Back to Work/End of Summer Reading
I’m back at work! It’s kind of weird but believe me, I’m relishing the time to drink a cup of coffee and read my email without worrying I’m going to spill on the baby’s head or get my computer torn down by the toddler.
This may be shocking to some but maternity leave is no vacation! Still I did get to squeeze in a few manga these past couple months. Here’s how I felt about them:
Bride of the Water God Vol. 2
I had heard that the second volume doesn’t necessarily improve. The character development is still minimal, the plot is full of holes and the dialogue is laughable. Still, the artwork makes up for everything. I don’t care how insipid Habaek and Soah continue to be, if they wear those gorgeous clothes while flying past the moon in an elaborate ship, I will eat it up.
Uzumaki Vol. 2
There’s very little “horror” that I can’t handle. Uzumaki is pushing the limit. In this twisted (pun intended) volume, the terror is pushed up as the town possessed by a spiral, uh, spirals downward. I warn you, it’s seriously disturbing but brillant. The only thing that bothers me is that the townspeople have yet to figure out what’s going on. You would think that after multiple frightening incidents, including people morphing in snails for godsake, the folks would learn to stay away from anything strange or believe others when they relate that something is wrong – ah, but no.
Pluto Vol. 1
I should have read this title first. I’m a huge fan of Monster and was thrilled to see a couple of series by Naoki Urasawa. My comic book guy recommended it over 20th Century Boys, saying it was different than Monster and would make a nice change. Based on a single Astro Boy story, “The Greatest Robot on Earth”, Pluto takes the concept of a robot murdering serial killer and expands the world to a completely new level. There is obviously a lot of care and reverence to the master, Osamu Tezuka. I’m not sure why I resisted, perhaps because Astro Boy is my least favorite Tezuka title? Whatever the reason, I’m glad I finally got around to it.
So there you have it, my summer reading. Another good reason to return to work? The copies of Queen & Country and A Drifting Life on my desk!
MW hits the silver screen
ANN has posted a link with the new MW trailer. (After the site loads click on the third black text from the left.)
It’s live action which is great. Normally, I prefer manga to become anime but in this case I think real humans fit the story better. You can’t tell much by the preview, nothing of Michio’s psychosis is revealed but that’s ok. The casting looks good and I hope it makes it’s way over to the U.S. before too long.
Last Minute Gifts
“Not just for nerds!”, proclaims a Publisher’s Weekly article on giving graphic novels to the readers on your Christmas list. They have a pretty good list and here’s (in my opinion) the highlights.
Black Jack by Osamu Tezuka – have I talked about this mange enough yet? No? Ok, let me reiterate. This story about a talented yet mad doctor is both heartwarming AND gory. A perfect gift!
Ghost World, Special Edition by Daniel Clowes - ok, I admit I saw the movie before reading the book. I liked the movie, loved the book. I don’t usually compare the two but this deluxe edition includes the movie screenplay so obsessives can sit and pick apart the differences. It also includes a “where are they now” comic! Awesome!
Hellboy 2: The Chained Coffin, the Right Hand of Doom, and Others by Mike Mignola - they claim this list isn’t just for nerds but include a “velvet-bound, over-sized book that showcases [Mignola's] his stunning art to it’s fullest”. I don’t know about you but the only person who gets excited over my absolute or deluxe editions is a total (cute) nerd. So if you know one, trust me, big giant comics that feel really heavy are the perfect gift!
Local by Brian Wood and Ryan Kelly – I became a fan of Brian Wood after his collection of short stories, Demo. Local is just as good, if not better. Plus, it includes a chapter set in Norman! Nothing like seeing your local haunts depicted in a story about loss and depression is there?
Kramer’s Ergot #7 edited by Sammy Harkham – I haven’t read it but I can’t go a single day without hearing about it.
Gifts they recommend that I would pass on:
DC Vault and Marvel Chronicles – two histories of the giants, complete with memorabilia and an insane price tag.
Will Eisner’s The Spirit: A Pop-Up Graphic Novel by Will Eisner – yay! Sexism! Racism! In 3D! Include a pair of tickets to the awful looking movie to really make someone uncomfortable this Christmas. *Disclaimer* I know Eisner is a genius but really, the Spirit needs some updating and Darwyn Cook’s version doesn’t really manage it.
More Free MANGA!
David Welsh has three copies of Osamu Tezuka’s, Black Jack, that’s he ready to give away! All you have to do is email him and tell him your prescription for the comics industry. They are having a bit of a hard time right now.
My prescription is basically, don’t forget the ladies. We read comics too, we like manga too, we want to read good stories with gorgeous artwork too!
