LOVEHOLIC (Renai Chûdoku, “Loveholic/Love Addict”) (恋愛中毒) • Tôko Kawai • DMP (2007) • Biblos (2001-2004) • 2 volumes • Yaoi Contemporary • 16+ (mild language, sex)
A thoroughly forgettable story about Matsukawa (ad exec) and Nishioka (photographer) fighting and falling in love. There’s a side story about Mitsukawa in America and his first lover that seems to exist primarily to explain his tattoo and the resentment others at his company have towards him. The staccato storytelling also serves to form resentment in the reader. The art is wispy and awkward, and the eye-to-face ration is creepy even for manga. (Review by Hannah Santiago)
Today’s review is by Hannah Santiago, a good friend who reviewed a ton of yaoi for “Manga: The Complete Guide.” I enjoy yaoi, it’s usually an interesting (and easy) read, but after awhile working on MtCG I had to bring in some help to sift through the heaps of yaoi landing on my doorstep like sand blown in by a sandstorm.
Today’s winner is Jeremy M. of California. But wait! First we’ve got this picture from Jessica, one of the previous winners. Thanks for putting up your photo and writing a great blog post! As you noticed, the manga I sent you was all Del Rey, but that was just the luck of the draw— I’m sendin’ out manga from tons of publishers. Your in-depth post about what you thought of the manga will help me figure out what to send you for your second batch. Thanks, and hope you enjoy it!
Here are the latest releases in sci-fi/fantasy!
Hardcover
Warriors by George R.R. Martin and Gardner Dozois
Oath of Fealty by Elizabeth Moon
Wild Ride by Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer
The Trade of Queens: Box Six of the Merchant Princes by Charles Stross
Stuck on Earth by David Klass
Secret of the Dragon (Dragonships of Vindras) by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman
Not Less Than Gods by Kage Baker
The Crucible of Empire by Eric Flint and K.D. Wentworth
Paperback
Sapphire by Amanda Reiber
Sacred Ground (Rogue Angel) by Alex Archer
Bound In Blood (Seeker) by P. C. Hodgell
Blood Harvest (Deathlands) by James Axler
The Last Man by Mary Shelley
E-book
Rebels and Lovers by Linnea Sinclair
Lord of Chaos by Robert Jordan
The Long Man by Steve Englehart
Video Games
God of War III
Pokemon HeartGold/SoulSilver Version
Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening
Mount & Blade: Warband
Resonance of Fate
Command & Conquer 4: Tiberian Twilight
Infinite Space
Fragile Dreams: Farewell Ruins of the Moon
Rage of the Gladiator
Anime
Naruto Shippuden: Box Set 2
Dragon Ball: Season Four
DVD
Fantastic Mr. Fox
The Lovely Bones
In Theaters
Repo Men
Can’t wait until Friday to check out Repo Men, the new science fiction thriller starring Jude Law and Forest Whitaker? Well, head on down to your local retailer and grab the book that the movie is based on. Originally titled The Repossession Mambo, the book has been re-released under the title Repo Men. It was written by Eric Garcia, whose other works include Matchstick Men (also adapted to the big screen in 2003) and the “Rex” series (Anonymous Rex, Casual Rex) which was the basis of a 2004 television pilot on the SyFy channel. Motion Sickness
by Mario De Govia
The big two are chasing the Wii’s motion control glory. But will the trusty buttoned controller be left in the dust?
KEY TO THE KINGDOM (Ôkoku no Kagi, “Key to the Kingdom”) （王国の鍵) • Kiyoko Shitou • CMX (2007-ongoing) • Kadokawa Shoten (Asuka, 2003-2004) • 6 volumes • Shôjo Fantasy Adventure • 13+ (infrequent language, violence)
When the eldest prince and king of Landor die at war, the nobles decree that the kingdom will pass to the one who can find the legendary “key to the kingdom,” a magical artifact. Bookish young prince Astarion doesn’t even want to be king, but he sets out on the quest with the aid of Baddorius (“Badd”), a swordsman whose womanizing ways are matched only by his loyalty to Astarion’s family. As Astarion and Badd cross paths with other seekers, they gradually learn that the “key” has something to do with the existence of dragons, legendary creatures that have an elemental connection to the earth itself, and to the “dragon men,” mysterious immortals who look like “Vampire Hunter D” and have godlike powers. This engrossing young-adult fantasy balances several interesting characters, a little comic relief, and an intricate fantasy world. Especially notable is Shitou’s art, which abounds with detail, including faux-Medieval illustrations of dragons and alchemical art that adds greatly to the mood. It’s a great manga fantasy in the classic ’80s-90s style, which might appeal to fans of series such as Please Save My Earth and Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind.
