Kuriousity | manga reviews and news

Posts Tagged Boys’ Love/Yaoi

PR: DramaQueen Celebrates 6 Years with Release of JUNK!

By Lissa Pattillo on Saturday, May 28, 2011

DramaQueen Celebrates Six Years of Manga with the Release of JUNK! by Shushushu Sakurai

HOUSTON, TEXAS – May 26, 2011. DramaQueen, LLC is celebrating our six years of independent manga and manhwa publishing with the release of our second title from the beloved cult manga-ka, Shushushu Sakurai, JUNK!

Summary: Free Agent Junk is the sole survivor of a nuclear attack, and it’s a closely-guarded secret how he managed to escape alive. Junk’s current mission is to rendezvous with the mysterious criminal “X,” who has been sending Junk messages lately. X wants Junk’s help to meet the Reverend Nagil, leader of a heretical religious sect; but Junk suspects that X has hidden motives for this meeting. Can Junk expose X’s secrets in time before his “true mission” is jeopardized?

Confirmed street date is June 1, 2011. Customers can now order the book at the DQ Shop: www.onedramaqueen.com/shop.

Please email all inquiries to: info@onedramaqueen.com.

Share on Tumblr

Swag Bag Special: L’édition Française

By Lissa Pattillo on Wednesday, May 25, 2011

5 Comments »

It’s a special edition of Swag Bag today that may very well be the first of many. Just after I got back from TCAF, I received my first shipment of French-translated manga which I ordered through Amazon.ca. While my French is a little rusty, I was blown away by the selection the French manga market offered and had to try ordering some, especially when they have a number of the series that Tokyopop’s demise left hanging. Now with the books in hand, I’m equally impressed by the quality of the books themselves.

Share on Tumblr

Categories: Features, Swag Bag
Tags: Boys' Love/Yaoi, Hinako Takanaga, Makoto Tateno, Manga, Shoujo

PR: Digital Manga Publishing launches on to Google Books!

By Lissa Pattillo on Wednesday, May 25, 2011

1 Comment »

Gardena, CA (May 25, 2010) – Digital Manga, one of the manga industry’s most unique and creative publishers, is proud to announce its digital distribution expansion on to Google Books! http://books.google.com/ebooks

Digital Manga has so far launched over 90 titles from their DMP, Juné, and 801 Media imprints into the Google ebookstore, with more to follow in the coming weeks and months, including popular manga titles like Vampire Hunter D and Maiden Rose. Kindle blocked titles like The Color of Love, Weekend Lovers and The Selfish Demon King, are also available in the Google ebookstore.

Digital Manga believes in the “More the better…” concept where digital distribution to every available online storefront, platform, device or digital distributor can provide easier accessibility and availability to readers who own alternative e-reading devices.

Average pricing for most DMP titles is between $5.95 to $7.95 downloaded to your device. You can find a direct listing of current available Digital Manga titles in the Google ebook store here: http://www.junemanga.com/digitaledition/

Google eBooks is compatible with just about any dedicated ebook reader as it stores your library in their digital cloud. Access, your ebooks using your favorite e-reading device like the Barnes & Noble Nook™ and Reader™ from Sony. Follow the link for an overview of Google’s wide array to read your favorite ebook on your favorite device or platform: http://books.google.com/help/ebooks/overview.html

Google Books also provides FREE online eReading applications to help you browse, purchase and download directly off their sites to your preferred device. Apps for PCs, Macs, iPads, iPhones, and Android smartphones and tablets are available now.

http://books.google.com/help/ebooks/devices.html

Sample some of the DMP’s titles below now or go to Google eBooks http://books.google.com/ebooks (best keyword search: digital manga, yaoi, manga)

Sample links:

Vampire Hunter D vol.1: http://books.google.com/books?printsec=frontcover&id=uLb7M1yvHNoC#v=onepage&q&f=false

Love Water: http://books.google.com/ebooks?id=Q2uwSRq_IxgC&dq=digital+manga&as_brr=5

Same Cell Organism: http://books.google.com/books?id=MlP8mzc9OWwC&printsec=frontcover&dq=same+cell+organism&hl=en&ei=GxXXTeXOHY-WsgO1zfCwBw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CC0Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false

Digital Manga currently also publishes manga through other storefronts like the Amazon Kindle, the Barnes & Noble Nook, Kobo books and their very own eManga.com. Check back for new manga title releases which will be up on sale over the next few weeks and months through our newsletter, blog, and our other social networking links below.

