Manga

Talk about your recent reads here with your fellow community members!

Everyone is welcome to discuss and share ideas on what they’ve been into this past week. This is where you can get suggestions for new manga while also connecting with those reading the same series.

Feel free to write a whole essay or just a sentence. Ask for recommendations and/or give them. Comment on whatever you want! The goal is to get users talking so the more the merrier. Just remember to be respectful and to stay on topic because we’re all here to talk about what we love and have fun while doing so.

Thanks for reading!

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Thanks for reading!

Probably my favorite food manga. Shame to see it end, but it was a great series and all great things must come to an end. I only wish romance subplot had more screen time. I really really really like Sylphin.

Preferably one where they come to accept being female

WE'RE BACK BABY!

Absolutely loved it, the whole ride. Cant stop saying Get Excited way too often. I thought the ending paid off well and even though my favorite ship sank I was happy with where everyone ended up.

Gen is my favorite character love that he always tops popularity polls.

Ibara is my favorite villain, love that crafty sunavaremoved (though later ones are cool too!)

Would've taken another hundred chapters but I know things have to end eventually.

The 3 chapter epilogue series 4D was awesome.

If you're looking for a shonen to read thats finished and not crazy long (232 chapters) I highly recommend it.

Ban - Yasei no Hanran. Anyone knows where to find this manga?

I'm new to manga and have read the above. I get hooked on the cat and mouse of "How will our protagonist overcome it this time?". Any manga recommendations like this?

Of the above, Berserk was my favorite. Beefy men are a plus.

Thanks ahead of time!

For some time I have had in mind a one-shot volume on Dragon ball that I read years ago, almost certainly unofficial since I searched for months without results. I remember a little about the plot, not much: I recall that it centered on a tournament in which Goku and Gohan definitely participated, probably Vegeta and Trunks as well. The tournament final was reached by the fighters getting on "shuttles" that moved in long tubes. More of the plot I don't remember. I know I bought it around the 2000s.

Thanks for reading! Be sure to check out the mangaka's twitter; they have quite a few more manga that they've made. Unfortunately most of them aren't translated, but the art's still good!

I don’t see this series listed on Barnes & Noble and Azuki doesn’t seem to have it either.

Does anyone know where to look for this series?

I also rely on my library, but they may not have all of it although they managed to borrow the first volume for me which I really enjoyed recently.

Example: I am reading Akira by Katsuhiro Otomo as a library book so far this weekend.

Those following Frieren's manga are in for some bad news as the Journey's End hasn't revealed a return date.

Cross-posted from !animationafter30@lemmy.world

Original thread here: https://lemmy.world/post/12816521

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Japanese title*: Shimanami Tasogare (しまなみ誰そ彼)

English title: Our Dreams at Dusk

Type: Manga

Year: 2015-2018

Country: Japan

Genre: Drama

Status: Completed (four volumes)

Platform: Seven Seas Entertainment published the series in English; old scanlations can also be easily found online

Appropriate for 30+?: Resounding yes

My rating: 5/5 stars

(Rating scale: 5/5 = masterpiece, 4/5 = quite good, 3/5 = mostly good, 2/5 = bleh, 1/5 = I regret ever being exposed to this series, 0/5 = affront to humanity)

*the title in Japanese has a double meaning, with "Shimanami" being a place name, and "tasogare" meaning "twilight" but it's spelled to loosely translate instead to "who is he?"

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To preface: I almost never give out perfect 5/5 ratings, but Shimanami Tasogare is just that solid. It's a series I've read several times and adore for both general and personal reasons. I've written an unusually long review because there's just so much to unpack here. While there are no major spoilers ahead, if you trust my judgement stop reading this review and go read the series instead: I don't want to unnecessarily color your experience.

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Shimanami Tasogare is a series of understated brilliance that does so many things well that it's difficult to know where to start dissecting it. I'll start with the subtlely beautiful art, which features just enough detail to be realistic yet a touch dream-like, and it confidently dips into the surreal to introduce brief, almost flow-of-consciousness moments for the purpose of conveying the characters' emotions in the moment (this is only one of many ways that the series excels at "show don't tell"). The setting is itself an integral part of the story, and is portrayed in a level of detail and specificity rarely seen in manga. Then there's the tone: while the series deals with serious topics and sad moments, it handles them with grace and skillfully maintains an overall uplifting and joyous vibe (which I really appreciated, as I rather dislike "I smiled through the tears!" or "orphan-crushing machine" stories that are billed as "bittersweet" or "heartwarming," although be forewarned some characters' plotlines are more tragic than others, and the emotional impact of each plotline will almost certainly differ from reader to reader depending on whether it hits close to home or not).

