Yuri Manga: Poor Poor Lips, (プアプアLIPS), Volume 1

October 15th, 2008

Every once in a while, it’s extra nice to be completely, totally, utterly wrong. In the case of Poor Poor Lips, I’m pleased to say that I was completely, totally, utterly wrong. ^_^

I’ll admit that the art style of this manga does not appeal to me. I’ll never get past the hurdle of a 21-year old being drawn like a 6 year old. (I’m clearly a minority in this.) So, when I saw the cover I was quick on the draw to say “Blecch.” But the story itself was really quite cute and for once there was actually an inkling of lesbian identity and everything!

Nako is a poverty-stricken 21 year-old in desperate need of a job. She applies for a job at a jewelry store. When shop owner Ren identifies herself as a lesbian, the competition for the position evaporates, leaving only Nako. Ren asks her if her sexual orientation will be a problem, Nako sensibly replies that she’s not interested, so she doesn’t see any problem.

The comic is a a series of 4-koma strips, and range from beating Nako’s state of poverty to death (as in the strip where she’s about to eat bread crusts for lunch and is mistaken for feeding the birds) and to Ren’s privilege and her orientation. But never in a mean way. Nako’s not entirely naive, but she’s not entirely clueful either, which makes for a nice mix of goofy silly and plain funny.

As this volume draws to a close there’s no actual relationship or anything, but Ren’s become decidedly possesive about Nako these days. They’ve both found a place in their hearts for one another in a not uncomfortable or sexual tension-y way.

This manga isn’t going to break records in sales, but if Yen Press is looking to license a 4-koma series with *actual* Yuri content, this would make a safe bet, I’m thinking.

Ratings:

Art – 6 for me, 8 for people who like the style
Story – 8
Characters – 8
Yuri – 7
Service – 4 (some bathing situations and breast jokes)

Overall – 8

This was one of three series that surprised me this time around. But it was the most pleasant surprise by far considering my assumption that it would utterly suck. ^_^

Posted in Yuri Manga | 12 Comments »


One of those things…

October 14th, 2008

I just wanted to share one of those moments of synchronicity that rule my life with you.

Seven Seas’ Afro Samurai just came out, to great acclaim. Reviewers are overwhelmingly enjoying it. Ironically and completely accidentally I am extremely good friends with three of the editors that worked on that volume.

Now, I know that doesn’t sound particularly strange, because of course I know a lot of the folks who work in the manga industry. However…these people do not work in the manga industry. And they have been my dear friends for more than 15 years – years before I became interested in anime and manga. And we met through something totally unrelated to entertainment, publishing, or anything you can probably guess. Isn’t that strange? That, of all the people in the world, Afro Samurai should land on their desk? I think it is. :-)

So, should you enjoy Afro Samurai, I want you to take a moment and think of the invisible people behind the volume, not the translators and creators, but the people who edited and proofread it, who shepherded it from manuscript to book, who did the retouching, the layout, the lettering – all the things you only notice when they are not as good as they might be. As you flip, carefree, through this manga and think how much you enjoyed it, take a moment to thank all those people for their hard work.

Since none of them read this blog, I think it’s safe to do this – thank you Meryl, Ed and Norma for all your hard work!

Posted in Now This Is Only My Opinion | No Comments »


Yuri Manga: Sasamekikoto, Volume 3 (ささめきこと)

October 13th, 2008

Today we turn our attentions once again to the trials and tribulations of Murasame Sumika, aka Sumi, and her hopeless love for her best friend forever, Ushio.

Volume 3 of Sasamekikoto (ささめきこと) begins with the advent of the school sports festival. Someone appears to be targeting Sumika in an attempt to sabotage her class’s chance at victory. As Sumi lines up for the final race, a shoo-in for her, she runs off to save a “kidnapped” Ushio. Sumi and Ushio – now in penguin costume – are happily reunited.

The school erupts in wonder at the arrival of Lotte, a cute little German girl who transfers into the school in order to experience Japanese life. Resisting Ushio’s attempts at dressing her like a doll, Lotte idolizes Sumi’s strength. In order to train Lotte in karate, Sumi picks up her own training for the first time since she met Ushio. We learn that she quit it because Ushio likes cute girls. Now back in the dojo, Sumi remember just how much she loves karate.

In trying to become strong like Sumi, Lotte over exerts herself and collapses. Ushio blames Sumi for not allowing for Lotte’s size and condition. Sumi responds that Lotte *wanted* to train hard, and likes Sumi’s size and strength – that yes, she is NOT cute. Sumi goes running out into the rain and promptly falls ill. (Once again causing me to speculate on Japan’s bacteria-endowed rains….)

Ushio comes to Sumi’s house and nurses her back to health, but pays the price and gets the cold herself. We spend a little while in Ushio’s backstory, learning how she and Sumi became friends when she transfered in, as a result of the rest of the girls in the class ostracizing her when she admitted to liking girls.

Sumi comes to visit Ushio – seeing Ushio upon the veranda, Sumi’s expression says volumes about her feelings, but Ushio runs away. Sumi bangs on the door and demands to see Ushio who, after extracting a promise that they will always be friends (despite the fact that, at this point, neither of them want to be just friends anymore) falls sobbing into Sumi’s arms.

