Moved To Asian Comics Blog

Hello I moved the blog to Wordpress and I am continuing it under the name Asian Comics Blog. The link to the blog is below.

https://asiancomics.news.blog/

Elegance Eve September 2018

I enjoyed this issue much better than the previous one. At the time, I had been adjusting to Japanese text and was not able to obtain much of value from my experience with the previous issue of Elegance Eve. This issue was hit or miss but the series which struck a cord with me created such fascinating narratives I was unaware existed in Japanese josei manga. Elegance Eve seems to be targeting a broader audience than perhaps the name lets on. Yes, there are series for housewives(which were also emotionally swaying reads by the way). In addition, there were also some alternative comics which would not have been out of place in an American indie zine. My goal initially with discussing the magazines is to scratch the surface of the various notable Japanese shojo and josei manga as well as to catalogue my own experiences as I am unfamiliar with the astonishingly greater variety in content which comes with reading manga in Japanese. I would like to explore the actual contents of the magazines down the road at some point. It would be fantastic to get people reading more comics targeted at girls and women since there is a great variety of content which is unknown to most people. At one point I asked a friend what they thought of when they saw the words manga and anime they immediately grasped for Naruto. Now, this post seems to be straying further and further from its original intent so I believe I will call it a night. 

Nakayoshi October 2018

This was honestly a fantastic read! Black Panther And Sweet 16 disrupted the quick clip I was reading gobbling up the chapters but even it had some dramatic moments and an overall dark tone which made it a compelling read in its own rite. A series which revolves around a girl marrying a sheikh had me concerned about what particular direction it would go in last issue when it started. Those fears were washed away as the series seems to be taking a more political intrigue angle than a a "Harlequin for beginners" angle I dreaded it taking. There are many good Harlequin manga but there is a huge over saturation of them in English which makes them easy to get agitated about. Thankfully the heroine was able to stand her ground in this exotic locale. Cardcaptor Sakura Clear Card adorned the issues cover. Given the popularity of Cardcaptor Sakura this perhaps comes as no surprise but it is still a lovely cover by CLAMP. A rerun chapter of Saint Tail sits at the back of the issue. I opted to ignore it I wonder if this will come back to haunt me down the road? There's an idol manga which seems to be ripe for an anime adaptation early in the issue. It has the darker angle modern kids anime seems to aim for without questionably odd subtext like Black Panther has. Nakayoshi was a truly fascinating and exciting read, perhaps I didn't get that detail across discussing it this time. A lot of the stories were unconventional in the issue which seems to be quickly  becoming my favorite aspect of modern shojo. 

Shojo Comic issue 18 (2018), Hana to Yume issue 17 (2018)

Shojo Comic issue 18 (2018)

Decided to start using this blog again.

Shojo Comic issue 18 offered an interesting mix of titles this issue had very little smut compared to other issues I've read and the action scenes were genuinely intense for series which had them. Shojo Comic is a very easy read even for a novice to Japanese like myself. The artwork is really detailed although this isn't Hana to Yume levels of diversity in content and tones for narratives which is kind of unfortunate. 

Hana to Yume issue 17 (2018)

This issue offered a broad range of stories that make it worth the purchase for casual manga readers. The overall storytelling was phenomenal and the artwork was amazing. Oresama Teacher is quickly catching my attention. The series is released in English under Viz Media's Shojo Beat imprint. I honestly feel compelled to go back and read the entire series properly but with no digital edition and certain volumes from the series being out of print in Canada makes me hesitant to actually do so. Hana to Yume is markedly more fantasy leaning than Shojo Comic this issue which made for a refreshing contrast when reading the two issues the same day.

I'm not going to make any promises whether I'll start using this blog more regularly or not since things seem to get in the way a lot the last few years. I will try though. 

Aposimz chapters 1-5 Review

Tsutomu Nihei’s Aposimz is a grand science fiction epic set in a bizarre world. The artwork is gorgeous, hauntingly portraying the horrific events of the story. The setting is fascinatingly somber. The world of Aposimz is perpetually snow covered. The one issue I had is that the narrative is holding its cards close to its chest so far.

There are so many aspects of this universe which would be fascinating to understand more about but Aposimz is through and through a Tsutomu Nihei work. Nihei’s narratives dive into the surreal worlds with the reader often being swept along for the experience. This almost always leaves it up to the reader to pick up and interpret the narrative themselves and Aposimz is no exception to this rule. Even Nihei’s arguably most reader friendly work, Knights of Sidonia is still obtuse at times. Aposimz is another intriguing work from an exceptionally talented manga creator. I cannot recommend this experience enough!