—————————————————————

About Digital Manga Publishing

Located in Gardena, CA, Digital Manga Publishing is one of the industry’s most unconventional and innovative companies, specializing in building corporate and cultural bridges from Japan to the Western Hemisphere – specifically through the licensing, importation and preparation of anime (Japanese animation), manga (Japanese comic books) and related merchandise for the North American mainstream and subculture markets. In this capacity, DMI serves as a catalyst for the expansion of Japanese pop culture institutions into global arenas. The company’s imprint line includes DMP: its mainstream imprint, DMP PLATINUM: its classic manga imprint, JUNE´: its boys love imprint, 801 MEDIA: its adult boys love imprint, and DokiDoki: its exclusive co-publishing imprint with Shinshokan Publishing.

For more information about Digital Manga Publishing, visit www.digitalmanga.com as well as:

www.emanga.com

http://twitter.com/digitalmanga

http://www.youtube.com/user/junemanga

http://www.youtube.com/user/801media

http://www.youtube.com/user/digitalmanga

http://www.facebook.com/DigitalMangaInc

Share on Tumblr

Categories: Press Releases
Tags: Boys' Love/Yaoi, DMP

Swag Bag: Muscling In On Toronto’s Manga Supply

By Lissa Pattillo on Tuesday, May 17, 2011

6 Comments »

Welcome to what is definitely the longest Swag Bag to date! Mostly because I completely failed to compile my Swag Bag from last year’s Anime North… None the less! – my recent trip to Toronto was chock full of fun finds, and painful but no doubt hilarious attempts at cramming it all into my suitcases. This post here consists of the manga I bought while traversing the packed streets of Toronto while my TCAF purchases will come in a later post once I’ve finished oogling them enough to write something coherent.

The books listed here were all purchased from either my local Strange Adventures (pre-con buying is important, like eating before going to the grocery store – it helps… I think). The rest with exception of I think 1 or 2 came from what I’m dubbing the manga treasure trove of Toronto – The Beguiling. My thanks to their very accomodating staff! If curious about my other comic shop adventures in Toronto, you can check out the Ontario section of Kuriousity’s Canadian Comic Shop listings.

Now onto the swag!

Share on Tumblr

Categories: Features, Swag Bag
Tags: 7 Billion Needles, ALC Publishing, Bakuman, BLU, Boys' Love/Yaoi, Bunny Drop, CLAMP, Deux Press, DMP, Hinako Takanaga, Makoto Tateno, Manga, Manhwa, Netcomics, Seven Seas, Shoujo Beat, TCAF 2011, Tokyopop, Vertical Inc, Viz Media, Yen Press, Yuri

PR: Animate USA New Kindle Releases for April 2011

By Lissa Pattillo on Wednesday, May 11, 2011

No Comments »

ANIMATE USA – NEW RELEASES IN AMAZON KINDLE STORE

TOKYO, JAPAN – May 9 – Animate U.S.A., Inc. is pleased to bring you four new titles for the Amazon Kindle Store this April!

This month sees the continuation of three popular series as well as the beginning of a brand new story by Naduki Koujima! Other releases include Youka Nitta’s “Sound of My Voice,” You Higashino’s “Hyper Loving a Maniac,” and Shiuko Kano’s “Play Boy Blues.” You can only get them on Kindle so be sure to download all four of these new releases this month! They are not to be missed!

For more information, please visit www.animate-world.com and www.libre-pub.co.jp. If you’re a fan of Youka Nitta, please drop by her website, nittayouka.com to see wallpapers, author comments, and any news. Also, Animate USA is happy to announce that there is now a Japanese version of her website. For those Ayano Yamane fans out there, check out her site, yamaneayano.com, which also has updates, wallpapers, and comments from Yamane herself! Be sure to check them out!!

Share on Tumblr

Categories: Press Releases
Tags: Boys' Love/Yaoi

Farewell Tokyopop – Publishing Division to Close End of May

By Lissa Pattillo on Sunday, April 17, 2011

7 Comments »

No question the big news of this week (and likely of the year) is that Tokyopop’s CEO Stu Levy announced that as of May 31st, the company would be closing down shop in the publishing industry.

This comes as a huge blow to many manga readers. While the company may not be releasing as much now as they have in the past, they’ve still got numerous series on the go that’re now in limbo including several recently premiered (such as Clean Freak, Little Butterfly and Lady Konoko). Most poignant though is the rattling of faith seeing that what was likely the biggest and most-influential English manga publisher go down. Love them or hate them, this is the end of an era.

