While We Were Out...

You all may have noticed that posting was very light this past week. That's because I was on vacation and decided to take a vacation from blogging as well.

Unfortunately we missed the latest comics blogosphere hysteria, the whole OMG Seinen isn't selling bruhaha. The initial reaction was that it's because the manga market is dominated by females, and isn't it tough/just that male comics fans now have to see what it's like to be in the consumer minority.

However, missing such things means that there's a chance for more rational thoughts to prevail. Jason Thompson rightly points out that it's not a girl-boy thing, but a teen-adult thing, as josei sells just as poorly as seinen. How the whole manga-targeted-to-males-don't-sell idea even got started is something of a mystery, since titles like Naruto and the monthly anthology Shonen Jump are among manga's best sellers. Chris Butcher also points out that, in comics stores, seinen actually sells quite well thank you very much; not surprising since the male 18-35 audience typically gets its comics fix in comics stores. In other words, when its audience can find it, seinen is being bought.

The issue that interests me in all of this is what happens to manga when its readership grows up? I see one of three possibilities:

1) It's like the US comics market pre-1980, when kids grow up, discover the gender of their choice, and leave manga behind, whilest at the same time new kids come in to take their place.

2) It's like the US comics market of the past 20 years, where the kids grow up into their 20s and 30s and want more of the same that they read as kids, just with more 'adult' content.

3) It's like comics markets in Japan (and other parts of the world), where people become lifelong comics/manga readers and new kids are constantly being added into the stream as well.

Obviously the best outcome is #3, as long as there's material available for all who are interested. #2 presents interesting challenges, especially if the manga publishers don't see it coming and keep on turning out kids manga for an audience that doesn't want it. #1 would be the most comfortable for the publishers, as they can continue with what they know works.

(I don't think that a fourth possibility, manga flames out in a few years, is very realistic at this point. Despite many early naysayers going on about how manga was just a flash-in-the-pan, it's become pretty clear that it's here to stay for a while.)

Monkey Covers

Sunday is Monkey Covers day here at YACB. Because there's nothing better than a comic with a monkey on the cover.

Richard Jenkins draws the cover to 2006's Sky Ape: King of Girls #1.

(Standard disclaimer of the fact that, while an ape with a jetpack may be the third best idea ever in comics, it is not really a monkey.)

Image courtesy of the GCD. Click on the image for a larger version.

New Library Comics: Week of June 25, 2007

Here's a list of the comics we added to our library collection last week:


Benson, John. Confessions, romances, secrets and temptations : Archer St. John and St. John Romance Comics ; John Benson. /Seattle, Wash. : Fantagraphics, c2007.

Biblos. J-boy /Gardena, CA : Digital Manga Pub., 2006.

The boxing bucket /San Jose, Calif. : SLG Publishing, 2006.

Cossi, Paolo, 1980- Unabomber : romanzo a fumetti /Ponte di Piave (Treviso) : BeccoGiallo, 2005.

Dalrymple, Farel. Pop gun war /Freeport, NY : Cryptic Press, c2000- no. 1

Dupuy, 1960- Complete universe of Dupuy-Berberian / Philippe Dupuy, Charles Berberian. /Amsterdam : Oog & Blik, 2006.

Ellison, Harlan. Harlan Ellison's dream corridor. /Milwaukie, OR : Dark Horse Comics, 1996- vol. 2

Falcinelli, Riccardo, 1973- Grafogrifo /Torino : Einaudi, 2004.

Frazetta, Frank. Shining Knight and other tales /New York : DC Comics, Inc. for Sea Gate Distributors, 1983.

Green, Grass. Sinnin' /Seattle, Wash. : Eros Comix, 1991. no. 1

Hemak, Sean. Pole Land /Almont, Mich. : Grand Rapids, Mich. : Xeno Press, 1998- no. 1

Holmes, Mike. The strange adventures /[Halifax, N.S.] : HFX Comics, [2002?]

Howarth, Matt, 1954- Das loot /Seattle, Wash. : Aeon, c1994.

