Okazu Reviews

RSS Feed Homepage

Articles: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Yuri Danshi Manga (????) Volume 1
2011-12-01 01:14:00
Yuri Danshi, Volume 1 (????) is...unsettling. The premise for those of you not reading it, is the life of a Yuri Fanboy. Hanadera-kun is sincere, but creepy. In fact, that's kind of the point - he's sincere in his love for Yuri and his desire to see and nurture true Yuri love in the girls around him. Which is just creepy when you're one of those girls. Each chapter begins with a challenge - buying Yuri at a bookstore, uncovering what he considers to be a pure Yuri love in his classroom, visiting a Yuri doujinshi event...and each chapter ends with a realization that his love for Yuri, as passionate as it is, is completely hopeless and empty, because where there is a "Yuri couple" someone like him would be no more than an annoyance at best. It's a funny series, overall, but I still can't quite get a hold of who it's supposed to be for. As a portrait of Yuri fanboy life, it's a little distressing. I asked a friend in Japan his opinion of it and he said that he also finds it u...
More About: Manga , Yuri Hime

Win a Revolutionary Girl Utena, Black Rose Saga Box Set!
2011-11-30 22:18:00
Thanks to the continuing generosity and support from Nozomi/RightStuf, Yuricon is pleased to offer a chance to win a copy of the  Revolutionary Girl Utena, Black Rose Saga Box Set! Contest rules are easy. Please email us with your answer to this questions: What kind of DVD packaging do you like? If you want premium packaging what do you consider premium & are you willing to pay extra? This question is a little complex, so think of it this way. Presume you *do* want the anime. What does "premium" mean to you? And if a set is offered with that premium packaging, what are you willing to cough up to get it? Try to be specific. The word "reasonable" isn't as helpful as "$XX more." For instance, if you like thinpaks (single disks in thin jewelcase) then your answer to the second part is N/A, since you don't want premium packaging. If you like box sets or limited edition packaging, (like the art box for Mai HiME), tell us if you are willing to go up in price for that packaging...

Revolutionary Girl Utena Anime Box Set - Volume 2, Disk 1 (English)
2011-11-29 22:45:00
The first episode of the first disk of Revolutionary Girl Utena, Volume 2, or what is commonly referred to as the Black Rose Arc, is that staple of long-running anime, the clip episode. Clip episodes became so common around the turn of the century, that in some infamous series, clip episodes were practically more common than actual story episodes. In this case, the clip episode is welcome. Not only does it highlight each duel from the Student Council Arc, (which gives us a chance to relive the duels and their wonderful background music) but it provides an apparently objective perspective of each duel, allowing us to understand the motivation behind the duel, behind any discussion of the End of the World, a World Egg or Revolutionizing the World or other important-sounding nonsense. The story of Nemuro Hall and the Mikage Seminar is set up, and we are quite suddenly dropped into a new, even more obscure arc than the last. Where the Student Council fights to possess Anthy, these new...
More About: Anime , Disk , English

Girly Comic, Volume 1 (English)
2011-11-29 22:39:00
After revisiting Cute Wendy, I admit to questioning my faith in the entertainment value of Josh Lesnick's Girly . ^_^ I mean, I liked it loads when it ran online and my original review of the first volume was positive enough to be included as a pull quote on the second volume. But times change and I change and things change.... I'm very glad to say that my opinion of Girly has not changed. I found myself putting other (probably more important) things aside to keep reading this first volume of the new collection, which encompasses both the original Book 1 and 2. Otra and Winter are utterly un-normal, which makes them charming, and their adventures are utterly un-normal enough that one has to actually pay attention to what is going on in order to follow what is going on. In fact, reading Josh's post-volume notes, we realize how much of the apparent randomness and haphazard happenstance is carefully plotted out in advance. For Yuri fans, the real draw here is Otra and Winter. There...
More About: Comic , English

