After reading the 2nd volume of VB Rose, I am once again noting how much I enjoy the work of mangaka Banri Hidaka. Her manga are not only well-written and have nicely shoujo art, but also have small (or large) ties to each other.

In the US, we have three of her series - I Hate You More Than Anyone, Tears of a Lamb, and VB Rose, her current series. CMX has the first two, while Tokyopop has the last.

However, I Hate You More Than Anyone is actually the LAST of a series she's been writing since she began (note: all her titles have run in Hana to Yume, home of Fruits Basket, and in fact she and Takaya are friends).

The first is 365-nichi no Koibito, which is a series of short stories involving the Akiyoshi family. Of note, the oldest, Kazuha, is portrayed as a sensible, advice-giving eldest daughter already out in the world - in other words, these stories take place long AFTER I Hate You More Than Anyone, where teenage Kazuha is the star. IHYMTA was written last in the series.

After that is Owaranai Koi no Tame ni, which is still just one volume, but does have one story running through most of the volume. Ari no Mama no Kimi de Ite is the 3rd, one full volume this time, dealing with sister Megumi. Another 1-volume follows, Uta wo Kitasete.

After all those attempts to have a hit series, she finally gets one with I Hate You More Than Anyone, which is 13 volumes. As I noted, it's chronologically first, but written last, and features most of the family members we know from before, at much younger ages. (Of course, none of these are scanlated, so US fans are basically out in the cold. Including me. ^^;;)

After that she wrote Tears of a Lamb, which is 7 volumes, and which startlingly doesn't feature any ties to the previous volumes (at least not in what I've read so far). Her current series, VB Rose, is running in Hana to Yume atm, and is up to 12 volumes to date.

The reason I bring this all up is that in Volume 2 of VB Rose, we meet some friends of Mamoru, who is the BFF of the heroine (despite her masculine name) and essentially the Hanajima of the series. These friends include Rei, who looks very familiar... yup, it's one of the Akiyoshi family! He's older and snarkier than the little boy from IHYMTA, certainly.

Japanese readers, who get to read Hana to Yume every week, likely get far more out of this than we do. XD In any case, it's fun reading her work, and I do recommend it.

Ah, time to breathe out. A much lighter week. Note that next week's list will be quite late, as I'll be up at AN.

ANIME WORKS:
Gorgeous Life of Strawberry-chan Vol. 1. Shoujo. Biblos, serialization unknown, 1999.
Eiken Vol. 10. Shonen. Akita Shoten, serialized in Shonen Champion since 2001.

DC/CMX:
Venus in Love Vol. 3. Shoujo. Hakusensha, serialized in LaLa since 1999.
Two Flowers for the Dragon Vol. 1. Shoujo. Hakusensha, serialized in LaLa since 2006.
Swan Vol. 13. Shoujo. Shueisha, serialized in Margaret since 1976.
Dokkoida?! Vol. 2. Shonen. Mediaworks, serialized in Dengeki Comic GAO! since 2000.

DEL REY:
Yozakura Quartet Vol. 2. Shonen. Kodansha, serialized in Shonen Sirius since 2006.
Shugo Chara Vol. 4. Shoujo. Kodansha, serialized in Nakayoshi since 2006.
Psycho Busters Vol. 3. Shonen. Kodansha, serialized in Magazine Special since 2006.
Mamotte! Lollipop Vol. 6. Shoujo. Kodansha, serialized in Nakayoshi since 2002.
Haridama Magical Cram School Vol. 1. Shonen. Kodansha, serialized in Shonen Sirius since 2005.
Maid Machinegun. This is a short novel, merely noted because the title is lol.

VIZ:
Kekkaishi Vol. 13. Shonen. Shogakukan, serialized in Shonen Sunday since 2003.
Case Closed Vol. 23. Shonen. Shogakukan, serialized in Shonen Sunday since 1994.
and Shojo Beat.

YEN PRESS:
Sundome Vol. 2. Seinen. Akita Shoten, serialized in Young Champion since 2006.


What to get this week? Strawberry-chan is a cute (and short, just 2 volumes) series from the Heavenly Hockey Club/Your & My Secret mangaka. CMX has some nice flowery romance shoujo for you, while Del Rey has some cutesy kiddy romance shoujo. And... no, avoid Sundome. So, to sum up, light week.

