Official Manga Thread

Discussion in 'Whatever' started by dxxe, Feb 19, 2013.

  1. bunnyboy

    bunnyboy Side Dealer

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    @The Moog I've been meaning to dive into Asano for a while now and finally got Nijigahara Holograph a week ago; haven't managed to read it yet, but the first two pages alone are breathtaking!
     
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  2. The Moog

    The Moog Die-Cast

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    Cool, glad to hear it. I just received order confirmation for mine but its probably cutting it a bit fine for it to arrive before the weekend. It looks like a nice hardback, I assume its up to Fantagraphics usual high standards?
     
  3. bunnyboy

    bunnyboy Side Dealer

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  4. skaldavsatanssol

    skaldavsatanssol Toy Prince

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    Anyone up to date on this? If you are invested in the story's characters, this has to be one of the most painful hiatuses to date. Hopefully it is not too long this time around. I love you Miura but fuck you.
     
  5. ultrakaiju

    ultrakaiju Die-Cast Staff Member

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    Diversion into anime once more, but I am thoroughly enjoying a watch of Evangelion, now that Netflix has acquired the rights to it. It was a bit after my time, and I never got into all of the hype surrounding it (or its many, many spinoffs), but yeah, some nice entertainment, and even though it still feels like 'new era' I appreciate that it is at least still the older/hand drawn art stylings, unlike modern anime, which I still have trouble with. And hey, for folks around these parts into giant mecha and monster fights, I can see it appealing.
     
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  6. ultrakaiju

    ultrakaiju Die-Cast Staff Member

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    Oooh, for fans of Akira (manga and anime), this is some cool news:

    Akira to be remastered in 4k (release in Japan c. 2020)



    +1 bonus points for linking to a teaser from a coming new Otomo feature
     
  7. skaldavsatanssol

    skaldavsatanssol Toy Prince

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    Still my favourite anime of all time. If you are mainly into the old school, perhaps you noticed how it implemented similar narrative threads to Space Ideon and Gundam 0079. Hell there's even a few homage scenes to Ultraman and Ultraseven in there. Despite all these influences worn on its sleeve, I really think it brought something new to the table and changed the market for animation permanently. (Giving way to more focus on original content rather than manga adaptations, "deeper" plotted anime such as Serial Experiments Lain making an appearance). Sorry if I'm gushing... EoE has to be my favourite film of all time alongside 2001. My only advice: avoid the Rebuild series like the plague!
     
  8. ultrakaiju

    ultrakaiju Die-Cast Staff Member

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    Thanks for that tip @skaldavsatanssol. With something as long lived as Evangelion, there is certainly some trepidation in diving in with so many offshoots to digest as well. 0079 is definitely a main jam of mine. Another thing I noticed about the first series which I am sure is not a coincidence either, is the tribute/riff on John Williams' Superman theme during the launch sequence of the EVAs. This is just one of those subtle pieces of music which immediately makes that deep connection.
     
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  9. The Moog

    The Moog Die-Cast

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    I think the best part of that news is a new series based on the manga is on its way!

    Sunrise president Makoto Asanuma said the studio was “still developing” the new anime series, but it’s apparently supposed to incorporate the events of the entire manga, which was published from 1982 to 1990. “Fans will be kept up to date about this new anime adaptation project as details become available.”
     
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  10. ultrakaiju

    ultrakaiju Die-Cast Staff Member

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    Yep. I would love a series that is up to level of the original - matching in tone would even be ideal - but dove into the depths of the original Otomo series. Probably the ideal situation here would to offer it up as a sequel of sorts, continuing the story (and style/vision) originally executed in the film adaptation. Not necessarily dismissing something entirely new, but it would hard to live up to expectations/be compared against something which ended up being so seminal.

    All this talk it just making me wish I had some of my old copies on hand for a re-read though. Damn, might have to just invest in some used versions, but as of last hunt (which was a while ago) even the DH reprints were still not so easily accessible.
     
  11. skaldavsatanssol

    skaldavsatanssol Toy Prince

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    I wouldn't worry about the offshoots as they are either condensed recaps of the series OR in rebuild's case, an inferior reimagining. One only needs to watch the original series and the End of Evangelion, which many fans consider to be the "true" ending. I would highly recommend watching Shin Godzilla if you haven't already as director Hideaki Anno brings a lot of his techniques and visual flair from Evangelion over to possibly the second best Godzilla fllm (in my opinion).

    This is incredible news. The fact that Sunrise is behind this gives me great hope. I am also of the understanding that Taika Waititi is looking to adapt the Akira manga into a live action film also HOWEVER this is much less exciting as Akira is something where its strength is derived from illustration IMO. Either way, time for a re-read :o

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Jul 6, 2019
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  12. The Moog

    The Moog Die-Cast

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    Not to be ungrateful but I wish it was Domu they were making before Akira. There were rumours a few years ago that a Domu feature film was in development but i havent heard anything about it since. I adore Domu and think its perfect, where as Akira is a bit of a sprawling mess sometimes.

    I always thought that Otomo stretched out the Akira story for its serialisation and it should of been edited down a bit before being collected into Tankobon. Of course its an absolute classic and I do love it but it does meander all over the place with no clear direction, quite often IMO.

    Anyway, ignoring my petty criticism it is still going to be really interesting to see what they do with such a beloved and famous story this time around.
     