Now This is Only My Opinion, Big 10th Edition!
2011-11-28 00:14:00
From time to time, I open up a Q&A here on Okazu to address random questions about life, love and Yuri. It's been a while since we did the last one, but this will be our 10th edition of this, so let's all eat some cake as we reflect on the deep questions you are asking. ^_^ I am always interested in the questions I'm asked - especially when there is no one simple answer for the question. As always I'm giving it my best shot, and welcome other opinions and perspectives in the comments. In any case, here we go for the 10th edition of Now This is Only My Opinion ! *** Q: How are minority characters treated in Yuri? A: Not surprisingly, this is an incredibly complex question, because Yuri is unlikely to be different than manga as a whole in this regard. Treatments of foreigners in manga and anime as a whole tend to be very stereotypical, although there will always be exceptions to the rule. What I'm seeing more and more in Yuri manga specifically, is the addition of the "A...

Yuri Network News - November 26, 2011
2011-11-26 16:03:00
Yuri Manga Top news story this week, in case you missed it, is that Seven Seas announced that they have licensed GIRL FRIENDS by Morinaga Milk and will be releasing it in omnibus format. The first volume is slated for spring 2012. Shannon L. reminded us on the Yuricon & ALC group on Facebook  that Yen Press licensed the Puella Magi Madoka Magika graphic novels, the first one of which also should be coming out in spring 2012. YNN Correspondent Tomo K. wrote in with the most wonderful news! Ame-iro Kouchakan Kandan (???????) is getting a number of post-series one-shots Ame-iro Kouchakan Kandan?Golden and Silver Tips?. Terrific news for all of us who enjoy spending time in Fujieda Miyabi's Amber Teahouse. (And maybe, just maybe, for those of us who would like to see more well-established, older couples in the pages of Comic Yuri Hime?) *** Yuri Anime Nozomi/Rightstuf is restarting showing Season 1 of Maria Watches Over Us on their Youtube channel. Catch 2 episodes a wee...
More About: News , Network

Great (Retro) Anime/Manga Gift Guide 2011 (English)
2011-11-25 16:00:00
I'm staring at my pile of to-watch and to-read anime and manga and I can't but help notice that there are a lot of familiar titles among the mix. And, as it's that time of year again, at which Americans decide what matching pen and pencil set to get their relatives, and otaku Americans decide what anime or manga they should buy to indoctrinate their younger family members, I had a thought. This year, I'm specifically suggesting anime and manga that were awesome and wonderful a decade or more ago and are just as wonderful, now that they are available again. These will all make perfect family watching/reading to brainwash educate your young family members in the ways of anime and manga fandom. And, possibly create a new Okazu reader or two. ^_^ Princess Knight - This is as close to a kernel as we have in America for the concept of "shoujo manga." And, not at all coincidentally, Sapphire is the inspiration for many of our favorite cross-dressing, sword-wielding heroines, La...
More About: Manga , Anime , Great , English , Gift

Giving Thanks
2011-11-24 21:00:00
Today is Thanksgiving in the United States, and as I have done for the last few years, I'm taking a few moments to express (out loud where other people can hear it!) how thankful I am for some things. This year I would very much like to begin by thanking Nozomi/Right Stuf, Seven Seas, Kodansha, Media Blasters, Dark Horse, Sentai Filmworks, Viz, Vertical, and Yen Press  for their various Yuri and Yuri-friendly series in the past year. 2011 was a very good year for reboots and re-releases of older series. I would like to thank Rica Takashima, Takami Koga, and Yorico Murakami for their continuing assistance with the Rica 'tte Kanji!? Omnibus project. Especially Takami-sama. ^_^ We're still on track for a Q1 2012 release and I think you'll be very pleased and surprised at what we have planned. Thanks to Yuricon staffers and my dear friends, Serge, Sean, Bruce, Donna and Kelli. Traveling to new and exciting cons is always best when it's a group trip. ^_^ Very...
More About: Giving

