#Like. Not really. Of course reading the manga will still be enjoyable & insightful and it's probably a better medium compared to the anime.

[kyouka-supremacy]

Me the next manga chapter: Okay can we skip everything else and get directly to the cool sskk scene

[zaenaris]

I like the anime added here the twin dragon scene; it makes more sense to de-escalate the tension after the battle and give un an insight on Mitsuya as a brother and person, since for this whole arc he, Taiju (and Yuzuha) had the same role as older siblings; and of course we have seen that the three of them are parallels and opposites, with Mitsuya and Yuzuha ready to protect their younger siblings while being very human and vulnerable at the same time, while Taiju had a very distorted, toxic and violent idea of what love for his family is, because he couldn’t elaborate his mother’s death and feeling that he had to “educate” his younger siblings.

⚠️Manga spoilers ahead⚠️

Plus (maybe it's just me, because I binge read the whole manga from where S1 of the anime ends until Senju's introduction basically) but in the manga I was surprised when Mitsuya's backstory with Draken was shown, I thought that the site I was reading the manga from skipped aa chapter or something; because, okay it was the beginning of a new arc, but I felt Wakui really had to tell us DoraMitsu’s past, but didn't know where to put it lol. It’s also weird because Mitsuya’s focus was here in the BLACK DRAGON arc and briefly after Draken’s death, so putting his flashback in Tenjiku where it is in the manga imho it’s quite confusing, while here at the end of the BD arc (where the focus was alsoo on Mitsuya) is more efficient.

But again, maybe it was just me and in the great scheme of things, it was still enjoyable of course. Anyway, better it was animated here they found the right moment to put it, so more space for Emma's backstory, that it's the chapter immediately after the twin dragons' in the manga

[hopeswriting]

I meant to do a post about my thoughts on the Daily Life Arc now that I finished rereading it, but I can't seem to find the time and it's been a while now, and if I keep it up I'll forget what my thoughts are to begin with lol, so here's the long story short:

I know it's a long arc, as in it starts being boring and more or less unbearable past some point, because the "gag of the chapter" format only takes you so far, and not actually very far if Amano's humor doesn't work on you much, if at all. I don't think it's an arc you can reread right away/soon either, lest you feel that one flaw even faster.

And I felt it too, starting with the fourty-something chapters I felt like it was dragging on too much, though to be fair that probably had to do too with the fact I knew things much more interesting were coming after that.

Still, all that said, like, it's an enjoyable arc. Amano's humor happens to work on me, and she does it really well, and I liked reading the arc. There are some chapters where you're really asking yourself why they were written for lol, but even then you read it for the characters, and it somehow keeps you going.

And like, even though I think Amano could have seen the fact the comedy was going to turn repetitive and thus boring at some point, and try to diversify it or something, it's just how comedy/humor/gags works? Some jokes land and some doesn't, but for me at least a lot more of them worked than not.

The DLA is a good enough arc is what I'm saying.

------

On than note and on the contrary, of course it's fine if you think it's a bad arc, to each their opinion, but personally I really don't agree it's an unnecessary one.

I'm saying this because apparently it's not uncommon to advice new fans to skip the arc and directly start with the Kokuyo one? (Or so I learned on TV Tropes anyway, this might or might not be still relevent/accurate.)

Now don't get me wrong, the DLA does fail to hook the readers to the story for the reasons stated above, I agree with that, but it literally introduces the main character? And all the other characters, and gets us to know them, and establishes the dynamics between them and why they're the way they are, and, though only in a more or less superficial manner (and more than less) by design of the arc's purpose (not being deep in any way lol), it still gives us an insight into the characters and why they're the way they are. A glimpse into the core of their personality, the "stakes" of their characters, the flaws they have to overcome.

And all that in the context of their daily life, so if you skip it to go directly to the arc that challenges them, you can't appreciate fully how they rise to the challenge, how it shows their growth or reasserts their core values. You can't know how much or what it means, for example, off the top of my head, to have Yamamoto sacrifice his arm to beat Ken, when only a year ago he tried to kill himself over his broken arm. Or Hibari losing against Mukuro, thus telling us how much of a real threat he was. Or Tsuna screaming at Lancia for having hurt his friends, anger on his face, clearly despite himself, that Dame-Tsuna.

All these just wouldn't hit you the same, and it'd be such a shame? I mean I guess the ones who start with the Kokuyo arc go back to read the DLA, or you could compromise like the anime did by splitting the DLA between more serious arcs, but like I said I personally don't find the DLA that bad, so I still wouldn't advice it lol.

Even if, I suppose, it'd mean they might give up on the manga somewhere through the DLA, but like? Some mangas just don't speak to you, and that's fine, and it'd be a little of a shame from my POV as a KHR fan, but still, no big deal.

------

I'm still very impressed with how smoothly Amano went from a gag manga to a shonen one, and how she made it so the DLA still fits with the rest. I mean the sudden change in tone/stakes/etc is jarring, sure, but it's all based on stuff she introduced in the DLA, which she presumably came up with with no intention to ever make it something deeper/more meaningful.

It's easy to believe the foreshadowing, and generally speaking the worldbuilding was planned all along, which, again, probably not, and like? Super impressive.

(Though once more don't get me wrong, there are inconsistencies/plot holes in Amano's plotlines and worldbuilding, but not, like, at their seams, if I can say it like that? It's more often in the details, and it's fairly easy to fill in the blanks ourselves.)

------

Finally it was a lot of fun to rediscover the characters in a new light, and a bit of a disbelieving surprise tbh.

For context before I started my reread of the manga, all this time I was going with the time I read/watched it years ago plus the times I skimmed it, but mostly by all the fanon I was consuming. And it's not to say fanon is wrong per se, but it latched on one to three character's traits, or slapped an easy character archetype on them easy to "relate" to within, and apparently never looked back lol. And also often dialed up those traits (good or bad) in a very noticeable manner.

What I'm saying is, fanon is, in fact, wrong sometimes zldnslsz, and the characters are much more nuanced even in the DLA! (Which still leaves us at a more or less superficial level, because, you know lol, but still!)

------

To name the ones that stood out to me the most:

Nana isn't abused by Iemitsu, nor is she unhappy in her marriage despite Iemitsu being an absent husband (which is not relevent in the context of the DLA, but still, you can tell). She isn't an abusive mother to Tsuna either, and she is literally never an airhead. She literally just isn't, she actually does react very normally to the crazy Reborn brings with him, but much like Yamamoto as long as no one gets hurt (or walks it off), she just brushes it off.

And she has friends she goes listen to piano recitals with, and tries to save on money by eating rests, and gets in two-way arguments with Tsuna, and raises his allowance if he gets better grades to push him to work harder, and all around is just your average mom that really didn't read as just The Mom, if you know what I mean.

She has her flaws, definitely, she's not a great mom, namely is apparently used to call Tsuna Dame-Tsuna, but she's not just that.

She takes care of him, worries over him, and seems to be the only one who hasn't given up on him yet when the story starts. She supports him (though sometimes in a tactless to hurtful way), praises him when he does well, and trusts him to watch over the kids.

She's not that bad is what I'm saying, and 100% redeemable (that is, if you think she needs to be redeemed to begin with, which I actually do think she does, calling Tsuna Dame of all things is just a really shitty thing to do.)

(Though it's interesting to note that she doesn't do it again after what happened with Kyoko iirc, even if she might very well still talk to him in a belittling way at times. I just wish Amano would have commit fully to acknowledge it and resolve it, what with already having made it Kyoko's Dying Will Regret.)

(Edit: I had forgotten but she literally forgets his birthday while preparing someone else's birthday, so I take back that she is 100% redeemable because it's being too nice. But my point still stands.)

------

Haru is literally such a fun character, it makes me even more sad now to know what Amano did with her (nothing ansknslq 😭😂).

She's unhinged, has zero impulse control, does not reflect on the consequences of her lack of impulse control as Tsuna points it out, is ready and willing to throw hands at any given moment and is unapologetic of it, and is the one Amano actually calls an airhead.

The only problem she had with the mafia is that she thought Tsuna was forcing it on Reborn, and when she confirmed it was all true she literally didn't even blink at it, and immediately called herself the future Decimo's wife djosdkkd.

On that note she is literally mafia right from her first appearance, is more or less involved in almost all the mafia shenanigans, was right there with Tsuna & Co when they went to destroy the Tomaso's headquarters.

And like?? Amano could just have left it at that if she wasn't going to do anything else/more with it. Haru had so much potential, and not only Amano did nothing with it, she actually watered her down and took away all her distinct character's traits 😭.

