Once we have RAWR pose, we'll be all set to be the new Gaijin 4koma

Momo-chan-senpai is welcome anytime to the Zaku Zero G (DD) Space Colony

Summary:

Ryoko, Ryoshi and Ringo are enlisted to assist shouta heir Chuutarou Nezumi to find a bride. They work through most of the female cast (including minor characters) but the boy’s faithful butler Hammel ends up antagonizing each and everyone of them by pointing out why they are unsuitable in the most untactful and outrageous ways. After an extended exposition on boobs as a criterion, which manages to antagonize both the well-endowed and the less well-endowed, Chuutarou rediscovers his true love – the loli stalker Uika. Liszt is forced to buy a lot of expensive cakes to soothe the hurt feelings of the girls.

Sandwiching this is a movie about the same trio against three stinky pigs – who are eventually defeated by evil loli yuri. Go Ringo go!

What happened to the serious business back story and dramatic developments?

As time goes by (A kiss is just a kiss)

Reaction:

JC Staff was clearly having fun with the Mahoromatic, ToraDora and Railgun references and while I was indeed amused, this episode at this point in time was not the best timed – I had just come around to accepting Ryoko x Ryoshi vs Shiro as the main plot driver and would have liked to see them build on the information introduced thus far and to continue to create momentum for a strong ending. But it looks like I will have to moderate my expectations (i.e. reset them back close to zero) for more randomness and then a rushed and inconclusive (or even worse WTF) ending.

I half suspected that Hammel was deliberately sabotaging the entire bridal search (not because he was a fan of childhood friends but) because he actually desired Chuutarou-sama (in a dress) for himself. I blame Takai from Arakawa Under The Bridge for having this thought. His takedown of Momo-chan-senpai was incredible though – verily it’s hard to trump the Life Experience card. It was also nice to see (and hear) Momo-chan-senpai again though it would be even better if she had used her whip or hit on Ryoko again. Speaking of the latter, kudoes to Ringo stealing that kiss from Ryoko – full-on lip lock and tongue FTW. If Ringo keeps this (and her evil aura) up, she might just get my vote for Best Girl.

©2010 Sea Slugs! Anime Blog. All Rights Reserved.

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At MangaCast, Ed Chavez looks at the BookScan’s top-selling manga for the past week and sorts them according to publisher and demographic.

In his latest trip to the grandma’s attic of manga, Jason Thompson unearths another horror classic, Demon City Hunter.

In a more modern vein, ANN has a roundup of new manga on handheld devices. This month, Animate is launching five yaoi titles, including an exclusive by Youka Nitta, on Kindle; a Japanese company, Recruit, has a new iPhone app that displays manga in English; and NTT Solmare has announced several titles, including Appleseed and Cyborg 009, will be released through the Nokia Ovi store this month.

Reviews

Leroy Douresseaux on vol. 3 of Akira (I Reads You)
Kate Dacey on vols. 1 and 2 of Apollo’s Song (The Manga Critic)
Christopher Butcher on vol. 1 of Bakuman (About.com)
Bill Sherman on Chibi Vampire: Airmail (Blogcritics)
Briana Lawrence on Finder, vol. 1: Target in the Viewfinder (Mania.com)
Sean Gaffney on vol. 4 of Karakuri Odette (
AstroNerdBoy on vol. 8 of Kitchen Princess (AstroNerdBoy’s Anime and Manga Blog)
Penny Kenny on vol. 21 of Nana (Manga Life)
Kiki Van De Camp on vol. 8 of Sand Chronicles (Animanga Nation)

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Whatever this episode was about, I’ve totally forgotten about it. Drunk Mio stole the whole episode singlehandedly.

Mmmmphhhhh…. this is a real show stealer.

Poor Minna.

( ﾟ∀ﾟ)ｱﾊﾊ八八ﾉヽﾉヽﾉヽﾉ ＼ / ＼/ ＼
( ﾟ∀ﾟ)ｱﾊﾊ八八ﾉヽﾉヽﾉヽﾉ ＼ / ＼/ ＼
( ﾟ∀ﾟ)ｱﾊﾊ八八ﾉヽﾉヽﾉヽﾉ ＼ / ＼/ ＼
( ﾟ∀ﾟ)ｱﾊﾊ八八ﾉヽﾉヽﾉヽﾉ ＼ / ＼/ ＼

P.S. So how many of you clicked on the link to this post expecting to find the other Mio instead?

