S.Q. Eries's Blog, page 56

Manga Review: Manga Metamorphosis

In the J-drama Dragon Zakura, the protagonist uses unconventional methods to help the school’s worst students get into prestigious Tokyo University. And his approach for the history portion? Historical manga! And why not? As exciting as a past event might be, if it’s presented as a lengthy wall of text, some may get intimidated and give up reading even before they start. The beauty of manga is that it can offer access to that same information in a way that’s entertaining and more likely to stick with the reader.

I have a feeling that’s why NEXT put out its five volume series. While the Bible is an amazing piece of literature with truly epic moments, it’s up there when it comes to dense text. Manga Metamorphosis is the fifth in NEXT’s series, and you can read on for the review. (For those interested in other volumes of the series, click here).

Back Cover Blurb

Manga Metamorphosis dives right into the adventures of Yeshua’s followers after his departure. At first bewildered, they quickly see there is little time for reflection as the forces of their enemies bear down hard and fast upon them. Every ounce of courage and strength is required as these newly endangered followers hold on to their faith and to each other.

They must come to terms with the knowledge that each day could be their last, and indeed, some of them will pay for their convictions with their lives. But despite losses and upheaval, victory is in the making and many believe the adventure and its purposes are worth the sorrow.

The Review

Chronologically speaking, Manga Metamorphosis is the last in NEXT’s Bible series, and in my opinion, it’s the best executed. This is for two reasons. First, except for a brief prologue, it sticks to a single book, the Book of Acts. Second, this particular book lends itself well to Shinozawa-sensei’s shonen style artwork. Between the actions of God, angels, demons, Yeshuah’s followers, the religious establishment, and missions trips all over the Roman world, there’s plenty of action going on.

Shinozawa-sensei does well with the dramatic parts. James’ martyrdom is especially moving. She does even better with scenes that lend themselves to humor. One of the best examples is Peter’s escape from prison, where an angel punches him awake and Rhoda’s comic excitement gets elevated by hilarious misunderstanding from the other disciples. All in all, it’s an entertaining and quick read that stays true to original and inserts just enough historical information to orient a modern audience.

While Metamorphosis is basically a manga retelling of the Book of Acts, it does include Paul’s letters to four communities (Philippians, Corinthians, Ephesians, and Romans). What the creators did was create manga mini-synopses of these letters featuring a cute chibi-Paul. These synopses are one to three pages and inserted after the communities to which they were addressed get introduced. They don’t delve into every theological detail of these letters, but they do offer the highlights in a way anyone can understand.

 A map, chronology, and character profiles are included in the back as extras.

In Summary

Manga Metamorphosis is fun and lively yet stays true to the original Book of Acts text. Shinozawa-sensei’s shonen illustrations and humorous storytelling style are a good complement to the wild adventures of Yeshua’s followers after his ascension. While it looks like it was written for a juvenile audience, it’s still a good resource for anyone wanting a quick overview on the history and leaders of the early church.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manga Review: Manga Messiah

Merry Christmas to all! Hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday! It just so happens my next manga review is Manga Messiah is the fourth in NEXT’s  Bible series, and I think it very appropriate to be putting it out on the day that celebrates Christ coming to Earth.

(For those interested in other volumes of the series, click here).

Back Cover Blurb

Manga Messiah tells the story of an unknown king who enters the world under the cover of night to begin a seemingly unimpressive work. He soon becomes one of the most powerful figures in the land; intensely hated by some and emphatically loved by others. His work is unlike that of any king before or after him. And his words, his strength, and his life are unlike any the world has ever known.

The Review

Manga Messiah is NEXT’s adaption of the Gospels of the New Testament. Those familiar with NEXT’s Old Testament manga adaptions will notice Manga Messiah differs somewhat. That is because an almost entirely different production team adapted the New Testament books.

The most obvious change is the artwork. Shinozawa-sensei uses more of a shonen style, with broader faces and bolder lines and colors. In addition, illustrations are geared for a younger audience. Exaggerated expressions and reactions are used for comic effect, and it’s very obvious from their ugly, menacing looks and twisted expressions who the bad guys are.

