One Piece in BIG Bites? Found via Twitter. @swanjun found these entries for One Piece at Simon and Schuster. At 600 pgs each, and combining three volumes a piece, they sure do sound like VizBIG editions, even if the solicitations don’t actually say so. With the speed up of One Piece coming in January, this is the perfect time for Viz to put out BIG editions of the series. Catching up is a lot easier with the BIG editions than trying to hunt down individual volumes, especially for a series that has been going since 2003. One Piece premiered with Shonen Jump. However, a look at the Previews solicitations makes these appear to be bundles rather than BIG editions. Previews calls them “GN sets” and advertise “get three volumes for the price of two.” Either way, it’s a good deal. The first two scheduled for Dec and Jan releases, with 7-9 scheduled for March 2010, and 10-12 for May 2010.
I have mixed feelings about this. Dragon Ball is being reviewed for it’s content in a Maryland school district because a 9-year-old checked it out of a elementary and middle school library. I think people are oversensitive in general and especially towards manga. I’ll agree that Dragon Ball doesn’t really belong in the hands of a fourth grader, but I think it’s fine for a middle school student. The first Dragon Ball series is a comedy that does contain some sexual innuendo. The first volume does have a few questionable scenes, but I wouldn’t go so far and the Councilman from Wicomico did to describe them. I might be able to see the “sexual innuendo between an adult and child”, with Master Roshi wanting to seen Bulma’s panties, but there is in no way anything sexual between Goku and Bulma. Bulma is more like a big sister to Goku. And Goku is too dense to get any kind of innuendo. So I can see a parent getting upset at their 9-year-old bringing it home to read. So that doesn’t bother me so much. What does is the way it was presented. The mother of the offending 9-year-old didn’t go to…
The History of the West Wing Written by: Sun Jiayu; Illustrated by Guo Guo Age Rating: Teen Genre: Romance Price: $12.99 Rating: Lavishly illustrated in full color and based on the classic Chinese play Xixiang Ji by Wang Shifu, The History of the West Wings tells of the illicit romance between the daughter of a Chinese Government Official and the roaming scholar who seeks to win her hand. But before he can turn his attentions to his ladylove, the young man must win the heart of her mother! When it seems even heroic deeds in the face of murderous bandits will not please the strict matriarch, the young man goes off to become a civil servant. Will he return in time to marry his true love? With a description like that, you’d expect a story filled with drama and romance. Too bad this book provides doesn’t live up to it. It opens with an introduction that explains the history of XiXiang Ji and its significance to Chinese culture and literature. It is a play written in the 1200’s and is based on an earlier fable that tells of the romantic setbacks of a girl that gives herself to a roaming…
This was brought up as a comment on twitter, but was also something I’d been thinking about. Books rated All Ages aren’t necessarily meant for All Ages to read. This really hit me as I was reading ChocoMimi, an all ages title in the Viz Kids line. While there is nothing objectionable, or violent in the the title, it definitely wasn’t something I would chose to read as a 40-year-old. On the flip side, Project X: Challengers: Seven Eleven is also rated all ages, for not having any objectionable material or violence, but wasn’t something anyone under the age of 20 would really care about reading.
New York Anime Festival Days 2 & 3 Days 2 & 3 of NYAF brought publishers Del Rey and Viz with more licenses and news. Del Rey remains conservative with only a few new licenses, but shows it’s still got some cred with Kodansha. Viz has a little something for everyone in each of their lines, including some interesting suprises. What isn’t surprising is the number of titles from already known mangaka. Easier to sell a known than unknown quantity, I would say.
Mamoru: The Shadow Protector Volume 1 – 2 By Sai Madara Publisher: DR Master Publications Age Rating: 13+ Genre: Comedy Price: $9.95 Rating: Volume 1 Summary: Mamoru Kagemori is a dull high school boy who’s not handsome, athletic or intelligent. but things aren’t always what they appear. He’s actually the eldest son of a 400-year-old Ninja clan that specializes in protecting their neighbors, the Konnyakus. And the object of Mamoru’s protection is none other than their only daughter, Yuna Konnyaku, a natural-born troublemaker. Mamoru must continue to protect her to carry out his duty, no matter what adversaries strong, bizarre or stupid. And will Yuna ever learn who her protector is? Volume 2 Summary: When Yuna enters an idol contest and makes it to the finals, despite her hilariously bizarre performance. Mamoru has to go all out with his ninja skills in order to fend off perverted judges and crazed fans! But if Yuna becomes an idol will Mamoru still be able to protect her? Mamoru: The Shadow Protector is a lot like it’s main character. It starts out showing you a fun-filled romantic comedy, heavy on the comedy, but then like a ninja, tries to switch out into a…