Category Archives: Manga

Don’t forget the side characters

Posted on January 20, 2012 by Celeste

In alot of ways, what keeps a longer manga engaging isn’t its main characters, but the side characters. Though our initial emotional investments as readers are in the main characters, the supporting cast and their links with those main characters are what … Continue reading →

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We offer up our heart’s blood: Courage and spirit in Shingeki no Kyojin

Posted on November 12, 2011 by bateszi

Since writing my first post on the manga series Shingeki no Kyojin (the official English title is apparently Attack on Titan,) it’s been licensed for an English-language release by Kodansha USA, whilst a Japanese live-action movie has also been announced … Continue reading →

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The wonderous parts of the world

Posted on May 29, 2011 by Celeste

It’s been a long time coming, but I’ve finally had a moment to sit down with the Mushishi manga. I say a long time coming because I was the most ardent of fans during the anime’s original airing. The 2006 … Continue reading →

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Eaten by giants!!

Posted on May 23, 2011 by bateszi

I started reading Shingeki no Kyojin because ‘giants attacking mankind’s last city’ sounded really cool. Continue reading →

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Yankee-kun to Megane-chan and the world of shounen manga apprentices

Posted on March 13, 2011 by Celeste

I’ve always found the idea of an apprentice palatable. The idea of learning directly from a ‘master’ on real-world projects is, to me, a better way of doing things. Over my years in university I can’t count how many lazy … Continue reading →

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Feel like being scared?

Posted on December 14, 2010 by bateszi

I’ve been going through a lull in blogging lately. Although I’ve been trying hard (and succeeding, surprisingly!) to keep up with a certain trio of currently airing series, I’ve also been feeling quite passive, too. Even still, the desire to … Continue reading →

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I need a job so I wanna be a mangaka writer

Posted on November 21, 2010 by dengar

Dragon Ball Z, Slam Dunk, Bleach, Hajime no Ippo.  Most shonen series are based on physical activities like sports or fighting.  Surprisingly, the general shonen formula can also work well with a non-physical activity.  In Bakuman,  J.C. Staff and NHK successfully … Continue reading →

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Seeing the forest through the trees with Sailor Moon

Posted on July 3, 2010 by Celeste

If you haven’t done yourself the favour of reading the original Sailor Moon manga, I suggest you drop whatever stigmas or preconceptions you have of the series and find yourself a copy. Naturally, it suffers from the cliches it helped … Continue reading →

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“Next time, let me see a Matsuri Special.”

Posted on May 11, 2010 by Celeste

Something about the transience of adolescence never fails to inspire. More often than not we wake up, 20, fully grown, and confused as to how we got there. For this reason, mangaka like Kamio Youko are a particularly rare breed. … Continue reading →

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Eden in name only

Posted on May 3, 2010 by bateszi

Hiroki Endo calling his manga ‘Eden‘ is a hint. Eden is supposed to be a paradise on Earth, but Endo‘s version is more like Hell. It’s sarcasm on his part, I think, because this is a contrary and brutal series, … Continue reading →

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The tide of violence

Posted on January 27, 2010 by bateszi

I’ve read only 26 chapters of Vinland Saga so far but its quality is such that I have to admit it’s already one of my favourites. Thorfinn is the main character, an Icelandic warrior joined with a band of Viking … Continue reading →

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The harsh beauty of Tsutomu Nihei’s Biomega

Posted on January 3, 2010 by bateszi

Happy new year, everyone! Time sure flies and it’s now looking likely that this blog will live to see it’s fourth anniversary on the 4th of March, which is just… surreal! This time of year also provides me with the … Continue reading →

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Island manga: an isolated town enclosed by huge, unscalable walls…

Posted on July 11, 2009 by bateszi

The island is an isolated town enclosed by huge, unscalable walls, where the outside world is a mystery that no-one even has laid eyes on for 400 years. As its culture dies a slow death, the town’s people have forgotten … Continue reading →

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Delighted with some devilishly delicious horror

Posted on November 1, 2008 by bateszi

My damned savoir and his demented smile lurked forth from the shadows. His name was none other than Go Nagai and his bloody offering was Devilman. And it was perfect. Perfectly and utterly disturbing. Continue reading →

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When bunny boilers attack

Posted on May 25, 2008 by bateszi

Ahh, my saviour is the weekend! I know my last post wasn’t exactly beaming with enthusiasm for all things animated, but with two more weeks under my belt, the gloom has lifted and I’m now tucking into tasty helpings of … Continue reading →

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Spiralling into insanity, looking at Junji Ito’s horror manga Uzumaki

Posted on January 28, 2008 by bateszi

I’ve been reading a lot of manga lately. In the past, I’d go through brief fits of reading the stuff, but it always felt temporary, like a fling while my romance with anime hit the buffers. This time, it’s totally … Continue reading →

Posted in Manga, Reviews | Tagged , , , , | 13 Comments

Creepy horror manga? The Enigma of Amigara Fault is the answer

Posted on October 17, 2007 by bateszi

Halloween is fast approaching and it’s time to indulge in some frightful Japanese horror. Sadly, it’s not a genre that translates well to anime and manga, but having recently discovered the abnormal works of manga-ka Junji Ito, there may well … Continue reading →

Posted in Manga, Reviews | Tagged , , , | 25 Comments