Yaya? Who's that, I'm Nana!

[azurite]

Dammit, I've fallen for a new manga. It's called "Othello," but don't be fooled-- it's about a too-submissive girl who has so-called friends that treat her poorly. As a result, she has another "self" that comes out-- Nana, the take-no-prisoners, kick-ass, justice-dealing Loli cosplayer. You can see why I like this, yes? It's got elements of Peach Girl, any shoujo-heroine manga, and countless others-- all in one manga! Plus there's the hot hero who is clueless! I'll have to grab it on my next Borders run. Also the following:
* Hot Gimmick 4 (Blue, Shinogu)
* xxxHolic 2 and 3
* Tsubasa 2
* Sensual Phrase
* And probably some others I'm forgetting... but I'm wondering Tokyopop, what is up with you, these days? Is X-Day ever going to be finished? Are you ever going to number Peach Girl correctly? Is that CLAMP title "Legend of Chou Hyang" (I probably butchered that) also a one-shot?

Anyway, in other happy purchase news, I went to WaMu today and set up an account... the woman who helped me, Farrah, was very nice, prompt, and clear. I actually got PAPERWORK in return, which was a first! I withdrew $100 and headed to DSW-- lo and behold, my boots...?!

No, not my boots. Same location, same brand, same style even, but they'd changed sizes. -_o HRM! So I did something very sneaky and bad and switched it with the full-price ones up front. That is, I switched the clearance (30% off) 55.00 ones for the $79.90 ones. I switched the green clearance tags on the bottom of the boot and side of the box, but the bar code on the side of the box was too sticky to move. But the cashier didn't check, and I scored! Tommy Hilfiger knee-high black leather boots, size 6-- only $55! ^_^

I also snagged those Diba lace-up purple sandals to go with my Emmy costume (gold and purple accent each other well!)- but the heels are pretty tottery, and I need hose and possibly some "sock glue" to hold them up come Halloween.

I've figured out why I've missed all my old "usual" WB shows-- since my initiation into cable-land, I've been watching shows like Stargate SG-1 on Mondays for hours, and Proof Positive and Ghost Hunters on Wednesdays. *grin* If I stay up late enough, I catch whatever's on Cartoon Network, which ranges from anime (Inuyasha, Wolf's Rain) to the random and bizarre (Futurama, Family Guy, Aqua Teen Hunger Force). And you know what? I can't bring myself to care anymore. They supposedly killed off Chloe, my favorite character, separated Lana and Clark, broke off Lex and Clark WAAAY too soon, and also introduced Lois (admittedly, an interesting plot element) WAAAAAY too soon. So... I'm just not interested. But what about Alias!?!?!? It's not coming back until January. ;_;

SHOUJO FANS, ATTENTION! I want you to go here, read the article, and tell me what you think. Agree, disagree? I'd like to write a contrasting/disagree article to send after the fact, but I'd like some supporting testimony from YOU first!

And now, if the shoujo fans are still reading, anyone wanna point me toward some good Hot Gimmick fanfiction? Because if I can't find any, I'll start writing, and if I start writing, I might get out of YGO. ;_;

Anyway, I'm getting a bit tired, but if I go to sleep now, I'll wake up early enough to have a good breakfast and do some studying for math. This weekend I *have* to get working on my Chapter 5 math assignments and notes, and most definitely work on my CAD drawings. *yawn* But I'm so tired...

Final note? I did get to see Grace, which ended up being the highlight of my day. I met her at Borders and we mall-trolled for a while. Had dinner and a Cinnabon with her too, and parted ways just after 7:45 or so, and I came home in time for TV and some cute TMs from Scott. Today's a good day, I guess...

I'm pretty tired.

Comments

[kitesareevil.livejournal.com]

Not only is that article completely and totally...biased, its also using YUU WATASE as a point for saying that there are strong female leads! Yes, I love Watase, but COME ON. Any moron can see that her "strong female" needs to be protected by the men surrounding them! I think Alice 19th and Imadoki have strayed from this a bit, but Fushigi Yuugi? Ceres? HA! Touya anyone?

Another thing is that no matter how many women you ask, you'll find that they all like to be around the 'dangerous' guy. I ain't saying its right...but lets be reasonable. Danger is a turn on, so that's why dangerous men are a turn on.

And has this person ever read a romance novel?! At least Shoujo Manga is only about 15% of Hot Gimick, while romance is almost ALL Hot Gimick.

Plus, in Hana Yori Dango, if I remember correctly, that girl (who's name escapes me) practically makes the guys beg forgiveness. She gives them EVERYTHING they give her, her most embarassing things are usually done by the girls in the series as far as I've seen. I may not agree with her like Domiyoji, because he is such an ass and thinks she should bow to him, but she DOESN'T bow to him. And I know I've been in a situation where a person and I were at odds with each other and then something happens, usually nothing big, and suddenly BOOM, we're friends. It happens.

I ain't saying they're wrong, I definitly see the need for stronger female characters who roll over in their grave, but why don't they take their anger on OLDER women who write romance novels and encourage this. Romance is one of the highest sales in Waldenbooks, manga is only about 10% of our sales, Romance is somewhere near 20-25%. Yes, manga does appeal to younger teens, but romance novels appeal to women ages 10-110, because I see all those ages buying them. You don't see that with manga.

