tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297968947989303752024-03-05T14:41:00.285-05:00Yaoi BlogA Bl and yaoi blog with ramblings, reviews, and art from a fujoshi.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger101125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-129796894798930375.post-40383416126763932532011-03-09T07:34:00.000-05:002011-03-09T07:34:41.137-05:00Adventure!I may not be as knee deep in BL as I was a year ago, but I try to keep up with what's current. Recently I fell upon a discussion where individuals commented on how they were sick of reading BL where it was just about the men falling in love. They wanted something more. They wanted action and adventure with a nice side of love. What these ladies failed to realize is BL is a sub genre of romance; therefore the focus is romance. If the story's focus is adventure than it is an adventure story; it's no longer in the realm of BL just because two guys fall in love at some point in the story. <br />
<br />
Think of it this way, it's like reading a mystery novel and then giving it the critique that it focused too much on mystery and the romance should be at the forefront of the story. Sounds a little absurd, right? <br />
<br />
Mystery is read for the mystery, adventure for the adventure, and BL for the boys love. <br />
<br />
I am not implying genre's can't mix and have awesome little spliced babies, this happens all the time. We've all read or seen a good action/romance. But you're misleading yourself if you come to the BL genre expecting the action to be something other than what goes on between the sheets.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-129796894798930375.post-8281820195490387102011-01-04T08:56:00.000-05:002011-01-04T08:56:22.432-05:00Hello new year!Couldn't keep up with the blog after I got hired. But I'm back on the job market so I'm looking to start updating this thing again. I miss rambling about all things BL and slashy. For now have a page from a Junjou doujin I failed to complete last year before leaving for Japan. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmqzPn-SXgpvz88HENBPIQjCPbE3mEnY0fgIormA9F_d8P1y0JwOK80WWVU-BwHotsqdUlrW2ufJUiiEUOqnz5LaiaT6vCNInFp_NUfGNBeGXXoQtJqVsR6PucSnsNjNnrnplzQLA-5w/s1600/somethingeternal9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmqzPn-SXgpvz88HENBPIQjCPbE3mEnY0fgIormA9F_d8P1y0JwOK80WWVU-BwHotsqdUlrW2ufJUiiEUOqnz5LaiaT6vCNInFp_NUfGNBeGXXoQtJqVsR6PucSnsNjNnrnplzQLA-5w/s400/somethingeternal9.jpg" width="288" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-129796894798930375.post-20795671485143662812010-09-07T21:59:00.000-04:002010-09-07T21:59:45.729-04:00Cheap Cheap Cheap's the Name of My Soul<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGFTGSlHzMOcBwxhWINoBAljUzHOeHAz9kVMMJ9AwRF57LCO5PwmaBCP6HhON1LpZ85id8_ia4o1UIGnqJTT9mCKReKLBG7WsvwCfywcxqdwEGsamlTEtidRfGC-6UCIEI5z7wF03UOg/s1600/ookiku2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGFTGSlHzMOcBwxhWINoBAljUzHOeHAz9kVMMJ9AwRF57LCO5PwmaBCP6HhON1LpZ85id8_ia4o1UIGnqJTT9mCKReKLBG7WsvwCfywcxqdwEGsamlTEtidRfGC-6UCIEI5z7wF03UOg/s400/ookiku2.jpg" width="280" /></a></div>Right Stuf has the <a href="http://www.rightstuf.com/cgi-bin/catalogmgr/IIe5XNiAFgPLt9igjF/browse/item/88346/4/0/0">Oofuri S.A.V.E Edition</a> as part of their weekly special. It's going for 18 dollars, which is a pretty sweet deal for 26 episodes including a dub track. Usually I'd check and see if Best Buy is selling it for around that price or less, but since their anime section keeps shrinking and shrinking, I doubt I'd even find Oofuri there.<br />
<br />
I'm trying to save money, but I'll probably buckle and end up ordering a copy tomorrow. Oofuri totally failed at getting me interested in baseball the way Hajime no Ippo had me suddenly flipping through channels searching for boxing matches. I watched purely for Mihashi. He's like crack to me. Now that I think of it, personality wise, Ippo and Mihashi are kinda similar. In fact I watched HnI for Ippo. I guess I have a thing for wimpy guys. And Mihashi is the king of wimps.<br />
<br />
This series is also very slashy. Like, Prince of Tennis slashy times 10. So, if you're a slash fan and you haven't read or watched this series, I AM DISAPPOINT.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-129796894798930375.post-26794539480451860172010-08-26T10:28:00.000-04:002010-08-26T10:28:20.469-04:00Disney Kink<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgktYZUKFF_qHgrycHRriQLl8sR52r_jFkHb2lAIZaEzj_J6PnNEPnk2u10HZ3WYmjIOLzQyYMr_zNLezZP11F7DuZqPXq8KK1zziEYDHfyZQ70I6zoFGtF9bXUAVaQlWDsvOpYyHM15A/s1600/dkmeme.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgktYZUKFF_qHgrycHRriQLl8sR52r_jFkHb2lAIZaEzj_J6PnNEPnk2u10HZ3WYmjIOLzQyYMr_zNLezZP11F7DuZqPXq8KK1zziEYDHfyZQ70I6zoFGtF9bXUAVaQlWDsvOpYyHM15A/s320/dkmeme.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Yes, yes, I'm still going on about Disney slash because it is my thing right now. If it's your thing too then head over to the <a href="http://community.livejournal.com/disney_kink/profile">disney_kink community</a> on Live Journal and add to the <a href="http://community.livejournal.com/disney_kink/361.html">huge list </a> of request. The meme allows all sorts of pairings and perversions so you don't have to hold back. I was surprised to see so many request for <i>The Great Mouse Detective</i>. People actually liked that movie? Hardy-har-har! Also, when filling a request you are allowed to do fics, vids, art, pretty much anything. Yay, for options! <br />
<br />
I haven't made a request but I am currently working on filling a prompt. No, it's not Dean/Dimitri, but it's something close to it and a whole lot better. I actually didn't post here yesterday because I was so engrossed with writing for the meme. It distracted me! Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-129796894798930375.post-56385134536440262022010-08-24T17:48:00.000-04:002010-08-24T17:48:26.070-04:00T_TRest in peace, Satoshi Kon.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-129796894798930375.post-86795469791401945762010-08-24T13:21:00.002-04:002010-08-24T13:22:59.521-04:00It Does ExistFound me some Dimitri/Dean Slash.<br />
<object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/T0ySfE03_2E?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/T0ySfE03_2E?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><br />
<br />
Not finding this was totally my bad for always spelling Dimitri's name with an E in the beginning. So, nothing ever popped up when I searched. Oh, mighty English degree, I have failed thee!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-129796894798930375.post-67715640237409024312010-08-24T11:39:00.001-04:002010-08-26T19:28:05.088-04:00Boys in Skirts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_7NOGWUv5rCjBSlv9SJerXVv2NjISWilVhQ09NS068ttySJNohpyDueusbl58NHraKWIMWghar0muCdUTJHWC85-j39NyDEJqktC4f802vdRAQgXJ_aewV94OB2Zl_GwEPutAdI50lg/s1600/bis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_7NOGWUv5rCjBSlv9SJerXVv2NjISWilVhQ09NS068ttySJNohpyDueusbl58NHraKWIMWghar0muCdUTJHWC85-j39NyDEJqktC4f802vdRAQgXJ_aewV94OB2Zl_GwEPutAdI50lg/s400/bis.jpg" width="253" /></a></div>This whole boys in skirts thing seems to be a new trend for the guys in Japan. I really can't tell the difference between a prepubescent boy or girl in a dress, but I guess that's the point. We're all pretty much unisex in looks until glorious puberty hits. So it has to be the thought of the images being male which gets the guys excited because there really is no way to tell unless those skirts are being flipped. I may be alone in this analysis but these magazines as well as Boku no Pico seem like voyeuristic forms of pederasty. A way of participating in the old practice without actually participating. If you don't know what pederasty is I'm going to direct you to Dirk Deppey's article <a href="http://www.tcj.com/history/bl-roundtable-sidebar-the-mirror-of-male-love-love/">here</a> and also to a <a href="http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/dancingboys/">Frontline video</a> which looks at the practice in Afghanistan. Both will help you better understand the history and the practice and maybe shine some light on why these boys in skirts magazines are springing up in Japan. <br />