There hasn’t been a lot of details regarding the shutdown for things such as the fate of licenses and any potentially returning story rights to OEL artists. More information on things such as liquidation of any remaining stock will likely come in the near future. The Yaoi Review has confirmed with Tokyopop that their boys’ love imprint BLU will also be shutdown, and the Tokyopop German division seems to be going strong still.

If you’re looking for more information and reactions about the news, I recommend Katherine Dacey’s round up over at Manga Critic.

I could go on for pages upon pages about my thoughts on Tokyopop and what they mean to me as a company. I’m not going to now though (at least not yet) but I will say this: I’ll miss them terribly. I love Tokyopop. Yes they’ve made mistakes (that website, gah!), but at the end of the day I own hundreds (if not thousands) of Tokyopop books for a reason. I’m really sad that several series I’m collecting may never see completion now such as Pet Shop of Horrors and Shinobi Life, but I also know I’m one of few people saying the same so whose to say they even could’ve been finished regardless of TP shutting down. But they gave the titles the longest run they could (Genju no Seiza for pete’s sake!), they released tons of series with a little for everyone and they were there with something new and shiny every time I went to the comic or book store over the past decade.

Tokyopop was manga for me and will always be a big part of manga for me now, from the piles of books surrounding my room to the many Tokyopop books I’m bound to buy even in the years to come. Goodbye Tokyopop – it really was a good ride and even though you’ve chosen to stop it, I’m not quite ready to get off yet.

Share on Tumblr

Categories: News
Tags: BLU, Boys' Love/Yaoi, Manga, Tokyopop

PR: Animate USA Adds New BL Releases for Amazon Kindle

By Lissa Pattillo on Friday, April 8, 2011

No Comments »

ANIMATE USA – NEW RELEASES IN AMAZON KINDLE STORE

TOKYO, JAPAN – April 6 – Animate U.S.A., Inc. proudly announces the release of our March titles for the Amazon Kindle Store!

New this month, we bring you four chapters of our very popular series. First up are two titles by Youka Nitta, “Kiss Ariki” and “Sound of My Voice.” We also bring you a new chapter of Shiuko Kano’s “Play Boy Blues” and You Higashino’s “Hyper Loving a Maniac.” All four of these series are exclusive to the Kindle, so download your copy today! All four of these series are a must for any yaoi fan!

For more information, please visit www.animate-world.com and www.libre-pub.co.jp. Youka Nitta’s website, nittayouka.com, is your source for all things Youka Nitta, and Animate USA is happy to announce that there is now a Japanese version of her website. Ayano Yamane’s site, yamaneayano.com, is now up and running again. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience. Both websites have new wallpapers available as well as comments from the mangaka and much, much more! Be sure to check them out!!

March 2011:

Youka Nitta – ” Kiss Ariki – Episode 3” KINDLE EXCLUSIVE!!!

Youka Nitta – “Sound of My Voice – Boku No Koe – Part 9” KINDLE EXCLUSIVE!!!

You Higashino – “Hyper Loving A Maniac Part 4 – Study Version” KINDLE EXCLUSIVE!!!

Shiuko Kano – “P.B.B. Play Boy Blues – Act 5”　KINDLE EXCLUSIVE!!!

“Kiss Ariki – Episode 3” by Youka Nitta

Mutsumi’s father Itsuki turns pale at the sight of his son and Tohru naked together! He yanks Mutsumi away from the body of the clan’s precious heir, then busts him with his iron fist.

The third episode of Kiss Ariki.

“Sound of My Voice – Boku No Koe – Part 9” by Youka Nitta

Voice actors Jouchi and Kazama are on the rise.

Anxious about their uncertain futures, they have been accepting every job that comes their way.

Kazama strains himself and loses his voice – the tool of his trade – so Jouchi attacks him with his uncontrollable desire.

“If you look like you’re going to let out your voice, I’ll restrain you from speaking…”

However, he doesn’t realize the circumstances it will lead to…

Meanwhile, the love between the veteran voice actors Kurokawa and Hosaka is wavering dangerously!?

The ninth episode of Sound of My Voice – Boku No Koe –.

“Hyper Loving A Maniac Part 4 – Study Version” by You Higashino

Extreme Moe Ecchi Love by OTAKU x Ordinary person!

I can teach health and physical education as an option☆

The fourth episode of Hyper Loving A Maniac.