One of the series' greatest strengths is in the characters, every one of which is complex, imperfect, sympathetic, interesting, and above all human. While the protagonist is a high school boy, the supporting cast range from approximately age 11 to 60, with most in their 20s/30s, and about an even gender split. You could argue this is a coming of age story, however the high school plotline is portrayed with maturity, and the older characters all get their own fully-fleshed-out plotlines too, so I think the more generic "character drama" label is much more appropriate. Characters' reactions are not always immediately understood by the audience, but they never feel arbitrary, like they came out of nowhere, or merely happened for the sake of plot development. The characters always drive the plot, never the other way around.

Speaking of the plot, while far from an "edge-of-your-seat" series, the plot is quite engaging, and barreling through the entire four-volume series in one sitting is far from unthinkable. The pacing is fantastic, much of which is thanks to the series' excellence in "show don't tell": the dialogue never feels excessive nor insufficient, and the author conveys characters' thoughts and emotions via art, expression, and action as much as via dialogue. This leads to scenes that squeeze a lot of development into just a few panels, but it never feels rushed or confusing.

Two details that made me personally love the manga even more are: (1) the series is set along the "Shimanami Kaido," which as mentioned in the manga is a historic area of central Japan made up of a series of islands connected by a long highway that also features a fantastic cycling route that I've ridden myself (if you ever visit Japan and are capable of riding a bike, rent yourself a cheap mama-chari and ride as much of the route as you physically can). (2) The characters are involved with a non-profit that renovates old abandoned houses ("akiya") and repurposes them; I love old stuff and there's something so romantic and enticing about both the slow-decline vibe of abandoned houses in depopulated areas and the magic of "restoring something old to its former glory" renovation projects. While neither the Shimanami area nor the akiya restoration project are the focus of the series, they are explored in a good amount of detail and the reader should walk away from the series having learned something about both.

Now that I've sufficiently buried the lede, it's time to discuss probably the most noteworthy elements of Shimanami Tasogare, which is that it's possibly one of the best LGBTQ+ manga ever written; it certainly was groundbreaking in the mid-2010s when it was released for its realistic depiction of LGBTQ+ issues in Japan. However! Much like how the series feels relevant and highly accessible even to readers much older than the adolescent protagonist, Shimanami Tasogare is far from a manga only for LGBTQ readers. In fact, I'd strongly argue that everyone regardless of sexual/gender orientation should read this manga, not only for all the series' fantastic qualities I listed above, but also for its poignant messaging about intentional and unintentional homo/transphobia and what it means to be a supportive ally. I would go so far as to wish it were required reading in every middle school in the US, up there with other cultural touchstones like To Kill a Mockingbird, because it covers a lot of "culture war" issues (both in relation to LGBTQ+ issues and otherwise) in a compassionate, clear, and concise way while somehow never feeling preachy. Full disclaimer: I do not consider myself a member of the LGBTQ+ community, and thus this review is from the perspective of an ally. However my understanding is that the manga received rave reviews from LGBTQ+ communities in Japan and abroad, so I feel confident in my positive assessment of the series.

As just one example of effective messaging, the series clearly demonstrates the value and importance of "safe spaces" (both IRL and digital) for marginalized populations, and what can happen when they're invaded, even if it's with good intentions. One of the supporting characters is a pushy and opinionated straight/cis woman who takes it upon herself to white knight for her trans friend and repeatedly oversteps her bounds until she's finally told off and sheepishly retreats to the literal background for the remainder of the series. No one ever comes out and explains that "a true ally is someone who knows when to step up and when to step back," but anyone with a touch of reading comprehension will hear this message loud and clear.

This is how almost all messaging in the series is: rarely stated directly, but portrayed so clearly that anyone with a shred of compassion or sympathy will understand them. I've considered myself an ally of the LGBTQ+ community for over twenty years, and have read many explanations on microaggressions, safe spaces, the importance of allyship, "the queer experience," etc. (in addition to similar pieces related to other marginalized groups, such as racial/ethnic/religious minorities). Rarely have I read a more clear, convincing, and more importantly precise and concise argument for so many concepts often dismissed as "libtard bullshit." I think this is a case of using a medium to its full potential: the graphic novel format allows the author to portray a lot of concepts non-verbally, which better allows the reader to feel like they've been able to observe the situation for themselves and thus draw their own conclusions, while simultaneously avoiding the inherent "preachiness" of verbal communication. The author never needs to state "don't do X, because it will make people feel bad," because the reader can instead watch X unfold, then infer for themselves that it made a character feel bad based on their expression and body language. This technique only works because every character and every situation feels so realistic, especially in relation to each other, which is why it's critical that so many other elements of the manga are as solid as they are.

