Holiday Giveaway Winner & 2019 in the Rear View

First of all, time to announce this year's winner of my Holiday Giveaway: AmonduulUS!

Probably a tie between Go With the Clouds, North-by-Northwest (hard to beat a guy who talks to cars and drives around Iceland solving problems) and Gou Tanabe's adaption of In the Mountains of Madness (Tanabe's real good at drawing Antarctica and ships and horrifying monstrosity)

Amonduul, please contact me via Twitter so that we can send you that $25 RightStuf gift certificate right away!  In the meantime I hope you enjoyed my own take on Go With the Clouds, North-by-Northwest.

This year was probably the most I've had to struggle to put together the line-up for my holiday reviews.  That wasn't because there weren't enough books, but because there were so many good and interesting ones to choose from that I had to make a lot of hard choices.  While making all of those hard choices, I was able to reflect on just how much has changed between the beginning of this decade and its end.

At the beginning of this decade, I was in 26, just starting to dabble in anime, single, looking for steady work, unsure of what direction my life was going in.  Now as I head towards 36, I have a loving husband, two adorable kitties, and...well, I'm still working on the whole steady job and life direction part.  Yet the choice to start a manga review blog back in 2012 has a greater effect on my life than I ever could have expected. 

Yes, it's true that most of the manga blogs that inspired this particular site faded away as the conversation around manga shifted almost entirely to social media.  Yes, it's true that this particular blog has only garnered a little bit of attention over the years and a very modest income.  It's still more of a hobby than anything else.  Despite that, I'm proud of the nearly 600 (!) reviews I've written in that time.  Those works help me forge my own voice; without them, I probably wouldn't be writing  pieces for Anime Feminist or doing convention panels across the country, much less making more friends (online or otherwise) than I ever could have dreamed of back at the beginning of this decade.  The Manga Test Drive has helped make me the woman I am today. 

That's far from the only thing that's changed - manga in the US has changed radically in this last decade.  At the beginning, the American manga scene was one that was still in freefall.  Publishers were failing, series were getting dropped, the shelves were clogged with B- and C-list titles, and it all wouldn't come to an end until a year later with the (sadly temporary) closure of Tokyopop.  Now it's stronger than it ever, bolstered on the backs of Attack on Titan and half a dozen different series from various Jump magazines.  The publishers learned well from the mistakes of the previous decade, and combined with the rise of e-books and reading apps it's increasingly easy to enjoy manga legally.  We have hit series in genres that were previously thought unsalable: sports manga, josei, yuri, food manga.  We're seeing old standards resurrected for English audiences and new frontiers forged through webmanga.  Manga has truly never been better, more diverse, and more accessible than now.  These trends have shown no sign of stopping as we head into the 2020s, and I can only dream of the wonders this next decade will bring for myself, for manga as a whole, and for all those who love it.

Happy New Year, Happy New Decade, and may your days be full of good manga to read.

Holiday Review: SAINT YOUNG MEN

In any other year, Witch Hat Atelier would have been my final review, but then I remembered that this came out and the choice was all too obvious.

After all, the mythology of Christmas is all about miracles and the fact that we can finally read this in English is onto itself a miracle!  So many bigots like to harp about "the reason for the season," so why not read a manga about Him (and his best friend Buddha)?

SAINT YOUNG MEN (Seinto Onii-san), by Hikaru Nakamura.  First published in 2006 and first published in North America in 2019.

PLOT:

To better understand humanity, Jesus Christ and Buddha decide to live among humanity.  They establish themselves in a tiny apartment in the middle of Tokyo, trying (if not always successfully) to hide their divine natures.  Together they enjoy some of the tiny, everyday pleasures and frustrations of life in general.

STORY:

I feel kind of bad saying this because this series is so beloved and people have waited so long for this series because the mangaka was legitimately afraid that it would get protested if it were published in English but....I was kind of underwhelmed by Saint Young Men.