The storytelling style is also different. The script has a tendency towards info dumping, and while the dialogue does provide context for the events of the story, it frequently sounds unnatural. The translators also chose to use the names Yeshuah, Miryam, and Yosef instead of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. However, all the other characters have standard English spellings for their names (John, James, Peter, etc.), and they use “Mary” not “Miryam” for Mary Magdalene and Mary of Bethany so I’m baffled why they decided on Yeshuah, Miryam, and Yosef. As in Mutiny, Melech, and Messengers, references to original Bible passages are provided as footnotes on each page.

The manga is divided into three parts. The first covers Miryam’s encounter with the Angel Gabriel up to the calling of Yeshuah’s first disciples. The second part focuses on Yeshuah’s teachings and miracles up to the raising of Lazarus. The final third depicts the final days leading to Yeshuah’s betrayal and arrest, his passion, crucifixion, and resurrection.

Shinozawa-sensei provides backstory and sets the tone for scenes through Yeshuah’s disciples. There are twelve of them, but as in the original text, some get more airtime than others. The fishermen brother pairs Andrew/Peter and John/James interact the most with Yeshuah and provide the bulk of commentary. Still, Shinozawa-sensei does an excellent job of conveying all the disciples’ personalities, with the exception of Thaddaeus and James the son of Alphaeus.

The weakest parts of the manga are where there’s a lot of talking and not much action. The Sermon on the Mount reads like a bullet point list, and some of the verbal battles in Jerusalem also drag. One exception to that, however, is Yeshuah’s very moving monologue about the vine and branches against the backdrop of the Mount of Olives. Shinozawa-sensei does a better job with the parables, which are delivered in stand-alone format or inserted in the midst of a scene. The narrative is strongest when characters are interacting, whether Yeshuah’s hanging out with his disciples or performing a miracle.

Going into the final chapters, the lighthearted tone shifts to a much more serious one. While I believe Manga Messiah is appropriate for a fifth grader, crucifixion is brutal, and the images depict Yeshuah’s death as such. The book then concludes with a twelve page chapter on Yeshuah’s resurrection and ascension, which I felt was much too short. Then again, NEXT is probably counting on readers to continue the story in the following volume.

A map and character profiles are included in the back as extras.

In Summary

With Shinozawa-sensei’s particular style of shonen artwork and her lighthearted portrayal of the disciples, Manga Messiah is a bit like reading the Gospels from a children’s Bible. Still, it packs in many of the teachings and miracles of the Messiah Yeshuah. It also provides a good sense of the controversy surrounding him, why his disciples chose to follow him, and why his enemies hated him.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manga Review: Manga Messengers

In the J-drama Dragon Zakura, the protagonist uses unconventional methods to help the school’s worst students get into prestigious Tokyo University. And his approach for the history portion? Historical manga! And why not? As exciting as a past event might be, if it’s presented as a lengthy wall of text, some may get intimidated and give up reading even before they start. The beauty of manga is that it can offer access to that same information in a way that’s entertaining and more likely to stick with the reader.

I have a feeling that’s why NEXT put out its five volume series. While the Bible is an amazing piece of literature with truly epic moments, it’s up there when it comes to dense text. Manga Messengers is the third in NEXT’s series, and you can read on for the review. (For those interested in other volumes of the series, click here).

Back Cover Blurb

Manga Messengers is a biblically accurate retelling of the prophets—the life of King David to the end of Malachi. These stories from the Bible are presented in the authentic Japanese Manga style. This 5th book of the series to release combines cutting-edge illustration with fast-paced storytelling to deliver biblical truths in a compelling package to an ever-changing, postmodern culture. Over 200,000 books sold in the series!

The Review

Manga Messengers is the third in NEXT’s Bible manga series. It picks up where Manga Melech left off, the naming of Solomon as David’s successor, and continues through to the very beginning of the New Testament. That is actually quite a bit of material, including the split of Solomon’s kingdom, the histories of Judah and Israel, their ultimate captivity by other nations, and the return of the exiles to Jerusalem. Unfortunately, it feels like Azumi-sensei bit off more than she could chew trying to cram everything into one volume.