The Muppet Show: Season 3 is out on DVD next week. We've gotten our first review, and it would seem that the episodes are uncut once more. :D

We get some nice extras here. The 1968 documentary Muppets on Puppets, hosted by Jim Henson and Rowlf the Dog. Several modern-day interviews with the puppeteers. Some old ads with Rowlf for Purina Dog Chow.

And the following episodes:

* Episode 301: Kris Kristofferson & Rita Coolidge
* Episode 302: Leo Sayer
* Episode 303: Roy Clark
* Episode 304: Gilda Radner
* Episode 305: Pearl Bailey
* Episode 306: Jean Stapleton
* Episode 307: Alice Cooper
* Episode 308: Loretta Lynn
* Episode 309: Liberace
* Episode 310: Marisa Berenson
* Episode 311: Raquel Welch
* Episode 312: James Coco
* Episode 313: Helen Reddy
* Episode 314: Harry Belafonte
* Episode 315: Lesley Ann Warren
* Episode 316: Danny Kaye
* Episode 317: Spike Milligan
* Episode 318: Leslie Uggams
* Episode 319: Elke Sommer
* Episode 320: Sylvester Stallone
* Episode 321: Roger Miller
* Episode 322: Roy Rogers & Dale Evans
* Episode 323: Lynn Redgrave
* Episode 324: Cheryl Ladd


My personal favorites of these are Spike (of course), Danny Kaye, Sylvester Stallone (who is hilarious), Harry Belafonte (brilliant final song), and Alice Cooper, trying to sell Muppet souls to the devil. Also, not as bad as season four but still bad, this is where the Muppet obsession with country music guests begins. Hope you like country.

Recommended for adults and kids alike.

Well, that was... OK. Pretty good.

( Read more... )

Really not looking forward to next week. Gareth Roberts, and from what I've heard in interviews he made it very funny. God save us from funny Gareth Roberts. >_>

You know, before the Internet ruined me for parties, I had no idea what 'breathplay' was. Ah, those halcyon days. If only I could erase my brain...

Reading Sand Chronicles while listening to Falsettoland at the same time is SO not recommended. Especially on a bus.

Reading Sand Chronicles in general is such an odd experience. I read Love Com, Special A, and B.O.D.Y, all of which are variations on the same theme, one of the most common shoujo themes - perky girl is stuck on broody guy who's mean to/teases her. They're well done, especially Love Com, but it's not especially original.

Sand Chronicles, though, is a totally different way of telling the shoujo love story, and still manages to surprise me. Admittedly, it's only 2 volumes in (I think it ended with 10 in Japan), but really, this is gripping stuff (as well as a bit emotional, oh yes).

Gatcha Gacha 7, meanwhile, the penultimate volume of the series, takes a break from Yuri and her boy troubles to focus on the best character in the manga, Motoko. We get a flashback to her junior high days, when her sister Kanako was still a hellraiser demon child, as well as current events where, well, Kanako is still being herself, but as many note, much less herself than before. We get resolution of the 'is Motoko really Japanese?' plot thread that's occasionally popped up. Some intriguing stuff left for the final volume, though, especially as Yuri starts to wonder just what her relationship with Motoko is.

Rain all day, heavy at times. BLEAH.

It's pretty much AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH!!!!! Part 2, folks.

801 MEDIA:
Foreign Love Affair. Yaoi. Core Magazine, serialization unknown, 2003.

BLU:
Tea for Two Vol. 1. Yaoi. Kadokawa Shoten, serialized in Asuka Ciel since 2003.
Love Pistols Vol. 5. Yaoi. Biblos/Libre Shuppan, serialization unknown, 2004.
Love Mode Vol. 9. Yaoi. Biblos, serialized in Be x Boy since 1996.

BROCCOLI:
Pet on Duty. Yaoi. Libre Shuppan, published in Be x Boy since 2006.
Delivery Cupid. Yaoi. Biblos, serialization unknown, 2004.

DARK HORSE:
Blood+ Vol. 2. Shonen. Kadokawa Shoten, serialized in Shonen Ace since 2004.

DC/CMX:
King of Cards Vol. 4. Shoujo. Hakusensha, serialized in Bessatsu Hana to Yume since 1998.

DEL REY:
The Yagyu Ninja Scrolls Vol. 3. Seinen. Kodansha, serialized in Young Magazine since 2005.
Tsubasa Vol. 17. Shonen. Kodansha, serialized in Weekly Shonen Magazine since 2003.
Toto! Vol. 1. Shonen. Kodansha, serialized in Shonen Magazine since 2005.
Parasyte Vol. 3. Seinen. Kodansha, serialized in Afternoon since 1990.

