You Can Haz Freedom of Speech, Just Not in Your Manga

There's been some buzz in the manga industry lately revolving around a man named Christopher Handley. So who is this guy? Is he an artist? A journalist? An internet personality?

Nope. He's just an average guy who owns manga depicting children in sexually graphic situations.

Mr. Handley was charged and recently sentenced to six months in prison followed by five years probation for owning "obscene" manga. Personally, I don't approve of the depiction of underage people in sexual situations, so I don't read it. However, like many artists and authors, I believe there is a hard line between drawings and live action when it comes to pornography. One features animated, fictional characters. The other features real human beings, quite often abused or unable to comprehend what is happening.

THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE!

People have been up in arms over this because it sets a precedent for artwork and freedom of speech. Check out Neil Gaiman's reply to a letter he received about the case. The courts have ruled, and now you can get arrested for owning certain forms of art that do not in any way, shape, or form, portray actual, real children. So if you own loli, heck perhaps even innocent moe, there's now standing precedent that can land you in prison depending on who's feeling "righteous" (and by righteous, I mean "who says to hell with your first amendment rights for their own narrow range of vaaaaaaalues.")

The kicker? Read the bottom of the ANN article about his references and psychological profile. He's normal! Just like you and me. Most people like porn. I think it's swell as long as all parties involved in the production are consensual. Oh right, it's physically impossible for it to be non-consensual when it's ANIMATED!

Good job American justice system.

Anti-Review: B.Ichi volume 4

This one isn't so much of an anti-review as it's something I can't write a complete review about for Graphic Novel Reporter. So I'm putting it here. This time, it's B.Ichi volume 4 by Atsushi Ohkubo.

What's it about? Hell if I know. I was given volume four. It's good kids with super powers fighting evil kids with super powers. Despite feeling rather clueless about the plot, even after finishing the manga, B.Ichi is worth talking about for the art alone.

Oh hey, so that's where my Orlando Bloom bookmark went...

The art is hyper modern, funky, twisted, and one of the most imaginative styles I've ever seen in manga. There is so much detail, yet very little shading, making it look two-dimensional.

Unfortunately...I haven't been able to find any online images from the manga itself. You're just going to have to go out and buy it.

Making Your Mark: Part 3 of 3

For those of you who actually listened to the latest Anime 3000 podcast, you likely heard my closing statement about how we otaku need to better represent ourselves through our appearance, speech, and writing. Since I've already elaborated on the first two, let's move on to the final part of my editorial: writing.

Part Three: I'll Take "The Penis Mightier," Alex

(Anyone else notice the grammatical error in that picture?)

There aren't too many people left in this world who have never been on a forum. Heck, my dad is nearly 70 and even he's on them. The one thing that truly appalled him though was the way people write. Quite frankly, there is nothing I find more frustrating than trying to translate some poorly written rant. So here are some tips to make you a better writer. Or for some of you, a better arguer.

1) Practice makes perfect. You should have a grasp of the English language by the sixth grade well enough to know that complete sentences generally require a subject and a predicate. There is no excuse not to be able to handle them. Periods are your friend. Psychologists say that the human brain has difficulty retaining its short term memory of information over a certain length (a good argument for the 7-digit phone number). When you break up your thoughts with appropriate punctuation, it makes it easier for others to comprehend and remember what you write.

2) Edit before (or after) you post. Fortunately, most forums have a handy dandy "edit" button. I use them often. Now if I actually paused to reread my writings before hitting "post" I might not have to use it so much. You may not have this luxury in a live chat, but it only takes a few seconds to read what you just typed before hitting "enter" to send it. Typing mistakes happen. I'm horrible with those in live chat. Still, it's your responsibility to make sure your ideas come across clearly.

3) Don't assume to know something you don't. One of my biggest pet peeves are writers who assume they know how the entertainment industry works, but really don't. Get your facts straight. Link to a source. My martial arts teacher always told us that admitting that you don't know something carries far more integrity than pulling an answer out of your ass.

4) Long lists suck. On many anime forums, I see lots of threads that say "What are your top five ____?" Responders then go on to post twenty-plus answers! They asked you for your top five, not your top twenty usually because they need to narrow down a decision. Nobody wants to read your stupid, long list. It only makes you look like a know-it-all douchebag with no focus. You know how people always tell you to keep your cover letter and resume short when seeking work? Same concept. People don't actually want to take the time to slog through something longwinded. (*eyes the length of this post*)

5) Name calling gets you nowhere...unless you do it right. There is no reason to get nasty when arguing with someone. There are plenty of funny, smart, and sassy ways to insult a poster if you take the time to think. Just saying, "Lulz noob" doesn't make you look any more intelligent or worthy of attention than the original poster.

In conclusion, other readers will take you more seriously if you practice writing with some patience. I find that I barely have to write two sentences in a forum post, but others will respect my opinion because I present myself as an intelligent human being (they don't need to know I'm a vampire). Take the time to use proper punctuation and spelling with solid messages, and you will find that the way others respond to you will change for the better.

Oh man, I really hope there aren't any typos in this post. >.<

Anti-Review: Tale of the Waning Moon

I try to read at least one manga a week...mostly because I get paid to review them. I haven't bought manga for my own pleasure in months since I get review copies from GNR. Graphic Novel Reporter is geared towards librarians and teachers looking to expand their libraries. My reviews for them tend to be more formal with plot synopses and commentary on what makes each book a worthwhile read.

Most of the works my editor sends me I can plow through and review; but every now and then, there's one that just can't be done because it's far too awful to recommend for a library. Lately, I've been receiving tons of yaoi (cripes, you review one You Higuri series and suddenly you're the yaoi queen), most of which I can write about...until I read Tale of the Waning Moon.

Nutshell version: Ryuka got dumped. He goes to the wishing hill and wishes for someone to truly love and love him in return. Enter Ixto, Spirit of the Waning Moon, who offers him his wish from anyone revealed in five cards of fate, but the candidate pool is full of males. Ryuka rejects them, but Ixto becomes interested in pursuing Ryuka for himself. Ixto casts a spell on Ryuka to force him to set out on a journey to find him...which is silly cause Ixto comes when he's called.

So why can't I recommend this one for a library? It's either Hiyouta Fujiyama has really messed up delusions that gay men rape each other all the time, or she has no respect for the opposite sex. Somehow, I doubt it's the latter. I was always the feminist type, but I'll stick up for my bros too when need be.

Tale of the Waning Moon is supposed to be about the journey to finding true love and opening up your heart, but how can that theme come through when there is so little time spent with each of the five potential love candidates, and the first two act like horny assholes who can think about nothing but sex? It stops becoming a fun read and just turns into somethng trashy. Come on! Men have more depth than that. Don't laugh, you guys do. Yes, I know men are wired to think about sex a bazillion times a day, but that doesn't mean that's all there is to your personality. This manga just becomes an insulting, indulgent fantasy after the first few pages. Pass.

Pick Your Poison

(via Anime News Network)

Manga creator You Higuri has resumed her Cantarella series after a four-year, two-month break in the September issue of Akita Shoten's Princess Gold Magazine on Monday. The fantasy manga re-imagines the political intrigue between Cesare Borgia and other real-life historical figures in Renaissance Italy by incorporating demonic powers in the story. Higuri has not drawn a new installment since the combined July/August issue of Princess Gold shipped in June of 2005.

Go! Comi has published the first 10 volumes of the manga in North America.

Source: Comic Natalie