Fangirl Rants

The End Is Near

2008-06-28T01:08:46Z

Another series of Doctor Who is rushing to an end. There are only two episodes left, and unfortunately, they are not looking to be anything groundbreaking. We have gone 10 episodes without seeing or hearing a Dalek. This shouldn't be of too big a surprise, since after the end of Evolution of the Daleks in series 3, there was only one left. The last member of the Cult of Skaro, Dalek Caan, escaped by doing an emergency temporal shift. That should have been the last we saw of the Daleks, but Russell T. Davies just can't leave them out. I'm grateful to the man for bring back Doctor Who, but I'm also glad he turning over his post as executive producer to Stephen Moffat.

The end of Turn Left is the first clue to what is coming in the last two episodes. "Bad Wolf" are the words Rose scattered across the universe as a warning of eminent danger in the first series. That danger was from the Daleks. So to see the words everywhere at the end of episode 10 of course immediately brings them to mind. So, the big bads for the series four finally will be Daleks....again. But it's not going to be just the Daleks, no. Dalek Caan couldn't have rebuilt the Dalek army all by himself. He had to have help. And who in this universe would not only want to help the Daleks, but make them thrive and the rulers of the universe? No one but Davros, the creator of the Daleks. He's the one the Daleks always go running back to when they have problems, so it makes sense that Dalek Caan would, especially being part of the Cult of Skaro.

So for some reason, the resurrection of Davros has started the breakdown between the alternate universes, or perhaps Davros, like the Cybermen, IS from an alternate that Dalek Caan brought over some how, and that is causing the breakdown. And with Davros either creating or bringing a new army of Daleks, the stars are being put out. Only the Doctor and Donna can stop it.

Sadly, it seems like this will be mark the end for Donna. Whether she dies or stops traveling with the Doctor, I don't know, but with a title for the finale being Journey's End, it doesn't sound like she'll be back. This is a shame, since Donna has been the best companion for the Doctor so far. At least the most proper. She's not some teenager swooning over the Doctor. She disagrees and bickers with him, but also has a sensible head on her shoulders, and doesn't do a lot of screaming for help. River Song's inquiries about if she was The Donna Noble, back from the Silence in the Library episode, also had an ominous ring to it.

I really wish they would stop with the musical companions, and keep on for more than one season. And while we're on this, how about more than one that *isn't* female? Mutiple TARDIS crews used to be the norm, and really most of the few episodes we've had with more than one companion have been the better ones. Come on guys, get a clue!

I'm done ranting on that for now. We'll see tomorrow night if any of my predictions are correct. I'll keep you posted.

Gender Bending Macross Style

2008-06-22T01:07:16Z

I've been watching the new Macross series, Macross Frontier. I've been a fan of Macross since Robotech first came out (I like the Macross Saga best). I even got to see the very bad, original dub of Macross, Harmony Gold released before it became Robotech. My older brother bought the video tape. I kinda stopped following it when fans panned Macross II, so I skipped Macross Plus, but when I heard about Macross 7 and what it was like, I had to see it. (I like bad, cheesy shows.) So when it was announced that a new Macross was coming out for the 25th anniversary, and that it would harken back to the original series, I was excited!

The animation is nice for the new series. It takes place after Macross 7 in the timeline, but is otherwise unrelated. We've got the usual love triangle, with a starlet, a fighter pilot and this time another girl who wants to be a star too. Things start out pretty standard enough, the boy that wants to be a fighter pilot saves the starlet, and makes friends with the wannabe, and he is then gets pulled by both, without know what feelings he has, if any, toward the girls, even though it s becoming obvious they both have feelings for him.

Here's the twist; the pilot, Alto, comes from a family of Kabuki performers that specialize in female parts. Alto is referred to by his classmates as "Hime", or princess. He can easily pass off as a girl, and even in the credits after seeing Sharon and Renka, we see Alto in his female Kabuki garb, even though we've ever seen it in the show.

So, I guess my question is, is Macross Frontier yuri?

Watch for Falling Plot Points

2008-06-21T10:53:51Z

I really liked the first National Treasure movie. It was fun and full of excitement. Jumping around the east coast, finding clues in national monuments that led to another, and another. I didn't think I was going to like it when I first saw it, but I was in love with it by the end. Then, they made a sequel.

What's wrong with that you ask? Simple. The script. This thing plays like it was plotted by committee and written by Hollywood Hacks. Let's go through the checklist:

Hero and Heroine split up after happy ending in last movie? Check.
Contrived plot device to get hero on journey? Check.
Pointless car chase? Check.
Contrived plot point to get police/FBI after hero? Check.
Hero and Heroine work out their differences? Check.
Stupid reason for villain's motivation? Check. CHECK. CHECK!
Hanging chad at the end for next sequel? And....check.

This movie took everything that was great about the first one, and threw it out the window! First, I hate this stupid plot device that Hollywood writers think they have to use at the start of a sequel. Break up the happy couple, so we can have the same "feel good feelings" from the first film. No. We don't want to see the hero and heroine fall in love all over again. We want to see their relationship just as happy at the beginning as it was at the end of the first film. Otherwise, why get them together in the first place?! The journey of the film can still make their bond stronger, they just don't need to start over!! But, this is a Disney film, where happy, functional families are illegal.

The film starts with is big set up with Lincoln's assassination, Ben Gates' great-great-grandfather, and the Knights of the Golden Circle. After the story is told, do we ever hear of the KGC again? No. What was the point? To disgrace the great-great-grandfather's name so that Ben was forced to go on the treasure hunt? There was no other way to get him interested? It had to be publicized widely? Wilkinson couldn't have just gone to Gates and asked for his help? Wouldn't the possibility that the link between Thomas Gates and the conspirators be enough to motivate him? That's just lazy writing.

Do I really need to explain the car chase?

The plot device with the President I like and don't like. I liked having Gates take the President on a mini treasure hunt for the escape tunnel in Mount Vernon, and I do understand that it would probably necessitate having the FBI and Secret Service on his back, but couldn't the President have cleared that all up? The discussion of the Book of Secrets didn't have to come up in anyone's explanation of what happened. And it was the FBI that jumped to conclusions in the first place. It didn't have to be the government that spurred the race to find the treasure. Wouldn't the KGC have been better? They would have made better villains in the long run I think.

Which brings me to Wilkinson's motivation for wanting to get Gates on this hunt, while at the same time seeming to want to stop him. He wants to be remembered in history as somebody. That's it. Doesn't want the gold. No affiliation with the KGC, no grand schemes to expose/protect the treasure. He causes all kinds of damage in London chasing Gates, assaults Gate's father, and kidnaps him mother, just so his name will be put into a history book somewhere. That's really shallow if you ask me.

