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News, reviews and features with a focus on manga, self-published works and a Canadian perspective. Enjoy fulfilling your Kuriousity!

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Archive for July, 2009

Review: Mixed Vegetables (Vol. 05)

Reviewer: Lissa Pattillo


Manga-ka: Ayumi Komura
Publisher: Viz Media
Rating: Teen (13+)
Release Date: September 2009

Synopsis: “Hayato and Hanayu learn that blood is thicker than water, even in the kitchen. First, Hayato tries to explain to a heartbroken Hanayu why a commitment he made to his ailing grandfather may jeopardize his dream of making pastries for a living. Then Hanayu learns about self-sacrifice firsthand when Patisserie Ashitaba is offered a high-profile pastry project the night before her big exam. Are her sushi dreams more important than keeping the family business afloat? Can Hanayu creat the recipe for happiness?”

After a rocky road of revelations, Hanayu and Hayato have remained friends despite their original relational-intentions. But all is not well, for along with conflicts in their dreams, Hanayu’s of being a sushi chef and Hayato’s of being a patisserie, they still have the feelings of their family to consider as well. And yet the two still have feelings for each other that go beyond friendship too, and along with some vital school exams sneaking up, there’s plenty to consider. This fifth of Mixed Vegetables is all about balance, and whether or not the volume itself achieves this with its blend of humour and romance, readers will still be left hoping Hanayu and Hayato are successful at the task.

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PR: VIZ announces four new manga titles to debut on SigIkki.com

FOUR NEW MANGA TITLES THAT BREAK
THE BOUNDARIES OF CONVENTION
DEBUT FOR FREE – ON
SIGIKKI.COM

VIZ Media invites fans with discerning tastes to explore the four new manga series that launch today on its innovative new IKKI website. Located at www.sigikki.com, this groundbreaking online manga destination debuts the opening chapters of KINGYO USED BOOKS, HOUSE OF FIVE LEAVES, AFTERSCHOOL CHARISMA, and TOKYO FLOW CHART – for free.

For those seeking manga with an emphasis on creative quality and on pushing the boundaries of the manga norm, check out www.SIGIKKI today!

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Dark Horse Acquires Multiple CLAMP Series for Omnibus Editions

Cardcaptor Sakura - Coming Soon From Dark Horse

Unable to attend the Dark Horse panel at SDCC this past weekend, and hopelessly technologically limited since then, this news has taken its time making the way to the front page at Kuriousity, but that’s certainly no indication of my excitement over this announcement!

Dark Horse employees announced at their SDCC panel that they’ve acquired the licenses to multiple CLAMP series and will be releasing them in their entirety in special omnibus editions. This is a part of their continued celebration for CLAMP’s 20th Anniversary, including their recently released omnibus collection of CLAMP’s lyrical Clover series.

The series announced were Magic Knight Rayearth, Cardcaptor Sakura and Chobits. All three of these series were previously published in English by Tokyopop over multiple-volume runs (in that order).

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Review: Chibi Vampire (Vol. 02)

Reviewer: Shannon Fay


Manga-ka: Yuna Kagesaki
Publisher: Tokyopop
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Release Date: August 2006

Synopsis: “Kenta sees Karin at work and school, each day serving as a reminder that something about the girl with the oft-bloody nose just isn’t right! He’s suspicious… and he’s not exactly subtle about it. Fearing that he might discover her secret, Karin decides to kill this potential problem–with kindness! She goes out of her way to do all kinds of nice things for him. But when Kenta catches her “feeding” yet again, the gig may be up. So what’s a vampire girl to do? Why, take the boy home to meet her parents, of course!”

Chibi Vampire is a series about a vampire teenager with a unique condition. Unlike everyone else in her family who sucks blood, Karin’s body produces too much of the red stuff. When her body makes too much, she has to either bite someone and inject the blood in them or suffer a geyser of a nosebleed. When she gives blood, her ‘victims’ become energetic and happy for a few days afterwards.

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Review: One Thousand and One Nights (Vol. 08)

Reviewer: Lissa Pattillo


Author: Jeon JinSeok
Manhwa-ga: Han SeungHee
Publisher: Del Rey
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Release Date: August 2009

Synopsis: “Sehara’s sudden departure leaves the other inhabitants of the palace dumbfounded. Willing himself out of shock, Sultan Shahryar takes matters into his own hands and goes on a journey of his own, only to end up face-to-face with the enemy… and a ghost from the past!”