<br />
As for females, I know there's an audience for this material (you need look no further than y!gal for proof). I doubt it's huge and I'm pretty sure the reason for this is rooted in history as well and is linked to the woman's role in the home. If your job is to raise young boys it's probably not beneficial to look at them sexually. With female roles changing and so many females opting out of childbearing more females might join the ranks of men who like boys in skirts. However, I do not see this group growing in countries such as the US. Christopher Handley will probably serve as a warning to individuals interested in shota or magazins such as <a href="http://otonyan.jp/">Oto☆Nyan</a>. So, maybe in the US, the shota audience will shrink. <br />
<br />
I'm still waiting for someone to create a magazine dedicated to men in skirts. I love me some cross dressing men.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-129796894798930375.post-24829419217757302052010-08-23T18:15:00.000-04:002010-08-23T18:15:47.113-04:00Going Global<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUbWRM7EIvJqFPfWFX-eKC-EKWmSIOWdyEoQyovzGv3t1cN9QArlEKck9zJaJSEepOABbE0fd7QZCN1oQyMipja8RW8mRJvPImE2nkOcEouqEjplyRXFkSIJv9fUc0C5imTwTWU1Uifw/s1600/globe2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUbWRM7EIvJqFPfWFX-eKC-EKWmSIOWdyEoQyovzGv3t1cN9QArlEKck9zJaJSEepOABbE0fd7QZCN1oQyMipja8RW8mRJvPImE2nkOcEouqEjplyRXFkSIJv9fUc0C5imTwTWU1Uifw/s320/globe2.jpg" /></a>Ah, Global BL. BL with origins from outside Japan. Or, as I see it: a mishmash of a marketing scheme and Japanese purism. Love it!<br />
<br />
No. No I don't love it. I've never been a fan of calling Japanese comics manga or Japanese animation anime. I do not live in Japan, and unless I'm speaking Japanese, usage of those words are unnecessary. I am not trying to be a word Nazi like John Locke and demand everyone apply the same definition to each word or not have so many words for one definition. It's an unrealistic goal. In this particular case I am a bit perplexed as to why an extra word is needed to distinguish a product. At its core, BL is romance shared between males. Does this change if a Mexican is penning the story? No. So why is global necessary?<br />
<br />
Some part of me believes this has to do with keeping Japanese products exotic. Seriously, doesn't Global BL sound like a cheap knock off of the real thing? But I can't follow that line of thought because I know the phrase came from within my own community. So I'm doubly puzzled since us fujoshi tend to be very accepting of all forms of BL because in the end it's all about the love, baby. <br />
<br />
I just can't willing go along with the segregation of a genre based upon the origins of the creator, especially when there is no core distinction between what the Japanese produce and everyone else. Yes, there can be sci-fi BL, western BL, and fantasy BL, but there is no global BL.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-129796894798930375.post-66483270785542175232010-08-22T21:04:00.000-04:002010-08-22T21:04:11.239-04:00Where my girls at?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjScT5XuyrS8lUdSRb4F4J9tI_JCyhpz5F5OEYyf4wZcpdyF4WbIwi7AUnyO9sYfZEtqkaHX2qMbreS51GTM_ESV0PiUtb3iZxs-FVxUceypomWAD80to1GBeoHAxcKRsm3B9TnNwWNA/s1600/girls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjScT5XuyrS8lUdSRb4F4J9tI_JCyhpz5F5OEYyf4wZcpdyF4WbIwi7AUnyO9sYfZEtqkaHX2qMbreS51GTM_ESV0PiUtb3iZxs-FVxUceypomWAD80to1GBeoHAxcKRsm3B9TnNwWNA/s320/girls.jpg" /></a></div><br />
When it comes to American mainstream comics and the two big companies, Marvel and DC, I have always felt they didn't do enough to reach out to their female audience. Oh, yes, DC had Minx, but that was doomed to fail. They did have some awesome titles, but I'm an old fujoshi and what I'm going to appreciate is not what a thirteen-year-old girl will appreciate. They're in the middle of puberty and their hormones are going all crazy--they want sex. DC gave them wonderful girlhood stories. However, the thirteen-year-old eighth grader who can't wait for Keith to message back he likes her too, isn't looking for the next Little Women. Twilight topping the hardcover graphic novel charts speaks volumes to this fact.<br />
<br />
There's a lot of blame to go around when it comes to failing at appealing to females and after reading <a href="http://www.comicsreporter.com/index.php/index/three_arguments_we_could_be_having/">this article</a> from <i>The Comics Reporter</i>, I believe the proprietors of comic shops deserve the same amount of blame. Tom Spurgeon outlines<i> three arguments we could be having </i>about comics. One particular question caught my eye: why are so many direct market comics shops still female unfriendly? Although he provides no answer, he touches on some interesting points, such as the comic shop location and environment, which are none to pleasing to females (or him, for that matter). I think the environment is very important reason females stay away. Because, lets face facts, usually enclosed with in the dark dank area of the comic shop are some really creepy people.<br />
<br />
I understand some male comic fans may take offense to this, but allow me to elaborate on my own experience. When I first started going to a comic shop the guys were either mean jerks who sent out "you have no place here" vibes or they were creepy losers who sniffed around my skirt. Once, while sifting through old comics, I was approached by a guy who told me how he lived in his moms basement, collected Spiderman comics and ended by asking me for my number. Yeah, really made me feel comfortable. I don't know, I guess, for me, despite the darkness, despite the dankness, I had expected the comic shop to be a safe zone. A place where I would be accepted and respected because I shared a common interest. And I definitely did not go there expecting to be hit on. What amplifies this and made the situation seem worse to me is it happened in this closed in space where you're crowded by comics and people. I've been hit on in the mall or the library but the difference is these are wide open spaces with light. The openness put me at ease. <br />
<br />