National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets wasn't a bad movie per se, but it just wasn't as good as the first. More time taken on the writing and plot, and it could have been something really good. If they do make another sequel so that we can learn what was on page 47, I hope they actually put some effort into it, so that this movie is the exception and not the rule to the National Treasure franchise.

Going to the Dark Side

2008-06-20T05:45:53Z

The latest Doctor Who episode, Midnight, is an expose on the darker side of humanity. Fear and paranoia rule this episode. It's a wonderful psychological drama played out in 45 minutes, but also leaves you a little depressed about the lows people can sink to.

Things start out well enough. The Doctor decides to take an excursion to see a waterfall of sapphires while Donna chooses to stay behind. Being his usual, charming self, the Doctor gets the 6 other passengers to engage in conversation (a lost art is seems) on the 4 hour journey to the waterfalls. Everyone is getting along just fine, until the shuttle breaks down for some reason. Fear quickly starts to take hold as there is knocking on the sides of the shuttle on a world where nothing should be able to exist on the surface. When one of the passengers is seemingly possessed, the fear grows and the paranoia sets in, leaving the Doctor at odds with the human passengers, and all his usual charm and cleverness gets him nowhere.

Watching his episode made me very tense and uneasy. I was difficult to see the Doctor, who's usually so in control of the situation, not only lose it, but to be afraid himself. It's very rare that the Doctor is ever that afraid for himself. The last time was in the first series with Christopher Eccleston in the episode Dalek. But even in that one, he had Rose. In this episode, it was just the Doctor against a bunch of scared humans who just as easily turn on each other and the Doctor as look at you. Even though I did enjoy the episode, it was not comfortable to watch. Even after it's over, there's no real sigh of relief, because there was no real victory.

There was only one person who figured out what was going on, who could save the Doctor, who made the ultimate sacrifice to safe everyone, and we never knew her name.

Everybody's Saved!

2008-06-19T05:51:32Z

Concluding the story started in Silence in the Library, Forest of the Dead once again gives us a satisfying ending without giving a single thing away. Prof. River Song turns out to be someone of great importance to the Doctor later in this regeneration. But we never learn who or why, which is just the way it should be.

One of the great things about the Doctor, is that you know almost nothing about him personally. Yes, we know about Gallifrey and his people, the Time Lords, but, for heaven's sake, we don't even know his name! He is just The Doctor. And to be honest, I would be disappointed if any writer or producer tried to give him a proper name. John Smith is just fine if you truly need one, but really, The Doctor suits him just fine. And what about his family? You know he had to have one. He starts his travels with his Grand Daughter, Susan. So, he had to have had a wife and child/ren. In the new series, he's even admitted to being a father, but nothing more. It's the mystery around the Doctor that makes him so attractive and interesting.

The story ends in much of the same way that Moffat's first Doctor Who two-parter did, though, not exactly in the same way. It's still a happy ending. One I wouldn't mind if I were given the choice between it or death. To live in a world forever with the total sum of human knowledge isn't a bad way to pass the time. As long as I can read all the manga. :)

Count the Shadows

2008-06-03T21:13:43Z

If you've seen a Doctor Who episode in the last 3 1/2 series that's you've really enjoyed, and really gave you the creeps, it was probably written by Stephen Moffat. The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances, The Girl in the Fireplace, and Blink were all written by him. I loved Blink personally. The idea that statues can come to like, but only when we're not looking is just so creepy! The weeping angels they used in that episode were perfect. The flashes they used to make the angels appear to move, and their terrifying appearance all gave that unnerving feeling forever afterward that *any* statue might be moving toward you, when you're not looking. The ending of that episode was just classic!

Stephen Moffat does it again in the current season with Silence in the Library (To appear on Sci Fi in two weeks). This time, the creepiness comes from the most common place thing in the universe; Shadows. Something lurks in the shadows, and when they swarm, it's deadly! And Moffat weaves his tale masterfully, taking things from the every day, and incorporating them into his terror. The dust you see swirling around in a sunbeam? Maybe not as benign as you might have originally thought.

It's another episode too where the Doctor's future meets up with is current(past) self. The hints that are dropped in this episode are fascinating. I love the way the bits of information about the Doctor are being spoonfed to us. There isn't just one episode where we see everything about the Doctor's and Gallifrey's past. Over the course of these 3 1/2 seasons we are carefully given little tidbits, that we have to string together to get the story. And this is what makes the new Doctor Who series so much fun. There's so much for the fans to get together and talk about than just what happened in the episode. Fans love to speculate. It's what we do with our loves. And it's great to have writer and producer who understands that and gives us what we want.

jadexanadu @ 2008-05-23T14:43:00

2008-05-23T21:43:25Z

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Talk about some freaky weather...

2008-05-23T06:06:02Z

Okay, last week, we were having a heat wave, reaching up into the 100's, and So. Cal was on fire again (though not as bad as last October). There was even a fire near my house, though it was probably just a small house fire and was out in the amount of time it took us to go grocery shopping. But all weekend, we were hearing sirens as the police and fire went down the street. We live off a main thoroughfare.

Today, temperatures were down in the 60's, there were sudden thunderstorms that lasted maybe 10-20 of pouring rain and then stopped. Coming home from work, the local news radio station suspended all of it's regular news for the weather. Palm Desert had snow. Summit pass was closed also due to snow. Hail was raining down in some areas with sizes ranging from a quarter to a golf ball! Freeways were shutting down, the hail was falling so hard. People were pulling over. And this is at the height of rush hour, on a Thursday before a holiday weekend! That's a very busy time for the freeways. Flash flood warning were popping in up every where, and to top it all off, we had a tornado warning for Southwest Riverside (just over the foothills from me). Three funnels appeared, one after the other over March Air Force base in Perris. They blew over some railroad cars, a semi-truck and caused an accident on the I-215, that had someone trapped.

Tornadoes do NOT happen in California. We get earthquakes and fires, but not tornadoes. It was just plain freaky....

Poking a Sacred Cow

2008-05-21T21:15:58Z

I know some things shouldn't be taken seriously, movies especially. That's why I've been a fan of MST3K for over a decade now, and of the new ventures by crew from the now defunct show, The Film Crew, and Rifftracks. Rifftracks are especially fun, since it's big Hollywood movies getting the MST3K treatment, often deservedly. But, I have to admit, the latest edition to our library was a little hard to swallow. Which movie am I talking about? That classic of action/adventure cinema, Raiders of the Lost Ark, the movie that increased archeology and anthropology class attendance in the 80's.