I will say this: I liked it a lot more than Arakawa Under the Bridge.  That's because instead of actively trying to be strange and random, the comedy here is a lot more focused.  The premises are simple, solid, and even a little sitcom-esque at times.  There's also a LOT of references to both Christianity and Buddhism, from the most obvious to obscure.  There are so many that each chapter has translation notes afterwards, not just at the end of the book.  Clearly a lot of research went into this.  I particularly like the way she uses that research to inform this particular interpretation of their personalities while retaining the odd couple dynamic.

And yet I kept waiting to laugh some big, boisterous laugh and that moment never happened.  I definitely smirked a few times, and smiled at jokes even more in a "I got that reference" sort of way.  I guess it's just a little too low-key to really tickle my particular funny bone.  Still, I'm glad we finally have the chance to experience it for ourselves.

ART:

Nakamura's visual humor is also kind of low-key.  There aren't a lot of big visual gags so much as jokes stuffed in asides and the sides of the panels.  The biggest visual joke is in the characters themselves, as no amount of casual T-shirts and jeans can hide that both Jesus and Buddha look about as archetypal as possible.  Indeed, more than a few gags are had about them being anxious about being recognized.  Being a gag manga, there isn't much of a focus on the scenery and not much done with the panel layouts.

PRESENTATION:

You know you're dealing with a prestigious manga when you not only get copious translation notes, but also a foreword from a curator from the British Museum who used this series in multiple manga-related exhibits.

RATING:

Even if it wasn't to my taste, Saint Young Men is an enjoyable comedy.  The way it combines the mythology around its main duo with its everyday premise is a good combo that shows a better understanding of both that other, more explicitly reverent works.  It's definitely worth a look, if simply to reward the time and effort it took to bring it over here.

This series is published by Kodansha Comics.  This series is ongoing in Japan with 17 volumes available. 1 volume has been released in print and 4 volumes are available digitally; all are currently in print.

Want a chance to win a $25 RightStuf gift certificate?  Then tell us about your favorite manga of 2019 to enter our annual Holiday Review Giveaway!  The giveaway ends at midnight tonight!

Holiday Review: WITCH HAT ATELIER

That being said, nothing that came out before or since this year prepared me for just how amazing today's selection was or how much I was going to love it.

WITCH HAT ATELIER (Tongari Boushi no Atelier), by Kamome Shirahama.  First published in 2016 and first published in North America in 2019.

PLOT:

Coco has been fascinated with magic all her life, ever since a man gave her a book and a wand at a festival.  When she spies on a visiting witch, she learns the key to magic: it is based not on words, but intricate drawn sigils.  In her enthusiasm, she accidentally traps her mother in crystal, and the witch takes Coco on as his newest apprentice.  Coco's desire to learn is great, but will it be enough to overcome unfriendly students, magical tests, and a strange masked person who watches over her every move?

Holiday Review: PHANTOM TALES OF THE NIGHT

As we wind things down, I like to reflect on some of the manga that didn't necessarily fit any trends but simply made an impression on me like this one.

PHANTOM TALES OF THE NIGHT (Bakemono Yawa-zukushi), by Matsuri.  First published in 2016 and first published in North America in 2019.

PLOT:

Somewhere on the edge between reality and the spirit world is an inn.  Inside, its owner will see to your every comfort and maybe even make a wish come true...for a price.  This owner does not deal in money, but in secrets, and to him nothing is more valuable than the deep, dark secrets that one would die to protect.

Holiday Review: KAIJU GIRL CARAMELISE

That being said, my shojo series is technically not shojo (it runs in Morning Two, a seinen magazine), but for all intensive purposes is the best and weirdest shojo manga to come out in English this year.

KAIJU GIRL CARAMELISE (Otome Kaiju Kyaramerize), by Spica Aoki.  First published in 2018 and first published in North America in 2019.

PLOT:

Kuroe Akaishi doesn't want anyone to get too close to her.  For as long as she can remember, whenever her feelings grow too strong her body undergoes monstrous changes.  That's why she goes out of her way to avoid Arata, the cutest boy in class.  When he reaches out to her anyway, she finds herself falling for him.  The closer he gets, though, the greater the risk that Kuroe's overwhelming feelings will turn her into a towering, city-stomping monster of love.

