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Posts Tagged Global Manga

Yaoi Minis for January 24th

Always lots of yaoi

Some boys’ love links of interest tonight:

BLU forums are pointing the way to Tokyopop’s site where you can view some preview pages for the upcoming and long-awaited fourth volume of Black Knight. Pretty artwork awaits you!

Some exciting news over at the Yaoi Generation forums where the staff had this to say:

“We’re also wrapping up a couple new licenses! Yay! We’ll be announcing it soon… well, soonish… hehe.. It’s not one of the suggested ones though. We’ve been working on getting these upcoming licenses since middle of last year, and it’s finally nearing completion, so we’re very excited!”

So much for waiting until the end of their first series, breath, before diving into others. But who am I kidding, I’m happy. Here’s hoping they handle it well and we get some more quality work. I was impressed with their first release and hope to be with future ones.

Deb Aoki’s Best of 2008 manga polls continue, including Best New Yaoi/Shonen-Ai Manga of 2008. It’s down to a race between the global boys’ love title ANIMA by Dany&Dany, and Ayano Yamane’s A Foreign Love Affair. Personally, I voted for Future Lovers, no contest my favourite on the list. Head over there and vote for your favorite and definitely check out any titles there you haven’t read yet. There’s some good ones for sure!

A new title from Kitty Media? Sense and Sexuality, with a release date listed for April 2009 (Edit: update). And how about a potentially new title from Deux Press? Have some Spicy But Sweet, a sequel to their already licensed Naughty But Nice. And from DMP, The Lonely Mgoytist (this one seems familiar to me but I can’t find news on it before my head hits the desk from sleepiness so apologies if this is repeat news).

Y!Gallery, aka YaoiGallery, the biggest online art community revolving around men, men and men on men, has recently had a big overhaul of their Rules and Terms of Use. One of the biggest changes includes the return of ‘furries’. Characters with strong animal characteristics were originally banned due to user complaints and a blurred line of beastiality. Site users are now given the option to filter their accounts so that furry art doesn’t show up for them. Other rule changes include no copyrighted material or work taken without permission being used for literature thumbnails (saving people like me a hundred headaches for clicking on what looks like really well done fanart only to find one of a million fanfics).

And finally, Tina Anderson and MTCopyright’s full-colour webcomic Whore of Turfan continues to update weekly with lots of shiny drama to look forward to every Friday! (Whoops, how’d this plug get here? ;) ) Seriously though, a strong start for the series from two talented individuals and I can’t wait to see where its going.


Fans Try To Revive Off*Beat

100 Letters For Off*Beat

After posting about CLAMP_Now’s Appreciation Fanbook, I came across a little fan-run project with the hope of getting 100 letters sent to Tokyopop in order to convince them to publish volume three of the likely-permentantly-postponded OEL manga, Off*Beat by Jen Lee Quick.

While they don’t have much now, I still think it’s a nice fan-effort to let Tokyopop know there’s lots of interest for the third and final volume. Plus, taking a more effort-requiring tactic over the usual online petitions is a nice touch. I really loved the charming mystery story Jen Lee wove, so anything that could cause Tokyopop to reconsider it’s ‘indefinate hiatus’ is worth me noting :)


Review: Y Square Plus


Author/Artist: Judith Park
Publisher: Yen Press
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Released: December 2008

Synopsis: “Yagate was happy to help his best friend Yoshitaka with his girl troubles, but it’s Yoshitaka’s turn to return the favor. Yagate’s ready to escape his female admirers and find the man of his dreams. He’s got his heart set on Ra-Myun, a handsome college student. Unfortunately, Chana has her eye on Ra-Myun too and is ready to put up a fight! Meanwhile, Ju-Jin’s long-awaited photo shoot ends in total disaster! Will Yoshitaka finally tell Ju-Jin how he feels before she turns to another?”

It looks like things may finally be going Ju-Jin’s way when she gets her first modelling gig and she drags the snarky but dependable Yoshitaka along for the ride. But where’s the fun in a smooth road? Now Ju-Jin is angry at Yoshitaka yet again and it looks like his feelings may not get through as clearly as he’d hope. On top of that, he owes his best friend, Yagate, help finding a boyfriend of his own. When it looks like Yagate’s dreams arrive in the form of Ju-Jin’s older brother, things might not be so easy when there’s a little female competition.