DMP:
Ren'ai Sousa Vol. 1. Yaoi. Libre Shuppan, serialization unknown, 2006.
Prince Charming Vol. 3 (Final Volume). Yaoi. Houbunsha, serialization unknown, 2005.
Endless Rain. Yaoi. Ookura Shuppan, serialization unknown, 2006.

GO! COMI:
Ultimate Venus Vol. 1. Shoujo. Akita Shoten, serialized in Princess since 2007.
Kanna Vol. 4 (Final Volume). Seinen. Mediaworks, serialized in Dengeki Daioh since 2002.
Kamisama Kazoku Vol. 1. Seinen. Media Factory, serialized in Comic Flapper since 2006.
Cy-Believers Vol. 2. Shoujo. Akita Shoten, serialized in Princess since 2007.

TOKYOPOP:
Wild Adapter Vol. 5. Seinen. Tokuma Shoten, serialization unknown, 2001.
VB Rose Vol. 2. Shoujo. Hakusensha, serialized in Hana to Yume since 2004.
Trinity Blood Vol. 6. Shoujo. Kadokawa Shoten, serialized in Asuka since 2004.
Sgt. Frog Vol. 15. Shonen. Kadokawa Shoten, serialized in Shonen Ace since 1999.
Samurai Deeper Kyo Vol. 28. Kodansha, serialized in Weekly Shonen Magazine since 1999.
Rozen Maiden Vol. 8. Seinen. Gentosha, serialized in Comic Birz since 2003.
Rave Master Vol. 28. Shonen. Kodansha, serialized in Weekly Shonen Magazine since 1999.
Manga Sutra (Futari Ecchi) Vol. 2. Seinen. Hakusensha, serialized in Young Animal since 1997.
Kingdom Hearts II Vol. 2. Shonen. Square Enix, serialized in Shonen GanGan since 2006.
Kedamono Damono Vol. 3 (Final Volume). Shoujo. Kodansha, serialized in Nakayoshi since 2004.
Harukaze Bitter Bop Vol. 2. Seinen. Mag Garden, serialized in Comic Blade Masamune since 2005.
GTO Early Years Shonen Jun'ai Gumi Vol. 7. Shonen. Kodansha, serialized in Weekly Shonen Magazine since 1990.
Getbackers Vol. 24. Shonen. Kodansha, serialized in Weekly Shonen Magazine since 1999.
Foxy Lady Vol. 1. Shonen. Ichijinsha, other info unknown.
Demon Flowers Vol. 3. Whatever Wings is. Shonshokan, serialized in Wings since 2003.
Chibi Vampire Vol. 8. Shonen. Kadokawa Shoten, serialized in Dragon Age since 2003.
Battle Club Vol. 6. Seinen. Shonen Gahosha, serialized in Young King since 2003.
Aria Vol. 2. Seinen. Mag Garden, serialized in Comic Blade since 2002.

VERTICAL:
Guin Saga Vol. 4. Still know very little about this.

VIZ:
Yakitate Japan Vol. 11. Shonen. Shogakukan, serialized in Shonen Sunday since 2002.
Togari Vol. 6. Shonen. Shogakukan, serialized in Shonen Sunday since 2001.
Switch Vol. 2. Shonen. Square Enix, serialized in GFantasy since 2002.
Record of a Fallen Vampire Vol. 1. Shonen. Square Enix, serialized in Shonen GanGan Since 2003.
Project ARMS Vol. 19. Shonen. Shogakukan, serialized in Shonen Sunday since 1997.
Hayate the Combat Butler Vol. 7. Shonen. Shogakukan, serialized in Shonen Sunday since 2005.
Flame of Recca Vol. 27. Shonen. Shogakukan, serialized in Shonen Sunday since 2002.
Basara Vol. 27 (Final Volume). Shoujo. Shonen. Shogakukan, serialized in Bessatsu Comic since 1991.

YEN:
Shoulder a Coffin Kuro Vol. 1. Shonen. Houbunsha, serialized in Manga Time Kirara since 2006.


Holy crap. Basara's ending! Yeah, a few other final volumes in there as well, but holy crap, Basara's ending!

Last week I forgot to note that the re-release of Shirow's Black Magic came out. It's from the 1980s, it's Shirow, and it's unflipped with a new translation.