Holiday Review: ASAHI-SEMPAI'S FAVORITE

And of course there was plenty of digital-only shojo books that don't make their way to print because they're too dull, too douchey, or a bit of both like today's selection.

ASAHI-SEMPAI'S FAVORITE (Asahi-Sempai no Okiniiri), by Iroha Machino.  First published in 2017 and first published in 2019.

PLOT:

It all started when her brother's best friend Asahi walked in on her in the bathroom.  Ever since, Asahi won't leave Matsuri alone.  He constantly teases and touches her to get a reaction out of her at both school and home, and every time Matsuri is flustered and confused by her reactions.  Yet the more she interacts with him, the more Matsuri finds herself falling for him.

Holiday Review: KAKURIYO - BED & BREAKFEST FOR SPIRITS

Meanwhile, shojo manga was certainly...well, present.  There's still plenty of trend-chasing like what's going on with this series.

KAKURIYO: BED AND BREAKFAST FOR SPIRITS (Kakuriyo no Yadomeshi), based on the light novel by Midori Yuma and character designs by Laruha, with art by Waco Ioka.  First published in 2016 and first published in North America in 2019.

PLOT:

Aoi loved her late grandfather, but after his passing she's determined to make it on her own (despite her ability to see yokai).  One day she is seized by an ogre, and she learns the truth.  Many years ago, her grandfather promised his most spiritually-gifted grandchild as collateral for a massive debt, and now the ogre is ready to take Aoi as his bride as payment.  Aoi would rather work to pay her debt, but the only place she's able to find work is with a friendly kitsune with a failing tea room.

Holiday Review: BLANK CANVAS - MY SO-CALLED ARTIST'S JOURNEY

This year continued to be a good one not just for josei fans, but fans of Akiko Higashimura in particular.  We got a big fancy boxset for Princess Jellyfish, we got Tokyo Tarareba Girls in print, and a new (and extremely personal) series from her.

BLANK CANVAS: MY SO-CALLED ARTIST'S JOURNEY (Kakukaku Shikajika), by Akiko Higashimura.  First published in 2011 and first published in North America in 2019.

PLOT:

Akiko Higashimura might be a big-name manga artist now, but she started out as a talented but lazy kid way out in Miyazaki prefecture who was convinced she could easily make her way into art school and eventually to shojo manga stardom.  Her youthful ego is punctured when she starts taking drawing lessons from a reclusive local teacher.  Hidaka-sensei may be a tough-talking taskmaster, but as the reality of applying to art schools sinks in Akiko begins to truly understand the discipline he teaches her.

Holiday Review: SECRETLY I'VE BEEN SUFFERING ABOUT BEING SEXLESS

One of the most interesting josei manga I read this year was also another example of the sorts of confessional webmanga that have been making a splash on the American market.

SECRETLY I'VE BEEN SUFFERING ABOUT BEING SEXLESS (Jitsu wa Watashi Sexless de Nayademashita), by Togame.  First published in 2018 and first published in North America in 2019.

PLOT: 

Togame is a happily married woman...or would be, if her husband would just have sex with her once in a while.  She tries every tactic possible to entice her spouse, from costumes to special meals to diets, but he just shrugs her off and falls asleep.  Her frustration builds and builds until she's ready to consider cheating with another man, but can she go through with breaking her vows?

Holiday Review: MAIDEN RAILWAYS

Josei manga continues to creep into the US, helped along in no small part thanks to publishers like Denpa Books.

MAIDEN RAILWAYS (Tetsudo Shojo Manga), by Asumiko Nakamura.  First published in 2011 and first published in North America in 2019.

PLOT:

This collection of short stories cover a wide variety of romantic and relationship intersections along railways, be it the fumbling beginnings of new ones, the struggles of long-term ones, and the messy conclusions of failing ones.

Holiday Review: OUR DREAMS AT DUSK

Also continuing this year was the increase in queer manga - not just romantic fare like BL or yuri, but ones dealing with real-world experiences.  The stand-out was easily this one, a fictional tale from an openly nonbinary creator.

OUR DREAMS AT DUSK: SHIMANAMI TASOGARE, by Yuhki Kamatani.  First published in 2015 and first published in North America in 2019.