Alice in Murderland volume 4 Review

Kaoru Yuki’s body of work translated in English is considerably larger than many mangakas’ and it is fascinating to see how the tone of her work has changed over the years. That being said, while there is a greater sense of self-awareness in her more modern works the biggest problem for long-time readers of her works is easily the fact it always comes across as a touch homogenous. The biggest theme in a lot of Kaoru Yuki’s works has always been the dark reality behind fairy tales. A world which once looked like it was rose tinted is actually horrific once given a closer examination.

Alice in Murderland volume 4 follows this long tradition. The heroine becomes more and more aware the Alice in Wonderland influenced world she lives in contains layers upon layers of dark secrets. Everyone in the cast is not who they seem to be at first glance. The heroine herself has an alternate murderous personality. Even her wealthy adoptive mother she once thought to be kind reveals herself to be the cruelest member of the manga’s cast thus far. Alice in Wonderland is the perfect theme for a Kaori Yuki work and Alice in Murderland’s continued descent into madness makes for a fascinating read.

While Alice in Murderland is certainly a nice addition to Kaori Yuki’s body of English translated work there still is very much the issue with the series that it feels like Alice in Murderland is once again just Kaori Yuki simply going through the motions of creating a series. The formula she seems to have developed for creating her work is nevertheless an effective one even if she is once again reusing the themes and issues from her previous work. It still is nice every once in a while to sit down with a Kaori Yuki manga and cleanse the palette from the tropes of shojo manga in general.

Our Precious Conversations volume 2

Compared to volume 1, volume 2 of Our Precious Conversations continues the trend of being an enjoyable read. The characters are still the dorks you know and love. Robico's artwork is as lush as always. Now I'm just excited to read the simulpub chapters.

A Perfect day for Love Letters volume 1 Review

With George Asakura's manga being finally released in English again in roughly 2 weeks I thought I would take a brief look at one of her previously translated works that I'd forgotten I had sitting on my shelf unread for so many years. 

A Perfect day for Love Letters volume 1 is an anthology of sorts which compiles various George Asakura short stories themed around love letters. The first 3 chapters follow an oddly specific narrative structure while chapters 4 and 5 more or less break away from the framework the book establishes in wildly different ways. The storytelling is strong in each of the short stories, While I had been curious about her much longer Drowning Love, known in Japan as Oboreru Knife, manga and her other works. A Perfect Day for Love Letters makes a perfect entry point into George Asakura's works even if it is sadly incomplete and out of print in English. 

Chihayafuru volume 1 review

I was debating whether to blog again yet here I am! With that out of the way let's dig into Chihayafuru, shall we?

Much like the Chihayafuru anime, volume 1 of the Chihayafuru manga is a deeply moving experience. Chihaya is a compellingly written strong lead herself but the supporting cast is just as strong filled with colourful characters who immediately leave a strong and loving impression. Volume 1 is more of a prologue but it establishes many core elements for the series as well as the emotional core of the manga. When I finished reading I desperately wanted to read more right away. The artwork is also gorgeously expressive. It's impossible not to be swept up in Chihaya's infectious positivity. It's a small story there are no cheap narrative gimmicks just really solid writing complete with characters who feels very real yet at the same time lovable. The series also focuses very little on romance for readers who that might be an issue for going into it. This is a very moving manga about a Japanese poem game. 

Comic Corrale: Winter 2016 Anime Premieres Part 1

Comic Corrale: Winter 2016 Anime Premieres Part 1

This season I see a lot of “what should I watch this season?” As someone who watches anime premieres for funsies, I thought I’d give my two cents on the premieres I’ve seen if it helps at all.

Lupin III Part 4 Ep. 1-5: Technically not a show to premiere in Japan this season. This series has had a bit of an odd release schedule. It was actually scheduled to air in Spring 2015 in Italy but got delayed until late August. It premiered in Japan in October before FINALLY premiering to English speaking audiences a few days ago. If you haven’t  check it out yet, I highly recommend you do!

Myriad Colors Phantom World 1: This series had a colorful start only to give way to the light novel clichés which it fails to even do well. The animation is fluid but that’s really all it has going for it. It’s self aware that it’s bad and continues to be despite that. You can probably give this one a pass.