©2010 Kurogane's Anime Blog. All Rights Reserved.

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The Manga Moveable Feast continues with its focus on kids’ manga; at the host site, Good Comics for Kids, Snow Wildsmith interviews VIZ Kids editor Traci Todd about the challenges of choosing and editing manga for kids. Tangognat writes about how she finds Yotsuba&! to be a little creepy when she takes the original context into consideration, and at All About Comics, Daniella Orihuela-Gruber posts a double review of Yotsuba&! and Chi’s Sweet Home.

Deb Aoki talks to Crunchyroll CEO Kun Gao about their plans to develop a platform that manga publishers can use to put their work online.

Kate Dacey, Brad Rice, and David Welsh look at this week’s new manga, and Melinda Beasi makes her pick of the week: vol. 3 of Twin Spica.

Ed Chavez posts the list of manga from the latest Previews.

News from Japan: 13 years after the last episode ran in Shueisha’s Super Jump, the comedy manga Golden Boy is returning, this time to Business Jump. At MangaCast, Ed has the weekly sales rankings from Taiyosha. And Canned Dogs translates a Tweet that reveals that Eiichiro Oda is already back at work on One Piece, after a one-week break.

Reviews

Sean Kleefeld on vol. 1 of Bakuman (Kleefeld on Comics)
Kate Dacey on Calling, Gorgeous Carat Galaxy, and Scarlet (The Manga Critic)
Erica Friedman on vol. 5 of Lucky Star (Okazu)
Lissa Pattillo on vol. 1 of Seiho Boys’ High School (ANN)

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More effective to have your apartment burn down (bottom right) to do some seriously daring things with your crush (rather than just humping his pillow)

HELL NO! I know you've been using that handkerchief for!

Summary:

Ryoko and Ryoshi go on a double date with silent chara-type baseball star and a stalker whose flag he triggered when he lent her his umbrella. Ryoko loses her memories of her current school life after a fall while rescuing a cat which was stuck in a tree. Ryoshi is shocked and delighted by how shy and cute Ryoko is and promises to always be there for her. But when he becomes absorbed in discussion with Ringo about how to solve the current predicament, Ryoko takes off on her own.

Things take an ugly turn when they run into Shiro who reveals provocative and tantalising tidbits about his shared past with Ryoko – juxtaposing her claim of him assaulting her against his of intimacy and then claiming that he ate her but subsequently claiming that the claim was a lie. Ryoshi tells Shiro that he will hunt him down and (Wolf in) Sheep(‘s clothing)-kun looks forward to the challenge. Later in hospital Ryoko recovers her memories but claims not to remember what happened during her episode of amnesia. Which Ringo sees through and forces her to wear animal ears to school. Meanwhile Silent and Stalker have settled into contented domestic life.

All lolis are pure evil – you just have to know how to bring it all out

Reaction:

I thought that what Ryoshi liked about Ryoko was the gap between her public tsun and private dere – the latter which the amnesiac personality completely lacks. Still, the confrontation scene between him and Shiro went some way towards making me accept Ryoshi as Ryoko’s companion, support and future lover. He said all the right things like not caring about Ryoko’s past and thus undoing the potential impact of most of Shiro’s trolling – the only thing I found obvious fault with was how he attempted to use a ranged weapon in a melee situation. Which, in turn, allowed Shiro to show that he’s no pushover, smoothly slicing through the sling and coolly reprimanding Ryoshi for interrupting his trashtalking.