------

Hibari is so much more feral and playful than his fanon cool, overpowered, quiet badass counterpart. Which I love too, don't get me wrong, but these two sides of him don't have to be exclusive!

He talks and smiles and jokes often, and shows off and casually insults you, and licks the blood away from his lips after having beaten bloody other middle schoolers who dared to defy him (I know this happens in the Kokuyo arc, but it illustrates my point the best).

Not much more to add than that, we should just acknowledge that and put it in our works more often.

------

Gokudera is a compelling character from the get go, and as far as the DLA goes, he's the most compelling character second to Tsuna. He's the only one to actually have flashbacks and a backstory. And what stood out to me the most that I don't see often in fanon, is that he's really a good friend.

Yes he has a short fuse and snaps easily and is easy to anger, but he's not always angry. And is seen having and being capable of positive exchanges outside of Tsuna (I'm thinking Yamamoto namely, who's made with Ryohei to be the one he gets angry with the most).

And yes he holds Tsuna on a pedestal and sees him through heavily tinted pink glasses, but even through that he's earnestly a good friend. And tries his best, and is hardworking and overachieving, so much so he messes up without meaning to, but he only ever has honest, straight-forward good intentions behind it all (well, maybe not always lol).

I love him a lot more now is what I'm saying.

------

And Tsuna. I'm not sure I'll be able to articulate my thoughts properly, but like... he's just your average teenager. Which of course is his whole thing, and I'm saying it in a very not judgy way whatsoever, but he's often made to be at least a little more than that, namely about his bullying.

Like, it's kind of dramatised in fics? And I'm not going to elaborate on that more because it might come out wrong and I don't want that, but it's just, like—canonically he is just bullied, simple as that. Like many other teenagers are.

And it's all in a "chill" way (for unfortunate lack of a better word, I don't mean to trivialize bullying at all, it's wrong and unfair and never deserved or okay, just so we're clear), and by the time the story starts Tsuna is used to it and has given up fighting against it, and actually finds refuge and a twisted comfort in embracing his Dame-Tsuna's monicker, because at least he's not gonna hit rock bottom deeper than that if he does.

And I'm not actually going anywhere with this, it's just? It hit me how differently canon and fanon portray his bullying.

Back on the note of him being a (below) average teenager, Tsuna is not an uwu pure cinnamon roll too good for this world.

He's literally so quick to judge and criticise, whether in his head or out loud when he knows more the person (namely Haru lol, poor girl), it was actually a bit of a shock tbh lol. He snaps easily, and is lazy, does not want to try even one bit, and is happy to run away from his responsibilities whenever he can.

And not only I'm not saying that in a judgy way this time either, but I'm actually saying it in a good way. He really felt like your average middle schooler, and it was so refreshing to see. That, plus the fact the narrative never holds it against him, let alone punishes him for it even if he's made to grow out of these traits, and it's literally part of his character arc, is kind of unique for the shonen genre (maybe, I'm not exactly a specialist of shonen mangas lol).

And I can see why you'd want to change it in fics, but personally I think it really makes his character's arc even more meaningful.

[16ruedelaverrerie]

Thank you @aquawolf1312​, I’m glad you are enjoying the goings-on around these parts! So much of the way I do fandom is built on a basis of ‘90s shounen manga idiot duos, and hissy rage might have something to do with the visual shorthands of series in that vein-- and also, just as a blanket statement, cats must be loved and everything they do is pERFECT

Anon this is fascinating to me because I have never had and continue to not have ANY IDEA about how people find fics and decide to read them! I’m sure everyone’s mileage will vary, but it’s just enlightening for me to hear anything at all about this process, as mystified as I am about it!

And thank you very much for your kind words :’) v v v The title of Fata Morgana will start coming into focus a little more in chapter 3, but it’ll probably only really coalesce at the end of the story (it’s one of Those Titles, eh). Fandom has done so much for me that I think I’m getting the better end of the deal by continuing to write stuff-- of course I’ll keep at it! Slowly, and sporadically, and with a great deal of unseemly begging for feedback along the way, but I’M HERE

AaaAAAaAAaah yes... Chivalry Comics....................... Anon I’m still fond of those two and their quasi-medieval prank-based antics! I drew it because I enjoyed thinking about it, so that enjoyment didn’t go anywhere! But what’s happened in the seVEN YEARS since I posted it is that I’ve realized I just don’t have any further adventures for them in mind .__. I’m sorry to disappoint you! I’ve never been a huge ~Original Stories, Starring Original Characters~ creator, and I may have to admit that Chivalry Comics was a one-shot-- at this point, my relationship to the comic is pretty much like your relationship to the comic, in that I have no more insight into what goes on in that world than you do! Anything that you think is true for them IS true for them! But I thank you sincerely for your interest, and again, my apologies for not having better follow-through :’(

[gingerbreadbooks2020]

Bookblr post #40: The End of 2020

It’s finally over. And what a year it has been. Although, given all the horrible crap that everyone’s been through, I think I’ll stick to talking about books for just a moment.

366 days ago, I set out to read 12 books. Probably a pretty average new year’s resolution, maybe I stick out a little given the stacks of unread books on my booksheld - or maybe I don’t. So, how did I do?

Well, long story short, I didn’t make it. I had the same resolution in 2019 as 2020, and neither year [if that’s an English phrase] did I make it. I’m still glad I made this blog though. It’s kept me accountable - for the most part - and being able to spend a bit of time digesting what I’ve read was quite nice too. And, along the way, we gained over 450 followers which I never expected in a million years, so thank you to everyone who followed me this year! 

I read 8 books this year. Given the fact that I didn’t even have to do my final college exams, personally it doesn’t feel too great. However, it was an improvement on the two years previous so it was worth something!

So, what did I read this year?

Well, I kick-started this blog reading The Reader by Bernhard Schlink, a reread of a book I was studying for my A-Level German course. I’ve said this before but I’ll say it again, I really enjoyed being able to read that book for my own enjoyment. If you’re into that area of history or just German history, I really recommend the read. Of course it’s not a work of non-fiction, but it’s one of those pieces which really helps you understand the feelings of the people at that time while also not betraying the interesting storyline.

My second book was The Shining by Stephen King. This was a continued read from the previous year. I’d never read a King novel before this, and horror has never been my favourite genre, be it book, film, or video game. However I really enjoyed The Shining and King’s narration and writing style. I don’t know if I;d recommend it for people like myself who’ve never read a King novel before as it is quite a long one, but it was a really good book. I found it took a little while to get into the action, so to speak, but once it did it was really worth it!

After that was a book I bought in 2020, called Faeries, Elves & Gnlins by Rosalind Kerven. This was a really fun book for me because it was just a bunch of short stories about, well, faeries, elves and goblins from Britain and the British Isles. I know many cultures have their own myths and legends, so it was nice to learn about such legends coming from tiny, unhead of towns and villages from the country I live in!

My fourth book this year was technically Macbeth... I did take a break and finish two other books in said break, but it’s next in line. I mostly wanted to read Macbeth simply because I had had to study it for my GCSE English class [which was around 3 or 4 years ago!] and simply never finished reading it. I don’t really know if I’m a Shakespeare person, maybe it’s just because it was a play which I’m not really a big fan of reading? Macbeth is a classic so I don’t think I can fault it. I guess English classes kind of ruined it for me so I can’t say it was a gripping read, but I’m not discouraging you from reading it. And honestly I’m rambling at this point so I’ll move on.

One of the books I read while on a break from Macbeth was Dad Bods by Robyn Sparkes, which is actually a story on Wattpad. I’ll be honest, I can’t really remember the whole story, although I know that I enjoyed reading it. If you’re looking for stories about a middle-aged man realising he’s gay, this is the story for you!

After that was Korean manhwa called Killing Stalking and... how do I describe Killing Stalking? I remember finding it several years ago - I was far too young to be reading it in reality - and the story wasn’t finished yet, so I just read what was there and left it, forgot it for years. Then, early summer this year, I started remembering it, went back and realised it was finished. The story is, put most simply, NSFW. Lots of warnings, I won’t lie. If you know what I mean when I say this, it basically ticks all of the AO3 archive warnings [apart from the underage one [I think!]] so obviously don’t read if those themes may upset you or disturb you. It’s definitely advertised as a psychological thriller by the creator, it’s not a romance novel or anything of the sort, please believe me when I say this. Do I still recommend it? I’m going to step back and let you assess it for yourself given everything I’ve just said.

Obviously after those two I went back and finished Macbeth, but then I think I took a break [unannounced, unplanned]. It was then that I read Volume 1 of the One Piece manga by Eiichiro Oda to get back into reading. It was fun, easy to dip in and out of, and a really simple read. Which is a good thing, I promise. Sometimes books can be big and confusing and they don’t need to be. Books don’t have to be groundbreaking in order to be good, they just need to be enjoyable. 