Last Exile: Fam the Silver Wing Anime, Guest Post by Felix (English)
2011-11-24 02:15:00
It's Guest Post Wednesday! Today we have an exciting post, from long-time Okazu reader and commenter Felix! We're very excited to have Felix join out Guest Reviewer community. Please extend a welcome hand and thank to Felix! Last Exile, Fam the Silver Wing is the story of three girls, each of 15 years of age: Fam Fan Fan, sky pirate and fantastic vespa pilot, Giselle Collette, Fam?s genius navigator and closest friend (whom Fam calls "Gisey"), and the girl they meet, the young princess of the Kingdom of Turan, Millia il Velch Curettola Turan. This is the story of how Fam decides to steal a battleship from the middle of battle, save a princess, and embark on a quest to help Millia save her beloved older sister and their kingdom from the conquering Ades Federation. This story also involves a legend, how once long ago humans left a dying earth but one day returned. The legend of the Exile... When I was first writing this review, I was thinking of doing a detailed synopsis of the f...
More About: Anime , English

Seven Seas announces a GIRL FRIENDS Omnibus
2011-11-22 18:01:00
To continue the licensing frenzy of Morinaga Milk's GIRL FRIENDS, Seven Seas has just announced that they will be releasing GIRL FRIENDS in Omnibus form. The first volume is slated to ship in October 2012.
More About: Friends , Girl

Yuri Manga, Comic Yuri Hime (???????) November 2011
2011-11-22 02:20:00
The The November issue of Comic Yuri Hime (???????) starts off, as it has for the past issues since its rebirth, with a chapter of "Girls Uprising" by Fukami Makoto. In this chapter, the (relatively) happy couple of Sayaka and Chisato are split so Chisato can go play prince to Hyoko's Rapunzel...even though she's not in the tower anymore. Oh, and of course she and Tatsuki were a couple previously, because this entire world only has 6 people in it. /facepalm/ This chapter thoroughly vexed me. I would very much like to see one of the many guns mentioned in the story take Chisato out. Unfortunately, this appears to be the last chapter of this story. Both cover art and layout change with the next volume. Meh. In "Fu~Fu," Kinana and Su-chan are about to celebrate their first anniversary together. Kina and Hayase head out to buy some food, when inexplicably (and I mean that sincerely) a strange woman approaches Kinana and tells her that she's fallen in love with her. Kina r...
More About: Manga

K-ON! Anime, Volume 2 (English)
2011-11-20 23:00:00
Although I already reviewed Volume 3 of the K-ON! anime, I finally had time to sit down and enjoy the supersonic movement of the year with the girls in K-ON!, Volume 2. From their first school festival, (and getting Sawako-sensei as their faculty advisor,) to a whole new school year and a new member, all in a few short episodes. I love the gags about Sawako-sensei's years in the Light Music Club. Something about the idea that she was once a heavy metal rocker cracks me up. For fans of the series, the important point of this volume is the appearance of Azusa, her experience seeing the Light Music Club the very first time and being totally blown away. And, really, who wouldn't be? They are ridiculously cute and their music is fun and goofy. As for Yuri, other than the relationships fans have made up in their head...there is none. And that's okay by me, honestly. This series works best when it's about a bunch of friends in a band. Ratings: Art- 7 Story - 8 Characters - 8 Yuri ...
More About: Anime , English

Yuri Network News - November 18, 2011
2011-11-19 15:00:00
Yuri Manga Peter on the Yuricon Mailing List was very excited to let us know that Morinaga Milk's GIRL FRIENDS will be out this spring in German from Carlsen as Wir Beide. That brings the total to four languages: Japanese, English (on JManga), French and now German. Bruce P wants you all to know that Wandering Son, Volume 2 is up for pre-order on the Fantagraphics website. Sailor Moon, Volume 2 is now available for purchase. If you're not reading this core Yuri manga, you really should. (Warning: Volume 2 is very heterosexual. Just so you know.) Codename is Sailor V, Volume 2 is out too - it's also not Yuri, but you should really read it anyway. Anytime Torako and Asami  share the page my Yuridar pings, and just in case they do appear, I'll be getting Yotsuba &!, Volume 10. (I lie, I'd get it anyway and enjoy it. Also, please do not see the previous statement as a challenge to be responded to. If they are/not in the volume, don't spoil it for us, thanks.) George ...
More About: News , Network