Not only is this movie filled with iconic scenes and lines, but it's a precious memory from my childhood. As we were watching it, I could hear the audience gasping and "ewwww"ing at the beginning, when Indy's guide turns around in the cave, and his back is covered in tarantulas. And every time Indy fired his gun, I could hear the echo of every shot just like it was in the old Fox movie theater that I saw it in back in the early eighties. These are impressions that have survived and stayed with me for over twenty years. So, listening to three wisecracking guys dissect and make fun of this movie (they even diss the theme! Sacrelige!), I could feel the indigation welling up in me. Several times I had to mentally tell myself that is was just a movie and it was all in good fun. Mike, Kevin and Bill didn't really hate the movie, or the music, or Harrison Ford. How could they? This was a classic (in the true sense of the word)! They did have some good riffs that make me laugh out loud, but I still felt dirty at the end. This was still a treasured memory, and it will always remain so.

ID4,on the other hand, (which we watched the next night), that deserved most (not all) of the riffing it got. It's a bonehead movie (to quote the great Harlan Ellison), but it's a fun bonehead movie, with just as many memorable lines and scenes as Indy, but will never become a classic on the same level. It's a cow that can easily handle the pokes.

Feeding the inner child

2008-05-20T19:13:33Z

Over the weekend I completed the first two waves of the new Indiana Jones toys that are out. With the new movie coming, there are of course lots of toys coming out, but I was really only interested in the First wave, which were all figures from the first movie Raiders of the Lost Ark. But after searching like 5 stores to get all the basic figures (Marion was the hardest of course) and then all the deluxe, I broke down an decided to get the Crystal Skull figures. Guess which was the hardest of that wave...yup. The chick. I really have to thank my husband, who, frustrated from not finding something he was looking for, stopped at Walmart, and stumbled upon Irda, to make my collection complete.

How the hell would she know?!

2008-05-12T22:06:20Z

(Spoilers for Doctor Who series 4 episode 6, The Doctor's Daughter)

I've been a fan of Doctor Who for a long time. I started watching it on PBS when it first came to our shores with Tom Baker as the fourth doctor, was reading the new monthly mag at freshman year band camp, and was in the short lived Doctor Who Fan Club of America. I watched all the way through the 7th Doctor, watched the TV movie on Fox, and even own some of the Big Finish audios. I've been watching the new series from Britain through "alternative means", and just watched "The Doctor's Daughter" last night. Now that I've established by Doctor Who cred...

Where the hell does Martha get off saying that Jenny wasn't going to regenerate?! What does she know of Time Lords or regenerations? She was with the Doctor for only one series, and has never seen a time lord regeneration. The only Time Lord she could have had an opportunity to see was the Master's, and that happened in the TARDIS, so there's no way that she did. One could argue that read about it in the UNIT files, but UNIT has only had on visual of a regeneration (3rd-4th), and that's hardly enough to make one expert enough to make a diagnosis!

I totally called Jenny's sacrifice. It was so obvious from the way the show was going. But after all the work they put into pointing out how much Jenny was like the Doctor, two hearts and all, she just had to be able to regenerate. You just knew she had to as well. Even though she didn't technically regenerate (her appearance didn't change, just her heart was repaired), she exhaled the golden light that has become synonymous with regenerations in this new series. But since she's not a naturally born Time Lord, it just took longer for the regeneration to take place.

I never warmed up to Martha. I really couldn't stand her falling in love with the Doctor. But then, I couldn't stand Rose in series 2 either. She worked well with Christopher Eccleston's 9th Doctor portrayal. But all the "lovey" looks between Tennant's 10th and Rose really got on my nerves. While Donna doesn't light any fires for me either, she's at least a proper companion. Not infatuated with the Doctor, and while not intelligent, she's got smarts and knows how to use 'em.

Like a Phoenix

2008-05-12T20:21:04Z

I know I've been gone for a while. Well, actually I started a wordpress blog, and that's where all my manga related stuff has been going. Go check it out. Manga Xanadu. But I'm very compartmentalized about things, and I don't want to post my non-manga stuff there, so I've decided to resurrect this blog (so to speak). I need a place to rant about all the things that need to be said. This will become my outlet for all the TV, movie and anime I see that needs to be ranted about, good or bad.

Like the new look? I thought this theme was really cool. I changed my moods too. It's hard to decide between cats and dragons, but I really like these kitties. :)

Watch out for some rants. I've been saving up some, as well as new ones popping up all the time!

Things My Children Won't Know

2007-12-21T17:49:34Z

As Christmas fast approaches, and I sit at my desk listening to my Christmas CDs, I'm reminded of how I got to like Christmas Carols. I'm not a religious person. I grew up in a house, where we went to church only as long as my Great Aunt still lived in the same city. When she moved down to San Clemente, our church-going stopped. But that never stopped my love of many of the symbols of Christmas.

Growing up in the seventies, at school we were still traditional schedule. Year-round school was unheard of. Our school had a Christmas assembly, and we would sing Christmas carols. I learned the only Hanukkah song I know at school. We would have a Christmas party on the last Friday before Christmas Vacation, with cookies shaped like Christmas Trees, Santas, stockings and reindeer, and Christmas carols playing in the background. Even if I didn't believe in the religious parts of Christmas, it was a time to enjoy and be with friends. Even into High School, in the band, we played for Christmas assembly, and even had a woodwind quartet to go caroling with.

Today, my kids will never know any of these things. Schools don't do Christmas assemblies. It's not even Christmas break anymore. It's winter break. My kids aren't even AT school during December, since their school is year-round, and they just happen to be on the track that's off in December. They don't get to do any of the Christmas activities I remember doing and having fun. So, I don't know if there are Christmas parties at the end, but I doubt it. Schools used to help shape a cultural consciousness, and give children experiences that they wouldn't normally get. Listening to carols at home just isn't the same as practicing with friends and singing for your parents.

I know things change and time moves on, but that doesn't mean I have to like it.

Rainy day thoughts

2007-11-30T22:09:25Z

I just had to change my journal theme. That fire place and hot cocoa is exactly how I like to spend rainy days. That's why I'm sitting at my desk at work with a portable heater at my feet and watching the rain pour down. And I do mean pour. It was really coming down hard for a while there. It's stopped for the moment, but the skies are still dark and gray. It'll probably start up again about the time I have to leave, in my car with no heater. I bought boots just for this kind of situation. And I even remembered to where them!

While I'm at work, I like to be listening to something, so I have several podcasts that I regularily listen to. But every once in a while, I'll bring music cds from home. I'm putting all our cds in a database, so I brignt them to work and listen to them before getting them in. It's a good excuse to listen to some discs I haven't heard in ages. But then, my husband had to go and find all these discs of music from the sixties and seventies Ultraman and Super Sentai series. He really likes those old live action series, and decided to share with me. He filled by cd case and I brought them to work. I thought the seventies Sentai sound with all the brass was scary enough. I was wrong. The sixties Ultraman totally has it over the Super Sentai seventies. From children's choirs with the booming bass voice, to the songs sung to/about the monsters (with the monsters joining in), to the upbeat marches and low key hymns, it's really something you have to experience.

