Fujoshi O'Clock: July Edition

Fujoshi O'Clock is a monthly feature at Nagareboshi Reviews which focus on boys' love/yaoi news, reviews, and meta. The feature also puts a spotlight on trans/bisexual/genderqueer manga/anime news and articles. For yuri/shoujo ai, see fellow bloggers Yuricon and Yuri no Boke for a more thorough examination of the girls' love genre.

This month will be articles/news only.

Articles for July:

• Midwest yaoi convention Ahn Con is running a crowdfunding campaign to help pay off some of its convention debt and help ensure it will be up and running for another year.
• In further convention news, YaoiCon's 2015 guest of honor will be manga-ka Tateno Makoto. YaoiCon recently held events at Anime Expo 2015, including its infamous annual Bishounen Bingo. The industry guest for September 18-20 will be Martha Asahi, a JP cosplayer and BL manga-ka.
• Korean BL visual novel November Boy, being released by Sekai Project, now has a video trailer, as shared by Hardcore Gamer's website.
• Elementree has released an English version of Yaoi Ooku: Distorted Love to iOS and Android; the BL dating sim game takes place during the Edo era and features the voice of VA Tetsuya Kakihara.

Digital Manga Continues Its Dominance of Manga Kickstarter Campaigns

Oh, Digital Manga. Beloved DMP. One would think that they would have given up on Kickstarter after the last massive campaign and the amount of criticism they have received for using it so much in the past 2-3 years. But, y'know, it still works for them, so why not?

After the success of the Ludwig B Kickstarter - which had followed a behemoth disaster of a multi-title Tezuka campaign that ended in failure and an overwhelming disbelief in the system - DMP is now doubling down with not one, but two campaigns running concurrently: reprinting the classic yaoi series Finder and printing the Tezuka 2-volume title Alabaster.

Manga Worth Reading has a good post on the entire situation, including a look at Alabaster's stretch goal and how the company is openly responding to critiques of its current Kickstarter strategy. Read the comments, too!

Personally, I haven't backed a DMP Kickstarter since they licensed Barbara. It's not because of a lack of interesting titles worth funding; I just don't like DMP's newfound reliance on Kickstarter for everything from licensing to reprinting. It shakes one's confidence in DMP as a company and makes one wonder what their finances look like if they need to crowdfund so much.

However, if you want to see a title in print a lot and DMP is the one fixing to release it, Kickstarter or not, then go ahead and fund 'em. Support your favorite manga titles! In an era of digital piracy and scanlations, putting your money where your mouth is - especially for manga, a niche product in the world of books - is more vital than ever before.

PR: Digital Manga, Inc. To Launch Captain Ken by Osamu Tezuka Kickstarter

Gardena, CA (June 3, 2014) Digital Manga, Inc. has launched a new project on crowd-funding site Kickstarter to translate and publish Osamu Tezuka's shonen title Captain Ken volumes 1 and 2 for ages 16+ in English for the first time. From June 3 until July 3, fans will be able to pledge for publication of the books and receive Kickstarter exclusive rewards including early release copies of both volumes, the digital companion with featured translation notes, decals, bandanas, messenger bags, and a handmade plush of Captain Ken's horse, Arrow.

If fans pledge a total of $13,000 or more by the deadline, both volumes of Captain Ken will be released simultaneously for Kickstarter backers to receive in February of 2015, before hitting bookstore shelves in March of 2014, through DMI's Platinum Manga classics imprint. Swallowing the Earth, Barbara, Unico, Triton Vol. 1 & 2, and Atom Cat were all successfully funded in previous Kickstarter campaigns, but Captain Ken will be first young adult fiction to add to Digital Manga’s Tezuka collection.

It's The Most Wonderful Time For Some News

I scream, you scream, we all scream for a good link spam. This one is strictly manga flavored!