Ojisan to Marshmallow 1: It’s about an overweight man who loves marshmallows and a woman who wants to do the diddlydoo with him. That’s literally all there is to this. At 3 minutes I found it entertaining enough.

Oshiete! Galko-chan 1: If you have the humor of a 5 year old you will likely enjoy this. Needless to say, I was laughing the whole way through.

Pandora Crimson Shell: Ghost Urn 1: It is trash that I have no intention of returning to. It’s somewhat watchable at least, in that way watching a train wreck unfolding would be. Really though, there are so many other things in this world you could be watching other than this.

Nurse Witch Komugi-chan R 1: I admit, once it got rolling, I was entertained if only for the references to classic anime. Before it does entertain, though, it feels the need to mock every cliché from this type of show which bored me to tears.

Haruchika 1: The surprisingly positive representation of the LGBT community at the very end of the episode caught me off guard. It’s rare to see a protagonist who’s gay/bi/pan/etc. in animation who isn’t either meant to inspire fanfiction or to be mocked. In fact, I’ll likely continue watching simply to see where it goes from there.

Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju 1: I’ve already seen this 48 minute premiere twice. Once alone and once with a family member and enjoyed it both times. Far and away the biggest standout, thus far, this season, I cannot wait for more.  

Erased 1: This made some good use of minimalism in some shots. That being said, the protagonist is grating with his internal monologues. Really, it’s the supporting cast that made this premiere shine. The plot is certainly compelling as well to an extent. I can kind of guess how it’ll unravel but given the more grim nature. I think waiting for it to finish and then having a marathon would be the best way to watch this show.

Tabi Machi Late Show 1: This series has by far been the least talked about on social media. It has Comix Wave’s practically trademark limited animation. The story is touching in the premiere. It manages to cover a lot of ground in its 7 minutes. This series is only going to be 4 episodes and will apparently be part of the “Comix Wave Omnibus.”

Sekko Boys 1: For lovers of guilty pleasure shows, Sekko Boys with what appears to be either very detailed or photoshopped statues is the go to show this season! It’s part of the Ultra Super Anime Time block in Japan which has produced some very entertaining comedies since it debuted last July and this certainly follows in that tradition.

Norn9 1: Complete with a name a ten year old would come up with, Norn9 has surprisingly detailed backgrounds. That’s really the only highlight of this first episode. Otherwise it is very much a copy and paste video game anime adaptation.

Prince of Stride Alternative 1: This series has some talent behind it, surprisingly, and it makes the end product look super stylish. Honestly, both writing and visually I was impressed by this premiere and am very much looking forward to more.

Bubuki Buranki 1: The character CG is laughable but the story is more than enough to carry this premiere. This is probably more a series for more mainstream anime fans and I feel it will succeed to that end. It really isn’t my cup of tea though I feel it’d be best watch with friends as it feels like a Hollywood flick.

Before I finish this I feel it’s worth mentioning there were a few shows that premiered that I couldn’t even finish: Girls in the Wastelands is probably the most painful premiere thus far this season. Phantasy Star Online 2 the Animation comes from the school of thought that it need not put in an ounce of effort and still succeed and needless to say it fails dismally for it. I will write up other premieres I watch at a later point so I guess that will be a part 2.

Comic Corral #3

Comic Corral #3: Jolly Jojo New Year!

By Geordi Demorest

Happy New Year to all! Here’s another spree of meandering writings about what I was reading and watching over the holidays.

Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure seasons 1-3: After my Black Butler marathon I thought I would follow it up with another homoerotic shonen series and sunk my teeth into Jojo. With Diamond is Unbreakable start in a few months which was certainly being a motivator. With Jojo being the series it is of course they kill my beloved Iggy the dog. At least they give him and the other characters that kicked the bucket in this part a Lion King send off. Stardust Crusaders is my least favorite of the Jojo parts to date, with how long it is and its less than stellar finale, though it too is a really good series in its own way. There are lots of creative ideas and cheesy moments in the third part so it certainly has its positives. Part two Jojo is rather frustrating as a character but again that’s probably more of a personal taste for protagonists.

Cuticle Detcetive Inaba vol. 1 & 2: I was surprised by how much I liked this series. I admit to not being the biggest fan of the anime with how it rushes through scenes but the source material never feels rushed despite the episodic nature of the first volume or so. I think the clincher was when they finally introduced the true antagonist who gives the series more of an overarching and somewhat compelling plot.

