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- From: Steve Pearl <starbuck@cybercomm.net>
- Newsgroups: rec.arts.manga,rec.arts.anime.info,rec.answers,news.answers
- Subject: rec.arts.manga: Manga Guide Part 2/3
- Followup-To: rec.arts.manga
- Date: 15 Jan 1998 10:01:40 -0500
- Organization: CyberComm Online Services
- Lines: 2437
- Approved: news-answers-request@mit.edu
- Message-ID: <69l8ck$7tr@raven.cybercomm.net>
- Reply-To: Steve Pearl <starbuck@cybercomm.net>
- NNTP-Posting-Host: 199.171.196.3
- Keywords: monthly informative posting
- URL: http://www.cybercomm.net/~starbuck/FAQ.html
- Xref: senator-bedfellow.mit.edu rec.arts.manga:33174 rec.arts.anime.info:3852 rec.answers:36929 news.answers:120918
-
- Archive-name: manga/guide/part2
-
- This FAQ, as well as the other anime/manga newsgroup FAQs and info
- articles written by Steve Pearl, are available from the Official
- Anime/Manga FAQ page at
- http://www.cybercomm.net/~starbuck/FAQ.html
- The FAQs on that page are always the most recent version (The monthly
- posts are posted directly from that directory!)
-
-
-
- Usenet Manga Guide
- April 1996
- (version 6.03)
- Part 2/3
- compiled and edited by
- Iain Sinclair (axolotl@socs.uts.edu.au)
-
- ----------------------------------------
-
-
- Miyazaki Hayao $@5\:j=Y(B
-
- The renowned director of anime films. Anime-only credits include Famous
- Detective Holmes and Future Boy Conan. He has had a long association with
- Studio Ghibli $@%9%?%8%*%.%V%j(B, creators of Grave of the Firefly, Omoide
- Poroporo, Umi ga Kikoeru $@3$$,J9$3$($k(B and Heisei Tanuki Gassen Ponpoko
- $BJ?@.C,9g@o$]$s$]$3(B. Miyazaki's 1995 anime movie Mimi wo sumaseba
- $@<*$r$9$^$;$P(B was adapted from a manga by Hiiragi Aoi $@I"$"$*$$(B
- (published by Shueisha, 1990, Y370).
-
- ------------------------
-
- People of the Desert $B:=$NL1(B - serialized on Shonen Shojo Shinbun, 1969.
- Written under the Akitsu Saburo pseudonym.
-
- The Journey of Shuna - serialized on Animage AM JUJU, June 1983.
- An all-watercolor manga which looks more like a miniature roman album than
- a manga; considered to be a NausicaM-d prototype by some. It's based on a
- Tibetan folktale about a prince's journey to find wheat for his people.
-
- NausicaM-d of the Valley of Wind $@Iw$NC+$N%J%&%7%+(B - serialized on Animage
- (Tokuma Shoten), 1986, 6 volumes: 1-4/Y690, 5-6/Y380, anime comics 6 volumes @
- Y380.
-
- Laputa, the Castle in the Sky $BE76u$N>k%i%T%e%?(B - published by Tokuma
- Shoten, 1986, anime comics 4 volumes @ Y710.
-
- My Neighbor Totoro $@$H$J$j$N%H%H%m(B - published by Tokuma Shoten, 1987,
- anime comics 4 volumes @ Y610.
-
- Kiki's Delivery Service $@Kb=w$NBp5^JX(B - published by Tokuma Shoten, 1989,
- anime comics 4 volumes @ Y690.
-
- The Age of Hydroplanes published on Model Grafix, 1991.
- This color short story was the original inspiration for the Porco Rosso
- anime.
-
- Kurenai no Buta [Porco Rosso] $@9H$NFZ(B - published by Tokuma Shoten, 1992,
- anime comics 4 volumes @ Y590.
-
- Miyazaki Hayao Miscellaneous Notes $@5\:j=Y$N;(A[%N!<%H(B - artbook,
- published by Dainipponkaiga $@BgF|K\3(2h(B, 1992, Y2300.
-
- Mononoke Hime $@$b$N$N$1I1(B - published by Tokuma Shoten, 1994, Y3000.
- A hardcover, all-colour album on his upcoming movie, scheduled for
- completion in 1996.
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Monkey Punch $@%b%s%-!=!&%Q%s%A(B
-
- Stated influences include Sergio Aragones and Harvey Kurtzman (from the US MAD
- Magazine). He also wrote a foreword for the Japanese edition of the Death of
- Superman comic.
-
- ------------------------
-
- Lupin III $@%k%Q%s;0@$%+%j%*%9%H%m$N>k(B - published by Chuokoronsha, 2
- volumes @ Y1200, anime comics 12 volumes @ Y680.
- The original Lupin stories were quite violent, and had more implied sex
- (and naked bodies) than the current incarnation, New Lupin III
- $B?7C[(B$@%k%Q%s;0@$(B (published by Chuokoronsha, 4 volumes @ Y1300).
-
- Cagliostro's Castle $@%+%j%*%9%H%m$N>k(B 2 volumes @ Y680.
-
- Pinky Panky $@%T%s%-!=!&%Q%s%-%#(B - serialized on Action, 1988, Y600.
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Nagai Go $@1J0f(B $@9k(B
-
- In his heyday, in the early 70s, this veteran artist was responsible for
- pushing the boundaries of manga productivity and good taste. Even today, he is
- still quite active, (including reprints, 54 works were released between 1990
- and 1992). Most of his mangas contain strong doses of trashy sex and violence.
-
- Ishikawa Ken $@@P@n8-(B (best known for Miroku $@5uL5@o;N#M#I#R#O#K#U(B -
- serialized on Shonen Captain 1988-90, 5 volumes @ Y370) is a protege of
- Nagai's. His art and style is quite similar, except for the noticeable lack of
- H material.
-
- ------------------------
-
- Harenchi Gakuen $B%O%l%s%A3X1`(B - serialized on Shonen Jump 1968-70.
- This title was publicly burnt by some parents' groups. (As a result of
- this harassment, he wrote Abashiri Ikka.)
-
- Devilman $@%G%S%k%^%s(B - serialized on Shonen Magazine, 1972, 5 wide-ban
- volumes @ Y980.
- After many years, demons (Nagai calls them daemons) are awakening. Fudo
- Akira is convinced by his best friend to participate in an occult ritual
- which would allow the merging of a daemon with himself, giving him the
- powers of a daemon but the mind of a human being. Various battles ensue as
- daemons try to destroy mankind. Shin Devilman is the 'further adventures'
- of Fudo Akira.
-
- Mazinger Z $@%^%8%s%,!<#Z(B - serialized on Shonen Magazine, 1972, 3 wide-ban
- volumes @ Y690.
- The original "giant robot" classic, which was translated into several
- different languages. (The idea came to him one day while he was stuck in a
- traffic jam.)
-
- Cutey Honey $@%-%e!<%F%#!<%O%K!<(B - serialized on Shonen Champion, 1975,
- wide version 1 volume/Y1000.
- Cutey is an android girl whose big ability is to change costumes, each of
- which has different powers. She fights a whole series of super
- villianesses lead by this one arch-villainess, who she fights at the end
- of the series (does this sound familiar?). The manga is definitely
- violent, sexy, and pretty outrageous in parts. The anime is toned down
- substantially. (Apparently, this is still running somewhere, but it's
- proven hard to track down.)
-
- Shuten Doji $@!{E7F8;R(B - published by Kodansha, 1980, 6 wide-ban volumes @
- Y980.
- It's about a baby who was brought to our world by an oni (ogre). A
- childless couple, who happened to be praying at a shrine for a child, take
- the baby from the oni and adopt him. When he reaches highschool, he begins
- to have doubts about whether he is human or oni. There always seems to be
- a mysterious force helping him, perhaps an invisible oni. Soon, a
- mysterious cult of oni worshippers target him because they believe he is
- the incarnation of Shuten Doji who, in their hiearchy of gods, is the
- lightbringer or disrupter of darkness. Lots of battles, graphic violence,
- mysticism, tying in with folklore, eventual time travel, dimensional
- travel, and very interesting plot twists.
-
- Violence Jack $@%P%$%*%l%s%9%8%c%C%/(B - serialized on Shonen Magazine,
- 1973-7, 7 wide-ban volumes @ Y1100.
-
- New Violence Jack $@?7%P%$%*%l%s%9%8%c%C%/(B - published by Manga Goraku,
- 1983, Y1100.
- An earthquake causes the Kantou plain to detach from the Japanese mainland
- (Honshu). As those who are left struggle to survive, a gigantic hero known
- as `Violence Jack' appears.
-
- Hanappe Bazooka $@2VJ?%P%:!<%+(B - published by Young Jump, 1985, 5 volumes @
- Y600.
- Hannape's life is interrupted by two demons. One is this green cloaked
- male being with a bazooka. The other is a female furry being with a tail,
- which projects her magic. Among the things that occur is that Hannape is
- cursed with his index finger resembling a sexual organ and any time it is
- pointed at a female (humanoids at least), they become sexually aroused. As
- you might guess, it gets fairly extreme. It is amazing that despite the
- fact that he has not really changed his drawing style that much, he still
- manages to convey a sense of sexual voyeurism. At first, he didn't want to
- do that aspect of it, but meeting the author (Koike Kazuo) changed his
- mind. The anime is tame by comparison, but still funny.
-
- Mazin Saga $@%^%8%s!&%5!<%,(B - serialized on Young Jump and Bears Club,
- 1991-2, 3 volumes @ Y1200.
- Sequel to Mazinger Z - Earth is destroyed, Mars is invaded.
-
- THE BIRD - currently serialized on Young Jump, 1994, 2 volumes @ Y500.
- SF/beast-people in LA. The usual outrageous stuff.
-
- Super Saiyuki $@%9!<%Q!<@>M75-(B - published by Kadokawa Shoten, 1991, Y900.
- Nagai's version of Wu Cheng-En's Chinese classic Journey to the West
- (known in Japanese as Saiyuki), which concerns the many and varied
- exploits of Monkey, `Great Sage, Equal of Heaven'.
-
- Mao Dante $@Kb2&%@%s%F(B - published by Chuokoronsha, Y1350.
-
- Kekko Kamen $@$1$C$3$&2>LL(B - published by Shuueisha, 1993, 3 volumes @
- Y600.
-
- Great Mazinger $@%0%l!<%H%^%8%s%,!<(B - published by Taitosha, 1989 2 volumes
- @ Y700.
-
- Nagai Go Manga Taizenshu $@1J0f9kL!2hBgA4=8(B - published by Tairiku Shobo,
- 1987, 3 volumes @ Y1200.
-
- Susa-no-O Densetsu $@@(%N2&EA@b(B - published by Kadokawa Shoten, 1985-8, 7
- volumes @ Y630.
-
- Nagai Go Jisenshu $@1J0f9k<+A*=8(B - published by Asahi Sonorama, 1992,
- Y1400.
-
- Dokura no tachi $@qqqp(B$@$N4[(B - published by Nihon Bungeisha, 1995,
- Y980.
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Nagano Mamoru $@1JLn8n(B
-
- Nagano was ``just another Gundam fanboy'' before he came to the notice of the
- creator of Gundam, Tomino Yoshiyuki $BIYLnM3M*5((B.
-
- ------------------------
-
- Fool for the City - published by Kadokawa Shoten, 1988, 1 volumes @ Y880.
- An unimpressive early effort.
-
- The Five Star Stories $@%U%!%$%V%9%?!=J*8l(B - currently serialized on
- Newtype, 1988, 7 volumes @ Y900.
- Grand, sprawling interstellar empires saga. Distinctive ``look and feel'',
- especially the mecha designs. There is an electronic book published by
- Sony, The Five Star Stories Chronicle 2. (Nagano once talked about using
- Silicon Graphics computers to render fleets of mecha.)
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Nagano Noriko $@1JLn$N$j$3(B
-
- Nagano Noriko is a resident manga artist for Tokuma Shoten. Her mangas are
- known for their twisted humour, association with otaku culture, and endless
- variations on the ``geek meets girl'' theme. Nagano's `Megane-kun' character,
- who resembles Brains (from Thunderbirds), appears in all her mangas. A full
- list of her published work appears as an appendix to Ken nii-chan.
-
- ------------------------
-
- Sci-Fi Motion [$B$b!<$7$g$s(B] - published by Tokuma Shoten, 1986; reprinted
- by ASCII, 1995, Y640.
- Nagano's first major manga; at least one new instalment was published on
- Comic ASCII in 1994.
-
- Don't desert me Daisy $B8+!{$F$J$$$G%G!=%8(B - serialized on Shonen Captain,
- 1989, 3 volumes @ Y500, out of print (ASCII may reprint it soon).
- Most of Nagano's mangas, starting with this one, feature the same basic
- plot: a shy nerd falls in love with a beautiful girl, but she doesn't want
- anything to do with him. Rapidly becoming obsessed, the nerd uses his
- scientific genius to spy on her and win her over.
-
- Kure Kure [Give Me] Tama-chan GIVE ME $@$?$^$A$c$s(B - published by Tokuma
- Shoten, 1987, 1 volumes @ Y880.
-
- God Save the Sugekoma-kun [$@$9$2$3$^$/$s(B!] - currently serialized on Young
- Magazine, 1992-present, 6 volumes @ Y530.
- A series of short stories centering on Sugekoma, a highschool prodigy with
- severe behavioural problems, and Miss Matsuzawa, the teacher who he ties
- up all the time. It's a big send-up of S/M cliches, H manga, SF, and the
- otaku mentality. Nagano's art is at its most refined in this manga. There
- are minor subplots concerning other students - eg. Junko Fujieda, who
- can't stand perverts, they make her violent; and Murata, a masochist who's
- infatuated with her. ``A Takahashi Rumiko manga on all imaginable drugs.''
-
- Science Boy Zeroichi-kun $B2J3X>/G/#0#17/(B - published by ASCII, 1993, 580.
- Probably Nagano's most warped manga, consisting of short SF stories and
- various self-indulgences.
-
- Ken nii-chan $@#K#E#N$K$$$A$c$s(B - serialized on Comic Raising
- (Wanimagazine-sha), 1994, Y580.
- A mad scientist, Ken, comes after his childhood playmate Megumi - now a
- university student - holding her to a promise she made when she was 3
- years old. Slightly more racy than her other mangas.
-
- Nagano Land $B%J%,%N%i%s%I(B - published by Tokuma Shoten, 1994, Y990.
- A compilation of two unusual mangas that were - serialized on Animage in
- the late 1980s. The first, Majokko Son-Son $BKb=w$C;R%=%s%=%s(B,
- appeared in the margins of the letters pages, 120cm wide x 1cm high. It
- was originally space-filler for anime song listings. Beat Paradise
- $@$*$A$3$_E79q(B was a series of nostalgic ramblings about anime and
- Nagano's childhood. Most of her stock characters appear as narrators;
- Hakase-kun (Megane-kun), Anime-kun, Zo-kun, Baba, Nagano herself, and
- Muska (the evil agent from Laputa).
-
- Manga Hishou!! Kaby Rich Daisaku-sen $B%^%s%,!!I,>!!*!*!!3t%j%C%ABg:n@o(B -
- with Kimura Keiko $BLZB<2B;R(B, published by $B@GL3=j8&5f2q=PHG6I(B, Y980,
- 1988, now out of print.
