Official Manga Thread

Discussion in 'Whatever' started by dxxe, Feb 19, 2013.

  1. The Moog

    The Moog Die-Cast

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    ^^ 'The Swamp' turned up damaged, hopefully the replacement will fair better. It looked great from what i saw, before I promptly sent it back.

    I read D+Q are planning a 7 book series of Tsuge, so this one is a taster, really.
     
  2. toothaction

    toothaction Team Tsubu Staff Member

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    But what a taster it is! Midway through and I'll probably finish it up tonight.

    Have you checked out The Man Without Talent yet? Tsuge's autobiography. Came out at the beginning of the year but I forgot about it until the Canadians got in the game.
     
  3. rattanicus

    rattanicus Mini Boss

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    Indeed @toothaction , Velocity! Great place, great folks. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
     
  4. ultrakaiju

    ultrakaiju Die-Cast Staff Member

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    Did they let you 'keep' the damaged version? ;)
     
  5. The Moog

    The Moog Die-Cast

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    Nah, unfortunately. That's only happened on Amazon 'Marketplace' for me, it was the huge edition of George Sprott.

    Not yet, its another one on my list, i've read some favourable reviews of it. I grabbed the last two D+Q Kitaro volumes instead, which completes the run at seven books.
     
  6. The Moog

    The Moog Die-Cast

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    Success! -- I was on a mission from Tsuge.

    I remembered Waterstones had a copy of 'The Man Without Talent', so now they're open again i had a look today. They still had it, and im pretty sure it was the same copy I saw on their shelves months ago ...

    I enjoyed The Swamp, it stood up well against other Gekiga I've read. The afterword by Mitsuhiro Asakawa was fascinating and helped put the stories in context. Also, the pages showing side by side comparisons of artwork swipes Tsuge copied from Tezuka, Tatsumi and others was interesting, blatantly ripping off whole pages and characters!
     
  7. The Moog

    The Moog Die-Cast

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    [​IMG]

    I've been reading a lot of Inio Asano recently, and this book stood out. Many people online say how depressing this one-shot is, but i didn't think it was that bad when I read it. Its a simple plot - basically a popular Mangaka with a hit series coming to an end, struggles to keep any enthusiasm for continuing to produce Manga. Whilst his writer's block continues, his marriage falls apart and he starts using call girls/prostitutes on a regular basis and generally moping around feeling sorry for himself.

    He's actually quite an unsympathetic, selfish character who does something to his wife later on in the book which is repugnant, but I still enjoyed the story overall.

    Asano's style in this work is very realistic, in a way that reminds me of his other one-shot, 'A Girl on the Shore'. The artwork and layouts are incredible and the characters are drawn with similar care and attention, I found myself captivated and finished the book in one sitting.

    I'm glad this kind of Manga is still being translated into English, considering its not the sort of style to sell massive quantities in its own country. I mean, the people saying its depressing have got a point, but its also a mature, realistic and very beautifully put-together book.
     
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  8. The Moog

    The Moog Die-Cast

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    [​IMG]

    I bought this hardback at least a year or so ago, and I've finally read it and loved everything about it. It has similarities to Taniguchi's signature work, 'The Walking Man'.

    In 'Furari' the central character (a retired man who spends his days counting his steps around Edo) is loosely based on Ino Tadataka, the 18th century surveyor and cartographer who produced the first modern map of Japan. He encounters street entertainers, talks to poets and painters, eats all kinds of street food and drinks too much sake. His wife occasionally accompanies him for traditional pastimes like Sakura viewing, Firefly catching and Moon viewing (whilst boating on a lake).

    18th century Edo is portrayed with Taniguchi's usual talent for drawing nature and landscapes/buildings, so its a wonderfully immersive book and a relaxing read. I've never been disappointed by a Jiro Taniguchi story, and this one is another triumph.
     
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  9. C E

    C E Toy Prince

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    ^ Thanks for posting and bringing Taniguchi's work to my attention, The Moog! I wasn't familiar with it and am now looking to order this as well as the Summit of the Gods books.
     
