Coal For Your Manga Stocking

When the call went out for a Great Manga Gift Guide, Ed Sizemore, the raison d’être for the entire movement in the first place, asked for bloggers to give out a few lumps of “manga coal,” essentially awarding some Razzie style awards to manga that we’ve read over the past year. I, unfortunately, did not comply with this request, mostly because, well, I was so exhausted. Gift guides are hard work!

(Speaking of gift guides, I did this last year before it got popular. Check out my 2008 Christmas Gift Guide here!)

So, now that the Gift Guide has been published, it’s time to get to the coal. Consider this post a guide of manga you shouldn’t buy your loved ones for the holidays. Or yourself, either.

Again, my opinions, and any release year, not just this one.

For the Bad Girls

Magic Touch
I’ve chronicled my distaste for this manga in a recent MangaVillage review, but this series is beyond bad. The premise is awful, the characters are stagnant, and even the good plot lines are fumbled. The only redeeming quality is the art, and some of the pacing, but for the most part, this is a series to avoid at all costs. Maybe if no-one buys it, Viz will cancel it and spend their capital on better licenses.

07-Ghost
Another stinker, this one for its pandering characters and confusing plot lines. Apparently, this was based off of an anime, so fans of the show apparently get what happens in the first volume. I sure as hell didn’t. What I did get was that this was not a series for me, and moreover, not a series worth reading.

Kieli
I disliked Kieli enough to give it a failing grade, and the reason is pretty obvious – it tries to be cute and cuddly, but then gets all Sixth Sense on your ass. Normally, this would be one of those moments that I’d claim the series was brilliant, but unlike any of the works of Housui Yamazaki, this manga has terrible writing.

For the Bad Boys

Reborn!
While I haven’t reviewed it yet, my review of the first 5 volumes is coming down the pipeline soon, and let me tell you, I was surely unimpressed. The jokes are stale, unimaginative past the first volume, and the plot is non-existent. I know that Gag-manga are a bit scatter-brained at times, but wow, this one really needs some amphetamines so it can sit still for half a second. I hear that it eventually becomes a battle manga, which might be interesting, but I’m really just not a fan of the beginning of the series.

I, Otaku: Struggle in Akihabara
Otaku comedy/slife-of-life can be great reading. Genshiken is a prime example of a great otaku comedy – it has identifiable characters, good jokes, and an interesting storyline. I, Otaku has none of that. One of my first negative reviews, this book still holds a place in my heart. A sour, rotten place (probably that same part where waking up on the wrong side of the bed comes from).

Naruto: Second Season
Okay, I realize I’m about to take some severe flak here, but seriously? When did Naruto get so emo? What’s with the giant frog transformations and all that other crap? I preferred the first season tremendously, and I think the series, just like Bleach, has drifted down into mediocrity in the latest volumes. Hate away, Naruto fan-boys.

Got a series you absolutely despised? Let me know in the comments!

EDIT: It was actually David Welsh that sent out the call,and Erica Friedman who spearheaded the project. Without those two, this wouldn’t have been possible. Thanks to Ed for clearing things up for me.

The Great Manga Gift Guide: Widget Style

I don’t really have to reiterate how unfortunate the NY Times Graphic Novel Gift Guide was, or express the manga community’s collective disdain of the A.V. Club’s greatest graphic novels list. This is Thanksgiving Season in the USA, so it’s more appropriate to get ready for the biggest selling weekend all year; Black Friday (or as I like to call it, “Black Sabbath”). To celebrate consumerism and the upcoming celebrations of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Yule, or whatever else you folks out there want to celebrate, I’ve put together a pick list of some of the great manga that’s available to purchase for your friends with “otaku fever.”

This year, I wanted to try and do a “themes” list. So, there aren’t any suggestions for best shojo or best shonen this year, but rather, suggestions for foodies or horror buffs and other categories.

Please note that my list is inclusive of all series, books, and other media currently in and out of print – I did not want to limit myself to this year’s releases. Also know that this list represents my opinion, and not the golden guide to purchasing this season.