-
- Otaku no Goshujin $@%*%?%/$N8f!{?M(B - published by Take Shobou, 1993, Y700.
-
- Honeymoon Planet $@%O%M%`!<%s%W%i%M%C%H(B - published by ASCII, 1994, Y580.
- Contains another list of all Nagano's published work to date.
-
- Mogukko Mog-tan $@$b$0$C$3%b%0%?%s(B - irregularly featured on Animage,
- 1993-present.
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Nasu Yukie $BFa=#@c3((B
-
- ------------------------
-
- This is Greenwood $@$3$3$O%0%j!<%s!&%&%C%I(B - published by Hana to Yume,
- 1988-91, 11 volumes @ Y390.
- Story set in the dormitory of Ryokuto Highschool, called Ryokurin, dubbed
- ``Greenwood'' by the students. Hasukawa Kazuya went to stay in the
- dormitory because his only brother, Kazuhiro, got married and his wife,
- Sumire, is Kazuya's first love. In Greenwood, Hasukawa met his dorm-mate,
- Kisaragi Shun, and Ikeda Mitsuru and Tezuka Shinobu, two sempais who live
- next door. Greenwood is a place full of weird people.
-
- Flower Destroyer $@%U%i%o!=!a%G%9%H%m%$%d!<(B - published by Hana to Yume,
- 1987, Y360.
-
- Youma Shuurai! Fukushuuki $@MEKb=1Mh!*I|=254(B - published by Hana to Yume,
- 1990, Y370.
-
- Dark Age $@%@!<%/!&%(%$%8(B - published by Hana to Yume, 1993, Y390.
-
- Tenshi to Diamond $@E7;H$H%@%$%d%b%s%I(B - published by Hana to Yume, 1993, 3
- volumes @ Y390.
-
- Sorekara Doshita no? Koneko-chan $B$=$l$+$i$I$7$?$N!);FG-$A$c$s(B - published
- by Hana to Yume, 1994, Y390.
-
- Gakko $B7n8w(B - published by Hana to Yume, 1994, 4 volumes @ Y390.
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Narita Minako $@@.EDH~L>;R(B
-
- Her works deal with human relationships, life, ideals, friendship, etc. very
- well. This sets her manga apart from those shojo mangas which only focus on
- love or magic.
-
- (born 5 March 1960, Aomori; debut July 5, 1977; blood type AB)
-
- ------------------------
-
- Cipher - serialized on Hana to Yume 1985-90, 12 volumes @ Y390.
- One of the most famous shojo manga which made Narita Minako the most
- popular 3rd generation shojo mangaka. The story is about a pair of twin
- brothers, Cipher and Siva, their close friendship and individual
- happenings in their life. A big part of the story takes place in New York,
- which shows how much the author likes the city.
-
- Cipher the video book - published by Hakusensha, Y1240.
-
- Alexandrite - serialized on Hana to Yume 1985-90, 12 volumes @ Y390.
- Sequel to Cipher.
-
- Alien Doori $@%(%$%j%"%sDL$j(B - serialized on Hana to Yume, 8 volumes @
- Y390.
-
- Aitsu $@$"$$$D(B - 2 volumes @ Y390.
-
- Ten no Shinwa ji no Shinwa $@E7$N?@OCCO$N?@OC(B - published by Hakusensha,
- 1988, Y780.
-
- Narita Minako Character Book $B@.EDH~L>;R%-%c%i%/%?!=(B$@%V%C%/(B -
- published by Hakusensha, Y1030.
-
- Miki & Yuuti $@$_$-!u%f!=%F%#(B - serialized on Hana to Yume, 2 volumes @
- Y370.
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Nekobe Neko $@G-It$M$3(B
-
- A shojo manga writer, who won the 2nd Nakayoshi New Writer award with First
- Date.
-
- (born 19 October)
-
- ------------------------
-
- Dokkin Timeslip $@$I$C$-$s%?%$%`%9%j%C%W(B - serialized on Nakayoshi, 1988,
- Y370.
-
- Penguin Tanteidan $@%Z%s%.%sC5DeCD(B - serialized on Nakayoshi, 1990, Y380.
-
- Kingyou Chuihou! $@$-$s$.$gCm0UJs!*(B [Warning, Goldfish!] - serialized on
- Nakayoshi, 1989-93, 8 volumes @ Y390, anime comics 4 volumes @ Y800.
- This is a cute manga about highschool life. Chitose has to change to a
- poorer school due to the death of her rich father. But the business of her
- father had collapsed, and the only thing she was left with was a pink (!)
- goldfish (that can fly). She met Wapiko, Shu and Aoi in her new school,
- but soon knew that the poor school is too poor to continue its operation.
- Accidentally, she got several billions of dollars left in the bank by her
- father, and she re-built the poor school. Full of funny cute stuff, and
- popular in Japan.
-
- Kirara Note $B$-$i$i2;Ih(B - serialized on Nakayoshi, 1995, Y390.
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Nobe Toshio $@LnItMxM:(B
-
- ------------------------
-
- Nozomi Witches $@$N$>$_(B$@%&%#%C%A%#%:(B - serialized on Young Jump
- 1986-present, 42 volumes @ Y500.
- Nozomi Witches used to be the number one serial on Young Jump during its
- peak around 89-90. During its beginning (vol. 1-5) it concentrated on this
- young, talent, ex-actress high school girl who returns from New Zealand,
- and she met her next door neighbor Ryotaro. (The 15 year old male lead of
- this story.) The next phase of this series is around vol 6-17, with the
- main emphasis shifting from Nozomi to Ryotaro as he tries to qualify for
- the Seoul Olympics. From vol. 18 on is the current phase of this manga
- (which Nobe called Book II). It's about Ryotaro's pro boxing life, and the
- parallel life of his boxing friend/enemy/soulmate Yugo Fukuyama. At this
- stage the drama side of the story is almost non-existent, and there is
- really no suspense between Nozomi and Ryotaro. Character designs also
- changed.
-
- Myu no Densetsu $@%_%e%&$NEA@b(B - published by Shogakukan, 5 volumes @ Y850.
- An OK fantasy adventure story, with some H towards the end.
-
- Himiko triangle $@%R%_%3$H$i$$$"$s$0$k(B - published by Shogakukan, Y370.
-
- Yayoi no Ozora $@Lo@8$NBg6u(B - serialized on Young Jump, 11 volumes @ Y370.
-
- Rising $@%i%$%8%s%0(B - serialized on Young Jump 1989, Y460.
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Ogino Makoto $@2.Ln(B $@??(B
-
- Ogino brought a detailed knowledge of occultism to Kujaku-Oh, his debut manga,
- which sparked a second boom in occult mangas. However, his later work doesn't
- begin to compare with Kujaku-Oh in terms of depth or excitement. Ogino has also
- done some video game character designs.
-
- ------------------------
-
- Kujaku-Oh $@9&?}2&(B - serialized on Young Jump 1986-89, 17 volumes @ Y460.
- Kujaku is a buddhist monk who belongs to Ura-Kouya, a secret organization
- within the Shingon Sect of Buddhism, the sole purpose of which is to
- destroy demons/monsters. Kujaku was born with the power of Kujaku-Myoo
- (Mayuri Vidya-raja, also referred to as Lucifer in some occult books)
- which he uses to fight the forces of evil.
-
- The world of Kujaku-Oh is filled with religions, mythology, gods, demons,
- monsters, and powerful sorcerers/priests. If you like this kind of stuff,
- Kujaku-Oh will fill all your needs. However, good knowledge of
- religion/mythology is required for full enjoyment of this manga.
-
- Four large-format "Special Choice" reprints were released in 1993, which
- included some stories not in the existing volumes.
-
- See also: Kujaku-Oh at tcp.com
- <http://www.tcp.com/pub/anime-manga/sorted/Kujaku-Oh>
-
- ALGO! - serialized on Young Jump 1990-1, 3 volumes @ Y460.
- All the cliches of Kujaku-Oh, with none of the good points, in a
- cyberpunk-like setting. Ogino's art became more stylised while he was
- working on this manga.
-
- Kujaku-Oh Taimaseiden $@9&?}2&!]B`Kb@;EA!](B - serialized on Young Jump
- 1991-3, 11 volumes @ Y500.
- A loose continuation of Kujaku-Oh. Taimaseiden started with the demon-hunt
- stories that characterised early Kujaku-Oh before it became an epic saga,
- but it also eventually became an epic saga. There are major continuity
- conflicts with the original Kujaku-Oh; for example, Kujaku supposedly lost
- his power when he and his twin sister (the Beast, 666) neutralized each
- other at the end of Kujaku-Oh, but he again used the power of Kujaku-Oh in
- volume 3 of Taimaseiden.
-
- Mao $B??5{(B - serialized on Young Jump 30, 1992.
- Mao is the name Kukai (the founder of Shingon Sect and Mt. Koya) used when
- he was young. Enraged by corrupt nobles and society, Mao quits college and
- becomes a Robin Hood-type rebel, but got captured by a general named
- Sakunoueno Tamuramaro. While being tortured, he's visted by a mysterious
- bodhisattva who gave a revelation regarding the ``True Path''. After the
- encounter, Mao sets out on a journey to find the one who can be his
- mentor. The manga adds lots of Ogino's creative imagination to the
- historical facts. (This is more or less Ogino's only decent post-Kujaku-Oh
- work, but it hasn't been published as a tankoubon yet.)
-
- Yasha Garasu $BLk:5rm(B - currently serialized on Young Jump, 1993-present, 7
- volumes @ Y500.
- Another story revolving around a supernatural troubleshooter, Nachi
- Takeru, whose powers are based on Shinto traditions. The pilot episode was
- promising, but it rapidly went downhill.
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Okazaki Takeshi $@2,:jIp;N(B
-
- One of a loose grouping of friends that includes CLAMP and Hagiwara Kazushi.
- Okazaki's art is strongly associated with the styles of those manga-kas, and
- also Asamiya Kia. He was also probably a part-time assistant of CLAMP at one
- stage. Okazaki has drawn numerous short stories and parodies (of SD Gundam,
- Final Fantasy, Project A-ko, etc), but few of these have been republished.
-
- ------------------------
-
- Explorer Woman Ray - serialized on Nora, 1988-9, 2 volumes @ Y500.
- Derivative action-adventure stuff.
-
- Lyrical Karen-chan $@$+$l$s$A$c$s(B - published by Kadokawa Shoten, 1992,
- Y680.
- Karen is 175cm tall, too tall for her liking; and she cries easily.
-
- Elementalors $@@:Nn;H$$(B - currently serialized on Nora, 1990-present, 3
- volumes @ Y800.
- From the volume 1 blurb:
-
- ``In ancient times, minds and spirits dwelled in all the
- materials on earth. At the end of a battle these minds dwelling
- in matter conquered the hostile matter of the enemy and
- mutiplied. Sacred wars gave birth to the elementalors. fierce
- battles between the elementalors raged continuously in the
- struggle to create a new utopia.
-
- ``Kagura is an elementalor reincarnated in the present! After a
- billion nights, the battles of the elementalors have returned...
- but only one can rule. Kagura's long, fiery trial is about to
- begin. Now!!''
-
- Koi $BNx(B - written by Okawa Nanase, South, 1993, Y580.
- Okazaki remarked that he enjoyed drawing this manga because ``it is his
- true story''. However, Okazaki and Okawa's (implied?) partnership did not
- seem to last long past the publication of Koi.
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Otomo Katsuhiro $@BgM'9nMN(B
-
- Otomo has also worked as an illustrator, TV commercial director, and character
- designer. Anime credits include Genma Taisen $B88KbBg@o(B, Koji Chushi Meirei
- $B9);vCf;_L?Na(B (in Meikyu Monogatari $BLB5\J*8l(B [aka Manie Manie]) and
- the title sequences of Robot Carnival.
-
- Otomo's manga has been inspired right from the start by the work of the French
- comic artist, Moebius (Jean Giraud). Currently, Otomo is believed to be working
- on a movie based on Giraud's best-known work, La Garage Hermetique [The
- Airtight Garage], featuring state-of-the-art computer animation.
-
- Dozens of SF and fantasy manga-kas have been very heavily influenced by Otomo's
- work - Aki Kyoma, Kinutani Yu, Oyama Akira $@Bg;3Nh(B, Tony Takezaki, and
- Sakaguchi Hisashi $B:d8}(B $B>0(B (the artist of Version, published by
- Ushio Shuppansha, 1991-2, 3 volumes @ Y900), to name a few.
-
- (born 1954, Miyagi, Miyagi-ken)
-
- ------------------------
-
- Sayonara Nippon $@$5$h$J$i$K$C$]$s(B - serialized on Action, 1982, Y670.
- The experiences of two Japanese people who move to the US; one a judo
- teacher, the other a guitarist.
-
- Kibun mo Senso $B5$J,$O$b@oAh(B [aka Urge for War, Hard On] - serialized on
- Action, 1982, Y830.
- About three people involved in a fictional Sino-Soviet war. The work that
- brought recognition to Otomo in Japan.
-
- Domu $BF8L4(B - serialized on Action, 1983, Y810.
- In an apartment block, psychic battles rage between a little girl and
- evil, senile old man. A classic Otomo work, it was the first ever manga to
- win an SF literature prize.
-
- Hansel and Gretel $@%O%s%<%k$H%0%l!<%F%k(B - published by Sony Magazines,
- Y1600.
-
- AKIRA $@%"%-%i(B - serialized on Young Magazine, 1982-90, 6 volumes @ Y1200,
- anime comics 5 volumes @ Y690.
- In 2023, the teenage delinquent Kaneda and his motorbike gang ride through
- the streets of Neo-Tokyo. Kaneda's unstable friend, Tetsuo, is the subject
- of a secret military experiment which continues the work of the Akira
- project - a project which accidentally started WWIII years before.
- Tetsuo's new psychic powers lead to the revival of Akira, and Akira
- destroys Neo-Tokyo in a moment of fury. While Tetsuo carves an empire out
- of the ensuing chaos, his enemies - Kaneda, other psychics, and the US
- military - prepare to take him out. But Tetsuo's powers are increasing,
- and his ability to control them is decreasing...
-
- AKIRA achieved spectacular success in the West, due to the careful English
- adaptation of the manga and the technically dazzling anime movie. However,
- Japanese readers lost interest towards the end of the manga, and the final
- volume (whose ending slightly expanded on the original) took nearly three
- years to be published. In the meantime, the English version remained
- stalled at issue #33 for a number of years, apparently due to petty
- problems with the colorist. It has since resumed, but the translation
- quality of these last issues is extremely inadequate. #37 was a "tribute
- issue" by American artists. Some scenes were redrawn for the later issues
- of the English version, also.
-
- AKIRA Club - artbook published by Kodansha, 1995, Y3500.
- Contains pictures from all AKIRA-related merchandise.
-
- Kanojo no Omoide... $@H`=w$NA[$$$G!D(B [aka Memories] - published by
- Kodansha, 1990, Y980.
- Includes the color Farewell to Weapons, Planet Tako, Fireball (in some
- ways, the prototype for AKIRA), and other short mangas.
