What I've been reading recently
Chris Kern
Ichigo 100% volumes 1&2
Yeah, I finally picked up this series (except #4 which the store
didn't have in stock). It's not as bad as I was saying before. It
has a few interesting points (lead character has a girlfriend at the
end of chapter 1, which is unusual for this kind of story).
The setups are sometimes stupid, and the mangaka occasionally piles on
too many cliche elements (in a recent Jump chapter, the lead male was
finally going to kiss one of the girls but then the power went out,
the girl got a cellphone call, etc.)
One thing that surprised me was the mangaka is female.
Golgo 13 vols 1-4
I picked up a few of these in bunko format. It's a pretty good series
from the standpoint of someone who loves James Bond (the obvious
inspiration for this series, especially since Saitou Takao also did
manga adaptations of some of the Bond novels). The first volume
wasn't all that good but the stories in the 2-4 were a lot better (for
the most part).
I wish he'd do some longer stories (i.e. ones that take a whole volume
or more) sometimes instead of just the short stories -- sometimes it
seems like he's trying to pack way too much plot into a 40 or 70 page
story.
Yume Tsukai 1-3
This is the first storyline. I don't think there's any other manga
series that can claim to have pedophilia, sex-changing, incest, and
quotes from the Kojiki and classical Japanese poetry in the same
title.
The second storyline just ended in Afternoon but I'm missing one
chapter from it so I'm going to wait to read this one until volume 6
comes out.
Discommunication chapter 1
An interesting start to the series. Art is much more immature than YT
but that's to be expected. Intriguing.
Mushishi volume 1 (well, just chapter 1 so far)
An interesting series with good art (I think). The lead character
investigates ghosts or something (they're called "mushi", I'm not
quite sure why). I'll definitely be reading more of this later.
-Chris
Peter
news:lsbcqv80vqh1rnjh5...@4ax.com:
>
> Ichigo 100% volumes 1&2
>
> Yeah, I finally picked up this series (except #4 which the store
> didn't have in stock). It's not as bad as I was saying before. It
From the things I saw about it, I didn't think too bad of it either. Sure,
it's a prime example of manga for horny adolescent boys, but why would it be
much more stupid than other such things like for instance I''s?
> has a few interesting points (lead character has a girlfriend at the
> end of chapter 1, which is unusual for this kind of story).
>
> The setups are sometimes stupid, and the mangaka occasionally piles on
> too many cliche elements (in a recent Jump chapter, the lead male was
> finally going to kiss one of the girls but then the power went out,
> the girl got a cellphone call, etc.)
>
> One thing that surprised me was the mangaka is female.
O_o Most surprising. Any details on her? Like date of birth... It's for the
guide, you know :)
> Golgo 13 vols 1-4
>
> I picked up a few of these in bunko format. It's a pretty good series
I will never pick up Golgo. Because when I pick up something, I have always a
strong urge to complete the series. And with Golgo... A decade ago, I decided
to read some Kochikame... Boy, do I regret that decision. I can build the
mount everest out of them. And it doesn't stop! Yes, I'm stupid.
--
Peter
---
************************************************
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*** formerly known as the Usenet Manga Guide ***
* <http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Ginza/4996> *
************************************************
* RAM FAQs also available through same site *
************************************************
"With stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain."
Ping Kuo
Chris Kern <chris...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Yume Tsukai 1-3
> This is the first storyline. I don't think there's any other manga
> series that can claim to have pedophilia, sex-changing, incest, and
> quotes from the Kojiki and classical Japanese poetry in the same
> title.
you forgot homosexuality, no, it was in Discommunication, the sex thing
is actually much more prominent in the later part of Discommunication,
YT is simply a continuation of it. but I don't want to give people the
wrong impression of what kind of manga both YT and Dicsommunicaton are,
if you think you are getting it to fulfill you fantasy, etc. you will
definitely be disappointed.
> Discommunication chapter 1
> An interesting start to the series. Art is much more immature than YT
> but that's to be expected. Intriguing.
while YT is much more action oriented, Discommunication, especially the
earlier part of the series, is much more interesting story wise, lot's
of reference to the Tibet's god of happiness. then as I said above in
the later part it went on a sex binge.