Howlett, David. Scenester /[Halifax, N.S.] : HFX Comics, 2002- nos. 1-3

Kudō, Kazuya. Pineapple army /San Francisco, CA : Viz Communications, 1988-1989. nos. 1-10

Miss Lips. Snitch /[S.l. : s.n.], 2003- no. 1

Pop art funnies /Detroit, Mich. : MPH comics, [2004]- nos. 3-5

Pran. Pinki. /New Delhi, India : Diamond Comics, 199-?- no. 5

Pure. Pixy junket /San Francisco, CA : Viz Comics, c1993- nos. 1-6

Reactor girl. /[Guelph, Ont.] : Tragedy Strikes Press, [1990?]- vol. 2 no. 6

Real girl. /Seattle, WA : Fantagraphics Books, 1990- nos. 1-4, 6

Redmond, Michael. Street poet Ray /New York, N.Y. : Marvel Comics, c1990. nos. 1-2

Renate. /Berlin : Renate, [1990?- ] nos. 2, 4-10, 12-14

River würst comics. /[Milwaukee, WI : s.n., 2002-2004] nos. 3-4

The Rocky Horror picture show : the comic book /Westland, Mich. : Caliber Press, 1990-1991. nos. 1-3

Sad Sack and the sarge. /Sparta, Ill. : Harvey Hits, 1957-1982. no. 117

Sad Sack laugh special. /Meriden, Conn. : Harvey Publications, 1958-1977. no. 83

Sad Sack with Sarge and Sadie. /New York, N.Y. : Harvey Hits, 1972-1973. no. 3

Sandlin, David, 1956- Wonderfool world. /Kilkenny, Ireland : Butler Gallery, 2006.

Smith, Sean. Self-centered comics /[Halifax, N.S. : s.n., 200-?- ] no. 5

Stephens, Jay. Sin / by Jason Stephens.Guelph, Ont. : Tragedy Strikes Press, 1992-1993. nos. 1-3, 5

Stephens, Jay. Sin comics / by Jay Stephens.Cambridge, Ont. : Black Eye Productions, 1993. nos. 1-2

Stereoscomic /Pontault-Combault, France : Alban Rautenstrauch, [1999]- no. 3

Steudler, Joel. The rabid monkey /Pittsburgh, PA : D.B.I. Comics, nos. 1-8

Takemiya, Keiko, 1950- To terra -- /New York : Vertical, 2007- vol. 1

Valentino, Serena. Nightmares & fairy tales /San Jose, Calif. : SLG Publishing, c2004- vol. 1

Walton, Rob Ragmop. /Toronto : Big Bang, 2006.

Wighton, Tamara. Re: vulva girl /Melbourne, Australia : Strap On Productions, 1999- no. 1

Quick DC Crossover Reviews

Countdown #44
by Paul Dini, Adam Beechen, Carlos Magno & Jay Leisten

Countdown is quickly moving into disaster territory. Each week brings 20-odd pages of set-up, but any big event--like the Rogues killing The Flash--happen off panel in another book. I'm not one of those opposed to the Mary Marvel-gets-Black Adam's-powers storyline per se, but it takes up eight pages in this issue and not much happens. The Jimmy Olsen story holds some interest, but it's moving slowly. And I fear for poor Holly Robinson, a fave character stuck into this book and drawn like a supermodel. Finally, the back-up "History of the Multiverse" would probably be better served as links to WikiPedia. And who the heck ever wanted to see Monarch return?

Rating: 1.5 (of 5)


Amazons Attack #3
by Will Pfeifer & Pete Woods

In general I enjoy Pfeifer's writing; Finals is one of my favorite 'forgotten' Vertigo minis, and I'm enjoying his current work on Catwoman. So it's sad to see him struggling under the editorial plot hammer of Amazons Attack. Clearly there's a reason why everyone in this book is acting like a pod person, but by this point the plot and reasons need to be revealed and the story moving on to the next act. At least Peter Woods' art is pretty.