I am so glad I was an 80's child.

Turkey Day Light Reading

2007-11-22T21:26:31Z

Need something to do while the turkey's cooking? Don't know what to shop for tomorrow on Black Friday? Then check out these reviews I've written for Manga Life! There is a wide range of manga available, and there's sure to be something for everyone.

La Corda d'oro vol 1
B't X vol 13
Samurai Commando: Mission 1549 vol 1
Hellsing vol 8
Inuyasha vol 30
Pick of the Litter vol 1
Dr. Slump vol 12
Chibi Vampire vol 5
St. Lunatic High School vol 1
Full Metal Alchemist vol 14
O-Parts Hunter vol 5
tactics vol 2
King of Cards vol 1
Tsukoyomi Moon Phase vol 8
Sprial: The Bonds of Reasoning vol 1
Pichi Pichi Pitch Mermaid Melody vol 6
Grenadier vol 4
Kamen Tantei vol 4
Shaman King vol 13

Right now at Manga Life there is no way for feedback or comments to be left on the site, so if you agree or disagree with my reviews, or just have some feedback for my reviews in general, please leave them here, or send me an email. I would really love to hear what you think!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Manga for Your Ears

2007-11-12T06:04:23Z

One thing that Tokyopop is really good at is keeping up with technology and applying it to manga. This website with the web2.0 features, getting manga onto cell phones, and it's newest addition mangapods, or audio book manga. This isn't exactly new territory for them though. Wayyy back under the first version of the website, they had some audio versions of their OEL manga. I still have chapter one of Dramacon. But, I have to say I wasn't entirely impressed with this first attempt. The adaptation just didn't sound right. It wasn't read like it was written in the book. If Tokyopop really wants these to succeed, they need to stay as close to dialog as possible. And with sound effects, this should be very easy to do. There should be no excuse to changing the dialog or narration, nor any need to add any.

I listen to a lot of audio drama. Growing up, I was exposed to old time radio and BBC radio dramas, and that has followed me into my adult life. I can be doing other things like working, cleaning, even driving, and get to hear good stories I wouldn't otherwise have time to read. I've been wanting/hoping for something like this for a while now. It is a great way to reach new audiences. And audio dramas aren't new to manga. In Japan, popular manga series will often have audio adventures, separate from the manga made of them. Dragon Knights, which just finished coming out, had several audio dramas made of it. It would be really great to see this happen with OEL titles. Even cooler would be to have some of the original Japanese dramas translated, but I'm not holding my breath for that.

With the continued growth of portable audio, audio books and podcasts, taking manga to this next level is a great move, and I applaud Tokyopop for doing this; as long as it is done well, and stays true to the stories they are adapting. Keeping pushing the tech envelop Tokyopop, cause I'll be watching....and listening!

TV CAN Kill You!

2007-11-08T22:17:02Z

Last night, my husband and I were watching TV while we were eating dinner. We were watching Monster Quest, an new entry into the pseudo-science genre that has been invading the cable airwaves. This one is on the History Channel. Don't ask me what Champ of Lake Champlain or Big Foot has to do with history, and it's certainly not taken from a historical perspective. It's closer to Ghost Hunters/Destination Truth that have shown on the Sci-Fi Channel. A sort of pseudo-reality show. Anyway, I don't watch these because I believe any of it. I watch them for their Cheese factor. And the Cheese factor on this show is moderate. It's got the prerequisite computer graphics for what the monster could look like, the true believer investigators/eye witnesses, and the token scientist to try and look fair and balanced.

Big Foot was the topic last night. A fishing cabin up in British Columbia was being "terrorized" by the Sasquatch. In 2003, in the Fall, it was ransacked; refrigerator pushed to the floor, dishes broken, a sink in the bathroom ripped off the wall. At first the owner thought kids had done it, but the closest town was 200 miles away, so it couldn't be that. Next thought was a bear searching for food came it, but a bear expert said it didn't look like a typical bear attack, and anyway it was too late in the season for bears to be out. Therefore, it had to be Big Foot. This cabin became the focus of the "investigation". After each commercial break, when they came back to the show, it always started by talking about the cabin. On one, the narrator started by saying something to the effect of "This cabin has been violated..." He only had to get that far for the 10 year old in me to send my thoughts straight to the gutter. I turned to my husband, who apparently, has the same 10 year old mentality, but he made the mistake of having taken a bite first, and started choking. My laughter turned to worry as his face started to turn red. I don't remember how to do the Heimlick, and would probably end up breaking his ribs or worse rather than helping. Luckily, he got his windpipe cleared, and my nervousness turned to laughter again, as he laughed between hacking. Having survived that, the rest of night became references to cabins being violated nearly killing you.

So, watching cheesy shows can be fun, but all safety precautions should be taken before sitting down to watch them.

January Previews Picks and Recommendations

2007-11-07T18:09:18Z

Just got my Previews over the weekend, and after going through it, I've made up a list of picks for the month of January 2008:

I'm Buying:

CMX:
    King of Cards Vol. 3 - I really enjoyed the first volume of this series, and I've found myself gravitating toward gaming manga in general, so this is a must-buy for me.
    Palette of 12 Colors Vol. 2 - I haven't read the first volume of this series yet, but I do like to give a series at least 2 volumes to make up my mind about it (though there are exceptions). But I liked the preview and the art is cute.

Del Rey:
    Hell Girl vol. 1 - I have been waiting for this series since Del Rey announced it in the Summer! I loved the anime series, and I've read the first two chapters the first volume. Though the two do seem to diverge almost immediately, I just love the general premise. There is a website, that you can only access at midnight where you can ask for revenge to be taken on your behalf...if you're willing to pay the price.

Tokyopop:
    Petshop of Horrors Tokyo vol 1 - This is another series I've been waiting forever for! I loved the first PSoH, and have since grabbed up everything Akino Matsui has done that is in english. I read the first volume in scanalation, but just can't wait to get the actual book in my hands! I've so missed the Count and his animal friends! My favorite is Ten. :) If you need a fix of the Count and can't wait until January, pick up Matsui-sensei's other series Genso no Seizu. Volume 4 has a nice surprise. ;)
    Chibi Vampire Vol. 7 - This is a great comedy series, though some serious elements are starting to be introduced. Check out my review of Volume 5 to read more about that. As long as the comedy keeps being good, and being in there, I don't mind amping up the drama some.
    Dragon Voice Vol. 10 - This is the penultimate volume. Only one more and this fantastic comedy-musical series is at an end. This series is so underrated. It needs so much more love! I really glad that Tokyopop has stuck it out for those of us that have discovered this great series and know it for what it is!