I can't blame the customers. People are jerks and they will put you in uncomfortable situations. Therefore the responsibility falls on the lap of the comic owner to make their environment as amicable as possible. So far, the majority of comic shops do not do this. I do not believe comic owners go out of their way to make females feel uncomfortable so comics can remain a male only club. I do believe these shops are owned by men who haven't an inkling how a female feels. So, I'm letting you guys know, if you have a dark, eerie, dreary comic shop where it's difficult to keep the people from overlapping, maybe it's time to call in a interior designer to work their magic. Not only will you benefit from more light and more room, you'll benefit economically because you'll gain me as a customer. And believe me, in this dire economy, you want my business.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-129796894798930375.post-47252609880236256732010-08-22T18:58:00.003-04:002010-08-22T22:48:39.762-04:00Crossover FunMy sisters have been obsessed with these animation crossovers over at youtube. These are music videos where the creator will take a character from one animated movie and pair them up with a character from another. For example: Tiana / Dean, Cinderella / Beast, Gaston / Wendy. I have to admit, they are kind of addictive. I like coming up with the craziest paring I can think of and searching to see if someone has dedicated a video to it. Thus far, the oddest pairing I've seen was Hercules with Maid Mirian. Yes, that's Disney's Maid Mirian, who is a fox. So, yeah...<br />
<br />
With all these crossover hijinks there is surprisingly (well, for me) very little slash. I would love to see someone hook up Dean (Iron Giant) with Demetri (Anastasia). It makes about as much sense as Hercules / Maid Mirian, but it must be done. Because I said so. <br />
<br />
Out of the few slash videos I could find, this one is my favorite:<br />
<br />
<object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/a-9cborQMTM?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/a-9cborQMTM?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object> <br />
<br />
Go search and see all the crazy mashups you can find. And maybe, if you have the ability to do so, make one of your own. And if you are an awesome person you'll do Dean / Demitri. Because I said so.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-129796894798930375.post-46361645123808169212010-08-21T21:15:00.000-04:002010-08-21T21:15:30.120-04:00Speaking of Marvel...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk6BvJsL7zM5FAmuBoE26OACa5Dfo8HImMnLg8luHkElFL6g7W8l7yTKGO4Hd8c-gLvQFFxFxottXiDmCfZuNExZQHuGOS2ewqe1EwAdkG3o_0Z9utGxvZBhxAtf8vt2irTE-W7I3sMQ/s1600/spiderman2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk6BvJsL7zM5FAmuBoE26OACa5Dfo8HImMnLg8luHkElFL6g7W8l7yTKGO4Hd8c-gLvQFFxFxottXiDmCfZuNExZQHuGOS2ewqe1EwAdkG3o_0Z9utGxvZBhxAtf8vt2irTE-W7I3sMQ/s640/spiderman2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Just thought I'd point you guys in the direction of an X-Men comic I'm following on Y!Gal. Just check out <a href="http://yaoi.y-gallery.net/user/tracto/">Tracto's gallery</a> to read his <i>X-men Xposed</i>. You can't go wrong with great art, a funny story, and a very naked Gambit.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-129796894798930375.post-77363816309577625402010-08-21T17:09:00.003-04:002010-08-21T18:26:57.667-04:00More Tea, Please.<center><a href="http://s4.photobucket.com/albums/y136/asueno/?action=view&current=axis_blink.gif" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y136/asueno/axis_blink.gif" /></a></center><br />
<br />
Dear Travis Mccoy, if I were a billionaire I'd pay the fine ladies behind Teahouse enough to woo them away from Marvel so they can dedicate all their time to working on their comic. In my opinion, Teahouse is far superior to many comics published by DC and Marvel (btw, Marvel, I'm not a fan of retconning MJ's pregnancy). <br />
<br />
I've been excited about the upcoming print release of the first chapter of Teahouse, which is odd for me since I'm not a big fan of print anymore. But this is different since it's a full color BL comic. I can't say no to that. I also can't say no to a bonus story about Rhys and Axis. Love. Those. Boys. So. Much. If you are super excited too I hope you're going to participate in the <a href="http://www.teahousecomic.com/fanartcontest.html">fanart contest</a>. Entries are due the 31st of this month. <br />
<br />
Speaking of fanart, why is Y!Gal not being flooded with fanart for this series? I guess everyone is too busy drawing Hinabn smut. Which, I won't complain about because I love me some ConWorth.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-129796894798930375.post-40689519045764961692010-07-07T21:50:00.000-04:002010-07-07T21:50:55.139-04:00New Be-boy and More TanakaThe new cover image is up for this months Be-Boy. Since it was drawn by Suzuki Tanaka I of course had to gank it and post it here. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx6x8Z1THE6zSsezkpDCk-c0wLypfQB5tsoxnzIPKrFZ5aTa-cQuI3ght_jpIOMJaK1Yylz4kVPszIwh8qo5cogkqLF-PTI3bJeH_INxF2k_fsjyUuYvGoHqQI-aSi1rDYK2sWagh8WA/s1600/adbeboycover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx6x8Z1THE6zSsezkpDCk-c0wLypfQB5tsoxnzIPKrFZ5aTa-cQuI3ght_jpIOMJaK1Yylz4kVPszIwh8qo5cogkqLF-PTI3bJeH_INxF2k_fsjyUuYvGoHqQI-aSi1rDYK2sWagh8WA/s320/adbeboycover.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Nice summery feel. I do believe Ms. Tanaka is getting better at doing cover art. And I lol at the amount of text they cram onto these mangazines. More often than not the image is drowning in kanji. Anyway you can check out who's appearing in this issue <a href="http://www.b-boy.jp/magazine/bboy/index.html">here</a> by clicking lineup, or just look below for a list of the creators and their works in English. <br />
<br />
<i>Hell & Heaven</i> by <a href="http://www.mangaupdates.com/authors.html?id=796">Fuwa Shinri</a><br />
<i>Wakareta Otoko wa Ikaga desu ka?</i> by <a href="http://www.mangaupdates.com/authors.html?id=408">Tateno Makoto</a><br />
<i>Furachi na Kyouken no Tenazukekata </i>by<i> </i><a href="http://www.mangaupdates.com/authors.html?id=2073">Wasabi Maguro</a> and Nakahara Kazuya<br />
<i>Ouji, <span class="releasestitle tabletitle">Ikebukuro-kei</span></i> by <a href="http://www.mangaupdates.com/authors.html?id=1134">Sakura Sakuya</a><br />
<i>Mazu wa Ubaiai!</i> by Sasamura Tsuyoshi<br />
<span class="releasestitle tabletitle"><i>Soushoku Joushi no Otoshikata</i> by </span><a href="http://www.mangaupdates.com/authors.html?id=1058">Asou Kai</a> and Satoko Ai <br />
<i>Sweet Life</i> by Takamine Akira<br />
<i>Suki Tte ii Te</i> by Haruno Hikaru<br />
<i>Sayonara Note</i> by <a href="http://www.mangaupdates.com/authors.html?id=9855">Tomoe Fumi</a><br />
<i>Love Erosion</i> by Hashiba Mizu<br />
<i>Maniac ni Aishite</i> by <a href="http://www.mangaupdates.com/authors.html?id=846">Higashino Yuu</a><br />
<i>Sex Pistols </i>by <a href="http://www.mangaupdates.com/authors.html?id=584">Kotobuki Tarako</a><br />
<i>Hi wo Tojiru Mae ni</i> by <a href="http://www.mangaupdates.com/authors.html?id=5914">Masao Sangatsu</a><br />
<i>Aitsu no Daihonmei</i> by <a href="http://www.mangaupdates.com/authors.html?id=988">Tanaka Suzuki</a><br />
<i>Boku wa Anata no Yoru ni Naritai </i>by Aruku<br />
<i>Shizuka Hanabira Ringo no Kaori</i> by <a href="http://www.mangaupdates.com/authors.html?id=428">Kawai Touko</a><i> </i><br />
<i>Dekichatta Kazoku</i> by <a href="http://www.mangaupdates.com/authors.html?id=3826">Mikage Tsubaki</a><br />
<i>Hoshigarimasen Shukaku Made wa</i> by <a href="http://www.mangaupdates.com/authors.html?id=8247">Shuusai Fumiko </a><br />