The overarching narrative in the previous volumes was stronger because a particular family or individual provided a sense of continuity through events. The characters of Manga Messengers don’t offer that kind of continuity. It doesn’t help that the action constantly bounces between Israel and Judah in the middle third of the book. As such, the stories of the kings and prophets of the latter portion of the Old Testament come across as stand-alone anecdotes.

That’s not to say that the individual chapters aren’t well executed. Especially for the prophets, Azumi-sensei provides a sense of their backgrounds, the political climate, and the particular challenges they faced at the time of their ministries. I particularly like how she showed Hosea and Amos as contemporaries and the way she incorporated Jonah’s prayer into his chapter (the line about seaweed wrapped around his head never stood out to me before, but I won’t forget it now).

While the pacing might have been better had Manga Messengers been split into two volumes, it does wrap things up nicely in its closing chapter. It not only summarizes the Old Testament, it details major events that happened in the years between the Old and New Testament. Readers get a sense of the political and religious climate of Judea under Roman rule, which sets the stage well for the next volume of the series.

A map and simplified chronology of the age of the prophets are included in the back as extras.

In Summary

Azumi-sensei continues to offer engaging depictions of biblical events along with the historical commentary to comprehend them. However, so many individuals and stories get crammed into this volume that no one really stands out the way Moses or David do in the previous volumes. It’s a bit weak from a narrative standpoint, but the chapters still make good companion material for anyone studying the writings of the Old Testament prophets.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manga Review: Manga Melech

In the J-drama Dragon Zakura, the protagonist uses unconventional methods to help the school’s worst students get into prestigious Tokyo University. And his approach for the history portion? Historical manga! And why not? As exciting as a past event might be, if it’s presented as a lengthy wall of text, some may get intimidated and give up reading even before they start. The beauty of manga is that it can offer access to that same information in a way that’s entertaining and more likely to stick with the reader.

I have a feeling that’s why NEXT put out its five volume series. While the Bible is an amazing piece of literature with truly epic moments, it’s up there when it comes to dense text. Manga Melech is the second in NEXT’s series, and you can read on for the review. (For those interested in other volumes of the series, click here).

Back Cover Blurb

Manga Melech is a Biblically accurate Manga retelling of Bible stories beginning with entry into the Promised Land through the rule of King David. This book, fourth in the Tyndale Manga line, combines cutting-edge authentic Japanese Manga style with fast-paced storytelling to deliver Biblical truths in a compelling package to an ever changing, post-modern culture. Nearly 200,000 books sold in series!

The Review

Manga Melech is the second in NEXT’s Bible manga series. While it’s not necessary to have read the first volume (Manga Mutiny), it does help in recognizing the characters. Manga Melech picks up where Manga Mutiny left off, the aftermath of the parting of the Red Sea. There are a lot of laws and regulations in this segment of the Bible, but Manga Melech focuses mainly on people, battles, and other historical events. However, the giving of the Ten Commandments gets its own scene, and a couple other major commands get woven into the dialogue.

After the exhilaration of escaping Egypt, things quickly go south for the Israelites as hardship spurs continuous complaining, occasionally bubbling up to rebellion. Moses, Miriam, and Aaron are put to the test as the community’s leaders, and I like how Azumi-sensei shows how their resolve weakens before they fail and the way the camp’s discontent creates tension between the siblings. But while the time of Moses is marked by internal strife, his successor Joshua’s is marked by unity and obedience, which the Israelites sorely need as they fight their way into the promised land.

The adventures of Moses and Joshua comprise the first quarter of the book. The period of the Israelite judges takes up the second quarter of the book, specifically the stories of Deborah, Gideon, Samson, and Ruth. While “The Song of Deborah” is an inspirational chapter, especially with its female characters, the players are a bit two-dimensional. Gideon, however, is the consummate reluctant hero, quaking in his sandals every step of the way to heroism. Azumi-sensei seems to have a lot of fun with the Samson chapter. Everyone knows the story of him and Delilah, but this chapter also includes the details of his ill-fated first marriage, the stuff that makes you scratch your head and wonder how he could be a leader appointed by God. (The illustration of him and the foxes on fire is pretty funny.) And nestled among the tales of warriors and battles is Ruth’s story of providence, acceptance, and love.

