Comments on: Erik Larsen, Creative Monster, on Manga

By: Augie De Blieck Jr.

Augie De Blieck Jr. — Mon, 24 Apr 2006 13:31:23 +0000

I, for one, look forward to the inevitable CRISIS ON INFINITE CLAMPS crossover that will completely destroy Larsen’s point.

By: James Moar

James Moar — Sun, 23 Apr 2006 22:26:20 +0000

All the shared universes I can think of in manga boil down to three things:

1) Individual authors making links within their own works — Tezuka and CLAMP being the most notable practitioners (though CLAMP’s a group, of course). Tezuka usually has his characters reappear in different ‘roles’, as if they were actors, by the way.

2) Other-media tie-in series — all the Gundam manga, for instance.

3) Very occasional alternate takes on classics by other authors — Naoki Urasawa’s Pluto (retelling a story from Tezuka’s Astro Boy) being an example.

By: Taper

Taper — Sun, 23 Apr 2006 14:03:47 +0000

On the CLAMP shared universe thing — it appears that _all_ of their books (except, perhaps, RG Veda) are in a shared universe. Angelic Layer and Chobits are explicitly in the same world, and the CLAMP School books (Clamp School Detectives, Man of 20 Faces, Clamp School Defenders Duklyon) are as well, and there’s references in Chobits to Duklyon. Tokyo Babylon leads into X, and X (I am told) references Clamp School. xxxHolic and Tsubasa cross over frequently, a character from xxxHolic has visited the drug store from Legal Drug, and there’s been references in xxxHolic to characters from Card Captor Sakura and Tokyo Babylon.

That said, the ties aren’t usually more than fan-candy, not really necessary for just enjoying the books.

By: Johanna

Johanna — Sun, 23 Apr 2006 12:22:40 +0000

Kevin, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. Customers are often more concerned with getting what they’ve ordered on time than with getting the book every X days.

By: BeaucoupKevin

BeaucoupKevin — Sun, 23 Apr 2006 06:19:38 +0000

I think the only reason Larsen can claim SD has shipped on time is that he solicits it after he’s finished an issue. I’ve noticed large, large gaps between issues in the last couple of years.

By: Johanna

Johanna — Sun, 23 Apr 2006 01:25:54 +0000

CB, I think it’s valuable to get new readers’ viewpoints every so often. Those of us wrapped up in our reading lists can sometimes appreciate the fresh perspective.

And what Larsen’s commenting on — market and formats, mostly — doesn’t require heavy-duty reading to comprehend.

Aaron, cool, I didn’t know that. Thanks.

By: aaron

aaron — Sun, 23 Apr 2006 00:44:10 +0000

Concerning shared universes in manga, many of Tezuka’s characters make brief cameo appearances in eachothers’ series, as well.

By: Christopher Brudlos

Christopher Brudlos — Sun, 23 Apr 2006 00:43:35 +0000

“I haven’t bought a lot of translated manga.

I’m not really sure what’s good or where to start. Few of the features that I liked have been translated.”

I’m not sure if someone that doesn’t know much about manga should be writing collums about it… Do you? LOL.

CB
Alpha Shade
http://www.alpha-shade.com