Review: JIU JIU Volume 1

"Off the Leash"
JIU JIU, VOL. 1
VIZ MEDIA

CARTOONIST: Touya Tobina
TRANSLATION: Tetsuichiro Miyaki
ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Annette Roman
LETTERS: James Gaubatz
ISBN: 978-1-4215-4274-4; paperback; Rated “T+” for “Older Teen”
200pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK

Touya Tobina is a manga creator originally from Tokyo. In 2005, her series, Clean Freak Fully Equipped (Keppeki Shonen Kanzen Soubi), won the Grand Prize in the 30th Hakusensha Athena Newcomers Awards. VIZ Media is currently publishing her new series, Jiu Jiu, is a shojo manga. Jiu Jiu first saw publication in Japan as a one-shot manga in the shojo magazine, Hana to Yume. The series is essentially a supernatural fantasy with elements of high school teen romance, which may actually come to dominate the series in later chapters.

Jiu Jiu focuses on Takamichi Hachioji, a girl who is born into a family of “Dark Hunters,” people who hunt and slay the demons that lurk in the shadows. The Hachioji Clan is the largest clan of Dark Hunters. Takamichi’s twin brother, Takayuki, was killed protecting her, so she became the clan’s heir. Her family gives her a pair of wolf-pups that are half-animal and half-human, which she must train to be her “Jiu Jiu.” A Jiu Jiu is a Dark Hunter’s familiar and hunting partner.

Jiu Jiu, Vol. 1 opens with a 13-year-old Takamichi still grieving her brother’s death. Her family gives her two wolf-pups that she can train to be her Jiu Jiu if she wishes; otherwise, they will simply be killed because of their lineage. She names the white-furred one “Snow,” and the black-furred one, “Night.” Three years later, 16-year-old Takamichi is still trying to manage and control the now older pups. They frequently shift between their human and wolf forms and are clingy and needy. They want to help her, but she just wants to keep them on the leash.

Despite its supernatural leanings, one of which involves killing creepy-looking demons, the Jiu Jiu manga is not a shonen battle manga. Rather, it is decidedly shojo. This is a love story, one that is filled with both cutesy drawings of dogs and with tumultuous emotions.

What makes this first volume of Jiu Jiu successful is that creator Touya Tobina does not make anything easy for her characters. To understand one another, each character must first understand his or her own motivations and also be honest with herself (or himself). Denial, dishonesty, and selfishness can have dire consequences, as this volume’s last chapter, entitled “Jiu Jiu,” depicts.

To fully enjoy this story, the reader can engage the text in a literal fashion. The full implications of the story, however, can be grasped by opening up the imagination to the impressions (such as lust and want) that a reader may find in the visual narrative, which means feeling the wild sensations that the graphics are trying to convey. Obviously, I like Jiu Jiu; in fact, I’m ready to go off the leash for it.

A-

Psyren: Visions

I read Psyren, Vol. 5

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin (which has free smart phone apps and comics).

I'm Going to Read July 2012

Welcome to July 2012.  Welcome to I Reads You, my blog about the things I read: mostly comic books, comics, and related books. Sometimes, I’ll write about or link to other topics: typically books, politics, and entertainment.  This month I hope to finally finish reading Love and Rockets: New Stories #4.

I’m Leroy Douresseaux, and I have another blog: http://www.negromancer.com/. I also write for the Comic Book Bin (which also has smart phones apps and comics).

All images and text appearing on this blog are copyright © and/or trademark their respective owners.

House of Five Leaves: Sei the Drifter

I read House of Five Leaves, Vol. 7

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin (which has free comics).

Titan Publishing Launches "The Walking Dead" Magazine This Fall

The Walking Dead Magazine – Coming Soon

Titan Magazines and Skybound are pleased to announce the launch of The Walking Dead, The Official Magazine, based on Robert Kirkman's Eisner Award-winning comic book series, best-selling graphic novels and Emmy-winning AMC television series based upon them.

Following its transition from groundbreaking comic book to the highest-rated basic cable drama of all time, The Walking Dead has cemented its status, not only as a phenomenon with the wildly diverging fans of horror and of character-driven drama, but as a milestone in quality, mainstream television.