As for this week, again, so much to choose from. Old school stuff like Parasyte, Shonan Jun'ai Gumi and Futari Ecchi (note TP's Vol. 2 is Japan's Vol. 3+4). New series like Shoulder a Coffin Kuro (gotta love the name), Toto and Record of a Fallen Vampire. Tons of yaoi for the yaoi fans. And, of course, some CLAMP. Any suggestions from the peanut gallery?

Nice two-parter, a bit more together then some others we've had.

( Read more... )

I've been thinking recently about the One Piece manga, and more specifically its lack of popularity in the US compared to Naruto and Bleach. Now, there are likely several reasons for this, including the wretched 4Kids hack job dub, but one that immediately comes to mind is this:

Oda doesn't ship. At ALL.

Now, you can argue that other SJ series also lack romance, but that's not really totally true. While they may lack couples, there are always tinges of romantic angst, usually one-sided. Bleach has Orihime's love of Ichigo, Eyeshield 21 has the occasional hints of Sena/Suzuna, etc. There's usually at least one character with feelings for another.

Not in One Piece. It is the adventure over all. Sanji may lust after Nami and Robin, but the chances of that being done as a serious plotline are zero. (Nami and Robin both being unusually strong characters for Shonen Jump females also helps.) But as much as I like Luffy/Nami myself, if it's done well, you can't really point to anything obvious in the canon and say 'look, Oda is trying to telegraph this to us!'. It isn't about the ships.

So, no canon wars = lower popularity? Not quite. :) There's another, bigger reason. Oda doesn't draw bishies. Oda's art is broad and comedic, and he is not known for his handsome guys. Even Zoro and Sanji, the two most frequently yaoi'd up guys, are more rugged than bishie. Not to mention also frequently used for comedic effect (Ooooh, hot hot Zoro snot bubble snores...)

Don't get me wrong, there's a lot of One Piece yaoi, and a lot of fangirls who love it. But the yaoi guys in One Piece are, well, more 'manly' than the ones in Bleach or Naruto. Could this be another reason for its lack of popularity?

Or maybe pirates just lose to ninjas.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!

DARK HORSE:
Oh My Goddess Vol. 29. Seinen. Kodansha, serialized in Afternoon since 1988.
Eden: It's an Endless World Vol. 10. Seinen. Kodansha, serialized in Afternoon since 1998.
Color of Rage Vol. 1. Gekiga. No idea, but it's Koike, so it's awesome.

DC/CMX:
Kiichi and the Magic Books Vol. 1. One of CMX's 'Flex Comics'.
Crayon Shin-chan Vol. 2. Kodomo. Futabasha, serialized in Action and Manga Town since 1990.

DEL REY:
Nodame Cantabile Vol. 13. Josei. Kodansha, serialized in Kiss since 2001.
Kitchen Princess Vol. 6. Shoujo. Kodansha, serialized in Nakayoshi since 2005.
Hell Girl Vol. 2. Shoujo. Kodansha, serialized in Nakayoshi and Comic Fans since 2006.

DR MASTER:
Puri Puri Vol. 5. Shonen. Akita Shoten, serialized in Monthly Shonen Champion since 2005.
Dark Edge Vol. 7. Shonen. Mediaworks, serialized in Dengeki GAO! since 1999.

ICARUS:
Afterschool Sex Slave Club. This is porn. I don't care enough to research its origins.
And their erotic anthology.

TOKYOPOP:
Short Sunzen! Vol. 2. Shoujo. Hakusensha, serialized in Hana to Yume since 1999.
Satisfaction Guaranteed Vol. 7. Shoujo. Hakusensha, serialized in Hana to Yume since 1999.
Sakura Taisen Vol. 7. Seinen. Kodansha, serialized in Magazine Z since 2003.
Monochrome Factor Vol. 2. Seinen. Mag Garden, serialized in Comic Blade Avarus since 2005.
The Knockout Makers Vol. 2. Shoujo. Akita Shoten, serialized in Princess since 2004.
King of Thorn Vol. 4. Seinen. Enterbrain, serialized in Monthly Comic Beam since 2002.
Kindaichi Case Files Vol. 17. Shonen. Kodansha, serialized in Weekly Shonen Magazine since 1992.
Kannazuki no Miko Vol. 1. Shonen. Kadokawa Shoten, serialized in Shonen Ace since 2004.
Initial D Vol. 30. Seinen. Kodansha, serialized in Young Magazine since 1995.
Good Witch of the West Vol. 6. Seinen. Mag Garden, serialized in Comic Blade since 2004.
Gatcha Gacha Vol. 7. Shoujo/Josei. Hakusensha, serialized in Melody since 2002.
CLAMP No Kiseki Vol. 11. Kodansha. The collectible CLAMP magazine, now with new adapter, I believe. :)
Cherry Juice Vol. 3. Shoujo. Kodansha, serialized in Nakayoshi since 2004.
Brave Story Vol. 4. Shonen. Shinchosha, serialized in Comic Bunch since 2003.