The final half of the book goes to the establishment of the Israelite kings, starting with King Saul and ending with King David naming Solomon as his successor. David’s life was intimately connected to Saul’s family. He served Saul, was best friend to Saul’s son Jonathan, and married Saul’s daughter Michal. All the relationships get strained when Saul decides to hunt David down, and Azumi-sensei does an excellent job of showing how everyone’s choices continue to impact David (and Michal) years after Saul and Jonathan are killed. Speaking of family conflict, David had his fair share as a result of his adultery with Bathsheba, and Azumi-sensei makes clear the connection between that personal sin to the tragedy that results within his family and nation decades later.

In addition to being a warrior and king, David was a musician. In fact, our first glimpse of David is of him playing the harp while watching his father’s sheep. The harp shows up over and over again in his life, and a couple of his Psalms get woven into the narrative to reflect his mood at different points of his life. In doing so, readers get a taste of the Book of Psalms as well as an understanding of the circumstances that inspired David’s poetry.

A map and family tree/character profile are included in the back as extras.

In Summary

Manga Melech includes two of the biggest names in the Bible: Moses and David. But though they and the other prophets and warriors of their time were heroes, they weren’t without their flaws. Azumi-sensei paints a very human portrait of the men and women God chose to do his work, showing their highs and inglorious lows in the early days of the nation of Israel.

First published at the Fandom Post.

New Short Story in 2014!

Writing is a long process. It’s not just putting words to page but includes editing, querying, and more rejection than anyone cares to think about. That’s why writers have to celebrate victories when they come by, and I’m very happy to announce that my fourth short story will be published in Elephant’s Bookshelf Press‘s Winter Anthology!

The theme of the anthology is regret. My own contribution is a historical set in Heian Era Japan. The approximate release date is February 2014, and I’ll post more details when I get them. Until then, please look forward to it!

Manga Review: Manga Mutiny

In the J-drama Dragon Zakura, the protagonist uses unconventional methods to help the school’s worst students get into prestigious Tokyo University. And his approach for the history portion? Historical manga! And why not? As exciting as a past event might be, if it’s presented as a lengthy wall of text, some may get intimidated and give up reading even before they start. The beauty of manga is that it can offer access to that same information in a way that’s entertaining and more likely to stick with the reader.

I have a feeling that’s why NEXT put out its five volume series.The Bible is an amazing piece of literature, packed with truly epic moments, but it’s up there when it comes to dense text. By using the manga format, NEXT uses art and dialogue to bring these stories to life.

Back Cover Blurb

Manga Mutiny is a Biblically-accurate retelling of Genesis through Exodus 15:27 presented in the authentic Japanese Manga style. This book, third in the Tyndale Manga line, combines cutting-edge illustration with fast-paced storytelling to deliver Biblical truths in a compelling package to an ever changing, post-modern culture.

The Review

To those new to manga, please note, just because Manga Mutiny contains both Bible stories and pictures doesn’t mean it’s meant for little kids. This is because the Bible is NOT rated G. It contains fratricide, incest, and assault, and that’s just the first book. While children’s Sunday school material may skip over this less savory material, Manga Mutiny does not. Azumi-sensei says she tends to be drawn more toward the weaknesses in her characters than their heroic qualities so we see a cowardly Abraham telling the Pharaoh that his wife is his (unmarried) sister and a less than heroic Lot offering to throw his two daughters to an angry mob. Azumi-sensei doesn’t glorify these aspects of the Bible, but they’re not censored out. So keep that in mind before you pass Manga Mutiny to a seven-year-old.