--
Ping Kuo
removeantispamtomailmeatpkuoearthlinknet
standard disclaimers applied
Ping Kuo
Peter <pvhuf_de...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Chris Kern <chris...@yahoo.com> wrote in
> news:lsbcqv80vqh1rnjh5...@4ax.com:
> > Ichigo 100% volumes 1&2
> > Yeah, I finally picked up this series (except #4 which the store
> > didn't have in stock). It's not as bad as I was saying before. It
> From the things I saw about it, I didn't think too bad of it either. Sure,
> it's a prime example of manga for horny adolescent boys, but why would it be
> much more stupid than other such things like for instance I''s?
actually it is very simple, the whole things "feel" wrong, at least to
me, everything seems "forced", and "unnature", characters seems to be
acting out a play, instead of acting nature and be themselves, yes,
harem managa does involved some kind of unbelivability as to how a loser
guy attract many pretty girls, I am not talking about that, I am talking
about people's behaviors, which really doesn't make sense to me,
plus. I don't like the artwork for some reasons, I think the unrefine
facial expression give all the characters a jerky motion.
for comparsion, try Pastel, it is not the greatest manga out there, and
all the story devices are old routines, depend on yours taste it might
not even have the best fan service artwork, but everything seems nature,
people behave the way they are suppose to, (they are "in" character.)
things happen because those character are the kind of people they are,
not for some whimisical twist of fates. I feel very comfortable reading
it for some reason.
as to the best artwork for a current harem/fan service title, I got to
go with gacha gacha. that is only after reading 2 chapters of it and I
am sold. (SMS Oct, secret #3, bra fitting :)
> > has a few interesting points (lead character has a girlfriend at the
> > end of chapter 1, which is unusual for this kind of story).
he is having/changing a girlfriend all the time, what are you talking
about? :) by book 6 or 7 all the compass girls (NSEW) will be together.
(BTW, the 4 direction girls idea obviously came from the old tradition
of Japanese royality taking 4 wives and have them reside in the 4
direction section of the house, as example in Genji.)
having a current girlfriend in a romance is nothing new, have that in an
harem title is less common, I want to say there are others but I can't
think of an example right now.
one thing for sure, it is a give away that he won't end up with his
first girlfriend, otherwise the story can't continue.
> > One thing that surprised me was the mangaka is female.
not really a "big" surprise, there are always more women mangaka doing
shonen titles than men doing shoujo manga. it was a woman who did Open
Saseme, another harem romance manga. and a much better one IMO.
> > Golgo 13 vols 1-4
> I will never pick up Golgo. Because when I pick up something, I have always a
> strong urge to complete the series. And with Golgo... A decade ago, I decided
> to read some Kochikame... Boy, do I regret that decision. I can build the
> mount everest out of them. And it doesn't stop! Yes, I'm stupid.
I am on the same boat with A!MG, 15 years and counting, and I don't even
like it that much! figure it would be a nice, quick run like YAUA. how
naive.
John C. Watson
3fa6a3a0$0$1866$ba62...@reader0.news.skynet.be, "Peter"
<pvhuf_de...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Chris Kern <chris...@yahoo.com> wrote in
> news:lsbcqv80vqh1rnjh5...@4ax.com:
>
>>
>> Ichigo 100% volumes 1&2
>> One thing that surprised me was the mangaka is female.
>
> O_o Most surprising. Any details on her? Like date of birth... It's for the
> guide, you know :)
Here's what appears to be a Japanese _Ichigo 100%_ fan page:
<http://home.netyou.jp/xx/ponpei/>
The only other relevant item I found was confirmation on Yes Asia that
Kawashita-san is female (look at the category).
--
Ciao,
John
John C. Watson
World Otakunization Project, Amherst Division
Chris Kern
I just read chapter 1 of Pretty Face. This has to be the most
convoluted and implausible premise I've ever seen in a story, but it's
also hilarious -- I haven't found a manga this funny in quite a while.
I'm also happy that it's short and it's finished (although are all the
tankobon out?) apparently with a "complete" ending so it won't take
all that long to read.
-Chris
Chris Kern
<removeant...@earthlink.net> posted the following:
>actually it is very simple, the whole things "feel" wrong, at least to
>me, everything seems "forced", and "unnature", characters seems to be
>acting out a play, instead of acting nature and be themselves, yes,
>harem managa does involved some kind of unbelivability as to how a loser
>guy attract many pretty girls, I am not talking about that, I am talking
>about people's behaviors, which really doesn't make sense to me,
Huh, somehow it had the opposite effect on me -- the character's
actions seemed a little more believable than, say, the I"s ones
(although the *situations* tend to be rather convoluted).