Cute Wendy Comic (English)
2011-11-18 01:14:00
This summer I contributed to Josh Lesnick's Kickstarter for the publication of his webcomic Girly in a spiffy hardcover, limited edition box set. I did this entirely because he had a premium of an Otra and Winter figurine set and I'm helpless before the offer of relatively obscure webcomic figurines. (I'd be the first one lining up to by figurines of Yuriko and Midori, our Yuricon mascots, but as I can't draw and have no toy industry contacts, it's kind of a non-starter.) In any case, I knew once I saw the figurines, I had to be part of the Kickstarter. Who wouldn't be helpless in the face of this? Okay, fine, lots of people who are not me. Anyway, with my very awesome hardcover limited edition box set and the figurines, I received a copy of Cute Wendy , Josh's side comic to Wendy. Where Wendy followed the adventures of Wendy and her sidekick, Cute Wendy was the product of many hours of anime watching, potato chip eating, video game playing, masturbation and exhausti...
More About: Comic , English

Shin Koihime Muso The Complete Collection Anime, Disk 2 (English)
2011-11-16 21:38:00
Is it worse when Disk 2 of Shin Koihime Muso digresses into an entire episode of Bachou needing to go to the bathroom or attempts to actually deal with Ryuubi's ragtag army of heroes defeating the Yellow Turban revolt...with a sing-off? Honestly, I don't know. Ratings: Art - 6 Story - 6 Characters - Everytime I watch this series, the statue of Guan Yu we have here, his eyes get all cold and menacing...shudder. Yuri - Sousou and her various adoring henchicks Loser FanBoy - I've started to think differently about this series. I want to believe that there are remarkably few people who find this all sexy, and more who simply find it amusing. Overall - 2, except for bits here and there that get up as high as 5. The important thing is, that Shin Koihime Musou ~ Otome Tairan is actually better, at least in my memory.
More About: Anime , English

Dolltopia Comic (English)
2011-11-16 02:19:00
Abby Denson's Dolltopia is a light allegory about the plastic dolls we grew up with and what happens when they question their life of plastic conformity and consumerism. I first encountered Dolltopia back in 2008, when Abby gave me a copy of the mini-comic (that's western indie comicspeak for doujinshi) of the series. I was captivated by the idea of toy dolls rebelling against their intended fate, and their desire to be unique and independent. Dolltopia is, as I said, an obvious outsider allegory, that is nonetheless charming for being obvious. Colored brightly in black, white and hot pink, the art speaks of punk roots, and a childhood of cutting and dyeing doll hair. (Which Abby admits to.) For Yuri fans, there is one established girl-doll couple in the series - Candy O and Candy X. They are shown providing emotional support for one another, even in the most stressful times. Honestly, they are a very cute couple. There's also a little guilt-inducing chapter about the way we ...
More About: Comic , English

The Book of Human Insects Manga (English)
2011-11-14 22:48:00
The title Book of Human Insects is an insult to insects. Insects are rarely as harmful to their own species as the humans in this book. If one thinks of insects as grotesque and unlovely, then it's a fitting title, perhaps, as the humans contained within are unlovely at best. There is a real downside to reading too much of Tezuka Osamu's manga for adults. He sees very clearly the kind of corruption power,and the drive for power, leads to. He understands too well how the powerful destroy the innocent without even noticing they exist. Read too much of his manga for grownups, and you might be ready to just pack it all in. In Book of Human Insects we follow a psychopath who has nothing of her own. Instead, she learns from those around her, then steals their identities, their work, their reputation and everything they care about. She wreaks havoc as she moves up in the world, as a world-famous author (with a stolen manuscript) and a award-winning designer (with a stolen des...
More About: Manga , English