Robert Kirkman, creator/writer of The Walking Dead, debuted the groundbreaking Skybound/Image comic in 2003. In 2010, AMC debuted the hit television series, The Walking Dead, based upon the comic series. The television series became the highest-rated original basic cable drama of all time and an international success in 120 countries and 250 million homes, and counting. In 2011, The Walking Dead graphic novels were the best-selling graphic novels of the year. Now, in 2012, Titan Publishing/Skybound and AMC bring you The Walking Dead, The Official Magazine to answer the burning questions insatiable zombie-loving fans have about the Emmy-winning television show, comics and graphic novels.

The Walking Dead, The Official Magazine will feature an inside look at the comic and show as only a fully sanctioned quarterly can. No one will get more exclusives than this magazine. Get exclusive access to the most successful television adaptation of a comic ever, including in-depth interviews Kirkman, Executive Producer/Writer on the show; Glen Mazzara, Showrunner/ Executive Producer/Writer of the series and David Alpert, Executive Producer of the series. That's not all, readers will hear from all of the leads on the hit TV show beginning with Andrew Lincoln, who stars as Rick Grimes; Sarah Wayne Callies, who stars as Lori Grimes, and Jon Bernthal, who played fan-favorite bad boyShane.

To get behind-the-scenes on the set with co-Executive Producer Greg Nicotero and see how he creates the greatest on-screen zombies ever, fans should read The Walking Dead, The Official Magazine. The only way into the closed door writers’ room to learn about the scripting process lies within the magazine’s pages. Fans will also get the opportunity toask Kirkman what's coming up in future issues of The Walking Dead, or find out how the series artist Charlie Adlard keeps up with the fast pace of the monthly comic so brilliantly.

The Walking Dead, The Official Magazine debuts on October 23 with 100 pages of all access, no holds barred zombie festing and feasting. With all the latest news, revelations and tips for fans of the television show and the graphic novels. Get it, read it or be the last to know all the exclusive scoops for every incarnation of The Walking Dead.

Issue #1 of The Walking Dead, The Official Magazine comes with an alternative cover featuring an exclusive, colored zombie scene by The Walking Dead comic artist, Charlie Adlard. This alternative collector’s edition is only available through comic stores. Retailers can order via August Diamond PREVIEWS.

Robert Kirkman commented, "This magazine will be your one stop destination for all the news pertaining to the comic, TV show, video game, toys, games, and whatever else exists in the ever-expanding Walking Dead universe! If it's happening, you'll find out all about it right here!"

Nick Landau, Titan Publisher, added: “We're very excited to be publishing the quarterly The Walking Dead Magazine with Robert Kirkman and Skybound, which will be a once in a lifetime opportunity for fans to get unlimited access to the show and comic."

Fans of the show are urged to join The Walking Dead, The Official Magazine on Twitter and Facebook to keep up to date with exclusive developments and deals. The magazine is currently offering fans a special pre-order subscription saving 20% off the newsstand cover price! – click here

The Walking Dead, The Official Magazine issue #1 will be available on newsstands and in specialty comic book stores in the US on October 23, in the UK on November 8 and Australia & New Zealand on December 18.

For more information on The Walking Dead, The Official Magazine visit: http://titanmagazines.com/t/the-walking-dead/


About Robert Kirkman
Robert Kirkman's success and passionate advocacy for creator-owned comics led him to before the first person invited to become a partner at Image Comics since the company's inception twenty years ago and he formed his own imprint there, Skybound, in 2010. Kirkman is the creator/writer of the Eisner Award-winning The Walking Dead, long-running Invincible, all-ages Super Dinosaur, The Astounding Wolf-Man, and new title Thief of Thieves, among many others. Kirkman has earned the respect of the comic, writing and television communities and topped the New York Times bestseller list for graphic novels in 2011 and in April 2012, he took the top five spots on both the hardcover and paperback lists. He's the creator/executive producer and writer of the hit television show, AMC's The Walking Dead, the highest-rated basic cable drama of all time in the U.S, also an international success in 120 countries and 250 million households. AMC is developingThief of Thieves as a potential series with Kirkman serving as creator/executive producer and writer. http://www.skybound.com/ is your destination for all news and merchandise for Robert Kirkman, The Walking Dead and all Skybound titles.