Tezuka (finally) Comes to the United States
When talking about Osamu Tezuka, it’s pretty common to hear things like “Japan’s Walt Disney” or the “Father of Modern Manga”. So you would think that his masterpieces (oh yeah, he managed more than one) would be readily available but that’s not really the case. Until now.
Over the past year or so a slew of Tezuka manga has hit the shelves. But what should you get first?
Nadia Oxford counts down some Tezuka manga while sharing the news that a large amount of his anime will be available for free! To go along with this, here’s my unofficial guide to the some of the manga available from the master, the sensei Tezuka:
Apollo’s Song – I haven’t read Apollo’s Song but it looks gorgeous! It’s definitely one of those titles that I have at the second to the top of my list but keeps getting pushed down for some reason…hmm.
Astro Boy – This title has actually been available for a while but it’s such a classic that it’s worth mentioning. The story follows a little boy robot who was built to replace the Ministry of Science’s son. Trust me, this is a children’s story. Of course the doctor realizes that a robot is no replacement for a flesh and blood child so Astro Boy is sent away. Eventually a new Minister of Science discovers him and sets him to fighting crime. Hijinks ensue!
The series is both lighthearted and, at times, gut wrenching. Children will love it but it’s pretty accessible to adults too. My only gripe is that it tends to get repetitive. Buy/checkout if you have a kid asking/begging for manga or if you hold some deep nostalgia for the 1980’s cartoon.
Plus, you can catch up on the story in time for the new movie!!
Black Jack - The really amazing thing about Tezuka is that he could tell a children’s story about a boy robot then turn around and give us a super-surgeon. Black Jack is a scarred doctor who’s set out to do good, often with his scaple. The latest release of volume one came in September (previous publishings are out of print) and I cannot wait to get my hands on it.
Buddha - This manga has been available in the U.S. since 2003 which is weird to me. It’s not that it isn’t amazing, just a strange pick to sell to American crowds before, say, Princess Knight. The title is exactly as it suggests, the story of Buddha’s life as told by Tezuka. It’s a powerful, sometimes erotic and probably not entirely accurate but pretty dead on emotional telling. They should reprint it in its original state already!
Dororo - I have to admit I don’t know a lot about Dororo but I’m told it’s good. Followed by the prerequisite “well it’s Tezuka, so you know it’s good” which makes me sort of doubt that it’s really really that good. Plus, I’m not a big fan of a.) fighting manga, b.) weird limbless creature manga and c.) history – Dororo is all of that. I just sold some of you on it didn’t I?
MW – This is another unlikely choice for a Tezuka translation mainly because, critically, it wasn’t as well received as his other works. It just so happens to be my favorite. Two boys are caught on an island when a nuclear weapon explodes killing everyone but them. Their lives after the tragic event take different turns, one to the church and one to crime. They can’t manage to forgive the people who destroyed them as they seek out redemption through God and through murder. Their relationship is complicated, sexual and set against primitive yet expressive artwork. Plus, it’s a stand alone so you actually fit in on your bookshelf.
Ode to Kirihito – This doctor manga preceded Black Jack both in Japan and in the U.S. Tezuka was a doctor himself so his fascination with the craft makes sense. The doctor in Ode, Dr. Kirihito Osanai, is determined to cure a strange disease that makes people look like dogs. It sounds weird but it works. Osanai himself becomes infected and face the injustice and prejudice of a world that values one face over another. The uneven artwork and pages of wordless, fragmented layouts make this kind of a hard read though.
The Phoenix - If we’re sticking with the Walt Disney comparison, The Phoenix is Tezuka’s Fantasia. Each book in the The Phoenix (there are 12 and remains unfinished since his death), tells a different yet connected story. This is his spiritual quest, to be reborn, reincarnated. He worked on it throughout his life. The artwork is spectacular, often ‘rising’ above the actual storylines as if he’s embracing his own inevitable unraveling.
Princess Knight - The July issue of Shojo Beat had a sneak peak! It’s about a girl who has to pretend to be a boy in order to claim her throne. Which may not sound like all that a remarkable tale in 2008 but it was written in 1954 when gender was pretty much a set deal. The princess has both the heart of a boy and a girl, encompassing both genders as she sets about on her adventures. I’m hoping the whole volumes are released soon, not necessarily for the art (which leans a little too flat and round for my taste) but for the simple idea that gender is in the heart rather than the body and how this is a powerful enough to have sustained into the 21st century.
Did I miss your favorite? Have you heard of any Tezuka happenings (manga or otherwise)?