What will happen in the exciting volume 4 of this manga? I don’t know! But I’m very much looking forward to reading more of this really quite excellent tale of best friends in love.

Ratings:

Art – 8
Story – 8
Characters – 8
Yuri – 4
Service – 5

Overall – 8

My favorite moment was watching Sumi watching Yabase Takemi fighting. The tension in her body, that desire to be out there, to test her strength against another champion…awesome. Like Lotte, I enjoy watching Sumi being not cute at all.

Posted in Ikeda Takashi, Sasamekikoto, Yuri Manga | 6 Comments »


Yuri Anime: Kaleido Star, Volume 5 (English)

October 12th, 2008

My relationship with Kaleido Star has always been one of love-hate. One moment I’m ready to put my fist through the screen, the next I’m sobbing because of the intense emotionality, and the inexpressible, if impossible, beauty of the performances.

Volume 5 (Volume 6 as a standalone, Volume 5 in the box set) of the series focuses almost exclusively on Sora and Layla. Having realized that her perfect and only true partner is Sora, Layla puts everything she is on the line to perfect the Legendary Manuever with her. Yuri’s continued attempts at being an asshole alienate everyone around him. In his final attempt at making fools of Layla and Sora, he provides them with an intensity they might not otherwise have been able to muster.

Of course, the Legendary Maneuver is perfect, magical and filled with all the unspoken things Layla and Sora can never say to one another.

No, this is not Yuri in the sense that they are in love or lovers or anything like that, but this is Yuri in the sense that the two of them have eyes only for one another. In fans’ minds and hearts, we can fill in the rest of the relationship as desired. :-)

As much as my relationship with this series is totally love-hate, I would not hesitate for a second to recommend it to another person. While there are many things in the series that I do not like, there are many moments that make this series absolutely magnificent.

Rating:

Art – 8
Story – 8
Characters – 8
Yuri – 1
Service – 2

Overall – 8

Once more I find myself thanking Ted the Awesome for sponsoring today’s review and being an Okazu superhero!

Posted in English Anime, Kaleido Star | 3 Comments »


Yuri News This Week – October 11, 2008

October 11th, 2008

Not my best week ever, that’s for sure. Yesterday, on my first day not working, I decided to catch up on yard work that had gone undone for 4 months. (Getting a lawn service in around here is like pulling teeth. My backyard is teeny and unruly and not worth their time, apparently.) Just as I finished the first thing I had to do, I landed wrong on my leg and fell with a dislocated knee. Yep. So now, instead of spending this week cleaning up the yard and house and generally setting my life in order, I’m sitting here on the sofa with my leg in a brace. Sigh. But on to better things!

Yuri Anime

Eric P writes in to let you all know that Media Blasters is releasing a Kashimashi ~ Girl Meets Girl box set. I’m glad that they are. It makes sense for short-run anime. The folks at MB tell me that other box sets are not out of the question. No promises or hints, just that it’s not out of the question for other Yuri series.

The Pre-order for the 2nd season of Maria Watches Over Us (originally titled Maria-sama ga Miteru ~ Haru) is now up on the Yuricon Shop! The second season is coming out next month. (Wonder if they’ll give us a fun freebie this time, too?)

ashi reminds us that Lyrical Nanoha Season 1 boxes are slated to come out in November. Keep your eyes open for that – and for news of the new Nanoha movie, the character designs for which have already caused controversy among people with very little else to do. lol

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Other Yuri News

Interviews are flying thick and fast these days. Catch a completely different sort of interview with me at Comics Structuralist, where I was asked questions that focused more on the sociological ramifications of Yuri than on the usual “so, how did you get into Yuri?” type things I usually get.

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Yuri Events

Once more plugging MangaNEXT where Rica Takashima will be doing an Aozora Art Project that you – yes *you* – can participate in.

Feeling Much Better Through Manga Art

There are times when we are too busy or too shy to say “thank you” or “I’m sorry” to the people who deserve to hear how we really feel. Once the moment is lost, it is usually gone forever. In “Feeling Much　Better Through Manga Art,” members of the public get a chance to turn those lost moments and unexpressed sentiments into works of art. Participants write their apologies or appreciations on life-sized dialogue balloons, and then posed for portraits by Aozora Art staff. These pictures are incorporated by Rica Takashima into unique, one-page manga book stories, thus transforming the participant into the protagonist in his or her own visual storyline, and their message into a therapeutic fusion of personal expression and contemporary art. People of all ages can use this opportunity to express a whole range of thoughts and feelings, from the poignant to the profound. So please visit Rica in the Artist Alley and make your own manga story!

Join Rica, Yuri artist Jess B, myself and the usual cast of Yuricon characters in the Artist Alley at MangaNEXT from 10/31 – 11/2 in Somerset, NJ. It’s going to be a blast. :-)

Posted in Kashimashi Girl Meets Girl, Maria-sama ga Miteru, Nanoha, Yuri Network News | 4 Comments »