Manga Review: Ayako by Osamu Tezuka Osamu Tezuka is best known in the United States for his early children’s manga and their subsequent animated adaptations like “Astro Boy” and “Kimba the White Lion.” But later in his prolific career, he also produced quite a few works for more mature readers, such as “MW” and “Ode… Continue reading Manga Review: Ayako
Category: manga
Manga Review: A*Tomcat
Manga Review: A*Tomcat by Osamu Tezuka A perennial comic book idea is animal versions of previously created superheroes, such as Hoppy, the Marvel Bunny for Captain Marvel. It turns out that manga creators can do it too. Back in the 1950s, Osamu Tezuka created Tetsuwan Atom (“Mighty Atom”), the story of a super-powered robot that looked… Continue reading Manga Review: A*Tomcat
Manga Review: Vagabond Volume 1
Manga Review: Vagabond Volume 1 by Takehiko Inoue Miyamoto Musashi, author of A Book of Five Rings, was one of the greatest swordsmen of his time (the 1600s) and something of a warrior-philosopher. He’s become a legendary figure, and there have been many fictional accounts of his life in Japanese media. The most influential of these… Continue reading Manga Review: Vagabond Volume 1
Interview: Arijan Clark
Interview: Arijan Clark Welcome to a new feature here at SKJAM! Reviews, interviews with the people behind the media. Today, we’re talking to Arijan Clark, the translator of Volume Three of “Anesthesiologist Hana“, previously reviewed on this blog. S. Could you tell us a little bit about yourself? A. My name is Arijan Clark, and… Continue reading Interview: Arijan Clark
Manga Review: HeroMan Volume 1
Manga Review: HeroMan Volume 1 by Tamon Ohta and BONES, from a concept by Stan Lee. Joey Jones is a young orphan living with his grandmother in Center City, California. He’s a sweet kid in a bad situation, who has to hold down a part-time job to help with the bills and can’t afford nice… Continue reading Manga Review: HeroMan Volume 1
Manga Review: The Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service
Manga Review: The Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service by Eiji Otsuka & Housui Yamazaki. Five students at a Buddhist college discover that each of them has a talent or skill relating to death. The corpse that brings about this revelation is restless, and they help it find peace. In exchange it wills them just enough money… Continue reading Manga Review: The Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service
Manga Review: Anesthesiologist Hana
Manga Review: Anesthesiologist Hana by Hakua Nakao and Kappei Matsumoto One of the manga genres that doesn’t get a lot of press in the US is “work manga”. These are more realistic looks at an unusual career, showing the day-to-day life and challenges, as well as what it takes to get and keep the job.… Continue reading Manga Review: Anesthesiologist Hana
Manga Review: Ninja Papa
Manga Review: Ninja Papa by Yasuhito Yamamoto. Nobuo Matsuri is a typical Japanese salaryman (office worker.) At thirty-two, he’s got a low-paying dead-end job at a second-rate food company, an incompetent boss who treats him like dirt, a heavily-mortgaged home and a nagging mother-in-law who never hesitates to point out all the many ways in… Continue reading Manga Review: Ninja Papa
Manga Review: Shonen Jump Alpha
Manga Review: Shonen Jump Alpha Let’s start with something hefty, shall we? Shounen Jump is the #1 manga anthology magazine in Japan, selling in the millions of copies. Its emphasis on the themes of “friendship, struggle, victory!” have made it a favorite of both its primary demographic of teenage boys (“shounen”) and the general public.… Continue reading Manga Review: Shonen Jump Alpha