Read more…


Hello Amazon, you have Dragonball for me?

Time for some more reasons to make you guys think I must live on Amazon :) Discoveries are fun stuff and the stuff found often even funner:

Trill on Eden (Vol. 01) : An unannounced license from Go!Comi? By the same manga-ka who brought us The Devil Within.

And as an update on some old news, Viz announced earlier in the year their plans for graphic novel boxsets of the Dragonball and Dragonball Z manga. They were announced with November 2008 release dates, which has obviously come and gone, but they’ve been rescheduled with Feburary 3rd, 2009 releases. Certainly one heck’ve a purchase for DB fans who don’t wish to collect the series via the Viz Big line. Just wanted to show off the big and shiny boxsets for those who haven’t seen ’em before becaues I think they’re lovely and I want them :)

On a newer note, Amazon also lists volumes of an upcoming addition to their Viz Kids line-up, Dragonball chapter books. Time to get kids reading some paragraphs again! And then on top of that, VizKids has Dragonball The Movie Chapter Books, with volume one slated for a Feburary 29th, 2009 release date (you can see a tentative cover image here.) Check out the epic synopsis:

“Goku thought he was a normal high school student until he found out he’s actually a martial-arts whiz with all kinds of crazy powers. Now he and his new group of teen warriors are on a quest to find all the Dragon Balls before they fall into the wrong hands. But they may already have! Goku must battle the evil madman Piccolo with all he’s got to save the planet Earth!”

Goku is actually a martial-arts whiz?! Golly! Movie still looks fun though. Just block out the few referrences you’ll see to Dragonball and all shall be well… er, better atleast.

And finally, because it’s fun: Star Trek The Next Generation (Vol. 01) and my first look at the cover art. I’m looking forward to this because, come on, it’s Picard in manga style. It has to be seen! Accidental discoveries of disturbing doujinshi don’t count…


DramaQueen’s Drama, Yaoi Press Year End

A few recent boys’ love events of note:

 The drama over at Drama Queen’s forums continues with fans up in arms over their continued disorganization, misinformation and the latest in a string of broken promises. Some intelligent comments are made about DQ’s consistent failure as a business and I’m certainly enclined to agree. It’s been a long, sad road and DQ’s possible return no longer looks optimistic as much as it just shows how easily a so-called company can mess with its dedicated fans, not to mention contributers. For shame, DramaQueen.

And after failing to deliver on promised release dates for Tyrant Who Falls in Love twice, LadyQ on the forums pulls out a very familiar excuse:

“OK – DON’T PANIC! Tyrant is on it’s way – there’s a minor problem on our printing (nothing major!) so we’re working on it to get it printed asap.

Please know that Tyrant will be out – we will not be able to make it for Christmas delivery – but we’re shooting for January. I know how you all must feel, but please know that this time, it was not within our control when the problem arose ><! “

Maybe you should just, I don’t know… wait until you actually have something before you promise it to people?

On a much more positive note, Yamila has posted her end of the year report for Yaoi Press. They’re obviously feeling the current economic crunch but remain optimistic about things to come. One of their upcoming changes is the format of their books which will have higher page counts and larger trim sizes. It’s a good read for both fans of their releases and as a view of how one of the few consistant publishers in these rocky times is getting by.

Over at her blog, Tina Anderson makes some suggestions for some global BL reading for the holiday vacation. There’re some great titles on the list so check it out if you’re looking for some good reads that are refreshingly different from your usual yaoi fare.

And finally, in referrence to the appearance of In God’s Arms on Amazon (slated for a July 2009 release), a fan has been circulating an e-mail they recieved from Seven Seas telling them that the license for the boys’ love book by Nekota Yonezou had indeed been lost. While this doesn’t come as a surprise, and it’s more likely Amazon just regurgitated the listing, wouldn’t it be a much nicer thought that a license lost could infact now be a license found?


Review: Winter Demon (Vol. 04)


Author: Yamila Abraham
Artist: Rhea Silvan
Publisher: Yaoi Press
Rating: Mature (18+)
Released: November 2008

Synopsis: “Fuyu seeks Takuma to treat Hakuin’s badly infected wounds. The Spring Demon Ryuuto is still wooing Takuma when Fuyu arrives. Fuyu and Hakuin find themselves in the position of matchmakers as Hakuin’s injuries heal. Just when things seem to be going well, there’s a misunderstanding. Now Ryuuto has angered them all. Hakuin decides their old friend Figaru is just the one to teach this evil demon a lesson.”