Nanbaka vol. 1: It takes the volume forever and a day to truly introduce the cast much of the book meanders from gag to gag only at the end revealing the protagonist’s motivation. There isn’t a whole lot else to bring up about this series apart from the bright, vivid colors which compelled me to continue. 

Comic Corral #2

Comic Corral #2: Black Butler’s Big Day(s)

by Geordi Demorest

Black Butler Chapters 1-111: I’ve never been one for long running series comic or otherwise so Black Butler took years to catch-up on inevitably ending in a marathon that was both fascinating and depressing. Once I truly sunk my teeth into the manga there was no stopping. I think the biggest hurdle for those who have seen the anime in part or entirely will be separating it from the source material which has an entirely different take on the world and characters after the booking arc. The manga tries its hand at everything from mysteries to sports manga.

Sweetness and Lightning chapters 1-29: I haven’t talked about Sweetness and Lightning much, if at all, but it truly is an adorable manga. There isn’t a whole lot to it beyond its premise. The characters have layers and goals though which I think is what establishes it apart from many other slice-of-life manga well that and its incredible artwork.

Today’s Cerberus chapters 1-28: This is not a comic with an ounce a class yet I adore it all the same. It takes Nisekoi’s tropes and characters and does them many, many times better. It isn’t afraid to continue its story and doesn’t go off on tangents. It’s still shameless fan service (which is perfectly fine) it just has more too it.

Dark Horse Presents volume 3 issues 1-16: Currently I’m working my way through the seventeenth issue of this comic anthology magazine. Not all the series are winners but the ones that are really hit it out of the park. It’s a breath of fresh air for one such as I who spends much of my time with Japanese comics.

Relife volume 1: This manga caught me particularly by surprise from the outset I thought it would be fan service pandering to the lowest common denominator. However it’s a surprisingly thoughtful and addictive series.  I cannot wait for more of it to be up on Crunchyroll!

Comic Corral #1

Comic Corral #1

by Geordi Demorest

So I’m trying something a little different again. This is column is more of a roundup of some of the books and shows I’ve been watching and a more blog style reaction to them instead of reviews with structure to them. So basically what I’ve been doing.

Island issues 1-4: This one caught me off guard. I hadn’t expected to enjoy this as much as I do. Not all of the stories were winners one of the stories in particular in which people have devices that do everything for them seemed to clash with the more surrealist at times almost dada.

Lettera volume 1: This one can be found on the sparkler monthly site where it is currently being serialized. It does this weird thing where it goes into super deformed mode at odd times, as in, most of the time. I really like series with strong female protagonists and this is a prime example of that. The heroine, who doesn’t have much depth so far honestly, can hold her own in a fight and has a compelling personality.

Orange Junk Chapters 1-14: This comic is kind of a guilty pleasure with not too much substance to it. It’s a fun read and also can be found on the sparkler monthly website. The modeling arc is by far my favorite as it actually has some stakes and greatly expands the cast.

Natsume’s Book of Friends volume 10: I have always been a fan of Natsume, though admittedly I still have the fourth/final season sitting unfinished on my CR queue. It’s a quiet series though my favorite moments are the more suspenseful ones. This volume pretty much continued to stick to the series’ status quo for better and for not so well.

Big Punch Magazine issue 1: I’d been vaguely aware of this magazine for some time but never had gotten around to reading it mostly because I wasn’t sure it would stay afloat for long. The end of the year though and it’s still around. The stories are compelling and too my liking in art style Though don’t really care for the first story in the issue.

There was a lot more that I read recently, and continue to read, and I might get around to writing up about those series at some point too. Anywho, have a good day!

Top 5 Best and Worst Comics of 2015

Top 5 Best and Worst Comics of 2015

by Geordi Demorest

2015 was a huge year for comics. Highly requested series have been licensed in droves, French comics made a splash onto the North American market, new services sprung up like Spottoon, Yen Press simulpubs, Silent Manga Audition, webtoons (a new format for comics designed for the digital age) seem to be taking off globally, and so on and so forth. With the year drawing to a close I thought I’d make a best and worst list for comics that came out in 2015. To clarify the worst list was really subjective while the best list is made up, what I feel to be, the best comics of 2015.