>he is having/changing a girlfriend all the time, what are you talking
>about? :) by book 6 or 7 all the compass girls (NSEW) will be together.
Argh, I didn't even notice that until you pointed it out.
>one thing for sure, it is a give away that he won't end up with his
>first girlfriend, otherwise the story can't continue.
I'm assuming this is going to follow the usual convention of "the
first girl who appears in the manga is the 'correct' girl" (Toujou in
this case).
>> > One thing that surprised me was the mangaka is female.
>
>not really a "big" surprise, there are always more women mangaka doing
>shonen titles than men doing shoujo manga.
A female mangaka doing a shonen series doesn't surprise me.
A female mangaka doing Ichigo 100% does surprise me.
-Chris
Ping Kuo
Chris Kern <chris...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> I just read chapter 1 of Pretty Face. This has to be the most
> convoluted and implausible premise I've ever seen in a story, but it's
> also hilarious -- I haven't found a manga this funny in quite a while.
I think on my previous post I mention that if you can get pass the
ridiculous story set up, then it is not bad,
> I'm also happy that it's short and it's finished (although are all the
> tankobon out?)
5 or 6 books?
> apparently with a "complete" ending so it won't take all that long to read.
beware the the ending does not seems to be the schedule ending, it seems
rush and very abrupt, and might not be satisfactory, t.b.r.c are saying
that the author suffer a burn out, end the manga then take a vacation
outside the country. another unconfirmed rumor...
Ping Kuo
Chris Kern <chris...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> On Tue, 04 Nov 2003 01:00:25 GMT, Ping Kuo
> <removeant...@earthlink.net> posted the following:
> >one thing for sure, it is a give away that he won't end up with his
> >first girlfriend, otherwise the story can't continue.
> I'm assuming this is going to follow the usual convention of "the
> first girl who appears in the manga is the 'correct' girl" (Toujou in
> this case).
the usual convention would be the girl with the original strawberry
panty, (remember the title of the book!) so that would be "east"
Toujou? not the first girl he went out with.
however, among the fandom you would be surprised she is not the
overwhelming favoritte, some readers are actually rooting for other
girls.
Chris Kern
<removeant...@earthlink.net> posted the following:
>5 or 6 books?
6 books. I just picked them all up -- book 6 has some extra chapter
at the end which the front flap says came from some Summer Jump
Special or something like that. I wonder if that takes place after
the conclusion or if it's a side-story?
-Chris
Chris Kern
<removeant...@earthlink.net> posted the following:
>the usual convention would be the girl with the original strawberry
>panty, (remember the title of the book!) so that would be "east"
>Toujou? not the first girl he went out with.
Right.
>however, among the fandom you would be surprised she is not the
>overwhelming favoritte, some readers are actually rooting for other
>girls.
That doesn't surprise me at all -- for Love Hina, everyone hated Naru
(from what I could tell), and for I"S I've seen frequent claims that
Ishitaka should have ended up with the blond-haired girl instead of
Iori. etc.
-Chris
Peter Van Huffel
news:BBCCBB05.23B50%jwat...@comcast.net:
> On 11/03/2003 13:51, in article
> 3fa6a3a0$0$1866$ba62...@reader0.news.skynet.be, "Peter"
> <pvhuf_de...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>> Chris Kern <chris...@yahoo.com> wrote in
>> news:lsbcqv80vqh1rnjh5...@4ax.com:
>>
>>>
>>> Ichigo 100% volumes 1&2
>
>>> One thing that surprised me was the mangaka is female.
>>
>> O_o Most surprising. Any details on her? Like date of birth... It's for
the
>> guide, you know :)
>
> Here's what appears to be a Japanese _Ichigo 100%_ fan page:
>
> <http://home.netyou.jp/xx/ponpei/>
>
As far as I can read, I don't see any info on the artist there. I see some
publishing dates for tankoubon, though...
> The only other relevant item I found was confirmation on Yes Asia that
> Kawashita-san is female (look at the category).
>
Yeah, I found that site too yesterday.
