Happy May, VIZ fans! In my part of the world, the weather’s finally getting warmer and sunnier, and the manga I’m reviewing for you this month is just as relaxing and atmospheric as a nice summer vacation, from volume 3 of sparkly shojo Sakura, Saku to the first volume of Hirayasumi. But first, the news!
VIZ Media titles nominated for 2024 Eisner Awards
Goodbye, Eri and #DRCL midnight children were both nominated for Best US Edition of International Material, and #DRCL midnight children was nominated for Best Adaptation from Another Medium. WWAC contributor Elvie Mae Parian wrote about Goodbye, Eri’s digital release in 2022, and I have been faithfully reviewing #DRCL in my pubwatches, so if you would like to learn more about these Eisner nominees you can do so here.
VIZ Media Titles in the Direct Market in May
This month, VIZ is highlighting volume 15 of Chainsaw Man, volume 6 of Choujin X, and volume 4 of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, Part 6. Those sure are all very dramatic action comics by creators known for their unique approaches to the medium. I’ve been keeping up with Chainsaw Man, but not the other two, although I like the cover for Choujin X and I’ve read a bit of Jojo Part 6. Anyway, if you’ve been interested in purchasing these titles, considering doing that through your local comic shop.
VIZ Media mentioned in a PBS Video
PBS made a video about “the growing popularity of Japanese comics and animations in U.S,” and VIZ reposted said video on Twitter/X. The Shonen Jump and Crunchyroll apps are featured, and a number of VIZ properties such as One Piece are also referenced throughout. And there’s an interview with journalist Gita Jackson! The video is seven and a half minutes long and nicely summarizes how anime and manga really exploded in popularity in the last few years. My friend found Vocaloid bookmarks at Wal-mart the other day. Wal-mart! Ten years ago you had to order stuff like that from Japan or hope your local nerd merch store happened to be carrying it, if you even had a local nerd merch store! And twenty years ago, well. How times change.
That’s enough news for this month, let’s take a look at…
What I’m Reading
Sakura, Saku Vol. 3
Io Sakisaka
May 14, 2024
After covering volumes 1 and 2 of Sakura, Saku, of course I had to cover Volume 3 as well. In this volume, Saku gets to know the strangely blunt Iryu and feel jealous over Haruki and Kotono pretending to date to make Kotono’s now-ex leave her alone. It feels pretty much like the previous two volumes felt: soft, gentle, breezy. Saku’s jealousy and her guilt over feeling jealous feel like small roadblocks she will eventually get over, leading to the overall reading experience feeling fairly comforting and pleasant. There are also hints that there’s more going on with Kotono than Saku knows about, which is exciting. As exciting as a teen romance shojo gets, anyway.
Hirayasumi, vol. 1
Keigo Shinzo
May 21, 2024
Speaking of gentle and breezy, Hirayasumi is also very much that, but in a slightly more mature vein: after an old lady Hiroto befriended dies, 27-year-old Hiroto inherits her house. And then his 18-year-old cousin moves in with him as she starts art school in the big city. The story is about the two of them learning to exist with each other, and within the rules of society at large. Hiroto is a very carefree, happy-go-lucky type of person, while his cousin Natsumi is very much an art school freshman (I remember those days.) If you like Skip and Loafer, this is a similar vibe, but with a less linear narrative. It really is mostly about two people living in a house together, going to work, hanging out with friends. And yet, Shinzo doesn’t shy away from depictions of darker emotions, like anxiety or the grief Hiroto feels over his friend’s passing. His art style is very appealing, clear, round, and likeable. Like Sakura, Saku, this manga is an easy and pleasant reading experience.
Tokyo These Days, Vol. 2
Taiyo Matsumoto
May 21, 2024
For a slice of life story that’s less easy and pleasant, try Tokyo These Days. God, Taiyo Matsumoto is a genius. I love his art. I love how he uses watercolor blobs for some of the characters’ hair, I love the hyperrealistic apples on the cover and the recurring apple motif throughout this volume. Unlike the previous two manga, this one feels less easy and pleasant and more vaguely foreboding. I read this whole volume half-expecting at least one of the characters to die suddenly. I like how mundane it feels, how it focuses on all of the little details that make up a person’s daily life. The way Matsumoto juxtaposes the character’s thoughts with seemingly unrelated parallel imagery makes it really feel like you’re inhabiting someone else’s head as you go through their day with them.
In this volume, newer mangaka Aoki finally has a hit on his hands, but he isn’t coping well with the fame or the pressure of serialization, while other older mangaka feel like they’re done with manga, possibly for good. This volume had less Shiozawa than volume 1, and I enjoyed getting a look at him from the point of view of other characters. It’s interesting and enjoyable, but also feels a little depressing overall. Still, I liked it.
That’s it for this month! Tune in next month for… probably less slice of life than this month!