-
- The Legend of Mother Sarah $@:;N.Me(B art by Nagayasu Takumi
- $B$J$,$d$99*(B, - serialized on Young Magazine, 1990, 3 volumes @ Y1200.
- The Earth is rendered uninhabitable by war, and the population flees to
- orbiting space stations. Plans to make the Earth habitable again split the
- survivors into opposing groups, and Sarah loses her children when there is
- an exodus back to post-holocaust Earth. Each volume is the story of
- Sarah's efforts to be reunited with her children. Nagayusu's art is always
- technically impressive, but Otomo's story is cliched and dull.
-
- World Apartment Horror $@%o!<%k%I%"%Q!<%H%a%s%H%[%i!<(B art by Ima Satoshi
- $@:#IR(B, - serialized on Young Magazine, 1991, Y800.
- Yakuza vs. ethnic apartment residents.
-
- ZeD - art by Okada Tai $@2,EDBd(B, serialized on Mr. Magazine, 1991, Y550.
- The manufacturers of a hi-tech, fully-automated sickbed take an old man
- away from his nurse, so that they can showcase their product; however, the
- sickbed begins to run amok when they neglect the old man. An unusual and
- thoughtful piece.
-
- The manga is pretty scrappy, but the anime (known as Rojin Z is a nice
- piece of work (for which Otomo only did the mecha designs). Character
- designs were by Eguchi Hisashi $B9>8}!{;K(B, who is known for Age and
- Stop! Hibari-kun (published by Futabasha, 3 volumes @ Y1000). Otomo was a
- contributor to the debut issue of Comic Cue 1994, Eguchi's "alternative"
- yearly manga magazine.
-
- Highway Star $@%O%$%&%'%9%?!<(B artbook, - published by Futabasha, 1979.
-
- KABA - artbook, published by Kodansha, 1989.
-
- SOS Neo-Tokyo Exploration Party $B#S#O#SBgEl5~C58!Bb(B - published by
- Kodansha, 1995.
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Ozaki Minami $@Hx:jFn(B
-
- Said to be the ``queen of dojinshi'', Ozaki Minami is one of the most eminent
- shojo manga-kas of the 4th generation of shojo-manga. Her debut work was
- Chuusei no akashi (Proof of loyalty), published in 1988 when she was only 20.
- The following year, her work 3 Days was published in Margaret No.6. (Both of
- these can be found in Zetsuai -1989- volume 5.) At the same year (1989), she
- started Zetsuai -1989- and became very popular. She is now working on the
- sequel, Bronze -Zetsuai since 1989-. In an interview, she said she had never
- previously thought of being a manga-ka. She describes herself as a wilful,
- negative, conservative, petty, gloomy, niggardly, nervous, forgetful,
- untruthful, anxious, asking-for-trouble, self-destructive, boring person.
-
- She drives a red Honda NSX. (She used to have a Black Toyota Supra.) Her
- favourite colours are blood-red and black. She thinks no colour in the world
- can compare to the beauty of the colour of blood. She likes eating fish, sweet
- food and hot food. She likes the brands Dunhill, Armani and Chanel. In terms of
- material things, she would like to own a Rolex watch, a Ferrari Testarossa, a
- Porsche 959 and a Mercedes Benz 500 SL. In terms of jewellery, she likes
- diamonds best. She likes thunder and lightning. She likes sakura, and white
- roses in a big bunch (at least 30). Her blood type is O. She is 158cm tall.
-
- She uses Zebra pens, normal ink and normal manga paper. For colour
- illustration, she uses Special Black pen, Dr. Martin ink BB Kent paper and
- Pantone screen tone. To draw colour work, the fastest she took was 3 hours. The
- longest was 3 days; she averages 6 hours each.
-
- (born 27 February 1968, Hiratsuka, Kanagawa prefecture)
-
- ------------------------
-
- Zetsuai [Desperate Love]-1989- $@@d0&!]#1#9#8#9!](B - serialized on Margaret,
- 1989-91, 5 volumes @ Y390.
- Story about the intense love between popular idol singer, Nanjo Koji
- (male), and soccer player, Izumi Takuto (male). Passionate but full of
- despair, this manga has a very distinct style.
-
- Bronze -Zetsuai since 1989- - serialized on Margaret, 1992, 7 volumes @ Y390.
- The sequel/continuation of Zetsuai -1989-.
-
- Bad Blood - published by Shuueisha, 1992, Y500.
- Compilation of Zetsuai -1989- stories. Stories include Bad Trip, Bad
- Blood, Bad Drug, Nanjo Koji Version, Zodiac. There are more details on how
- Nanjo Koji first met Izumi Takuto, how he fell in love with him, and more
- information about Nanjou's family members. Nice format and good art
- quality of art. A must-buy for those who like Zetsuai -1989-!
-
- Zodiac - artbook, published by Shuueisha, 1991, Y2000.
-
- G O D - artbook, published by Shuueisha, 1992, Y1300.
-
- NEO Egoism - artbook, published by Gakushu Kenkyusha, Y1200.
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Ozawa Satoru $B>._7$5$H$k(B
-
- Active during the mid 60s to early 70s. He retired some time ago (possibly due
- to illness). He has done some sports manga, but the ones that make him stand
- out are:
-
- ------------------------
-
- Submarine 707 $@%5%U%^%j%s#7#0#7(B - serialized on Akita Shoten, 6 volumes @
- Y1300.
-
- Ao no 6-go $B@D$N#69f(B - serialized on Akita Shoten, 3 volumes @ Y290.
-
- Both of these are basically submarine combat manga. Drawing styles are
- somewhat similar to Yokoyama Mitsuteru's later years. Excellent combat
- sequences and drama. Multiple sub-combats (kind of unrealistic now I know
- more about it, but it was great when I was a kid), funky looking subs,
- interesting weapon systems.
-
- He predates Matsumoto Leiji, who became synonymous with mech-battle manga
- in 70s. Although Ozawa draws better looking humans though, neither manga
- made it to TV. Perhaps some enterprising person will make an OAV. ``Better
- than The Hunt for Red October!''
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Saito Takao $@$5$$$H$&!&$?$+$r(B
-
- Famous gekiga/action manga-ka, rising to fame in the '60s.
-
- ------------------------
-
- Golgo 13 $@%4%k%4#1#3(B - published by Leed-sha, 197?-present, 94 volumes @
- Y520.
- This classic work is about a mysterious assassin with the codename Golgo
- 13 (derived from Golgotha, the hill on which Jesus Christ was crucified).
- Golgo uses a sniper rifle to take out people of various non-Japanese races
- (and often of international political importance). Each volume has
- complete stories so you don't miss anything by not reading from #1--you
- only get bits and pieces of Golgo's identity in each volume anyway. Sample
- stories:
- #70: Nightmare--kills an Argentine traitor from the British-Argentine
- war Derby -- causes death of impure horse in 2,000 guinea derby, by
- order of QE2's underlings.... Psychic Weapon-- kills Yuri Geller-like
- person who defects to the Soviets and apparently causes telehypnosis
- of nuclear-silo personnel
-
- #78: Soviet spy satellite with atomic reactor falls near Golgo 13's
- hideout in Montana so he must deal with all the spies who come to
- fetch it; Soviet ballerina plans defection to West but KGB hires
- Golgo to stop her; (2 more stories)
-
- #81: stories about South Africa apartheid & heir to fortune of czar
- left in Western bank accounts
-
- #83: Ms. Florida's husband hires Golgo to prevent her from cheating
- on him; Francois Mitterand hires him to take out Syrian spy; prevents
- defection of Soviet journalist holding secrets about the Afghan
- war....
-
- #85: mafia stuff; prevents Israeli spy from getting executed in Iraq;
- Hong Kong triad stuff.
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Saruwatari Tetsuya $@1nEOE/Li(B
-
- Billed as manga's ``standardbearer of violence'', featuring super-realistic
- art; stories are often poorly-constructed excuses for his trademark scenes of
- extreme violence. Saruwatari is a big fan of US and Hong Kong action films.
-
- (born 1959)
-
- ------------------------
-
- Riki-Oh $BNO2&(B - written by Takajo Masahiko $@Bk>"@/I'(B, serialized on
- Business Jump, 1988-90, 12 volumes @ Y500.
- In the late 1990s, society is descending into ecological collapse and
- totalitarianism. Most jails are run by corporations. Saiga Rikioh, 21,
- finds himself in jail after taking out a yakuza leader (who killed his
- girlfriend) - but he has studied Chinese internal martial arts, taught to
- him by one of Chiang Kai-shek's former bodyguards. Rikioh has a hexagram
- scar on his left hand, and his brother Nachi has a swastika scar. They
- were the selected offspring of experiments conducted on a Jewish enclave
- of Manchuria (established by the Japanese in WWII). Anyway, the story goes
- on for another 10 or so volumes, concluding at the South Pole, where
- Rikioh fights his father in the battle of Armageddon.
-
- Unquestionably Saruwatari's best manga, definitely a violence/action manga
- classic, made into OAVs and a category III Hong Kong film, The Story of
- Ricky (both terrible). The story is fairly mature and thought-provoking,
- at least compared to other mangas in the genre. Takajo Masahiko, the
- author, has written other strong martial arts-based mangas, Hong Lang
- $B9HO5(B and Lapis Lazuli $BN\M~(B, both on Young Sunday.
-
- The Hard $@%6!&%O!<%I(B - serialized on Business Jump, 1991-present, 14
- volumes @ Y500.
- M60-toting Kenji Hado, known as ``the Hard'', pays his divorce bills by
- working in the US as a bounty hunter. Masseria, a ruthless and ambitious
- mafia boss, targets his family - starting with the Hard's father-in-law, a
- Don in the NY mafia. Hard's aim, while poor when sober, increases to 100%
- hit probability when drunk! This is Saruwatari's best original work. The
- short story N.Y. Dust, in volume 12 of Riki-Oh, was the prototype for The
- Hard.
-
- Dogsoldier $@%I%C%0%=%k%8%c!<(B - serialized on Young Jump, 1987-91, 12
- volumes @ Y500.
-
- BAD POLICE - serialized on Shonen Champion, 1989, Y500.
-
- DAN-GAN - written by Kaji Kengo $@3a8&8c(B, published by Studio Ship,
- 1986-88, 5 volumes @ Y510.
-
- Ogon Taikaki $@2+6bB@9^5-(B story by Izawa Motohiko $@0fBt85I'(B, -
- published by Futabasha, 1988, 480.
-
- Jungle King $@%8%c%s%0%k!&%-%s%0(B - serialized on Bears Club, 1993, Y500.
-
- Damned $@%@%`%I(B - serialized on Young Jump, 1992-3, 3 volumes @ Y500.
-
- SOUL, 1985, 4 volumes @ Y460.
-
- Tsukai Abare Bun-ya $BDK2w$"$P$l%V%s20(B - irregularly featured on Business
- Jump Extra, 1992-present, Y500.
-
- Gakko Tekken-den Tough $B9b9;E47}EA%?%U(B - currently serialized on Young
- Jump, 1993-present, 7 volumes @ Y500.
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Shibata Masahiro $@!{ED>;90(B
-
- ------------------------
-
- Kuradharma $@%/%i%@%k%^(B - currently serialized on Young King, 1990-present,
- 13 volumes @ Y500.
- In short, it's 3x3 Eyes meets Urotsukidouji. But some "read it for its
- exciting story, sophisticated artwork, and intriguing mysticism"...
-
- Blue Sonnet $@%V%k!<%=%M%C%H(B - serialized on Hana to Yume, 19 volumes @
- Y370.
- Blue Sonnet is highly recommended to anyone who loves great art, action
- (and violence), SF and complex plots. In a way, Blue Sonnet is one of the
- ultimate psychic action mangas.
-
- Sledge $@%9%l%C%8(B - published by Hakusensha, 1990, 2 volumes @ Y490.
-
- Burst $@%P!<%9%H(B - published by Taitosha, 1991, Y680.
-
- Psychic Traveller $@%5%$%-%C%/!&%H%i%Y%i!<(B - serialized on Hana to Yume,
- 1990, Y390.
-
- Missing Islands [?] $@%_%C%7%s%0%"%$%i%s%9(B - serialized on Hana to Yume,
- 1989, Y370.
-
- Feather Touch Operation $@%U%'%6!<%?%C%A%*%Z%l!<%7%g%s(B - serialized on
- Wings, 2 volumes @ Y480.
-
- Harrier $@%O%j%"!<(B - serialized on Hana to Yume, 1988, Y360.
-
- Death Trap $@%G%9!&%H%i%C%W(B - published by Taitosha, 1992, Y800.
-
- Anaesthesia Shrine $@Kb?g5\(B - published by Asahi Sonorama, 1993, Y800.
-
- Izuna $@%$%:%J(B - published by Akita Shoten, 1993, Y390.
-
- Red Fang $@9H$$2g(B - published by Hakusensha, 8 wide-ban volumes @ Y980.
-
- Love Synchroid $@%i%V%7%s%/%m%$%I(B - currently serialized on Comic Burger, 5
- wide-ban volumes @ Y700.
-
- Meikai Shingyo Levi Door $@L=3&?M7A%l%t%#!&%I!<%k(B - serialized on Wings,
- 1990, Y490.
-
- Feathertouch Operation $@%U%'%6!<%?%C%A!&%*%Z%l!<%7%g%s(B - published by
- Scholar, 1994, 2 volumes @ Y750.
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Shirato Sampei $@GrEZ;0J?(B
-
- Famous author of classic ninja mangas.
-
- (born 15 Feb 1932, debut 1957)
-
- ------------------------
-
- Ninja Bugeicho $@G!{TIp7]D"(B - published by Shogakukan, 1959-62, 17 volumes.
-
- Ninja Bugeicho Kagemaru-den $@G&!{Ip7]D"1F4]EA(B - published by Shogakukan,
- 1993, 8 volumes @ Y1200.
-
- Kamui-den $@%+%`%$EA(B - published by Shogakukan, 1964-71, 21 volumes @ Y500.
- The story of a young boy growing up to become a ninja. His life of
- training ends when he realizes that he doesn't want to be a ninja and
- decides to become a nukenin (outlaw ninja), someone who is not affiliated
- with an organization and is hunted for leaving the clan.
-
- Kamui Gai-den $@%+%`%$30EA(B - published by Shogakukan, 1982-7, 12 volumes @
- Y400.
- The continuing story of Kamui after he leaves the ninja clan.
-
- Sasuke $@%5%9%1(B - published by Shogakukan, 1961-7, 2 volumes @ Y1010.
- Sasuke is the story of a ninja child that starts right after the battle of
- Sekigahara where Tokugawa Ieyasu becomes shogun of Japan. Sarutobi Sasuke
- (Jump Like Monkey Sasuke) was a famous ninja in the employ of Sanada
- Daisuke who fought for the losing side against Ieyasu. He was believed to
- have committed suicide when he was trapped in a castle, but the story
- takes off that he really escaped and that Sarutobi is not a name of a
- ninja but a whole ninja clan.
-
- Watari $@%o%?%j(B - published by Kodansha, 1965, 5 volumes @ Y580.
- This story was about a ninja war, where the things they did were much more
- superhuman. It was made into a live action movie many years ago.
-
- Kogarashi Kushi, 1957.
-
- Kaze no Ishinoru, 1960.