Let’s get the worst out of the way:

5) Idol Dreams: I couldn’t get past the first chapter of this one. Tanemura really isn’t that great at writing adults who feel and act like adults. There was also a suicide joke thrown in and well let’s say it isn’t one of her better works.

4) Takahashi-san is Listening: This series relies completely around a really awkward joke: the protagonist is a stalker. There really isn’t much to say about it beyond that. It never really goes beyond the joke nor does the heroine face any consequences for her actions.

3) Samon the Summoner: This one was particularly insufferable. The biggest problem lies in the fact that the heroine is actually a great person, and yet Samon tries to convince the audience that secretly she is evil at heart and that she should, thus, be miserable. It never gave a reason in the pilot chapter and it was another one I couldn’t read much of beyond it admittedly. Like most of the Jump Starts this year this one was cancelled quickly.  

2) Yuuki and Nao: This one goes higher because, when I started reading it, I was cautiously optimistic, that it might be decent, but it turned out to be yet another of Renta’s many hard-core smut series.

1) Marie of the Dragons: It now occurs to me that this list is comprised mostly of smut and tasteless humor series. Marie of the Dragons falls into the former category. It took me many months to finish the one issue I have bought. While I enjoy some bande desinee this is not one of them. The art is hideous and it prefers to concentrate on the smut far too much for my tastes.

Now for the “best of” list:

5) Bloody Mary: Admittedly this one is more of a personal favorite but the way it goes about its subject matter is well written and refreshing. It’s far more intelligent than I thought it would have been from the outset and it was a genuinely pleasant surprise for me.

4) Scarlet Empire: Another personal favorite. The artwork is distinct and eye-catching, the story flows fluidly, and the characters have layers to their personalities. It’s probably the lowest profile series on this best list but I think it deserves a spot.

3) So Cute It Hurts: This series was even more of a pleasant surprise. Despite how plain it looks it has a lot of personality. Gender benders are difficult to do well and I think So Cute it Hurts is certainly up to the task.

2) Princess Jellyfish: I really struggled with the top two.  Princess Jellyfish is only in second because I was well aware from the outset how great it would be. It’s charming and has many, many likeable, colorful characters. The common is perfectly tuned and it just does very well at what it sets out to be: a romantic comedy.

1) Tokyo Ghoul: I really could not NOT put this one at number 1. Tokyo Ghoul is by far the most compelling comic of 2015. It spends lots of time and effort establishing the decay of its protagonist’s morality and sanity and its multi-layered world. The artwork is no slouch either the series comic consistently looks good too. Tokyo Ghoul is nigh impossible to put down and it truly deserves its place.

xxxHolic Rei volume 1 review

xxxHolic Rei volume 1 Review

by Geordi Demorest

Review:                                Yuko has never really been one of my favorite leads in a manga and this volume spotlights one of her biggest flaws as a protagonist: she takes this whatever will be will be attitude which makes her difficult to root for. Instead she chooses to spend her time talking in circles and indulging in alcohol and smoking to pass the time while her clients fall metaphorically apart. That said, xxxHolic rei’s first volume has an almost hypnotic grasp over its readers and is the perfect book to read before going to sleep.

This new series returns Yuko to being the owner of the wish granting shop while Watanuki resumes being her flunky. While it’s clear something is amiss throughout the entire volume no one cares to explain it to the audience. Plot has never been one of xxxHolic strong suits. The aspect that ultimately compels the reader to continue is the strange relationship between Watanuki and Domeki. Watanuki spends the entire book asking for answers while Yuko would rather be vague and give non-answers that confuse both Watanuki and the reader.

I preferred when Watanuki was the shopkeeper because he was a lot more clear on what his goal was and was much more proactive in helping his clients that Yuko continues to be. In conclusion, I would say, that this would be a good jumping on point for new readers to the series. For those of us who have continued the series until now, well, there’s really no escaping for us at this point.

Grade: B-

xxxHolic Rei is available in print and digitally from Kodansha Comics.

Metamo Kiss vol. 1-3 review

Metamo Kiss volumes 1-3 Review

By Geordi Demorest

Review:                                I think the word “meh” is what best describes Mteamo Kiss ultimately. That isn’t to say the entire series is subpar but in the final book when you  would think the plot would really be ramped up the protagonist just kind stands around absent mindedly happy and the entire series ends with most of its subplots unresolved. In the afterward to the series one the characters are chatting with the “author” of the book and one of them calls the author a hack and, in all honesty, that probably wasn’t too far off.