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  10. The Moog

    The Moog Die-Cast

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    No worries mate, my pleasure. I'm always banging-on about certain types of Manga to anyone that will listen, glad my obsessive nature can be of use occasionally.

    'The Summit of the Gods' is mature quality Manga from start to finish, and its not too long for a series. It doesn't outstay its welcome. :thumbsup:
     
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  11. Fedhai

    Fedhai Toy Prince

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    Inio Asano is a genius and one of the best actual Seinen Mangaka by far, I recommend Goodnight Punpun, a real masterpiece !
    [​IMG]

    His current series Dead Dead Demon's Dededede Destruction is amazing too !
    [​IMG]

     
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  12. The Moog

    The Moog Die-Cast

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    Yes, its certainly the best work of his I've read so far. I will definitely read it again sometime. Its deeper and more thought provoking than your average manga.

    Yep, I haven't bought this series yet but im looking forward to reading it.
     
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  13. The Moog

    The Moog Die-Cast

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    My most recent Gekiga Manga scores. Ponent Mon probably publish the nicest good-quality hardbacks for Manga at the moment ...


    [​IMG]


    This paperback might be the last Tatsumi translated into English (I hope not, but probably).
    [​IMG]
     
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  14. The Moog

    The Moog Die-Cast

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    Enjoyed this one. Two exiled Samurai fight along side the Native American Oglala tribe, teaching them their style of hand to hand combat and Archery. Taniguchi was inspired by Spaghetti Westerns and Bandes Dessineés like Blueberry (by Jean Giraud). He adds historical figures and events to the story, which combined with his incredible artwork, makes it a deeper and more meaningful book than I was expecting. Apparently it took him 20 years to find a publisher in Japan that would give 'Western' style Manga a go.

    [​IMG]
     
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  15. The Moog

    The Moog Die-Cast

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    [​IMG]

    D+Q finally dropped this beauty which I received in the post yesterday. I thought after their Kitaro run they might take some time off (I heard the later books in the run were printed in lesser numbers because sales weren't too hot) but thankfully they're persevering, and I'm glad to say its the usual high quality paperback.

    The Blurb:

    Shigeru Mizuki—Japan’s grand master of yokai comics—adapts one of the most important works of supernatural literature into comic book form. The cultural equivalent of Brothers Grimm’s fairy tales, Tono Monogatari is a defining text of Japanese folklore and one of the country’s most important works of literature. This graphic novel was created during the later stage of Mizuki’s career, after he had retired from the daily grind of commercial comics to create personal, lasting works of art.

    Originally written in 1910 by folklorists and field researchers Kunio Yanagita and Kizen Sasaki, Tono Monogatari celebrates and archives legends from the Tono region. These stories were recorded as Japan’s rapid modernization led to the disappearance of traditional culture. This adaptation mingles the original text with autobiography: Mizuki attempts to retrace Yanagita and Sasaki’s path, but finds his old body is not quite up to the challenge of following in their footsteps. As Mizuki wanders through Tono he retells some of the most famous legends, manifesting a host of monsters, dragons, and foxes. In the finale, Mizuki meets Yanagita himself and the two sit down to discuss their works.

    Translated with additional essays by Mizuki scholar and English-language translator Zack Davisson, Tono Monogatari displays Mizuki at his finest, exploring the world he most cherished.
     
  16. ---NT---

    ---NT--- Prototype

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    ^^^Thanks for the post. I picked up a copy. I was actually hoping to pick up both the English and Japanese versions as a way to learn how to read Japanese better. But no luck on the Japanese version...looks like it might be out of print?
     
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  17. The Moog

    The Moog Die-Cast

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    Yeah, I think the Japanese version was published over 10 years ago, so that makes sense. I enjoyed it, its very Mizuki. I was expecting maybe something more serious but his playful humour is still prominent amongst the weirdness. I thought some of the tales were a bit short and end too abruptly, but that didn't stop me digging it overall.