I’m still catching up so I don’t know if the following will play out in the coming episodes: Shiro’s claim that he was lying about having eaten Ryoko reminded me of the title of the second episode which described Ryoko as The Lying Ookamisan and Liar’s Paradox. I got a distinctly Rashomon vibe for a brief moment; there might be a possibility that the shy Ryoko had misunderstood and over-reacted to Shiro who had meant no real harm but had certainly been over-aggressive. And that he has pursued her this far to try to recover what was lost. Or it could be that he is really as unpleasant as Ryoko has made him out to be and that she needs to overcome that dark part of her life which she had fled (and which has now caught up with her) as part of the process of learning to be honest with her feelings once again, to live the life of her own choosing without the fear of interdependence.

©2010 Sea Slugs! Anime Blog. All Rights Reserved.

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I wonder why everyone keeps coming for check-ups even though they're 100% healthy??

Awww Yoshika and Lynne can be so cute… like us, ufufu~

Summary:

After witnessing Mio’s Reppuzan training, Yoshika begs her mentor to teach her the ancient Fuso ultimate technique so that she can save more people by helping to end the war earlier but Mio flat out refuses. At breakfast, Yoshika is noticeably dejected and becomes even more distraught when her flying agility dips, allowing Perrine to beat her three out of three times in training. But there’s nothing wrong with her Striker Unit, physical health or output of raw magical power – a sternly worried Trude then revokes her combat flight status until they can get to the bottom of things.

Minna receives an emergency call from the approaching Fuso fleet; there has been an explosion onboard the flagship Yamato and a medic is requested. Yoshika sets off with Lynette and patches up the ten injured crew just in time for a Neuroi to attack the fleet. Lynette flies out alone to shield the fleet while it escapes – Yoshika is unable to get her Striker started but, as her tears flow down, her father’s voice unveils a new Striker unit which she mounts and charges out to save Lynette, defeating the Neuroi single-handedly. Later Minna and Mio discuss how Yoshika’s power had grown too great for her old Striker to handle and that the new Magnificient Lightning unit will allow her to reach her full potential.

Mmmm…. D!

Pew pew pew!

Reaction:

Well, I was completely fooled into thinking that Yoshika’s funk was due to Mio’s rejection and that she would rediscover her mojo by the need to save Lynette from Certain Doom. Her father speaking to her in the hanger and the Magnificent Lightning appearing so dramatically was incredibly cheesy and did not make any sense but, in this context, I actually like (blue) cheese and have long since stopped attempting to make sense of things as long as all the girls continue being awesome. And Yoshika was certainly awesome in the way that the new hardware allowed her to go all out LIMITER RELEASE, launching like a Gundam with the foot docking clamps, catapult, sea surface skimming charge, complete with battle cry.

Of course, I also enjoyed the humorous moments – like Yoshika being so chirpy about the one thing she was really proud of, i.e. never falling sick. To which my reaction was twofold: I thought only idiots didn’t catch colds? And I thought the one thing you were really proud of was the size and strength of your shield?

Regular readers will know of my dislike of Perrine but even I had to admit that she was really lovely in this episode – she had noticed immediately that something was off about Yoshika and was completely sincere in reporting her concern to Mio without delay. This was further reinforced with how she (with Lynette) was spying on Yoshika during her physical checkup and then again (on her own) while she attempted broom training secretly at night – and got hit by Eila’s bucket missile for her pains. Certainly has softened me up enough to look forward to the Perrine-centric next episode.

As always, I loved the battle scenes between the conventional forces and the Neuroi. The Fuso Empire’s fleet looked really impressive, especially with its escort carriers, air cover and 46″ cannons though sometimes I wonder what’s the point of sending all the men and materiel into a war where they, like the Venezia 1st Battle Fleet, have to be constantly rescued by pantless girls with animal ears and tails. The Fuso fleet deciding that discretion is the better part of valour also was a dead give-away that the Strike Witches universe is an alternate history; methinks the Imperial Japanese Navy would have rather gone down with all hands rather than sensibly accede to Lynette’s plea to run away, run away! *clip clop clip clop clip clop* It was also somewhat strange how none of the men have made any lolicon-type comments… but I suppose it’s like the way no one, in the show, comments on the Witches’ lack of pants.

©2010 Sea Slugs! Anime Blog. All Rights Reserved.