The first two books have an actual tension but the third (which is also the final) book just goes “oh yeah, right, this a romance” and so in the last two pages the leads are a couple, inexplicably, despite having shared no actual moments or chemistry. And then the audience just walks away without having gained or lost anything. To the credit of the series, the first two volumes feature compelling, colorful characters and interactions and feels like it takes the tired bodyswap premise and uses it creatively. Ultimately Metamo Kiss is bland and forgettable. It starts off well but in the end just kind of fizzles out.

Grade: C

Metamo Kiss is available digitally from Viz Media.

Shonen Jump

Shonen Jump

                In the past I’ve looked at comics from Shonen Jump on here. Today I’m just going to look at the magazine and how it has evolved. This isn’t so much a review of Shonen Jump, as much as a brief, and probably ill-informed, examination of the magazine that brought about a fascination with Japanese comics for me. Jump has been around a long time, for a majority of my life anyhow, but started as a monthly print magazine. It enjoyed considerable popularity for a manga magazine introducing such hits as Naruto and One Piece. Bleach, what is often considered the other member of the “Big 3”, curiously wasn’t added to the magazine for quite some time.

                As a print magazine, Shonen Jump had a considerably pool of popular series to draw from many of which would be notoriously censored especially in the early years. This would not be entirely remedied until the magazine made the switch to digital which will be covered in a bit. The other frustrating aspect of the print magazine was that many of these series would never be fully serialized in the magazine instead being finished In graphic novel form if they were lucky. These problems would be remedied once the move to digital occurred but this too came with flaws.

                The move to digital brought with it changes, most of which for the better, chapters for the first year were near simultaneous with Japan (well nearer than before anyway 2 weeks behind) for the first year, Viz had to prove to Shueisha in Japan that they could put out a quality product. As odd as I find  Weekly Shonen Jump today, at the time, it was standard-ish for manga serializing in English. Most serialized digital manga in the early years was as magazines as it had been in print. Even now, manga publishers cannot seem to settle on a particular model that works for everyone.

Back on topic, many of the digital serialized Japanese comic’s pioneers: Comicloud, Gen Manga, Manga Boshi, to name a few have either faded or changed drastically over time with the rapidly changing media landscape. Weekly Shonen Jump, now jaded from years of the rapidly morphing manga scene, seems to stick firmly to the formula that brought them success in the first place. They have always had a very particular type of story they would run in their magazine, more so than the magazine’s Japanese counterpart, which itself has at least some variation on its formula.

                English Shonen Jump’s formula is as follows: the protagonist must overcome the odds and achieve their dream. The lower their situation is, and the greater the odds, the more it seems to resonate with readers. In some ways it feels similar to Disney’s formula which may be why it resonates with so many people. Viz is particularly formulaic at present as they tend to stick to certain genres (namely science fiction and fantasy).Will this formula ever grow tiresome for audiences or will we finally see some new ideas flow forth and gain traction from the beloved magazine we have come to know and love? Or is the answer already apparent? As a simple reviewer on the internet, I really cannot say. I suppose I will find out at some point in life anyhow.

VIZ MEDIA LAUNCHES THE SWEET SHOJO MANGA CONFECTION KOMOMO CONFISERIE

New Manga Series About An Ex-Rich Girl Who Starts Working At A Pastry Shop And Finds Love For The First Time From The Creator Of S•A And VOICE OVER! SEIYU ACADEMY

San Francisco, CA, August 26, 2015 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest publisher, distributor and licensor of manga and anime in North America, announces the release of its latest shojo manga (graphic novel) series with the launch of KOMOMO CONFISERIE on September 1^st.

The romantic comedy, created by Maki Minami, about a sheltered but determined girl finding her way in the world after her family goes bankrupt is rated ‘T’ for Teens and will carry a print MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN. KOMOMO CONFISERIE also launches digitally on September 1^st via VIZManga.com and the VIZ Manga App, as well as from the Nook, Kobo, Kindle, iBooks, comiXology, and GooglePlay stores. The series will be published under the company’s Shojo Beat imprint with new volumes scheduled for release in print and digitally on a quarterly basis.

