Manga Xanadu

For Mother’s Day, I wrote a post (and updated it) about Moms in manga and how they can affect the main characters or the story.  Now, with Father’s Day fast approaching, it’s Dad’s turn.  I’ll look at Manga Dad in the same context, whether they appearance/absence affect the characters and/or the story.  But Dad is going to get an added level, as they seem to break down into 3 categories: Driven, Overzealous, and Creepy.

I know it’s a little late for Mother’s Day, but as long as it’s still May, I figure I can sneak this in.  Last year, I wrote a post about the roles moms can play in manga.  I picked out manga I had read and broke them down into categories; Mom affecting the characters, Mom as support, Mom’s absence affecting the character, Mom’s absence affecting the story.  I’ve read and/or more titles have come out that can be added to the list.

My how time flies!  I can’t believe Easter is already upon us!  Ah, that springtime holiday where everyone buys big, flowery hats, kids color eggs and get baskets from the Easter Bunny.  So, in honor of this spring holiday that’s never on the same day every year, here are some rabbits in manga. Alice 19th – This is a shojo series by Yuu Watase.  Set in modern times, it’s about Alice, a girl forever living in her older sister’s shadow.  During a fight over a boy, Alice’s sister, Mayura disappears.  She is a Lotus Master, someone who can use the power of words to enter the inner heart of others.  Alice has accidentally sent her sister to the darkness, and must now master her power to save her.  Alice is told all this by Nyozeka, a white rabbit she saves at the risk of her own life.  This is a relatively short series at 7 volumes.  It’s the only modern-day setting manga by Watase that I like.  I really like the idea of using the power of words to either help or hurt others.  While not a great series, it’s an enjoyable one and worth the time to read. Dragon…

It’s that time of year again when ghosts and goblins come out to play. Do you want to get into the Halloween spirit, but just don’t know what to get? Well, here’s a list of manga that I’ve either read, or know something about enough to recommend (or warn you away from). I first posted this on my Tokyopop blog, but I’m bringing here with a few updates.  Well, I thought it was going to be just a few, but every time I start to think I’m done, I come up with another book!  I tried to keep the books in this list to more appropriate to a Halloween theme, than just ghosts, vampires and monsters, etc.  It would take forever to list ALL manga with those in it!

Avast ye mateys!  It bein’ International Talk Like a Pirate Day an’ all, ye may be lookin’ fer some booty to plunder.  Get out yer pieces ‘o eight, get a bottle o’ rum, and prepare to fill yer treasure chest with these pirate manga! Okay, enough of that…

With Mother’s Day this Sunday, I thought I’d take a look at moms and the roles they play in manga. While we don’t get to see a lot of the parents in most teen manga, their presence, and sometimes absence can really affect the main characters development and actions. A parent can also drive the direction of the story.

I’m not much of a shojo/romance kind of gal. My first forays into manga was through the Shonen Jump action titles. When my Animerica subscription got converted (after two issues) to Shojo Beat, I was sure there wasn’t going to be anything in there for me. Almost 2 years later, I’ve changed my tune, but that’s because shojo isn’t afraid to have romantic leads with bite! (And I don’t mean vampires…) In honor of Valentine’s Day, here are some shojo manga where the leads are anything but romantic!