-
- La pesca, 1967.
-
- Bacchus, 1976.
-
- Kamui Gai-den 2 $@%+%`%$EABh#2It(B - written by Okamoto Tetsuji
- $B2,K\E4Fs(B, published by Shogakukan, 1988-91, 8 volumes @ Y500.
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Shimizu Reiko $@@6?eNh;R(B
-
- The first runner up of Puff magazine's New Artist Award in 1985. Her debut
- manga was Sansaro monogatari $B;0:5O)(B.
-
- ------------------------
-
- Moon Child $@7n$N;R(B - published by Hakusensha, 1989-93, 13 volumes @ Y390.
- Story about 3 children, the offspring of a mermaid and a human. After they
- were born, they were grew up on another planet and they returned to the
- Earth in 1985. One of them lost memory in an accident. They also found out
- what happened to their clan, and had to save the Earth and the mermaids.
-
- Tenshitachi no shinkaron $@E7;H$?$A$N?J2=O@(B - published by Hakusensha,
- 1991, Y390.
- About a sexless robot, Alan, who won't die, won't grow old, and of course
- will never be able to reproduce. But it has superior intelligence and
- physical power, and also can communicate with animals. Alan suffers a lot
- because it lives with human, but it realises it can never live like a
- human.
-
- 22XX - published by Hakusensha, 1994, Y390.
- About a robot, Jack, who appears frequently in Shimizu's SF stories. He's
- a robot with very human-like psyche. He once believed that he was human
- and he can even consume food, unlike many of the other robots of those
- times. While performing bounty-hunting duties on a strange planet, he has
- a flashback to the time he believes he was human...
-
- ARIA - published by Hakusensha, Y1550.
-
- Ryu no nemeru hoshi $@N5$NL2$k@1(B - serialized on Hana to Yume, 1986-8, 5
- volumes @ Y360.
-
- Papillon $B%Q%T%h%s(B - published by Hakusensha, 1994, Y390.
-
- Yume no tsudzuki $@L4$N$D$E$-(B - published by Hakusensha, 1989, Y390.
-
- Kaguyahime $B51LkI1(B - currently published by Hakusensha, 1994, 5 volumes @
- Y390.
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Shinohara Chie $B!{86@i3((B
-
- Aoi no fuuin $BAs$NIu0u(B - published by Shogakukan, 1992-4, 11 volumes @
- Y390.
- This is a pursuit and discovery story, similar in flavor to Mai the
- Psychic Girl. The heroine is actually an oni-queen, though she doesn't
- believe it until volume 2. She gets energy by drainng it from other
- people, which I guess makes her something of a vampire. One of her
- pursuers becomes her protector. A friend of mine with no Japanese is
- picking it up for the artwork and visual story telling. [RMC]
-
- Umi no yami, Tsuki no kage $@3$$N0G!&7n$N1F(B - published by Shogakukan,
- 1986-91, 18 volumes @ Y390.
-
- Ryoko no Shinreijikenbo $@NM;R$N?4Nn;v7oJm(B - published by Shogakukan,
- 1988-91, 4 volumes @ Y390.
-
- Sanninme ga kieta $@#3?ML\$,>C$($?(B - published by Shogakukan, 1992, Y390.
-
- Yami no Purple Eye $B0G$N%Q!<%W%k!&%"%$(B - published by Shogakukan, 12
- volumes @ Y370.
-
- Nani kaga yami de miteiru $@$J$K$+$,0G$G8+$F$$$k(B - published by Shogakukan,
- Y370.
-
- Houmonsha wa mayaju ni $BK,Ld!{$O??Lk(B - published by Shogakukan, Y370.
-
- Mokugekisha ni kyonara $BL\7b!{$K$-$g$&$J$i(B - published by Shogakukan,
- Y370.
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Shirow Masamune $@;NO:@5=!(B
-
- Formerly a high school art teacher, Shirow (a pseudonym) started out drawing
- Black Magic M66 for a dojinshi anthology. He turned pro in 1985, after the
- first volume of Appleseed was well-received. He worked on the Black Magic M66
- anime and hired an assistant, but Shirow found both arrangements unworkable and
- he settled down as a solo manga-ka. In 1990, Seishinsha launched Comic Gaia to
- showcase Shirow's work. It featured many Shirow-like artists, but it folded in
- mid-1993. His current manga projects are shared between at least three
- different publishers.
-
- Shirow's library includes magazines (he subscribes to a couple of dozen
- titles), books on biotechnology, military technology, mythology, cars, and
- artbooks; about half of these are imported. Apart from his work, his hobbies
- include window shopping and watching TV with friends. Shirow has expressed
- dissatisfaction with most popular Japanese SF anime and manga, although he
- cites Miyazaki, Otomo and filmmaker Terry Gilliam as important influences.
-
- (born 23 November 1961, debut 1982)
-
- See also: Randall Wood's Shirow homepage
- <http://www.acs.appstate.edu:80/~rw6946/Shirow/>
-
- ------------------------
-
- Black Magic M66 $@%V%i%C%/%^%8%C%/(B - published by Seishinsha, 1986, Y880.
-
- Black Magic M66 E-conte $@%V%i%C%/%^%8%C%/#M#6#63(%3%s%F(B Seishinsha, 1986,
- Y1240.
-
- Dominion $@%I%_%K%*%s(B - published by Hakusensha, 1987, 2 volumes @ Y900.
- Sometime in the future, both crime and pollution proliferate in the
- cities. Leona is a member of the Tank Police, and loves her tank Napoleon
- over all else. Pitted against the Tank Police is the master criminal
- Buaku, and his cat-girl assistants.
-
- Dominion Conflict-shuu #1: No More Noise! $B%I%_%K%*%s(B
- $B%3%s%U%j%/%HJTBh#1OC(B - published by Seishinsha, 1995, 2 volumes @ Y900.
- New instalments of Dominion were published just before Shirow's magazine
- Comic Gaia folded in 1993. Buaku is on the loose again, and the Puma
- sisters join the Tank Police.
-
- Appleseed $@%"%C%W%k%7!=%I(B - published by Seishinsha, 1988-present, 5
- volumes @ Y880.
- As the earth recovers from nuclear war, the utopian city of Olympus
- emerges as a powerful force. Controlled by a central computer called Gaia,
- and sparsely populated by synthetic humanoids called ``bioroids'', even
- utopia turns out to have its problems. Appleseed is the story of Deunan
- Knute and Briareos Hecatonchires, former outsiders who are now key members
- of Olympus' E-SWAT team.
-
- Appleseed Databook $@%"%C%W%k%7!=%I!&%G!=%?%V%C%/(B - published by
- Seishinsha, 1990, Y880.
- Includes a timeline, organisations of Olympus, character details, mecha
- designs, sketches, a substantial short story, and other bits and pieces.
-
- Comic Gaia-ban Appleseed Soushuuhen: Shirow Masamune Hypernauts
- $B%3%_%C%/%,%$%"HG%"%C%W%k%7!=%IAm=8JT(B $B;NO:@5=!%O%$%Q!=%N!<%D(B -
- published by Seishinsha, 1995.
- (?)
-
- Kokaku Kidotai $@963L5!F0Bb(B [The Ghost in the Shell] - irregularly featured
- on Young Magazine Kaizokuban, 1991-present, 1 volumes @ Y1000.
- Set in the near future, where information networks and direct neural
- interfaces are revolutionizing society. But the divisions of nations and
- races remain, and keeping the peace is the ``Shell'' mobile strike force.
- Major Kusanagi Motoko is an officer of the Shell's 9th division; she has a
- full cyborg body, which houses her living brain. Together with team leader
- Aramaki and fellow part-cyborg Bato, the 9th division takes on the
- terrorists of the information age.
-
- For the tankoubon, Shirow drew 36 additional color pages, many of which
- are "fade-ins" and "fade-outs" to the black and white pages. The plot is
- more or less episodic, with less of the twisting intrigue that
- characterises Appleseed, though there is a lot of difficult
- mecha/cyberpunk jargon. A second volume is planned; one new instalment was
- published in Young Magazine Weekly #26, 1992, with slightly revised
- character designs. An anime is also planned for release in late 1995.
- Illustrations to publicise the anime were published in the February 1995
- issue of Young Magazine Kaizokuban.
-
- Senjutsu Chokokaku Orion $@@g=QD6963L%*%j%*%s(B Seishinsha, 1991, Y950.
- In the Yamata People's Empire, powerful technology is based solely on
- consciousness. Dr. Snake-eye has devised a `dharmaquation', which will
- release Kuturyu, a 9-headed dragon, to devour the planet's bad karma.
- However, the `dharmaquation' is incomplete, and by chance, the stellar
- navigator Seska becomes its 10th, evil component. The `dharmaquation' has
- already begun to manifest and Seska's father, Fuzen, desperately summons
- the destructive god Susa-no-Oo to counter it...
-
- While Orion is essentially a comedy manga, it contains some interesting
- ideas, incorporating elements from Taoist, Buddhist, Hindu and Shinto
- mythology. It can be enjoyed at face value, although many concepts will
- remain opaque to Western readers.
-
- Intron Depot $@%$%s%H%m%s%G%](B artbook - published by Seishinsha, 1992,
- Y2400.
- Includes all Shirow's color illustrations from 1981 to 1991. There is an
- extensive bilingual Japanese/English commentary. A sequel is not being
- planned (but is probably inevitable).
-
- Exon Depot $@%(%C%/%=%s%G%](B Seishinsha, 1992.
- A very short (no more than 20 pages) color manga, which remained
- unfinished with the demise of Comic Gaia.
-
- Neuro Hard $B%K%e!<%m%O!<%I(B - irregularly featured on Comic Dragon,
- 1993-1995.
- Subtitled Hachi no Wakusei $BK*$NOG@1(B [Planet of the Bee]. (Shirow has
- a keen interest in bees and wasps.) Not a manga, but a complete
- illustrated specification for an imaginary universe, listing
- personalities, politics, races, technology, locations, and much more. An
- interesting experiment, described by Shirow as ``e-conte''. Shirow fans in
- the West will enjoy the few pictures that are there, although they make no
- sense at all without following the highly dense, jargony, kanji-dependent
- text. Not enough instalments have been published to make up a tankoubon.
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Sonoda Ken'ichi $@1`ED7r0l(B
-
- A prominent dojinshi artist who rose to fame as the character designer for OAVs
- such as Bubblegum Crisis, Burn Up, Gall Force, and Riding Bean. He's also done
- character designs for a Super Famicom strip-mahjong game.
-
- See also: World of Mega Tokyo <http://server.cs.jhu.edu/~vincie/megatokyo.html>
-
- ------------------------
-
- Sonoda Ken'ichi Early Works Compilation Fuse Box
- $@1`ED7r0l=i4|:nIJ=8!V#F#u#s#e!!#B#O#X!W(B - published by Byakuya Shobo,
- 1990, Y980.
- A collection of Sonoda stories, with nothing really outstanding.
-
- Sonoda Ken'ichi Comic Selection $@1`ED7r0l%3%_%C%/%;%l%/%7%g%s(B - published
- by Bandai, 1991, Y1500.
-
- Gun Smith Cats - currently serialized on Afternoon, 6 volumes @ Y500.
- It's got decent action and story, but not outstanding comparing with
- others doing shoot-em-up-action-suspense mangas. This is like saying A.C.
- Green is an average NBA player; he can still kick butt playing street
- ball. Japan's got a lot of them, and not all of them well fed, I'm afraid.
-
- Garden Party - artbook, published by Bandai, 1992.
- Includes BGC, lots of Gall Force, Riding Bean, GSC, Otaku no Video, an
- interview, and annoated illustrations.
-
- Mechanical Operation $@%a%+%K%+%k%*%Z%l!<%7%g%s(B published 1992.
- A Samurai Pizza Cats dojinshi.
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Takada Yuzo $@9bEDM5;0(B
-
- ------------------------
-
- Suposhon Kids $@%9%]!<%7%g%s#K#I#D#s(B - written by Yakuma\&MAT, serialized
- on Young Magazine, 1988, 2 volumes @ Y480.
- Takada was apparently asked to include violent sex scenes; he joked that
- he didn't mind.
-
- Everyday is Sunday $@KhF|$,F|MKF|(B - published by Futabasha 1988-9, 2
- volumes @ Y480, anime comics Y850.
- About policewoman Takashita Yumi, who when necessary can muster great
- strength, and a carefree stage magician, Ichidaiji Toru, who has nothing
- to do other than walking around (he is waiting for the World Master
- Magician to re-accept him as an apprentice). In each story, the magician
- tries to explain a little bit about the tricks used in stage magic.
-
- Toritsuki-kun $@%H%j%D%-$/$s(B - published by Take Shobo, 1991, Y560.
- A mah-jong manga, of no interest to those not familiar with Japanese
- mah-jong rules.
-
- Ban'no bunka Neko Musume $@K|G=J82=G-L<(B [The All-Purpose Cultural Cat Girl,
- aka Super Cat Girl Nukunuku] - published by Futabasha, 1993, Y2000.
- Yusaku is the top engineer for Mishima Heavy Industries, the company run
- by his wife, Akiko. Yusaku believes that Akiko is no longer capable of
- looking after his son Ryunosuke, and runs away with him. Akiko sends her
- minions after him, and a cat is badly injured in the chase. Yusaku puts
- the cat's brain in his powerful prototype android, which becomes
- Ryunosuke's `big sis', Nukunuku! She helps to defend Yusaku and Ryunosuke
- from Akiko and her increasingly outlandish mecha.
-
- Nukunuku was running in a magazine that folded shortly after the manga
- started, and the story wasn't long enough for one volume. After the
- successful OAVs were made, the character designer, Moriyama Yuji
- $@$b$j$d$^$f$&$8(B, finished off the manga so that a tankoubon could be
- published.
-
- See also: Super Catgirl Nuku Nuku homepage
- <http://www.cs.ubc.ca/spider/edmonds/anime/nuku.html>
-
- Sazan Eyes [3x3 Eyes] - currently serialized on Young Magazine, 1987-present,
- 20 volumes @ Y500, anime comics 4 wide-ban volumes @ Y790.
- Yakumo, a reasonably ordinary high school student, one day runs into Pai,
- a strange girl bearing a letter from his dead father. Pai is believed to
- be the last of the Sanjiyan Unkara, a 3-eyed race with the ability to
- grant immortality. Yakumo soon finds himself on the verge of death, but
- Pai saves him by making him her `Wu', a soulless, unkillable being. Pai
- wants to be human, and there are ways it can be done; Yakumo thinks it
- would be a nice to have his soul back, too.
-
- So the quest begins, ranging across many countries, Pai's mind and the
- ancient land of the Sanjiyans. Fair slices of action, humor, intrigue, H,
- and solid art and storytelling - it belatedly won Kodansha's 1993 best
- shonen/seinen manga award, more on the strength of the first few volumes
- than anything churned out in recent years. The quality of 3x3 degenerated
- visibly after around volume 11, when Takada began work on other major
- projects such as Blue Seed and the Nukunuku anime.
-
- Aien Kien $B9g1o4s1o(B - artbook, published by Kodansha, 1993, Y1950.
