Yuri Network News – December 1, 2012

December 1st, 2012

Other News

In case, you missed it yesterday, I highlight a few of the best Yuri anime and manga that has been or is about to be released in English on the Okazu 2012 Yuri Gift Guide. Please take a look!

No Straight Lines: 4 Decades of Queer Comics is destined to become a definitive book for fans of LGBT history and Western Independent comics.

Just in time for your holiday wishlist here are a couple of translated artbooks of interest:  Vertical is publishing The Queen’s Blade Visual Collection, while UDON is putting out the ROD Official Archive.

From the Yuricon Mailing List, Polish Yuri and BL manga anthology, Cold Desire, is looking for submissions.

The Entertainment Club lives up to its name as Yuru Yuri is holding yet another special event and celebration, with even more goods for fans to spend their money on.

Manga translator Ana Moreno discusses her experience with Morinaga Milk’s GIRL FRIENDS on her blog, Manga Gunkan.

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Yuri Manga

Michiru and Maya are at a breaking point. Will they part forever or find something to keep them together? Find out in Ohana Holo Holo, Volume 4. (オハナホロホロ)

The story of two girls, their cameras and burgeoning feelings continues in Kanoujo to Camera to Kanjoujo no Kisetsu. The first volume of this was surprisingly good. (彼女とカメラと彼女の季節)

Tsubomi (つぼみ), Volume 21 hits shelves in December. I’m still kind of amazed that this anthology has survived and here it is heading into its 5th year!

Hayate x Blade (はやて×ブレード 17), Volume 17 also graces our lives in December and we are that much the better for it. ^_^

No more Yuri than it ever was, but FYI  Hidamari Sketch, Volume 7 (ひだまりスケッチ) also has a December street date.

And one last “that’s still on going?” for us, Morita-san ha Mukuchi Volume 6  (森田さんは無口) came out this week. 6 volumes of one joke – admittedly funny volumes, but wow.

Ohzawa Amane’s shorts for Hirari Magazine have been collected into Kano x Kano (彼女×彼女カノカノ).

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That’s a wrap for this week!

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 »


Okazu Yuri Gift Guide 2012

November 30th, 2012

I know this season is already so chock full of pressure to buy so, I was on the fence about writing this post, but a few folks told me they read it so here we are. ^_^

This guide has little rhyme or reason, it’s not a ranking, just some suggestions for things to ask Santa for. So, here we go….

2013 is going to see a couple of good English anime releases. Whether you’re putting your gift list together for yourself or picking something out for a friend, here’s a short list of couple of things to look for!

Anime Gifts

Penguin Drum – Section 23 is releasing Ikuhara Kuniko’s newest series, Mawaru Penguindrum, in two forms, DVD and Blu-Ray.

For fans of Revolutionary Girl Utena, surrealism and/or Yuri, this series is an exploration of alternate unrealities that exist simultaneously.

This series is not especially suited for younger viewers, there are some adult scenes and childhood abuse and neglect. More importantly, it’s a non-linear story that has an ending, while never actually being resolved, which confuses people. ^_^

Sweet Blue Flowers – Nozomi/RightStuf launches its budget line with this highly anticipated series. This delightful tale of Fumi and her friend Akira and their friend as they enter high school, is quite simply one of the best Yuri stories out there.

I’ve said this many times, and I’ll continue to say it, it would have been life-changing for me if Fumi had been in existence as a role model/media representation of a young woman in love with other women when I was young.

I know RightStuf will treat this series kindly – and I’m told that pre-orders will come with an “exclusive gift” the nature of which I have no more clue to than you. We can all be surprised together. ^_^

Maria Watches Us – Meet the  Student Council of Lillian Girls’ Academy, competent Youko, trickster Sei, pot-stirrer Eriko and their younger “sisters” intense Sachiko, boyish Rei and otherworldly Shimako. The Maria-sama ga Miteru series was a gamble for RightStuf, but they’ve been really happy with the results. Now all four seasons of anime following Yumi and her adventures have gone to discount litebox. There’s never been a better time to make a gift of the Yamyurikai to someone you love. ^_^ Another RightStuf offering.

Season 1 | Season 2 | Season 3 | Season 4

Bodacious Space Pirates – Section 23 again with DVD or Blu-ray options for what was one of the most amazing dark horse anime I’ve ever seen. Who knew that a space opera anime series would exist with so little fanservice, great writing, terrific characters and Yuri!