PLOT:

Tasaku was nervous enough being the new kid in town, but then his classmates discovered gay porn on his phone.  He tries to deflect the teasing, but the fear and anxiety drives him to the point of suicide.  At the last minute, he meets the mysterious Someone-san, who leads him to Cat Clutter.  There, a group of queer folks meet to socialize and help renovate local houses for a non-profit.  Through them, Tasaku starts to come to terms with his feelings and his sexuality.

Holiday Review: MONSTER AND THE BEAST

BL continued to expand across all the major publishers this year (as well as a number of digital ones), and I guess it was inevitable that we would find the intersection between BL and the monster-based romances of late.

MONSTER AND THE BEAST (Bakemono to Kedamono), by Renji.  First published in 2017 and first published in North America in 2019.

PLOT:

Deep in the woods, a man once met a monster.  Cavo was a demon with a pure heart, who only longed for a little kindness.  Liam was a middle-aged cad who wasn't particular about who his partners may be, so long as he can enjoy his freedom.  The two become travelling companions, and as Cavo spends more time with Liam he discovers feelings he never thought he could feel for another.

Holiday Review: EVE AND EVE

Meanwhile, Seven Seas's domination of the American yuri market continued mostly unabated.  As they continued to expand their yuri offerings, we got books like this that experiment not only with genre but with degrees of explicitness.

EVE AND EVE ( Eve X Eve), by Nagashiro Rouge.  First published in 2018 and first published in North America in 2019.

PLOT:

This story collection follows women in love through scenarios as fantastical as space, divine curses, and the end of the world, but also through situations as ordinary as infidelity, hang-ups about sex and love, and even determining who's the top and who's the bottom.

Holiday Review: HAPPY SUGAR LIFE

It's good that we've had such interesting manga to counter the steady stream of media that seems to confuse edginess for quality, like this one.

HAPPY SUGAR LIFE (Happi Shuga Raifu), by Tomiyaki Kagisora.  First published in 2015 and first published in North America in 2019.

PLOT:

Satou used to have a reputation for sleeping around, but lately she seems to be settling down.  Her new partner is sweet, innocent...and also a little girl.  Satou would endure anything to stay with little Shio. She would work multiple part-time jobs.  She would endure all sorts of bullying.  She might even go so far as a little murder to maintain what she belives is their happy sugar life.

Holiday Review: BEASTARS

Yet one of the most emotionally complex and interesting manga was a school-based murder mystery about anthropomorphic animals, and that's just wonderful.

BEASTARS, by Paru Itagaki.  First published in 2016 and first published in North America in 2019.

PLOT:

At Cherryton Academy, herbivores and carnivores alike study and live together, albeit segregated.  It's a tenuous arrangement at best, but the murder of Tem the alpaca brings tensions to a head.  At the center of it is Legosi, a tall, awkward wolf and one of the techs in the school drama club.  He tries to minimize tension within the club in his own way, but a chance encounter with Haru the dwarf rabbit girl brings out feelings and appetites he's afraid to explore.

Holiday Review: GO WITH THE CLOUDS, NORTH-BY-NORTHWEST

Emanon wasn't the only series this year to focus on slightly mystical journeys.  Vertical brought us another one from the creator of one of my guilty pleasures, Ran and the Grey World.

GO WITH THE CLOUDS, NORTH-BY-NORTHWEST (Hokuhokusei ne Kumo to Ike), by Aki Irie.  First published in 2016 and first published in North America in 2019.

PLOT:

Kei Miyama is a seventeen-year-old Japanese boy with the magical ability to understand machines with just a touch.  He uses this skill to help solve cases of missing items and lost people in the countryside of Iceland alongside his lusty French grandfather, his latest squeeze, and her ethereal niece Lilja.  Now Kei faces his toughest case yet: to find his missing younger brother Michitaka.

Holiday Review: EMANON

There were some interesting and thoughtful manga out there for those willing to seek it out, such as Dark Horse's latest offering from Kenji Tsuruta.

EMANON (Omoide Emanon), based on the story by Shinji Kajio with art by Kenji Tsuruta.  First published in 2006 and first published in North America in 2019.

