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RIGHT TURN ONLY!! - 'Twas the Night After Christmas


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hanachan01



Joined: 11 Dec 2005
Posts: 504
PostPosted: Wed Dec 27, 2006 2:22 pm Reply with quote
I've been wondering when xxxHOLiC volue meight would come out....nice to see it got an 'A' rating. I can't wait to pick it up.

This "Best New Manga" book sounds interesting, if not to see just what other OEL artists are doing. What genre would you say has the most stories in the book? I don't want too much sword-and-sorcery or ecchi.
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coolerimmortal



Joined: 22 Aug 2003
Posts: 522
PostPosted: Wed Dec 27, 2006 5:13 pm Reply with quote
B- for Eden? That's too harsh, I'd say. Personally, I think the whole series is brilliant...sure, you have to think quite a bit to follow it, but if you can keep track of everything, few series are more rewarding.
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Zac
ANN Executive Editor


Joined: 05 Jan 2002
Posts: 7912
Location: Anime News Network Technodrome
PostPosted: Wed Dec 27, 2006 5:29 pm Reply with quote
coolerimmortal wrote:
B- for Eden? That's too harsh, I'd say. Personally, I think the whole series is brilliant...sure, you have to think quite a bit to follow it, but if you can keep track of everything, few series are more rewarding.


A B- is not a "harsh" score in any sense of the word whatsoever.
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Kagemusha



Joined: 20 Feb 2004
Posts: 2783
Location: Boston
PostPosted: Wed Dec 27, 2006 6:56 pm Reply with quote
Quote:
Despite all its achievements in style, some folks are still going to get on xxxHOLiC's case for its unremarkable substance. The stories foster an occult atmosphere but fail to deliver any interesting twists, and the emotional range isn't all that great: Watanuki gets antsy over spirits, rages at Dômeki, and fawns over his crush Himawari, all while Yûko spouts her quirky nuggets of philosophy. In other words, the same things that happen every volume. If Watanuki is growing so much as a person, why aren't his interpersonal relationships (aside from the one with Dômeki) going anywhere? Looks like CLAMP is willing to maintain the status quo for their characters as long as they can go crazy with the visuals. So take this for what it is: yet another tale of a young man discovering his special powers and his place in the (spirit) world. Except, y'know, brilliantly drawn.


I tend to take this side of the argument for the series, though I think it has improved quite a bit from when it started, when it wasn't engaging at all. I probobly wouldn't give it any higher than a B, but I do see why people fall head-over-heels for it. Still reading and enjoying it though.

Quote:
B- for Eden? That's too harsh, I'd say. Personally, I think the whole series is brilliant...sure, you have to think quite a bit to follow it, but if you can keep track of everything, few series are more rewarding.


As a whole Eden has been great so far, but the fifth volume was a let-down like Carlo said. Endo has a distinct talent for characters, but when his plotting wasn't that impressive. So yeah, while I think there series was one of the best of the year overall, I kind of agree with the rating of this volume (which is still above average).
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rocklobster



Joined: 22 Jul 2005
Posts: 200
Location: Planet Claire
PostPosted: Wed Dec 27, 2006 8:30 pm Reply with quote
As someone who's been watching Trinity Blood since day one, I'd have to say it's very good. And this is from someone who doesn't normally like horror! Surprised
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Angel_Trainee



Joined: 09 Dec 2006
Posts: 48
Location: TX
PostPosted: Wed Dec 27, 2006 9:50 pm Reply with quote
Cool I was also wandering when the next XXXHolic was coming out and I also think "Best New Manga" book sounds intresting. Anime smile
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Abarenbo Shogun



Joined: 19 Jul 2005
Posts: 1573
PostPosted: Wed Dec 27, 2006 11:33 pm Reply with quote
Quote:
When does manga stop being manga? (Purists, don't even answer that.)


Hush.

Seriously, if the Koreans are smart enough to call their stuff manwha, and many online comics have no qualms being called Webcomics, why can't the other non-asian folk just be content with Graphic Novel or Comic Book?
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smoochy



Joined: 30 Oct 2005
Posts: 367
Location: Texas
PostPosted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 1:53 am Reply with quote
So I looked through your older reviews, but I couldn't find any reviews of previous volumes of Eden, so I'd like to know, what have you thought of Eden?
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coolerimmortal



Joined: 22 Aug 2003
Posts: 522
PostPosted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 2:06 am Reply with quote
Zac wrote:
coolerimmortal wrote:
B- for Eden? That's too harsh, I'd say. Personally, I think the whole series is brilliant...sure, you have to think quite a bit to follow it, but if you can keep track of everything, few series are more rewarding.


A B- is not a "harsh" score in any sense of the word whatsoever.


I called it harsh because, in Eden's case, I believe it is. If this were Naruto, it would be good, but Eden is a superior breed. I've read through volume 12 and I haven't encountered anything yet that I'd give less than an A-, and I'm not nearly that easy on most manga.

But that's just me, so this is entirely pointless.
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Patachu
Past ANN Contributor


Joined: 08 Jul 2004
Posts: 1325
Location: San Diego
PostPosted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 2:13 am Reply with quote
smoochy wrote:
So I looked through your older reviews, but I couldn't find any reviews of previous volumes of Eden, so I'd like to know, what have you thought of Eden?