Viz Media:
    Dragon Drive Vol. 6 - Here's another series based on a game, but also with dragons, so I get two for the price of one! This is another series that I also liked the anime, and when I found out about the manga was excited read it. And it hasn't disappointed yet.
    Knights of the Zodiac: Saint Seiya Vol 22 - Saint Seiya was a series that my husband introduced to me back in the 80's, so when they manga was licensed, it went on my must-have list. I really wanted to know what was going on in the series, and I just love mythology. And know, we are getting into territory that the anime never went. I can't wait to read more! I really hate the name change they did to Saori (Sienna in the manga) Why? What was the point when everyone else kept their original names?!
    Buso Renkin Vol. 10 - This is the final volume in this series by the mangaka that wrote Rurouni Kenshin. It's a good, short, shonen action. It's hard to believe we've come to the end already though.
    Ral Omega Grad - Blue Dragon Vol. 1 - I think this is the series that Viz should have added to Shonen Jump instead of Bleach. But, I've already given all my reasons for that. This series is another example of manga being completely different from the anime. They share the same premise, using shadow monsters to fight, but, from what I've seen of the anime and video game, that's about it. Still, I'm going to check it out. Mainly because it has dragons.
    Godchild Vol 8 - The final volume in the Cain Saga. This is the series that convinced me to keep Shojo Beat (along with Nana), and I've kept with it to the end. Kaori Yuki put together a great cast that we have watched over for 12 volumes. I can't wait to see how it all ends.
    O-Parts Hunter Vol. 8 - This is a series that I've really been enjoying. It's another shonen action series, but it's one that definitely is of a higher calibur that a lot of others out there. Check out my review of volume 5 to see why I think that.

Yen Press:
    Spiral: Bonds of Reasoning Vol 2 - I love a mystery, therefore I love Spiral. I'm a big fan of the "boy detective" manga, and this series fits right in with Kindaichi and Detective Conan. I really want this series to do well, so we can get even MORE mystery series' to come out! I really liked the first volume, as the clues to who or what the Blade Children are keep getting dangled out in front of us.

Honorable Mentions: What I'd buy if I had more time and money:

CMX:
    Dokkida Vol 1 - It looks like an SD Kikkider, with a very silly premise, and it's described as being as funny as Dr. Slump, another series I really like. I wish I could fit this in this order, but fate has deemed it not to be this time.
    Apothecarious Argentum Vol 4 - I was ambiguous about this series when it first appeared in Previews, but the reveiws have been very favorable. I'm kinda sorry I didn't pick it up originally.
    Key to the Kingdom Vol 3 - This is another series I didn't pick up and am sorry now. I decided to get King of Cards instead (which I am happy with my choice), but this one has been getting good reviews too.

Del Rey:
    Yazukura Quartet Vol 1 - This is another new series that with superheroes that run an office to protect their town from supernatural threats. It's one I'll definitely consider if I get some extra money for Christmas. This is an advance solicitation and will be available in February.

Tokyopop:
    Patheon High Vol 2 - I read the online preview for this series and found it very likable. I really like stories about mythical characters, and this one has a lot of potential.

Viz Media:
    Bleach Vol 22 - I would have ordered this if Bleach hadn't moved to Shonen Jump. I don't buy the graphic novels of the series I read in Shonen Jump. I don't need them twice, and extras are nice, but not enough for me to plunk down more money for a story I already read.

Keep your eyes on these:

Dark Horse:
    Blood Plus Novel 1 - Based on the anime of the same name, this book is a novelisation of the series, expanding on characters, and bringing new adventures. It also includes 16 illustrations from the character designer of the TV series.

CMX:
    Crayon Shinchan Vol 1 - Originally released by ComicsOne, CMX has gotten this license and is rereleasing the series from the beginning. The anime has been showing on Cartoon Network's Late Night Adult Swim. It's about a young boy that is rude, crude, obsessed with body parts and functions, and makes his parents and adults in general tremble in fear. This is an advanced solicitation and be available in February.

Yen Press:
    Sundome Vol 1 - Announced at San Diego Comic Con, this is a series that is definitely for a mature audience. It's about a club of all boys for masterbation, and the girl that wants to join. It's supposed to be very funny, and Kurt Hassler was very excited about. He went on about it for a while.

Non-Manga:
    Yes, I do read regular comics too, but not nearly as much as manga. But there is a new series starting that I really wanted to highlight.

IDW Publishing:
    Doctor Who #1 - This is a new comic based on the new series that has been burning up the British Airwaves and here in the US. It features the 10th Doctor (David Tennant) and his companion from the 3rd series, Martha Jones. This first mini-series was written by TV Story Editor Gary Russell, so it should be an excellent story. The more successful this is, the chances of getting more are really good. If you like Doctor Who, buy this!

    Doctor Who Classics #2 - This series started last month in Previews (will be out in December), and is a reprinting of the Doctor's adventures from Britain, and were originally published in Doctor Who Monthly. It is starting with the 4th Doctor, with Tom Baker as the Doctor. These were also printed once here in the US by Marvel back in the 80's. But now's your chance to get a copy without scrounge the net or comics shops or conventions!

Halloween Reminicing

2007-10-31T19:48:13Z

You always know when Halloween is just around the corner. The stores start filling their shelves with candy, decorations and costumes. Empty lots become pumpkin patches. Schools and other organizations host haunted houses and harvest festivals on the weekends leading up to the big night. For me though, the sign that Halloween was closing in was hearing the band Oingo Boingo on the radio. A lot of you may know Danny Elfman, the former frontman for the group. He's done the music scores for lots of movies; just about everything Tim Burton has done, the Army of Darkness, Batman (from 1988 ), and tons other I can't think of right now. But before that, he was the red-haired, demonic-looking lead singer for Oingo Boing, an alternative band from the 80's.

Oingo Boingo was a big deal for us growing up in Southern California in the eighties. They were a local band, with a very distinct sound. The thing I loved about them was their use of brass instruments in all their songs. I was in my high school band playing the trombone at the time, so it was really cool to hear a rock band using them as well. And every year, on the weekend before Halloween, they would play at the Irvine Amphitheater (now the Verizon Wireless Pavillion I think. I don't accept that though). You could tell it was getting closer as a local rock station KROQ would start putting Boingo songs into their playlists, starting at the beginning of October. As the month wore on, more and more Boingo songs could be heard throughout the day and night. And as Halloween closed in, they were run practically every hour!

