How much does John Jakala love Japanese Spider-Man? He counts the ways in his latest Sporadic Sequential post, and he finds much to love. (Japanese Spidey image lifted straight from John’s blog but probably (c) someone else.)
Scott VonSchilling reposts an earlier article about moe at Anime Almanac, and he has an interesting interpretation that makes it seem a bit less creepy:
So then why the sudden attraction to Moé? Is it a sign of pedophilia?
Hell no, I say it’s the longing for fatherhood. That the last statistic in that article proves it. “Unmarried males in their 30s account for the majority of the moe market.” When you’re a Japanese salary man working for over decade in an exhausting job, what do you have to show for it? What’s the purpose in your life? Well, if you’re not married and don’t have a family… I don’t really think you have much going for you. So yeah, they’re seeing that window of fatherhood slowly closing on them, and it makes them long for it more.
PWCW is hosting a 12-page preview of Astro Boy, which Dark Horse is publishing in a new, larger, two-volumes-in-one format starting this month.
Ed Chavez lists the manga in the September Previews (shipping in November and December) at MangaCast.
The Manga Recon team discusses the pros and cons of Tokyopop’s revamped website.
Digital Manga opened its Yaoi Club online store this week, and Lissa Pattillo takes it for a test drive at Kuriousity.
Heading for NYAF? Maybe you can draw your way in for free. Suvudu is having an interesting contest: submit a manga-style self-portrait and a photo of yourself for comparison purposes. Each of the four grand prize winners gets two passes to NYAF plus three volumes of Del Rey manga.
News from Japan: Treehugger reports on the environmentally conscious International Manga Summit in Kyoto.
Oh, and before we get to the reviews, here’s a website that those who still fear the LHC may want to add to their RSS feeds. (Via comments at The Beat. Be sure to view the source code.)
Reviews: Alex Hoffman takes a look at vol. 1 of Rosario + Vampire and vol. 1 of Song of the Hanging Sky at Manga Widget. Erin F. examines her love-hate relationship with vols. 2-6 of S.A. at PopCultureShock’s Manga Recon blog. Leroy Douresseaux enjoys vol. 16 of Dr. Slump at The Comic Book Bin. Connie reads vol. 17 of One Piece and vol. 14 of Skip Beat at Slightly Biased Manga. Tangognat enjoys vols. 1 and 2 of Forest of Gray City. Julie reviews vol. 2 of Dance in the Vampire Bund at the Manga Maniac Cafe. Noah Berlatsky discusses one single scene from vol. 5 of Nana at The Hooded Utilitarian. Tucker Stone deals with his Nana and Parasyte jones at comiXology. Matthew Brady reads the October issue of Shojo Beat at Warren Peace Sings the Blues. (Last three links via Journalista.) Holly Ellingwood reviews vol. 1 of Clear Skies! at Active Anime. Dan Polley reads vol. 2 of I, Otaku at Comics Village.
Check out the source code of that LHC page for some added comedy. ^_^
It wouldn’t be hard to argue that Scott’s viewpoint only makes moe MORE creepy— considering how many of those men spend money on sexy figures and pornographic doujinshi of their so-called “daughters.” *coughs* =P
That said, I don’t think he’s entirely off-base: I’ve long said that there is a certain element to “moe” that the girls inspire a desire to protect and care for them. However, I think this is designed to play more to millenia-old instincts about being strong and a provider in order to attract a mate more than to play to fatherly instincts per se (although those instincts to protect one’s offspring are tangentially related, of course).
The young appearance of moe girls is more about looking innocent and in need of protection than necessarily about looking young— although that exact innocence is often a factor in pedophilia, as well.
The line! It blurs!
It wouldn’t be hard to argue that Scott’s viewpoint only makes moe MORE creepy– considering how many of those men spend money on sexy figures and pornographic doujinshi of their so-called “daughters.” *coughs* =P
Gia: I was thinking exactly the same thing. It’s not like the genre isn’t super-sexualized.
News from Japan: Treehugger reports on the environmentally conscious International Manga Summit in Kyoto
Ha! Everything has that theme now. Actually the real theme for this year’s summit that rotates amongst 5 East Asian nations was food culture. Really wasnt an event for non-artists to attend though. Big socializer, networking gig with a lot of eating.