Rating: 2.5 (of 5)


Green Lantern: Sinestro Corps Special #1
by Geoff Johns, Ethan Van Sciver, & Dave Gibbons

Let's end on a high note: This is how you kick off a crossover. Sinestro gathers up the final members of his anti-Corps, including some nasty, evil villains, and the surprise big bad is revealed on the last page. This is prologue, but it's a prologue where things happen, secrets are revealed, and a sense of dread hang over it all. It gives a sense that this is going to be an important and exciting event, not because the marketers tell us it's going to be important and exciting, but because the story makes it so. Story-driven event comics? What a concept!

Rating: 3.5 (of 5)

New This Week: June 27, 2007

Based on the NCRL, here are some comics you may want to look at picking up at your friendly local comic shop tomorrow:


The Pick of the Week is the first volume of The Collected Toupydoops, Kevin McShane's modern take on Roger Rabbit. Good humor, interesting characters, and a few keen observations on the comics and movie industries.


In other comics:

Dark Horse have the first Buffy Omnibus and a collection of Dwight T. Albatross' The Goon Noir.

DC have the second Showcase Presents Batman volume; the Green Lantern Sinestro Corps Special; and new issues of Blue Beetle (#16), Countdown (#44), Jack of Fables (#12), and Supergirl and the Legion (#31).

Dynamite Entertainment have a new issue of The Boys (#8).

Fantagraphics have a new issue of Castle Waiting Vol. II (#7).

IDW have a new issue of Fallen Angel (#17).

Image have new issues of Invincible (#43) and The Walking Dead (#38); and the final issue of The Nightly News (#6).

Marvel have a digest collection of Ant-Man; the first issue of the regular X-Men: First Class series; the 200th issue of the adjectiveless X-Men; and new issues of Criminal (#7), Daredevil (#98), Marvel Adventures The Avengers (#14), She-Hulk (#19), Thunderbolts (#115), and X-Factor (#20).

Oni have a collection of the humorous Maintenance.

Viz have several manga tankobans, including the 10th volume of Hikaru no Go.

Vertical have the third and final volume of To Terra.


Should be something that strikes your fancy, yes?

New Library Comics: Week of June 18, 2007

Here's a list of the comics we added to our library collection last week:


Africa comics 2003 : antologia del Premio Africa e Mediterraneo = anthologie du Prix Africa e Mediterraneo. /Sasso Marconi (Bologna) : Africa e Mediterraneo : Lai-momo, 2004.

Armstrong, Robert. Mickey Rat /Los Angeles, Calif. : Los Angeles Comic Book Co., c1972- no. 3

Baker, Kyle. Nat Turner /New York : Kyle Baker Pub., 2006-2007. vol. 2

Baker, Kyle. The new Baker /Woodstock, N.Y. : Kyle Baker Publishing, 2003- no. 1

The book of Joe : the art of Joe Coleman /Los Angeles : Last Gasp/La Luiz de Jesus Press, 2003.

Breitkreuz, Laurie. A monk's tale /[Calgary, Alta.] : Konsequential Studios, 2002- nos. 1-3

Brunetti, Ivan. Misery loves comedy /Chicago, Ill. : Paisano Pub. Co., 1989- no. 2

Burgoon, Charles. Odd /Coldwater, Mich. : Ghost Train Press, [1994]- nos. 6-7

Crumb, R. Mr. Natural /San Francisco, Calif. : San Francisco Comic Book Co., c1970- no. 3

Crumb, R. The people's comics /San Francisco, Calif. : Golden Gate, 1972.

Crumb, R. The people's comics /Princeton, Wisc. : Kitchen Sink Enterprises, 1976, c1972.