But the concerts at the amphitheater, they were something to be experienced. Because it was at Halloween, people would come dressed up. The amphitheater was located in the hills of Irvine, near the old animal park and Wild Rivers. You parked in a common parking lot and then walked up hill to the amphitheater. The cheapest seats were in the lawn, which was just that; a large lawn area above the stage. You brought blankets to sit up there, claiming any empty section. And the people up there was all very friendly. There was no claiming of territory. If you overlapped slightly into their area, it was okay. You weren't there to sit any way. Before the show, people would walk around, check out other people's costumes and just come to chat or say hi. Boingo fans were really friendly. As soon as the band appeared on stage, you were then up on your feet and dancing! It was the freest feeling, being able to get up and dance as you felt, and even dance with some stranger, just for a song. So, it didn't matter that you could barely see the stage, even with the screens they had on either side of the stage. A friend of mine remarked once how Danny Elfman looked like a match, with his flaming red hair and black clothes! It was really a lot of fun.

Twenty years later, that all gone now. Oingo Boingo broke up in the mid nineties, so Danny Elfman could continue his career as a movie score writer. KROQ doesn't play Boingo as much as it used to in October. They've all moved on. But, I've still got my CDs and my memories. Oingo Boingo will always be the herald of Halloween, and their songs "Dead Man's Party" , "No One Lives Forever", "Dead or Alive" and "Goodbye-Goodbye", their concert closing song, will always be it's anthems.

Halloween Anime and Manga Recommendations

2007-10-30T04:54:17Z

It’s that time of year again when ghosts and goblins come out to play. Do you want to get into the Halloween spirit, but just don’t know what to get? Well, here’s a list of anime and manga that I’ve either read, or know something about enough to recommend (or warn you away from).

Manga

The King of Horror Manga right now belongs to Dark Horse. I’ve counted at least 10 titles that I would call Horror.

Hellsing: Vampires fighting Vampire Nazis and the Catholic Church. The blood runs so thick that the pages are nearly all black from it. But the art is great and the characters are fun (despite all the death). A read I definitely recommend.

The Ring Trilogy, One Missed Call 1 & 2 and Rasen: These are all manga based on the J-Horror movies of the same name. I’ve heard that the manga doesn’t stack up as well to the movies, but you can be the judge yourself. The first Ring movie was good as was the first One Missed Call. Rasen…that one was just waaaaayyyyyy out there.

Mail: Lostphrack (Ken Haley) has a great review of this one at the Manga Recon. It sounds to be mainly ghost stories, with some gore. Go read his review to find out more.

Reiko the Zombie Shop and Octopus Girl: If you comedy mixed with your gore, check these out. But you’d better do it soon, as they’ve been dropped by Dark Horse for not selling well. Only those with strong stomachs should apply.

Museum of Terror/Tomie: Written by the foremost creator of horror manga Jinji Ito, Museum of Terror features Tomie, a girl that is so beautiful that she attracts men to the point that they want to mutilate and kill her, but she just keeps reincarnating! This is another series that people with weak constitutions should avoid, and has also been dropped by Dark Horse.

Kwaidan: What a traditional Japanese Horror story? Try this title. It’s a story of jealousy and revenge as only the Japanese can tell. And the art is reportedly fantastic.

Viz Media has a few titles that will send the chills up your spine.

Drifting Classroom: This is a survivor horror tale about an elementary school that suddenly disappears and reappears in a desolate land inhabited by monsters. The adults can’t handle the new situation so the kids have to fend for themselves.

Portus, Uzumaki & Gyo: Lostphrack (Ken Haley), apparently a horror fan has reviews of these three titles at Manga Recon. Portus seems like J-horror, Uzumaki is freaky with it’s spirals, and the fish in Gyo gives me nightmares. Check out the reviews for more info.

Tokyopop also has some gruesome titles.

Dragon Head: A survivor horror title with two kids trying to survive first a train wreck that traps them in a tunnel and leaves them in a post-apocalyptic world. The Japanese really seem to like to traumatize their kids.

Petshop of Horrors: Not exactly a horror tale as many of the others mentioned so far. It’s more like animals and the natural world taking advantage of man’s weakness/stupidity and getting some revenge. Some of the deaths are gory, but the mix of comedy and drama make this a must read any time of the year!

Redrum 327: This series sounds like a slasher flick, with a bunch of friends trapped in a cabin in the middle of nowhere, and they start getting killed off. Don’t know much about it, but it seemed to have a really creepy atmosphere.

The Dark Goodbye: This is a graphic novel that combines 40’s detective noir with the Cthulu mythos. And you can’t get more horrific than Cthulu.

Del Rey has just one series that fits into the Halloween theme.

Ghost Hunt: I really like this title. I also watching the anime and really enjoyed it. A 16 year old boy (very serious and cold) runs a psychic research company and through an investigation of a school, gets a girl assistant (the heroine/protagonist), a Buddhist monk, and Shinto priestess and a catholic priest. They then start investigating hauntings together. I love the ghost and stories around them. It’s really a fun title to read.

Anime:

I know this is far from a complete list, but I’ve at least seen these:

Akira: A classic in every sense of the word. This is available from Geneon. It has psychic powers awakening and boys turning into blobs that absorb everything and then explode. Lots of fun.

Ayakashi: Japanese Classic Horror: This is a short series that retells three classic Japanese horror tales from the days of the samurai. Kwaidan is retold in this along with one about a yokai princess that falls in love with a human, and a ghost cat that features a medicine man that banishes mononoke. He became popular enough to get his own series, Mononoke that ran for 12 episodes just this last spring. Get it if it gets licensed. Excellent as well. Ayakashi is available from Geneon.

Hell Girl: Funimation just started releasing this series. Did you hear about the urban legend, that there’s a website that you can only go to at midnight? And if you put in the name of someone, revenge will be take on them on your behave? But there is a price…This is a fantastic series with the different kinds of revenge and how it’s taken. The opening song is fantastic. The animation is top notch. Very good for late night viewing. BTW, the manga is coming out from Del Rey in January 2008. Watch for that too.

Hellsing/Hellsing Ultimate: Based on the manga, the first series goes off the manga, as the anime had caught up with it, the second series is supposed to be a more faithful telling. Both are available from Geneon.

Higurashi no Naku Koro ni (When They Cry): This is a very disturbing series. I will warn you now. It’s presented as a murder mystery, but there’s more murder and psychological scares than mystery. In a small town in the country, one a year at a temple festival, one person dies and one person disappears, spirited away by the god of the temple. It’s gone on for 5 years, since a construction worker died at the site where a dam was going to be built and was opposed by the townspeople. This series runs in 4-5 episode arcs, telling the same story, with different people as the killer. It’s based on a fan made computer game. The deaths are disturbing to watch. I made it through about twenty episodes in fansub before I just couldn’t take it anymore. They are gory, cruel and just plain gross. Only the very, very strong of heart should watch this. Geneon has the first three volumes out.