The story of high school girl Marika’s transformation into the captain of the space pirate ship Bentenmaru is a bundle of fun.

This will absolutely be on my wish list.

Not sure what you (or your friend) actually wants to watch? Don’t worry, here’s a suggestion for that, too.

Crunchyroll Subscription – For a reasonable price, get a great deal of anime, including premieres, simulcasts, contests and extras. The perfect gift for the animevore you know.

For folks who are more readers than watchers, here’s a few suggestions:

Manga Gifts

Sailor Moon – The first 8 volumes of this manga classic are now out in English.  This is a groundbreaking series in the sense that it changed the way the world viewed girl’s manga forever. With archetypal characters, an epic romance to accompany the epic plot, and the charm of a young woman coming of age in the middle of turmoil, this series has enchanted millions. Now, in a new edition, it’s making a splash all over again. Yuri fans should read it to, at the very least, meet the Queens of Yuri, Haruka and Michiru. ^_^

Volume 1 | Volume 2 | Volume 3 | Volume 4 |
Volume 5 | Volume 6 |Volume 7 | Volume 8
with more volumes to come.

GIRL FRIENDS – Seven Seas has put out a 2-volume omnibus collection of Morinaga Milk’s series about love between Mariko and Akiko.

Volume 1 and Volume 2 were translated by the very capable Ana Moreno and are still a surprisingly realistic exploration of the first time we fall in love.

And, for a load of really excellent Yuri Manga, here’s my number one gift suggestion:

JManga Subsciption – Check out their Yuri Page to see the series they’ve already released – there is more on the way, including  favorites by Morishima Akiko, Fujieda Miyabi and more! Jmanga will make the perfect gift for any Yuri manga enthusiast.

As a bonus, I offer up one more suggestion for the folks out there who can read Japanese. I know I’m beating the drum hard for this, but really, it’s all that and a bag of chips.

Nishi UKO’s Collectors is the Yuri manga *I* have been waiting for. Life after happily-ever-after looks exactly like this and no one draws or tells it better.

Shinobu, the book collector, Takako, the fashion plate and their long-suffering friend Naomi are the most real characters I’ve ever read. I love them and I hope you will too.

I hope you find something you like on this list. Happy Yuri Holidays!

Posted in Gift Guides, GIRL FRIENDS | 1 Comment »


ALC Publishing and JManga Present Yuri Manga Sweet Blue Flowers (Aoi Hana)

November 29th, 2012

ALC Publishing and JManga announce the addition of Takako Shimura’s Sweet Blue Flowers(Aoi Hana) manga today on JManga and JManga 7!

In celebration of the release, JManga will be holding a special contest from November 29th to December 5th (PST).

Anyone who purchases the first volume of Sweet Blue Flowers during the contest period will automatically be entered to have their chance at winning an amazing gift pack of rare Sweet Blue Flowers merchandise straight from Japan!

Prizes include pins, postcards, clearfiles, even a special Sweet Blue Flowers Tote bag.

Here’s a peek at some of the goods JManga is giving away (click on image for larger picture):

In addition,any JManga7 Member (Free or Premium) who reads the preview chapter will receive a limited edition Sweet Blue Flowers digital collector’s card!

More great Yuri from JManga – we’re very proud that ALC is part of this project. ^_^

Posted in Aoi Hana/ Sweet Blue Flowers, English Manga, LGBTQ, Yuri Manga | 7 Comments »


Good Witch of the West Manga, Volume 3 (English) on JManga

November 29th, 2012

The Good Witch of the West is an 8-volume fantasy fairy tale.

Firiel is a sweet, kind, poor girl growing up in a small village away from any excitement or turmoil. Her mother is dead, but she lives with kind foster parents and her father is nearby, although he will not see or speak to her. His apprentice, Rune, has no such compunction and the two of them spend as much time as possible together. Life for Firiel is good – not perfect, but good.

Until, that is, men in black attack the village and kill most of the inhabitants. Rune manages to save Firiel, but is himself captured. Firel is plunged into an incredibly complicated plot that involves the Witch Queen of her country who is coming to the end of her power, the cutthroat competition for her position, the secret of her father’s research and the conspiracies that seek to destroy the country.

Firiel learns that she is in fact, not a poor peasant girl, but a member of the Royal Family and a contender for the throne. She is befriended by Adele. a member of the nobility,  and is enrolled in a private school for noblewomen, in order to prepare for the vicious maneuverings of court. This is all told in Volume 1 and Volume 2.