Yuricon & ALC Publishing on the Web
2011-11-13 18:00:00
I haven't done this in a while, so I thought I'd update you all on where you can find Yuricon online. Yuricon Website: http://www.yuricon.org Yuri Studios on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/yuristudio Our Yuri AMV contest has days left to go! (http://www.yuricon.com/2011/10/02/amvcon test2011/ for submission guidelines) New! Yuricon on Google+: https://plus.google.com/b/1 18154903094514227258/ Yuricon & ALC Publishing on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Yuricon-AL C-Publishing/52246397526 Yuricon on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Yuricon& nbsp;(I also post about Social Media and LGBT issues here.) Yuricon Mailing List: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ Yuricon and the Yuricon Announcements Only List: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ Yuricon_announce/ And, obviously, here on Okazu: http://okazu.blogspot.com/ Get your updates just about anywhere online. ^_^

Yuri Network News - November 12, 2011
2011-11-12 20:38:00
Extremely short news report this week, I'm pounded with work. Yuri Event News Sailor Moon and Aria (also Doremi and Tamayura) anime director Satou Junichi will be a guest at Ushicon in Austin, Texas in February. Texan readers - if any of you are going, please let us know how it goes! I'll be a guest at Yaoi and Yuri Con in The Netherlands on April 1, 2012! I'm very excited to be able to meet some of the Yuricon and Okazu fans there. If you're in Europe, I hope you'll come by, and say hello! I'll be on a Yuri panel, of course, and hope to do a lecture, as well. *** Yuri Anime Sentail Filmworks has announced that they've licensed A Channel. I couldn't watch this, so if you're picking it up and want to write a review for Okazu, by all means, please contact me! Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magika is being adapted into a 3-part film project. They are so not done milking this yet. The anime is being released by Aniplex USA this winter. *** Yuri Manga Don't forget that nex...
More About: Network

Yuri Manga: Private Lesson (???????????)
2011-11-11 01:46:00
 You may remember a volume of manga licensed and released by Seven Seas called Voiceful by nawoko, a collection of stories that ran in Yuri Shimai and Yuri Hime magazines. This was a collection that skirted lightly on the side of Yuri, but was deeply embedded in the idea of music. Private Lesson (???????????), the new Tsubomi collection also by nawoko is slighly more Yuri and just as much about music as ever. The main story follows Tamago and her older cousin, Toriko, who teaches her how to play the piano. Tamago is suffering with a crush for Tori-neechan, but doesn't really have any idea what it is she's feeling. Quite accidentally, Tamago is made aware of another person with a crush on Tori-neechan. As a result, Tamago is introduced to the complex world of adult relationships, which always seem cool when you're a kid, until you learn that adults don't have a clue. The story about Tamago and Toriko is all right as a first crush story, but there's an easter egg in this ...
More About: Manga

Yuri Manga: Himitsu no Recipe (????????
2011-11-10 02:59:00
Underclassman Wakatsuki is reasonably sure she's gay, but not entirely, so she convinces her sempai, the president of the cooking club, to y'know, kiss her, just to see. And so, Morinaga Milk's Himitsu no Recipe , (????????begins with a very cheap, servicey opening, and then desperately tries to make a story out of it. Now that she's convinced she likes girls, Wakatsuki is also convinced that she likes Buchou. A lot. A lot a lot. And, um, she really wants Buchou to like her back. So Wakatsuki joins the Cooking Club and plots to be closer to the club president, almost completely oblivious of her not-all-that-mixed signals. For her part, Buchou really wants the Cooking Club to be successful and she's putting her heart and soul into recruitment and training, pretty oblivious of Wakatsuki's ulterior motives. Unfortunately for readers, the heart aching sincerity of GIRL FRIENDS is pretty much completely absent in this series. The first chapter very much reads...
More About: Manga

Ribon no Kishi The Musical (?????? ????????)
2011-11-09 01:55:00
Since Princess Knight, recently released by Vertical Publishing (Volume 1 and Volume 2)  is moving ever closer to the top of my to-read and review pile, I thought it might be nice to finally watch all of Ribon no Kishi The Musical (?????? ????????) This production is Takarazuka-esque, but in fact was not a Takarazuka production. Instead it starred members of pop idol groups Morning Musume and v-u-den. The three-disk edition I have included multiple versions of the same musical, with different lead actresses and casts. As I am not the audience for which this was intended, and indeed know next to nothing about Morning Musume except that, when I saw them 5 times on TV on New Tear's Eve, the 14 of them, dressed in kimono and geta, were barely able to jump rope 40 times in unison. It has been years since I last read Ribon no Kishi (Knight of the Ribbon). I have the three-volume set put out in 1974, based on the redrawn Nakayoshi magazine release of the story. My memory of it is r...