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For The Guys and Gals in Tights Fan
You’ve got someone on your list who loves the superhero crowd, but hasn’t gotten into manga yet. Get them jump-started on your favorite breed of comics with these releases.

#1) Akira, Vol. 1; Kodansha Comics: MSRP $24.95 – The comic that turned into the anime that almost literally spawned the anime movement in the US, Akira is a gritty surrealist action manga that has recently been republished by the US wing of Kodansha International, Kodansha Comics.
Akira has enough action and drama to keep you enthralled. This series is a great introduction to the genre for anyone who likes the spandex nation.

#2) Ghost in the Shell, Vol. 1; Kodansha Comics: MSRP $26.99 – The comic that inspired the critically acclaimed, mind-bending anime that blends dystopian future, technology, crime, and politics into a stellar action series.

#3) Lone Wolf and Cub, Vol. 1; Dark Horse Comics: MSRP $9.95 - Masterfully crafted, this series features a ronin samurai and his child who carries a sign: “Son for Hire, Sword for Hire.” This epic Japanese action history is a great read, and great for someone who likes the superhero business.

#4) Gantz, Vol. 1; Dark Horse Comics: MSRP $12.95 – This dark and hyperviolent manga deals with violence, death, and sexuality, and is a bridge for the spandex crowd to the world of seinen manga.

 

For the Independent Soul
These stories are a bit different from your average manga, and definitely capture that “indie” feel. If you’re looking for something just a bit different than what’s out there right now, then start here.

#1) Solanin; Viz Media Signature Line: MSRP $17.99 – A beautifully illustrated, slice-of-life comic that explores growing up and becoming a part of society, or, rather, what happens when you can’t be a part of society.

#2) A Drifting Life; Drawn & Quarterly: MSRP $29.95 -The manga-style autobiography of one of the most influential manga writers, Yoshihiro Tatsumi. The man revolutionized manga in the 1950s by developing the gekiga style of manga – blunt, sometimes traumatic slice-of-life stories that explored the real lives of Japanese citizens after WWII, and the dark underbelly of the booming industrial power that it would become.

#3) Me and the Devil Blues, Vol. 1; Del Rey: MSRP $19.95 – A folktale that bucks the norms of manga and delivers an excellent take on the life of musician Robert Johnson, who overnight became one of the most profound and talented blues guitarists in the 1930’s. An excellent read for blues fans, and for anyone who wants to see a glimpse into the American South in the Great Depression.

 

Instant Classics
These stories have instantly captured the hearts of the manga community. From prestigious writers and artists like Naoki Urasawa, Jiro Taniguchi, and the supergroup CLAMP, these manga have hit the “must read” list for many manga enthusiasts.

#1) Pluto Vol. 1; Viz Media Sig IKKI: MSRP $12.99 – Naoki Urasawa’s re-envisioning of Astro Boy has made a real splash in the US manga market. Insightful, suspenseful, and dramatic, Pluto is the series of 2009.

#2) A Distant Neighborhood Vol. 1; Ponent Mon: MSRP $23.00 – The story of an everyman who steps back in time to relive his childhood with full knowledge of his future by the amazing Jiro Taniguchi.

#3) Clover Omnibus; Dark Horse Comics: MSRP $19.95 – The manga supergroup CLAMP has done plenty of different series, but Clover is probably their most experimental. Dark Horse made this stunning dystopian retro-mechanical masterpiece available in the early spring of 2009, but now’s a great chance to get a copy.

 

Classic Classics
The last group might have been “instant classics,” but these are the actual classics. Word of caution: some of these titles may be hard to find. All are worth your time.

#1) Ode to Kirihito; Vertical Publishing: MSRP $24.95 – Tezuka is the “God of Manga” for a reason, and Ode to Kirihito is an epic adventure that combines medical drama with a powerful examination of racism, guilt, and forgiveness.

#2) Eagle: The Making of an Asian-American President, Vol. 1; Viz Media: When I said some of these might be hard to find, this was the series I had in mind. This political drama is one of Viz Media’s first projects, and it’s an excellent comic. You can find some of the volumes at places like Robert’s Corner Anime Store, and on eBay.