PLOT:

On a long ferry trip, a young man meets a lovely, lithe young woman who calls herself Emanon.  They start talking about science fiction and current events, only for Emanon to drop a bombshell.  It seems that she carries the memories of all her ancestors, going back all the way to the primordeal soup of life.  The young man isn't sure what to think of Emanon at the time, but their encounter haunts him for years to come.

Holiday Review: MAGUS OF THE LIBRARY

In the sea of isekai-based fantasy manga, it was a pleasant surprise to discover just a straightforward kid-friend fantasy tale just out there, waiting to be discovered.

MAGUS OF THE LIBRARY (Toshoukan no Daimajutsushi), by Mitsu Izumi.  First published in 2017 and first published in North America in 2019.

PLOT:

Theo loves nothing more than read.  He spends most of his days being scorned for his pale skin, elven ears, and general poverty.  He's even prohibited from using the village library, so he treasures every opportunity he gets to read and escape his everyday life.  His dream is to visit the far-away city of Aftzaak, where it is said that every book in the world is stored.  That dream becomes a reality when a quartet of librarians from Aftzaak come to his village.  Through them, he discovers potential and kindness that Theo never though possible, and his own adventure is soon to begin.

Holiday Review: ASCENDANCE OF A BOOKWORM

Yet from the dregs of countless isekai adaptations came the slow and steady return of shojo isekai.  Most of it is still confined to light novels, but one managed to cross over and completely charm me.

ASCENDANCE OF A BOOKWORM (Honzuki no Gekokujou), based on the light novel by Miya Kazuki and character designs by You Shiina, with art by Suzuka.  First published in 2015 and first published in North America in 2019.

PLOT:

The last thing Urano Motosu remembered was watching her beloved room of books collapse upon her during an earthquake.  When she awakens, she finds herself reincarnated within the body of the sickly five-year-old peasant girl Myne.  This is a world where class differences are stark, literacy is uncommon, and books are handmade luxuries available only to nobility.  Thus, Myne decides that if she cannot buy books in her new life, she will teach herself how to make books.

Holiday Review: DO YOU LOVE YOUR MOM AND HER TWO-HIT MULTI-TARGET ATTACKS?

This year, the flood of isekai titles has continued unabated.  Luckily, most of this has stayed in the realm of light novels, but a few managed to make their way into the manga world on the backs of their animated adaptations such as this one.

DO YOU LOVE YOUR MOM AND HER TWO-HIT MULTI-TARGET ATTACKS? (Tsujyou Kougeki ga Zentai Kougeki de Nikai Kougeki no Okasan wa Suki Desuka?), based on the original novel by Dachima Inaka and character designs by Iida Pochi, with art by Meicha.  First published in 2018 and first published in North America in 2019.

PLOT:

One day, Masato and his affectionate, clingy mother Mamako are given an incredible opportunity.  They are thrust into the video game world of the MMMMORPG to both serve as beta testers and to improve their relationship.  That's easier said than done when Masato resents his mother for getting better stats, better weapons, getting final say on whom joins their party, and generally puncturing his dreams of the ultimate fantasy adventure.

Holiday Reviews: KOMI CAN'T COMMUNICATE

Meanwhile, there was a sweet shonen series about friendship that managed to become of the best-selling manga series of the year.

Seriously, look it up on the Bookscan charts.  It's doing amazingly for a non-Weekly Shonen Jump series without an anime to support it.

KOMI CAN'T COMMUNICATE (Komi-san wa, Komyusho desu), by Tomohito Oda.  First published in 2016 and first published in North America in 2019.

PLOT:

Tadano hopes that entering an elite high school will be a chance to distance himself from his junior-high dorkiness and coast through high school largely unnoticed.  That changes when he discovers that his classmate Komi isn't the stately, distant princess their class presumes her to be, but instead suffering from social anxiety so great that even the most innocuous comment is too daunting.  Tadano sympathizes and promises to help her achieve her goal of making 100 friends, even if sometimes it comes at the cost of his dignity and often thanks to the misinterpretations of others.

Holiday Review: UZAKI-CHAN WANTS TO HANG OUT!