As mentioned before, this is the first in a five-part series, and Manga Mutiny covers the events from Genesis to Exodus. Interestingly, Azumi-sensei doesn’t begin with the creation of the universe, but with Lucifer’s rebellion against God. What that does is place the human story in the context of a greater cosmic struggle so each episode is part of an interconnected whole rather than a stand-alone story. When characters veer toward evil, Satan’s lurking in the background, and when redemption takes place, you see God’s agents at work.

Unlike most manga, this series is done entirely in color like most Western comics, but the artwork is standard shojo style. Azumi-sensei does a satisfactory job of making each member of the sizable cast distinct, but her artwork is probably not the most reliable resource if you wanted to know what the patriarchs actually looked and dressed like. Choices for hair/skin coloring and clothing seem more a function of artistic sense, and you know when you’re dealing with the divine because they have green or purple hair.

Regarding the dialogue, there’s no King James-speak here. In keeping with making this story accessible, characters use colloquial English. Children refer to parents as mom and dad, and people use terms like “okay” and “get lost.” Manga is dialogue-heavy, and there’s quite a bit of dialogue based upon but not actually in the Bible. However, each page includes a footnote referencing which books and verses each scene is drawn from. And to make clear when God is actually speaking, his speech is highlighted in color.

A map and family tree/character profile are included in the back as extras.

In Summary

Although it doesn’t cover every single detail of the ancient texts, Manga Mutiny provides an excellent overview of the first two books of the Bible. Azumi-sensei’s depictions of people, architecture, and clothing are probably more artistic interpretation than archaeologically/historically accurate, but her narrative makes characters relatable while sticking closely to the original story. It’s an excellent resource for teen readers who prefer graphics to text or older readers wanting a quick overview of the Bible.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manhwa Review: Goong Vol. #13

What if modern Korea was a constitutional monarchy similar to England’s? That’s the backdrop for Goong: the Palace, a manhwa that got turned into a wildly popular drama and musical.

Set in an alternate world where the Korean monarchy still exists, the story follows Chae-Kyung Shin, an strong-willed commoner who attends the same high school as Shin Lee, the crown prince. After accidentally witnessing Shin proposing to his girlfriend Hyo-rin and being rejected, Chae-Kyung unexpectedly learns that she will marry Shin and become crown princess due to a promise between the former king and her grandfather.

Yen Press has just released Volume 13 of the series, and you can read on for the review. (For my Fandom Post review of Volume 11, go here.)

Back Cover Blurb

As Prince Shin and Chae-Kyung carry on separate lives away from each other in the aftermath of their divorce, the schemes and manipulation continue behind their backs! When the pair meet by chance at an orphanage, the fireworks go off just as the political factions – to say nothing of the conniving Yul – intended. Chae-Kyung’s outright rejection of Shin leads the Crown Prince to go running into the arms of his ex-girlfriend, Hyo-Rin – and propose to her a second time?!

The Review

Shin and Chae-Kyung’s divorce is official, but that doesn’t put an end to their feelings. The separation of lovers means angst, and the first half of Yen Press’ release of Volume 13 has it in spades with Shin rebelling against everyone and everything to have her back. Meanwhile Chae-Kyung’s in agony having to thwart his desperate advances. And of course there’s Yul, trying to capitalize on a situation where Chae-Kyung’s emotionally weak and Shin’s forbidden to see her. What makes it worse is that the royal family seems to think that throwing a new crown princess at Shin will help matters so Hyo-Rin and Chae-Jun get added to the mix. On one hand, the actions of the royals seem callous, the way they’re trying to replace Chae-Kyung, yet you can’t really hate them because SoHee makes clear how much they all miss her. It’s the kind of tangled emotional torment Korean dramas are famous for.

But SoHee can’t keep us wallowing in misery forever. By the middle of the volume, their post-divorce life takes on a comic flavor. Chae-Kyung is no longer crown princess, but she’s not exactly a regular person either. SoHee seems to take a kind of twisted pleasure in torturing Chae-Kyung at a group date gone horribly wrong with Shin stalking about under the pretense of a driving lesson. Mi-Roo also serves up a huge chunk of comedy. The rich brat is conniving and up to no good, but the way she twists her father into canceling plans to marry her to an Arab prince and helping in her ploy against Hyo-Rin is pretty funny. And SoHee continues in the super bizarre humor (?) that is particular to Eunuch Kong. (That character seriously disturbs me.)