Whew, I think I'm done now. *grins

[psyjoe-dilandau.livejournal.com]

Good to hear that Grace is still, well... ALIVE. Ha ha! Oy... Say hello for when you see her again.

And yes, Lois is introduced way to early in the series. Personally I don't think she should be in it at all since it is supposed to be about just the town of Smallville.

As for the shoujo article, I haven't noticed any of these near hentai style male dominating ones. Mostly the ones I know of are when it's the girl who's all obsessive about getting the friendship/relationship started. But I'm not all that surprised considering that Japan is more of a male dominated/non-women's lib society than America. Maybe it's because hentai is seeping its way into shoujo, which is kind of a shame really because it lessens the amount of actual female oriented stories and makes them more into creepy BDSM hentai, of which there is way too much of already.

Back to the City

[azurite]

She's going to back to SF at the end of the month, for someone that's going to yaoicon, but I don't think she's going herself... ;_; Still, I'm sure you know how to look her up if you wanna find her.

I personally think the article was contaminated with a severe women's lib. bias-- not that that's a bad thing; it's just that in terms of Japanese society and manga styles, the girls are younger, fall harder, and tend to be a bit more trustworthy. I've noticed that the whole "breaking free" grrl-power'd manga are actually quite new. The older heroines with serious flaws (and therefore, reasons why fans don't like her, the main heroine, as much) tend to be the ones most attacked for being so transparent. I know I could cite examples older than Sailor Moon, but she was my fandom/anime initiate, so people look at her and see a weak, crybaby who falls for the first masked hero she gets her eyes on. I see an insecure fourteen year old thrust into a position she probably doesn't want nor is ready for, a destny she isn't sure she wants to accept, and a tormentor who actually ends up being someone special to her.

o_O Maybe that's my own personal swing on things?

[hushpuppie-.livejournal.com]

"Othello." I may have to get into purely because of the title. But after I get to read more FAKE, Utena and Chobits. I need to finish one manga before starting more, dammit!

And...as for the article. I wish I'm generally more of shounen person who's just started to get into shoujo, so...I'm afraid I can't be much help.

More manga, more manga

[azurite]

I find that most series these days tend to be pretty long... not sure about Fake or Utena, but I know Chobits is what, 13 volumes or more? Sometimes it's helpful to get into multiple manga at the same time, especially if one can tide you over while you wait for the other volume of the first one... *grin*

Re: More manga, more manga

[hushpuppie-.livejournal.com]

Ah! This is true. However, I just started all three of the above-mentioned mangas (on volume 1 of Fake and Chobits, volume 3 of Utena), so...I'd like to at least be somewhat "into" them before I start anything else. ^_^;;

-weird0-

Re: More manga, more manga

[azurite]

Very good point you make, yes, yes... three manga is a bucketload, and I have a bad habit of forgetting about some of my obsessions until I'm already 5 volumes behind. On the bright side, you already have all of Chobits, and I'm sure at least 2 vols. of FAKE out on the market already. Even if you don't have the cash to buy them, most Borders carry them so you can park yourself in the cafe with a few copies of manga, a good cookie, a cocoa, and tah-dah! The perfect evening.

<-- dweeb.

Re: More manga, more manga

[hushpuppie-.livejournal.com]

Even if you don't have the cash to buy them, most Borders carry them so you can park yourself in the cafe with a few copies of manga, a good cookie, a cocoa, and tah-dah! The perfect evening.

HEE. Yes! :D I knew there was a reason I love you.

Re: More manga, more manga

[azurite]

*turns red* Ehehe... Great minds think alike?

Chloe is not dead *spoiler*

[cutieme4u.livejournal.com]

Okay, admittedly I don't follow Smallville but I did catch the last 15 minutes or so of the season premiere, just because I wanted to see what Lois would look like and at the very end Clark sees through the ground to Chloe's coffin and *shock* it's empty. Actually, it wasn't that big a shock to me since I didn't know what was going on and I was just plain confused. And that's where the show ended and I haven't watched the show since then, so no more spoilers. ;)

Darn you TokyoPop!! *shakes fist*

[starrienite.livejournal.com]

i know exACTly what you mean!!! I've been waiting for EONS to see when they're gonna put out the last volume of INVU!! *mutters* will it ever be published? will i get to see what happens!? I DON'T KNOW! will i ever know? WHO KNOWS! Oh the pain THE PAIN and the anguish...OH the ANGUISH! *falls over*
*ahem* Anyway, ive even tried writing and ENQUIRY to them. But did they respond? Nooo. They even have a new manga by the author on the site coming out. But still, no word on INVU *sigh* oh its a tangled world we live in *wallows in self pity*
Anyhoo - hope all is fantabulous with you dear (apart from Tokyo pop being cruel *mutters*) catch ya laters!! ^_______^v *squidge*

Re: Darn you TokyoPop!! *shakes fist*

[azurite]

Oh gawd, I forgot about INVU, too! What's the new manga by the same artist, though? And maybe if we all write in big bunches, we can find out what's up with TP!

Re: Darn you TokyoPop!! *shakes fist*

[starrienite.livejournal.com]

UHm...The Queen's Knight? It looks good too! *note to self - remember to buy when it comes out* And yeh! We should do like, some mega petition thing! WOOT!