• Digital Manga Publishing is having an autumn sale on select eManga titles until the 25th (although their promo banner says the 20th?). These titles will be 1/4th off the original price, and include a whole lot of boys' love goodness. Also, they've added new titles to their digital catalog, including some H-manga and Brave 10.
• Vertical Inc.'s latest news is all about sushi - they are hitting shelves with a new sushi book just in time for Christmas shopping. Sushi Simplicity is filled with tips on making really good looking and tasty sushi. They have also licensed the Cardfighter!! Vanguard manga, which is an ongoing franchise that also includes a trading card game and several anime series.
• Viz Media is also kicking off holiday shopping with a wide variety of new releases, including Pokemon and Hello Kitty, two high selling imprints of theirs. Also, Mameshiba! Who doesn't love talking beans filled with obscure factoids?
• Fantagraphics Books, who publishes the manga Wandering Son, is holding a Kickstarter so readers can directly support their favorite titles. With 16 days to go, it's already reached it's target goal. And yes, Wandering Son (volume seven) is an option for funding!
• Yes, Hayao Miyazaki is retiring from anime - but he's spending his time away from the Ghibli studios to work on a samurai manga. His title will focus on Japan's 'warring states' period in history. Can we all just agree that Hayao Miyazaki is one of the most adorable people on the planet? Cos it's true.

PR: DMP Pushes September Switch Promo For eManga

Gardena, CA. (September 11, 2013) Digital Manga, Inc., one of the manga industry’s most progressive and innovative publishers is proud to present our September Switch promotion on eManga.com With over 1000 digital titles and growing, eManga is the one-stop shop for downloadable manga to read and keep.  Don’t like to read online, only read on Android phones, or addicted to your iPad? No worries! eManga offers 7 different file types optimized for every device—rest assured your purchases can travel with you, internet-free.  

Fall’s just around the corner and you know what that means: it’s back to school season! Whether you’re headed to class or to the office, it’s an excellent time to rediscover the power of books. We here at eManga want to foster that joy of reading with our Free Fall Books promotion. Starting from September 11th to October 13^th, eManga is offering this promotion for all ebook devotees to make the switch to eManga.comfor all your digital manga needs, turning your past purchased ebooks from other ebook retailers into FREE eManga titles!

Fujoshi O'Clock (6/13/13)

What time is it? It's . . . Fujoshi O'Clock, the biweekly feature at Nagareboshi Review, when I bring to you the latest fujoshi-related news and reviews and various shiny BL-flavored things. Why? Because rotten girls need love too!

This week on Fujoshi O'Clock:

• Bateszi Anime Blog, in response to the backlash against the KyoAni Free! anime, posts their treatise on fujoshi and the now infamous swimming anime.
• Contemporary Japanese Literature writes a great defense of fujoshi, with content warnings for discussion of rape and rape fantasies, that also tackles the bara/yaoi divide.
• I sense a trend here! Manga Therapy shares how thankful it is for fujoshi and links to several other pieces on BL culture.
• Alex Woolfson has yet another Kickstarter going, this time for his wonderful LGBT heroes webcomic The Young Protectors. Worth funding for the amazing stretch goals alone!
• An anime adaptation of the Love Stage!! manga has been announced in Asuka Ciel magazine. The manga, by Eiki Eiki and Taishi Zaou, started publication in 2010.
• The manga Wandering Son will be ending in the August issue of Monthly Comic Beam. The anime adaptation was simulcast on Crunchyroll; the manga is being published by Fantagraphics.
• Digital Manga has licensed two new manga titles: Hideyoshico's Apple & Honey and Natsuki Zippo's Wolf Magic. They also announced that Yaoi-Con would be happening in 2014.

Reviews:

• Naru at Organization Anti Social Geniuses reviews Silent Voice by Atsuki Kyoyama, a mixture of love and baseball and sketchy art.
• Boys' Luv.com reviews the OEL yaoi manga Punishment from Yaoi Press. Not surprisingly, it's underwhelming and has consent issues.
• Coffeeandink at Storytalk reviews The Heart of Thomas by Hagio Moto, BL manga classic, and really gets into the nitty-gritty of the book.
• Kate O'Neil at the Fandom Post reviews the fifth omnibus of Loveless by Yun Kouga, specially released by Viz Manga to cover the volumes previously published by Tokyopop.

Am I missing your blog? Got some awesome fujoshi-related news and reviews you think deserve a shout-out? Poke me with a link and a bit of description over at my Twitter: @theseventhl. I'm always on the look out for more BL love!