#3) Apollo’s Song; Vertical Publishing: MSRP $19.95 – Another Tezuka masterwork, Apollo’s Song examines the human condition and the power of love. Excellent production values make this a great bookshelf feature.

#4) To Terra, Vol. 1; Vertical Publishing: MSRP $13.95 – Author Takemiya is one of the original female “49ers” and her work is classic and powerful. Vertical presents one of her greatest series, To Terra in this expertly produced, brilliant ride through the stars.

 

Foodie Manga
Everyone loves food, and manga readers are no exception. Get your foodies these comics about food this holiday season.

#1) Yakitate!! Japan, Vol. 1; Viz Media: MSRP $9.99 – This goofy bread-based manga bakes food trivia and baking tips along with over-the-top humor and zany characters into a loaf of devourable comedy.

#2) Oshinbo: Vegetables a la Carte; Viz Media: MSRP $12.99 – Oshinbo is a foodie’s dream – it features Japanese cuisine and tells a story of a writer and his quest to create the ultimate menu. The original manga has been running since 1983, and these ala carte versions show off some of the many episodes of this amazing food manga.

#3) The Antique Bakery, Vol. 1; Digital Manga Publishing: MSRP $12.95 – Featuring some of the best looking sweets ever illustrated, Fumi Yoshinaga’s Antique Bakery is part (gay) love triangle, part baking manga.

 

Comedy
They’re called the funny pages for a reason, and manga proves time and again that it can be just as funny as, well “The Funnies” with these releases.

#1) Crayon Shin-Chan, Vol. 1; CMX Manga: MSRP $7.99 – Imagine a sort of South Park-infused Dennis the Menace, and you kinda get the feel for Crayon Shin-Chan. Bro-humor abounds in this classic humor series.

#2) Yotsuba&!, Vol. 1; Yen Press: MSRP $10.99 – Rediscover the world with a green-haired, four year old with more energy than the Energizer bunny. Yen Press’ recently rereleased the entire series, with brand new translations. The entire series makes a great gift!

#3) Ouran High School Host Club, Vol. 1; Viz Media: MSRP $8.99 – When a poor girl gets mistaken for a guy in one of her private school’s super elite clubs, hilarity ensues.

#4) Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei: The Power of Negative Thinking, Vol. 1; Del Rey Manga: MSRP $10.99 – Satire is just as powerful a comedic form as slapstic, and Sayonara has it in spades.

 

Horror
You know the type – fans of The Ring and Saw can like comic books too. Here are a few manga to tide them over until Saw 57.

#1) MPD Psycho, Vol. 1; Dark Horse Manga: MSRP $10.95 – When a serial killer finds “something special” about a seemingly innocent police detective, he is pushed into a chaotic and evil storm. Less shocking than disturbing, MPD Psycho is the Silence of the Lambs of manga.

#2) The Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service, Vol. 1; Dark Horse Manga: MSRP $10.95 – Dark humor abounds as a group of 5 students and a hand-puppet take on the requests of the dead.

#3) Uzumaki, Vol. 1; Viz Media: MSRP $9.99 – One of the most unsettling manga series in print, Uzumaki
takes a bizarre concept and turns it into the backdrop of a series of increasingly dark vignettes.

 

Sports Fanatics
These comics make excellent gifts for your sports fan who’s in the off-season.

#1) Eyeshield 21, Vol. 1; Viz Media: MSRP $7.99 – Football (the American version) isn’t all that big in Japan, but this manga is what got Japanese youth interested in playing. It’s reached 28 translated volumes already!

#2) My Heavenly Hockey Club, Vol. 1; Del Rey manga: MSRP $10.95 – Hana love eating and sleeping, but somehow gets convinced to join the all-guys hockey team with the promise of hotel resorts and good food. When she can’t play, she gets replaced by a bear? You’ve gotta read it to believe it.

#3) Ninja Baseball Kyuma, Vol. 1; Udon Entertainment: MSRP $7.99 – A comedy of misunderstanding, a young ninja in training is convinced to join the local youth baseball league, but doesn’t understand that baseball isn’t a battlefield! Great for younger kids.