Today’s winner is Mike R. of Virginia. Congratulations, Mike!
Today’s photo is from Sarah, who received volumes 1-4 of IWGP: Ikebukuro West Gate Park and volume 7 of Fullmetal Alchemist. Unfortunately, as your blog post reveals, you already had them all! :( Sarah, I’m sorry! I’ll send you some newer, better, awesomer manga soon, manga which you won’t already have! We’ll confer by email so I can make sure not to send you more duplicates.
If you watch Comedy Central then undoubtedly you’ve seen commercials for Ugly Americans, a new animated comedy about social worker Mark LIlly, who works to help monsters and mutant newcomers adapt to life in New York City. This offbeat comedy is the creation of New York-based artist Devin Clark and Executive Producer David Stern, with assistance from Augenblick Studios (responsible for the Cartoon Network’s delightfully deranged Super Jail). Clark and Stern recently spoke with me about the show, which makes its premiere on March 17 at 10:30 p.m. EST.
How did you two come up with the idea for Ugly Americans?
David Stern: Comedy Central’s Dan Powell approached me with a web series created by Devin Clark titled “5-On.” Basically, just man-on-the-street interviews with various creatures on various subjects. I thought it was hilarious and worked with Devin to develop it into the show.
Devin Clark: Living in New York for the last 10 years, I’ve gotten in the habit of drawing while waiting for the subway. A couple years ago I was taking these big sheets of paper, splitting them into 8 panels, and drawing 8 of the same type of creature all talking about a single topic. For instance I had things like 8 demons on talking about religion, 8 zombies on sex, and 8 robots on money. It was all weird creatures making little comments on these esoteric questions. Silly stuff. I’ve always liked the humor that can be derived from taking something horrific or absurd and normalizing it. It is most likely the product of watching so much British humor as a child. Those 8 panel comics became a key element in pitching 5-On to Comedy Central. 5-On was the seed that, with David’s help, grew into the world of Ugly Americans.
We here at Suvudu.com are big fans of monsters, robots and other assorted creepy-crawlers. Where do you get the ideas for all of the strange beings that inhabit the Ugly Americans universe? Any particular books, movies or games that have inspired you?
David: I’m a big fan of horror movies from the 70’s. The Omen, The Amityville Horror, Invasion of the Body Snatchers (remake), and The Exorcist. We try to pay homage to all of the classic horror characters along the way.
Devin: Obviously, we pull heavily from the classic Hammer Horror films and EC Comics. But, I look everywhere for inspiration. One of my favorite finds were these old woodblock prints from the Nuremberg Chronicles, an illustrated world history book from the 1500s. There are some truly bizarre depictions of what can only be described as mutated humans in there.
Were you always doodlers or creative people? What were you like as kids?
Devin: I’ve always loved to draw. As a kid, when I wasn’t stealing pocket watches or working in the coal mine, I could be found drawing.
David: I can’t draw a circle. That’s where Devin and [animation director] Aaron Augenblick come in, but I’ve been writing stories since I was 10 years-old.
Ugly Americans has a unique visual style. Can you tell me about some of the artists that have inspired you?
Devin: I’ve been reading comics since I was at least ten. You will still find me at the comic book store picking up books every Wednesday. So, comic art played a big part in the style of my drawing. But, it was always the less traditional, non-superhero books I dug the most. Tintin and Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind were two of the series that I collected early on. So, Georges Rémi, and Hayao Miyazaki definitely influenced me. Stylistically, I’ve also always loved the work Alex Toth, Jack Kirby, Will Eisner, Moebius, Garry Panter, Robert Crumb, and Charles Burns to name a few.
This isn’t the first time you’ve done some work for television. What are some of your other projects that we might know?