<i>Yajuu Shugi--Tora Hen--</i> by <a href="http://www.mangaupdates.com/authors.html?id=1041">Misasagi Fuhri</a><br />
<br />
Pretty awesome lineup this month.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-129796894798930375.post-11328011714141977272010-06-27T10:56:00.000-04:002010-06-27T10:56:13.731-04:00Where we belong<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEPi8fi8e-C7nttAACgST1XgTlMDH7K0C98lx64m8zhxQgVA1mbqJvn6YR2tpKYc5Y2o5uDdWVAruiQ2BGwwjoGeYFPtlse3b1spycjnKDVJSj3GSOzVH-OThdOpxSpopPnIyhKDew6w/s1600/deviantart2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEPi8fi8e-C7nttAACgST1XgTlMDH7K0C98lx64m8zhxQgVA1mbqJvn6YR2tpKYc5Y2o5uDdWVAruiQ2BGwwjoGeYFPtlse3b1spycjnKDVJSj3GSOzVH-OThdOpxSpopPnIyhKDew6w/s640/deviantart2.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><br />
TRU FAX: I see breast on the front page of Deviant Art more often than I see my own. I wonder if the creators of pieces such as <a href="http://www.deviantart.com/#/d2sc9sx">this image (NSFW)</a> ever get noted about their work being derogatory? I've read journal entries where artist who draw yaoi were nagged by fans not to do so. And you'll find a few artist on Y!Gal who are more comfortable posting their risque art there than on DA. I don't know, I just feel everyone should feel comfortable on DA regardless of what they draw. I know I've seen some very sexual girl on girl pics on DA and I doubt they receive the amount of complaints yaoi artist receive. <br />
<br />
I guess, all I'm saying is an imbalance exist. I know, I know, we live in a patriarchal society so this is no big surprise. But since the majority of yaoi artist prefer using their DA more often than their Y!Gal accounts it would be nice if they didn't have to put up with any hub-bub. I just want them to feel as comfortable posting their hot man loving as the guy above felt posting his hot girl on girl photography.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-129796894798930375.post-38308744365025038852010-06-24T13:01:00.000-04:002010-06-24T13:01:33.130-04:00The book review that grew into a great article<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYcMGCx1DO-v0_gp5Sj4G_9-8EW0FEhdO2PPMXEHwXK6fPfF90kZuHEbsRs4iCBVKMV-B8guDPLNi9ld917WN0DVwqkX-azNBZxvimdfycnRme6Vnla7yGt_Y5nmR5oRJUrQBwbC2xKQ/s1600/cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYcMGCx1DO-v0_gp5Sj4G_9-8EW0FEhdO2PPMXEHwXK6fPfF90kZuHEbsRs4iCBVKMV-B8guDPLNi9ld917WN0DVwqkX-azNBZxvimdfycnRme6Vnla7yGt_Y5nmR5oRJUrQBwbC2xKQ/s320/cover.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Near the beginning of the month, the peeps over at <a href="http://www.tcj.com/">The Comic Journal</a> had a roundtable to discuss the book, <i>Boys' Love Manga: Essays on the Sexual Ambiguity and Cross-Cultural Fandom of the Genre</i>. <a href="http://www.tcj.com/history/bl-roundtable-sidebar-the-mirror-of-male-love-love">Dirk Deppey's contribution</a> was my favorite because he did so much more than review <i>Boys' Love Manga</i>. He also gave great insight on homosexuality, BL, yaoi, and fandom. In his blurb before the article he comments on how he had every intention to contribute to the roundtable on the book but his addition ended up spiraling out of control (Four pages worth, baby). All I will say is reading his four pages is probably a million times more beneficial than purchasing the above book. <br />
<br />
Dirk Deppey's post, <a href="http://www.tcj.com/history/bl-roundtable-sidebar-the-mirror-of-male-love-love">The Mirror of Male-Love Love</a>, is four pages of great writing. He begins by explaining the history of--not homosexuality--but pederasty, which was prevalent at one time or another in many countries around the world. He does this to combat the assumption of some of the authors that homosexuality had been tolerated at one time. He then moves on to explain his own homosexual experience before diving into reviewing <i>Boys' Love Manga</i>. He ends by wondering why no one wrote about masturbation and then outlines the real difference between the top and bottom roles in homosexual sex.<br />
<br />
He also wrote this:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>I am a gay bottom. Oh, I can top, if that’s what circumstances require. I’m quite good at it, actually, but the reason that I’m good at it is precisely because I am a bottom, and therefore I know what a bottom wants from sexual intercourse.</blockquote><br />
Which made me think of this:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9O_rrTNQzG1keLYl0Z4zDbAew379yEuKk9_Qq_JSzYhIL2MoJR_K_ZhwgOvHHaE30zkCXU-7ZuShpJKIkKU1k03S2tGNRbHguMInQnqatwB2ykepdyaM32myXW2wb3m61Jyc00PKcMw/s1600/tcotcb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9O_rrTNQzG1keLYl0Z4zDbAew379yEuKk9_Qq_JSzYhIL2MoJR_K_ZhwgOvHHaE30zkCXU-7ZuShpJKIkKU1k03S2tGNRbHguMInQnqatwB2ykepdyaM32myXW2wb3m61Jyc00PKcMw/s320/tcotcb.jpg" /></a></div><br />
And then I wasted my morning rereading Carp. In Japanese. Oy Vey. <br />
<br />
BACK ON TOPIC. The conclusion Dirk reaches in his essay are echoed in the sentiments of his fellow contributors. Why are people trying to make a simple equation so complex? Or as Dirk puts it:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>We also need to finally learn to forgive each other for being fucking monkeys, and start understanding and celebrating it instead.</blockquote><br />
There's nothing deep and profound behind why females like yaoi and/or BL. <i>Boys' Love Manga</i>, for the most part, seems to try to explain a fandom to our patriarchal overlords who can't quite grasp why some of us don't fit into the rigid spectrum they created for us. So if you're white/male/cis gendered and can't understand why girls love BL but you totally believe the hot lesbian stuff you watch online is a-okay, this may be the book for you. However, if you frolic in the land of BL and yaoi, Dirk's article will undoubtedly better service you. He's not trying to figure you out. He celebrates the fact we all like sex. And you know what, sometimes it's just that simple.<br />
<br />
Here are links to the other roundtable articles if you're interested:<br />
<a href="http://www.tcj.com/manga/bl-roundtable-no-point-no-meaning-maybe-tenure"><br />
BL Roundtable: No Point, No Meaning, Maybe Tenure</a> by Noah Berlatsky <br />
<a href="http://http//www.tcj.com/manga/bl-roundtable-do-we-really-need-to-spill-this-much-ink-over-the-question-of-whether-girls-like-porn">BL Roundtable: Do we really need to spill this much ink over the question of whether girls like porn?</a> by Shaenon Garrity<br />
<a href="http://www.tcj.com/manga/anthropologize-me-one-more-time-baby-by-kinukitty">BL Roundtable: Anthropologize Me One More Time</a>, Baby by Kinukitty<br />
<a href="http://www.tcj.com/manga/bl-roundtable-conclusions-on-dream-police-cigars-and-maybe-not-shutting-up-forever">BL Roundtable: Conclusions: On Dream Police, Cigars and Maybe Not Shutting Up Forever</a> Noah Berlatsky<br />
<a href="http://www.tcj.com/history/bl-roundtable-conclusions-i-didnt-make-him-for-you">BL Roundtable: Conclusions: I didn’t make him for you!</a> by Dirk Deppey<br />