Darcy, Dame. Meat cake /[Seattle, WA] : Fantagraphics Books, 1993- no. 15

Drippytown comics & stories. /Vancouver, B.C. : Drippytown Manufacturing Concern, 2001- no. 5

Espinosa, Rod. Neotopia /San Antonio, Tex. : Antarctic Press, c2003- no. 1

Fetch, Toc. The most Pope Joey /Woodstock, N.Y. : Abanne Ink, [2001]- vol. 3 no. 1

Fingerman, Bob, 1964- Monkey jank /Seattle, Wash. : Fantagraphics, 2000- no. 1

Gipi, 1963- Garage band /New York : First Second, 2007.

Howarth, Matt, 1954- Faith of the foe /Denver, Colo. : Fandom House, c1987.

Howarth, Matt, 1954- Fix /Providence, RI : Brave New Words, c1990.

Igort, 1958- Baobab : a graphic novel /Seattle, WA : Fantagraphics Books, c2005- no. 2

Ilano, Romy. Miromi /Berlin [Germany] : Romy Ilano, 2004- no. 1

Kochalka, James. American elf : the collected sketchbook diaries of James Kochalka, /Marietta, GA : Top Shelf Productions, c2004-. vol. 2

Kurtzman, Harvey. Harvey Kurtzman /Seattle, Wash. : Fantagraphics Books, 2006.

Lutes, Jason. Houdini : the handcuff king /New York, New York : The Center for Cartoon Studies, Hyperion, c2007.

Maconi, Gianluca, 1977- I delitti di Alleghe : romanzo a fumetti /Ponte di Piave (Treviso) : BeccoGiallo, 2005.

Magnus, 1939-1997. Le centodieci pillole /Roma : Nuova Frontiera ; Collana Eldorado, [1986]

Mangamover. /Bromley, Kent : Boychild Productions, 2004- no. 1

Mauled! : True stories of people attacked at the zoo. /Hoboken, NJ : Manual Comics : House of Twelve Comics, c2003- no. 1

Mavric, Igor. Marcinelle, storie di minatori : cronaca a fumetti /Levada di Ponte di Piave (Treviso) : BeccoGiallo, 2006.

McFadden, David. McFadden's Funnies /Pittsburgh, Pa. : McFadden's Funnies, 1999- no. 101

Mineshaft. /Brattleboro, VT : Mineshaft, c1999- nos. 14, 16, 17

The 'Nam magazine. /New York, N.Y. : Marvel Comics, 1988- nos. 1-2

The new crew. /Massapequa, NY : Personality Comics, 1991- no. 1

O'Donnell, Peter. The Official Modesty Blaise /Granada Hills, Calif. : Pioneer Comics, 1988- nos. 1-5

Ōtomo, Katsuhiro, 1954- Memories /New York : Epic Comics, 1992- no. 1

Parisi, Paolo, 1980- Il sequestro Moro : cronaca a fumetti /Levada di Ponte di Piave (Treviso) : BeccoGiallo, 2006.

Pekar, Harvey. Another day /New York, NY : DC Comics, c2007.

Pekar, Harvey. Our movie year : American splendor : stories /New York : Ballantine Books, 2004.

Periphery. /Redondo Beach, Calif. : O-P-P, 2004- nos. 1-2

Schulz, Charles M. The complete Peanuts, 1963 to 1964 /Seattle, WA : Fantagraphics Books ; New York : Distributed to the book trade by W.W. Norton, c2007.

Stevens, Karl. The natural selection /[Westminster, MA : Atom Publishing, 1998- nos. 1-3

Taniguchi, Jirō. The times of Botchan /Tokyo : Fanfare/Ponent Mon, c2005- vol. 3

Tezuka, Osamu, 1928-1989. Phoenix /San Francisco, CA : Viz, c2003- vol. 10

Toffolo, Davide. Pasolini /Bologna [etc.] : Coconino Press, 2005.

Trondheim, Lewis. Mister I /New York : NBM ; London : Turnaround [distributor], 2007.

Science Idol

The Union of Concerned Scientists is running Science Idol: The Scientific Integrity Editorial Cartoon Contest. You are asked to vote on which of 12 science-related editorial cartoons is your favorite. Voting is open through July 23.