VIZ:
Whistle! Vol. 19. Shonen. Shueisha, serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump since 1998.
Skip Beat Vol. 12. Shoujo. Hakusensha, serialized in Hana to Yume since 2002.
Shonen Jump.
Shaman King Vol. 16. Shonen. Shueisha, serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump since 1998.
Sand Chronicles Vol. 2. Shoujo. Shogakukan, serialized in Bessatsu Comic since 2003.
SA Special A Vol. 4. Shoujo. Hakusensha, serialized in Hana to Yume since 2003.
Prince of Tennis Vol. 25. Shonen. Shueisha, serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump since 1999.
Naruto Vol. 29. Shonen. Shueisha, serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump since 1999.
Nana Vol. 10. Shoujo/Josei. Shueisha, serialized in Cookie since 2000.
Lovely Complex Vol. 6. Shoujo. Shueisha, serialized in Bessatsu Margaret since 2001.
Kurohime Vol. 5. Shonen. Shueisha, serialized in Monthly Shonen Jump and Jump Square since 2002.
Kaze Hikaru Vol. 9. Shoujo. Shogakukan, serialized in Flowers since 1997.
Hunter x Hunter Vol. 20. Shonen. Shueisha, serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump since 1998.
Hikaru no Go Vol. 12. Shonen. Shueisha, serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump since 1998.
High School Debut Vol. 3. Shoujo. Shueisha, serialized in Bessatsu Margaret since 2003.
Gin Tama Vol. 6. Shonen. Shueisha, serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump since 2004.
Fairy Cube Vol. 1. Shoujo. Hakusensha, serialized in Hana to Yume since 2005.
Dr. Slump Vol. 15. Shonen. Shueisha, serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump since 1980.
D.Gray-Man Vol. 9. Shonen. Shueisha, serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump since 2004.
Crimson Hero Vol. 8. Shoujo. Shueisha, serialized in Bessatsu Margaret since 2003.
B.O.D.Y. Vol. 1. Shoujo. Shueisha, serialized in Bessatsu Margaret since 2004.
Black Cat Vol. 14. Shonen. Shueisha, serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump since 2000.
Absolute Boyfriend Vol. 6 (Final Volume). Shoujo. Shogakukan, serialized in Shoujo Comic since 2003.


I am reminded of Haunted Junction. OH MY GOOOOOODDDD!

Of this monstrous pile, my recs are: Gatcha Gacha Vol. 7, as always. Fantastic, and just finished in Japan at 8 volumes, so almost done. Short Sunzen 1 was fun for me. Of Viz's shoujo, Sand Chronicles, SA, and Love Com are on the rec list. And yes, OK, Nana, though I've fallen far too far behind on it. And everyone loves some Dr. Slump. Or they should. This volume has BABY!

So I have ranted in the past about Diamond Comics - specifically about their laughable release schedule for publishers who don't use Diamond as their #1 distributor - i.e., book publishers. After seeing my order from Seven Seas, including Strawberry Panic and the last Kashimashi, now hit over 7 weeks late, I've decided to hell with it.

My comic shop says they have an alternate distributor if I want to put manga through them, so all my orders from book-oriented manga publishers will go there from now on. That includes Del Rey, Seven Seas/Tor, and Yen/Little Brown. So I just put things like the 2nd SP novel and the Genshiken fanbook on that list.

This won't affect my weekly 'what's coming out' lists, btw, as I get those from Midtown Comics in Manhattan, which habitually uses a different distributor for its manga anyway. So it's way ahead of me on the curve. And I'm leaving the other publishers on there as they ARE Diamond-centric - Dark Horse, for example, gets stuff to Diamond long before book shops.

But yes, yet another example of why monopolies are bad.