The eighth and final book that I read and finished in 2020 was To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. I’d never read it before, never studied it for English class, and only had the briefest knowledge of what even happens in the story. All I have to say is, if you haven’t read it already, please do. You can read textbooks and understand events, but books offer a more personal insight into these things. Much alike with The Reader, you can just see things in a way you couldn’t with a textbook or history lesson. Perhaps it’s easier to empathise this way? Either way, please read it. 

I did start reading The Picture of Dorian Gray, unfortunately I didn’t finish it so I won’t really talk about it here, hopefully next year though?

All in all, I’ve enjoyed having this blog. I’ve enjoyed having somewhere to talk about the book I’m reading without my friend telling me to shut up. 

And, despite not reaching my goal this year, I’m optimistic for 2021. I want to keep going with this blog, hopefully I’ll reach my goal this year. Coming home for Christmas from Uni means that now, when I sit in bed, my bookshelf is opposite me and I can see all my unread books and I’m getting excited to read them. Luckily lockdown meant I haven’t been out buying more and more books recently. 

Thank you for following, for liking, for reblogging. Having this little blog has been pretty helpful in 2020. I hope we all have a successful 2021!

- Gingerbread ♤

[theredeemingfactor]

Alita: Battle Angel

So ... Alita: Battle Angel (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0437086/?ref_=nv_sr_1) coming in with an IMDB rating of 7,6 and a Redeemer Rating of 5,7. What we have here is some great Japanese source material that is made into a semi live action, semi good movie. There are just a few classic Hollywood changes that just bring the overall rating of the movie down. I have yet to see the all the source material movies, and I have not actually read any of the manga comics. But I have done some research on the subject and looked over the Manga movie that seems to be the source of most of this remake. And the one thing that I took away from that was that, to my surprise, this movie was actually not whitewashed. The characters from the source manga movie where not all asian either. Lets get on with the review.

The plot. Cybernetic cyborg surgeon Dr Dyson Ido is out scavenging the scrapyard when he comes across the torso of a female cyborg. He manages to attach her to a new body and reactivate her, but she cannot remember anything from her time before the scrapyard. As she struggles to learn about her origin she meets new people and interacts with the people in Ido’s life. In time, certain memories are triggered giving her an insight to who she was, and how important she might actually be. 

The movie. Ok, let's begin with the good .. as opposed to .. to .. the bad. The animation is stunningly good, even though I will come back to this later as well. The world creation is rather stunning and the characters in this movie, most of whom are motion capture a la Avatar, are really cool. The cast is good. The story is a good one. There are some good performances in the movie. And lastly I am, in spite of all the things that I am about to say, really looking forward to the sequel. And yes there will be a sequel, cause of course there will be. The movie has made too much money already to not have a sequel, and the movie ends so amazingly open ended that it would be impossible for there not to be sequel. Now .. the bad. Amazing animation, yes .. but there is still a clear lack of human reality. This might be partly due to bad acting as I don't know how much of a performers face is unaltered for MOCAP (motion capture). Some of the scenes in this movie are just not engaging. So, while there are some good performances in this movie, there is an equal number of lackluster performances. Good story, yes .. great, no. Much like some of the performances .. the main story does not engage at all. Moving on to casting .. yes, it is good .. like in the case of Mahershala Ali, but not with Christoph Waltz. Waltz just was not right for this movie. Same thing goes for Keean Johnson, who just happens to be the anchor in the main cast. Lastly for the bad, we have that classic Hollywood need to make characters older than they should be so there can be a romantic subplot in the movie. Alita, in the source material, is much younger. Having a young kick ass female character works, just look at .. Kick Ass .. Hit Girl is brilliant and bad ass. The wrap things up here .. this movie is a still really fun to watch. And I suppose part of the reason it did not appeal to me more is that I was not the target audience for this movie. This movie is aimed a 13-17 year old demographic. For me, this movie could have used an R-rating and a bit more character development and backstory. It also overuses some over stylized battle shots/sequences that work really well in cartoons but not in live action. Longer un-cut battle scenes would have been much better, too many quick cuts. But for what is was, enjoyable. 

The redeeming factor. Dr Dyson Ido’s hammer. That thing is so cool, and clearly has a backstory all of its own that I would like to hear. A thruster powered spike hammer that Ido uses in his bounty hunter life. That thing is wicked. 

The final word. This was an enjoyable movie, but feels like it was made for a younger audience than myself and also for people who have to some extent read some of the manga comic source material. Watching this, I understand for the first time how someone who has never read a comic feels like when they watch a comic book movie that is not an origin story. I feel like I am missing out on half the movie because they almost do nothing to talk about why the world is the way it is. I think it would have helped a lot to add some depth to this movie. But by all means, go ahead and watch the movie .. it ain’t that bad. 

[flamereign]

idk if you're still accepting them but my url if so ?? o: if not uhhhhh take me out at the knees w a bat or smth instead

idk can i just hug u instead?? // @existends  ( not accepting any longer )

My Opinion on;

character in general:  i played kh2 way before i played any of the other games ( com, 358/2 days ) so i literally knew nothing about roxas,  the organisation ( and his role in it ) and his friendships other than the one w/ hayner, pence and olette so i really had no idea who he was or why he was there??? and yet still, at the end of the prologue i just felt so,,,, sad and angry for him because god, he was really just as confused as i was and wanted answers just as much as i did and when we got the part where his friends didn’t see him anymore and he got acknowledged by no one and every trace of him had been erased just ... oof i felt that pain down in my very soul. that last line he said?? i had tears in my eyes tbh.  super kudos to jesse mccartney’s voice acting as well honestly because god.  and then of course i watched the 358/2 days cutscene movie and read the manga and roxas is literally one of my fave characters in the franchise and the seasalt trio dynamic is just,,, i could talk about them forever really. how they play them: beautifully??? your writing is so enjoyable to read and your headcanons and insights into his character always have me nodding along with everything you write like yes, 100% this ---- and more than that, some of your stuff also makes me go !!! because i hadn’t considered it that way yet and you’ve just given me a new insight into who he is and how he reacts to those around him.  it’s obviously you love and cherish him a lot and it shows in your characterisation.  cannot wait to explore the dynamic between your rox and my lea/axel further tbh!!  i just despair for everyone else bc,,,,, Driving Lessons you know what i mean? 

the mun:  SUPER SWEET?? we haven’t talked all that much but every convo we’ve had has put a smile to my face ... well, unless you’re sending me nightmare inducing memes at random but evEN THEN. you’re great

Do I:

RP with them:  yes, we have a thread and i fricken love it!! want to RP with them:  give me all the things tbh. 

What is my;

overall opinion:  i’m handing you all my uwus,  they’re yours now.

[alexdrawsagain]

I often love talking about comics but rarely get to do so with others. It was really fun to write about my favorites awhile back due to that twitter prompt. So I wanted to share 5 other favorites of mine.

Spider-man Epic Collection: With Great Power

When I was 8 years old i was obsessed with Spider-man, where i devoured everything that had to do with him. As i got older, I had fallen completely out of love with Spider-man for a variety of reasons. These comics reminded me of everything i loved about him. It’s pure fun. It’s fun watching Peter Parker grow out of the kind of self centered asshole he is at the beginning. It’s fun seeing this comic be both a send up of both superman conventions and archie love triangles . It’s fun seeing this poor kid way way way over his head and blunder into things horribly but still come out on top. And it’s fun to see how friggin’ colorful and b-movie monster the series can be. But most importantly, it’s “Amazing” to see Steve Ditko really drawing his heart out. There are pages in this comic that if i could i’d frame on my wall.  Damn it’s friggin’ beautful.

King City/Multiple Warheads

People who know me know how massive a fan of Brandon Graham i am. It’s rather embarrassing. But it’s mostly because his works opened up a whole world of possibilities for me and i haven’t looked back since. Ask me on different days and i’ll tell give you a different answer as to which is my favorite. What draws me to this stuff is the incredible world building, the artstyle which is still unlike anything i’ve ever seen before (a blend of european/japanese/underground/graffiti), the wonderful exotic weirdness for the works, and the writing which can be equal parts minimal, insightful, and pun heavy. There just really isn’t anything like it. But most of all it’s cool. From cool characters, cool fashion, cool lingo, it’s a breath of fresh air in a sea of comics that play it safe.