Manga Review: Color

Color
Authors: Eiki Eiki, Taishi Zaou
Digital Manga Publishing (Doki Doki Imprint)
200 pages

Theirs was a miraculous and fateful first encounter! In a trance, Takashiro Tsuda gazed at the artwork that shared the same title as the work he had created. The title "Color," and the artist: Sakae Fujiwara. This coincidence was the driving force that led the men to inevitably meet, but what bond, if any, will the artists share? (Source: Goodreads)

Ah, Eiki Eiki and Taishi Zaou: two great tastes that go good together. 

English language manga readers know Eiki Eiki as the manga-ka behind Dear Myself and Princess Princess (also an anime) while Taishi Zaou is known as the manga-ka behind Green Light and The Day of Revolution. When they come together in one work, we get Color, a tour de force of romance, humor, and drama packed into one volume. Do me a favor and get it now.

PR: Digital Manga's Liquidation Sale Coming In March

Digital Manga's Warehouse Liquidation Sale, March 9-10, 10AM to 4PM: Manga and Anime Merchandise up to 70% Off!

Come on down to our Gardena warehouse to get your hands on deeply discounted manga and anime goods! Saturday and Sunday March 9 and 10 are the big days, so mark your calendars now! You can find our warehouse and office at:

Digital Manga, Inc.
1487 W. 178th St.
Suite 300 (third floor)
Gardena, CA 90248

Parking is free and while the lot is gated, the gate will be wide open, so drive right on in and look for the Digital Manga logo outside the building.

Everything is available on a first come, first serve basis and will be discounted up to 70%! We'll be swimming in manga and merchandise, so get there bright and early at 10AM.

PR: New Manga Licenses From Project-H

Digital Manga Publishing' hentai imprint, Project-H, has recently announced via Twitter and Facebook a goodly amount of new manga licenses - eleven of them, to be precise. The manga-ka represented include Rumi Matsunami, Nikusoukyu, and Shinobu. Naturally, the covers and titles of these books are NSFW. You can find the details and some of the covers below, behind the 'read more' jump.

As of now, all eleven titles are print-only. DMP is currently working on getting digital rights for these titles; I'm sure a lot of people would rather be reading these on their iPad/Kindle while on the bus than be holding the actual book, yeah?

For more information on the Project-H imprint and future/recent releases, you can visit them online at http://www.projecth.xxx. Note the domain name; try not to visit it at school or at work! They are also on Twitter!

PR: New Licenses From Project H!

New news from DMP (Digital Manga Publishers) is always good - and when it's hentai news, that's even better. Just me? That's cool. Anyway, DMP announced through their Twitter page their latest mature title acquisitions and below the jump is the full list, complete with some very NSFW covers. But then it wouldn't be Project H if it wasn't!

There are four titles being released, all with a 18+ rating and without a clear release date. However, it's good to see all four titles shall be available via print and digital means. Goodness knows I need more manga on my Kindle Fire! As it looks, they are all one-shots.

Go below the jump to see the details on all the new H titles! Please be advised that the covers are uncensored and click with caution!

PR: DMP Joins Comic Publishers On Apple's iBookstore

"I" Manga on iBooks - Digital Manga joins the ranks with other comic publishers on Apple’s iBookstore

Gardena, CA (August 7, 2012) Helping to expand the manga library on Apple’s iBookstore, Digital Manga jumps in to add their backlist of digital content to the ever-popular App on iTunes. Listing their titles in the Comics & Graphic Novels category, specifically in the recent “manga” section created by Apple, Digital Manga titles are now available for purchase for iBooks customers.

Digital Manga’s titles are optimized, fixed-layout ebooks for the iBookstore, which are also designed to allow you to jump to the other side of the book to start your reading in the right-to-left eastern reading format common for reading most manga—combined with iBooks’ superb reading interface, this gives customers a richer experience to reading manga on the Apple iPad, iPhone and the iPod Touch. Download the iBooks app, (http://www.macworld.com/appguide/app.html?id=460630&expand=false ) available for free in the App Store.