For more information, visit: http://www.skybound.com/

About The Walking Dead, The Official Magazine
Published by Titan Magazines and Skybound, The Walking Dead, The Official Magazine will be a complete, in-depth guide to The Walking Dead, giving fans of the TV series and comics full access to the show and its creators. Featuring exclusive interviews with the cast, past and present, full access to the sets, detailed reports bringing fans up close to the filming, and uncensored behind-the-scenes features about the making of the series, The Walking Dead Magazine is a must-have companion for fans.

Each quarterly 100-page edition also includes the latest revelations from The Walking Dead comic team, including interviews with the creators and features showcasing the creative process behind the art. Plus, The Walking Dead creator and writer/executive producer for the show, Robert Kirkman, reveals the latest news from the set and answers fans’ questions.

Issue #1 will be available on newsstands and in specialty comic book stores in the US from October 23, UK from November 8 and Australia & New Zealand from December 18.

For more information on The Walking Dead, The Official Magazine visit: http://titanmagazines.com/t/the-walking-dead/


Connect with The Walking Dead, The Official Magazine:
Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/TheWalkingDeadMagazine
Twitter - http://twitter.com/walkingdeadmag

For more information on Skybound, visit: http://www.skybound.com/

About Titan Magazines
Titan Magazines is the largest and most experienced publisher of licensed entertainment magazines and comics in the US, Canada, UK, Australia and New Zealand.

Licensing partners include: Aardman - ABC - BBC - Bongo - CBS - DC - Disney -Hasbro -LucasFilm - MGM - NBC - Nickelodeon - Paramount - Twentieth Century Fox - WWE - Mattel

For more information, visit: http://titanmagazines.com/

About The Walking Dead (TV series)
The Walking Dead is an American post-apocalyptic drama television series developed for television by Frank Darabont. It is based on the comic book series The Walking Dead by Robert Kirkman.

The series stars Andrew Lincoln as sheriff's deputy Rick Grimes who wakes up after being in a coma to find the world dominated by "walkers". He sets out to find his family and other survivors along the way.

For more information, visit: http://www.amctv.com/shows/the-walking-dead

Sakura Hime: Princess Yuri Wants Your Man

I read Sakura Hime: The Legend of Princess Sakura , Vol. 8

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin (which has free comics).

I Reads You Review: YOUNG JUSTICE #17

YOUNG JUSTICE #17
DC COMICS

WRITERS: Kevin Hopps and Greg Weisman
ART: Christopher Jones
COLORS: Zac Atkinson
LETTERS: Dezi Sienty
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S.

Rated “E” for “Everyone”

“Young Justice” is an animated superhero television series currently airing on Cartoon Network (after debuting in 2010). Although it shares a name with the comic book series, “Young Justice” (published by DC Comics in the late 1990s and early 2000s), the television series uses characters and situations from the entire DC Universe.

“Young Justice” focuses on the lives and adventures of the sidekicks and protégés of some of DC Comics’ biggest superheroes, which includes such young heroes as Artemis (Green Arrow), Robin, and Aqualad, among others. DC Comics is publishing a comic book adaptation of “Young Justice,” also entitled Young Justice.

Young Justice #17 (“Uncommon Denominators”) continues from #16. Batman and Robin, Flash and Kid Flash, and Green Arrow and Artemis take on Lord Naga-Naga also known as Kobra. Kobra, whose real name is Jeffrey Burr, has kidnapped his fraternal twin brother, Jason, in order to use him for a mystical rite that will create a giant cobra. While the adult heroes race off to stop the giant cobra from destroy Minneapolis, Robin, Kid Flash and Artemis take on Kobra Cultists and siblings, Mammoth and Shimmer. But Kobra’s dangerous mumbo-jumbo doesn’t stop with a giant cobra.

I can mostly say the same thing about Young Justice #17 that I said about issue #16. The art by Christopher Jones (pencils and inks) and Zac Atkinson (colors) is pretty. The compositions and page design are also good. The storytelling is excellent; it just makes my eyes want to follow the flow of the narrative and keep going back for second looks.

The story by Kevin Hopps and Greg Weismann, who are also writers on the “Young Justice” TV series, is the same as it was the last issue. It’s light on drama and emphasizes action and superhero fights. Nothing against Hobbs and Weismann, but this is a comic book and the storytelling strength is in the art… exceptionally so.

B+