Death: The High Cost of Living

Neil Gaiman was an author i only knew from an episode of Arthur and that time he wrote “the death of batman“. Since then i’ve dove right into his works and fell in love with the sandman universe. And to this day, Death the High Cost of Living is one of my favorite works. I love it for the high concept “one day every century, death becomes mortal“, the pacing, and how lovingly illustrated it is. It’s a brilliant look at mortality but it’s also such an enjoyable read because Gaiman gives Death a wonderful personality. And of course i fell in love with her instantly.

Atomic Robo Vol. 4: Other Strangeness

“If under Iron Man’s armor beat the heart of Indiana Jones, you’d get an idea of what Atomic Robo is like“ This was on the back of one of the TPB’s and it’s entirely accurate. The first 5 or so volumes are my cherished possessions. Because it had everything. Comedy, action, adventure, robots, dinosaurs, and super science gone mad. It was fun with a capital F and pulp with a capital P. I specifically chose this volume because it’s Robo at his best and it includes adventures involving the ghost of Thomas Edison, a mad scientist dinosaur who is stupid, a kaiju rampage in japan, and a dimension filled with vampires.

Ai Yori Aoshi: Vol. 1

I’m a hopeless romantic at heart and I like wholesome love stories. Ai Yori Aoshi fits that bill perfectly.  It’s a beautiful love story of 2 people who really need the other but first have to understand each other as people. Who have to give things up in life and decide what’s really important; each other. It’s sweet, awkward, funny, and full of feels. The series is kinda weird because it starts off as well written/well drawn if outlandish love story then turns into a crummy harem comedy for most of its run before going back to what it was at the beginning. For that reason i treat the first volume as a stand alone manga.

[marzipan-moon]

Everything.

Characters: Korekiyo & his sister. Warnings: Graphic descriptions of illness/dying. No spoilers for DRV3 beyond Korekiyo’s freetime. Crossposted: To AO3 Author comment: Phew!!! This really took a lot out of me, haha. I’m really, really proud of this, though! There’s a lot of folklore: I tried to use good sources wherever possible, however, I’m no professional so please take it all with a grain of salt (ha.)   Also, a massive, massive shout out to @kumaspagheddi . Without you, I don’t think I would ever have given myself so deep into our shared hell. I was thinking of you and our discussions a lot while writing, so I hope you don’t mind if I dedicate this piece to you. Thank you for everything. 

“In the Anmatyerre tribe of central Australia, the women and children are taught to fear a great spirit called Twanyirika,” she begins. She’s speaking so softly, the cover of her futon pulled up to her chin. “Now, Korekiyo, what does central Australia look like?” She always begins stories like this. She needs to know the geography, paint the landscape. Peel back the walls of this room and let in the hot dust and red-whipped sand. “It’s a desert. Flat but peaks that jut out of the land like boils. Green shrubbery, snakes and kangaroos. Frequently subjected to bushfires, violently red as the earth it chars. ” “A harsh landscape, wouldn’t you say?” She smiles. “Can you imagine? We’d melt in the heat.” She glanced down, humming a laugh. He could tell she still wanted to see it, a melted puddle or otherwise.

“Yeah, we would.”   She smiled. “Well. Anyway. The Anmatyerre tribe have long adjusted to these conditions, and of all the things to fear between the heat and the fire and the venomous creatures - a child is taught that the scariest of them all is the great spirit Twanyirika. He grows up hearing, with the other children and the women, the sound of his eerie, booming call screeching from the bush. Whenever a male child is to become a man, he must face Twanyirika himself - be consumed by him and reborn.”   “Not an uncommon theme,” he offered - kneeing next to her. “There are countless stories of man facing death only to come back stronger. Siberian shaman hallucinate having their own limbs shorn off and consumed right in front of them before they may practice their medicine and tricks…” She nods enthusiastically, a pale hand reaching to squeeze his knee. “Mmhm. That’s right. But there’s a little more to this story.” “Oh?” He tilts his head, bringing his hand over hers. She pulls it back, fluttering it on her chest. “So! The child grows up. His social unit is just a little cluster of his intimately known relatives, all of whom, in the heart of the desert, walk naked. He learns everything orally, written knowledge eschewed for the stories of his elders. He relies on them wholly, they are the secret-keepers to the universe. So he trusts in them, even, when he is just twelve and taken to be circumcised. He learns the stories of his ancestors through the twisting and turning of dancers, the present and the past mixed together all at once. And throughout it all, he is reminded that he must stay still, he must not cry out, he must remember that Twanyirika awaits. And he can hear the spirit, while all this is going on - his voice swelling out from the bush.” “Finally, the boy is circumcised. All the while, the tribesmen sing in thunderous, deep tones - so loud that they begin to drown out Twanyirika’s cries. Can you imagine? The madness of that moment, the way the world swirls as the men you trust so much pull your foreskin forwards and cut it off - your so paralysed with awe and fear that you don’t even think to cry out. The smell of their bodies, the rounded sound blaring all around you, the frightful beast drawing ever closer.” “And then…” She looked up at him, smile widening. “And then. Out from the bush come other tribesmen, bull-roarers in their hands. They bring the little wooden instrument up to the boy’s wound, catching his blood. And they tell him, then - this simple little slat of wood, carved from a knife and swung round a man’s head, vibrating the air to produce a deep, eerie sound - they tell this child, this new-man, that this is Twanyirika.” “‘Here is Twanyirika, of whom you have heard so much’”, She laughed at that, her fringe flopping over her eyes. “And so, the last of his childhood is destroyed. The final monster is slain. A joke to be laughed at, a screening technique to separate the men from the women, the adults from the children. Can you imagine that? Can you really, really imagine that?” He lifts a finger to his chin, rubbing the material of his face-mask. “Yes… quite the relief, I would imagine. And what a rush of power. If Twanyirika is just a joke, then all else must seem trivial. Ah… Sister! I can see why this story excited you so.” He beams at her, the room slowly fading in - the roar of the bull-roarers and the sound of strange songs and pounding feet being replaced by their quite little home. Tatami mats and low candle-light, their whispers barely above breathing. She smiled back. “Well, Korekiyo. The next story’s yours.” — Needless to say, anthropology had become somewhat of an addiction for them both. “Now, which story should I tell you today?” She was sleeping, but it wasn’t a natural sleep. He didn’t know if she could hear him, but that wasn’t to matter. Even like this, it was enjoyable just to speak to her. The air in the hospital was stagnant, the lights far too bright. The machine that pumped air into her made the most unpleasant noises, the air-conditioning unit humming just to the left of her bed. He hoped she would not listen to that drone, and would instead be lead by his voice. “… Should we look at some manga, dissect it together?” She lay unmoving, the world completely out of her reach. No matter. She was just like a caterpillar wrapped in its cocoon, the shaman deep in his transformative trance, changed into a bird and drifted far and away to the spirit plane - at any rate, she would soon be back. He reached into his bag, pulling out a parcel-shaped book. Leaning his head onto hers, careful not to dislodge the strings of tubes that flowed into her, he flipped it open.

— “Ah! Yes, there - you see the way they merge into each other to gain one another’s powers?” She asked, excitedly, pointing at the page. This was usually how things went. No matter what they were reading, they could never get through it at a quick pace. Everything had to be discussed, every mythology picked out and pointed at. Author-intent be damned, they could open anything and see the strings of the world pulsing through. “Mm. Yeah, I do.” “Well, notice how beautiful and androgynous their bonded form is,” she stroked her finger over the page. “Ah! Isn’t that such a common motif?” “Hmm… Yes. The Ancient Greeks thought that in the beginning, all peoples were joined together. Creatures of male-male, female-female, female-male varieties - powerful things that Zeus himself feared so much that he had to separate them. Romantically, they say that we - the decedents of those creatures, are always searching for our other half.” There was a briefest of pauses as they shared glances, a soft laugh tittering out of her. “Yes. And from Adam - the androgynous mirror of God, out from him came Eve. Angels with no genitals. Eunuchs trusted with holy power. Mmm, and even Yin-Yang, the perfect state of balance, the merging of the two halves back to the perfect one, the wholeness.” She stroked the page again, smiling wider. “And they really are beautiful, aren’t they?” — She said none of this as she lay quietly in bed, his voice a river running over her. The world was still rolling outside, the pulse of it seen through those black and white pages. He analysed everything for her, every page another story, another insight, another thing that tied them to something far, far away from all this. It was so quiet without her voice singing the song of the world alongside him, but he wasn’t alone. She was here, in some way, in the sound of her machines - the warmth of her hand. Her consciousness just a tiny, frail ball - buried somewhere deep, deep inside of her. He hoped it was warm in there. He hoped it was a pleasant dream.

He hoped she wasn’t alone.