“P.B.B. Play Boy Blues – Act 5” by Shiuko Kano

Takuya, the ex-boyfriend of Shinobu’s mother, suddenly appeared. Both his job and residence are constantly up in the air, and he asks for money from Shinobu. Junsuke cannot get along with Takuya, and he doesn’t like the fact that Shinobu treats him as his older brother. Shinobu knows he is not a bad guy, since Takuya was the only person who was nice to him when he was a child. Now Shinobu is facing his real feelings…

The fifth episode of P.B.B. Play Boy Blues.

Share on Tumblr

Categories: Press Releases
Tags: Boys' Love/Yaoi, Manga

Super Savings: Loonie Manga Deals at Amazon.ca

By Lissa Pattillo on Monday, March 14, 2011

No Comments »

Amazon always has some of the best pricing for purchasing books online and occasionally even manga gets the extra special discount treatment, such as Amazon.ca’s Loonie Deals. I was spelunking through the discounted section today and found some manga titles sitting there at some ‘get ’em while you can’ prices:

Steal Moon (Vol. 02) (BL)
$11.36 (CAN) – 31% OFF

Devil Within (Vol. 02)
$9.03 – 40% OFF

Lover’s Pledge (BL)
$9.35 (CAN) – 43% OFF

Love Master A (Vol. 01)
$7.45 (CAN) – 50% OFF

Venus Versus Virus Omnibus (Vol. 01)
$7.04 (CAN) – 59% OFF

A-I Revolution (Vol. 04)
$3.85 (CAN) – 74% OFF

Inukami Omnibus (Vol. 01)
$11.72 (CAN) – 37% OFF

IDOL Pleasures
$9.77 (CAN) – 41% OFF

A-I Revolution (Vol. 01)
$8.17 (CAN) – 45% OFF

King of the Lamp (Vol. 01)
$6.57 (CAN) – 56% OFF

Your Honest Deceit (Vol. 02) (BL)
$5.13 (CAN) – 68% OFF

What’s most interesting and worth a look about these titles is the majority are out of print series. Several of from the now-defunct Go!Comi, and there’s a boys’ love title from DramaQueen. Newer titles are the two omnibus collections from Seven Seas and offer a great value for some huge books with hefty page counts!

Share on Tumblr

Categories: Features, Super Savings
Tags: Boys' Love/Yaoi, DramaQueen, GoComi, June, Manga, Seven Seas

Review: Only The Ring Finger Knows (Vol. 02)

By Jaime Samms on Wednesday, March 9, 2011

1 Comment »

Reviewer: Jaime Samms

Manga-ka: Satoru Kannagi (Author), Hotaru Odagiri (Artist)
Publisher: June
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Release Date: July 2006

Synopsis: “After all the studying he did for his exams, sacrificing time with his boyfriend Yuichi, Wataru gets a measly C-average on his summer prep test. Yuichi’s college classmate Asaka offers to tutor him, and he eagerly accepts. Wataru finds Asaka’s cool beauty and attitude strikingly similar to that of Yuichi’s, and subconsciously becomes vulnerable to his advances. For the first time in their relationship, Yuichi becomes enraged. Will they be able to overcome this new obstacle?”

When I started out reading this second volume of Only the Ring Finger Knows, I expected more tension between Asaka and Yuichi. Throughout the story, I kept expecting Asaka to step up and try to win Wataru’s affections. It seemed so obvious this is where the author was headed with this story. Instead, she spends a great deal of the book endearing Asaka not only to Wataru, but to her readers as well.

Share on Tumblr

Categories: Reviews
Tags: Boys' Love/Yaoi, June, Light Novels

Review: Right Here, Right Now (Vol. 02)

By Shannon Fay on Thursday, February 24, 2011

1 Comment »

Reviewer: Shannon Fay

Manga-ka: Souya Himawari
Publisher: June
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Release Date: February 2011

Synopsis: “At the war’s height, Takakage and Mizuo once again cross paths. The two embrace, profess their unending love for each other, and swear mutual oaths…but there is talk of Takakage getting married. With their personal crisis and the war ripping apart the nation, how will the two men be able to stay connected?”

Right Here, Right Now is a very enjoyable time travel romance. In this volume the main character Mizuo has to decide between staying in the past with Takakage, a local lord he’s fallen for, or return to his life in the present. While it’s not the most unique dilemma (if you’ve read even a chapter of Fushigi Yugi you’ve seen Miaki sweat over the exact same problem), it’s still well done here.

Share on Tumblr

Categories: Reviews
Tags: Boys' Love/Yaoi, June, Manga