Otakuism

As most know Tokyopop released their version of the Welcome to the NHK manga last month, making this a belated review. So how does it stack up with the original?

First off I think this is the best ‘made’ manga I’ve ever bought from tokyopop. One of the main issues I’ve always had with tokyopop (aside from their many crappy titles and OEL foolishness) is their inconsistent quality, from altered covers (I hate how they put a red spine on most of their covers), grainy printing, or dubious translation. Clearly TP doesn’t have the best track record. However NHK vol. 1 is their best effort to date. the cover is kept the same, random words and all, and the spine actually complements the colors instead of going against it. The printing is very clear, nothing looks grainy or splotchy. They even put in three full color spreads! That’s very good by TP standards. Only thing I didn’t like is that the parental advisory warning is on the cover, instead of being on the wrapping or something. Kind of ruins the flow of the cover. I wish more manga was wrapped, as it really preserves it’s freshness, and the manga doesn’t get messed up in stores.

So how about the translation part? For this I’m measuring TP’s translation to the scanlations I’ve used. Going by the scanlations the translation seems very faithful to the original. I like how they didn’t replace words like hikikimori, moe, or lolita, and just used footnotes to explain them. I wonder if most american fans know what moe is by now? Anyways there’s no editing I can see, including the ecchi Misaki fantasies. I guess there’s a reason it’s rated mature. Storywise, Vol. 1 covers the intoduction up to Satou’s Mom coming to visit. It’s nice to have a simple way to look back on things without digging through scanlations. There’s also the extra’s, like Satou’s visual novel proposal which turns into a rant on why he hates himself, and 4-koma comics after each chapter.

Overall it’s a very nice presentation for an excellent series. Hopefully TP will maintain this degree of quality for later volumes, and maybe even other series. I really wish TP offers extra’s in later volumes, like the Misaki figurine or the visual novel from vol.6. No way that will happen, but it’s nice to dream about. Please someone translate True World…

STEALTHY I AM!

The Makoto story is entering high gear it seems, with both the introduction of Piro and Amano Mishio. Makoto continues to be awesomely cute with her stupidity and child-like mannerisms. Best shown when Yuuichi asks why she has scissors, and she says to make paper airplanes. That doesn’t even make sense, but with Makoto it’s insanely cute as we know she can’t lie (well) at all. Her dropping the cat off the bridge was kind of creepy, just with how calm she was. Though if you know her story it makes sense. Still it was a pretty cold thing to do. Though of course Makoto has to go look for it, showing she’s not all bad at heart.

This episode seems to mark the happiest part of the Makoto arc to me, as Makoto has realized that she has a home and doesn’t need to hate Yuuichi anymore, as he does like her in his own way. Sadly things will go down from here, as it seems Mishio will reveal what Makoto really is next episode, and things just get worse from there. Truly things never get as ” normal ” as they are right now. I don’t know why Kyoani is doing the Makoto arc now, as it’s kind of lengthy, with it probably taking three more episodes to clear it up. Mai’s is also pretty long, so we’ll probably see it next. Shiori’s is pretty simple, and Ayu’s story will probably develop in the background for now. Where’s that leave poor Nayuki? From here on out the real story of Kanon will begin, and no one can call that boring. It’s hard talking about Kanon without spoiling any of it. More funny Kanon pics.

A killer loli is fine too.

C-C-C-COMBO B-B-BREAKER!

Nayuki’s new weird sound is ” jamuu “. Beats ” uguu ” by a mile.

What is this forboding sensation?

Your such a downer Kyon’iichi!

Fatty-tan has chubby fingers.

Lesser minds think alike?

If you get what I mean.

Umm isn’t that kind of your fault?

New harem member? Deus ex machina? Flame haze? Guess which one is right.

STEALTHY I AM! part two

Kyon’iichi judo chop!

Too…moe…argh!

Short list of releases this week. Nothin’ I’m very interested in, but here’s the list in case your looking for something this week.

Gin-iro no Olynssis ED Single - Saraba Seishun no Hibi [The Inazuma Sentai]
Hataraki Man ED Single - Shangri-la [Chat Monchy]
The Law of Ueki Final ED Single - True Blue [Shinmatani Hitomi]
Bleach ED 9
Zenmai Zamurai OP

As usaul get the music from Nipponsei.

Next week doesn’t look to good either with reviews, with a bunch of releases for shows I don’t watch. Oh well. Time to go clear that mysterious pile of backlog I’ve somehow accumulated.

If the twin’s arc was a tragedy, then the Greenback Jane arc is more of a comedy (though what exactly comedy means in Black Lagoon is up for debate). This arc was characterized by a bunch of wacky one-shot villians, weird panty shots, Shenhau goodness, and some Eda backstory. Works pretty well actually.