—

Sometimes, they’d sing. When they couldn’t play or grew tired of reading or she had a headache - sometimes they’d sing. Singing had curative powers, supposedly - but really, it just made for an excellent distraction. Folk-songs suited their voices best. It was the way they were meant to be sung, by unprofessionals, brimming with passion and a sense of purpose. Songs to pass the days, songs to honour the dead, songs to remember some event that history had long lost.

And their singing, at least, could drown out the awful hum of those roaring machines. —

When they were younger, she a little healthier - they were still telling each other stories. Countless stories. Yes, with less detailed analysis - primitive interpretations, he was sure - but still, this was how they grasped the world. A thousand different threads, but in each moment they could pick just one. Better than that, it used to be that they didn’t just tell their tales through soft whispers over quiet candle light. Mother and Father worked long hours - and so, she’d raid their closet. She was particularly attached to Mother’s bridal furisode. The long sleeves, the draping train - matched with her hair, it was like everything flowed away from her. Of course, it was much too big for her. Nor was she particularly good at tying, worse still at doing her hair. He was equally hopeless. So there she was - a mess, no make-up, her hair loosely tied and sticking this way and that, in clothes that neither fitted nor entirely suited her - but in those moments, she transformed. They transformed. The walls of their house fell down, and suddenly they were up in the snow covered peaks. She became Princess Kaguya - a child born from bamboo, her eyes wide and staring up at the moon, longing to return but all the earthly attachments winding round her feet to keep her here. He’d hold onto her ankles and pretend to sob as she was dragged away by mythical forces. Or, she’d drop her hair - throwing the ornaments to the floor, wrapping herself up in her thick, black strands. A beautiful woman come to visit him, to tempt him - and he’d ask her to come to the bath. Run it until it was warm - beg her to join him. And when she finally did, she’d scream and disappear  under the water - a mess of bubbles, just a coil of thick black hair. The ice-woman melted. A fantasy as fleeting as snow. Or, she’d sneak up on him - padding quietly through the house, hair completely covering her face. And then she’d grab him by the mouth, whisper some chant in his ear, drag him back into hell and pretend to eat him. Sometimes he’d catch her first, run into the kitchen - drawing salt circles on the ground. Sometimes he’d throw the salt on her, watch as she wailed and writhed and melted into the ground - before bursting out into a laugh, melting the dark night and the freezing snow and bringing back a warmth louder than any fire. She’d get her revenge, she warned - pulling her face out through her hair.   And he was any number of mythological creatures. He “borrowed” masks from his Father’s trips around the world, a Kitsune his favourite. But when he wasn’t a trickster fox, he was Mwaash aMbooy and Xipe Totec and Krampus - and each one filled his spirit with its own and suddenly he was so much more than himself. Suddenly these countless, stiff stories became real. It was all fun, wildly inaccurate, even - but all of it was something far, far away from here. “Stab me, Korekiyo, stab me harder. Stab me like you mean it! I took everything from you! I gobbled up your children and your wives and your siblings and you think stabbing me like that will get you anywhere?” She’d scolded, once. He didn’t want to, but by her encouragement, he squeezed her ribs harder. And when that didn’t get him anywhere, he tickled his fingers down her sides and she roared out in ‘pain’, kicking him in the stomach with a laugh more ferocious than he’d ever heard. And with that weakness discovered, no matter what monster she changed herself into, he knew how to defeat her.   Then she got tired too easily.

Suddenly, she didn’t want to pretend she was a vengeful spirit anymore. He didn’t think that she grew out of it - after all, nothing seemed to embarrass her anymore. But she didn’t want to play those games anymore.

—

Sometimes, he wondered if she was Kaguya. When she slipped away from them, disappeared into the sheets of the hospital bed, he wondered if that was the moon calling on her. Was the heavenly entourage coming to take her away, a feather robe to wipe away all of her sadness and compassion for the people of Earth?

—

Anthropology wasn’t just a way to peel back the four walls that always seemed to surround them. It was a shield to the world - a great knowing, a tap into the higher knowledge that only they knew how to turn on. They could see the knot that bound them all together, even if the ignorant fools around them couldn’t see the obvious. You see, their behaviour can be explained. All behaviour explained. Everything with a reason, everything with a story attached. It was so much more interesting to look at what compelled them to act in such a way, rather than being hurt by their words. Detached from the situation, looking at it like one of their many stories - life eased. Every instance just a mirrored reflection of one that had happened a trillion times before. To be made beautiful, precious in its own way. “So, you see, those bullies are simply exerting in-grouping behaviour. It’s an obvious human behaviour, no? Useful for creating homogenous societies, whom are much easier to manage and control.” “Ahh… Father’s detachment from us is a coping mechanism, his constant ‘overnight’ shifts just an escape. Like any victim of a Yuki-onna. He’ll suffer for it, in the end.”

She was screaming at him. “You don’t understand any of this, any of it at all!” Her fingers gripped the cold railing of the hospital bed, her knuckles threatening to push through what was left of her skin. “You get to have a normal life,” she snapped, “You can learn languages and play instruments and travel the world, you’re going to get to go to high school and university and have all these nice, wonderful friends - while I’m sitting here just rotting in this… this disgusting, filthy, rotting body.”   “I can’t do anything,” she’d say, rolling her fingers over her eyes. “Except read. Read and read and read and read until my head turns to mush and the words don’t make any sense anymore. And… and you can. You can. You can do all this stuff. All that living.” He lowered his head, patiently listening. “All of it. You can do all of it, anything you want to. I… I can’t even taste anything anymore, did you know that? Everything’s just the same bland mush in my mouth. I’m so sick of this, I’m sick of this… ! And you’re just sitting here like my eulogy singer. I’m not dead! I’m not dead yet!” “So… why don’t you just leave? I’m serious. Stand up and go live somewhere else and be happy. Leave me alone here so I can… I can finally just, just, just rip my skin off. Rip it all off,” she lifted her fingers to her arms, nails digging into the skin. “Peel it all back so I can get out of this fucking prison!!” There was a tremble in his voice, but he looked at her, and said, “A selkie.” “What?” “The selkie tears its skin off and transforms into a seal. She can only maintain her human form for so long, often long enough to fall into a tragic love affair from which she must depart from - the sea forever calling her as her true home.” She looked at him poe-faced, her mouth parting. “Or the Squonk, an American creature whose skin is so ill-fitting, covered in warts and blemishes that cause it to become ashamed of its appearance. It spends much of its time weeping. Clever hunters who try to catch it are often baffled, for on capture, it will dissolve completely into a pool of tears.” Her lips trembled. “Or perhaps you’re…” She laughed, she was laughing loud and clear. “You’re trying to analyse me, is that it, sweet Korekiyo?” She buried her face in her hands. “I… I must apologise.” —

She died. He stopped thinking that she’d returned to the moon, or that the sea had called on her, or that she was on some epic journey within herself - waiting to be returned stronger than ever. And though they’d read a thousand, million stories about death - it’s trappings, it’s grief, it’s effect on every single behaviour anyone could think of…. None of them came to mind. It was like all his memories had been stripped away and there was just a great wide nothingness. All her wires had come undone, the threads that bound them snapped. There was no knot at the centre of the universe. Everything was disconnected, far-flung and moving ever further away. Alone. Getting colder. He’s not scared of anything, anymore.

— The cord’s bound too tight, his neck drawn back like he’s stargazing. The noise is impossible to bear, deep throated chanting thunderously enveloping him. The ropes bleed into him like the endless tubes that fed into her. Nothing makes any sense. Not that, not this - his hair spilling out of his head and drowning the room, pouring out of this paper house and coiling round the whole world. Winding round their necks. Down their throats. Suffocating them all. Suffocating every single thing. The world goes to scratches and stars, his lungs aching in a red hot burn that takes his consciousness. And suddenly he’s not so helpless, rigid and stiff - unable to move. Suddenly he’s crawling along his own hair, fluid and shapeless, spilling outwards. Spilling upwards.