Requirem from the Darkness (100 Stories): Excellent 13 episode series also from Geneon. A man is traveling through the countryside, collecting all the folk/ghost stories he can find and writing them down for a book he’s working on. He’s followed by three strange figures who deal with the supernatural forces the man encounters while collecting his stories.

Vampire Hunter D/Bloodlust: The first Vampire Hunter D OVA was made in 1985, but the animation is still top notch. Vampires now rule the world as “the Nobility” and treat humans as cattle. Hunters exist for hire to kill the vampires. D is one such hunter. He is half vampire, half human, with a cursed hand. He is hired to kill Count Magnus Lee and free a woman from his power. Bloodlust is a second movie made in 2000, that continues to follow D’s adventures as he tries to rid of the world of the Nobility. Urban Vision released these.

Ghost Stories/Gakkou no Kaidan: Satsuki and Keichiro move back to their mother's hometown with their father after their mother has died due to a long illness. They discover their mother's diary in the old abandoned school building and find that she had sealed several ghosts around the school grounds, and they are now escaping. Satsuki, Keichiro and their new friends, must find the spirits and seal them again. They are assisted by their pet cat Kaya, who is possessed by a demon, though his help is begrudgingly given. This series didn't seem to do well in Japan, but I really enjoyed it. I especially liked the possessed cat. The demon was really great. If you do get this, completely ignore the english track. ADV completely made up the script, and it's filled with lots of stupid fart and tit jokes. The sub track is faithful to the original series.

Know of anything else that should be added to the list? Leave a comment!

End in Sight?

2007-10-25T15:27:06Z

After another day of fighting fires, the LA fires are now almost under full containment. More more have been put out. Two fires have been confirmed as arson, with one arsonist captured (for two fires in Temecula). A $120,000 reward is being offered for the second, for the Santiago fire in Orange County. It has been confirmed to have had 3 ignition points, and though it was at 50% containment yesterday, due to on shore winds, it fell to 30% overnight. With all the canyons in the area, air support will be crucial in getting this fire back under containment.

The San Bernardino fires in Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear are still going. The Grass fire has now claimed 300 homes. The Slide fire, because of terrain remains out of control and continues east. The skies all around it lay heavy with smoke. Voluntary evacuations in th area have shut down local schools. My kids are home for the next two days because of them and concerns of air quality. Air support will also be crucial for this fire, though as it moves closer to Highway 18, the firefighters have more room to get at it and put up breaks.

The four major fires in San Diego County are still at only 20-30% contained at best, but firefighters are still working hard at getting them under control. People are slowly being allowed to return to their homes as areas are deemed safe. Though the outpouring of volunteers at Qualcomm Stadium has been amazing. Evacuees have had practically every need taken care off; food, clothing beds, showers. The scenes there show how great human compassion can be when we really try.

Today will be a real make-or-break for these last fires. Air support has become key to firefighting in California. And, even though the Santa Anas are gone, the danger isn't. Smoke rising straight up make visibility almost nil for pilots that must get in close to ridges and terrain to make their drops count. It's a kind of flying that takes skill and training. But hope is rising with the smoke that there is an end in sight.

Southern California On Fire

2007-10-23T16:54:47Z

That's what the news agencies are calling it. And it's not far off from the truth. Last night at 7pm, where was a count of 22 fires over 7 counties with only 2 at 100% containment. This morning, there is no fire over 30% contained, over 1100 homes and businesses destroyed, with 1000 of them in Northern San Diego, and almost 140 in the Lake Arrowhead area. Over a quarter of a million people have been evacuated over all the counties, and just as many acres have been burnt. There has been one fatality so far, of a man in San Diego that tried to stay and save his home. The federal government has declared Southern California a state of emergency, making us eligible to get not just federal funds, but resources from other states. The governor had already called in National Guard troops to help firefighters, but with the federal declaration, we are now getting firetruck from Arizona, Nevada, Washington and Oregon. And from Air Forces bases, one as far east as North Carolina come six C-130 conversion tanker planes to gives us more of the air power we need to fight these fires. The LA Times has a map online that shows the locations, destructions and percentage of containment of all the major fires that are still burning.

These fires though, are nothing new to Southern Californians. As long as there have been people living here and even before, wild fires has ravaged the Southern California area. It's part of the ecosystem, so no, don't even start thinking "global warming" is the cause. It's one of the prices we pay for the mediterranean climate we enjoy with the mild winters and sun most of the year. The geological record is filled with conflagrations going back centuries. There are trees and chapparal whose seeds can't germinate unless they are exposed to hundreds of degrees of heat. Anyone that's lived here will have some story about fires. My mother remembers wildfires that raged through Temecula the same month my brother was born. LA county had some serious fires in the 70s. I remember the wildfires that roared through Riverside county, and were just one hill away from my apartment in the 90s. San Diego's already suffered this decade with the Ceder Fire in 2003, that was the worst fire in the state's history. I wonder how these new fires will hold up to that one?

Just like earthquakes, there is always talk about the "big fire" that we're due. We always talk about trying to prevent these fires, doing controlled burns in area with high brush, and keeping brush clear from homes. But when Mother Nature decides to step in, there is absolutely nothing her can do to stop her. She will excert her authority from time to time, and all we can do is sit back and watch when she decided she will not be stopped. Of course, we don't need to help her along any either. At least one fire, the one burning in Irvine has been confirmed as arson. It was start Sunday night, when our resources had already been stretched thin, and engines and teams that could have gone to help Northern San Diego or LA have to stay put to combat it instead. But as long as we realize the truth, that a lot of these fires are a natural disaster that we must face year in and year out, just as the midwest has their tornadoes, and the south and east has their hurricanes and floods, we can continue to strive and live on. This is part of what it means to live in Southern California

Colors of the Wind

2007-10-22T16:49:28Z

Autumn is in full swing now, and in a lot of places around the country that means the weather is getting cooler, and the leaves on trees are changing colors. Red, orange and yellow colored leaves make the trees look like they are on fire. Here in Southern California, they literally are. This isn't anything new for our area. We really only have two season a year: Fire and Rain. But our rain season only last a few days last year, so that means lots and lots of dry grass and trees to fuel fires. We've had some big fires already from the dry year, the Esperanza fire taking the lives of 4 firefighters, and the Day fire that burned thousands of acres in LA county. But that doesn't mean there isn't room for more.