As far as shonen romance goes, it seems that it is where it always is: torn between sincerity and sexuality, and in this particular version the results are obnoxious.

UZAKI-CHAN WANTS TO HANG OUT! (Uzaki-chan wa Asobitai!), by Take.  First published in 2018, and first published in North America in 2019.

PLOT:

Sakurai Shinichi is a college student who wants to just enjoy some quiet down-time once in a while, but it seems like every attempt is foiled by his childhood friend Uzaki.  Uzaki is tiny, loud, and determined to keep her favorite sempai from getting lonely, whether he wants company or not.

Holiday Review: BAKEMONOGATARI

As far as shonen manga this year, it was mostly dominated by the usual Weekly Shonen Jump suspects, but there were some surprises this year, such as this.

BAKEMONOGATARI, based on the light novel by Nisioisin & art by Oh!Great.  First published in 2018 and first published in North America in 2019.

PLOT:

It all started with an accident on the stairs.  That's how Koyomi Araragi discovered that his distant, haughty classmate Hitagi Senjougahara weighed virtually nothing.  It seems that a strange, supernatural force took her weight in exchange for a dark secret from her past, and Araragi is determined to take her to the one person who might be able to help her.

Holiday Review: NYANKEES

That being said, nothing is more memetic than cats on the internet, so it's no surprise that early this year we got a manga that combined the eternal appeal of cats with an unexpected angle.

NYANKEES, by Atsushi Okada.  First published in 2016 and first published in North America in 2019.

PLOT:

Ryuusei is a tough, street-wise tabby on the hunt for a calico tomcat with a scarred eyefrom his past.  He ends up fighting his way to the top of the local gang, only to find himself a target of another gang that wants to unite the cats of the town by force.  Things come to a head when Ryuusei learns that the gang's new leader is a strange-looking tom with a scarred eye...

Holiday Review: THE WAY OF THE HOUSE HUSBAND

If we're talking about manga that achieved meme status even before it was licensed, today's selection would be number one with a bullet.  Does it live up to the hype?

THE WAY OF THE HOUSE HUSBAND (Gokushufudo), by Kousuke Oono.  First published in 2018 and first published in North America in 2019.

PLOT:

Tastu was once known as the Immortal Dragon, one of the toughest men in the Yakuza.  Now he's given up that way of life to embrace the ways of a stay-at-home house-husband.  His old associates and enemies don't believe that Tatsu has changed his ways.  His neighbors are confused by his fierce looks and rough language.  Yet Tatsu's dedication to homemaking manages to get him out of scrapes and even win over some of his old associates to the positives of homemaking.

Holiday Reviews: SKULL-FACE BOOKSELLER HONDA-SAN

More than ever, the internet is an important place for manga.  It's not just where an increasing number of manga get their start (thanks to sites like pixiv), but also where they can take on new life as memes and viral sensations.  There were quite a few comedies who benefited from this, including this series.

SKULL-FACE BOOKSELLER HONDA-SAN (Gaikotsu Shotenin Honda-san), by Honda.  First publilshed in 2015 and first published in North America in 2019.

PLOT:

Honda might not be the bookish beauty that most Japanese people expect a bookstore employee to look like, but that doesn't mean he's not busy.  He and his coworkers have to deal with everything: foreign fujoshi, difficult manga recommendations, employee training, and the daily struggles of the stockroom and pushy sales reps.

IT'S CHRISTMAS TIME!

Which means it's time again for our annual holiday round-up of reviews, where we review one new manga from today to Christmas, be they naughty, nice, or just somewhere in the middle.

That also means it's time yet again for our Holiday Review Giveaway!  The prize, as always, is a $25 gift certificate to RightStuf so that you can hopefully pick up some of the better books we cover for yourselves.  The rules are simple:

*Just comment (here or on Twitter) about the best manga you read this year.  Old or new, long or short, all are valid.

*The deadline for entry is 12AM on December 26.

*We will reach out to the winner via email or Twitter DM.

And that's it!  So enjoy the reviews, share with your friends, and if possible remember to share some of that love through the site's Patreon or Ko-Fi accounts!