As a little girl, Komomo Ninomiya delighted in picking on Natsu Azumi, the son of her family’s pastry chef. Ten years later, when the family fortune is lost and she has no place to live, Komomo encounters Natsu again in her hour of need. Now that Natsu is a master pastry chef in his own right, he’ll help Komomo – but only if she works for him at his new confiserie!

“In KOMOMO CONFISERIE, Maki Minami has created a strong, unique heroine who tackles challenges in her own way including working hard for the first time in her life,” says Nancy Thistlethwaite, Senior Editor. “Be prepared for a lot of laughs as Komomo and Natsu learn to get along in this sweet new series!”

Manga creator Maki Minami is from Saitama Prefecture in Japan and debuted in 2001 with Kanata no Ao (Faraway Blue). Her other works include Kimi wa Girlfriend (You're My Girlfriend), Mainichi ga Takaramono (Every Day Is a Treasure) and Yuki Atataka (Warm Winter). Her series, S•A, (published in English by VIZ Media; rated ‘T’ for Teens), was serialized in Japan's Hana to Yume magazine and was also adapted into a popular anime series. Maki Minami also is the creator of VOICE OVER! SEIYU ACADEMY, which is published in English by VIZ Media.

For more information on KOMOMO CONFISERIE or other shojo manga titles published by VIZ Media, please visit: www.viz.com.

About VIZ Media, LLC

Headquartered in San Francisco, California, VIZ Media distributes, markets and licenses the best anime and manga titles direct from Japan.  Owned by three of Japan's largest manga and animation companies, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media has the most extensive library of anime and manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland and South Africa. With its popular digital manga anthology WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP and blockbuster properties like NARUTO, BLEACH and ONE PIECE, VIZ Media offers cutting-edge action, romance and family friendly properties for anime, manga, science fiction and fantasy fans of all ages.  VIZ Media properties are available as graphic novels, DVDs, animated television series, feature films, downloadable and streaming video and a variety of consumer products.  Learn more about VIZ Media, anime and manga at www.VIZ.com. 

VIZ MEDIA’S HAIKASORU LITERARY IMPRINT PARTICIPATES AT 73rd WORLD SCIENCE FICTION CONVENTION AND WELCOMES AUTHOR TAIYO FUJII

VIZ MEDIA’S HAIKASORU LITERARY IMPRINT PARTICIPATES AT 73^rd WORLD SCIENCE FICTION CONVENTION AND WELCOMES AUTHOR

TAIYO FUJII

Award Winning Japanese Author Of GENE MAPPER Comes To One Of The Longest Running Science Fiction Conventions

San Francisco, CA, August 18, 2015 – VIZ Media’s Haikasoru literary imprint has announced its participation at Sasquan, the 73^rd World Science Fiction Convention. Haikasoru will welcome the acclaimed Japanese author Taiyo Fujii as a panel participant, and will host a retail booth (E4) in the main Dealer’s Room that will offer a wide variety of the imprint’s acclaimed titles at specially discounted prices.

Happening August 19^th-23^rd in Spokane, WA, Sasquan 2015 is the site of the 2015 World Science Fiction Convention, also known as “Worldcon,” an annual gathering of science fiction and fantasy fans. Additional details are available at: www.worldcon.org and http://sasquan.org.

Taiyo Fujii will be featured in several events throughout the convention and participating in several panel discussions:

Thursday, August 20^th

11:30am – 12:00pm    Taiyo Fujii Reading (Room 303B)

Join the author as he offers a personal reading of select passages from his works.

Friday, August 21^st

11:00am – 11:45am    Self-Publishing – When To Do It, When To Publish

                                      Traditionally (Room 401C)

Taiyo Fujii will be among the authors featured for a discussion of the whys and whens of self-publishing versus traditional publishing.

Saturday, August 22^nd

11:00am – 11:45am    The Future of Publishing (Room Bays 111C)

The publishing industry has changed dramatically, moving away from traditional models to online sales, self-publishing and ebooks.  What could the next 20 years bring?

2:00pm – 2:45pm        Kaffe Klatche – Taiyo Fujii (Room 202B)

A special insightful discussion with the author on his work and creative process.

4:00pm – 4:45pm        SpoCon Presents – SubGenre Games

                                      (Grand Ballroom: Salon III)

Are you deep for dystopia? Crazy for cyberpunk? Soft on steampunk? We're pitting ten sub-genres against each-other to see which should shed its "sub" prefix and become a fully-fledged genre alongside the towers of Fantasy and Science Fiction. Join author Taiyo Fujii and Haikasoru Editor Nick Mamatas for this unique forum.