As of now, there are at least 12 fires burning in 7 counties, the worst being in LA county in Valencia (near Six Flags Magic Mountain), and Malibu. San Diego County is getting a beating too, with fires in both the north and south near the border. The biggest fuel for these fires, besides the dry brush has been the winds, the Santa Anas. Called the Devil Wind by the original Spanish settlers to the area, the origin of the name "Santa Anas", seems to be in some dispute, while the reality of the winds aren't. Blowing down from the Great Basin, across the Mojave and Sonora deserts, these warm, dry winds heat up the autumn days and can turn a spark into a raging fire in minutes. Racing through moutain passes, the wind speeds can reach up to 70-80 miles an hour. It's these speeds and the sometimes unpredictability of the winds (as seems to be the problem this weekend) that makes fighting them so difficult.

Because of the frequency of fires in the Southern California area, our firefighters are some of the best and most experienced in the country. We have some of the newest equipment for fighting fires, such as Sikorsky helicopters fitted with water tanks, and a DC-10 airplane fitted as a super tanker. Watching the planes flying overhead as they head to local lakes can be a regular scene. But these firefighting tools are powerless against the Santa Anas. So fires can rage almost unabated, with firefighters on the ground doing what they can to save homes, leaving hillsides to be turned to blackened char. And the only thing we residents can do is watch and wait.

While other places can have their wind colored with leaves flying lazily through the sky, Southern California's winds blow hard with smoke, dust and ash. Black, brown and gray re the colors of our wind.

Careful What You Let Your Kids Watch

2007-10-22T01:18:40Z

This is a warning for parents that either watch anime or have kids that watch anime. You have to watch what you allow them to be exposed to. I like anime as well as manga. It's easy as the two media are sources for each other. One anime and manga I enjoy is Sgt. Frog, or Keroro Gunso. I have some of the fansubs that were done before the series was licensed, and I was watching them. Well, my kids, as they are want to do, came over to see what I was watching. Then, they sat down and started watching it with me. Now, they come and get the discs from me, lock themselves up in their rooms and watch them over and over.

But that wasn't enough. They've also been searching the internet for Sgt. Frog; find episodes they haven't seen on Youtube, playing videos also from Youtube in a continuous loop. They have found websites that let them make their own frog invaders like paper dolls. My oldest daughter is bringing home school papers with images of Keroro, Giroro and other characters drawn on them. Even her desktop wallpaper is covered with digital drawings she did! My younger daughter has been going around and laughing like on of the characters Sargent Major Kururu. She would have dressed as him for Halloween if there were costumes available! And her school papers are getting the Sgt Frog treatment too. It's only a matter of time before their video games characters (such as the chao from the Sonic the Hedgehog series) start getting Sgt Frog names.

So please, any parents out there, take heed of my warning! It's not the shows with lots of violence or mature content that we need to protect our children from. It's the ones that they will really enjoy that are the real danger! Otherwise, you too will have a son or daughter, walking around with their hand in front of their mouth going "Kuuu-ku-ku-ku-ku".

More Good than Harm

2007-09-14T19:58:48Z

Recent discussion about mature-themed manga brought up scanalations as a possible source. Of course, these were dismissed immediately as illegal and a pox on the manga community. But, as much as I hate to say it...well, more like people don't want to hear, scanalations are the only viable alternative for the non-Japanese reader to read most mature themed manga. You can tout all the titles that are out all you want, explain how they are so great, and should be read, but the fact of the matter is, a lot of the mature titles out in the US will only appeal to a small group. Horror, sex and violence, psychologically disturbing crime dramas and "art house" books are the majority of genres that mature titles are coming out under. With the whole spectrum of titles available from Japan, these genres are what publishers think will appeal to general adult audiences? Apparently, the sales numbers tell them otherwise. But what do you do if you don't want to read any of the mautre titles available? What if you want more variety? You can't look to mainstream publishers. They only want to put out shonen and shojo, or the mature titles they can disguise as shonen and shojo. You HAVE to go outside the normal channels, where profit margins aren't a motivator to what gets translated and distributed. You have to go to the fans.

I'm going to be upfront here. I don't really care for digital scanalations. I would really prefer to have the actual book in my hands. I like being able to take the books anywhere, to view the full page in one glance, or look at a full two page spread without lots of scrolling. And until a portable reader comes out that makes the digital reading experience identical to paper, I'm not going to be thrilled about any form of digital manga. However, that being said, I also like to read stories that aren't going to make it into the mainstream any time soon, if ever at all. I want to read titles that have a more mature plot to it. I'd like to read more political drama, social commentary, maybe some espionage (Tom Clancy style, not James Bond), office drama or comedies, historical fiction, and mysteries. No one seems to believe that these kinds of books will succeed in the US market, therefore I have to go scanalations where I can find A Spirit of the Sun, Zipang, Pluto, and Hatakari Man just to name a few. It's human nature that if you want something enough, you will go to just about any length to get it. It's also human nature to provide a supply for a demand. Scanalators shouldn't be condemned for filling a void that US publishers can't or won't fill.

There is an unfortunate tread in this country among business companies to perpetuate the belief that all consumers are considered guilty of piracy until proven innocent. Microsoft believes that with their "Genuine Advantage Validation". However, should the validation server go down, you will be stripped of your operating system. It happened last month. People with valid copies were branded pirates and lost all use of their computer. The RIAA seems to want to base their entire business model on this belief. It must have been quite a shock for them when they saw more people were willing to buy their music without the DRM. It really sad that businesses want to assume the worse about their customers. Manga is no different. Readers of scanalations are automatically assumed to be thieves, trying to get their manga for free. Yet, some how, Naturo, Bleach and Fruits Basket all reach USA Today's Top 150 List whenever a new volume comes out. If you know where to look, you can still find scanalations of these series, if you really wanted to steal them. And obviously, there still are people who do that. But, there's always been an underground of people that will steal software, music and books, since well before the internet. But to extent that assumption to EVERYONE is wrong in the moral as well as factual sense of the word.

I'm not doing this to try and make excuses. I'm just pointing out the facts as I see them. Techincally, scanalating is illegal, a violation of copyright. But so are other forms of fanwork; fanfic and fanart. But creators of these works aren't condemned unless they try and make money on the creations. Scanalations, for the most part, aren't much different. Scanalations of licensed books might hurt some sales, but I know that's not what's responsible for mature manga's poor sales. Scanalations of unlicensed books are 99% of community and does more good than harm. It exposes American readers to titles they wouldn't see otherwise. It can also help popularize a title so that maybe it *will* get licensed. It happens in the anime community even today. I don't think The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya or Code Geass would have been licensed so quickly if it wasn't for the fan community. I hope the same will happen for manga. Just telling a company or publisher that you want to see more mature manga, will only get you a generic answer of "We don't look at that. We just look at and want to publish good stories." If you have specific titles and artists names, I think it would be make more of an impression with the publisher. You're showing your serious about these titles, and that there will be someone to buy them. Scanalations give us that information.

And knowing is half the battle.