    I picked up books 1-7 of 'Dead Dead Demon's Dededede Destruction' the other day (by Inio Asano). I also got round to reading his first major book, 'Nijigahara Holograph'. Its an absolute triumph IMO, surprisingly accomplished for an early work. The story jumps backwards and forwards in time effectively, and it has the troubled characters that he often favours. Between the beautiful visuals, scattered violence and unsettling atmosphere, it reminded me of David Lynch. Its the sort of book that'll benefit from multiple reads, you definitely can't take in every detail on first go. There's subtle things going on under the surface.
     
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  18. toothaction

    toothaction Team Tsubu Staff Member

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    Junji Ito Documentary (Subtitled)
     
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  19. liquidsky

    liquidsky Vintage

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  20. The Moog

    The Moog Die-Cast

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    Yeah, I stumbled across this one a few months ago. I have a bunch of the books featured but there's a ton of stuff I'd never seen before. Plenty of good shit to track down!
     
  21. The Moog

    The Moog Die-Cast

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    [​IMG]

    Enjoyed this recent translation by Viz. Most of the book plays out like a realistic historical drama with very accomplished artwork, I've read that in the next books the story jumps ahead in time to include most of Asa's life. I'm now impatient for further volumes! - its an ongoing series with the occasional hiatus. I think its up to five vols so far.

    The blurb:
    A deadly typhoon, a mysterious creature and a girl who won’t quit.

    In 2020, a large creature rampages through Tokyo, destroying everything in its path.

    In 1959, Asa Asada, a spunky young girl from a huge family in Nagoya, is kidnapped for ransom—and not a soul notices. When Asa’s mother goes into labor yet again, Asa runs off to find a doctor. But no one bats an eye when she doesn’t return—not even as a storm approaches. But soon, Asa and her kidnapper must work together to survive. There’s more to her kidnapper and the storm than meets the eye.
     
  22. The Moog

    The Moog Die-Cast

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    I recently caught up with 'Dead Dead Demon's DeDeDeDe Destruction' by reading Vol.9, which was an entirely 'alternative timeline' part of the story. How Inio is going to bring it all together for the Vol.10 finale is going to be interesting.

    Also still reading 'Hi Score Girl'. Just finished Vol.5 and I love it, the slice of life romance mixed with super nerdy arcade/console gamer subject matter is great. Its funny too.

    Lastly, this one is a lot of fun from the mid-70's. Seven Seas have been killing it with their 'classic' hardbacks. The Tezuka influence is plain to see in Shotaro Ishinomori's work. I'm really looking forward to a new Seven Seas 800+ page omnibus of his 'Kamen Rider' that's due out this December, with a new translation, its going to be awesome. They're beautifully produced hardbacks.

    [​IMG]
     
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  23. The Moog

    The Moog Die-Cast

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    Hi Score Girl Vol 6 dropped. I'm hoping Square Enix see this translation through to Vol 10. Its definitely not on the best seller lists because its admittedly a bit niche.

    Speaking of best sellers, has anyone read Demon Slayer? Its breaking all time records for manga and anime popularity. My brothers kid rates the anime, but I don't wanna take his word for it. I've been assuming its for a teen audience ...

    [​IMG]
     
  24. JoeMan

    JoeMan Mini Boss

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    Haven't read the manga, but the Demon Slayer anime is very entertaining. In the same vein of action/fighting hyped animes, Jujutsu Kaisen is also very good, I like it a little more than Demon Slayer.
     
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  25. xSuicide Squadx

    xSuicide Squadx Super Deformed

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    Demon Slayer the anime is probably the most emotionally driven anime I’ve ever watched. Tanjiro is the kindest, most compassionate character. The stories are heartbreaking, at times cute and hilarious, but the action is so intense. The demons are wickedly evil, but also have some tragedies of their own. The missus and I just watched Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train in theaters last month. Having the surround sound and a big screen was a major, additional treat to the anime itself. I couldn’t recommend this one enough.
     
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