David: I started on The Wonder Years, then I worked on The Simpsons for a few seasons. Also Monk, and a bunch of other projects that you’ve probably never heard of.
Devin: Prior to this show most of the work I’ve done for television is in branding. Or, what I call “everything you see between the show and the advertising”. I contributed heavily to the re-branding of Comedy Central while working for Interspectacular in 2004. Folks may have seen some of the animated logo stings I did for that network package.
What has it been like working with the folks at Comedy Central on Ugly Americans?
David: Comedy Central has been a true pleasure to work with. They’ve really supported this project so far.
Devin: Comedy Central has been extremely supportive throughout the entire process. Everyone from the head execs to the various promotional departments have contributed their hard work and excitement into building out this crazy world. Dan Powell was the executive in development to whom I initially pitched 5-On. His involvement was crucial to developing 5-On into Ugly Americans, and has championed the show every step of the way.
We’re seeing a real renaissance in animated programs for adults. Any thoughts on that?
David: Animation allows you to tell stories that would be too dangerous, threatening, and/or expensive if they were live action. Also, controlling the complete landscape as you can in animation allows you to really pack the jokes in. This makes for good re-runs.
Devin: With the expansion of the cable networks, programming has the diversity and flexibility to appeal directly to many different audiences. My generation grew up with The Simpsons. There is a growing audience out there that sees animated shows as more than just kids’ fare, and more networks who are willing to take a shot at creating cartoons for adults. I think it’s awesome, and I hope the trend continues.
Anything else you’d like to say?
Devin: I feel insanely lucky to have gotten a show on air. It has been a phenomenal experience. Plus, I’ve been fortunate to have some insanely talented people involved at every stage of production. Aaron Augenblick and his crew at Augenblick studios have done an amazing job at bringing this world to life. I also want to thank all our hilarious writers, amazing cast, Cuppa Coffee, Great City Productions, and everyone else who helped make Ugly Americans possible.
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The man in white flees across the desert and the gunslinger follows.
Gandalf the White spurs his beautiful alabaster steed Shadowfax onward, glancing behind him at the figure on the horizon, dismayed that the distance between the two isn’t growing but decreasing. A piercing noise fills the air, causing Shadowfax to rear up, toss his rider, and bolt for the horizon.
“A thinny,” Roland thinks to himself. “Good Sai, what have you gotten us into?” Rusher slows down as Roland leaps from horseback, landing on his feet about twenty meters from his target. “What have you done with the boy?” he calls out to the wizard. “Did you use your foul magics to make Jake disappear?”
“Do not take me for some conjurer of cheap tricks!” shouts Gandalf as he thrusts his staff forward. An invisible fist of energy slams into the gunslinger’s chest, knocking him backwards into a rock. Roland feels the warmth of blood as it drips out of the open wound on the back of his head. He coughs and spits more blood on the dusty ground. This is not good.
The action of his being thrown causes a cloud of dust to rise up around Roland, convenient as it hides the gunslinger as he reaches for his revolvers. Feeling the sandalwood grips of his forefathers’ guns, time slows to a crawl as the weapons are raised, straight and true. The sound of a gunshot momentarily drowns out the incessant droning of the thinny as Gandalf staggers backward.
“What new devilry is this?” the bearded wizard wonders aloud as the blood begins to spread on his white robe. Two more shots ring out across the dusty plain as Gandalf collapses in a billowing pile of white and red.
The thinny drones on and on, filling the air with an uncomfortable vibration. There are no more songs, no more returns for Gandalf; only the image of the green shores of Aman—the Undying Lands of the gods await him now.
Predicted Winner: Roland Deschain of Gilead(Gandalf is a character from J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings; Roland Deschain is a character from Stephen King’s The Dark Tower series.)
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He was far from Cimmeria, and in a strange place—a vast iron cage, and beyond it the dank and sweaty hell of the howling mob in the stands—but still it was a world Conan understood: It was a battlefield, and so it was his true home. So his thews were steeled and his nerves whetted and he was as dangerous as a hungry tiger as he strode into the ring, and thought not on battles past, not even with that wily wizard in the swirling black coat whose bones Conan had ground into dust. He spared no more than a grim and commanding glance for the gorgeous wenches who swooned and fainted in his wake. There would be time enough for them later, time enough for them all. When he entered the ring he raised aloft his brawny fist and so roused his hordes of fans to frenzy.