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Good Comics for Kids is hosting the Manga Moveable Feast this month, and the topic is Yotsuba&! Robin Brenner gets us rolling with an introduction and an archive of recent and older reviews and essays. This month, reviewers are invited to comment not only on Yotsuba&! but also on another kids’ manga of their choice. Sean Gaffney weighs in with a thought-provoking essay comparing Yotsuba&! and Strawberry Marshmallow, which are sort of the same and sort of not, and Lori Henderson contributes a brief review of vol. 8 of Yotsuba&! and The Legend of Zelda: The Phantom Hourglass at Manga Xanadu. Matt Blind warms up with reviews of three children’s manga at Rocket Bomber. And Michelle Smith jumps right in with a review of vols. 2-8 of Yotsuba&! at Soliloquy In Blue.

Anne Ishii tried to interview Detroit Metal City creator Kiminori Wakasugi a while back but ran into a brick wall, so instead she chats it up with hard-core DMC fan Johnny Ryan at The Comics Journal.

Melinda Beasi has the latest Korean Comics news in this week’s Manhwa Monday post, and she and Michelle Smith launch a new feature, Let’s Get Visual, in which they analyze individual panels, at Soliloquy in Blue.

Sean Gaffney looks at this week’s new manga, and David Welsh checks out upcoming titles from the latest Previews.

Matt Blind has the past week’s manga sales rankings, based on online sales, at Rocket Bomber.

License requests: Sean Gaffney would like to see Yankee-kun to Megane-chan, which currently runs in Kodansha’s Weekly Shonen magazine, and David Welsh casts his vote for Cesare, by ES: Eternal Sabbath creator Fumi Soryo.

At A Feminist Otaku, Caddy C. makes the mistake of reading internet comments on Yana Toboso’s request that people stop pirating her work.

David Welsh asks the readers: What is your favorite manga created by a woman for a male audience?

Reviews: Carlo Santos turns his critical eye on another batch of recently released manga in his latest Right Turn Only!! column at ANN.

Chris Zimmerman on vol. 4 of Alice in the Country of Hearts (The Comic Book Bin)
Chris Zimmerman on Chibi Vampire: Airmail (The Comic Book Bin)
Leroy Douresseaux on vol. 18 of D.Gray-man (The Comic Book bin)
Sean Gaffney on A Drunken Dream and Other Stories (A Case Suitable for Treatment)
Kelakagandy on vols. 1 and 2 of Flower of the Deep Sleep (kelakagandy’s ramblings)
Tangognat on vol. 7 of Future Diary (Tangognat)
J. Caleb Mozzocco on vol. 1 of The Good Witch of the West and vol. 1 of Hayate the Combat Butler (Every Day Is Like Wednesday)
Zack Davisson on vol. 4 of Happy Cafe (Japan Reviewed)
Zack Davisson on vol. 1 of Hyde and Closer (Japan Reviewed)
Cynthia on Isle of Forbidden Love (Boys Next Door)
Leroy Douresseaux on vol. 2 of Madness (The Comic Book Bin)
Sarah Boslaugh on Manga and Philosophy (PopMatters)
Charles Webb on vols. 36 and 37 of One Piece (Manga Life)
Leroy Douresseaux on vol. 2 of Pink Innocent (The Comic Book Bin)
Deb Aoki on vol. 1 of Seiho Boys High School (About.com)
Zack Davisson on vol. 1 of Seiho Boys High School (Japan Reviewed)
Lissa Pattillo on Seven Days – Monday to Thursday (Kuriousity)
Billy Aguiar on Songs to Make You Smile (Prospero’s Manga)
Cynthia on vol. 1 of Under Grand Hotel (Boys Next Door)
Sean Gaffney on vol. 1 of Urusei Yatsura (A Case Suitable for Treatment)
Julie Opipari on vol. 18 of The Wallflower (Manga Maniac Cafe)
Connie C. on vol. 1 of Wolf God (Comics Village)
Erica Friedman on vol. 2 of Yuri Shoujo (Okazu)

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One! こころ　ほしい~

Two! ちかく　なれる

Three! つぎの　つぎわ

Hai~ Fall in love!