 

Alright, there’s the list. Now get out there and get shopping! Happy Thanksgiving, USA folk. I’ll be back next week with some musings on the SIG IKKI website.

One-Shots in the Western Manga Market and Reader Surveys

Last week, I received the November edition of Yen Plus, and in it was a cute little story by George Alexopoulos called “Prom Night”, a Western independent artist/comics writer who has a nice little web portfolio you can check out. Earlier this year,  Yen Press published a one-shot by Queenie Chan which was surprisingly interesting. These two writers are just a small pinch of the talent out there that’s trying to get work published as independent comics writers.

George’s story reminded me of a little fact – that anthologies, like in Japan, are perfect for one-shots. In Japan, contests exist throughout the year that allow new and aspiring authors get their work into an anthology and have it graded by the readers. Readers pick what they like and what they don’t, and those stories that they end up liking the most oftentimes get turned into long-running manga series. For example, if the readers of Yen Plus liked “Prom Night,” they would be able to vote it up and see what happens. While “Prom Night” is a fairly one-minded short, its characters, who are all cute, awkward, and lovable, could definitely be part of a longer running series.

The question is though – what is the point of a one-shot manga in the US? The publishing world in the West is a lot different than the publishing model in Japan, and making one-shots available to the general reading public isn’t nearly as important if you aren’t going to do anything with them. Showcasing talent is an okay use of space, but I really want to read more of “Prom Night,” and I’m fairly certain that I’m not going to get to.

It interests me that anthologies like Yen Press and Shonen Jump have surveys that have ranking systems like the original anthologies, but I wonder if they use the information they get from the surveys is used to influence publishing decisions. As an aside, the survey in Yen Plus is a page of the anthology that you need to tear out and fill in and mail to Yen Press. It’s pretty flimsy paper (because the anthology is printed on low quality paper) so it doesn’t hold up very well.  It would be a better system if they could get one of the post-card inserts that sells subscriptions to be a survey card. I would definitely fill that out and put it in the mail. Survey postcards would be sweet, but digital works too – give readers a slip to vote in an online poll and offer a small prize (maybe a copy of an upcoming manga release) to a randomly-drawn participant (Viz does this with Shonen Jump, but Yen Press doesn’t do this with Yen Plus).

When Shojo Beat went down, it concerned me that manga anthologies might be going the way of the dodo here in the US, and I think that giving readers a say in what gets published and what gets cut is an essential move for any anthology. If, in some imaginary world, I was a Japanese manga reader and the Japanese version of Yen Plus released “Prom Night,” I could vote on it and know that my votes would count to whether or not it got published again. That’s power for the reader, and it increases the investment that your anthology subscribers have to your brands, as well as your manga licenses.

Getting this to work would require some tabulation and extra work for each publishing team, but the trade-off is a strong idea of the popularity of each series in an anthology within weeks of its publication.The strength of such a series popularity survey is unmeasurable – letting readers have a say in what they read is just another way that manga publishers can interact with the community, change their content for the better, and sell more copies.

Kodansha Finally Hopping Into US Market?

Well, this is a shock.

TokyoPop has just announced that Kodansha, one of the large manga publishers in Japan, has denied the renewal of all licenses of properties they own. That means that series like Chobits, Love Hina, GetBackers, and Rave Master have all had their publishing rights returned to Kodansha, and that TokyoPop will no longer be able to publish these series. Plus, any series currently in publication can’t be finished if they’re from Kodansha, which may be a bit of a blow for the indie manga publisher. TokyoPop was looking for some upturn this year, and things were looking pretty good up until now – although, I’m not quite sure what series T-Pop is publishing currently which have to end mid-release.

The one thing this reminds me of, as Brigid astutely points out, is Kodansha pulling its licenses from TokyoPop Germany last year. With Viz’s parent companies buying up two of the major manga and anime publishing companies in Europe, perhaps Kodansha taking back it’s licenses from TokyoPop indicates its final introduction to the US and European markets as a publisher, instead of acting through intermediaries. If that is the case, we should be seeing some sort of proof from the publishing business here soon.