- This book's got a lot of colored Sazan Eyes illustrations, plus material
- from the days when he was a real green horn, and some CD jackets he has
- done for various Gundam-related merchandise. The last several pages of the
- book contains indexes and explanations of the illustrations much the same
- way Intron Depot contains Shirow's commentary, in both English and
- Japanese.
-
- Aokushimitama Blue Seed $BJK4q:2#B#L#U#E#S#E#E#D(B - currently serialized on
- Comic Gamma (Take Shobo), 1992-present, 3 volumes @ Y800, anime comics 5
- volumes @ Y780.
- Ancient gods return to Earth. Much like early 3x3 Eyes in terms of form
- and content. There is a TV anime, based on the manga, which was the basis
- for the ``film comic''.
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Takahashi Rumiko $@9b66N1H~;R(B
-
- ------------------------
-
- Urusei Yatsura $@$&$k@1$d$D$i(B [aka Lum] - serialized on Shonen Sunday
- 1979-85, 34 volumes @ Y390, 15 wide-ban volumes @ Y680.
- Ataru Moroboshi, the unluckiest boy in the world, is randomly selected as
- Earth's champion to defeat an alien in a contest with the world at stake.
- A complete lecher, he agrees when he finds the contest is tag and the
- quarry is the beautiful alien princess Lum. After many humiliating misses
- (no one told him Lum could fly), his long-suffering, unnaturally-strong
- "girlfriend" Shinobu promises to marry him if he wins. He does, and
- declares that he will be married, which the aliens take as a proposal. So
- he ends up engaged to a jealous alien every boy desires, while chasing
- every other girl in town, not to mention the galaxy.
-
- The title is a pun. "Urusei" means "noisy/obnoxious" and "yatsura" is
- slang for "people". But Takahashi wrote "sei" as "star", so that "Urusei"
- could be read as "planet Uru". Thus, the title means both "Noisy people"
- and "Uru-planet people".
-
- See also: Urusei Yatsura homepage
- <http://www.coe.uncc.edu/~tecardwe/uy.html>
-
- Maison Ikkoku $@$a$>$s0l9o(B - serialized on Big Comics Spirits, 1987, 15
- volumes @ Y500, 10 wide-ban volumes @ Y1100.
- A romantic comedy/drama about the residents of an old boarding house,
- centering on the relationship between Godai, a perennial ronin, and Kyoko,
- the widowed manager who hasn't let go of her late husband.
-
- See also: Maison Ikkoku homepage
- <http://www.math.ufl.edu/~smg/maison.html>
-
- Mermaid Series - 2 volumes, both Y1200, serialized on Shonen Sunday: Mermaid's
- Forest, 1989; and Mermaid's Scar $@?M5{$N=}(B, 1993.
- The story of Youta, a 500 year old "young man", and Mana, a 17 year-old
- girl. After eating mermaid flesh, they both became immortal. (At least two
- new stories have been published since the second compilation.) stories
-
- Rumick World $@$k!<$_$C$/$o!<$k$I(B - published by Shogakukan, 1990, 3
- volumes @ Y710.
- The OAVs from this series include: Firetripper, about a girl who
- experiences a timewarp after an explosion; Warau Hyouteki [Laughing
- Target]; and The Supergirl.
-
- Ranma Nibunnoichi $@$i$s$^(B1/2 - irregularly featured on Shonen Sunday, 1987,
- 35 volumes @ Y390.
- Saotome Ranma is a martial artist whose training in China left him with a
- curse: he transforms into female when splashed with cold water, and back
- to male when splashed with hot. Other characters are similarly cursed
- (turning into pandas, cats, etc). He is engaged to Akane, the youngest of
- three daughters, and lives in her father's dojo (which he is supposed to
- inherit). The romance between Ranma and Akane has shades of Maison Ikkoku,
- but it's played primarily for laughs, and there are many parodies of
- martial arts fiction cliches. A volume of Ranma 1/2 anime comics is
- available: Eiga Ranma Nibunnoichi: Chomusabetsu kessen! Ranma Team vs.
- Densetsu no Hoo
- $@1G2h$@$i$s$^#1!?#2D6L5:9JL7h@o!*MpGO%A!<%`#V#SEA@b$NK1Q`(B - published
- by Shogakukan, 1994, Y800.
-
- See also:
- o Ranma 1/2 Expanded homepage
- <http://www.coe.uncc.edu/~tecardwe/ranma.html>
- o Ranma 1/2 People & Places List
- <http://www.princeton.edu/~qpliu/ranma_ppt.html>
-
- One Pound Gospel $@#1%]%s%I$NJ!2;(B - irregularly featured on Young Sunday,
- 1989-present, 2 volumes @ Y500.
- A light drama about a nun and a boxer. (It remains unfinished yet - four
- episodes have been printed on Young Sunday since volume 2, though they
- haven't been compiled into a tankoubon yet.)
-
- Takahashi Rumiko Masterpiece Collection: P's Tragedy
- $@9b66N1H|;R7f:n=8#P$NHa7`(B - published by Shogakukan, 1994, Y980.
- Contains most of Takahashi's recent short stories; the rest appear in 1 or
- W. The stories included are:
-
- 1. P no higeki [P's tragedy]
- Dad begs Mom to nurse a _real penguin, his company's mascot, for a
- few days, despite the "no pets allowed" rule enforced by the stern
- kanrinin (janitor) of their apartment building, who doesn't seem to
- like pets at all..
- 2. Roman no akindo [Romantic merchant]
- A love/proposal/wedding affair, held in an old house, involving two
- "old" and "young" couples, whose protagonists somehow look like elder
- Akane and Ranma, quarelling all the time..
- 3. POI no ke [Home of rubbish]
- A housewife keeps trashing her husband's souvenir items from his
- trips all around the world, bothering another family by putting them
- day after day at the wrong "trash" spot right in front of the other
- family's yard..
- 4. Hachi no naka [Inside the pot]
- A housewife goes nuts when she realizes that the plants her neighbor
- gave her to water are planted into flowerpots made of.. human bones
- ?? Might they be her neighbor's mom's, who just passed away ???
- 5. Hyaku nen no koi [A hundred years' love]
- An old lady dies in a hospital but suddently comes to life again,
- with unexpected ESP powers, to make things go smoothly between a boy
- and his girlfriend, the nurse in charge of the old lady, in memory of
- the old lady's own love who killed himself before her eyes, long
- ago..
- 6. L size no shiawase [The happiness of large size]
- When the mother-in-law of her husband comes to live among them, a
- housewife realizes in horror that she's the only one to see a very
- tall ghost spirit, named "zashikiwarashi", who is supposed to look
- after households. Effectively, he will eventually prevent them from
- making a big mistake in the purchase of their new house.. [PJ]
-
- 1 or W - published by Shogakukan, 1995, Y1100.
- A compilation of 9 short stories (most dating from before 1990). The title
- story is about a lazy kendo boy, a girl manager of the kendo club who
- drowned and became a ghost, and an eccentric kendo teacher who has been
- drowned and intercepted her body. Other stories include Slim Kannon and
- Invitation to Takarazuka.
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Takeuchi Naoko $@IpFbD>;R(B
-
- In September 1986, Takeuchi Naoko won Kodansha's 2nd New Manga Artist award
- with Love Call, published in Nakayoshi Deluxe. It was in 1991 that she decided
- to do something different for the seasonal Run-Run (billed as Nakayoshi's
- younger sister magazine). Takeuchi had an interest in live-action heroes and
- decided to create a masked girl who wore a variation of the Japanese
- schoolgirl's uniform, the serafuku $@%;!=%i!=I~(B (sailor suit).
-
- She called her ``Sailor V'' and she debuted in August 1991. This story became
- popular, and TV Asahi approached her, but wanted to have a team. She created a
- new lead, Sailor Moon. Sailor Moon debuted in the February 1992 Nakayoshi,
- winning the 17th Kodansha Manga Award in 1993. The TV anime came out March 6th
- 1992. Sailor V joins the team as Sailor Venus, but Takeuchi still writes new
- Sailor V material for Run-Run.
-
- Takeuchi has said that she most admires manga-kas who draw for weekly shonen
- magazines, and that she relieves stress by driving around in "Poru-poru-kun"...
-
- (born 15 March 1967, Yamanashi prefecture)
-
- ------------------------
-
- Bishojo Senshi Sailor Moon $@H~>/=w@o;N%;!<%i!<%`!<%s(B [aka Pretty Soldier
- Sailor Moon] - currently serialized on Nakayoshi, 1992-present, 13 volumes @
- Y390, anime comics 13+ volumes @ Y600.
- Tsukino Usagi learned from Luna, a myterious black cat, that she can
- transform into Sailor Moon. Sailor Moon teams up with Sailor Mercury,
- Sailor Mars, Sailor Jupiter and Sailor Venus, and they search for the
- Princess of the Moon, Serenity, and fight for love and justice against
- Queen Beryl, their enemy.
-
- Part 2: From Neo-Tokyo comes Chibi Usagi, the future daughter of Usagi and
- Mamoru, and she came to Earth to ask for Usagi's help to fight against
- Wiseman, who wiped out Neo-Tokyo.
-
- Part 3: The very cool Sailor Uranus, the very elegant Sailor Neptune and
- the very beautiful Sailor Pluto turn up! This manga has excellent art,
- very interesting story, is fun and easy to read, and has good sense of
- humour and style. Strongly recommended.
-
- See also:
- o We Love SailorMoon!
- <http://tahiti11.far2.cc.kanagawa-u.ac.jp/~ys360260/Sailor/Sailor.html>
- o Sailor Moon homepage <http://www.tcp.com/doi/smoon/smoon.html>
-
- Codename wa Sailor V $@%3!<%I%M!<%`$O%;!<%i!<%S!<(B - serialized on Run Run
- 1991-present, 2 volumes @ Y390.
- The prototype of Bishojo Senshi Sailor Moon. Sailor V explains the first
- encounter of Minako and Artemis, which had not been explained in the
- Sailor Moon manga. Now, Codename wa Sailor V regularly appears in Run-Run.
-
- Chocolate Christmas $@%A%g%3%l!<%H!&%/%j%9%^%9(B - published by Kodansha,
- 1988, Y370.
-
- Maria $@$^!&$j!&$"(B - published by Kodansha, 1990, Y390.
-
- The Cherry Project $@#T#h#e%A%'%j!=!&%W%m%8%'%/%H(B - published by Kodansha,
- 1991, Y390.
-
- Miss Rain $@%_%9!&%l%$%s(B - published by Kodansha, 1993, Y390.
-
- Bishojo Senshi Sailor Moon S: Utsukushii Kaguya Hime Densetsu
- $@H~>/=w@o;N%;!<%i!<%`!<%s#S!]H~$7$-$+$0$dI1EA@b!](B - published by Kodansha,
- 1994.
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Tanaka Masasi $@EDCf@/;V(B
-
- Tanaka Masasi's manga is almost completely dialogue-free, but his dark,
- detailed line art - no screentone whatsoever, just pen, ink and crosshatching -
- tells the whole story. His work is characterised by over-the-top action and a
- black sense of humour.
-
- (born 10 July 1962, Gotsu, Shimane prefecture)
-
- ------------------------
-
- Flash $@%U%i%C%7(B - serialized on Morning, 1986-90, 3 volumes @ Y750.
- Flash is a bandit from the wild west, a man of few words who comes out of
- extraordinary situations with the money and the girl, every time. The
- first volume seems like a bit of an experiment, but Tanaka has his
- technique well and truly sorted out by the third volume. The final story
- is The Junior, where Flash raises a baby dinosaur as his sidekick. (The
- dinosaur later spins off into his own manga, Gon.)
-
- Unidentified Prince Object U.P.O. $@L$3NG'%W%j%s%9J*BN(B - serialized on
- Morning, 1990, Y720.
- A prince singlemindedly pursues his princess, ploughing through Nazis,
- demons and medieval battlefields in the process. Not much plot here, but
- pretty amusing.
-
- Gon $@%4%s(B - serialized on Morning, 1992, 3 volumes @ Y530.
- A baby dinosaur, Gon, causes havoc throughout the animal kingdom. There's
- no dialogue at all; just about anyone should be able to pick this up and
- enjoy it.
-
- Samurai Daiboken $B;xBgKA81(B - serialized on Afternoon, 1991, Y800.
-
- Boken Victoria-go $BKA81%t%#%/%H%j%"9f(B - serialized on Morning, 1988, Y700.
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Takemiya Keiko $BC]5\7C;R(B
-
- ------------------------
-
- Tenma no Ketsuzoku $BC]5\7C;R(B - currently serialized on Asuka, 1992, 10
- volumes @ Y390.
- This is a steppe nomad / fantasy story. Combat is both ninja and massed
- battle, but the swirling horse combat is done better than in Arslaan
- Senki. Magic is mostly psychic illusions and premonitions, though there is
- a "spirit plane" where strange things happen and strong psychics meet.
- This is a really nice historical novel, and the author has actually
- researched her subject. I can compare the armor to some of my historical
- books and say "yup, that's Persian, around 1450" or "that's Uighur". Many
- of the details are really similar to the "Secret History of the Mongols",
- one of the primary sources for the steppes. The story itself is shojo,
- revolving around a young woman who is the "ki" ("spirit"?) of the tribe,
- her romantic interest in the chief, her "milk brother"'s feelings toward
- her, and the negotiations required to forge the alliance between the
- tribes to create a steppe nation. A top-notch example of how beautiful
- open and airy shojo pages can be, with a story that's not a high school
- girl with love pangs.
-
- Terra E... $@CO5e$X(B - published by Kadokawa Shoten, 3 volumes @ Y700.
- A classic, though the anime is reportedly "terrible".
-
- Kaze to Ki no Uta $@Iw$HLZ$N;m(B - published by Chuokoronsha, 4 wide-ban
- volumes @ Y1400.
- "People blame Takemiya for starting a genre of homosexuality. But I think
- Kaze to Ki no Uta is different from any other "bishonen" mangas. The
- author of Pataliro is certainly influenced by Takemiya's work. When I
- finished reading Kaze to Ki no Uta, I couldn't stop crying...it's really
- good." [HHs]
-
- ------------------------
-
- Other important works:
-
- Izuaron Densetsu $@%$%:%!%m!=%sEA@b(B - published by Shogakukan, 6 wide-ban
- volumes @ Y780.
-
- Pharaoh no haka $@%U%!%i%*$NJh(B - published by Kadokawa Shoten, 4 wide-ban
- volumes @ Y700.
-
- Watashi o tsuki tsuretette! $@;d$r7n$^$GO"$l$F$C$F!*(B - published by
- Kadokawa Shoten, 4 volumes @ Y680.
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Tony Takezaki $@%H%K!<$?$1$6$-(B
-
- (a pseudonym)
-
- A graduate of an Osaka design school, Takezaki is a versatile manga-ka with a
- gross sense of humor. Major artistic influences include Otomo and Umezu Kazuo
- (there are also many homages/parodies of their work in his manga). Takezaki
- used to draw doujinshi based on Sonoda's work, and got his big break when he
- was comissioned to do the AD POLICE mangas. Takezaki also contributed to volume
- 2 of the Ariel manga anthologies.
-
- (born 15 July, 1963)
-
- ------------------------
-
- AD POLICE 25:00 - published by Bandai, 1990, Y880.
