A day of NaNo on Saturday. November 19, 2007
Posted by caldi-chan in : Manga Beat, NaNo, general musings , add a commentHave I ever talked about how I am a very shy person on this blog before? No? Oh well I guess this ‘ll be something new for those of you in the blog-o-sphere to digest. It is true, I am in fact the most quietest person you can think of.
Oh sure on the internet I have a flaire and confidence that says I’m a fun if not totally warped individual that you’d love… But in person? You’re just better off grabbing a tranq gun and shooting me in the neck with it in order to get me to actually attend huge social events with nothing but total and complete strangers.
To detail for the past few weeks, I have been trying my hardest against all odds to catch up, and keep up with the writing pack in NaNo. I have very dismal results, but then again at 12 K, it’s okay. In honesty I haven’t updated my count for some time. I assure you I have been writing.
The people at the social gathering for the Manitoba Region, in Winnipeg, at The Forks, were witness to that. They all know that the quiet one sitting at the table closest to them, was me. They know I wrote from arrival to the point in time I drew a comic like note for the ML Heather, stating my Shy complex in a humorus way.
I had been planning on going to this event. Heck the emails between Heather and I were fun and I honestly wanted to go. I wanted to talk with these people, but my shy complex got in the way. I was like a deer caught in headlights and setteled for sitting at a table closest to the group and just writing.
I hope though, I can make the TGIO (Thank god it’s over) bash. Maybe then I’ll be a bit more sociable.
In the mean time I should get to work on continuing to type up the AFK Nano writings onto my computer, and then updating the dismal word count.
I found it very amusing when stating in the fourms I was indeed at the social gathering, if not a bit late, then again I got horribly lost. One good thing that came out of it, was a random guy who sketches people for free, was able to do a rather fast sketch of myself in my kitty hat. It was a cute thing, and I think I’ll Frame it.
Sunday resulted in my being able to find an interesting site in order to watch a few episodes of an anime, in order to compare it to its Manga Equivilent. So now the article for when that gets typed up and ready to go will be rather interesting. Though I encourage readers to buy offical releases as well, to supoport the people who work hard to bring you Anime. I only watched it online to kill time, and compare it to the manga for my next article and I don’t own that particular anime as of yet, I will by Christmas, though.
As for what Manga / Anime I’m planning on writing about next? That’s a secret and only those at wotg who have been keeping up with me, know which one I’m planning. It should be written up, edited and up on the main site within this week.
Comics, NaNo, and things that are Adult at night with Jungle Music. November 14, 2007
Posted by caldi-chan in : Comics, Manga Beat, Music, NaNo, Way of the Geek , 2comments
So yesterday was a fun day. I got very little sleep. I worked on the Second Manga Beat at the way of the geek site. I worked on my novel project as well. I’m dreadfully behind, and loud disturbing jungle noises from upstairs and other adultery activites keep me awake. It’s not very easy to write with that kind of thing going on.
So I did the next best thing. I colored a single page out of the young Archive of the Thrice drawn web comic Fatebreaker. -See post below this-
They loved the finished result so much they put it up in place of the old Lineart. I feel very accomplished, and happy with myself.
Yay me!
In other news, I am incredibly tired and exausted. I have to some how break out another 12K, if I’m to catch up with the rest of the NaNo pack.
That’s what hot chocolate is for.
Mmm Hot Chocolate.
Manga Beat to Move to front page of Way of the Geek. October 30, 2007
Posted by caldi-chan in : Comics, Manga Beat, Way of the Geek , add a comment
So it would seem, that I’ve been given the all clear. Manga Beat as we know it, after just two test posts here will be moving to the main site of Way of the Geek. Migo and I decided this would be cool, and that I’d start out with the bottem of the collection I happen to currently have. This way I have these to fall back on, and when I get a new one with the funds, those will go up. Looks like things are starting to run smoothly, and I’ve found a Gimmik.
Go me.
Caldi’s Manga Beat 02: What’s new in the Manga Pile. October 29, 2007
Posted by caldi-chan in : Comics, Manga Beat , add a comment
After a weekend of disapointment, and volunteer work at a local anime clubs dace at the UOW. I bring a new manga for Manga Beat. Today’s Manga is Halloween themed. Fitting since Halloween is just around the corner. Today’s music just so happens to be Complicated by Avril, as it seems everythings just been very complicated, including in this manga.
Today we have Dark Moon Diary. A Manga brought to you by Tokyo Pop, and the combined efforts of writer Che Gilson, and artist Brett Uher.
Story/Plot:
It starts with some wonderful art of 15 year old Priscilla at the funeral of her parents. Which later evolves into a dream/nightmare of her seeing her parents and leaving her behind. Cue a well timed scene switch to her on a plane headed to the European town of Natchwald, so she can live with her “last living” realitives.
Low and behold she learns that her aunt Lillith, Uncle Wolfgar, and their daughter Kitty are in fact Vampires. Which at first seemed very impossible until her aunt reveals that Priscilla’s mother was a vampire too.