<a href="http://www.tcj.com/blog/bl-roundtable-conclusions-men-doing-makeouts">BL Roundtable: Conclusions: Men Doing Makeouts</a> by Shaenon GarrityUnknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-129796894798930375.post-4430692635395415712010-06-23T09:59:00.001-04:002010-06-23T12:07:47.909-04:00Lesson learned<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjux4AAGVUXV9BtrH-38n2dJipv6E1kJ2q9E3KnjaI0bVsxY5JrAqciO3yj6NSRT6_DDftMEge1aDg296DcvdN-bwHVlal5oq6h11NZ8HyNbe3wxwDvUEW_fZe6R1CSxNlEgRTUu6WJEg/s1600/wavingflag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjux4AAGVUXV9BtrH-38n2dJipv6E1kJ2q9E3KnjaI0bVsxY5JrAqciO3yj6NSRT6_DDftMEge1aDg296DcvdN-bwHVlal5oq6h11NZ8HyNbe3wxwDvUEW_fZe6R1CSxNlEgRTUu6WJEg/s400/wavingflag.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Pride month is winding down. In case you missed out on some of the awesomeness <a href="http://community.livejournal.com/ontd_political/">ontd_political</a> has a <a href="http://community.livejournal.com/ontd_political/6467426.html#cutid1">couple</a> of <a href="http://community.livejournal.com/ontd_political/6467426.html#cutid1">post </a>collecting some very beautiful images of pride parades from around the world. Check 'em out!<br />
<br />
Sadly, this month was also plagued with a few mishaps in the land of comics. Lets begin with Apple's infamous crusade against porn. In the middle of the month two comics, <i>The Importance of Being Earnest</i> and <i>Ulysses Seen,</i> were rejected by the Apple app store only to be approved when resubmitted with black bars blocking out any nudity. Later Apple backtracked and allowed the creators to submit unedited versions of their work to the app store. <br />
<br />
Here is a montage of some of the censored images from <i>The Importance of Being Earnest</i> complied by <a href="http://prismcomics.org/index.php">Prism Comics</a>:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjLpuOkbyx_eegujencXE39YVzpqDEdogqCG-OUFzd218IfEJdfJeyC_E02gTmRnH3M4ZEeuemcyeXCjqd5Y-XSTEt7ih3ewSkLoNzKfaIbGGz0e5aEh6J4Df-sbtR3kjm6DRyQotsdQ/s1600/comicsensored.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjLpuOkbyx_eegujencXE39YVzpqDEdogqCG-OUFzd218IfEJdfJeyC_E02gTmRnH3M4ZEeuemcyeXCjqd5Y-XSTEt7ih3ewSkLoNzKfaIbGGz0e5aEh6J4Df-sbtR3kjm6DRyQotsdQ/s400/comicsensored.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
And here are the images uncensored: <br />
<center><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS1v-SDvgIWZzc7w4SGE4FzJB_r4ZbgyEs74Q1ITOzCEQhr7o5iH2ZZoETjHVlM1yIbxckLYir_0JoNAKbbaaNOFCjAwrPz3E8xinKDCfGS2_p7a7AAYbVlGs8tZp14PJ57yBhEHJOYw/s1600/comicuncensored.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS1v-SDvgIWZzc7w4SGE4FzJB_r4ZbgyEs74Q1ITOzCEQhr7o5iH2ZZoETjHVlM1yIbxckLYir_0JoNAKbbaaNOFCjAwrPz3E8xinKDCfGS2_p7a7AAYbVlGs8tZp14PJ57yBhEHJOYw/s400/comicuncensored.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></center><br />
I believe the sad Keanu pic below parallels my feelings of this situation quite well. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN3rPgj-SWaXJwANuLrrttg9sNtjl-Jd7_aHXGdLoW_ISUP2CHaDcYDEmpnO-0AWTpBREL_eMowBgnFGg_bfvVFcnIeqSGKRM_huQIGEtsAVlCklEkSB_1n8o-eBo6HZ9xHl_yauECYw/s1600/sadkeanu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN3rPgj-SWaXJwANuLrrttg9sNtjl-Jd7_aHXGdLoW_ISUP2CHaDcYDEmpnO-0AWTpBREL_eMowBgnFGg_bfvVFcnIeqSGKRM_huQIGEtsAVlCklEkSB_1n8o-eBo6HZ9xHl_yauECYw/s400/sadkeanu.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Moving onto DC and their never ending problems with presenting characters that aren't white/male/cis-gendered. Gail Simone's Bird's of Prey was released this month and fans were shocked to discover she used a tired, sad, overused trope. In this most recent issue a homosexual male commits suicide after the death of a straight male he had been pining over died. Many fans saw this as ironic since Gail Simone became known for her <a href="http://www.unheardtaunts.com/wir/">Women in Refrigerators</a> website, which chronicled the demeaning deaths of women in superhero comics. There was a big blowout on <a href="http://scans-daily.dreamwidth.org/2046455.html">scans_daily</a> with some back and forth between Gail and the fans that led to some hurt feelings but also to some awesome articles on homosexuals in comics, such as this one by neo_prodigy on <a href="http://community.livejournal.com/noscans_daily/312436.html">noscans_daily</a>. He gives an extensive writeup on the tropes comics tend to fall back on when it comes to writing homosexuals and explains why they shouldn't be used. I love the part on "the mythical straight boy unicorn". Here's a little taste:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>Stop me if you recognize this plot device or some variation thereof. Miserable gay boy who has given up on love falls in love with the mythical straight boy. Gay boy in desperate need of being rescued falls in love with the mythical straight boy. Gay boy is persecuted by life and homophobes, who shall ever save him, the mythical straight boy. The gay boy is miserable and has no confidence in himself. Who teaches him to be cool, self confident and self reliant? The mythical straight boy. The gay boy is looking to recruit and win over that white knight. So who does he convert? The mythical straight boy. The gay boy needs saving? Who shall save him? I know, how about the mythical straight boy.</blockquote><br />
Gail Simone also read this article and posted about it in her blog in a <a href="http://gailsimone.tumblr.com/post/717405476/the-value-of-rethinking-birds-of-prey-spoiler-warning">response</a> to the craziness which unfolded at scans_daily. Gail is human and is prone to make mistakes, but it seems she's taking the high road and learning from them. Hopefully we won't see so much fail in any of her upcoming releases.<br />
<br />
We are nerds and the small little blips of fail in our community won't put a dent in the month long celebration of being yourself.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhC1o6r8sErmQRnRyjDxYR79bGWqUie8o_yMbfFczpusvhw6Rn_YvHkdinBjmV2F-GciFoPTrrIDc9eqLaTE6smX1bQQnVDEdpz1JwjJf9PDe623gg89iM84hx4N7-LX7gmUhruCHlRQ/s1600/flag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhC1o6r8sErmQRnRyjDxYR79bGWqUie8o_yMbfFczpusvhw6Rn_YvHkdinBjmV2F-GciFoPTrrIDc9eqLaTE6smX1bQQnVDEdpz1JwjJf9PDe623gg89iM84hx4N7-LX7gmUhruCHlRQ/s400/flag.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Party hard, people!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-129796894798930375.post-73049674871596297702010-06-22T11:40:00.002-04:002010-06-22T17:11:27.444-04:00How not to write a reviewThe Yaoi Review made me realize I need to stop reading reviews from yaoi blogs (the few that are in existence) after reading Jennifer's <a href="http://theyaoireview.com/2010/06/20/yaoi-novel-review-incubus-master-parts-1-8/#more-1405">review for <i>Incubus Master</i></a>. She gives the plot an A+, the readability a B (wtf indeed), the sexual content an A-. The overall grade is an A-. What is saddening about this review--other than the outlandish grades--is the lack of substance. Instead of telling us what is exceptional about the plot, what sets it a part from your typical fanfiction and why you need to spend 3 dollars on each section, we are given smoke and mirrors:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>What can I say? I love this plot. <b>It’s always a good sign when you find yourself eagerly awaiting the next release.</b> At no point in time did I find myself predicting where the story was going or thinking I already knew the ending. <b>There are a lot of original elements to the story</b> and I found it to be very engaging throughout. The synopsis provided for the story doesn’t do the story justice in my opinion. <b>I think Yamila does a good job of 'going there'</b> when tough situations arise in the story; not every element is sunshine and unicorns but that’s what makes the story a little deeper than most we get.</blockquote><br />
