I’m posting a bit late today. I’d love to say it’s because of the ice storm hitting our area, but that’s actually making me more efficient—didn’t have to get the kids out to school, don’t have to do my volunteer tutoring. Actually, I’m delayed because I was finishing an article, on deadline, about the history of the Fluffernutter sandwich. (Yes, I did just give a talk about that. I’m not a Fluffernutter missionary, just an efficient recycler of research.) If anyone is interested, I’ll post the link when it comes out.
If Valentine’s Day is getting you down, or even if it isn’t and you just need a good laugh, check out the Valentines Day Massacre, a set of short, sweet, webcomics on love and not-love by Rachel Nabors. And then you can read an interview with her at Comic Book Resources.
In addition to their love letter to Del Rey, PWCW has a nice article about Vertical’s release of To Terra that touches on the genre controversy. I liked this quote from Anne Ishii the best, though:
“There’s something immediately touching about it,” she said. “It’s old, but new. It’s space travelers wearing bell-bottoms. It’s incredible that one woman drafted that many spacescapes and travel machines.”
At The Beat, Anne presents Vertical’s NYCC plans in dialogue form.
Comicsnob’s Matt Blind takes a look at manga’s appeal to teenagers: they can identify with the characters. I think he’s right, but that’s only part of the story. This local newspaper piece interviews teachers and kids, who cite the art and the different culture as being big draws. Also: noodles.
ComiPress reports the death of manga-ka Emiko Sugi. At Journalista, Dirk Deppey does some digging and finds more.
At Irresponsible Pictures, Pata checks out a movie and a TV show about the “manga lifestyle.”
Research assistance: At Manga Talk, a scholar doing an art history thesis on CLAMP is looking for info.
Job board: Broccoli is looking for freelance Japanese-to-English translators. And Go! Comi has two positions open, Director of Site Engineering and Director of Manga Licensing.
Reviews: Ed Chavez celebrates Valentine’s Day at the MangaCast with podcast reviews of three sort-of romances: vol. 3 of CMX’s Densha Otoko, vol. 10 of Samurai Executioner, and vol. 2 of Yubisaki Milk Tea. Active Anime’s Holly Ellingwood has an advance review of a new yaoi title, vol. 1 of Ichigenme… The First Class Is Civil Law and also looks at vol. 22 of Flame of Recca and vol. 18 of Banana Fish—now that’s range!—while Christopher Seaman checks out vol. 12 of Negima. Comics-and-more’s Dave Ferraro awards an A+ to vol 1 of Tapenshu. AoD’s Julie Rosato reviews a new title from 801, vol. 1 of Bondz, and the staff kicks in some Small Bodied Manga Reviews. At Slightly Biased Manga, Connie reviews vol. 4 of The Law of Ueki. At Mangamaniaccafe, Julie is not too crazy about vol. 1 of Inubaka: Crazy for Dogs. Comicsnob’s Matt Blind reviews vol. 1 of Legend. Prospero’s Manga saves you some time (and possibly money) with series updates of School Rumble and Basilisk.
Just sent in my AOD review for To Terra today. It’s a very, very, very good book. And honestly, it has such a broad appeal that it makes the whole genre debate irrelevant. To Terra is just a damn good story period.