As Volume 3 opens, Firiel immediately falls foul of the Student Council, followed by one of the nuns who teach at the school, but she also makes allies and some old friends enter the school to help her, including Rune (disguised as Runette, – “yeah, this shit never gets old,” says the wife.)

To increase the Student Council’s control of Firiel, they assign a spy to her, Rosalitte. During the school festival, Rosalitte is killed in an attempt on Firiel’s life. Firiel learns that she can challenge the Student Council President to a duel at the next festival and in introduced to tall, otokoyaku-like Igraine who will instruct her in use of a sword.

It turns out that Igraine and Rosalitte were inseparable until Ravenna, president of the Student Council, split them up. Now Igraine has two grudges against Ravenna. Firiel burns with desire to defeat Ravenna and makes tremendous progress in her lessons with Igraine. When Igraine confesses that she is interested in Firiel, our heroine has already had some intimate conversations with Rune, but she accepts Igraine’s kiss.

The story is a little messy, with elements from western fairy tales integrated sloppily with fantasy tropes, but as I read Volume 3, I had to say it was actually a pretty fun read. This title was brought to my attention ages ago on the Yuricon Mailing List (thanks Craig!) but I had never actually read it before now. When JManga picked it up, I thought this a perfect opportunity to finally get around to this series. Even with the obvious pandering of Igraine’s character design, the questionable costuming sense and Rune’s inexplicable appearance, I kinda like it. It’s exactly the kind of entertainment I want to throw my money at on a digital platform.

As a bonus, the JManga Android app is getting better all the time. They’ve lost that annoying poke to turn pages, replacing it with the more conventional swipe. I’d still like to see a pinch-zoom feature, but the app is loads faster than it was at first. It has much improved – I’m so very thankful to JManga for not launching it and walking away. Their continued tweaks are much appreciated.

Ratings:

Art – About as sloppy as the plot, but about as enjoyable – 7
Story – 7
Characters- Almost despite myself I find myself typing  – 9
Yuri – 4
Service- 2

Overall – 7

Fairytale fantasy with princesses and princes galore for just about any reader. Worth a read!

Posted in English Manga | 3 Comments »


Yuri Manga: Hirari Special Girls’ School Life Anthology Houkago! (ひらり、別冊 部活女子アンソロジー ほうかご! )

November 27th, 2012

I know some of you are planning a pre-Xmas order from Amazon JP, in order to score your copy of Collectors, and I thought you might want Hirari Special Girls’ School Life Anthology Houkago (ひらり、別冊 部活女子アンソロジー ほうかご! ), too. ^_^

Let me be plain, where Collectors is the greatest Yuri manga ever published, Houkago is absolutely not. ^_^ But it definitely scratches a specific itch. From the folks who bring you Pure Yuri Anthology Hirari magazine, Houkago is a collection of one-shots by the same artists who contribute to Hirari. This means you’ll get stories by names you recognize like Morinaga Milk,  Mikuni Hachime, and Hakamada Mera, and some you might recognize, like kashmir, Hirao Auri and others.

The premise of the book is simple – school clubs.  Not all the stories are Yuri, some are just really nice stories about friendships and rivalries in school clubs. But a few are very Yuri indeed.

The story I liked best was one of the not-Yuri ones, about two goofball girls who befriend an injured, bitter and angry ex-athlete. The story was in no way Yuri, but the cheerful goofballs were refreshingly open and their happy doofusness completely changes the way Kawasaki views life. I was not previously familiar with the name Oshima Tamaki, but I’ll be looking for it now. kashmir’s story had a character who turned every scenario into a Yuri murder story. Hakamada Mera once again got to mention witches, even though her story was actually about Mah Jong. Morinaga Milk’s story about science club looked a lot like her manga about cooking club. ^_^

So, not *quite* a Yuri anthology, but I did like the  focus on clubs, which allowed the artists to trot out their own personal interests in the guise of storytelling. ^_^

So, yes, this anthology is no Collectors, (nor was it the Yuri sports anthology I eagerly await some genius editor in Japan to come up with one day, and be surprised that no one ever had come up with that idea before, because they do not use the internet) but for a solid showing by veteran Yuri and schoolgirl story artists, Houkago is a fair showing.

Overall – 8

Only one or two stories made me actively stabby, a pretty good percentage for an anthology.

Posted in Hirari, Yuri Anthology, Yuri Manga | No Comments »