What about the story kept her waiting in suspense? What elements are original? How does Yamila <i>go there</i>? There is no elaboration. So, yes, I am frustrated--doubly frustrated since I am a English major--to read a review which tells me as much as the story's synopsis. And, yes, when I read a positive review with little to no substance I feel the writer is either purposely trying to mislead their audience or they have no writing skills. And not to be crude, I believe in this case it may be the latter. I understand reviews are opinions, but these blogs are not personal or casual blogs. These people are in contact with companies and undoubtedly believe their blogs serve a great purpose. They have the power to convince individuals to spend their hard earned cash. If you wield such power, it's your responsibility to at least learn how to write a good review. <br />
<br />
Another aspect of her review I find quite puzzling is how Character Development received an A+ when she never discussed the character development. There is a section labeled "character" where she basically gives character descriptions: <br />
<br />
<blockquote>Jinady, a human, is the main character the story follows. From the illustrations, he looks like your typical feminine long haired bishie and in some aspects he is but what I liked most about him is how the author chose to go beyond the typical bishie mold. Jinady not only is a bit of a slut throughout the story with his partner swapping but he also switches up once becoming the seme. I think it’s all his sexual risk taking that makes some of the sex scenes so steamy.<br />
<br />
Figaru is Jinady’s main love interest although not his only one. He’s a demon who’s looking for love after losing his wife and although there are plenty of potential suitors, he knows he must be careful with who he partners with. Don’t feel sorry for Figaru when Jinady gets slutty, he’s getting his needs met as well!<br />
<br />
There are plenty of other characters to keep the story interesting including a shape shifting demon named Gor, a slightly crazy transvestite named Leatha, spoiled brat and not to be trusted Rowan and our poor Vandrel, who is just too love sick over Leatha to make any good decisions </blockquote><br />
None of the above has anything to do with character development, which is about change and growth. So the reader is left in the dark as to why character development received an A+. We know Jinady likes to top and/or bottom and Figaru lost a wife but how does this add to the story? This information seems more like random facts than an in-depth dissection of a character. <br />
<br />
Now, lets talk about sex, baby:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>As I mentioned above, you get to see the sexual content illustrated and in color. Each part provides at least one sex scene and they are usually quite graphic and long. There are a lot of different partners written about so you definitely get some variety. I found the sex scenes written about Jinady to be the most appealing, probably because he’s the one we get to know the best (and is the most slutty!). The writing at times does detract a bit from the sex scenes and one of them early on didn’t really do it for me, moreso due to one of the characters involved <b>but I saw improvement with each subsequent scene</b>.</blockquote><br />
How does the author improve the sex scenes? What technique is applied to make them interesting? Is the sex there for mere titillation or is the reader able to garner any information about the characters through this physical act? Since one sex scene was found distasteful, mostly due to who was involved, is the only improvement whom Jinady is having sex with? What about the writing? How does the writing improve from what is presented in the free sample? As a reader all I gleaned from the above paragraph is there is graphic sex in each section and the sex scenes with Jinady are the best. The absence of how and why makes the writing come off lax and sloppy. It's that book report you wrote on the <i>Giver</i> in the fourth grade where you believed "it's cool" was a sufficient enough description to receive an A. <br />
<br />
Look, I have yet to buy <i>Incubus Master</i> because I read the free preview and was not convinced it was worth so much as a nickel. These other reviewers have read the story and it's their job to convince me I am missing out. A good review would pique my interest and make me doubt my own preconceptions. The reviews I've read so far make me question whether or not these people have even written an essay for a class because rule number one of any essay is BACK UP WHAT YOU WRITE. <br />
<br />
Furthermore, do not be quick to brush off those who only read the free sample. The job of the writer is to hook a reader with the first sentence. Incubus Master does not succeed at this task. So to casually forgive the poorly written opening and promise improvements in the sections which require payment is disingenuous.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-129796894798930375.post-4666308806868685842010-06-21T16:20:00.000-04:002010-06-21T16:20:30.410-04:00Last and final scanlation post....for now.What bothers me about articles such as <a href="http://www.boys-luv.com/2010/06/scanlation-sentiments-my-answers-to-your-statements/">this one</a> written by Kuriosity's Lissa Pattillo is she is placing all the blame for the downward spiral of manga squarely on the shoulders of the fans. Want to read manga? Learn Japanese. Want to own manga? Import from Japan. These are all great suggestions but they're very much detached from reality. The majority of individuals don't have time to invest into learning a foreign language just to enjoy a leisure activity and despite her skewed facts the majority of people do not have the money to import manga from Japan. <br />
<br />
However, people are more than willing to pay for entertainment if they believe it's worth it. <i><a href="http://www.sitasingstheblues.com/">Sita Sings the Blues</a></i> is a great example of how fans will clamor behind a product they like. Even though Sita was free to the public the creator, Nina Paley, made a <a href="http://creativecommons.org/weblog/entry/19321">fifty-five-thousand dollar profit</a>. Paley embraced the internet and in turn was rewarded. Such an acceptance of the internet has yet to happen within the corporate world of manga. There's no Netflix for manga. But maybe the aggregator's have shown companies there is a need for a similar service for manga fans. <br />
<br />
I believe, for the most part, the fans have done their part. We've shouted loud and clear, "we want this". Now it's up to the companies to provide. If they don't, we'll find our own way. People such as Lissa may point their fingers and cry "thief", but I'll sleep soundly tonight regardless.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-129796894798930375.post-4314528765652124822010-06-20T09:29:00.001-04:002010-06-24T21:10:12.715-04:00Where do we go from here?This week DMP officially released information on their new translating venture to ANN:<br />
<br />
