MJ (of Manga Bookshelf) and I have often talked about our ardent love for shounen manga. Shounen manga’s actually what got MJ into the medium in the first place, and I’ve lately been enjoying a reading spree through my library’s Shonen Jump collection. Unfortunately, our conversations have been somewhat limited because neither of us has read the other’s favorite series. Awesome as it is, there’s only so much fangirling one can do over a mutually adored title like Hikaru no Go. With that in mind, the idea for Shounen Sundays was born.

Here’s how it works: each Sunday in June, MJ and I will post a review of a shounen manga that is new to us, two that are among the other’s favorites and two of our own choosing. For MJ I have recommended Slam Dunk and One Piece, and for me she has chosen Fullmetal Alchemist and Claymore. (Yes, we know none of these actually ran in the real Shounen Sunday.)

The goals of our experiment are multifarious. As manga reviewers, there’s the desire to be at least familiar with as many different series as possible. To an inveterate hoarder like me, there’s the guilt-assuaging opportunity to actually read the things that I own. And to a couple of enthusiastic friends, there’s the anticipation of introducing someone to a story that you really, really love and hoping with fingers crossed that they’ll love it, too.

We hope you’ll check back with us throughout the month. This post will be kept updated with the latest entries in our endeavor.

WEEK ONE:
Michelle: Fullmetal Alchemist, Vols. 1-2
MJ: Arata: The Legend, Vols. 1-2

WEEK TWO:
Michelle: Spiral: The Bonds of Reasoning, Vols. 1-3
MJ: Slam Dunk, Vols. 1-2

WEEK THREE:
Michelle: Claymore, Vols. 1-2
MJ: Black Butler, Vols. 1-2

WEEK FOUR:
Michelle: Saiyuki, Vols. 1-3
MJ: One Piece, Vols. 1-3

I noticed last night that I had amassed 999 posts on this site, and this is officially my 1000th! Huzzah!

Thank you to those who deign to read my modest little blog; while I was happy enough to toil along in obscurity, comments from like-minded visitors brighten my day considerably. I’ve made a lot of friends through manga blogging, and it’s brought me much happiness. I figure I must be doing something right if, after four years, I’m still having a good time.

Here’s to a thousand more!

The fifth installment of The NANA Project is now posted on Comics Should Be Good! In it, Danielle Leigh, MJ, and I discuss the ninth and tenth volumes of the series and I think it may be our best one yet!

As usual, Danielle comes up with some excellent questions for us to consider, like how widening the lens to include more secondary characters affects the story, what’s the deal with Yasu and Nana, and why Naoki’s perspective of past events is so valuable. Also, I share my silly hair theory and get called a genius for it!

If you’re interested in our first four columns, that link is here.

Over at Manga Recon, we’ve posted the annual Our Favorite Manga of 2009 roundup. In addition to standard categories like “Best New Series” or “Best Continuing Series,” we also discuss guilty pleasures, biggest disappointments, and the worst manga of the year. Unsurprisingly, the excellent Pluto: Urasawa x Tezuka walks away with the most kudos, but there are some surprises, as well.

Here is the direct link to my picks with some brief elaboration, but here’s the short version with links to full reviews:

Best New Series: Pluto: Urasawa x Tezuka (Naoki Urasawa and Osamu Tezuka, VIZ)
Best Continuing Series: Honey and Clover (Chica Umino, VIZ)
Best Yaoi: Future Lovers (Saika Kunieda, Aurora Publishing)
Best OEL/World Manga: Nightschool: The Weirn Books (Svetlana Chmakova, Yen Press)
Best Manga for Kids: The Lapis Lazuli Crown (Natsuna Kawase, CMX)
Best Manga That You Thought You Would Hate: Takeru: Opera Susanoh Sword of the Devil (Kazuki Nakashima and Karakarakemuri, TOKYOPOP)
Biggest Disappointment: Nabari No Ou (Saika Kunieda, Yen Press)

I had considered writing about Vampire Knight for Guilty Pleasure, but I couldn’t think of much to say about it besides, “The story is crackalicious but the art’s so pretty!” I didn’t have one for the Worst Manga category, either. The manga I gave the lowest grade to this year was The Loudest Whisper: Uwasa no Futari, but I don’t expect greatness from BL (hence, the lovely surprise when I encounter it!) so it’s not like its crappiness was a big shock.

All in all, 2009 was a fantastic year for manga fans in the US. I’m particularly heartened by the increase in seinen and josei offerings. Thank you, publishers, for licensing goodies for older readers!

Wow, y’all sure can pick ’em! The results of the last Manga Marching Orders post, in which I asked for help in deciding between several shoujo fantasy series that take place in other worlds, were overwhelmingly in favor of From Far Away, and now I see why: it’s awesome! You can find my review of the first five volumes here. I’ll definitely be continuing that series through to its completion—how I let it languish in my to-read pile for so many years is beyond me!—but in the meantime, I’m soliciting advice once again.

Recently, I read the first three volumes of Honey Hunt, which was my first time reading anything by Miki Aihara. I liked it a lot, and it made me intrigued about the series she’s best known for: the ultimate guilty pleasure of shoujo, Hot Gimmick. This, in turn, got me thinking about other shoujo/josei classics with possibly over-the-top/raunchy romance drama that I really should read.

Here, then, are the five series I’m trying to decide between. All are complete and owned by me in their entirety, inveterate hoarder that I am. I note, too, that 80% of these series were released in the US by TOKYOPOP. They sure don’t license them like they used to.

1. Hot Gimmick by Miki Aihara – shoujo, 12 volumes
Believe me, I have heard the complaints about this one. Forewarned is forearmed, they say, and since this series is still being talked about so often, I feel like I should experience its icky-yet-addictive blend for myself.

2. Peach Girl by Miwa Ueda – shoujo, 18 volumes but split into two series by TOKYOPOP
I want to read this for the same reason I want to read Hot Gimmick. I’ve been reading Miwa Ueda’s newest series, Papillon, and have seen other reviewers note its similarities to this earlier story. I remain ignorant of any recycled story elements, and this just won’t do!

3. Tramps Like Us by Yayoi Ogawa – josei, 14 volumes
I’ve heard many good things about this series and though I’ve read some josei, I’ve never read a josei series as long as this one. Plus, I’m always ridiculously excited to read about a heroine who has a career.

4. Happy Mania by Moyoco Anno – josei, 11 volumes
Connie mentioned this series recently in a review over on Manga Recon and it really intrigued me, especially when she said, “the series reveled in dragging the characters through all sorts of relationship miseries, then having them beg for more.” I went out and procured it (got a great deal on eBay!) based on her recommendation. I think it’d be fun to read about a succession of guys instead of just one true love. Sex and the City in manga form!

5. Mars by Fuyumi Soryo – shoujo, 15 volumes + 1 one-shot
From what I’ve heard about Mars, there doesn’t seem to be much really raunchy about it, but I’m willing to bet that in a series this long there’s going to be some major crazy drama somewhere along the line. I’m also intrigued by this mangaka in general; her seinen series ES: Eternal Sabbath looks really good, and I feel like I should read this one first to better appreciate the contrast.

Reader, help me choose!

Welcome to Soliloquy in Blue’s first annual Halloween Week! Beginning on Sunday, October 25th and continuing through the big day, I’ll be posting daily (at least!) reviews of some spooky titles that I’ve been stockpiling for the occasion. Zombies, witches, vampires, and ghosts will reign all week in comics and novels alike! Overall, the tone will be a fairly lighthearted one—feel free to suggest some darker fare for next year—so I hope you’ll return often to enjoy the fun!

To get started, check out my review of volume one of Nightschool (Yen Press).