I do feel pretty bad for the folks at T-Pop though. They were just starting to bounce back. Hopefully their new licenses will be able to get them on their feet, and that this setback isn’t too major.

Another Random Twilight Thoughts Post

Twilight comics. Whether or not the manga community is ready to face it or not, they’re coming down from Yen Press. It’s not a terrible business venture. When Stephanie Meyers is selling 1 out of every 7 books sold in the USA, and Hachette, the parent company for Yen Press, owns the publishing rights to her books, it’s easy enough to see the Twilight cash cow getting milked into a comic book.

Some people don’t necessarily like Twilight, and that’s okay. I despise it. I think it’s terrible fan fiction. But, I am willing to accept the fact that even if it is drivel, it’s doing very well for its drivelly self. It’s selling well, and it’s bringing something to the table that I think is very interesting – a fanbase that is rabid for the content. Let’s face it. If you’re a Twilight fan, you love the stuff. ADORE it. You’ve probably read every scrap of writing Stephanie Meyer has put out, seen the movie, bought some stickers, a poster or something. You love it, and you’re probably excited for the upcoming movie.

Why is this important? Because we can transfer that very same fanship onto a work that is a bit different than your average book – it’s a comic book. It’s a graphic novel, a manga, or a manwha. Whatever you want to call it, pictures and speech bubbles will be the latest Twilight craze, and that gives manga producers an opportunity.

Yen Press has the biggest opportunity here – to plug their own shojo and other OEL works, including the fabulous Maximum Ride. It’s even my opinion that they should publish parts of it in Yen Plus – the magazine would SURELY get an increase in numbers, and it will build up tension and excitement for the trade paperback when it hits shelves.

Other manga publishers can hop into the craze as well. If you want to see an explosion of female manga fans, publishers and booksellers need to make a concerted effort to go out of their way and say, “Hey, if you love Twilight, and you liked the Twilight graphic novel, why don’t you try out ‘Pig Bride’ or ‘Kitchen Princess’ or ‘Solanin’?” Manga needs signs pointing to the Twilight book, and an endcap saying “If you liked the Twilight GN, we suggest…” Booksellers have nothing to lose, and much to gain.

If nothing else, Twilight is the next opportunity of manga – the community needs to embrace the opportunity, if not the fiction, and convince its Twilight-loving friends to give this funny backwards Japanese comic a try.

DMP’s Big Gamble

Digital Manga recently announced through press release that its yaoi-publishing imprint, June Manga,  that it would be releasing some of its yaoi titles for early print if they reached a payment window. This prerelease of soon-to-be-released June books could happen as much as a quarter (4 months) earlier than expected.  Johanna at Comics Worth Reading wondered if Paypal is going to be a dealbreaker for the publisher’s book printing, but I have a few thoughts to the contrary.

Doujinshi (fan written manga) written here in the USA is often printed using the exact same methods that DMP has recently decided to act upon, and many other forms of publication do the same. Normally, this is due to a lack of funds to be able to pay the printer to print and bind your comic, role playing manual, or other written work. It’s a bit of a trust game here, because fans of the genre must be willing to advance their money now for a potential payoff that will occur later down the road. On the plus side, it looks as though DMP is going to charge less for the presold books than what you would spend at a regular bookstore.

Paypal shouldn’t be a problem for the publisher, because of the slippery words of the presale agreement. Content that could be bagged under the fund-transferring site’s terms of service (ie pornographic materials) is being sold by DMP, so unless they are careful, they could have those funds frozen. However, I think that with the current wording of the web-a-thon’s sales agreement DMP should be just fine.

Presales initially seem like the company may be weak, but in actuality, I am convinced that DMP is doing something very unique that also happens to be a strong business move. Yaoi is microniche, and by using a prepay web-a-thon, DMP can do something with the information they garner with their presales – what fans want, and what they’re willing to pay for. It comes as no surprise that DMP is looking for better ways to market and make money on their microniche titles. By liscensing and publishing manga that people are dedicated enough to purchase in advance, the June imprint can save money while looking like “the publisher that listens to fans.”

