OEL: not actually that bad
So, like... the other week, this one day, I somehow got hit by this crazed buying-things bug, and before I knew it I kept getting stuff in the mail-socks, cute clothes from yesstyle, etc. And one of the things I ordered so whimsically was an OEL Tokyopop series called ShutterBox. It only has 4 volumes out now, of a total 6 planned, but from a glance at one of the creators' lj entries about how they were currently seeking a new publisher, and a quick look at the preview on TP's site, I decided it was worth a try, and so I bought it, just like that. Heh heh.
The first two volumes, I attempted to read while falling asleep, so that may or may not have affected my perception of them, but while reading volume 3 and 4 I did find myself getting rather wrapped up in things. The art has a nice something to it that reminds me of old-school/classic shoujo manga, which I guess is a result of the artist Tavisha growing up half-Japanese and being immersed in manga-style from a young age. I liked what that added to the art. The characters were rather sweet, if a big peculiar and difficult to understand. Actually, the difficult-to-understand thing is my main impression of the series. It may be on purpose, because most of the books are set in this other-dimensional-world where Muses live, and apparently muses are rambly and eccentric and talk confusingly. But a few books in things started to make a bit more sense (and I was a bit more awake) and as I learned more about the characters' personal histories and personalities I could understand why they did certain things. But it's still a bit confusing. But not bad. And the art can be quite pretty at times (and goth-y, which could be a plus or a minus depending on your view). I do hope the creators manage to find another publisher for the last two volumes, because I'd like to know what happens next! (although: if anyone else is considering picking this up, the first three volumes make up the first story, and end in a spot that is relatively conclusive, so you could stop there until the series' fate is determined).
And today we went to the library (it was foolish of me, having just bought myself another volume of Skip Beat! last night... but, having done so, I was in no condition to resist temptation. I walked out of the library with volumes 12-15 of Skip Beat! and will have to use my utmost control to put off buying the last two volumes currently available as long as I can, to make wait for volume 18 in october is as painless as possible!) On another whim, slightly more forgivable because it does not involve my spending money, I picked up the first two volumes of Fool's Gold, another OEL Tokyopop series. Aaaaaand.... I finished 'em already. Aaaaaaand... the main character makes me mad sometimes, and happy other times. But also the boy, Blake! Oh!! He was delightful. Okay, we'll talk about Penny first. Penny is kind of a brat. I admire her independence, and her artistic creativity and fashion (oh the fashion!! gothic frills are nice and all, but I do so love cute and fun and colourful styles much more, and Penny's dresses and aprons and socks and shoes and barrettes and hair styles are just SO CUTE. and fun. and not mopey gothy punky), and I think it's great that she wants to stand up for and help her fellow girl classmates to stay away from lame jerk-guys. But... she gets a little full of herself. I think it's obvious in the first, and definitely throughout the second book, that she is in over her head with drama and things going on (and okay, I zoned out of anything that looked or sounded like drama in high school, but I can't help thinking the stuff that goes on with the students is pretty silly/unrealistic). But there are still many cute moments, which make it easier for me to forgive its flaws. And I think... I think it's rather nice that we don't have a perfect character for a heroine. Or hero, either. I mean, shoujo manga is full of tirelessly cheerful heroines and coolly perfect heroes, and I think it's a good thing that Penny is portrayed as a realistically confused teenager, and her love interests are not absolutely perfect either. And even Hannah is pretty awesome, in her conniving ways. I mean, she had me forgetting that she was the Enemy. And Blake... I don't know how much I should say, but... Organizing the cash drawer! Correcting bad punctuation! The imagined tie-fixing scene...(!!!)!!!! It really has to be seen to be understood. It fills my heart with joy and I can't help but laugh.
So now I'm sad-sad that there's no sign of the final volume 3. Especially after how volume 2 ended. Ohhhh, isn't that always the way!! *sob* I always discover these things too late.
And. Oh. I just got the reference in the first line of the back-cover summary. Seriously, I've fallen madly for this series.
Other things: I really like what the artist, Amy Reeder Hadley, has to say about her work in the extra pages. She has some fun stuff on the trivia page of her website too (I'm looking at it right now). And the artwork kinda reminds me of Takanashi Mitsuba-sensei, which is very much a good thing. They share an interesting tinge of realism to the proportions, faces, etc... (with really pretty, expressive eyes)
Non-manga/comics things: I had a lovely birthday, both on the 23rd and 24th (my second golden birthday!! ha). Thursday was our wrap-up day for the program I've been helping with at church, and between wed-thurs we put in a LOT of time binding the books for each kid who participated (everyone drew/painted their own series of illustrations for the verses of psalm 23! and they are SO COOL to look at!), but I had lots of fun just hanging out with fellow church members while we worked (one of the sons of the main organizer was working on finishing his artwork while we worked on sorting/organizing/binding the books, and it was really nice to have him there filling the air with artistic-inspiration-waves(?) he's such a cute kid. and he plays guitar amazingly! aaaah!!! i love that whole family) and the coffee-house-rootbeer-float-party was a blast. And then Friday we went to Mikado sushi with my family, and I got my eel at last! as well as green tea ice cream, mmmm~ Followed by super yummy brownies that my mum made (my request, instead of a cake). And I got... a lot of books, hahaha! The Fruits and Fresh Fruits books published by Phaidon, which you should know and if you do not you should look them up!! Now! (I'd give links but I'm feelin' lazy) Basically, two awesome photo-collections of colourful Japanese street fashion from the early 00s. I can spend hours looking at them... Also some Japanese cookbooks and a really cute book of knitting projects. And the volume of Skip Beat! I bought for myself...