Yuri Manga: Yurikam (?????)
2011-11-07 22:57:00
Yurikam is exactly why I consider most of the Japanese Yuri blogs to be almost-completely useless in regards to finding good Yuri manga to read. I had no expectations going into this manga and still managed to be disappointed. Yurikam (?????), short for "Yuri Campus" (thank you kind person whose comment I cannot find, who corrected me on this) is an atrocious little story about a rich girl at a rich girl's school whose rich father goes bust. Yurika is commanded by said father to become a sexual plaything so she can stay at the school. So, for money, food (mostly for food) and room, Yurika sexxors up the entire campus. Including the inexplicable "Ladies" (female biker gang) that show up. Yurika stays with her dear friend Saori, who is in contention for the most passive-aggressive annoying friend ever. It's obvious (but not interesting) that Saori has a thing for Yurika, but for some reason that is no reason denies it...and yet, is continually annoyed when Yurika is with some othe...
More About: Manga

Yuri Manga: marriage black (and a Contest!)
2011-11-06 20:10:00
Once upon a time, there were two girls. They were princesses of a sort, each coming from a large, powerful crime syndicate. The two girls, despite everything, grew up and fell in love.When the one girl was engaged to the other's brother to unite to two families, she instead killed him, setting her and the princess she loved at war with one another. Romeo and Juliet, West Side Story, meet marriage black, by Hashiba Hayase. The story opens as Lilicia kills her betrothed and sest her and her beloved Lu-Chie at odds. Despite this, Lilicia visits Lu-Chie at night, pleading her love and on occasion, her lust. The story is mostly Lu-Chie's as we learn of the disdain with which she is treated by the head of her family, the loyalty her bodyguard feels for her and the hopelessness of her position as the daughter of the house that has been dishonored. Now, because of what happened, she kind of has to kill Lilicia for revenge. That doesn't happen. Among the many large problems in this s...
More About: Contest , Marriage , Manga , Black

Yuri Network News - November 5, 2011
2011-11-05 15:47:00
Yuri Anime (In a moment of extreme laziness, I've cut and pasted this from the press release, so apologies for formatting that is unlike the rest of this blog.) Right Stuf, Inc.and Nozomi Entertainment are pleased to announce the first story arc of REVOLUTIONARY GIRL UTENA, known to fans as The Student Council Saga, will be added to the streamed anime programming found at www.youtube.com/nozomient. The first two remastered episodes,?The Rose Bride?and?For Whom the Rose Smiles? are now available for viewing to fans in the United States and Canada. Two additional remastered episodes (through episode 12) will be posted each week leading up to the December release of the third and final limited-edition Utena DVD box set. Each episode, beyond the first two, will stream for alimited time, and all episodes will be presented with Japanese audio and English-language subtitles. REVOLUTIONARY GIRL UTENA: The Apocalypse Saga DVD Set L.E.(Remastered Box Set 3) is scheduled for release on Dec...
More About: News , Network

Yuri Anime: Shin Koihime Muso (English), Disk 1
2011-11-04 20:37:00
In 1951, photographer Ruth Orkin had an idea for a photograph. When she met student Jinx Allen, she knew she had found her model. The resulting photograph "American Girl in Italy" is now iconic. (For the full story of this photo, read An Image of Innocence Abroad from Smithsonian Magazine.) Take a look at this photo. Click it to see it as large as you can. Note the look on the woman's face. Does it look pained, concerned? Scared? Now look at the men around her. Note them staring openly at her, with what they probably think is admiration. Women readers - how does this picture make you feel? Men, how about you? The feeling I get upon viewing this picture is the same feeling I feel when I watch Shin Koihime Muso. It makes me cringe. There is Yuri in Shin Koihime Musou. Sousou only takes women to bed, she's got the hots for Kanu. Kakuka lusts after Sousou. But that doesn't change the fact that there are people out there getting turned on by the excruciating ...
More About: Anime , Disk , English