-
- AD POLICE Ultimate City $@#A#D!P#O#L#I#C#E=*_aET;T(B - published by Bandai,
- 1990, Y880.
- Various stories inspired by the AD Police anime; there's some serious
- stories, and some extremely flippant ones. Unravelling brains, Leon in
- Osaka, perverted boomers, it's all there. 25:00 reads left to right, is
- bilingual (English/Japanese, with a wild English translation), and even
- has a hilarious Western-style `comic'. The anime bears little resemblance
- to the manga.
-
- See also: AD Police homepage <http://aix2.uottawa.ca:8880/adp.html>
-
- Dr. Kishiwada's Scientific Affection $@4_OBEDGn;N$N2J3XE*0&>p(B - currently
- serialized on Afternoon, 1991, 6 volumes @ Y530.
- The hero is Dr. Kishiwada, a brilliant but demented scientist, who creates
- bizarre mechs, battles the forces of evil, or just mucks about. There are
- many parodies of B-grade SF movies and TV. Crazy, slick and very funny.
-
- Genocyber $@%8%'%N%5%$%P!<(B - serialized on Comic Self, 1992, Y780.
- Bio-weapons on the loose. Perfunctory, run-of-the mill story cranked out
- as raw material for the anime industry.
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Terasawa Buichi $@;{BtIp0l(B
-
- (A former Tezuka disciple?)
-
- ------------------------
-
- Goku Midnight Eye $@%4%/%&(B - serialized on Comic Burger, 1988-92, 4 volumes
- @ Y500.
- Goku's name comes from Seiyuki (q.v.). He's a private detective, with a
- cyborg eye tied to the world's computer networks, and an expanding
- explosive staff. Sexist, stupid and now looking pretty dated, but still
- readable.
-
- Kimi mo Mac de Manga ga Kakeru $@7/$b(JMac$@$GL!2h$,IA$1$k(B (aka Den'no
- Manga jutsu $BEEG>L!2h=Q(B?) - published by Scholar, 1994, Y1500.
- How to use computers (Macintoshes) to create and color manga.
-
- Cobra $@%3%V%i(B - published by Shuueisha, 12 volumes @ Y1000.
-
- COBRA [CG version, no kana in title] - published by Shuueisha, 1995, Y1500.
-
- Cobra Girls - Terasawa Buichi Illust-kessakushu $@;{BtIp0l%$%i%9%H7f:n=8(B -
- published by Shuueisha, 12 volumes @ Y1000.
-
- Kabuto - published by Shuueisha, 1988, 2 volumes @ Y850.
-
- Takeru - serialized on Comic Burger, 1993, Y1500.
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Tezuka Osamu $@!{DM!{Cn(B
-
- Often referred to as ``manga no kami-sama'' (``the god of manga''), [Image]
- whose importance to the world of manga cannot be overstated. Tezuka's
- first manga appeared when he was 20, while he was studying at university. He
- continued his studies and went on to become a qualified doctor; in the
- meantime, he kept drawing manga, borrowing ideas from many sources and pushing
- the medium forward. His innovation paid off, inspiring his contemporaries and
- catalysing the growth of today's vast manga industry. (Tezuka's personal
- contribution eventually amounted to over 150,000 pages.) Today, time has not
- diminished the impact of Tezuka's mangas, which are characteristically
- intelligent, mature and expertly told. His death was justifiably regarded as a
- national tragedy. Just prior to his death, some Japanese journalists suggested
- that he should be awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature.
-
- Only the most recent editions of Tezuka's mangas are listed here. Older
- printings can probably be obtained more cheaply.
-
- (born 3 November 1926, Osaka - 9 February 1989)
-
- ------------------------
-
- Tetsuwan Atom $@E4OS%"%H%`(B [aka Astroboy, Mighty Atom] - published by
- Kodansha, 18 volumes @ Y570.
- Originally about a 100000hp robot in shape of a boy. Made into a
- phenomenally successful TV series in the early '60s, and remade into
- another TV series in the '80s. It even ran in newspapers for a while.
-
- Jungle Emperor $@%8%c%s%0%kBgDk(B [aka Kimba the White Lion] - published by
- Kodansha, 3 volumes @ Y520.
- Story of Leo the white lion. Achieved blockbuster success as a TV series,
- first Jungle Taitei, then Shin-Jungle Taitei and Shin-Jungle Taitei,
- Susume Leo. The TV serialization basically lost all the drama of the
- original, though.
-
- An article in the July 13, 1994 LA Times pointed out that there were many
- uncanny similarities between this manga and Disney's movie, The Lion King.
- Common elements include the basic story, the talkative bird, the wise old
- baboon, the evil hyenas, some names (Kimba/Simba, Claw/Scar), and a scene
- where clouds form the shape of the main character's dead father. It is
- also rumoured that the opening sequence to Kimba was printed and pinned up
- on the wall of some of Disney's studios while The Lion King was being
- animated, and that Simba was originally going to be white. Matsutani
- Takayuki, the president of Tezuka Productions Co., holder of the Jungle
- Taitei copyrights, said Tezuka would have been pleased by any borrowing,
- but considered The Lion King to be ``Disney's original work''. However,
- dozens of anime and manga personalities (eg. Satonaka Machiko) signed a
- letter of protest to Disney. Disney has declined to comment or disclaimed
- all knowledge through `anonymous employees'.
-
- See also: Tezuka's Jungle King and Disney's Lion King
- <http://bronze.ucs.indiana.edu:80/~tanaka/Tezuka_Disney/Tezuka_Disney.html>
-
- W3 $@%o%s%@!<%9%j!<(B - serialized on Kodansha, 3 volumes @ Y570.
- Story of 3 intergalactic agents sent to earth to investigate whether the
- Earth should be destroyed to save the galaxy from its barbaric ways. They
- disguise themselves as a rabbit (Colonel Bokko), a duck (Lieutenant Pukko)
- and a horse (Sergeant Nokko).
-
- Big X - published by Kodansha, 4 volumes @ Y570.
- The story of an heir to the secret formula of the Nazi V4 project and his
- struggle against a Neo-Nazi organization. (Apparently, current reprints
- don't contain all the original stories.)
-
- Vampire $@%P%s%Q%$%d(B - published by Kodansha, 3 volumes @ Y570.
- Contrary to what the title suggests, it's actually about Werewolves and
- werebeings. Heavily features Tezuka's two regular characters: Manabe
- Rokuro (Rock) and Hige Oyaji. The TV series had both live action and cel
- animation.
-
- Dororo $B$I$m$m(B - published by Kodansha, 4 volumes @ Y570.
- An unborn child's body is promised to a hundred monsters in exchange for
- power by a 16th century noble. The child grows up and start killing off
- the monsters to regain his missing body-parts (he is heavily
- prosthesized). Dororo is a hanger-on child of a brigand.
-
- A Knight with Ribbons $@%j%\%s$N53;N(B - published by Kodansha, 3 volumes @
- Y570.
- One of the few Tezuka shojo-manga. The story is about this princess who
- has to pretend she is a man to prevent succession problems.
-
- Microid S $@%_%/%m%$%I#S(B - published by Kodansha.
- Small sized humanoids with insect wings attempt to destroy humans. (Or
- something like that.)
-
- Triton of the Seas $@B3$N%H%j%H%s(B - published by Kodansha, 4 volumes @
- Y570.
- The manga wasn't all that popular, but the TV version became phenomenally
- popular, especially among teenage female anime fans. The last of the
- Triton tribe fights against the Poseidon tribe.
-
- Ambassador Magma $@%^%0%^Bg;H(B - published by Kodansha, 3 volumes @ Y?.
- Another short Tezuka series. This was made into a TV live action monster
- series (kind of like Ultraman) and was pretty popular.
-
- Hi no Tori $B2P$ND;(B [Firebird] - published by Kodansha, 1977-80, 13 volumes
- @ Y600.
- Tezuka's most profound and ambitious work, dealing with man's quest for
- immortality, ranging from the distant past to the far future. It remains
- unfinished.
-
- Black Jack $B%V%i%C%/!&%8%!%C%/(B - serialized on Shonen Champion, 12 volumes
- @ Y1000.
- Medical Manga. Black Jack is an illegal but talented surgeon. He is in
- conflict with the conservative medical establishment, for using radical
- and supernatural techniques to combat rare afflictions. One of Tezuka's
- most outstanding titles, whose basic premise has been extensively copied.
-
- Adolf ni Tsugu $@%"%I%k%U$K9p$O(B [Aufruf an Adolf!, I announce to Adolf] -
- published by Bunshun Bunko, 1992, 5 volumes @ Y500.
- ``This is a story about three men named Adolf. Although each led different
- lives, they were tied to one another by a single string called destiny.
- Now that the last Adolf has died, I would like leave this story to our
- sons. My name is Sohei Toge..... the main supporting role and narrator of
- this story....''
-
- Some netters have given this a `6 out of 5' rating. ``It has one of the
- most compelling plots in the history of manga. It is Tezuka's masterpiece,
- and one I'd recommend to anyone... provided they have a translation to go
- with it... If you can understand Japanese and have the money, just go out
- get this... It's worth it.''
-
- Crime and Punishment $B:a$HH31Q8lHG(B - translated by Frederik Schodt,
- published by the Japan Times, Y1030.
- An adaptation of Dostoevsky's classic work. The Japan Times edition is in
- English, with Japanese footnotes; the intended audience is Japanese, but
- as a language learning tool, it should be just as useful to Westerners.
-
- Nanairo Inko $@<7?'$$$s$3(B - published by Akita Shoten, 5 volumes @ Y500.>
-
- Kuuki no Soko $@6u5$$NDl(B - published by Akita Shoten, Y1000.>
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Tagami Yoshihisa $@$?$,$_$h$7$R$5(B
-
- (debuted 1978)
-
- ------------------------
-
- Nervous Breakdown - currently serialized on Nora, 1990-present, 10 volumes @
- Y520.
- Ando, weak but sharp-minded, forms a detective company with him as the
- president. His office has five people, including a former police detective
- in his 50s; Miwa (airheaded but strong); and another very rich woman, who
- loves Ando (like Miwa). Mostly, they are short stories, with the only
- continuity being the women fighting over Ando. All the characters are
- drawn superdeformed, but it doesn't suffer for it. It is funny in places,
- but despite the SD, the stories are serious.
-
- Pepper - published by Akita Shoten, 1991, Y1800. A western, set in the US.
-
- Horonichi $@LGF|(B - serialized on Shonen Captain, 1987, 5 volumes @ Y380.
-
- Waga ga na wa Okami $@2f$,L>$OO5(B - published by Akita Shoten, 1987, 2
- volumes @ Y1000.
-
- Fighter $@%U%!%$%?!<(B - published by Hakusensha, 1990-1, 4 volumes @ Y490.
-
- Karuizawa Syndrome $@7Z0fBt%7%s%I%m!<%`(B - published by Shogakukan, 1990-1,
- 5 volumes @ Y780.
-
- Yokaisenki $@ME2x@o5-(B - serialized on Shonen Captain, 1994, 2 volumes @
- Y530.
-
- Fedaain $@%U%'%@!<%$%s(B - serialized on Shonen Captain, 1994, Y520.
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Togashi Yoshihiro $@IZ3_5AGn(B
-
- ------------------------
-
- Yu Yu Hakusho $@M)!zM7!zGr=q(B [aka Astral Visit Report, The Poltergeist
- Report] - serialized on Shonen Jump, 1991-4, 19 volumes @ Y390, gekijo version
- Y690.
- The worst kind of bad boy, Urameshi Yusuke, died when he accidentally
- saved a child. But his death was so unpredictable that even Enma, the
- judge of the dead, can't decide whether he must go heaven or hell. He goes
- on a quest to decide his destiny. An enormously popular occult/comedy
- manga, which became an enormously popular dragged-on fighting manga under
- typical Shonen Jump pressures.
-
- Ten de Seiaku Cupid $@$F$s$G@-0-%-%e!<%T%C%I(B - published by Shueisha, 1990,
- 3 volumes @ Y500.
-
- Okami nante kowaikunai!! $@O5$J$s$FI]$/$J$$(B!! - published by Shuueisha,
- 1989, Y370.
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Toriyama Akira $@D;;3(B $@L@(B
-
- His manga, full of goofy characters and generally aimed at children, have been
- wildly successful. Toriyama has worked on two anime in 1990 (one was Pink). In
- addition, he has has done graphic design work for video games such as Toruneko
- no Daiboken, Chrono Trigger and most notably Dragon Quest, which was later
- animated. A Dragon Quest manga based on the game appeared (currently serialized
- on Shonen Jump, written by Sanjou Riku $@;0>r(J $@N&(B and drawn by Inada
- Koji $B0pED9@;J(B, 1990-present, 23 volumes @ Y390); Toriyama has nothing to
- do with it.
-
- See also: Dragon Quest homepage <http://cent1.lancs.ac.uk/TB/dragon_quest.html>
-
- ------------------------
-
- Dr. Slump $@%I%/%?!<%9%i%s%W(B - serialized on Shonen Jump, 1980, 18 volumes
- @ Y360.
- A series of strange stories (sometimes building on each other) about a
- silly mad inventor, and his young-girl robot, Arare. Non-stop puns, toilet
- humor, and sex jokes. It was wildly popular in Japan, and brought him into
- prominence. The decision to animate Dr. Slump was taken 5 weeks after the
- manga started, setting a new record.
-
- A manga called Dr. Slump Arare-chan $B#D#r%9%i%s%W%"%i%l$A$c$s(B
- (published by Shuueisha, 1993, Y690) has since been released, and a color
- serialization is currently running on Virtual Jump.
-
- Sakugekijo $@:n7`>l(B - serialized on Shonen Jump, 1983, 2 volumes @ Y360.
- A work that came out after Dr. Slump had started, but before Dragon Ball.
- Shows exactly the same kind of twisted bathroom humor as Dr.Slump, but
- with some of the combat sequences that appeared later in Dragon Ball. Has
- many of the same character designs, but with a slightly different
- storyline.
-
- Dragon Ball - serialized on Shonen Jump, 1985-1995, 42 volumes @ Y390.
- An RPG arcade game-style series with Son Goku searching out the location
- of the seven powerful Dragon Balls. When they are brought together, the
- balls will grant the possessor one wish. Lots of toilet and sexual humor,
- and later on, loads of action. Very silly, but addictive, and lots of fun.
-
- ``Hey, I know this sounds odd, but Toriyama Akira should be
- given credit for his unique artwork and designs... and the story
- is pretty good if you just read the first three volumes or so...
- (actually, it ain't that bad until you get past vol.12 or
- somewhere around there.)''
-
- ``I actually liked it more after it got more serious. It seemed
- too much like Dr Slump in the beginning - I liked Dr Slump, but
- I was expecting something more different. One thing I love about
- DB is watching Gokuu grow up and I actually liked that `enemy
- character even stronger than the last' thing. I think though,
- that Toriyama should have ended it after the Freeza battle. I
- mean, Freeza was the strongest in the universe and Gokuu beat
- him. (Vegeeta was supposed to be the strongest when he first
- appeared but I kinda figure that was just his ego talking) After
- that, what can you do? The cyborgs and Sel (Cel?) are a real
- letdown after Freeza.''