Resorting to her Diary she soon begins to write about her adventures and musing over the fact that the whole town of Natchwald seems to thrive with not only Vampires that eat “freak food”, but also plays host to an assorted cast of characters including Zombies, Werewolves, Ghosts, Witches, and the occasional Human/Entree.
Granted, living with her realitives isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be. The food is not fit for humans, and she has been forced to eat Black Berries -found outside her new school on the school grounds- and drink Goats Milk for lunches.
Luckily she manages to make some friends, and even catches the eye of the vampire Prince Balthazar Sabinov, which makes Kitty pop a veign of jealosey.
So while Priscilla gets used to a school of strange lunches, being called “Berry Girl”, a nice timid Boogie Monster that lives under her bed named Broonie, making new friends, and feeling miserable. Kitty becomes the aparent villan of the comic, with her two friends Diamante, and Lamia.
Which isn’t suprising. Considering that Kitty, along with the rest of the school seems to think Balthazar is the coolest thing since Blood and Moose Heart Icecream. -page 105-
Art:
The art is well done, in the Manga style format that people are used to from Tokyo Pop. It’s a suitable style, to express the various thoughts and feelings of the characters. The first thing I noticed to tell the truth, is the detail that went into the clothing for the characters. Followed by the facial expressions, and the zany and unexpected times where the “food” suddenly came alive freaking Priscilla out.
Genra:
The Genra is the typical Fantsay, given the story and theme. It also reads left to right like any American Comic, even if Tokyo Pop has declared it as a Manga. Which when one thinks about it, Manga imports that have been translated usually read from Right to left.
Then again, a common theme I’ve found, is that any Manga made and published in the dead tree format by Canadians and Americans usually read from Left to Right Regardless. So this doesn’t really bother me at all.
While I did enjoy the book, it wasn’t as amusing to me as “Fall in Love Like a Comic”, however, I did like it. There’s no question about it. It just makes me wonder.
If Priscilla’s mother was a Vampire, and she married a Human Man. What does that make Priscilla? Is she half vampire? Is she adopted? Inquiring minds want to know! Looks like I should look into volume two when it comes out. Will things be revealed? We’ll just have to wait and see.
For those interested, Dark Moon Diary is also viewable online at Tokyo Pop in Chapters. I belive it’s one chapter per volume to give you a sneak peak to see if you’d like to buy it. I’m not sure, my computer is old and doesn’t support their viewer.
Caldi’s Manga Beat: What’s new in the Manga Pile. October 25, 2007
Posted by caldi-chan in : Comics, Manga Beat, general musings , add a comment
So it would seem I’ve been struck with the idea of writing once in a while, a segment called “Manga Beat” here on my blog. I think we can attribute it to the fact that I listen to music, and read manga quite a bit. In fact I even have to have music on while I write my Way of the Geek articles. (Which aren’t as poorly written as the stuff in here is -I hope-) So it’s hitting two birds with one stone here. Listening to music, reading a new Manga, and then writing about it. So lets get cracking.
First up we have Fall in Love like a Comic by Chitose Yagami.
It’s your typical Shojo Manga put out by Viz Media in the Shojo Beat section. Now normally I don’t read Shojo - anything, except for maybe Sailor Moon. Regardless the summary on the back, got my attention.
Basically Rena Sakura is your typical High School Student in Japan. Nothing unusual there. However, she’s not your typical student. On the side she is secretly a professional Mangaka. In fact with most of the young girls in her class, her Manga Cha♥mi is quite popular. This is most likely attributed to the fact that Rena writes “Manga that’s a little risque.” -Page Six- However and here’s the Ironic part, she has never been on a date before.
My first thoughts, when I finally opened this little gem was that the art style was akin to Clamps in the facial features. In fact Rena looks a little bit like Sakura from Card Captor Sakura. This includes some of her antics, however that’s where the similarities end, but then I got a glimpse of the male lead, Tomoya Okita. My first thought’s strange as they were, was that this character was the love child between Toya and Yukito. -Again Card Captor Sakura- If that were ever possible.
Regardless I moved on and read the book, having several laugh out loud moments when Rena decides to ask this main bishi lead out to “study” relationships so that her Manga could have more depth and realisim. However she really had no idea what she was getting herself into when she runs the risk of falling in love.
The irony of the situation here, is that while she writes Shojo, she’s never had a boyfriend before, and has never experianced a single thing she’s ever written about. That is till she’s met Tomoya. Hilarious, laugh out loud and gut bursting antics are to be had within these pages.
It really puts a perspective on why some comics seem to have more depth while others don’t.
Perhaps Chitose is on the right track, to have your comic or Manga to feel even more real, it would be a good idea to *know* what it’s really like, and to draw upon those feelings.
I found this Manga to be a rather good read. I’m looking forward to getting my hands on Volume two! In fact I better put this series on my discount List at IrBen Entertainment.