First up is Eda, who was really great throughout the arc. She showed her smarts by setting up Jane and getting her to hire Eda as protection. Though she kind of messed up when there was no boat to escape in, but oh well. Despite being a rather normal fighter (she only uses a handgun) she was able to take out Shenhau in what was the first apparent use of strategy to win instead of luck that I can remember. Too bad it had to be Shenhau though. She’s too great a character to be shot at. Finally, we find out that Eda is originally from the US, was involved with a senator in some way, and was part of the CIA! Pretty amazing stuff. It’d be interesting to know if Eda quit the CIA, or is still working with them in some way. Imagine an arc where Eda leads a CIA team to attack Hotel Moscow, and ends up facing Revy? That’d be something, even if it might meant the end of Eda. Hard to know who she is right now, though she did seem remorseful when mentioning the CIA. And then there’s the usual ” OMG Eda is hot! ” which continues to be true.

A lot of weird villians this time. The torch guy was annoying and fat. Good thing he blew up. Sawyer was…almost interesting? Would of been better if Rock took her down some way, instead of her just having an emotional break down. The americans were stupid, thinking just cause their american they can beat anyone without knowing the situation. Allegory for foreign policy anyone? I ended up liking Rotton ZA WIZALDO, just cause he ended up helping Shenhau live. I liked the whole exchange where Shenhau said he should be a host at Bordello’s instead of a killer. He just say’s he’s to clumsy for that. Umm aren’t you too clumsy at killing too? Still a nice guy though.

And last of all, our eponymous heroine, panty-shot Jane! For such a violent and sex-ed up show as Black Lagoon, panty shots seemed really out of place. But Jane was a great character. She was as confused as Rock used to be, but still yelled at everyone. Pretty cute too. Benny really did get lucky in the end eh? Be nice if there’s some future reference to the two internet dating. That seems to fit their personalities. Anyone notice how every character in BL is a different nationality? Only one were missing is a frenchman. Dirty french. Anyways, that’s the end of this story. Next time: Revy in a skirt! The world’s gone mad I say! Time to jump into the Fujiyama Gangsta Paradise.

*Spoilers a plenty*

So after about two weeks of playing finally got through the Arcueid route, both endings. Type-moon just amazes me with the level of detail they throw in, and I love Nasu’s wriiting style. He’s the only guy I can think of you has a hundred different ways to describe killing someone :). I wonder how confused I would be if I didn’t already know the whole story before hand. Probably very. Still, I find myself learning new things about the nasuverse everyday.

So what about the Arcueid route? Well, let me first say I really like Arcueid. I’ve never seen the anime, so her whole personality was new to me. It’s great having a vampire being such a happy go lucky airhead. Vampires make great dumb blondes. I liked the two sprites where she has her mouth opened, one in confusion and one in happiness, the most. Those HCG weren’t to shabby either ;). Also Nero Chaos is one of the greatest villians ever, second best TM villian for me behind Kotomine Kirie (I really like him for some reason). I wish TM would remake Tsukihime just so there could be some awesome fighting CG’s like fate/stay night for the whole battle. Nero wins for having ” flying crab-like things ” as his body. That’s badass. Of the two endings I prefered the good ending, as I’m a sucker for those ” walking into the blue sky ” kind-of romantic endings. Though the true one did have a nice message of Shiki continuing to live on like he had.

I few things I didn’t like about the route. The story as a whole feels incomplete, though that’s to be expected for this type of game, so it’s not too bad. Ciel was around a lot, but you never really know why, but again that’s her route. Important details like why Arcueid fights Roa, or that Shiki is not a tohno are kind of thrown in instead of being properly built up. Though the whole Shiki/SHIKI problem is saved for later scenario’s. Roa is a weak villian. I have no idea why I’m suppose to care about, or even hate, this guy. He appears randomly, stabs shiki, kills Arcueid (lol women and children!! lol), and then shiki kills him by collapsing a hallway on him and stabbing him while he’s running away. Good villian that does not make! That’s nothing compared to the pure evil of Dark Sakura, or the epicness of the almost-dead Shirou and already-dead Kotomine having a fist fight. I’m glad TM learned their lesson after this.

Oh well that’s all for now. Check back in two weeks when I’ll most likely have the Ciel Route done. Senpai here I come!

Do everything with…enthusiam!!

Tokimeki Memorial is so wonderfully wacky it’s beating all other harem shows I’m watching right now (though that’s not much since I basically dropped Happiness and Lovdoll). Where else do you see grown men running around in pink full-body suits, just to spy on girls in a pool? That’s just brilliant. Episode 4 was great since we got to see a lot of Mina, the goddess of shy moe. Oh Mina, all other idols fail in comparison to you~! *cough* anyways on with the pics.

Aoba is quite happy at the school president’s tender confession of love.

Hell or…Hell?!

The ninja lunchlady is awesome. She’s like a twentysomething Haruhi who randomly got a job at a school cafeteria and decided to terrorize the students. Haruhi also got greedier as she grew up.

Oh Mina, my goddess of shy moe, your beauty exists in all shades of your wonderous expression~! Blue hair and clumsiness are always win in my book of moe~! Ok, that’s out of my system. But really Mina is the best girl so far, beating out hyperactive Riku and too calm for me Sayuri. I know it’s impossible, but only if Aoba could end up with Mina and make her happy. Guess I’ll have to pray for a shuffle ending (hopefully with some added boxcutters!).