Of course, things can’t end so sadly for our lead couple. Toward the end of the volume, the Queen and Shin are feverishly but separately trying to get to the bottom of the intrigue that led to their current predicament. Between that and Mi-Roo’s somewhat juvenile plan to get Hyo-Rin booted as crown princess by forcing Shin and Chae-Kyung back together, the divorced pair’s definitely got another encounter in their future, but it’s bound to be a tumultuous one.

Included as extras in this volume are Words from the Creator from the Korean Volumes 17 and 18 and the short story Confession, which delves into the past of one of our more villainous characters. Usually, this kind of back story makes me more sympathetic toward the individual in question, but this did not, although it did provide insight into the royal love triangle of a generation ago.

In Summary

Nothing like forcibly separated lovers to tug at the heartstrings. Shin earns points as a lead male for his persistence in pursuing Chae-Kyung despite everything driving them apart while Chae-Kyung is the consummate tragic heroine. Anguish abounds, yet SoHee keeps the mood from getting overly depressing with comic moments involving blood sausages, sleepless eunuchs, conniving rich girls, and the worst group date ever.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manga Review: Sakura Hime: The Legend of Princess Sakura Vol. 11

Arina Tanemura is a popular shojo mangaka, and one of her works currently being translated into English is Sakura Hime, a magical shojo story that puts a twist on a famous Japanese legend. Volume 11 has recently been released, and you can read on for the review. (For those who are interested, you can click here for my reviews of earlier volumes).

The story centers on Sakura, the granddaughter of the Moon princess Kaguya. As her descendent, Sakura wields the power to defeat Youko, monsters from the Moon, but Sakura’s Moon heritage also means she’s predisposed to becoming a Youko herself…

Back Cover Blurb

Kohaku follows Hayate into the woods and finds him there with Rurijo. Enju also witnesses the clandestine meeting and confronts Rurijo about her betrayal. Rurijo, now abandoned by Enju, vows to kill Princess Sakura…

The Review

Tanemura-sensei mentions in her author’s notes that the series will conclude in the next volume with fifty chapters, and it does feel like things are winding to an end with Team Enju dwindling. Ukyo’s dead, Maimai’s run off, and now it’s Rurijo’s turn. Loyal as she is, she’s not the type to defy Enju, but to anyone looking from the outside, her interactions with Hayate smack of betrayal. I lose all respect for Kohaku and Hayate as ninjas when Enju catches Hayate and Rurijo together (of the three ninjas in the scene, only Shuri detects everyone’s presence). Still, the moment serves the purpose of landing Hayate and Rurijo in deep trouble with their respective comrades.

Interestingly, Enju doesn’t destroy Rurijo outright but abandons her for a slow demise. She, of course, snaps, and in her desperation vows to kill Sakura. Given her dramatic entrance into Oura’s house, I expected a massive, extended battle. Instead, the tension quickly drops, to an almost comic level, and you can see the ultimate outcome of the fight coming from a mile away.

What’s not so predictable is the Hayate/Rurijo/Kohaku (/Shuri?) love triangle. To me, this romantic mess is the most engaging part of the current arc. Unlike the Oura/Fujimurasaki/Sakura love triangle, it’s much easier to follow, yet it’s harder to tell how it will finally resolve itself. Hayate’s had it rough, being almost a joke in his frog form, so it’s nice to see him as an object of attraction.

With Team Enju taking so many hits, they’ve got to lash back somehow, and Enju gets Sakura where it really hurts – by going after Asagiri. Tanemura-sensei mentions that “Asagiri is a character who shines in tragic scenes,” and all I’ll say about Chapters 43 and 44 is that Asagiri fans should have their Kleenex ready.

Extras in Volume 11 include embedded author’s notes and a closing remark from one of Tanemura-sensei’s assistants.