You are a fucking winner if you know what the lines are.

But seriously what the fuck is with this episode. Let me just quote someone:

“Apparently Saeko was killed by the zombies last week and they introduced her identical twin off screen, because this character and the one seen in the last eight episodes have practically nothing in common. She was prancing around without pants not two episodes ago without caring. Now she’s ashamed to be seen slightly wet? What? Did I miss a memo somewhere? “

From the whole “Komuro to isshoni” to getting wet to the yandere parts and the Heroic BSoD (which, I might add Komuro solved with a night of hot steamy sex and a public molestation), I was really wondering what the fuck happened to my oh-so-fucking-awesomely-kakkoii Busujima-senpai of the past few weeks.

Then, there’s also Komuro being a fucking boss…

… or not.

I seriously missed Hirano in this episode. Oh well, they’re reuniting next week, thank God.

©2010 Kurogane's Anime Blog. All Rights Reserved.

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I have family visiting from out of town so this will be brief—watch for more news and reviews tomorrow!

Siloconera talks to Tokyopop CEO Stu Levy about piracy, copyright, and Tokyopop’s possible foray into video games.

Tokyopop has posted a video interview with You Higuri, creator of Cantarella and Gorgeous Carat.

Lori Henderson sums up the week’s manga news at Manga Xanadu, and Erica Friedman presents another edition of Yuri Network News at Okazu.

Congratulations to Helen McCarthy, whose book The Art of Osamu Tezuka: God of Manga won the Harvey Award for Best American Edition of Foreign Material.

Daniella Orihuela-Gruber looks back at ten years as a manga fan.

News from Japan: Shueisha, one of the largest publishers in Japan, finished the last fiscal year in the red, although manga was not to blame—sales of both magazines and single volumes were up. Eiichiro Oda will put One Piece on a four-week hiatus starting Sept. 6. Amanchu! will go quarterly due to creator Kozue Amano’s pregnancy. Gottsu-Iiyan gives us a peek at the 25th anniversary edition of Switch, which features Takehiko Inoue.

Reviews

Shannon Fay on Black Blizzard (Kuriousity)
Kristin on vol. 32 of Bleach (Comic Attack)
Clive Owen on vol. 1 of Code:Breaker (Animanga Nation)
Connie on vol. 2 of Dokkoida?! (Slightly Biased Manga)
Lissa Pattillo on A Drunken Dream and Other Stories (ANN)
Tangognat on vol. 1 of Hyde and Closer (Tangognat)
Kristin on vol. 6 of Ikigami: The Ultimate Limit (Comic Attack)
AstroNerdBoy on vol. 7 of Kitchen Princess (AstroNerdBoy’s Anime and Manga Blog)
Sesho on vol. 3 of One Piece (Sesho’s Anime and Manga Reviews)
Connie on vol. 3 of Pet Shop of Horrors (Slightly Biased Manga)
Shaenon Garrity on Romeo x Juliet (About.com)
Erica Friedman on Sakura Buntsuu (Okazu)
Connie on vol. 1 of Sarasah (Slightly Biased Manga)
Connie on vol. 6 of Shakugan no Shana (Slightly Biased Manga)
Connie on vol. 1 of Stolen Hearts (Slightly Biased Manga)
Connie on vol. 2 of Ze (Slightly Biased Manga)

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Please imagine Blue Danube playing when Futaba gets sent flying.

Butt jokes are low but this was seriously original and funny enough. I think the last time I laughed as hard as this was during FMP? Fumoffu. I mean, I know it’s Futaba there, but hot damn, only Mitsuba can think of such an extreme things to do to her. Futaba Bowling indeed.

And the worst thing is…

Looks like Futaba got ‘awakened’ to a new world. Derp. She’s hardy enough for an M, but god help us all if she decides to be S instead….

As for Mitsuba, despite the bowling fracas, she’s won the Sister-of-the-Year award from me.

Underneath that bossy, cruel exterior, just lies a real softie at heart. Gotta say, this section was one of the best I’ve seen so far of the series.

©2010 Kurogane's Anime Blog. All Rights Reserved.

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