Peter Van Huffel
87098B.022...@news06.west.earthlink.net:
> In article <jhqeqvkajg6u4mo4b...@4ax.com>,
> Chris Kern <chris...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>> I just read chapter 1 of Pretty Face. This has to be the most
>> convoluted and implausible premise I've ever seen in a story, but it's
>> also hilarious -- I haven't found a manga this funny in quite a while.
>
> I think on my previous post I mention that if you can get pass the
> ridiculous story set up, then it is not bad,
>
>> I'm also happy that it's short and it's finished (although are all the
>> tankobon out?)
>
> 5 or 6 books?
>
6, with the last one coming out in november. I did some date-entering this
weekend in the guide, that's why I remember.
Peter Van Huffel
> In article <3fa6a3a0$0$1866$ba62...@reader0.news.skynet.be>,
> Peter <pvhuf_de...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>> Chris Kern <chris...@yahoo.com> wrote in
>> news:lsbcqv80vqh1rnjh5...@4ax.com:
>
snip
>
> (BTW, the 4 direction girls idea obviously came from the old tradition
> of Japanese royality taking 4 wives and have them reside in the 4
> direction section of the house, as example in Genji.)
>
interesting, guide material :)
> having a current girlfriend in a romance is nothing new, have that in an
> harem title is less common, I want to say there are others but I can't
> think of an example right now.
>
> one thing for sure, it is a give away that he won't end up with his
> first girlfriend, otherwise the story can't continue.
>
>> > One thing that surprised me was the mangaka is female.
>
> not really a "big" surprise, there are always more women mangaka doing
> shonen titles than men doing shoujo manga. it was a woman who did Open
> Saseme, another harem romance manga. and a much better one IMO.
>
What? I didn't find Open Saseme (though I found a couple of links on the net,
but none conclusive)... oh wait, maybe there's a typo... I find "Open Sesame"
from Kawakata Kaoru (at least 5 volumes, Shounen MAgazine). That the title
you're talking about? And this artist is also a woman (the given name is
male)? ... What's it abou... oh wait, you already made a small synopsis in
RAM before:
<http://groups.google.com/groups?q=Kawakata+Kaoru&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-
8&selm=removeantispampkuo-
582CC4.22180725032002%40nnrp06.earthlink.net&rnum=1>
But wait, in that synopsis you call the artist "he" and "his". So, is it
another series or did you find out afterwards that he is a she?
>> > Golgo 13 vols 1-4
>
>> I will never pick up Golgo. Because when I pick up something, I have
always a
>> strong urge to complete the series. And with Golgo... A decade ago, I
decided
>> to read some Kochikame... Boy, do I regret that decision. I can build the
>> mount everest out of them. And it doesn't stop! Yes, I'm stupid.
>
> I am on the same boat with A!MG, 15 years and counting, and I don't even
> like it that much! figure it would be a nice, quick run like YAUA. how
> naive.
Same boat here for AMG. Though at least AMG has the advantage of being
monthly, so it doesn't grow as fast like Kochikame.
Heh, but in the same vein as KK, I'm desperately hoping Inu Yasha will finish
(another one I shouldn't have started buying). And Crayon Shin-chan. Yes, I'm
stupid. :)
Peter Van Huffel
> On Tue, 04 Nov 2003 10:33:55 GMT, Ping Kuo
> <removeant...@earthlink.net> posted the following:
>
>>the usual convention would be the girl with the original strawberry
>>panty, (remember the title of the book!) so that would be "east"
>>Toujou? not the first girl he went out with.
>
> Right.
>
>>however, among the fandom you would be surprised she is not the
>>overwhelming favoritte, some readers are actually rooting for other
>>girls.
>
> That doesn't surprise me at all -- for Love Hina, everyone hated Naru
> (from what I could tell), and for I"S I've seen frequent claims that
Hey, I *did* like Naru. Not as much as I like Mutsumi or Kitsune, but I
really don't see why someone would hate her.
The ones *I* hate are brats like Kanako, Shinobu and Motoko.
> Ishitaka should have ended up with the blond-haired girl instead of
Do you mean, Itsuki, his childhood friend? If so, I agree. I explained it
before, Itsuki is the "Ai"-lookalike from I''s. I dislike the way Katsura
made her leave to America. Probably because he realised that I''s would
become too much of a second VGAI if he didn't get rid of her.