In Summary

Sakura brings out Chizakura twice in this installment of Sakura Hime, but the action that follows isn’t the sort that gets your blood pumped up. What the volume does have in spades are romantic tension, juvenile comedy, and tragic final moments. With the ninja love triangle as yet unresolved and the possibility of a means to undo Oura’s curse, Tanemura-sensei’s certainly got my attention as we head into the manga’s finale.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Book Review: My Neighbor Totoro: the Novel

Totoro is one of the most recognizable characters in all anime. Though 25 years have passed since the release of My Neighbor Totoro, you can still find Totoro goods and fans everywhere. Totoro is the face of powerhouse Studio Ghibli, what Mickey Mouse is to Disney, and he’s still popular enough to claim a role in Toy Story 3.

True fact: I learned Totoro was in that film while cosplaying as Totoro at Anime Expo. (An excited stranger started pointing at me and yelling, “You’re in Toy Story 3!”)

For English-speaking fans who can’t get enough of the lovable fuzzy giant, Viz Media has recently released their translation of My Neighbor Totoro: the Novel.

back cover blurb

The beloved animation classic by legendary Studio Ghibli director Hayao Miyazaki, My Neighbor Totoro is now retold in novel form. This prestige, hardcover edition features original illustrations by Miyazaki himself, accompanying a story written by veteran children’s book author Tsugiko Kubo. Sure to delight both existing fans and new readers!

Eleven-year-old Satsuki and her sassy little sister Mei have moved to the country to be closer to their ailing mother. While their father is working, the girls explore their sprawling old house and the forest and fields that surround it. Soon, Satsuki and Mei discover Totoro, a magical forest spirit who takes them on fantastic adventures through the trees and the clouds–and teaches them a lesson about trusting one another.

The review

This book is beautifully produced. The canvas textured cover and Miyazaki’s watercolor sketch illustrations give it the feel of a classic, which it is, actually. Though Viz Media has only recently released the English translation, the original Japanese novel was published in 1988. A whimsical acorn design decorates the inside of the cover, and the book includes a handy color map of Matsugo Village, where the story takes place.

It’s called My Neighbor Totoro: the Novel, but it’s closer to My Neighbor Totoro, the Chapter Book. The story follows 11-year-old Satsuki for the most part and was clearly intended for readers her age. Still, though the plot and descriptions are written for a younger audience, aspects of the book may pose a challenge for English-speaking readers. Part of it is because of the Japanese names. For instance, the name of hospital where the girls’ mother is being treated, Shichikokuyama, may seem daunting and unpronounceable to a Western child. The other part is the various cultural references of 1950s rural Japan, where breakfast consists of rice and miso soup, people pay homage to various nature spirits, and, yes, families bathe together.

The book contains the same general arc as the Totoro movie. Two sisters and their father move to the countryside to be closer to the girls’ mother, who is hospitalized with tuberculosis. As they settle into their new home, a long-vacant and rumored to be haunted house, they encounter a number of magical creatures, including Totoro, the ruler of the forest. The major plot points are the same, but Kubo-sensei, who wrote the novel adaption, does change a few details, including the cat bus’ role when Mei goes missing. She also adds a few scenes that weren’t part of the movie, including a ten day trip to visit relatives in Tokyo. Interestingly, the famous scene of Totoro and the girls playing ocarinas in the camphor tree on the front cover never actually takes place in the book.

Charming as the Totoro movie is, it moves pretty slowly, and the novel moves even slower. While the totoros are mysterious and magical, most of the pages are taken up by descriptions of the mundane: landscapes, plants, chores, school. However, because these things are seen through the eyes of a girl new to the country, who’s struggling to keep house in a place without the conveniences she’s used to and take care of her younger sister on top of that, the narration is engaging despite its pace.

The book paints Satsuki as a very likable character–brave, responsible, and positive. Mei, on the other hand, comes across as a troublesome, difficult sibling while their father is loving but unreliable, a kind of absent-minded professor. So the ones Satsuki  depends on are her neighbors, Granny Ogaki and Kanta. A few times, the story briefly shifts to Kanta’s perspective, which is pretty interesting considering his fleeting appearances in the film, and readers get a better grasp of his crush on Satsuki that’s only hinted at in the movie.

