime.

I want to thank Bruce, Donna, Serge, (the original group that saw Elizabeth with me!) Rica, Sumika, James and my wife for joining me in this fantastic adventure.

I think I’ll change my motto here on Okazu, “Come for the low culture, stay for the high culture!”

Posted in Takarazuka | 5 Comments »