-
- Toriyama abruptly ended it in Shonen Jump #25, 1995, just as a new
- tournament was about to begin. In a situation which could have been a
- straight replay of Togashi Yoshihiro's Yu Yu Hakusho ending, Toriayama
- humbly explained to readers that he'd had enough and he couldn't take it
- any more.
-
- Toriyama Akira's Awkward Manga Laboratory $BD;;3L@$N!{!{$C$TL!2h8&5f(B -
- published by Shuueisha.
- A "how to draw manga" instruction book - will be of little use to those
- not enamoured with Toriyama's style.
-
- Toriyama Akira Marusaku gekijo $@D;;3L@!{:n7`>l(B - published by Shuueisha,
- 1983, 2 volumes @ Y360.
-
- Dabu and Peter One - serialized on Virtual Jump, 1992.
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- U-jin $@M7?M(B
-
- U-jin (a psuedonym) can be translated as `Play Person'.
-
- A controversial, well-known H artist, with a ``wide artistic envelope'' and a
- distinctive style. ``A very brilliant sicko, he has an uncanny ability to make
- very cute characters do very sick things.'' Apart from his manga work, he has
- done character design for anime and computer games.
-
- (born 15 June 1959)
-
- ------------------------
-
- Angel currently - published by Cybele Shuppan, 1993-present, 7 volumes @ Y500.
- Due the general backlash against pornographic manga that began around
- 1991, Angel was pulled off the shelves for a while. However, it has since
- been reprinted, completely unaltered, with the addition of random dot
- stereograms, and two new volumes have been released in addition to the
- five - serialized on Young Sunday.
-
- Juliet - serialized on Young Sunday, 1992, 3 volumes @ Y500.
-
- U-jin Brand $@M7?M%V%i%s%I(B - published by Studio Ship, 1991, 6 volumes @
- Y500.
-
- Frogman $@%U%m%C%0%^%s(B - published by Leed-sha, 1993, 3 volumes @ Y500.
-
- Walking On $@%&%)!<%-%s%0%*%s(B - serialized on Morning, 1992, 2 volumes @
- Y480.
-
- Nankyoku 28-go $@Fn6K#2#89f(B - published by Scholar, 1994, 530.
-
- Visionary $@%t%#%8%g%J%j!<(B - published by Cybele Shuppan, 1994, 10 volumes
- @ Y580.
-
- U-June $@M7%8%'%s%L(B - published by Shufu Tomosha Hatsubai
- $@!{IX$NM'!{H/Gd(B, 1994, Y2800.
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Urasawa Naoki $@1:BtD>!{(B
-
- Urasawa does not have the most versatile character design ability, but he has a
- great mastery of comic expression and serious tension-building.
-
- (born 2 January 1960)
-
- ------------------------
-
- Pineapple Army $@%Q%$%J%C%W%k#A#R#M#Y(B - written by Kudou Kazuya
- $@9)F#$+$:$d(B, published by Shogakukan, 1986-8, 10 volumes @ Y460.
- An ex-military man trains others to defend themselves, on the condition
- that he never gets involved himself. But he always does, anyway. The
- stories always have a nice twist to the plot, are well-written, and have
- great artwork.
-
- YAWARA! - serialized on Big Comic Spirits, 1987-93, 29 volumes @ Y500.
- Judo romance comedy. About a judo-champion girl who wants to have fun just
- like other girls, and her strict grandfather who wants her to triumph in
- Judo tournaments.
-
- See also: Yawara Manga Summaries
- <http://www.tcp.com/doi/yawara/yawara.html>
-
- Master Keaton $@#M#A#S#T#E#R!!%-!<%H%s(B - written by Katsuhika Hokusei
- $@1:BtD>!{(B, serialized on Big Comic Original, 1992, 18 volumes @ Y500.
- The main character is this guy who's half Japanese, half English. He's a
- lecturer at a university, and is an archaeologist... but then again, he
- works as an operative/detective for Lloyds of London. He used to be in the
- SAS and is a veteran of the Falklands War, and was one of the members of
- the Iran Embassy incident... it's Indiana Jones + Pineapple Army + some
- other things rolled together. If you liked Pineapple Army, you'd like it.
-
- Urasawa Naoki Tampenshu NASA $@1:Bt!{!{C;JT=8!!#N#A#S#A(B - published by
- Shogakukan, 1988, Y480.
-
- Urasawa Naoki Tampenshu Jigoro! $@1:Bt!{!{C;JT=8!!#J#I#G#O#R#O#!(B -
- published by Shogakukan, 1994, Y500.
-
- Happy! - published by Shogakukan, 1994, 7 volumes @ Y500.
-
- Monster - published by Shogakukan, 1995, 2 volumes @ Y500.
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Umezu Kazuo $@G`?^$+$:$*(B
-
- A famous manga-ka who has influenced the entire horror manga genre.
-
- ------------------------
-
- 14 $@#1#4:P(B - serialized on Big Comic Spirits, 1991-1995, 20 volumes @
- Y500.
- In the near future, the world is bleak and heavily industrialised. One
- day, a scientist finds that a lump of chicken meat (in an experimental
- vat) is becoming sentient. The lump eventually grows into Chicken George,
- who seeks revenge on humanity for their mistreatment of animals. But he
- falls in love with a human girl.
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Wada Shinji $@OBED?5Fs(B
-
- An old-style action manga-ka. His main characters are women, and he draws for a
- shojo audience.
-
- ------------------------
-
- Sukeban Deka $@%9%1%P%s7:;v(B - serialized on Hana to Yume, 21 volumes @
- Y350.
- Mainly about an agent named Asamiya Saki fighting various evil
- organizations. Her main weapon (and trademark) is a yo-yo. The one OVA is
- supposed to be more closely tied to the original premise.
-
- Mystery Thief Amaririsu $@2xEp%"%^%j%j%9(B - currently serialized on Hana to
- Yume, 1991, 13 volumes @ Y390.
- Amaririsu is a super thief, whose real name is Shizaki Nana (a high school
- student). Nana wears a wig in her non-thief identity. She can disguise
- herself, is extremely athletic, highly skilled, and a determination to
- always end up on top. The stories are about her life and adventures. Her
- mother is Shizaki Yukino, a retired thief who went by the title Kaito
- Narushisu. Another character named Sugar is an inventor/technician/helper
- who makes sure Nana has the equipment she needs to succeed. In volume 3,
- there is a change in direction of the story (which is spoofed by the
- artist/author in the title frames), in which Nana gets a job as an idol
- singer with the title Flower Dream Nana (she has a trick wand too).
-
- ------------------------
-
- Other important works:
-
- Pygmalion $@%T%0%^%j%*(B - published by Hana to Yume, 1990, 27 volumes @
- Y390.
-
- Asagi iro no Densetsu $@$"$5$.?'$NEA@b(B - published by Hana to Yume, 1990, 4
- volumes @ Y390.
-
- Supergirl Asuka: Kyuseishu no chi $@D6>/=wL@F|9a(B $B5_@$!{$N7l(B -
- serialized on Hana to Yume, 2 volumes @ Y390.
-
- Kami ni sei muketa otoko $@8~$1$?CK(B - written by Hamada Shoko
- $@IMEDfF;R(B, currently published by Hakusensha, 5 volumes @ Y490.
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Yamamoto Naoki $@;3K\D>$-(B
-
- (aka. Moriyama Tou $@?9;3Ec(B, Touyama Mori $@Ec;3(J $@?9(B;
- born 1 February 1960, Hokkaido; blood type AB)
-
- Debuted in 1984 using the alias "Moriyama Tou", and began his career as a
- lolicom specialist. In 1986 he started to use his real name, and debuted in Big
- Comic Spirits with Happa 64. He also spent time as character designer for some
- of the Cream Lemon episodes.
-
- Generally when using the name "Moriyama" or "Touyama", his works are considered
- H. But when he used his real name Yamamoto, the works are considered adult
- oriented. Despite its sexual and violent content, Yamamoto's manga actually
- presents a very strong viewpoint on social issues. The sex and violence are
- merely disguises.
-
- His favorite character is Suzuki Ichirou (from Arigato), the Suzuki clan's
- loving father who does everything right but winds up as a victim.
-
- When Yamamoto draws manga, he uses a Quadra 700 computer, a Agfa Arcus scanner,
- a Unity Lazermaster 1200XLJ, and an Apple 21" monitor. Yamamoto's hobby is
- music. He plays the guitar.
-
- ------------------------
-
- Yoiko no Seikyouiku $@$h$$;R$N@-650i(B - published by France Shoin?, Y800.
- Various tales of high school sex, mostly rapes. Shocking.
-
- Pengin H $@%Z%s%.%s#H(B - published by Fujimi Shuppan, 1986, Y800.
- A libertine artist couple and their adventure. Here, sex and art-literate
- lives all mix together...interesting point of view on Bohemian lifestyle.
-
- Blue $@%V%k!<(B - published by Yukitachisha, 1991, Y1200.
- (Once the subject of a ban.)
-
- Happa 64 $B$O$C$Q#6#4(B - published by Shogakukan, 1986?, 3 volumes @ Y1000.
-
- Gomen ne B-Boy $@$4$a$s$M#B%\!<%$(B - serialized on Comic Burger, 1988, Y480.
-
- Assate Dance $@$"$5$C$F#D#a#n#c#e(B - serialized on Big Comic Spirits, 1990,
- 7 volumes @ Y980.
-
- Young & Fine - seriazlied on Action, 1992, Y750.
- The story about a strange relationship between an immoral high school
- student and his alcoholic female teacher who has a dark past. Depressing
- view of life.
-
- Bokura ha minna iki teiru $@KM$i$O$_$s$J@8$-$F$$$k(B - written by Isshiki
- Noboyuki? $@0l?'?-9,(B, serialized on Big Comic Spirits, 1993, 4 volumes @
- Y500.
-
- Yume de aimashou $@L4$G0)$$$^$7$g$&(B - published by Koubunsha, 1993, Y800.
-
- Kamoshida-kun - fight! $B$+$b$7$@7/!&%U%!%$%H!*(B - published by France
- Shoin, 1993, Y450.
-
- Koke Dish $@$3$1%G%#%C%7%e(B - published by Shogakukan, 1994, Y500.
-
- Manatsu no omoide $B2F$N;W$$=P(B - currently published by Shogakukan, 1994,
- Y1000.
-
- Kyoku metekamoshida $@6K$a$F$+$b$7$@(B - currently published by Shogakukan,
- 1992, 5 volumes @ Y450.
-
- Arigatou $@$"$j$,$H$&(B - currently published by Shogakukan, 1994, 3 volumes
- @ Y500.
- A depressing story about how a Japanese family's family life goes wrong:
- an immoral protagonist, her sister who was gang raped before, her
- alcoholic mother who later devoted her life into a cult, and her father
- (Suzuki Ichirou) who lost flavor with his Kaisha....full of sexual content
- and highly violent. Yamamoto uses sex and violence to disguise the social
- issues (traditional family values, Japanese education system and Japanese
- political system) he criticizes. An eye opener and highly recommended.
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Yano Kentaro $BLpLn7rB@O:(B
-
- ------------------------
-
- Network Warrior $@%M%C%H%o!<%/@o;N(B - serialized on Comic Nora, 1991, Y550.
- If Usenet had a manga, this would be it. The stories within the story are
- loosely connected by common characters, the heroes, and the mysterious
- "D". Network Warrior is like Tron meets Vagrant, and unlike the latter,
- this story actually makes sense. Not a spectacular piece by itself, but it
- makes it makes a nice warm-up for the other Yano Kentaro titles.
-
- Jashin Densetsu [Elder Gods Legend series] $B!{?@EB@b%7%j!<%:(B> - currently
- serialized on Comic Nora, 1992-present, 5 volumes @ Y520.
- The stories in this series are very loosely connected. There are no
- regular characters except the four Demon Gods, which probably weren't
- Yano's creation anyway (the man is obviously heavily inspired by H.P.
- Lovecraft). This is not a drawback, however, as the lack of regulars gives
- the author the freedom to create/kill-off his characters, and thus a real
- sense of danger for them. One of the short stories, Dark Mermaid, stands
- out as a particular masterpiece. The rest of the stories are no less
- interesting either. There are occasions, however, when a plot twist seems
- artificial just to achieve convenient dramatic effects. Yano also employs
- a liberal amount of female nudities during important scenes - just so to
- keep your attention on the page, although explicit sex never occured in
- this manga. Given the kind of people who read Comic Nora, however, these
- tactics are useful and often necessary. Yano seems to possess a lot of
- creativity, even though he seems to have trouble focusing it. Coherent or
- not, Yano's stories can still be very involving. This is another series I
- would recommend manga lovers to look into. (Titles: Lamia, Dark Mermaid,
- Last Creator, Confusion, Re Verse).
-
- Onigariju $@54!{=C(B - serialized on Business Jump, 1988-90, 2 volumes @
- Y600.
-
- Top wo Nerae! Next Generation $@%H%C%W$r$M$i$(!*%M%/%9%H!&%8%'%M%l!=%7%g%s(B
- - published by Bandai, Y980.
-
- Neko ja nai mon! $@%M%3$8$c$J$$$b$s!*(B - published by Shueisha, 1991-92, 11
- volumes @ Y800.
-
- Arbe Z - published by Rapport, 1992, Y500.
-
- Yano Kentaro Sakuhinshu Oma-ju $@LpLn7rB@O::nIJ=8(B $@%*%^!<%8%e(B -
- published by Rapport, 1992, Y500.
-
- Injudicacies $B%$%s%8%e%+!<%7%9(B - serialized on Rapport, 1994, 3 volumes @
- Y500.
-
- Bust shot $@%P%9%H%7%g%C%H(B - serialized on Akita Shoten, 1994, 3 volumes @
- Y500.
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Yasunaga Koichiro $@0B1J9R0lO:(B
-
- Yasunaga was the pioneer of some now-abused comedic devices, such as the
- inappropriate use of nigori $BBy$j(B (voiced consonant marks that look like
- backward apostrophes).
-
- ------------------------
-
- Kenritsu chikyu boeigun $B8)N)CO5eKI1R73(B [Prefectural Earth Defence Force]
- - serialized on Shonen Sunday Monthly, 1984, 4 volumes @ Y350, out of print.
- Hysterical, nonsensical farce about three highschool students defending
- their neighbourhood from Chirusonia, the ultimate incompetent bad guy. An
- OVA was wade; the manga is at least as funny, if not funnier, and it's
- longer.
-
- Kyonyu Hunter $@5pF}%O%s%?!<(B [D-Cup Hunter] - serialized on Shonen Sunday
- Monthly, 1990, 2 volumes @ Y500.
- The heroine's boyfriend says, ``I just can't love a girl with small
- breasts!'', dumps her, and she snaps. She then goes around disguised as
- the ``Kyonyuu Hunter'' (stuffing her bra for the role), collecting
- breast-prints of women who use their large breasts for evil purposes.
- Incredibly stupid, pretty funny. The two volumes are labeled `left side'
- and `right side'.
-
- Rikugun Nakano Yobiko $@N&73CfLnM=Hw9;(B [Nakano Army Prep School] -
- serialized on Shonen Sunday Monthly, 1986-present, 6 volumes @ Y360.
- It's a lot like Boeigun in its characters and concept. Boeigun is a lot
- wilder and funnier, though.