<blockquote><b>The program is set to feature over a thousand manga titles or as many as "a few thousand," mostly in the boys love genre</b>, to establish a following before branching out into other genres and possibly novels, Sasahara said. The business model will allow for DMP, the Japanese licensors, and the translators to each receive a cut of digital sales, and additional revenue will come from derivatives such as advertising, and possibly television or other adaptations of manga titles. Titles that perform well online may also go into print.<br />
<br />
According to Sasahara, the venture was established as a reaction to the high up-front costs of licensing manga titles, coupled with long production time. He states that he was not aware of the Digital Comics Association's plan to work with U.S. publishers in a coalition against scanlation aggregators. He said that DMP's new program has been in development for over a year, and that "a few" unnamed content providers in Japan have verbally agreed to participate.<br />
<br />
<b>Sasahara also indicated that DMP would like to invite translation/lettering groups to the DMP offices at the company's expense for a presentation on the program in the near future. </b><br />
</blockquote><br />
It would seem DMP wants to become a legal BL aggregator site. But how do they intend on getting thousands of titles overnight? I believe they want those scanlations already in existence. All those titles Dangerous Pleasure, Nakama, and Arigatomina have been working on for years. I'm sure some scans will need touch ups here and there but for the most part I believe DMP just wants all these scans under their name. They're just doing what One Manga or Manga Fox already do but are actually asking the scanlators for permission to post their work and promising pay someday...maybe.<br />
<br />
I can't really make heads or tails of this. My knee-jerk reaction is to not trust DMP because they are the big evil company who only cares about money. However DMP is at a disadvantage in this situation. They do not have the scans and they do not have the fans. By teaming up with scanlators they gain both. However, once DMP has a hold of those scans and the fans the power balance will shift, this is one reason why scanlators are probably wary about negotiating with DMP. <br />
<br />
I wish the scanlators luck. And who knows, maybe this new initiative will transform the corporate manga world. A BL aggregator is a wonderful idea and if done right has the ability to be beneficial to all. So I'm just gonna wait to see how this all pans out.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-129796894798930375.post-13691099413654431022010-06-12T16:43:00.000-04:002010-06-12T16:43:24.393-04:00Waaaaant....or maybe not.Found this gem while looking up on Sakira: <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg29S19JtOP-KVaWz8SWVQJMz1Qa7qFmwx56ZJPxMUHqGV1fVCclftMcMe1l1nKBSL6XjLDEoVIVazWpXF0mxVI_oBZULcghSKxpOK8YAVXthduk7dbuotsxFINFZ51skok3Gmp1_wzRg/s1600/retsujou.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg29S19JtOP-KVaWz8SWVQJMz1Qa7qFmwx56ZJPxMUHqGV1fVCclftMcMe1l1nKBSL6XjLDEoVIVazWpXF0mxVI_oBZULcghSKxpOK8YAVXthduk7dbuotsxFINFZ51skok3Gmp1_wzRg/s320/retsujou.png" /></a></div><br />
Ryo Mutobe! For me, she's one of those automatic purchases. If she made it and it's BL or yaoi--I want it. So off to Jpqueen I went. I was excited to discover they had a copy. They also had this lovely preview up:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHwFJ-Z5k0Zy3KpPxssrZN-STprppLpSQe-mFYDMXugp3UGMCYuexGqS97vU2oapRPqsP07OTMnptA6tK4bZQnoy9Q4iVFCtQu3GcvedNp7MHGQpq2xghMLx752kVerzjXEQDfmlfxZw/s1600/yum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHwFJ-Z5k0Zy3KpPxssrZN-STprppLpSQe-mFYDMXugp3UGMCYuexGqS97vU2oapRPqsP07OTMnptA6tK4bZQnoy9Q4iVFCtQu3GcvedNp7MHGQpq2xghMLx752kVerzjXEQDfmlfxZw/s320/yum.jpg" /></a></div><br />
I then scrolled up and saw this:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPrex2DkaODwE2bnUmSxxM-9v5OBrHg9CGPC-m6MdzrdVRPZxDOfOdiNGknBkmSqaDFLY5bibdyq7ktim1xDuSm8gZa572RGhhQpWdE9fzIghRdJiaA7q2rNxBRxOOGwmIqfignZimFw/s1600/wtf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPrex2DkaODwE2bnUmSxxM-9v5OBrHg9CGPC-m6MdzrdVRPZxDOfOdiNGknBkmSqaDFLY5bibdyq7ktim1xDuSm8gZa572RGhhQpWdE9fzIghRdJiaA7q2rNxBRxOOGwmIqfignZimFw/s320/wtf.jpg" /></a></div><br />
WTF indeed. The price caught me off guard because it's more than double the original price (680). Jpqueen usually charges a bit more for all their purchases, I know. But this is quite the increase. Look, this is what I paid for a new yaoi manga in 2008:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYzo3U6a1zQtgixkAksLgUQbxGGLtB2S8dV8TgAOd53Pv4iawj371X0RbEwHoDhBuWnutAwJPTPj7yqfoR62lsK9HF-GmJ9p5Y7OzmbG-rWhi8wIiPYwinleqWw61Riiy2ea5lQUJpOg/s1600/suteneko.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYzo3U6a1zQtgixkAksLgUQbxGGLtB2S8dV8TgAOd53Pv4iawj371X0RbEwHoDhBuWnutAwJPTPj7yqfoR62lsK9HF-GmJ9p5Y7OzmbG-rWhi8wIiPYwinleqWw61Riiy2ea5lQUJpOg/s320/suteneko.jpg" /></a></div><br />
This was the usual one would expect to pay for a yaoi manga from Jpqueen around that time and before. Some people may wonder why I'm making such a big deal since BL manga in the US goes for about 13-17 dollars, depending on the publisher. The key difference is shipping. If I buy this and ship EMS I'd have to pay 33 dollars. There are other shipping options: air, sea, SAL, all cheaper but with no tracking. I could take a chance and ship it without EMS...<br />
<br />
There's also the whole thing where I feel like Jpqueen just charges too much in general. In Japan used manga usually goes for about 1-5 dollars. Jpqueen seems to slap an extra 3-4 onto used manga and I don't understand why this is done. I guess I could understand if they were relying purely on sales from outside of Japan. However, I don't know. And I guess not knowing makes me hesitant to rush into making a purchase.<br />
<br />
If I'm lucky some store like Akadot Retail will someday have a few copies for sale. Until then I think I'll hold off on this purchase. If someone out there is willing to cough up the dough you can purchase the manga <a href="http://jpqueen.com/onlineshop/productinfo.asp?PID=116708">here</a>. If it's not there it may be because I somehow talked myself into getting it. Maybe...maybe... <br />
<br />
Woooooo, cliffhanger!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-129796894798930375.post-90991237550943519662010-06-12T11:47:00.000-04:002010-06-12T11:47:49.859-04:00Harder, Better, Faster, CheaperThe Yaoi Review has<a href="http://theyaoireview.com/2010/06/11/yaoi-news-digital-manga-looking-to-hire-scanlators/#comments"> an article</a> up on DMP's new effort in the digital market. Here's a little snippet:<br />
<blockquote>DMP is working on a new ‘secret’ project for publishing <b>more manga faster and cheaper</b> than it is now. It would be via a digital format and they are <b>looking to hire scanlators</b> to help with this. Essentially, <b>scanlators would be doing what they do now except there is the possibility of getting paid based on the sales of said manga titles they worked on</b>. They also get to have their name on everything they translate and retain certain rights to the work they do. What rights I do not know. There is also the possibility of becoming a paid translator ‘if qualified’ and you’d be ahead of the pack when it comes to any other candidates that applied for the position.</blockquote>Nine times out of ten faster and cheaper translates to cheap and/or free labor. DMP is hoping to snatch up scanlators with promises of "pay someday, maybe". This is a common tactic used throughout the business world and it's sad to see DMP being so open about it. I want to believe in this because having an American comic/manga company finally embrace digital media is great. Not paying people who work for you isn't so great.<br />