801 Day Is Here (Again)!

Yes, once again it is yaoi day, the day where all rotten girls rejoice and read a ton of yaoi manga like it's boys' love Christmas or something. Fun, right? Yes.
  
As usual, Digital Manga is kicking off 801 day right with their Yaoi Day trivia Twitter contest, in which they're giving away copies of their BL manga for the right answer at the right time. You will have to follow @digitalmanga and tweet the right answer as soon as the question is asked to win, so you'll probably want to keep their Twitter open in a separate tab!


Update: Also, Viz's SuBLime imprint is hosting its own yaoi giveaway, including digital manga and several drama CDs. All you have to do is comment! Oh, and be 18 years of age or older. Should be fun!
  
You can also read fellow blogger Otaku Champloo's post for 801, wonderfully titled "Hello. I am a Fujoshi. Today's my day." Although I think "coming out" as a fan of yaoi is language appropriated from the LGBT movement, her thoughts about letting people in real life know her taste in manga are definitely worth reading!
  
For those looking for something deliciously boys' love today, I have a list of recs below, all readily available for purchase in English from legitimate publishing companies. Enjoy!

• Doukyusei by Asumiko Nakamura. Rating: Teen Plus.
• The Night Before The Wedding by Kou Fujisaki. Rating: Mature.
• Seven Days: Monday-Thursday by Rihito Takarai and Venio Tachibana. Rating: Teen.
• Three Wolves Mountain by Bohra Naono. Rating: Mature.
• Kizuna Deluxe Edition GN 1 by Kazuma Kodaka. Rating: Mature.
• Othello by Toui Hasumi. Rating: Mature.
• Entangled Circumstances by Kikuko Kikuya. Rating: Mature.

PR: Digital Manga Publishing Now With DriveThru Comics

Penetrating the US comic market, digitally! - Digital Manga rides with Drivethru Comics

Gardena, CA (July 25, 2012) Digital Manga Inc., one of the manga industry's most unique and creative publishers, is proud to officially announce the release of their digital content through DriveThru Comics. drivethrucomics.com After months of testing digital titles on the DriveThru platform, on what is primarily a US-comic-based digital ebook storefront, Digital Manga’s never-ending expansion on the digital forefront for the US comic market continues.

DriveThru Comics is the first one-stop, on-line download comic shop for new and vintage comic books. They carry titles from over 500 independent publishers, delivered fresh to a customer’s desktop in electronic format. They provide digital download files for purchase in a variety of formats such as watermarked PDFs, CBZs, ePubs, and Mobi files, as well as carrying audio, video and print format for customers also.

Note: NSFW summaries/pictures follow the jump break!

PR: Digital Manga Publishing Joins Graphicly Platform

Read manga directly on Facebook - Digital Manga joins the Graphicly platform

Gardena, CA (July 23, 2011) - Digital Manga Inc., one of the manga industry's most unique and creative publishers, is proud to officially announce the launch of their digital titles on Graphicly. (www.Graphicly.com/store).

Graphicly, a leading eBook distribution solution ideal for fixed layout content like comics and graphic novels, offers publishers and individual creators a wide range of digital distribution services to the various ebook market places, especially for the US comic industry. One unique feature they offer is digital ebook distribution on Facebook, using their Graphicly Facebook app and widgets.

“It only makes sense for Digital Manga to jump on to the Graphicly platform, to grow our ever-expanding digital distribution and to reach out to manga and American comic readers alike.” – Fred Lui- VP Publishing and Digital Content

Access to Digital Manga’s titles through Graphicly’s platform is available in several ways:

- Digital Manga’s  ebooks are for sale on the publisher’s page directly at Graphicly’s website via web browsers: http://graphicly.com/digital-manga-publishing

- They are also available in the Graphicly Facebook App: https://apps.facebook.com/graphicly/ which can be installed on personal Facebook pages. The app provides a free preview of the ebook and allows the user to directly purchase any Graphicly book and read it right on their own Facebook page.

- Additionally, Digital Manga’s titles are available directly from their Facebook Page via the Graphicly Facebook App, available for previewing, purchase and reading.

Go to facebook and search Digital Manga Inc. or go to the following link: https://www.facebook.com/DigitalMangaInc/app_105395256203337