-
- Kaitei Jinrui Anchovy $@3$Dl?MN`%"%s%A%g%S!<(B - currently serialized on
- Shonen Sunday Monthly, 1993-present, 4 volumes @ Y500.
- The story of Denka, a 14-year old boy who wakes up one morning to discover
- webbing between his fingers, and gills on his neck. His father then tells
- him that Denka was given to him by the princess of the sea, for safe
- keeping until the day came when the boy was to return to the ocean. Well,
- today is the day, and Denka (human name is Aramaki, a kind of rice
- cracker,) is forcibly kicked out of the house to face the world on his
- own. He teams up with a rather dense merman whose job it is to teach Denka
- how to behave as a sea-kingdom prince, and has to face the wrath of
- Okiamisu (the merwoman currently running the sea-kingdom of Anchovi,) and
- her henchmen (including one dense guy named Eel.) In later chapters, Denka
- returns to school, and everyone there has to put up with the continued
- attacks launched by Okiamisu. Near the end of the book, Denka learns how
- to disguise his merman features, and the story then turns into a normal
- high school sit-com which pits him against a very ardent, but incompetent
- female ninja. [CH]
-
- Ganjo Ningen Spartacus $B4h>f?M4V%9%Q%k%?%+%9(B - currently serialized on
- Shonen Captain, 1994-present, 3 volumes @ Y520.
- About the ultimate in physical perfection, one girl's mission to gain a
- `Gold jacket' (ascension by beating the owner up!) Very funny, and a big
- improvement over Anchovy.
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Yokoyama Mitsuteru $B2#;38w51(B
-
- A prolific writer in the 60's, and a contemporary of Tezuka. His early works
- are visibly inferior to Tezuka's works of the time, though he did improve a
- lot. Over the years, Yokoyama has authored dozens of titles; only a few are
- listed here.
-
- ------------------------
-
- Tetsujin #28 $BE4?M#2#89f(B - published by Akita Shoten, 10 volumes @ Y380.
- A popular series about the same time as Tetsuwan Atom (early 60s).
- Decidedly inferior drawing. Still, the pioneer of the controllable giant
- robot class. Made into a B\&W TV series, and later spawned off a remake/
- continuation TV series. Black Ox rules! This manga decidedly made Yokoyama
- into a big name.
-
- Iga no Kagemaru $B0K2l$N1F4](B - published by Akita Shoten, 15 volumes @
- Y380.
- One of the original ninja series, with slightly better art than its
- competitors. Unlike Shirato Sampei's stuff, this series is definitely
- manga-like rather than gekiga-like. The story is basically about a group
- of ninjas who are in the shogun's employ, and they fight other ninjas who
- are working for rebellious factions.
-
- Kamen no ninja Akakage $B2>LL$NG&!{@V1F(B - published by Akita Shoten, 3
- volumes @ Y380.
- This manga marks an improvement Yokoyama's drawing ability. Similar
- generic theme to the above, except the Akakage (red shadow) was a
- hida-ninja and worked for Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Most of the stories are of
- multiple member ninja groups fighting each other (and most of them die).
- Made into a live action TV series around the same time (kind of stupid
- with lots of monsters, but I liked it). Remade into an anime in the late
- '80s.
-
- Giant Robo
- Protracted series that was finished before it got interesting. Basically
- an espionage story concerning the BF group who made 3 giant robots GR1, 2
- and 3 which were supposed to be unbeatable in land, water, air
- respectively. They lose GR1 and story gets complex after that. Made into a
- silly live action TV series Susume Gianto Robo, and recently remade into
- an OAV with a more original story and characters.
-
- Babel ni-Sei $@%P%S%k#2@$(B - published by Akita Shoten, 11 volumes @ Y380.
- This went on forever! Describes the battle between Yomi and Babel ni-sei,
- the latter being a student plucked from his home and trained to be the
- master of the tower of babylon (Babel no toh). Featuring lots of
- paranormal powers, this highly influential manga was the precursor of
- titles such as Locke the Superman.
-
- The name is 101 $@$=$NL>$O#1#0#1(B - published by Akita Shoten, 3 volumes @
- Y1200.
- A young boy breaks into a research lab and destroys some samples. It turns
- out that he is a powerful esper. A secret organization had somehow
- obtained some of his blood. The blood sample was labeled "From test
- subject #101." Hence the title of the manga. His blood, when injected into
- other people, will cause the manifestation of psychic powers. The boy
- finds out about this and destroys the blood samples, but is too late.
- There have been already many psychics created, and they are evil. It's him
- against the organization.
-
- Sangokushi $@;09q;V(B - published by Ushioshuppansha, 1970s-1988, 60 volumes
- @ Y370, 41 wide-ban volumes @ Y480.
- A fairly straightforward retelling of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms
- epic. There is an accompanying encyclopedia, Sangokushi Jiten
- $@;09q;V;vE5(B (Ushioshuppansha, Y500). There are numerous manga
- versions of this epic; Yokoyama's is but one of them.
-
- Koha to Ryuho $@9`1)$HN-K.(B - published by Ushioshuppansha, 1990, 15 volumes
- @ Y390.
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Yuki Masami $@$f$&$-$^$5$_(B
-
- Before appearing on Shonen Sunday with {Kyukyoku Chojin R, he was known as an
- anime-parody manga artist. He is a well-known Tomino otaku and most of his
- parodies were on Gundam and other Tomino works.
-
- ------------------------
-
- Assemble Insert $@%"%C%;%s%U%k!&%$%s%5!<%H(B - published by OUTC, Y620.
- A truly inspired parody of the super-powered crime fighter genre. Most of
- the character designs are caricatures, with a noticible absence of noses.
- Full of in-jokes, and constant references to itself as anime. The hero is
- a 14 (or so) year-old girl with super strength, who has been enlisted by
- the police force to entertain the populace while they wreak havoc fighting
- the ``Demon Seed'' crime organization.
-
- The Ultimate Superman R $@5f6KD6?M$"!A$k(B - published by Shonen Sunday, 9
- volumes @ Y370, 4 wide-ban volumes @ Y680.
- Yuki Masami's first major work. Due to the high content of in-jokes, this
- manga might be hard to understand, but for those who have grown up with
- manga, anime and live-action stuff, this is a manga that you won't want to
- miss.
-
- Kido Keisatsu Patlabor $@5!F07Y;!%Q%H%l%$%P!=(B [Mobile Police Patlabor] -
- serialized on Shonen Sunday, 1988-94, 22 volumes @ Y390, 3 wide volumes @ Y700.
- With the rapidly accelerating development of hyper-technology, a
- humanoid-like machine known as the ``labor'' is being used in every field
- of industry. However, it has created the new social menace of labor crime.
- In order to curb such crimes, the Metropolitan Police Department has
- established a special department, the `Special Vehicle Section No.2'. It
- consists of a company of patrol labors - the ``Patlabors''.
-
- Compared to the anime, the manga version focuses more on character
- development, and the jokes are more subtle. The manga also deals with many
- social, political and enviromental issues in depth. There are several good
- artbooks available (eg. Patlabor Layout-shu
- $@5!F07Y;!%Q%H%l%$%P!=!&%l%$%"%&%H=8(B, - published by Kadokawa Shoten,
- 1994, Y1400).
-
- See also: Patlabor homepage
- <http://www.cs.purdue.edu/homes/pappasnw/anime/patlabor.html>
-
- Magical Lucy $@%^%8%+%k!&%k%7%#(B - published by Rapport, Y500.
-
- Parody World $@$Q$m$G$#$o$!$k$I(B - published by OUTC, Y670.
-
- Yamatotakeru no Boken $@%d%^%H%?%1%k$NKA81(B - published by OUTC, Y670.
-
- Yuki Masami Shoki Kessaku Tampenshu $B=i4|7f:nC;JT=8(B - published by
- Shogakukan, 1994, Y390.
-
- Jajama Grooming Up! $@$8$c$8$cGO%0%k!<%_%s!z#U#P!*(B - published by
- Shogakukan, 1995, 4 volumes @ Y390.
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Contributors
-
- Generally, contributions were in the form of articles posted to the net, or
- emailed specifically for inclusion in this guide. They were mostly edited,
- researched and expanded by the v2.0-v6.0 editor, Iain Sinclair.
-
- Due to the haphazard growth of the Manga Guide, it has been difficult to match
- names with individual contributions. This accreditation is still incomplete,
- unfortunately. However, all people who are known to have contributed in some
- way are listed below. The authors and titles they discussed are also given,
- where possible.
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Neil Asato (nasato@wiliki.eng.hawaii.edu)
- Aro
- ----------------------------------------
- Satoshi "beluga" Amagai (MVCY@CORNELLA.cit.cornell.edu)
- Ozawa, Tezuka, Yokoyama
- ----------------------------------------
- Tony Chen (tochen@mtu.edu)
- Asagiri Yu
- ----------------------------------------
- Mark Chilenskas (Chilensk@Bachman.com)
- Manabe, Aoi no Fuin
- ----------------------------------------
- David Chiu
- Asamiya, Aien Kien
- ----------------------------------------
- Mark Chilenskas (rmc@wang.com)
- Manabe, Tenma no Ketsuzoku, Shinohara Chie
- ----------------------------------------
- Enrique Conty (jester@ihlpl.att.com)
- Miyazaki
- ----------------------------------------
- Hitoshi Doi $BEZ0f?N;V(B (doi@jrd.dec.com)
- Adachi, Hoshisato Mochiru, Takeuchi, Fujishima
- ----------------------------------------
- Michael Edwards (michaele@wapiko.apana.org.au)
- Itsuki Natsumi
- ----------------------------------------
- Jim Elliott (elliottj@spot.colorado.edu)
- Asari (all)
- ----------------------------------------
- Peter Evans (peter@gol.com)
- Okazaki, Tagami Yoshihisa, Yasunaga
- ----------------------------------------
- Gene Fornario (genef@netcom.com)
- Nagai Go
- ----------------------------------------
- Larry Greenfield
- ----------------------------------------
- Hiroshi "Heretic" Haga $@K'2lBg;V(B (hh0u+@andrew.cmu.edu)
- (several bits of info about various titles and artists)
- ----------------------------------------
- Hiromi Hasegawa (hasegawa@cheshire.oxy.edu)
- Kaze to Ki no Uta
- ----------------------------------------
- Scott Henry (scotth@sgi.com)
- Sesame Street
- ----------------------------------------
- Titus Heng-Hsueh Hsu (hsu@ecf.toronto.edu)
- ----------------------------------------
- Vince B. "keke" Ho (hbv@sfsu.edu)
- Yamamoto Naoki
- ----------------------------------------
- Curtis Hoffman (currmann@pnet51.orb.mn.org)
- Monkey Punch, Urasawa, Yasunaga, Yuki Masami
- ----------------------------------------
- Dan Hollis (goemon@venice.mps.ohio-state.edu)
- ----------------------------------------
- Pascal Janin (p-chan@akane.swb.de)
- Takahashi Rumiko Masterpiece Collection: P's Tragedy
- ----------------------------------------
- Jason Juta (cjuta@daisy.ee.und.ac.za)
- Xenon
- ----------------------------------------
- Tomoko Kimura (t-kimura@sdl.hitachi.co.jp)
- Night Head
- ----------------------------------------
- Lesfeena "Yuki" Lee (lhlee@sdcc13.ucsd.edu)
- Koga Yun (many reviews)
- ----------------------------------------
- Pei Lee
- ----------------------------------------
- Larry Mann (lrmann@uci.edu)
- Manabe
- ----------------------------------------
- Theresa Martin (thmartin@romulus.rutgers.edu)
- Urusei Yatsura
- ----------------------------------------
- David Mou (ph111-dz@violet.berkeley.edu)
- Asamiya, Hagiwara, Kitagawa, Kusunoki, Kuradharma, Ghost in the Shell,
- U-jin, Yano Kentaro
- ----------------------------------------
- Albert H. Nakano (bert@wagner.cbs.umn.edu)
- Nagai Go, Shirato Sampei, Wada Shinji
- ----------------------------------------
- Miho Nishida (vray@cs2.cs.oki.co.jp)
- 22XX, Asagiri
- ----------------------------------------
- Steve "Starbuck" Pearl (starbuck@raven.cybercom.com)
- ----------------------------------------
- Alvaro Pons (ARTIGAS@vm.ci.uv.es)
- Ikegami
- ----------------------------------------
- Henry Robertson (robohen@cs.pitt.edu)
- Saitou Takao, Maruo Suehiro (short stories)
- ----------------------------------------
- Chris Swett (72736.433@CompuServe.COM)
- ----------------------------------------
- Gavin Steyn (steyn@ll.mit.edu)
- ----------------------------------------
- Kenichiro Tanaka (kt12+@andrew.cmu.edu)
- Asari
- ----------------------------------------
- Tsuyoshi Yamashiki (t_yamasi@hoffman.cc.sophia.ac.jp)
- Egawa, Kinutani, Shirow
- ----------------------------------------
- Tomoko Kimura (t-kimura@sdl.hitachi.co.jp)
- Night Head
- ----------------------------------------
- Richard Vermaas richardv@htsa.aha.nl
- CLAMP
- ----------------------------------------
- Alexander Wong (awong@emerald.tufts.edu)
- (various)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- The following people made especially significant contributions, reviewing the
- guide in its entirety, offering corrections and comments:
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Chih-Ping Kuo (kuo@seattleu.edu)
- (original maintainer of the Manga Guide)
- ----------------------------------------
- Patrick Yip (?)
- (author of the Usenet Manga Mags list, prototype of the Manga Guide)
- ----------------------------------------
- Cynthia Ma $BGO(B $B;WIR(B (cynthia@wapiko.apana.org.au)
- Adachi, Asagiri, CLAMP, Itsuki Natsumi, Kakinouchi, Kishiro Yukito (bio),
- Kusunoki, Nasu Yukie, Narita Minako, Nekobe Neko, Ozaki Minami (all)
- ----------------------------------------
- Y. Kitajima (kita@cad.gatech.edu)
- Kikuchi + many others
- ----------------------------------------
- Tonghyun "TK" Kim $B6b(B $BEl!T2P8<(B$B!U(B (tkim@sdcc3.ucsd.edu)
- Aki Kyouma, Asamiya, CLAMP, Hiramatsu, Hirano, Maki Kouji, Ogino, Shibata,
- Yuki Masami + many others
- ----------------------------------------
- Kunio "kunedog" Muto $@IpF#K.M:(B (s92458km@cs0.sfc.keio.ac.jp)
- Hirokane (all), Wingman, Kawaguchi + many others
- ----------------------------------------
- Ryo "W2/JH1CUV" Shiroma $B>k4V(B $BNI(B (RSHIROMA@drew.drew.edu)
- ----------------------------------------
- Iain Sinclair (axolotl@socs.uts.edu.au)
- Araki, Hagiwara, Inoue Noriyoshi, Iwaaki, Nagano Noriko, Otomo,
- Saruwatari, Neuro Hard, Tanaka Masasi, Takezaki
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- <>
- --
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Edited by Steve Pearl- Moderator, rec.arts.anime.info
- Email submissions to anime-info@cybercomm.net and questions about the
- newsgroup to anime-info-request@cybercomm.net
-