Fanhood is a very interesting thing. Fans are more often than not willing to support industry that takes the time to listen to their wants and needs and respond in a positive manner. DMP has seemed to have realized this, and is taking steps to get a better gauge on what its customers want.

Now, the whole program could flop, and it may take some time before DMP starts to understand the trends and responds accordingly. It also takes a long time for customers to get their material, although if a book doesn’t hit the total dollar value before its time is up, those who preordered will still get the manga a bit early. However, what some people seem to think is a gamble looks more like a solid business venture to me. Time will tell if it works out for DMP.

The Implications of Shojo Beat’s Demise

Well, it’s official; it’s been way too long since I’ve updated my blog, but finals and heavy coursework will do that to you. I’m in finals week here at University, so my free time is going to increase very soon (more time to read manga! yay!!). In the meantime, I have been working hard at www.eyeofthevortexonline.com, and the May edition is finally ready for your viewing pleasure. We’ve got a ton of great features this month, so check it out.

I clicked over to ICv2 earlier this afternoon and was shocked to see that Viz Media is canceling their Shojo Beat anthology magazine in light of economic issues. This disappoints me for a number of reasons, which I’ll get to in a moment, but I think it’s safe to say that overall this is fairly disheartening, especially for anyone that had subscribed to the magazine. I cannot say that I was one of those people, but it’s akin to when Newtype USA was canceled; something you enjoyed every month is now missing.

The most difficult issue with economic downturn is that you start to see what portions of a company’s business are profitable and which aren’t. This normally isn’t a problem, but when the product is something you’ve invested in emotionally, it can get a bit hairy. Viz is traditionally known as a manga publisher with a very strong shonen lineup, including the chart topping Naruto, Bleach, and Black Cat. Their shojo line is also strong, but doesn’t get near the amount of attention that the shonen does.

The strange thing is though, that manga as a whole, is a comic s0ld to women (at least in your major book retailers). Shojo Beat is the heart of the girl’s comics movement, a collection of the “normal” girly magazine stuff with comics specifically written to be enjoyed by girls. And, when most of your bookstore market is the young female audience (who doesn’t have Twilight to distract them this summer), it seems like an inopportune time to cancel the anthology. More appropriately, it would seem, now is the time to give the anthology more press, more promotions, and try to tie it into product lines and get it into the hands of its chosen audience.

In contrast, Shonen Jump has received a lot of tie-ins with other products, giving it some cover recognition in stores, with its Yu-Gi-Oh! cards and other promotions. It also has Saturday morning cartoons to back it up, giving it more eye appeal to the younger crowd. Can we say that for Shojo Beat? Did it ever really get its chance to shine? Or was it more of a background player to the antics of Naruto and his other shonen buddies?

One of Viz’s interesting moves is that they’ve promised to send all Shojo Beat readers a free copy of Shonen Jump, which is well intentioned, but for the most part, seems misguided. The people who enjoy shojo and shonen are completely different, and the subject matter in Shonen Jump is far different from the content of Shojo Beat. You may get a few converts, Viz, but the people that would read both anthologies are probably already doing so anyway.

While I’m sure funds are tight in manga world right now, I don’t know that Viz is doing bad enough that it absolutely needed to cancel Shojo Beat. I’m sure Shojo Beat wasn’t profitable. I’m not actually sure that Shonen Jump is profitable. I think it was probably the right business move.

But as I say this, we see the loss of a very specific, important piece of the manga puzzle. Manga is meant for anthologies, like fish are meant for water.  It has been my joy to subscribe to Yen Plus, and I’m currently looking at Shonen Jump, because I think the anthology is so key to the way manga is written and should be read.  In losing Shojo Jump, we lose a part of that experience, and we lose a quality publication which has inspired and entertained consumers since it was originally published.

Viz has promised to continue the series in the magazine through their paperback manga volumes, but the effect is certainly not the same.  It seems like such a tragedy that such an important portion of the manga industry in Japan is so lacking here in the USA, and the loss of Shojo Beat further removes manga from its traditional format here.