As mentioned earlier, the story largely follows Satsuki’s perspective. What that means is our first introduction to Totoro is a secondhand account through Mei, and considering she’s only got a 4-year-old’s grasp of language, it’s pretty confusing. Totoro doesn’t actually appear in the flesh until the bus stop scene, and the other totoros, of which Kubo-sensei provides hardly any description, don’t get much mention at all. Also, the book includes no illustration of the medium-size totoro so readers unfamiliar with the film wouldn’t have any idea what it looks like. As such, even though My Neighbor Totoro can be read on its own, it functions better as a companion piece to the film.

In summary

While it doesn’t follow the film exactly, My Neighbor Totoro: the Novel is a delightful companion piece to the movie. It gives readers additional details on the characters and setting and provides a glimpse into Satsuki’s thoughts as events unfold. Although it was originally written for young readers, fans of all ages can enjoy rediscovering Totoro’s forest from a new perspective.

First published at The Fandom Post.

Manga Review: Are You Alice? Vol. 02

Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland has inspired all sorts of spinoff works, from visual art to movies to manga. However, Ai Ninomiya may have conjured up the most unusual Alice yet.  Are You Alice?, which originally began as a CD series, features a gun-toting male as its Alice! Yen Press has recently released the second volume, and you can read on for the review. (If you’re interested in my review for Volume 1, click here.)

Back Cover Blurb

The Duke–a warped mass that collects the scraps of Wonderland–goes berserk in the town square, not far from where Alice and Hatter have traveled on an errand. In his frenzied state, the Duke wants nothing more than to have Alice all to himself. But when an overconfident Alice decides to ignore Hatter’s commands and give the Duke what he wants, little does Alice expect to wind up in the belly of the beast!

The Review

Are You Alice? continues with its mix of mysterious characters, violence, and bizarre rules. Having decided to kill the White Rabbit, the 89th Alice gets to work, but his efforts to locate him through the Dormouse are interrupted by the Duke going berserk. This time, his Duchess isn’t enough to calm him, and what follows is a hint of the disaster Wonderland residents are desperate to forestall. In the midst of the mayhem, we get more visions (though it’s impossible to tell if they are flashbacks, foreshadowing, or part of the trash cluttering up Wonderland) as well as shining moments of heroism on the part of the Duchess and Alice. Ultimately though, rescue comes from an entirely unexpected source in a most surprising manner.

Once the Duke gets stopped, tragedy appears to be averted, but it’s not. The arc’s conclusion is quite sad, and a testament to how cheap life is in Wonderland. Consequences are heavy for those who don’t fulfill their roles, and as quickly as they’re discarded, newcomers take their place.

In addition to character replacements, we get other new faces in the story, one of whom is the 88th Alice, now a Regret. Up to now, Regrets seemed like fragments of people, somewhat like zombies. This Alice, though, is quite lucid and self-controlled enough to speak calmly to her murderer. Of course, she’s out to get the 89th Alice, and the fact that she’s in control of her faculties hints that she’ll be much more dangerous than the Regrets the current Alice has encountered so far.

A story with so much a gloom and doom can get depressing quick, but this volume balances the darker elements with well-timed and well-crafted humor. Katagiri-sensei’s artwork skillfully conveys physical humor, like Alice’s hilarious efforts to get into Caterpillar Alley, and she uses exaggerated expressions to good comic effect. And for those who believe a dress and pinafore are an absolute must for anyone claiming to be Alice in Wonderland, well, that requirement will be satisfied in this volume.

Manga extras include a five page lighthearted short, an afterword by Ninomiya-sensei, and the title page and table of contents printed in color.

In Summary

Tragedy and heroism play out on the streets of Wonderland! Alice gets no closer to killing the White Rabbit, nor do readers gain any solid insight into his past despite a disturbing new vision. Yet the one thing that is clear is the characters’ pain as they struggle with Wonderland’s rules. If you’ve grown fond of the cast, these chapters will make you sympathize with them even more.

First published at the Fandom Post.