Another testament to how successful the author is at conveying difficult messages in a positive and effective way is in how the manga has aged: usually with quickly-evolving cultural topics (such as LGBTQ+ issues) there's almost always something that even expert creators get wrong, that feels outdated even only a few years later, that comes off as misguided, divisive, controversial, or offensive. The stronger the messaging the more likely these blunders are to occur, and Shimanami Tasogare definitely has some strong messaging. Now perhaps there's something that I overlooked or missed that someone from the LGBTQ+ community would identify as a misstep on the part of the author. However I think the author did a brilliant thing to avoid this when crafting their messaging: they portray imperfect characters that are often conflicted and uncertain of what they should do, characters that cause hurt and feel hurt even when no ill will was intended. Further, and as outlined above, the author avoids preachy dialogue that declares absolute truths by instead utilizing "show don't tell." After all images are inherently more nuanced messengers than words (there are a few moments where characters do have to spell things out for each other, but the messaging is usually either extremely general or portrayed as just their opinion, and is always plot-relevant and never feels ham-fisted or forced). One of the central themes of the series is the difficulties people inevitably have understanding each other, often even themselves, and how this unfortunately leads to people hurting one another even when they're trying to help or do the right thing. Yet the series is generally positive about society and humanity as a whole, and would fit right in with the "it gets better" campaign. This all further helps the series feel nuanced, as if to assure the reader, "no one can always get it right (not even me the author) and that's okay."

In summary: Shimanami Tasogare is a story about people (LGBTQ+ or otherwise) and their relationships with themselves, other individuals, and society as a whole. It is brilliantly composed, with exemplary art, pacing, plot, dialogue, setting, and characters. It is smart but accessible, with timeless themes about human relationships that are also painfully relevant to contemporary issues, and it conveys poignant messaging without soapboxing. A core theme of Shimanami Tasogare is that your sexual/gender identity is part of you not all of you, and the same should be said for this manga: while it is a story that covers LGBTQ+ issues, it is far from being just an LGBTQ+ work. I highly recommend this series to everyone, regardless of age,* nationality, or gender/sexual identity.

*Given the nuanced and sometimes difficult content discussed, some discretion is advised. I'd give it a 12+ age rating, although it may resonate better with audiences 14+.

Cross-posted from !animationafter30@lemmy.world

Original thread here: https://lemmy.world/post/14998497

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Title: One Room of Happiness (Original Title: 幸色のワンルーム)

Type: Manga

Year: 2017-2022

Country: Japan

Genre: Drama/Psychological

Status: Completed

Platform: Licensed by Crunchyroll (license discontinued?)

Appropriate for 30+?: Yes

My rating: 4/5 stars

(Rating scale: 5/5 = masterpiece, 4/5 = quite good, 3/5 = mostly good, 2/5 = bleh, 1/5 = I regret ever being exposed to this series, 0/5 = affront to humanity)

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Warning: One Room of Happiness contains difficult subject matter such as suicide, abuse, and rape. Many of the characters are or have been victims of abuse, and as such this series has multiple scenes and chapters that can only be described as "emotionally unpleasant." However the series also has many "warm and fuzzy" moments, and while there is tension that things could suddenly go horribly wrong underlying much of the series, this is balanced with joy and hope. In this way the series shares a lot of thematic and tone overlap with Oyasumi Punpun.

Given that Oyasumi Punpun is an infamous emotional trainwreck of a series, and given that the premise and initial chapters of One Room of Happiness send off super-skeevy vibes, here's a mild spoiler about just how bad One Room of Happiness gets:

spoiler

The ending of One Room of Happiness is bittersweet: nowhere near as devastating as Oyasumi Punpun, but certainly not a fully happy ending either. The "kidnapper" does not attempt anything untoward toward the "kidnapped;" their relationship is generally wholesome, albeit in a fucked-up way. However rape-attempt scenes involving other characters do occur on two occasions in the series.