April Edition of Eye of the Vortex

I’m not sure how much press this is getting, but the April edition of Eye of the Vortex is available to download or view on Issuu, at this link right here. This month, I go over an old review with The Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service and check out Yen Press’ Black God. We’ve also got game suggestions, reviews of some new suppliments for White Wolf Entertainment’s World of Darkness d10 system, as well as a look at Privateer Press’ new collectible miniatures game Monsterpocalypse. It’s an excellent edition, and I hope you will all take the time to look at it.

Expanding the Collection During Recession

Wow, it’s been a while!

In these uncertain economic times, everyone has had to cut back; this especially true for comic connoisseurs like manga fans, especially those who follow more than one series at a time. It’s almost impossible for me to purchase books for all the series I follow as soon as they come out, and there are plenty of manga that I’ve yet to be able to read.

My solution? eBay.

eBay is great place to buy manga; despite all the nasty things that you typically hear about the place, and the people selling you their books, the fact remains that eBay is one of the easiest ways to get your hands on multiple books for cheap, esepcially if they’re older series. However, bidder be warned, eBay is full of tricks, and auctions you want to steer clear of. Here are a few of my tips to help you save money and still keep up your manga obsession this spring.

1) First thing’s first; look at the books. If you type manga into the search bar at eBay, you will undoubtedly see all sorts of neat things, half of which, of course, are not manga. They may be posters, tea cozies, dog t-shirts, buttons, cosplay clothing, figures, and all other manner of otaku based goods, but they aren’t the comics you’re looking for. Make sure you filter your search so that you only end up looking at books. It’ll keep you away from anything tempting that would impede upon your manga budget.

2) Stay away from single books. Most sellers are going to try and sell you a book and make you think it’s a good deal; they post the initial price of the first bid at around 3.50. You think you’re getting a good deal, but take a bit of a closer look. They’re probably charging you $5+ for shipping, which can make it even more expensive than the book was originally, if you’re purchasing one of Viz’s 7.99 books. Be careful not to get charged by these tricksters. (If you’re looking for individual books, check out the Amazon or Border’s Marketplace for used copies that cost you around 4.50 (with shipping included).

3) Check out the big lot offers. Sometimes, you’ll have fans clearing out sections of their libraries to make room for more manga, and they’ll sell a large quantity of books in one fell swoop. These situations are key, and recognizing the deals when you see them might be tricky. You’ll look at a lot of 40 books for 50 dollars plus 12 dollars shipping. At first, that seems expensive, but do the math. $62 for that lot means you end up paying approximately $1.55 per book. That amount of money could only probably buy you 5 books at the local Barnes and Noble.

4) Stay away from Buy It Now. The caveat to my previous statement are the Buy It Now auctions. Many of these auctions are for entire sets of manga, but they sell the books at list price. If you look at them carefully, you’ll see they even charge extra for the shipping, so you’re ending up doing worse than you would if you went to the store and bought them. That’s not the point of using eBay.

5) Don’t be afraid of auctions that contain books you already own. Especially if the auction has a lot of books you want, but a few you already own, take a chance on it. You can always sell those books back on eBay, give them to your local library, or give them to friends. Extra copies of xxxHolic make great presents for your otaku friends.

6) Don’t spend more than you want to. Your manga budget is important. Don’t get sucked into the hyper-aggressive oneupmanship of heavy bidding right before the item ends. If the lot goes above your budget, forget it, even if it has some amazing stuff in it. That doesn’t matter. You’re trying to save money here, not throw it around. Be patient, and you’ll get some amazing deals.

Hopefully these tips have helped – even if you don’t decide to bid on manga on ebay, remember that, it’s always on display, and you can wait for that special deal just for you. With patience, and if you tone down your desire to get new manga immediately, you’ll be able to save a lot of money without that much work.

March Edition of Eye of the Vortex Released

I’ve been kind of quiet lately, and hopefully that will change soon, but in the meantime, Eye of the Vortex Online has released the March edition of our online magazine, and it features comics that don’t need spandex (a great little list of some pretty amazing comics) and my review of Toto! volume 1, published by Del Rey.

I’d be super stoked if you checked it out!