Hm, I'm pretty sure I did the first volume in early 2006. Anyway I'd give the series a B overall; it's a pure A when hits the right emotional and philosophical notes but drags into C-level material when Endo over-plots or gets mired in post-apocalyptic explodey fanservice.

hanachan01 wrote:
I've been wondering when xxxHOLiC volue meight would come out....nice to see it got an 'A' rating. I can't wait to pick it up.

This "Best New Manga" book sounds interesting, if not to see just what other OEL artists are doing. What genre would you say has the most stories in the book? I don't want too much sword-and-sorcery or ecchi.


Surprisingly, I think only two stories were pure sword-and-sorcery.

I'd say it was dominated most by dramatic/slice-of-life material. And once again Europe proves why they do have more refined tastes...

P.S. Kago-chan for the win.
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hanachan01



Joined: 11 Dec 2005
Posts: 504
PostPosted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 8:28 am Reply with quote
Patachu wrote:
hanachan01 wrote:
I've been wondering when xxxHOLiC volue meight would come out....nice to see it got an 'A' rating. I can't wait to pick it up.

This "Best New Manga" book sounds interesting, if not to see just what other OEL artists are doing. What genre would you say has the most stories in the book? I don't want too much sword-and-sorcery or ecchi.


Surprisingly, I think only two stories were pure sword-and-sorcery.

I'd say it was dominated most by dramatic/slice-of-life material. And once again Europe proves why they do have more refined tastes...


Thanks! Slice-of-life is my favorite kind of manga, so I'm gonna check it out!

Patachu wrote:
P.S. Kago-chan for the win.


Yeah!....I miss Aibon..... Sad
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mufurc



Joined: 09 Jun 2003
Posts: 612
PostPosted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 8:43 am Reply with quote
Abarenbo Shogun wrote:
Seriously, if the Koreans are smart enough to call their stuff manwha, and many online comics have no qualms being called Webcomics, why can't the other non-asian folk just be content with Graphic Novel or Comic Book?

Because it doesn't have the same pull, market-wise. Seriously, I wonder if these people would rename their stuff as "graphic novels" and "comics" if suddenly "manga" became unpopular. But then, they would be just "World Graphic Novels" and "Original English Language Comics"... just drops in the ocean without a cool, hip label that sets them away from the rest, if only in name. (On the other hand, "Best New Comics" would make a bit more sense.)

The problem of the label "manga" aside, my problem with "Best New Manga" is the title. I mean.. come on, now. Isn't this a bit pretentious? Everyone's free to have their own ideas about what manga is and what it is not, but this title kind of implies that "new manga" = "non-Japanese" which is ridiculous. (By the way, who is this Ilya person?)
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hanachan01



Joined: 11 Dec 2005
Posts: 504
PostPosted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 9:15 am Reply with quote
[quote="mufurc"]
Abarenbo Shogun wrote:
The problem of the label "manga" aside, my problem with "Best New Manga" is the title. I mean.. come on, now. Isn't this a bit pretentious? Everyone's free to have their own ideas about what manga is and what it is not, but this title kind of implies that "new manga" = "non-Japanese" which is ridiculous. (By the way, who is this Ilya person?)


I have to agree there. I think "New Global Manga" would have been a better title.
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cl4y



Joined: 14 Jul 2006
Posts: 56
PostPosted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 1:51 pm Reply with quote
Wow, I just got Best New Manga for Christmas! Funny that I see it on the very next RTO, especially since I hadn't heard of it before.

I was happily surprised when I got it, partly because it came from my brother-in-law, who's knowledge of manga consists of "it's Japanese comic books" and "clay likes it." As others have pointed out, the cover's kind-of misleading, since most of the entries would stretch anyone's definition of manga. But as long as it's storytelling in graphical format, I'm happy.

The review has me all excited now, since I know I have a few gems to look forward to. I've only gotten through the first couple of stories so far, and those were either very amateurish or just not interesting to me. In any case, I'm just happy to have something to read Smile
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Abarenbo Shogun



Joined: 19 Jul 2005
Posts: 1573
PostPosted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 2:04 pm Reply with quote
mufurc wrote:
Abarenbo Shogun wrote:
Seriously, if the Koreans are smart enough to call their stuff manwha, and many online comics have no qualms being called Webcomics, why can't the other non-asian folk just be content with Graphic Novel or Comic Book?

Because it doesn't have the same pull, market-wise. Seriously, I wonder if these people would rename their stuff as "graphic novels" and "comics" if suddenly "manga" became unpopular. But then, they would be just "World Graphic Novels" and "Original English Language Comics"... just drops in the ocean without a cool, hip label that sets them away from the rest, if only in name. (On the other hand, "Best New Comics" would make a bit more sense.


Exactly, thats my problem. When I hear "Manga" I expect the stuff to be from Japan, not from some studio in New York City USA. And I know i'm gonna get creamed for saying this, but alot of the "Manga" being produced by US artists ranges from the Unique (Megatokyo, some of the Seven Seas stuff, Antarctic Press) to very bad imitations of manga art (Anything produced by TOKYOPOP).

And before anyone says i'm bias, think about it this way: TOKYOPOP is a large company, and is known for Quantity, not Quality. Megatokyo is the focus of one guy, and both Seven Seas and Antartic are small operations.

And think about this analogy: When I want a Coca-Cola, I don't want Safeway Go2 Cola.
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