News, reviews and features with a focus on manga, self-published works and a Canadian perspective. Enjoy fulfilling your Kuriousity!
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The schedule for Yaoi Con 2008 was posted yesterday night. Coming up this weekend, September 26-28th, it’s the biggest (I would assume by this point?) boys’ love event on this continent. Alas, the cost of flights, hotels and passports keep me from it. And yet I couldn’t help looking at the schedule and planning my ‘if I was there’. Live the experience for me, Yaoi Con attendees!
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Manga-ka: Kubo Tite
Publisher: Viz
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Released: September 2008
Synopsis: “Ichigo and the Soul Reapers wage a furious battle against the Arrancars who are attacking Karakura Town. But this enemy is unlike anything they have ever fought before, and these aren’t even the strongest of the Arrancars! If Ichigo and his friends can barely face them, how can they hope to fight off the elite Arrancar warriors, the dreaded Espada?”
The fighting must go on in this twenty-fourth volume of Bleach. A sudden assault from the enemy leaves those protecting the town caught unawares and everyone is pulled in different directions to defend themselves and those around them. It’s kill or be killed as Renji, Matsumoto and Hitsugaya face off against some nasty opponents.
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Author: Calissa Leigh
Artist: Yishan Li
Publisher: Yaoi Press
Rating: Mature (18+)
Released: March 2006
Synopsis: “Gin is falsely accused of murder and sacrificed to a demon. However, when the demon realizes his innocence, he takes pity and flies Gin to Aluria, a land of mystical creatures. But Gin is betrayed by a vampire named Kakale. And if things weren’t bad enough, Kakale casts a spell so that Gin looks like Kakale and Kakale looks like Gin. This is very bad for Gin considering Kakale is a wanted criminal…”
The Aluria Chronicles begins with the introduction of Gin, a pretty young slave boy who accidentally plays a key part in a man’s murder when trying to defend himself. Accused of the crime, he’s sacrificed to a demon as part of a larger scheme. But the demon takes pity on Gin, sensing his innocence, and instead whisks the sacrifice away to a land of mythical creatures.
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Manga-ka: Tomo Maeda
Publisher: Go!Comi
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Released: August 2008
Synopsis: “They say all good things must come to an end… but will this hold true for Shikimi, as well? The half-demon priest was making such good progress, but a fun-filled day in the falling snow turns deadly as his demon half takes over. Will Grey finally win their bet?”
With strange dreams and memories that never fade, Shikimi is starting to act more oddly than usual and he doesn’t seem keen on telling his friends why. After an early snowfall offers fun and frolic for Laz and Taki, it soon spells trouble for everyone when the darkness in Shikimi finally claws its way to the surface.
Go!Comi’s pun was too horrid not to use for the title of this entry. Well, that and somedays it’s just near-impossible coming up with something as simple as a post name, don’t you find?
After first posting a link to it through their forum yesterday, the Go!Comi staffed has explained in more detail, via their DeviantArt journal and web blog, the deal with their new fiction line. What exists now is Golden Vampires: a fiction story told from the perspective of two girls as they blog about their experiences. The story is meant to have an interactive element to it as readers are encouraged to post comments on the blog, which will then in turn be responded to in-character by the blog-writer (s).
Seems like a neat concept to me, not something I personally have much interest in, but I can see the charm there, especially with the interactive part. Reminds me of these column that used to (still is?) running in the Cosmopolitan magazine, though I can’t see these girls having so much to say about their more initimate moments. On that note though, it’s not as though I can avoid pointing out upon a quick visual scan, “ball-gag” and “leather-strap” were where my eyes first fell…
So, while still lamenting the lack of light novels, fans looking for another vampire story and enjoy that blogging experience should probably head over there and give ‘er a go.
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Manga-ka: Fumi Yoshinaga
Publisher: DMP
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Released: March 2007
Synopsis: “Kugayama is a gifted music teacher, but a man with little ambition or desire. Born to a wealthy and prominent family, Kugayama passes his days simply going through the motions and existing. When ex-student, Azuma Tanaka, requests his help in studying for a prestigious music school’s entrance exam, his budding youth and enthusiasm invoke a passion in Kugayama that he has never experienced before.”
Kugayama is a talented music teacher from a well-off family, but his life lacks passion and he lives each day without much thought about it. Then one day everything changes when a previous student of his returns, asking for his help in preparing for a music school’s entrance exam. He finds the student’s enthusiasm refreshing and inspiring, but the feelings budding between the two cause more than a disruption for their lessons.
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Manga-ka: Yuki Fujisawa
Publisher: Dr. Master
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Released: February 2008
Synopsis: “Mishima is your average pushover, working as a repairman for the Exopolis Tower, Tokyo’s largest high-rise business & entertainment building. He promises to come home to celebrate his son’s birthday, but he lets his boss saddle him with overtime. On train heading home, a massive earthquake strikes and collapses both Expolis and its underground train lines. Now Mishima is trapped deep underground with the other passengers of the train…”
Mishima lives a life that he’s less than proud of, constantly walked over by his boss like a soggy doormat and never able to emotionally provide for his family with his presence. After being kept late at work one night, despite a promise to be home for his son’s birthday, Mishima finds himself on the early morning subway train when a massive earthquake rocks the city of Tokyo. Now trapped almost 100 metres below the surface with those who survived from his subway car, it’s a matter of survival as they desperately try to find a way out.
A recent post in the DramaQueen forums by one of the remaining editors:
“well, i’m holding my breath here, but i was also told we would be publishing TYRANT, as the first book for our “comeback”. all my files have been submitted so i’m starting work on the 2nd book now.”
Not the first time we’ve heard this: a supposed triumphant comeback and one started with the far-too-long awaited release of The Tyrant Who Falls In Love by Hinako Takanaga. While this tiny post acts as little more than perhaps another itty-bitty sliver of possible hope, I have to wonder, as much as I’d be happy to finally have some of their licenses in my hands (if they do make a comeback), will a miraculous return act as boo-boo bandaid for all of DQ’s disappointing past treatment of its fans? Is keeping everyone, including their own staff, completely in the dark, and allowing the negative feelings to fester, just to make a return all the more sudden, a worthy trade-off?
Original image (c) 801Media
Hopefully this isn’t a sign of trouble over at the seemingly-unstoppable force that is Digital Manga, but over the past couple of days it’s come to our attention that the public-known staff of 801Media are all facing their final days as a part of the company this week. This includes the entire initial team and production managers behind the raunchier-yaoi imprint. Another staff member, known on the forums as Tomo-chan, had their last days as part of the small staff a few months back.
I give my sad but fondest goodbyes to them all! They made following 801Media’s releases easy, informative and, most important of all, lots of fun. It will in no way be the same without them :(
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Manga-ka: Matsuri Akino
Publisher: Tokyopop
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Released: August 2008
Synopsis: “Kamishina is the reincarnated ruler of Dhalashar. He can hear voices from beyond the grave, see visions and soothe ghosts… When Ohko tries to awaken a spirit known as the true king, the ends up causing a huge explosion, after which a mysterious boy appears from thin air…”
As if I didn’t find previous recent volumes of Genju no Seiza plot-heavy enough (in a good way, mind you), volume seven takes it even a step further. The true existence of Mayu, whom readers have long suspected is of some further significance to the story, is finally revealed and we learn about what led to how she is now. On top of that, various events from the past are catching up to the characters with some surprising connections. Throw in some time travel, a mysterious new boy who shows up, and two possible reincarnated Kings with the power to destroy the world, and you have yourself one wonderfully thick volume.
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