After Sehara leaves willingly with the invading commander, Sultan Shahryar brashly leaves his palace to attack the political side of things head on. But before that, he must confront his own demons in the form of the woman who was responsible for them: his believed-to-be-deceased wife, Fatima.

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PR: VIZ Media Previews new titles under SHONEN SUNDAY Imprint

VIZ MEDIA PREVIEWS THREE EXCITING MANGA SERIES TO BE PUBLISHED UNDER THE NEW
SHONEN SUNDAY IMPRINT
AT THE 2009 COMIC-CON SHOW

New Manga Chapters From Each Series Will Be Previewed For Free On The Official SHONEN SUNDAY Website With Print Versions Scheduled To Be Published In 2010

San Francisco, CA, JULY 28, 2009 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, previewed three upcoming manga titles to be published under the company’s newest imprint – SHONEN SUNDAY – for a packed audience at its Anime & Manga panel discussion at the recent 2009 Comic-Con International show in San Diego, CA.

The new manga series will debut in 2010 and will include ARATA: THE LEGEND by renowned manga creator Yuu Watase, MAOH: JUVENILE REMIX based on the original story by Kotaro Isaka with story and art by Megumi Osuga, and HYDE & CLOSER by Haro Aso. Every month, the official SHONEN SUNDAY website at www.ShonenSunday.com will present a new chapter from each of the three new titles online for free, as well as post a new chapter from the ongoing action/fantasy adventure KEKKAISHI by Yellow Tanabe (rated ‘T’ for Teens; published domestically by VIZ Media).

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Review: Black Jack (Vol. 02)

Reviewer: Lissa Pattillo


Manga-ka: Osamu Tezuka
Publisher: Vertical
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Release Date: November 2008

Synopsis: “Black Jack is a mysterious and charismatic young genius surgeon who travels the world performing amazing and impossible medical feats. Though a trained physician, he refuses to accept a medical license due to his hatred and mistrust of the medical community’s hypocrisy and corruption. This leads Black Jack to occasional run-ins with the authorities, as well as from gangsters and criminals who approach him for illegal operations.”

Volume two of Black Jack served as a real character-flesher for the enigmatic doctor. The opening chapter sees him faced with the reality of the human body, that there will always be some things he can’t ever control or predict. Seeing how stressed he became, even at the positive outcome of an otherwise bizarre case, spoke volumes about his faith in his own abilities and what he believes to be set in stone. It proved a strong opener to a book full of equally revealing stories of continuing medical mysteries and materialistic morality.

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Kuriousity at SDCC: Del Rey

Technical troubles are delaying this post of mine on Del Rey’s Saturday panel, but I did attend and there was plenty of info shared by the pleasantly enthusiastic staff.

The panel of staff members included Del Rey’s Associate Publisher, Editor, Licensing and Acquistion Handler, Marketing Manager… and “just a writer” (info was withheld so as not to spoil news delivered in the panel).

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Kuriousity at SDCC: CMX Manga

San Diego Comic Con International

Here we go at the convention’s last industry manga panel: CMX Manga! A few technical difficulties slowed the start but it gave some attendees time to share a few con stories with the staff, and then soon enough, things began!

Note: Due to technical problems of my own, I wasn’t able to live blog the panels that happened yesterday but I do have all the information so that will all hopefully be up tonight!

CMX staff begin by showcasing multiple series,most of which acting as elaboration for previously announced/revealed titles while the others near-the-end are new:

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Review: Ikigami – The Ultimate Limit (Vol. 01)

Reviewer: Shannon Fay


Manga-ka: Motoro Mase
Publisher: Viz Media
Rating: Mature (18+)
Release Date: May 2009

Synopsis: “Dear Citizen: Thank you for your loyalty. You’ve no doubt noticed that the world is a troubled place. People are apathetic, lazy, unmotivated. You’ve probably asked yourself: Why isn’t anything being done to stop this systematic decline? Rest assured that measures are being taken. Beginning today, we will randomly select a different citizen who will be killed within 24 hours of notification. We believe this will help remind all people how precious life is and how important it is to be a productive, active member of society. Thank you for your continued attention and your cooperation and participation… Congratulations! You have been randomly selected by the government… to die in 24 hours!”

It was the unconventional summary on the back of Ikigami volume one that spurred me into buying it. I’m a sucker for dystopian fiction, anything from 1984 to Battle Royal. From the two stories in this volume, Ikigami looks to be a fine addition to the genre.

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