Nothing, nothing. It’s a great wide nothing. And then there was light. And then there was warmth. The cords slid round him, all the lines of every story like thin movie reels, swirling through his hair. The single red rope around his neck. A tangling of hospital tubes. Vines bearing roses, obi ties and belts, bandages wrapped around a body, wrapped around his hands. Blood lines, rivers, stiff kanji black lines of ink, the flow of time like one huge line that pointed straight to. Her. She’s standing there. Her face a mess of lines. Pale and naked, her hair like cracks in her skin revealing an infinitely dark sky. There’s the roar of the hospital. That eerie call of the air conditioning, the screeching, booming gasp that came from her ventilator. It’s so loud, it’s all he can hear, and there’s nothing more frightening in the world because when he hears it he can’t see her. But then behind him, her fingers slipping over his mouth. And as soon as her fingers brush his lips, everything goes silent. He can feel her body at his back. It’s a shape he’s so used to, a shape that’s so unmistakably hers. And she’s warm. She’s so so so warm. But it’s not until she whispers in his ear that he finally understands.   He understands all of it. Every single thing. “Here is Death, of whom you have heard so much.” She’s laughing. It was all a joke! Do you get it? All of this, this whole time - a secret for only those who have been initiated. The curtain peels back, the cry of the machines pumping air into her tired lungs just the bull-roarers calling from the bush. She’s laughing, she’s laughing - Death had been twirling all around them, driving them mad, making them afraid. But don’t you see, Korekiyo? The last of your childhood is gone, this was the secret! The final monster slain. Don’t you feel relieved?

Don’t you feel powerful?

Doesn’t it all just seem… so trivial, now?  

All that suffering was just to make the punchline funnier.

“I have so much to tell you.” “I know it all already.” She lifts herself up, twirls through the air. Earth stretches out long and far away, every person and every place and every story at the tips of her fingers. She’s looking at him, her hair covering all of her face except for her smile. “Now go. Go and do all that stuff. All that living.”   She’s laughing, she’s laughing, he’s laughing. Whirling their own bull-roarers, the secret theirs to keep.

Earth comes back to him, and suddenly, everything’s connected.

We’re never alone.

クククククククククククククク

[recentanimenews]

Bookshelf Briefs 4/18/20

Bloom Into You, Vol. 7 | By Nakatani Nio | Seven Seas – The majority of this volume is devoted to Sayaka, who finally works up the resolve to confess to Touko, despite knowing that she’s in love with Yuu. It goes exactly as you’d expect, but that does not diminish how well told this is. (The second novel might go into more detail.) We also get some backstory for the teacher and her partner, explaining how they got together and reminding both Sayaka and the reader that being in love with another woman is something that does not have to be confined to high school. As for Yuu and Touko, well, they’re almost there (and I will admit the scene where Seiji bluntly tells Yuu that they’re not the same (meaning Yuu isn’t asexual) was very well done). This remains fantastic. – Sean Gaffney

Hatsu*Haru, Vol. 11 | By Shizuki Fujisawa | Yen Press – I’ve pretty much resigned myself to reading this for the side couple, so I was delighted with their half of the manga, as Ayumi, after attempting to analyze love to death in an effort to run away from her own feelings gets a Big Damn Kiss and turns into a sop. It’s sweet, and god knows Takaya deserves it. Unfortunately, I’m still uninterested in Kagura and Tarou—she’s much better when she’s not being a weak drip, which she is here, and he’s so passive and understanding that it’s what’s actually preventing anything from happening. I suspect this story, despite a double convention, is not quite over, particularly given Tarou’s “huh? what’s love? can you eat it?” expression, but maybe twelve will give me more Ayumi. – Sean Gaffney

I Fell in Love After School, Vol. 2 | By Haruka Mitsui | Kodansha Comics (digital only) – While initially reluctant to become the manager of the boys’ volleyball team at her high school, Kao Hayama is now really putting her all into the role. That’s what makes I Fell in Love After School unique, when it otherwise would be a fairly straightforward shoujo romance. Often, when such a series involves a boy passionate about sports (like Waiting for Spring, for example) readers only see an occasional glimpse of games, which is never really enough to suit a sport manga enthusiast like me. Because Kao is the manager, however, much of the plot is sport-related, which I appreciate. On top of this, Kao’s burgeoning relationship with Nagisa Kuze is compelling. I appreciate that she is never a spaz, and that he’s not some cool prince type, but has flaws and vulnerabilities that Kao is adept at perceiving. I look forward to reading the rest of this series! – Michelle Smith

An Incurable Case of Love, Vol. 3 | By Maki Enjoji | Viz Media – I seem to be surprised lately with shoujo or josei romances hooking up faster than I expected. I guess Moonlighting Syndrome is not what it once was. In any case, yes, our lead couple are now a couple, though they haven’t gotten very far and he still tends to be a bit of a jerk if prodded. I am also rather impressed with the book continuing to emphasize the aspects of being a nurse, and what Sakura does well and does badly at, showing how she can’t simply use her natural empathy to win the day all the time. This comes in handy when she deals with a new nurse who is VERY interested in Tendo, and is also a better nurse on the non-empathic side of things. As always with this author, a very well-written heroine carries the day. – Sean Gaffney

My Hero Academia: School Briefs, Vol. 4 | By Kohei Horikoshi and Anri Yoshi | VIZ Media – This fourth installment of the My Hero Academia light novel series centers around the school festival. In “Prep,” Shinso takes out some trash and witnesses the other classes hard at work. (And thinks regarding Mineta, “He’s gotta get expelled for sexual harassment one of these days, right?” I SURE AS HELL HOPE SO, SHINSO!) The longest story depicts class 1-B’s play, and is pretty fun, but mostly just made me wish these characters got their own spinoff a la Vigilantes. My actual favorite was “Festival for All,” which takes a collage of panels from the manga and extrapolates scenes from them, like Shinsho hanging upside down in a haunted house, Midoriya making candy apples for Eri, et cetera. I will try very hard to forget the absolutely VILE thing Mineta says at the end of this otherwise very nice story. I think it was his grossest comment yet. – Michelle Smith

My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom!, Vol. 3 | By Satoru Yamaguchi and Nami Hidaka | Seven Seas – The gag here, and it really is a great one, is that despite winning the hearts of literally everyone around her, Katarina STILL ends up in the exact same cutscene from Fortune Lover that her evil version did. Of course, the cast IS all in love with her, so the scene goes south rather quickly—with everyone noting the bullying plot is far too well thought out to be planned by our Bakarina. The rest of the volume is more serious, as Maria goes missing, and dark magic is suspected. The suspect is obvious, but that doesn’t make the danger to Katarina any less great, and she ends the book in a coma. Can she manage to charm her way out of things while asleep? Fantastic. – Sean Gaffney

The Swamp | By Yoshiharu Tsuge | Drawn and Quarterly – As the first volume in Drawn & Quarterly’s series of Tsuge’s complete mature works, The Swamp brings together eleven of Tsuge’s short manga along with an essay by Mitsuhiro Asakawa which provides them with additional historical context. The stories collected in The Swamp were originally published between 1965 and 1966, most of them appearing as contributions to the influential alternative manga magazine Garo. Tsuge’s narratives are compelling, at times unsettling and at times humorous, but always offering insightful commentary on humanity. Even those that are more surreal have an underlying sense of truth. Most of the short manga featured in The Swamp have at least one twist to them to give the reader pause, whether in delight or in disquiet, or some combination of the two. Overall, it’s an immensely satisfying volume. I’ll definitely be on the lookout for Drawn & Quarterly’s second Tsuge collection, Red Flowers; this is not a series to miss. – Ash Brown

Takane & Hana, Vol. 14 | By Yuki Shiwasu | Viz Media – I will admit, Hana falling off their cruise ship into the water took me by surprise—I had to read it three times to get what was happening. Naturally, Takane goes after her, and so we end up with, of all things, a “castaways on an island” plotline, though it goes in a very Love Hina direction when it turns out that civilization is across the island. On the brighter note, we get the main couple telling the immediate romantic rivals about their coupledom, which is honestly better handled on Hana’s end. And because the only thing better than one problematic age-difference couple is TWO, there’s more with Nicola and Mizuki, as she still has a crush on him, and he is… at least getting to know her better. Unbalanced, but good. – Sean Gaffney

What’s Michael? Fatcat Collection, Vol. 1 | By Makoto Kobayashi | Dark Horse – What’s Michael? is a series I’d wanted to read for years, but quickly discovered is best enjoyed in small doses. The manga consists of six-page chapters that do not tell a cohesive narrative. Michael might live with a yakuza in one chapter and with a single lady in the next. Sometimes he has a mate and children. I liked best the chapters that employ nonverbal storytelling, like when Michael keeps laying on objects people need or when getting a ribbon stuck on his claw leads Michael to perform several pages of rhythmic gymnastics. As usual, I took some things too seriously, getting pissed off at an idiot who punches Michael for being disinterested in playing fetch and utterly failing to find anything funny in the plight of a poor, neglected dog. That said, the majority of this chunky omnibus was enjoyable, and I look forward to the second half. – Michelle Smith

By: Ash Brown

[recentanimenews]

INTERVIEW: Voice Actress Yui Horie on Tackling English in Anime

We almost never see them but they are incredibly important for our enjoyment of watching anime. Japanese voice actors play a big part in making us laugh, cry and be emotionally invested in our favorite shows. Many of them have gathered a big fan following thanks to their amazing talent of breathing life into our favorite characters or being amazing singers who can fill giant concert halls all by themselves—and we were lucky enough to meet one in person for you!