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  13. skaldavsatanssol

    skaldavsatanssol Toy Prince

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    I'll have to give Domu a re-read. All I remember is that it kind of felt like it laid down the blueprint for Akira and someone slit their throat? I do believe I enjoyed it. Last I saw the western translation was OOP. Definitely merits me tracking it down...
     
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  14. toothaction

    toothaction Team Tsubu Staff Member

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    ^ That reminds me - The exciting part about all of this, for me, is that hundreds upon hundreds more pages of Otomo's work are due to be reprinted, many of which, I believe, have never been officially published in English before - the complete works, they say, are on the way!
     
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  15. The Moog

    The Moog Die-Cast

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    Indeed. His book 'Memories' in the same format has a few Akira-esque short stories in it as well.

    I love Domu so much. It was the first Otomo I ever read, and it really blew my mind. Its self contained and the translation was much better compared to other Manga books available in English at the time. The backdrop of the housing complex is very claustrophobic and creepy, and the psychic battle between a little girl and a kind of mischievous demon disguised as a little old man is genius. His annoyance that she spoils his deadly fun and then all the mayhem they cause, locked in a fight to the death in plain sight but none of the bystanders can comprehend what's happening right in front of them. Even the little girl's mother seems unaware of her daughters immense power. The final confrontation between the old man and the girl at the very end is possibly the most subtle but powerful piece of manga I've ever read. Some of the panels from Domu are etched in my brain.
     
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  16. ultrakaiju

    ultrakaiju Die-Cast Staff Member

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    Thanks for the recommendation guys. Domu is one of his works I have never read, but from the sounds of what you are saying it definitely seems like it is something I would enjoy. Looking around it seems the aftermarket is pretty steep to track down one of these for the moment anyways (currently tracking at 100$+ on Amazon for just a SC, which is nuts). If a reprint comes out that would be great. Any particular version/printing you recommend for the meantime? I doubt I will ever shell out those kind of prices, but at least I will keep my eyes opened.
     
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  17. skaldavsatanssol

    skaldavsatanssol Toy Prince

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    What a fantastic write up. I can feel your love for it through your retelling.

    Perhaps you can seek *ahem online* alternatives for the time being as toothaction mentioned Otomo’s complete works being on the way.
     
  18. The Moog

    The Moog Die-Cast

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    I had no idea it was out of print. I favour the Mandarin paperback because its the one I have and it was the first in English. I only saw the Dark Horse version of Domu in a shop, I think it was a smaller format from what I recall.

    Mandarin/Equinox did three TPB's that are slightly larger than the DH Akira set. Memories is a collection of shorter pieces. The other is a collection of the flipped and colorised Akira, Epic did a 38 book set for. Its called Akira: The Beginning, but Mandarin only ever published the one volume. Its the same format as the other two Mandarin books.

    I haven't seen the 35th anniversary boxset edition for Akira in hardback yet. Anyone got it or seen it? I passed at the time, but it sounded cool from the review.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  19. The Moog

    The Moog Die-Cast

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    Oh, and to be clear. The Mandarin paperback version of Domu is flipped. I'm not sure if the DH versions are flipped or not (or have a newer translation).

    Another Otomo classic that went under the radar and never got published in its entirety, was 'The Legend of Mother Sarah' written by Otomo and drawn by Takumi Nagayasu. It got cut short very quickly for its English run, I think the comics went on a little longer than the 1st TPB collection, but not for that much longer.

    My brother searched out a lot of the Japanese tankobons when we were in Japan. Mother Sarah is a pretty hard and realistic story about post apocalyptic type survival, what is available in English is really solid Manga.
     
  20. Bill

    Bill Fresh Meat

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    Not sure if any one has mentioned this title yet but I've been reading Inio Asano's Dead Dead Demon's Dededede Destruction. I would highly recommend it, plenty of depth along with gritty themes offset just enough by some whimsical sub-plots and character design. Would implore any one who enjoyed Goodnight Punpun to check it out.
     
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  21. The Moog

    The Moog Die-Cast

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    Yes indeed, that is on my list and I will definitely be reading the series at some point. I've flicked through some of the Vols and it looks great, the artwork is stunning as always, whatever the style he's working in. I noticed this one has a lot less of the photo manipulation as Punpun, or it's not as obvious anyway.
     
  22. Bill

    Bill Fresh Meat

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    I noticed the same thing. At first I thought he completely stopped using that technique. But I came across this interview last night and it looks like maybe his technique has progressed to the point where it looks completely hand-drawn.
     
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  23. The Moog

    The Moog Die-Cast

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    @Bill

    Interesting video and yeah, I think he reached the peak of the digital side of things with 'A Girl on the Shore.' and now he's scaling it back to look more completely hand-drawn. Or thats what it looks like from the translated work, there's plenty not published in english of course. I really rate him, he's my newest fave mangaka.
     
  24. The Moog

    The Moog Die-Cast

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    New OPM is hot off the presses, people. Git'some.

    [​IMG]
     
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  25. bryce_r

    bryce_r Die-Cast

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    [​IMG]

    I just read that Junji Ito will be publishing his version of No Longer Human by Osamu Dazai. I know that Usamaru Furuya did a version in three parts but they are so expensive. Should be a very powerful read.
     
    Last edited: Aug 18, 2019
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