Independent Opinions, News, and Reviews of Graphic Novels, Manga, and Comic Books
It’s such a cliche to say “they just don’t make them like that any more”, but with The Last of Sheila, they didn’t make them like that then, either. That’s what makes this mystery puzzle film such a gem. Now, the DVD is back in print from Warner Archive, and bless them for doing so. When I went looking for a copy last year, it was regularly going for $40-80, but now, it’s yours for under $20. I recommend the […]
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I was curious to see this single-volume historical manga by Moyoco Anno after reading her Happy Mania series. (She’s also had Flowers and Bees translated over here.) Sakuran promised to be similar to Happy Mania in its portrayal of a strong-willed but messed-up woman, only this one had kimonos and a more explicit use of sex as a transaction. Kiyoha is a child slave at a brothel who eventually, out of stubbornness, rises to become a leading courtesan during the […]
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I’ve been a fan of Rachel Hartman’s work for 15 years now. Many readers won’t remember or haven’t heard of her comic work, but in the late 1990s, she created an amazing series of minicomics called Amy Unbounded about a young woman growing up in a medieval society. (Several issues were collected as Belondweg Blossoming.) Hartman created her own historical fantasy world, and it was astounding, full of details like what the musical instruments looked like and how the industries […]
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I’ve been looking forward to the relaunched Forbidden Hollywood line — now coming from the Warner Archive — for months now, and the actual product does not disappoint. These are 1932 movies, so they’re scratchy, at times, both visually and on the soundtrack, but oh, what fun they are! And how wonderful to watch 80-year-old movies so easily! Forbidden Hollywood Volume 4 consists of four discs, one per movie, in a single case. Each film is just over an hour […]
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Until the next full Princeless story comes out, continuing the tale of Adrienne and her battle to rescue her sisters, this two-issue limited series should fill the gap. In Princeless: Short Stories for Warrior Women #1, author Jeremy Whitley has created three short stories (well, two and a teaser) illustrated by three female artists. The comic can be ordered right now through Diamond with code JUL12 0704, but I think there’s some confusion. The catalog copy says it’s 40 pages; […]
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It took me a couple of tries to get into the original Genshiken series by Shimoku Kio, which concluded with a ninth volume in 2007. So although I wasn’t won over by the first book of this sequel series, I expect that I’ll enjoy Genshiken: Second Season more in future volumes. My biggest problem was that I didn’t remember enough about the first series. (Those who began reading or re-reading with the recent omnibus re-release won’t have that issue.) Many […]
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Sean Kleefeld caught Tokyopop once again teasing readers on Twitter with hints that they would be publishing new volumes of their OEL series. (OEL, or “Original English Language”, is an umbrella term for what would simply be called “graphic novels” from other publishers. They were original works created for the American market.) The company stopped publishing over a year ago but returned from the dead with print-on-demand editions of Hetalia, followed by one of their most popular OEL titles, Bizenghast. […]
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The latest in the Manga Guide series tackles the complicated math of Linear Algebra. As with the other books, The Manga Guide to Linear Algebra (written by Shin Takahashi; art by Iroha Inoue) has a framing story to involve the reader and provide a sympathetic co-learner. Here, it echoes the classic shonen fight manga structure, as freshman Reiji wants to join the karate club. He’s too scrawny, though, so he strikes a deal with the brawny club captain — he […]
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