Some significant news from the world of manga this week… Adachi Mitsuru is doing a sequel to Touch set 26 years later, and Bakuman is apparently ending its run in two weeks. Edit: It’s official – the 4/23 chapter is the last one for Bakuman. There’s just a hint of […] Read more
The 2012 Eisner nominations for manga have been announced. Interestingly, the two manga I’m currently blogging – Hourou Musuko (Wandering Son) and Otoyomegatari (Brides Story) – were both nominated. Good job, Eisner Committee! Read more
“Bridal Boot Camp!” There’s not a whole lot to be said about this very straightforward half-length of Otoyomegatari, because it pretty much speaks for itself. While things didn’t end up going in the direction I thought they might when Layla and Leyli’s mother announced her intentions (Mori-sensei, it seems, plans […] Read more
“Positive Dance” Hourou Musuko has always been about growing up, but rarely have we seen it expressed more literally than it was here. In a nice change from recent trends, we get some real focus on Takatsuki. To be blunt (because there’s no other way to say it) she’s turning […] Read more
There’s really not all that much to say about chapter 21, except that it was pretty much over the top kawaii overload for 47 pages. The two brothers drafted into being the future husbands on the twins from hell, Layla and Leyli, actually have names – Sahman and Farsahmi. Sahm […] Read more
As much as I love Otoyomegatari, I think it represents one of the real problems of a monthly manga. I enjoy the new characters Mori Kaoru continues to introduce to this story, and Laila and Leyli are certainly a hoot. But when we get to see these characters so rarely, […] Read more
“Whispered Words” Whoa – now things are definitely heating up. I don’t know if you can technically call Hourou Musuko a “slice-of-life” – and no, I don’t want to open that can of worms – but one of the most magical things about Shimura Takako’s writing is the ability to […] Read more
“Mind Game” The long-awaited reunion finally happens, at the karaoke bar – Nitorin, Makoto, Chiba, Takatsuki, Sasa, Anna, and – seemingly the odd sock – Momo. I felt a little bad for her being stuck there with a “bunch of freaks” when Chi-chan bails with a cold – but at […] Read more
“Mii-tan’s Father – 2” I’m not at all sure how I feel about a new character being introduced at this stage of the game. We’re well over 100 chapters in, and seem nowhere close to wrapping up the arcs of any of the major characters. Many in the cast don’t […] Read more
I never would have expected this. No word yet on what “brief run” and “reboot” mean, but can we possibly hope that this, at long last, will push us towards the Holy Grail of adaptations, the Jinchu Arc? As surprising as this news is, it’s easy to forget Watsuki-sensei is […] Read more