Different past elements are drawn together in this fourth and final volume of Winter Demon. Fuyu takes Hakuin to a nearby healer when old wounds torment his weakened body. There the two meet the young doctor whose heart is at odds over his feelings for a demon named Ryuuto who has the power to heal but a dangerous sexual appetite. While Hakuin heals, he and Fuyu come to full terms with their current relationship while hoping to mend that of the doctor and Ryuuto with some ‘help’ from their acquaintance, the incubus Figaru.

Read more…


Review: Only Words


Author: Tina Anderson
Artist: Caroline Monaco
Publisher: Iris Print
Rating: Mature (18+)
Released: August 2008

Synopsis: “18-year-old seminary student Koby Bruk has watched for two years as the Nazis encroach on Poland. The Hitler Youth now openly attend his classes, and Koby finds himself strangely fascinated by one in particular: the scarred and domineering Oskar Keplar. When Koby is bulled by his classmate Irvine, he chooses to speak up against him. Oskar retaliates, cornering Koby and making a sinister promise.”

The lead of Only Words is Koby, a seminary student who lives his life honestly and quietly within the confines of society in Nazi-inhabited Poland. Affecting his life in a way that will forever stay with him is Oskar, a Nazi soldier, and between them is arranged a seductively dangerous encounter.

Read more…


Review: The 9Lives (Vol. 01)


Author: Rachel Brown
Artist: Bayou
Publisher: Tokyopop
Rating: Teen (13+)
Released: October 2008

Synopsis: “Alien refugees have come to Earth. They call themselves 9-Lives. Humans call them cat-boys, and force to live as collared pets. Conri, a rebellious young 9-Life, ran away to escape this fate. But when a human named Adrian saves him from capture, Conri is torn between his desire for freedom and another desire he can’t quite admit, even to himself…”

I’d honestly never heard of 9Lives before I came across a review for it online. It sounded interesting and looked equally so visually when I picked it up off the store shelf. I’m a big fan of global manga, and have read some fantastic titles, plus both the author and artist of 9Lives have some lengthy credentials. So now it was just a matter of taking the title home and seeing how it played itself out.

Read more…


It’s Alive! Aliiiiiive~!

Disclaimer: Despite mad scientist status, Kuriousity claims no part in DQ’s revival Hopefully there’ll be a cool accompanying picture (Edit: check! Well, semi-cool anyway) to that overenthuastic title but in the meantime:

Seems that those who’ve held out hope for DramaQueen are finally being rewarded as a post on the forums has made official proclamation that they’re making a comeback. The plan is to have the first volume of The Tyrant Who Falls in Love out in September 2009. They also have plans to continue the RUSH anthology. This after it was previously stated that the RUSH crew were looking for another publisher after DramaQueen’s long silence.

Looks like my foolish hold out of hope was not in vain! All for the love of Hinako Takanaga and Naono Bohra. Now it’s just a matter of September coming around to make sure it’s not another empty promise. When we hold that book in our hand, then we shall truely celebrate!

You can read the whole post under the cut. Thanks to the folks at Boys Next Door for the quick pick up of the news!

Read more…


Review: Dark Prince (Vol. 03)


Author: Yamila Abraham
Artist: M.A. Sambre
Publisher: Yaoi Press
Rating: Mature (18+)
Released: September 2008

Synopsis:
“Prince Davon yearns for a pure love with the peasant Aeon, but the dark forces that taint Davon’s life will interfere. Both Davon and Aeon become unsure of where they stand. Will they be lovers, or adversaries? The macabre story of twisted love, demons, and torture comes to a heart-wrenching conclusion.”

Volume three of Dark Prince marks the end of this boys’ love story of demons, gods and princes. Prince Davon is still struggling under the control of the abusive and selfish God, Pharah. Aeon, the young boy believed to be a reincarnation of a man named Rickus, stays at Davon’s side but Pharah wants the boy for himself. But when Davon is unable to convince Aeon of his God’s non-existent good side, Pharah orders Davon to kill him.

Read more…


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