Though he knew some underestimated him—the price, alas, of a matchless, beautifully masculine physique—his mind crackled with calculation as he regarded the tall, slender man in the other corner. It would not be the first time Conan had taken down a wizard, though he had heard tale and legend that this one commanded powers far beyond his ken. One glance sufficed to tell him that one rumor in particular was true; the truth of it glowed in Rand al’Thor’s eyes. By Crom, the man was mad…and Conan knew that made him only all the more dangerous. Best to take off his head then in one mighty swipe.
Behind Rand al’Thor Conan espied a sign he liked even better: Rand al’Thor’s own little harem, Egwene Al’vere, Elayne Trakand, and Aviendha, urging their champion on. Even as the last ululating lllllllll trailed off in the battle cry of “Let’s get ready to rrrrumbbbbllllle” and Conan charged to the center of the ring with his sword borne aloft he could not help but give them all a long, lingering look with his smouldering gray eyes… and then, the seal of his fate, an irresistable smile.
Until that moment, Rand al’Thor had heard nothing, not the bloodthirsty cries of the crowd or the announcer calling his name or Conan’s bone-chilling battle cry, only the names of all the women that would not stop haunting him. It was only when he heard it—that of the women he loved, sighing for the barbarian in the center of the ring—that his mind snapped back to the moment, and to the weaving of the balefire.
One moment, there he was: a massive, hugely muscled bulk, imposing as a Hyborian mountain, and the next moment he wasn’t. All over Cimmeria his name vanished from the memories of the storytellers, and disappeared from the scrolls, and his legends went dark.
And in another faraway land and another faraway time, Robert E. Howard lights another cigarette, stares down at the blank page, and tries to remember the brilliant idea—its hulking shape still looming in his mind—that had flashed in his mind not a moment ago… and then disappeared as quickly as it came.
Predicted Winner: Rand al’Thor(Rand Al’Thor is a character from Robert Jordan’s The Wheel of Time series; Conan the Barbarian is a character from Robert E. Howard’s Conan stories.)
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Aragorn has spent days scrubbing the blood from Andúril. Though the blade gleams clean and bright in the sunlight, as if innocent of any bloodshed, Aragorn is still haunted by the memory of those tiny screams. Waily! WAILY! He shudders.
He and his opponent have been watching one another across the field of battle for some time now. He has the sense that this is an error, that the other man must be using the time to conjure a spell or deduce a weakness, but something makes him hesitate. Perhaps it’s the wizard’s manner: he has his eyes closed, as if meditating. He is taking this seriously, with due ceremony. Aragorn has no wish to deny a last ritual to a man who is about to die.
When the attack comes, it’s so sudden that Aragorn barely has time to leap from his horse as a gout of flame roars behind him. He turns, instinct guiding his arm, and throws his sword like a javelin, expertly hitting the mark where the other man is standing.
Except he isn’t a man, and he isn’t standing. In the air above the place where the wizard should have been flies a vast and terrible dragon.
Aragorn has just enough time to whisper his true love’s name before the dragon tears him open like an overripe fruit.
Predicted Winner: Ged(Ged is a character from Ursula Le Guin’s A Wizard of Earthsea series; Aragorn is a character from JRR Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings series.)
The Shrike (1) vs.
Drizzt Do'Urden (17)
Rand Al'Thor (5) vs.
Conan the Barbarian (21)
The Shrike (1) vs.
Arthur Dent (32)
Kahlan Amnell (16) vs.
Drizzt Do'Urden (17)
Aragorn (9) vs.
The Wee Free Men (24)
Rand Al'Thor (5) vs.
Locke Lamora (28)
Harry Dresden (12) vs.
Conan the Barbarian (21)
Roland Deschain (13) vs.
Elric (20)
Gandalf (4) vs.
Hiro Protagonist (29)
Raistlin Majere (6) vs.
Ender Wiggin (27)
Dumbledore (11) vs.
Vlad Taitos (22)
Polgara the Sorceress (10) vs.
Anita Blake (23)
Jaime Lannister (15) vs.
Hermione Granger (18)