The core of the series is in its character study of abused individuals dealing with trauma, and the character development that comes with working through it and connecting with others also scarred by abuse. The plot is fairly engaging, and there's some cat-and-mouse as the "kidnapper and kidnapped" try to evade the police. The art, pacing, and dialogue are all quite good. Because one of the core themes of the series is recovering from trauma, the series is overall more wholesome, heartwarming, and uplifting than most "psychological" series, which depending on the series can border on torture porn. IANAP (I am not a psychologist), however I left One Room of Happiness feeling like the difficult subjects handled in this series were done respectfully, gracefully, and at least somewhat realistically.

The two main characters are on the younger side (14 and early/mid-twenties), however the subject matter is mature and, likely due to their trauma, the characters act mature for their age. The series's overall quality is high, and the "turn-offs for older audiences" that I try to watch for with these reviews are basically absent. As long as you are prepared for the heavy subject matter and can get through some of the more questionable content/vibes of the early chapters (including one chapter with non-sexualized 14yo nudity), I think this series is both appropriate and enjoyable for older audiences.

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As always, this review is nothing more than my personal opinion. Anyone familiar with this work is encouraged to express their own in the comment section. Or submit your own review… it’s a free country fediverse.

cross-posted from: https://sh.itjust.works/post/18378562

> Berserk Chapter 376

We are having Japanese guests over for the week and one of them mentioned this manga called "Besuke desu kebesu". It's about this very conservative school girl who apparently has a lot of thoughts about boys and there is a mischievous invisible demon that tries to make her acknowledge her thoughts and enable her to realize her imaginary fantasies or something?

Would any of you by any chance have ever heard of this manga and would know the title in either English or French?

Example: I read Black Jack Vol. 2 by Osamu Tezuka, who also created Astro Boy.

I noticed the last discussion post was too old, so here’s a fresh new one where everyone can discuss their latest reads whatever they may be.

Other manga I’ve previously read:

1. Tokyo Mew Mew a la Mode (my first manga)
2. Fullmetal Alchemist (finished)
3. Zombie Loan (finished)
4. Bleach (read the most but stopped)
5. Sankarea: Undying Love (same as above)
6. Fairy Tail (also read but stopped)
7. Berserk (definitely stopped reading)
8. Astro Boy (might resume reading)
9. Hellsing (a really good series)
10. Franken Fran (another quality gem)
11. Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure (finished Phantom Blood and didn’t finish the rest)
12. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba (haven’t finished, but still a worthy series to consider)
13. Dragon Ball (an obvious choice)
14. Dragon Ball Z (a very obvious choice)
15. xxxHolic (whew, it’s been a while) 16: Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle (same as the previous one, must I repeat myself?)
16. Shaman King (not sure about this one)
17. One Piece (barely, but obvious choice)
18. Naruto (the least of my worries)
19. High School of the Dead (I wish)
20. Hour of the Zombie (eh, it’s alright)
21. Ajin: Demi-Human (decent work)
22. Batmanga (read recently before)
23. Monster Musume: Everyday Life with Monster Girls (read, but it grossed me out)

I've been learning Japanese for some time now and I'd like to download some manga in its original language, but I don't know where to search. I've searched in Nyaa but there isn't much of want I've been searching or the quality sucks. Does anyone have any idea of where could I find this?

Please check the artist's links! They do some really beautiful stuff. Thanks for reading!

I just read all that's released so far and was hoping there's something similar

For so long, I've hated comics. I've stopped reading almost two years ago, and I've recently tried getting in, again to my disappointment, for the following reasons:

• over-used troupes and genres
• action-oriented panels
• world building is poor
• arc builds up so quickly
• justification of social evil
• bad artwork

Personally, I had prejudice against manhua for being low-quality, as opposed to manhwa or manga, but by sheer luck, I was able to find a gem of a series.

Today, I came across Song of the Skywalkers (Bù Tiān Gē), and for the first time, I'm really enjoying reading and appreciating the panel artwork. Right now, it's too early for me to comment on the story, but so far, I've enjoyed it. I've been going back and forth, and I like the artwork so much, I'm thinking of purchasing it when I have some money.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/12911947

> Akira Toriyama has passed away at the age of 68 > > The Dragon Ball Official News page for this has been removed, but I'll update it if the article is reuploaded. Here's another news site with info and an X post with a screenshot of the original message.

NOTE: Found on Hoopla just now.