Yuri Manga: Koigokoro (?????)
2011-11-04 01:43:00
A few weeks ago, I reviewed, Daisuki: Hikaru and Sakura, by Tsukiishi, one of the two books I discovered in the Yuri section at Mandarake in Shibuya. Today, we're looking at the second of these, Koigokoro (?????), also by Tsukiishi. Initially I remembered this book as a less-good Yuri romp than the other, and upon re-reading I see why. The first story, told in glossy color pages is practically Erica repellent. ^_^ However, the subsequent stories - which are all tales of love/lust between two girls with the ever-so-sexy addition of bodily fluids - were not quite as bad than I remembered. I did strongly object to the one story where non-conconsensual sex leads to a realization of love...that was too BL trope-y for me, and the story that hinged on the color and length of a long-lost love's hair was very ugh. (I can't love you! Your hair is not the same color as I remember from 7 years ago! Um..what? Whatever.) On the good side, there's the story about the star runner and he...
More About: Manga

Yuri Manga: Hatsukoi Tectonics (????????)
2011-11-02 22:27:00
First Love Tectonics (????????) by Camotang, is another Yuri manga collection of one- or two-shot stories that ran in Comic Yuri Hime. The second story was the most interesting to me: Shion is a good student, a bit tactiturn, but when her classmates ask her to join them on a group date, she flat out says she's not interested in meeting someone if they aren't a woman. No surprise, this causes tons of gossip in the classroom. She's basically ostracized until one day a rambunctious schoolmate walks in, shakes her hand and introduces herself as Maria - and, she confides, she is also gay. Come on out to the roof, Maria suggests, where we can eat lunch and talk. Shion hesitates, but eventually does join her. They become friends and, kind of unsurprisingly, Shion starts to have feelings for Maria. Perhaps a bit pat, but the happily-ever-after is not unwelcome. The third story also skirts serious territory, when a girl is engaged to a guy by her father and given no choice in the matter...
More About: Manga

Yuri Manga: Otome no Teikoku (??????)
2011-11-01 20:13:00
Otome no Teikoku (??????) is based on the premise that all women are bisexual and if left alone in an all-female world will naturally,  uncontrollably, start playing with each other sexually. It's drawn with the idea that women look at other women with the same kind of "gaze" as men do. So walking around the school, girls are looking up each other's skirts, and down their shirts...and noticing, commenting on and having (mostly lascivious) conversatio ns and thoughts about each other's secondary sexual characteristics. Since this is not true and the assumption is tiresome in the extreme, this manga pretty much left me feeling utterly vexed at the creator and anyone who might enjoy it. Ratings: Art - 7 Story - 3 Characters - 3 Yuri - 2 Loser FanBoy - 4 million Overall - 3 Folks waiting for a great Yuri manga from creator of MAKA-MAKA, Torajiro Kishi, you're still waiting. Once again, thanks to Okazu superhero Dan P. who sponsored today's review ...
More About: Manga

Yuri Manga: Otome Ranbu (??×??)
2011-10-31 21:30:00
Tsubomi has never been popular. In fact, she's always been alone, slightly set apart from others. She really doesn't know why, but no one seems to ever want to be her friend. Except for handsome Kurozawa, one of the class stars. He and Tsubomi are childhood friends and he doesn't care that the girls who cling to him see Tsubomi as a nuisance. Then one day, silver-haired aristocrat Yuuji transfers into class, kisses Tsubomi and pronounced her her servant. And Tsubomi's life changes forever. How many times have we seen this story, huh? But here in Otome Ranbu (??×??), by Imamura Youko, there's a few sticks in the spokes. Tsubomi, it turns out, is the head of a family that did indeed serve Yuuji's family, and together they fought and sealed Shikigami, beings that possess things and people. Now that Tsubomi has had her power unsealed, she begins to remember her childhood, and why she feels such a closeness with Yuuji. Kurozawa turns out to be a magical creature and a servant ...
More About: Manga