<br />
However, Jennifer, Yaoi Review's blogger, finds the situation a bit ironic:<br />
<blockquote>If I recall correctly, when a scanlator scanlates a title, the author and artist already did their work… where is their pay? Don’t they have a right to be “paid for that service regardless of the manga’s success” as in, even if it isn’t successful enough to be published in the U.S. or other countries, they should still get paid?</blockquote>I think Jennifer probably doesn't remember the good ol' days when BL was not being sold in the US and scanlating groups such as Nakama were havens for us fans who were unable to get their hands on the real deal. Scanlators served and still serve a purpose to our community. Even though BL has finally found a way to our shores there's still a time delay. How long did we have to wait for <i>Under Grand Hotel</i> to make its way over here despite being a fan favorite? Don't get me wrong, I'm all for supporting the creator, but where would the fans for the work be if not for the scanlators? I wouldn't have discovered Suzuki Tanaka if not for Obsession. I know it's the same for many other fans. <br />
<br />
DMP knows this and it's probably the reason why they want to integrate these individuals into their company. I applaud them for their efforts but find it deplorable if they intend on not paying the very people who created the fans who give them their profits.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-129796894798930375.post-68351339361418248112010-04-27T14:45:00.004-04:002010-04-27T17:38:17.478-04:00He said whaaat?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu67zPhh3LJS8DFoKxApwYmesPwoWucWggR79F8pui6pmBNBUC8nonqgvBZH2jZicD63BvJfTprRvpn9pY-BnAb1mf7-vRKZHUhL-bmcT7cIOfmeYov9e_oOplb7cFvSJ6R9EN4LDWPQ/s1600/ohnoes2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 356px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu67zPhh3LJS8DFoKxApwYmesPwoWucWggR79F8pui6pmBNBUC8nonqgvBZH2jZicD63BvJfTprRvpn9pY-BnAb1mf7-vRKZHUhL-bmcT7cIOfmeYov9e_oOplb7cFvSJ6R9EN4LDWPQ/s400/ohnoes2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464900529310614722" /></a>
I'm sure by now the majority of anime fans have read Sherman's <a href="http://goanimetv.com/?p=668">post</a> on the demise of anime. He wagged his finger at illegal downloads which lead many to enter the age old debate on fansubs. In my opinion the argument detracts from the conclusion Sherman came to: <i>Anime is going to die</i>. What kind of over-blown, stupid, idiotic statement is that? It's just as dumb as when some stupid idiot over at Disney thought people didn't like hand drawn animation anymore. Such a big outlandish shocking statement does nothing to help his cause, especially when everyone knows it's untrue. Maybe dub anime will disappear. Such a possibility is plausible and having a honest open discussion about whether or not dubbed anime has a feasible future would be great. Such discussions don't grow from untruths or by pointing fingers.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-129796894798930375.post-4773114103485003302010-04-26T14:32:00.006-04:002010-04-26T16:45:49.208-04:00Hmm...you'll do.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimeGVCCCzj37VJ0KApAaboNyVOrDqFj1hfv6DeM3PZChQ-bbYLpT_AdCQfP1p96N1_Lo0r1i_6VLkymfeXaZtZWBJt7zoUXhUgE5ufq2zZYIaUsiM9oI790chdoHy2gx96RS8FBrK-IA/s1600/teahouse3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimeGVCCCzj37VJ0KApAaboNyVOrDqFj1hfv6DeM3PZChQ-bbYLpT_AdCQfP1p96N1_Lo0r1i_6VLkymfeXaZtZWBJt7zoUXhUgE5ufq2zZYIaUsiM9oI790chdoHy2gx96RS8FBrK-IA/s400/teahouse3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464530585175385538" /></a>
<a href="http://www.teahousecomic.com/pages/sitepages/page001.html">Teahouse</a> fanart! I'd write a review or recommend Teahouse, but I think it's too early to do either. There's only 8 pages so I say give it a go. But I can't really make heads or tails of it this early in the game. I don't think you will be disappointed since both creators are professionals and it shows in their work. I will say, so far, this is some of the best paneling I have seen in an online BL comic. Just lovely.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-129796894798930375.post-79906452119590232412010-03-13T22:31:00.000-05:002010-03-13T22:31:30.833-05:00More on the entry from yesterdayYesterday I posted a link to Yaoi World after stumbling upon the site only to learn it was closing down, due to--well--craziness. I posted a link here on my blog so people could read the craziness for themselves. I feel I should have left some type of explanation because the entry itself can be very confusing unless you know the history of "Kira Takenouchi". And if you don't it'll take some time on google to unravel the whole thing. Below is a summary of who Kira Takenouchi is ganked from <a href="http://wikibin.org/articles/kira-takenouchi.html">this website</a>:
<p><i>
Kira Takenouchi is a controversial American yaoi author best known for her Ai no Kusabi-based doujinshi yaoi novel series, Taming Riki, which gained a worldwide following in the ever-growing underground yaoi movement when Takenouchi chose to sell her doujinshi series through the book publisher Yaoi Underground after seeking and receiving the approval of Ai no Kusabi copyright owner DMP/June. Despite receiving the green light to publish Taming Riki by DMP/June, Takenouchi has been denounced for selling the popular trilogy by critics who say she is profiting from another author's work. The book series is now being published by Yaoi House.
<p>
Takenouchi's books are extremely sexually graphic, depicting male/male (yaoi) sex, and have been banned in Singapore and Thailand.
<p>
The controversy continued in the spring of 2008 when Takenouchi, who suffers from severe bipolar disorder, abandoned her company Yaoi house while in a delusional mania state, leaving customers, investors, and authors to pick up the pieces. Takenouchi has since returned to the company and continues to generate censure for retaining the title of President, despite her now well-known mental condition.</i><p>
This info, plus a bit more digging, helped make a lot of that crazy blog entry make sense. I mean, after searching the site it was quite obvious it wasn't a "yaoi" site, but one dedicated to Ai no Kusabi, which had me questioning it's motives before I moved onto the blog. The who debacle made me wonder if anyone actually took the site seriously. And, lol, wow, she interviewed herself and everything.<p>
Anyway, tomorrow ends my daily updates. I want to apologize for some of the entries. Toward the end of my break I realized it would be a good idea to do my homework, so I wasn't able to devote too much time to each entry. I do have a bunch of ideas I'm slowly fleshing out and will hopefully see the light of day soon.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-129796894798930375.post-55463826491518922472010-03-12T13:28:00.004-05:002010-03-12T15:38:09.061-05:00Ha-ha-ha--Wut?<a href="http://yaoiworld.net/YW/ezine/?p=358">This is a bunch of craziness.</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1