Originally posted at myanimelist.net.
This is a pretty interesting tale by Jiro Matsumoto, containing all of his trademark style and ambition yet lacking a little in the art, story and humour department compared to his other works. Yet the story is what makes the manga most interesting, even though it is a composite of conventional narrative beats, it’s still a strange animal of its own and remains unique compared to other manga.
Originally posted on myanimelist.net.
Tropical Citron opens with a great page, charting the descent of a few bombs into a jungle below and transitioning to the bubbly insides of a glass of water in front of a TV showing a mushroom cloud explosion.
Originally posted at myanimelist.net.
Jiro Matsumoto’s short story collection is packed with explicit sex, death and quotable lines throughout.
Originally posted at myanimelist.net.
Jiro Matsumoto’s wit is absolutely scathing. The black humour is dripping off almost each panel in this sordid tale, with nonchalant quips and pay-offs that are so droll you have to be a fan of Kafka-esque lunacy to enjoy it, otherwise you’ll turn away in clueless disgust.
Originally posted at myanimelist.net.
If you have an interest in Japanese history, the idea of reading about Ieyasu Tokugawa and his right hand man Hattori Hanzo taking on all comers to eventually unify the country under one rule, should be enticing. If you haven’t a clue about Japanese history, the idea of watching the rise of a samurai who would one day become Shogun with the help of a trusty ninja, should also be intriguing.
Originally posted at myanimelist.net.
The first story in Fuyumi Souryo’s collection, Taiyou no Ichiwaru, is a charting of an artist’s life from child to woman, perpetually battered by Japan’s mentality to individuality. It perfectly summarises not only this collection but Souryo’s own sensibilities. To maturely convey worthwhile ideas to a primarily youthful audience, both responsibly and creatively.
Originally posted at myanimelist.net.
Tamara tickles your funny bone with gentle humour that thankfully avoids descending into cheap potty depths, while complimented with her trademark gorgeous artwork, especially character designs. Not her best for sure, but still undeniably hers. In short: they look great, and so is anything this lady writes and draws no matter how short in length and light in substance.
Originally posted at myanimelist.net.
Jiro Matsumoto’s short story collection begins with a wry, kooky detailed love affair amidst a city in war-time. Our plucky author finds herself taking her neighbour’s identity on a whim and embroiling herself with an unwitting revolutionist’s assassination plan, and also his nether regions while she’s at it. It’s a Wong Kar-Wai style whimsical tale of fleeting lust, love and laughs.
Originally posted at myanimelist.net.
Katsuhiro Otomo’s Domu continues his fascination with abnormal powers in the hands of unstable characters that wreck havoc all around them. The apartment block serves as an interesting backdrop to the mental and psychological battles waged between the crotchety antagonist and his youthful nemesis. These cat and mouse conflicts are heightened by the fact that the population of the apartment complex are threatened as collateral damage, which makes for great edge-of-your-seat reading.
Originally posted at myanimelist.net.
The idea of commenting on Japan, its identity, its possible future is all well and good, but there’s no commentary on Japan’s own misdoings (its treatment of indigenous people or neighbouring countries, etc), not even sly winking, it’s all played very straight-faced which makes it look like fascistic propaganda.
Cihan Narin 