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Forum - View topicJason Thompson's House of 1000 Manga: Comics Underground Japan
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Shay Guy
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Missed a closing italic on the author bio at the end.
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leafy sea dragon
 Posts: 7163 Location: Another Kingdom |
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A few of those stories towards the end of the article sound like the sort of thing I'd expect Comedy Central to pick up for its animated programming. (To me, that's neither a good thing nor a bad thing.)
It's pretty interesting to see that even the underground comics scene has to deal with maintaining a profit too and occasionally has trouble with it. I've met many artists who have never even considered if the stuff they make will turn a paycheck. Of course, I'm sure the artists mentioned here are smarter than that. |
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Cloe
Moderator
 Posts: 2728 Location: Los Angeles, CA |
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Ahhh, Comics Underground Japan. This, combined with Secret Comics Japan, was my first foray into the world of underground manga, and it's still a personal favorite. It's awesome to see it (and Garo!!) getting some well-deserved exposure here. "Planet of the Japanese" (ha! ANN's foul language filter isn't even going to let that one pass) is one of the most wildly offensive things I think I've ever read... in a good way. I don't know what you have in the pipeline, Jason, but it would be pretty amazing to see an entire column about Suehiro Maruo in the future. Mr. Arashi's Amazing Freak Show, perhaps? His work is always fascinating and always worthy of further investigation.
I'm thankful for the comeback of underground/art manga. While I can't remember the name the last mainstream manga I picked up, there seems to be something new from Drawn & Quarterly or Ponent Mon every time I go to the comics shop. I love it! Great work with the column; I'm really enjoying it. |
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Moomintroll
 Posts: 1600 Location: Nottingham (UK) |
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Comics Underground Japan is pretty much number one on my wants list - I've been looking for a reasonably priced copy for years now. If it's as good as Sake Jock (or half as good as Secret Comics Japan) it will have been worth the effort when I finally get hold of it.
I don't think the Ax anthology is actually out yet. Isn't it supposed to be due in mid-July? I have it pre-ordered so I guess I'll find out when I visit my local comic shop tomorrow.
Seconded. |
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miken
Posts: 52 |
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pretty nice book. luckily i got an almost new one for a good price a couple of years ago.
here's a very interesting & touching article about nekojiru: http://www.pelleas.net/aniTOP/index.php?title=yoshiaki_yoshinaga_on_nekojiru&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1 http://www.pelleas.net/aniTOP/index.php?title=yoshiaki_yoshinaga_on_nekojiru_pt_2&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1 Last edited by miken on Fri Jun 25, 2010 8:12 am; edited 1 time in total |
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fuuma_monou
 Posts: 1860 Location: Quezon City, Philippines |
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My local comic shop used to have a copy of Comics Underground Japan. Too bad I never bought it.
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v1cious
 Posts: 6233 Location: Houston, TX |
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wow, thanks. This has to be the most in-depth article I have ever read about Nekojiru. |
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Teriyaki Terrier
 Posts: 5689 |
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So am I the only one who noticed what that guy was doing with a dollar bill? Yeah, it's not a topic that you would talk about with your grandparents, but I imagine some people actually do that in real life.
Anyway interesting article. |
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littlegreenwolf
 Posts: 4796 Location: Seattle, WA |
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I love hearing about stuff I've never heard of before through this column, even if I know you can't do it for everyone, every time. The great thing about this particular topic however is you can always revisit it.
Since this column started my list of manga to buy has gotten considerably larger, yet my income has grown none. 
I know she's a bit more mainstream, but I'd to see something highlighting Junko Mizuno in the future, especially since she's left the main manga publishers here in America and now works with more indie comic publishers. It's a shame most of her stuff released here is now out of print. |
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The Human Spider
Posts: 334 |
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This anthology got me into Maruo and Hino, so it will always be one of my favorites
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_Emi_
 Posts: 498 Location: Langjökull |
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Comparing the two, I'd give the edge to Secret Comics Japan, if only for Palepoli. It's a crime that it hasn't been released complete over here.
July 15
Thirded. I'm glad that I was able to get my hands on Mr. Arashi's Amazing Freak Show. Speaking of Maruo reminded me to pre-order The Strange Tale of Panorama Island. I also threw in A Drunken Dream and Other Stories. A column on Moto Hagio would also be nice. |
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jimpac
Posts: 69 Location: London, UK |
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Comics Underground Japan is worth 2 or 3 Secret Comics Japan's, IMHO. Comics Underground Japan seems to represent more of the truly underground/arty manga's than Secret Comics Japan. This may be because all of the selections were taken from Garo. Also, the fact all of the stories came from the same Japanese publication, and from a similar time period within that, means that there is a stronger feeling of cohesiveness, even though the strips do vary greatly from one to another. I've always felt that the selection of strips in Secret Comics Japan weren't as evenly weighted, so the overall reading experience is hit and miss. Although, Mutant Hanako and Palepoli more than make up for the shortcomings of that book.
Yeah, I wouldn't moan about a column all about Maruo. Especially, around the time when The Strange Tale of Panorama Island is released. More than that though, how about a full column on Takashi Nemoto? 
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Moomintroll
Posts: 1600 Location: Nottingham (UK) |
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Thanks - I will certainly keep on looking for a copy.
I find that with most anthologies (and the early reviews seem to indicate that the Ax book is similar in that regard) so it's not something that bothered me too much but, yeah, a more cohesive collection certainly wouldn't be a bad thing.
I'm certainly with you on Palepoli. The other real stand out for me though was Swing Shell - it's maybe not the story that immediately leaps out at you but it's the one that stays with you. If anybody from Fantagraphics or Vertical is reading this, I want a Yuko Tsuno collection so much I can taste it. Pretty please? |
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