Ping Kuo
Peter Van Huffel <pvhuf_de...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Ping Kuo <removeant...@earthlink.net> wrote in news:removeantispampkuo-
> 848836.170...@news02.west.earthlink.net:
> > (BTW, the 4 direction girls idea obviously came from the old tradition
> > of Japanese royality taking 4 wives and have them reside in the 4
> > direction section of the house, as example in Genji.)
> interesting, guide material :)
the dream of Japanese men, live like a royality... Tenchi is really
another good example and he is already a prince.
> > not really a "big" surprise, there are always more women mangaka doing
> > shonen titles than men doing shoujo manga. it was a woman who did Open
> > Saseme, another harem romance manga. and a much better one IMO.
> What? I didn't find Open Saseme (though I found a couple of links on the net,
> but none conclusive)... oh wait, maybe there's a typo... I find "Open Sesame"
spell checker, where are thou?
> from Kawakata Kaoru (at least 5 volumes, Shounen MAgazine). That the title
> you're talking about? And this artist is also a woman (the given name is
> male)? ... What's it abou... oh wait, you already made a small synopsis in
> RAM before:
> <http://groups.google.com/groups?q=Kawakata+Kaoru&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-
> 8&selm=removeantispampkuo-
> 582CC4.22180725032002%40nnrp06.earthlink.net&rnum=1>
> But wait, in that synopsis you call the artist "he" and "his". So, is it
> another series or did you find out afterwards that he is a she?
I did? anyway, 7+ books and it is a she, hard to have a he doing hair
in a salon as in the end note indicated :) she also have self portray
in the 4 panels end notes and it doesn't look like a guy.
Chris Kern
<pvhuf_de...@yahoo.com> posted the following:
>6, with the last one coming out in november. I did some date-entering this
>weekend in the guide, that's why I remember.
I think it was yesterday -- I picked up volume 6 in the store, and it
was at the display on the front counter (which usually means it's
new).
-Chris
Ping Kuo
<removeantispampkuo-B...@news01.west.earthlink.net>,
Ping Kuo <removeant...@earthlink.net> wrote:
> In article <3fa7febb$0$27768$ba62...@reader3.news.skynet.be>,
> Peter Van Huffel <pvhuf_de...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> > from Kawakata Kaoru (at least 5 volumes, Shounen MAgazine). That the title
> > you're talking about? And this artist is also a woman (the given name is
> > male)? ... What's it abou... oh wait, you already made a small synopsis in
> > RAM before:
> > <http://groups.google.com/groups?q=Kawakata+Kaoru&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-
> > 8&selm=removeantispampkuo-
> > 582CC4.22180725032002%40nnrp06.earthlink.net&rnum=1>
forgot, offical website
the English section is not as up to date as the Japanese section info
wise, and you can see Maki is simply a dead ringer for Madoka.
Andrew Cunningham
> Ichigo 100% volumes 1&2
> One thing that surprised me was the mangaka is female.
Explains a lot really.
Her girls aren't actually attractive; they look like someone trying to
draw attactive girls and having no idea what men are actually
interested in.
> Yume Tsukai 1-3
>
> This is the first storyline. I don't think there's any other manga
> series that can claim to have pedophilia, sex-changing, incest, and
> quotes from the Kojiki and classical Japanese poetry in the same
> title.
Don't forget, inspiration from Giant Robo.
> Discommunication chapter 1
>
> An interesting start to the series. Art is much more immature than YT
> but that's to be expected. Intriguing.
You notice the main character from Yume Tsukai in chapter seven?
Then vanishes for 13 volumes...
Shez
<pvhuf_de...@yahoo.com> said:
>Chris Kern <chris...@yahoo.com> wrote in
>news:p63fqvofjco7chg1g...@4ax.com:
>
>> (from what I could tell), and for I"S I've seen frequent claims that
>
>Hey, I *did* like Naru. Not as much as I like Mutsumi or Kitsune, but I
>really don't see why someone would hate her.
>
>The ones *I* hate are brats like Kanako, Shinobu and Motoko.
In the Japanese readers' poll, Naru was by far the most popular, with
more votes than Shinobu (2nd) & Motoko (3rd) combined. Mutsumi came 4th,
just ahead of Keitaro and Tama-chan. (I thought it was funny that Tama
got more votes than Su!)
You can see a pie chart of the full results here:
http://www.xerez.demon.co.uk/anime/LH-pie.htm
-Shez.
--
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