5:00pm – 5:45pm        Seiun Awards & Publishing SF in Japan

                                      (Grand Ballroom: Salon III)

Taiyo Fujii will join two other prominent Japanese authors for a discussion of the famous annual literary award and the process by which science fiction literature is published in Japan.

Taiyo Fujii is the author of the mystery thriller, GENE MAPPER, and won a 2014 Nihon SF Taisho Award by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of Japan. GENE MAPPER was Fujii’s first novel and became Amazon Japan’s Number One Kindle bestseller of for 2012 when it was originally published. The novel was later revised and republished in both print and digitally in Japan as Gene Mapper – full build – by Hayakawa Publishing in 2013 and also was nominated for the Nihon SF Taisho Award and the Seiun Award. Fujii’s second novel, Orbital Cloud, won the 2014 Nihon SF Taisho Award and also took first prize in the “Best SF of 2014” in SF Magazine. Fujii’s English-language short fiction debut, the novelette “Violation of the TrueNet Security Act” appeared in Lightspeed Magazine in July 2015.

During Sasquan 2015, Haikasoru will offer GENE MAPPER along with a wide variety of its other titles for purchase with special convention pricing. Titles to be offered will include: ALL YOU NEED IS KILL (the novel which inspired the 2014 blockbuster Edge of Tomorrow); BATTLE ROYALE REMASTERED and the BATTLE ROYALE SLAM BOOK; GENE MAPPER; anthologies PHANTASM JAPAN and THE FUTURE IS JAPANESE (includes the Hugo Award-winning Ken Liu story, “Mono no Aware”); RED GIRLS and DENDERA.

For more information on GENE MAPPER and the Haikasoru imprint, please visit the dedicated website at www.haikasoru.com.

About VIZ Media, LLC

Headquartered in San Francisco, California, VIZ Media distributes, markets and licenses the best anime and manga titles direct from Japan.  Owned by three of Japan's largest manga and animation companies, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media has the most extensive library of anime and manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland and South Africa. With its popular digital manga anthology WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP and blockbuster properties like NARUTO, BLEACH and ONE PIECE, VIZ Media offers cutting-edge action, romance and family friendly properties for anime, manga, science fiction and fantasy fans of all ages.  VIZ Media properties are available as graphic novels, DVDs, animated television series, feature films, downloadable and streaming video and a variety of consumer products.  Learn more about VIZ Media, anime and manga at www.VIZ.com.

Mahou Josei Chimaka Chapters 2 & 3 Review

Mahou Josei Chimaka Chapters 2 & 3 Review

by Geordi Demorest

So what feels like a thousand years ago I wrote a review of the first chapter of Mahou Josei Chimaka as well as many, many other titles that I have not come back to reviewing. I put my Cartoon Geek Corner writing on hold mostly because of things beyond my control but also because of work I found elsewhere.  Before I go back and begin reviewing new things I’d like to go back and finish up what I can, things such as manga box where there is no legal way to go back and review the earlier chapter any longer as well as titles from sites like JManga that are long gone obviously not but titles still legally available I’d like to get back to. Boring tangent done let’s get back into the actual content.

               

It’s become clearer over time that Mahou Josei Chimaka pulls heavily from other series in particular Sailor Moon. This becomes very evident in its climax in chapter 3 but that is not to say that Chimaka is not its own thing. It has its own colorful cast of characters and story as well as great pacing. In fact, despite the title, this seems to pull from other cultures mythology for its climax (sadly I don’t feel equipped enough to say which cultures specifically) and despite being self-described as a parody it still feels like its own thing to some degree complete with its own themes such as a more modern view of feminist fiction something Sailor Moon I feel was lacking in from my recollections of it.

                Chimaka is a light and fun read that, once started, you cannot put down. The final chapters in particular are gripping while to a degree staying true to the original spirit of the comic’s first chapter. Despite being a “parody” Chimaka still has its deeper moments which are, naturally, character development and the budding LGBT romance with her co-worker who was introduced in the first chapter but finally has time to develop and breathe as a person instead of just being someone meant to forward the plot. I would say give Chimaka a read if you are looking for a more playful magical girl series with a more feminist as well as LGBT slant.

Grade: B+

Available on Sparkler Monthly’s website.