  Recently, we were fortunate enough to meet legendary voice actress Yui Horie who attended the German anime convention Connichi as a guest of honor. She was willing to sit down with our team and enlightened us about the world of Japanese voice acting and the differences in recording when contrasted to Western voice actors, gave us some insight into the creation of her virtual idol Miss Monochrome and, most importantly, told us how Japanese voice actors approach the pronunciation of English dialogue.

      Can you describe Miss Monochrome for those who are not familiar with her?

Yui Horie: First of all, thanks to Crunchyroll for streaming Miss Monochrome. I actually designed Miss Monochrome myself. She was originally intended as an enemy for my concerts, but over time, she became an idol in her own right and later even an anime. I think “Virtual Idol” is the best term to describe her.

  It’s been a couple of years since Miss Monochrome’s first appearance in 2012. What was the most exciting part of this journey, and what are your hopes for Miss Monochrome’s future?

Yui Horie: I never would have guessed that Miss Monochrome would become an anime! We’ve been together on the stage a couple times and I wondered what the audience would think of it. I was really happy to learn that they like it. I think that a new kind of idol emerged through this. Sure, there are a lot of virtual idols and VTubers nowadays, but back then they were rather uncommon. It’s almost like she really exists. Speaking of which, are VTubers popular in Germany, as well?

  People at least know about them, but they aren’t really that popular yet. For example, we recently collaborated with her at Crunchyroll Expo and showed her first concert but her popularity is still growing.

Yui Horie: Well Miss Monochrome is no VTuber, so it’s a bit hard to describe what she is. I suppose the best way to understand it is just to watch a couple of her videos on YouTube.

    Are there any details that go into the creation of a character like Miss Monochrome that people aren’t aware of? What challenges did you face along the way?

Yui Horie: Of course, the technical aspect is rather difficult. Maybe it’s not as hard as it used to be, considering that the technology evolved over the years but back then, it was still something new and innovative. Especially, we were particular about the character’s movement since then.

  Regarding my own contributions? Well, I just sketched the design on a blank piece of paper and my colleagues took care of the rest. I didn’t really do anything difficult. But I know that a concert hall must meet certain requirements for us to perform there—so that we are able to set up the boards for the hologram—you know these see-through panels. And this of course limits where we can perform.

  Music director: When we add more details to Miss Monochrome, the quality increases as well. But we always have to keep our actual goal in mind and there is a point where we have to stop when it comes to details because of the budget. Making that decision is not always easy.

  Yui Horie: Miss Monochrome is real, after all! But doing the robot-like voice can be pretty tiring sometimes.

  What is the difference between the concert of a virtual idol and a "performance in flesh and blood?”

Yui Horie: Talking about Miss Monochrome’s concerts, obviously, it is rather hard to organise the equipment. A lot of work goes into that but overall, it’s rather simple. No matter where and no matter how many times, Miss Monochrome always delivers a flawless performance. She sings without flaw, dances without flaw—she is the perfect performer. But she always does the same thing on stage. We always look for ways to make each concert a unique experience. For example, we have this character, Monster-DJ Z, who entertains the audience. We always try to offer something alongside the visuals of Miss Monochrome and always think of new ways to do that.

  Regarding my own concerts—I know how to entertain it and I have certain freedoms to approach it. But I’m made out of flesh and blood myself, so I get tired after a while. I think that’s the great difference: Miss Monochrome can give three or four concerts a day, I can only do one, maybe two.

    What does the future have in store for Miss Monochrome?

Yui Horie: Well, in Japan there is this festival for AR and VR on September 23rd. A lot of popular AR and VR-Artists will perform there, like Hatsune Miku to name one example—is Hatsune Miku popular in Germany, as well?

  Indeed, she is! Hatsune Miku is well known around here. In fact, there recently has been a concert in Cologne and she also often appears alongside our mascot, Crunchyroll Hime, on illustrations and such.

Yui Horie: I hope that Miss Monochrome can join them some day!

  Anyway, like I said there is this festival in Tokyo. But it would be great if Miss Monochrome could also perform in Germany—or everywhere in the world, for that matter. It would be nice if she was known everywhere and that we could perform in as many countries as possible. We appreciate every offer!

  Let’s focus on your work as a voice actor: How much time do you have to prepare for a role? It must be difficult having so many different roles at the same time.

Yui Horie: When we talk about an anime that is based on a manga or a novel, it’s actually pretty simple compared with the original anime. You can easily prepare yourself by checking out the source material. But when it comes to an original work, you have to record your lines without knowing what comes next. You have to get a feeling for the character. We talk with the director and the rest of the staff and discuss where the character is supposed to go and because of that I think that it is essential for a voice actor to be adaptable.

  I start by recording some lines for a role and then I get directions like "a bit younger," "a bit colder" or "a bit meaner." I have to change my speech pattern on the spot. Even when I’m able to prepare for a role, it might still happen that we notice during the recording that it doesn’t quite work that way and that I have to do it differently.

  In the West, it’s pretty common for each voice actor to record their lines alone. Are there any difficulties to record in groups? Something people might not be aware of? What is in your opinion the advantage of group recordings?

Yui Horie: There are situations where you have to record by yourself in Japan, as well. This is mostly the case for games and narrations. But yes, its common practice that everyone involved in an anime episode record their dialogue together. Dialogue is a form of human interaction, after all. When I practice my role alone at home, it might happen that I have a different idea of how to perform a line than my partners. And you have to adapt to that. This creates a certain bond between the actors and their characters and I think this is the greatest advantage of the Japanese method.

  But when I’m recording lines for a game, I’m sitting alone in the booth. I can let my creativity run wild and focus on my own vision. I think that this has its benefits as well. But you need a lot of imagination, as you have to imagine how the other characters would react.

    What the difference between working on an anime and working on a game, especially when it is an extensive work like, for example, Umineko no Naku Koro ni?

Yui Horie: The script for Umineko was very big. Someone with a lot of endurance records for maybe four to five hours a day. If they don’t finish in that time, they continue the day afterwards. In my case, it depends a bit on the role, but I usually record for three hours a day which adds up to about 400-500 words of dialogue. Some fast people manage up to a 1000 well and I continue with the script when I am free to do it.

  What is it like for a Japanese Voice Actor to speak German or English in anime?

Yui Horie: Well the English we use obviously still sounds very Japanese, for example something like “Sandaaboruto” for example. But I’d also like to know: How does it sound to you?

  Well, you usually notice that voice actors just act out the Katakana transcription, but it’s also creating a certain charme for many fans. Just to name an example, fans of Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure love to quote the broken English of the show. Many consider it a part of the experience.

Yui Horie: Well, when it comes to stuff like spells, I usually just read off the Katakana. But there are some characters that are supposed to speak English properly and that’s always rather exciting. Usually someone stands beside me and dictates how I’m supposed to pronounce a word and I repeat it afterwards. But that is rather taxing and it really depends on the situation and the person. Some prepare themselves for this by listening to recordings. I prefer to let others dictate me how to say something.

  Does it work the same way when you speak German?

Yui Horie: Place names and monikers are often German. Those are always written down in Katakana and I usually just read them off. For example I can say “Gute Nacht“ [Good Night] and in Katakana, this would be “Guute Nahato” or I can try to say it in proper German and form the word “Nacht.” There are some vocals that simply don’t exist in the Japanese language and if it is written down in Katakana, I simply read those. If I get the task to say something as German as possible, it’s far more difficult. For example, in Katakana, if you have names like Dresden, the script simply says “Doresuden” and that’s how I pronounce it, even if it is “Dresden” in proper German.

  To close things off a bit of a joke question: Do you think vacuum cleaners make for the ideal pet and if so, why?

Yui Horie: Since I don’t get to clean my house that much myself, I would really appreciate it if my pet could take care of it. If I had a dog, it would only make a mess while Ru-chan, appearing in Miss Monochrome anime, would clean everything up, so that would be really handy. So yeah, I think they would make for the ideal pet!

  Thank you very much for the interview!

“SHOWMAKER” - Shaped by your ideas - is one of the most popular games, and a tool that will let you create top-notch live stage performances quickly and easily. With SHOWMAKER, you can design a full SHOW in just 4 easy steps. Work with other producers from around the world to put on the ultimate SHOW! Download “SHOWMAKER” now!

