Yuri Manga: Pie wo Agemasho, Anata ni Pai wo ne (パイをあげましょ、あなたにぱいをね)

April 20th, 2012

Sakamoto Mano’s collection of stories that ran in Comic Yuri Hime, Pie wo Agemassho, Anata ni Pie wo ne (パイをあげましょ、あなたにパイをね) has no unifying theme besides “Women who love women.” But, there is an essence in several of these stories about perspective; that is, women who have a unique perspective are often lovable, even if they annoy the hell out of you. ^_^

In “My Unique Day”, Sorako falls for the star of her acting troupe and is a little surprised, but not displeased, to find that Miki likes her too. But Miki feels like she’s pushed Sorako too fast and distances herself. Will they patch it up and get together? Of course they will. ^-^

In the title story, Midori thinks there’s no reason at all that one can’t have a millefeuille for a wedding cake, even when her best friend Yuki scoffs, “It’s called a wedding cake, not a wedding pie.” Midori’s wacky take annoys the heck out of Yuki, but there they are, sharing a millefeuille, together.

In “Suwako-san Uchyuu Ryouko” Mikage falls for and has an affair with married woman Suwako-san and would like to take her away on a trip to the stars.

And finally, a lovely little story about two teen idols and what becomes of them years later.

Ratings:

Art – 8
Story  – Average 7
Characters – Average 8
Yuri – 10
Service – 1

Overall – 8

A solid Josei collection of Yuri stories about women, rather than school girls. I’d like to make a “pie” joke just about now, but there’s no way it isn’t going to come out filthy, so I’ll pass. ^_^

Posted in Yuri Manga | 3 Comments »


We Don’t Need No Stinking Publishers!

April 17th, 2012

This is a real conversation I had with someone recently:

Them: Why do we need publishers? We can publish without them!

Me: Who will license the book?

Them: Well, of course someone has to do that.

Me: And who will translate it?

Them: We have a translator.

Me: And don’t forget, you need a letterer and editor and layout person.

Them: Right, we can do that, too.

Me: And someone to manage the project so it makes deadlines and has quality control.

Them: Of course!

Me: And don’t forget someone to line up distribution, and you’ll need someone to do marketing.

Them: Right, yes.

Me: And, when you get all that together, you know what they call that?

Them: ….

Me: Congrats on recreating the concept of the publishing company from scratch. ^_^

***

To their credit, they got the point and were very gracious about it.

Posted in Now This Is Only My Opinion, Publishing Manga | 3 Comments »


Yuri Manga: Sasamekikoto, (ささめきこと) Volume 9

April 16th, 2012

Just about a year ago, I reviewed Octave, Volume 6. It was the final volume and of it I said, “Octave is the story I have always wanted to read.”

I say this once again, this time about Sasamekikoto, Volume 9 (ささめきこと).

The series began as a comedy, a ramshackle combination of Yuri tropes, all played for laughs and a little bittersweet drama. Slowly, but surely, it became a real story, a story that hits right in the heart of what lesbian Yuri readers want to see. What we want to see is not always about “coming out,” it’s about “becoming whole.”

And here, in the final volume, Sumi and Ushio become whole. It was a remarkable, fantastic, magnificent ending. I did not expect an ending of this caliber – I never even hoped for it. I would have been content with a “happily ever after” where we see Ushio and Sumika walk off, without having yet faced their community, their friends and their family, and we all pretend it will be all right.

I didn’t get that ending at all. Instead, miraculously, I got an ending where Ushio and Sumi face their community, their friends and their family head on and tell them that they are lovers. Good heavens, really? And still – it was funny. It was still a comedy, less bittersweet than we ever could have imagined. This is the decade Yuri has changed, irrevocably. This is the decade where Yuri becomes “any manga, anime (or related media) that shows intense emotional connection, romantic love or physical desire between women.” Just like we wanted.

I am flabbergasted. I rejoice. I celebrate.

Congratulations Sumi and Ushio – we love you.

Couldn’t have said it better myself.

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Ratings:

Art – 9
Story – 10
Characters – 10
Yuri – 10
Service – 1

Overall – 10

I can already see that 2012’s #1 slot for Yuri Manga is going to be a tough race. Awesome. ^_^

What a great ending.

Posted in Ikeda Takashi, Sasamekikoto, Yuri Manga | 11 Comments »


Live Online Yuri Panel Date and Time!

April 15th, 2012

The first-ever Live Online Yuri Panel now has a date and time. Check out the details at Yuricon for when, where and how to submit questions!

I’m really looking forward to this, and I hope you are too!

Posted in Events, Yuricon | No Comments »


Magic Knight Rayearth Anime Second Season, Disk 4 (English)

April 14th, 2012

I pride myself in watching anime without expectation and my ability to clearly, concisely separate my delusions and desires from what is actually happening on the screen. We all choose to interpret what we see differently, but sometimes the information we’re give is clearer than others. Sometimes the holes are so huge, it’s impossible for me to ignore them, regardless of what I want to be happening.

Which brings us, in an oblique way, to Magic Knight Rayearth, Volume 4 of the Second Season Complete Box Set.

In this volume Nova put a full-on passive-aggressive seduction of Hikaru because, as she says, she loves Hikaru. Well, okay, but a second earlier she told Hikaru that the reason she hated her was because Hikaru hates herself. So, having been given that piece of information, we have to conclude then that Hikaru also wants herself in a sexual way. Or, we can presume that Nova is making it up (and being inconsistent about it) or – and this is my best guess – no one told CLAMP that that made no sense.

In any case, Hiakru remembers for the 17,000th time all the people who are counting on her and manages to get her sword back and call Rayearth for the first time in a few volumes.

More interestingly Fuu defeats Princess Asuka by being calm and cool and smart and unflappable. Standing her ground when Asuka attempts to renege on a deal was a beautiful moment – as was the emotional reunion with Ferio.

Umi’s relegated to a back seat for this volume.

We do get a few moment’s with Eagle, but it looks Lantis is out of the question for him, now that we’ve been told so many times that Hikaru and Lantis are an item. Snoooze. And Debonair-sama laughs evilly for a bit.

Now that we’ve had the Nova gay moment, I doubt that I’ll review the last two volumes individually, but I’ll probably do a single wrap-up for the series as a whole. I really don’t dislike it, but it was dragging there a bit. If we can get back to the plot, I’ll be happier.

Ratings:

Art – 6
Story – 4
Characters – 6
Yuri – 5, but bleah
LoserFanBoy – 3

Overall – 7

Posted in CLAMP, English Anime | 2 Comments »