So, yay! I thank y'all for the happy birthday wishes! They came true, abundantly!!
The first two volumes, I attempted to read while falling asleep, so that may or may not have affected my perception of them, but while reading volume 3 and 4 I did find myself getting rather wrapped up in things. The art has a nice something to it that reminds me of old-school/classic shoujo manga, which I guess is a result of the artist Tavisha growing up half-Japanese and being immersed in manga-style from a young age. I liked what that added to the art. The characters were rather sweet, if a big peculiar and difficult to understand. Actually, the difficult-to-understand thing is my main impression of the series. It may be on purpose, because most of the books are set in this other-dimensional-world where Muses live, and apparently muses are rambly and eccentric and talk confusingly. But a few books in things started to make a bit more sense (and I was a bit more awake) and as I learned more about the characters' personal histories and personalities I could understand why they did certain things. But it's still a bit confusing. But not bad. And the art can be quite pretty at times (and goth-y, which could be a plus or a minus depending on your view). I do hope the creators manage to find another publisher for the last two volumes, because I'd like to know what happens next! (although: if anyone else is considering picking this up, the first three volumes make up the first story, and end in a spot that is relatively conclusive, so you could stop there until the series' fate is determined).
And today we went to the library (it was foolish of me, having just bought myself another volume of Skip Beat! last night... but, having done so, I was in no condition to resist temptation. I walked out of the library with volumes 12-15 of Skip Beat! and will have to use my utmost control to put off buying the last two volumes currently available as long as I can, to make wait for volume 18 in october is as painless as possible!) On another whim, slightly more forgivable because it does not involve my spending money, I picked up the first two volumes of Fool's Gold, another OEL Tokyopop series. Aaaaaand.... I finished 'em already. Aaaaaaand... the main character makes me mad sometimes, and happy other times. But also the boy, Blake! Oh!! He was delightful. Okay, we'll talk about Penny first. Penny is kind of a brat. I admire her independence, and her artistic creativity and fashion (oh the fashion!! gothic frills are nice and all, but I do so love cute and fun and colourful styles much more, and Penny's dresses and aprons and socks and shoes and barrettes and hair styles are just SO CUTE. and fun. and not mopey gothy punky), and I think it's great that she wants to stand up for and help her fellow girl classmates to stay away from lame jerk-guys. But... she gets a little full of herself. I think it's obvious in the first, and definitely throughout the second book, that she is in over her head with drama and things going on (and okay, I zoned out of anything that looked or sounded like drama in high school, but I can't help thinking the stuff that goes on with the students is pretty silly/unrealistic). But there are still many cute moments, which make it easier for me to forgive its flaws. And I think... I think it's rather nice that we don't have a perfect character for a heroine. Or hero, either. I mean, shoujo manga is full of tirelessly cheerful heroines and coolly perfect heroes, and I think it's a good thing that Penny is portrayed as a realistically confused teenager, and her love interests are not absolutely perfect either. And even Hannah is pretty awesome, in her conniving ways. I mean, she had me forgetting that she was the Enemy. And Blake... I don't know how much I should say, but... Organizing the cash drawer! Correcting bad punctuation! The imagined tie-fixing scene...(!!!)!!!! It really has to be seen to be understood. It fills my heart with joy and I can't help but laugh.
So now I'm sad-sad that there's no sign of the final volume 3. Especially after how volume 2 ended. Ohhhh, isn't that always the way!! *sob* I always discover these things too late.
And. Oh. I just got the reference in the first line of the back-cover summary. Seriously, I've fallen madly for this series.
Other things: I really like what the artist, Amy Reeder Hadley, has to say about her work in the extra pages. She has some fun stuff on the trivia page of her website too (I'm looking at it right now). And the artwork kinda reminds me of Takanashi Mitsuba-sensei, which is very much a good thing. They share an interesting tinge of realism to the proportions, faces, etc... (with really pretty, expressive eyes)
Non-manga/comics things: I had a lovely birthday, both on the 23rd and 24th (my second golden birthday!! ha). Thursday was our wrap-up day for the program I've been helping with at church, and between wed-thurs we put in a LOT of time binding the books for each kid who participated (everyone drew/painted their own series of illustrations for the verses of psalm 23! and they are SO COOL to look at!), but I had lots of fun just hanging out with fellow church members while we worked (one of the sons of the main organizer was working on finishing his artwork while we worked on sorting/organizing/binding the books, and it was really nice to have him there filling the air with artistic-inspiration-waves(?) he's such a cute kid. and he plays guitar amazingly! aaaah!!! i love that whole family) and the coffee-house-rootbeer-float-party was a blast. And then Friday we went to Mikado sushi with my family, and I got my eel at last! as well as green tea ice cream, mmmm~ Followed by super yummy brownies that my mum made (my request, instead of a cake). And I got... a lot of books, hahaha! The Fruits and Fresh Fruits books published by Phaidon, which you should know and if you do not you should look them up!! Now! (I'd give links but I'm feelin' lazy) Basically, two awesome photo-collections of colourful Japanese street fashion from the early 00s. I can spend hours looking at them... Also some Japanese cookbooks and a really cute book of knitting projects. And the volume of Skip Beat! I bought for myself...
So, yay! I thank y'all for the happy birthday wishes! They came true, abundantly!!