  ➡️ Get SHOWMAKER on Steam today! ⬅️

➡️ Don't forget to watch Miss Monochrome on Crunchyroll! ⬅️

  ---

René Kayser is the PR and Social Media Manager for Crunchyroll Germany. He tweets @kayserlein where he yells at people to finally read the visual novel Umineko When They Cry.

By: news+feed@crunchyroll.com

[recentanimenews]

Bookshelf Briefs 6/19/19

Anonymous Noise, Vol. 14 | By Ryoko Fukuyama | Viz Media – Well, that didn’t last long. In a series about the heroine singing in a band, when she can’t sing if she’s dating one of the guys she likes, it’s best to end it. Or at least that’s what Momo thinks, anyway. Time to see who wins the battle of self-sacrifices. Elsewhere, it’s dawning on the band that they need to think past high school, and Haruyoshi is waffling about the direction he wants to go next. I won’t spoil how this is resolved, but it’s sort of hilarious *and* touching. And of course there’s Nino’s part in all this, as she has to deal with a breakup as well, in addition to trying to find her voice—again. Anonymous Noise never seems to lack for things to happen, and it continues to putter along smoothly. – Sean Gaffney

Ao Haru Ride, Vol. 5 | By Io Sakisaka | Viz Media – Sadly, going to the festival turns out to not happen—again—as Kou is once again being drawn away from Futaba, this time because he’s trying to help a distant friend with personal problems. And also possibly because Futaba is hanging out and chatting with Toma, who’s handsome and nice and also has fallen head over heels for her, something Futaba realizes not one bit. And so much of this volume returns us to the halcyon days of Kou being avoidant and difficult. At least Futaba angsting over telling her friends about her feelings for Kou is quickly nipped in the bud. I do really like the reverse costume cafe they do. (They’re right; Murao does look amazing as a butler.) Will this cliffhanger affect anything? Oh, probably. – Sean Gaffney

Ao Haru Ride, Vol. 5 | By Io Sakisaka | VIZ Media – Futaba and Kou had gotten close to confessing their mutual feelings, and he even invited her again to the summer festival they didn’t get to attend in junior high. But then he suddenly cancels and is incommunicado for the rest of summer vacation. When school resumes, it seems he’s actually in good spirits, but is preoccupied with his phone. Eventually it emerges that he’s helping a former classmate get over the death of a parent, and though Futaba thinks this is admirable, she nonetheless feels left out. The fact that this classmate is female is obvious but is held as a reveal until the final page. Meanwhile, a male rival must be introduced too, and so we meet Toma Kikuchi, a boy who Futaba accidentally groped, who comes to like her after realizing she’s perceptive, honest, and not as tough as she might appear. Standard shoujo, but still enjoyable. – Michelle Smith

As Miss Beelzebub Likes, Vol. 6 | By Matoba | Yen Press – No one seems to be more surprised than the artist that this series has reached six volumes, which results in a meta gag when Azazel’s assistant Samyaza appears, and they note it’s far too late in the series to introduce someone like him. He bounces off Mullin well, though—perhaps a bit too well for Beelzebub’s taste, as she worries that they’re both too shippable with each other. Elsewhere, the exchange diary between Belphegor and Azazel is actually not a half-bad idea, but too many cooks spoil a bit of the pie. Unfortunately, there’s more Eurynome as well, and trying to indicate she’ll eventually be shipped with Samyaza does not balance out her continued lust for young boys. Read it if you already are. – Sean Gaffney

A Certain Scientific Accelerator, Vol. 9 | By Kazuma Kamachi and Arata Yamaji| Seven Seas – As it turns out, the girl that Last Order ran into in the previous volume, despite giving off immense “I am a secret villain” vibes—mostly to Last Order, to be fair—turns out not to be a villain. She is, however, a twin, and it’s her sister who seems to have the villain card as well as the tragic past. It’s also startling to see the princess from the previous book captured fairly easily (possibly as Accelerator is healing so AWOL this book), and the cliffhanger, which involves repeated use of the food/death metaphors that litter the book, is really chilling. That said, if there’s one thing that defines this volume of the series, it’s the big ol’ fight in the middle of it, which is very well done. – Sean Gaffney

Dead Dead Demon’s Dededede Destruction, Vol. 5 | By Inio Asano | Viz Media – I admit I avoided reading this for a while. I still expect it to end with everyone either dead or depressed. I mean, it’s Asano. But as always, when I finally started to read it it was fantastic. The art alone is a main reason to read this. Plus, now that everyone is in college, relationships are allowed to develop more naturally. Unfortunately, in both cases this may end up being a mistake. Oran has bonded with the alien in disguise, and hides him by saying he’s her boyfriend… something that may be coming true. As for Kadode, I was sort of hoping that graduation would mean the end of the crush on her teacher, but apparently it means there’s nothing standing in the way anymore. Will either girl find happiness before the end of humanity that continues to be implied here? – Sean Gaffney

My Solo Exchange Diary, Vol. 2 | By Nagata Kabi | Seven Seas – The sequel to My Lesbian Experience with Loneliness ends with the second volume; the conclusion of the series is just as achingly and brutally honest as its beginning. Kabi’s struggle with anxiety and depression continues through its highs and extreme lows. The success of her autobiographical manga ultimately compounds the issue for her as she starts to feel guilty about some of the things that she’s said about family members and has to deal with the consequences of revealing so much of herself to a public audience. A central portion of the second volume of My Solo Exchange Diary is devoted to Kabi’s stays in two different hospital wards—part of her ongoing efforts to get her life back on track. Due to the subject matter of My Solo Exchange Diary, the series isn’t always the easiest to read, but it is still an approachable, compelling, and noteworthy work. – Ash Brown

Queen’s Quality, Vol. 7 | By Kyousuke Motomi | Viz Media – We’re down to twice a year for this series now, the same as Japan, but it’s making those volumes count. We get lots of Fumi being awesome (toilet brush or no), lots of romantic sizzle between her and Kyutaro, overcoming self-loathing and doubt, and a whole lot of testicle jokes. In case you wondered what all the “golden ball” stuff was. The beauty of this artist is that she’s not afraid to have things get completely silly even in the middle of a dramatic fight, and alternatively have the silliest moments give way to drama. We also get a lot more insight into Kyutaro’s late parents here. But, and the cliffhanger doesn’t quite tell us, will someone finally realize that Fumi + Fuyu = Fuyumi? – Sean Gaffney

Ran the Peerless Beauty, Vol. 4 | By Ammitsu | Kodansha Comics (digital only) – Ran and Akira are now officially a couple, and this volume features milestones like calling each other by first names, going on a real first date, holding hands, and Christmas. While it cannot be denied that the plot is fairly formulaic at this point, there’s still something special about Ran the Peerless Beauty. Part of it, I think, is that we see just as much of Akira’s emotions as we do Ran’s, and it’s often the case that when she’s nervous or embarrassed or unsure, he confesses that he’s right there with her. Too, Ammitsu’s art is very expressive. I loved a particular smirk of Akira’s (after purloining a strawberry) very much but actually laughed out loud at the panel in which her father finally comprehends that Akira is Ran’s boyfriend. I hope this one gets a print release so it might reach a wider audience. – Michelle Smith

Sweetness & Lightning, Vol. 12 | By Gido Amagakure | Kodansha Comics – I wasn’t prepared for the final volume of Sweetness & Lightning to make me verklempt, but that’s because I didn’t know the final chapter would see Tsumugi going off to college in Hokkaido. Before this, we got a sequence of chapters with Tsumugi at various ages, where we see her growing in independence and culinary skill. And, finally, heading out to experience life on her own. It’s very nice! Too, I really appreciated that nothing about the finale hinges on whether Inuzuka and Kotori might get together now that she’s somewhere in the neighborhood of 30. It’s clear that Tsumugi would like that, but to the end, this is the story of a father and daughter and how they have stuck together after the loss of someone they love. I enjoyed it very much. – Michelle Smith

Takane & Hana, Vol. 9 | By Yuki Shiwasu | VIZ Media – I know it’s contrived and rather over-the-top, but the meddling chairman forcing his grandson and the Nonomura family to live together really works for me. In order to convince Takane to go along with it, Hana has to honestly confess that she wants to live with him, something she later reiterates to Okamon, who is very worried about her whole situation and finally ends up confessing. I’m not sure Hana and Takane are really getting closer—for every sweet study session there’s a misguided, extravagant bedroom redecoration—but the whole setup does at least put a fresh spin on their arrangement and provides, in the chairman’s words, “a place for you two to become certain about each other.” This series continues to be a lot of fun. – Michelle Smith

By: Ash Brown