Stories for Boys (and Girls)

By: Nadia Oxford
Date: Wednesday, February 21, 2007

The days are getting a bit longer and the cold's breaking for longer periods. Spring's not all that far away. Get your fill of cold winter nights while you can … unless you can't wait for the chill and the dark to shove off. That's valid, too. But wintertime is a great time for books, and an even better time for manga and anime.

Over the past couple of weeks, the Mumbling Kitsune has offered a few reasons to curl up with some decent anime and manga, and even listed some good titles. From action to romance, there's something for everyone. As we conclude the round-up, we'll list some must-see (or must-read) classics.

But first, a few more recommended action titles. There's no shortage of these.

MORE ACTION

Manga, like comics and games, are labeled as a more "boyish" hobby, at least in America. While females certainly like games and manga (hi, how you doin'?) and have plenty of shojo titles to keep them interested, guys seem to prefer plenty of badass fight scenes. And I'll admit it, too; fights can be fun. If you're really looking to pile on the action, you might opt for Korean manhwa.

Utopia's Avenger -- A techno-fantasy manhwa by Oh-se Kwan. The mix of fantasy and technology feels a little unbalanced, but if you're just looking for some cool fights, you can't go wrong with this title. A legendary hero named Gil-Dong returns to the kingdom he founded, only to find it overrun with creeps, thugs and bad people. He rolls up his sleeves, and spring cleaning begins.

Archlord -- Another action manhwa, but with a heavier fantasy theme than Utopia's Avenger. When the legendary knight Leon is betrayed by his best friend, he loses his son and his mystical sword. His son survives and is raised by a reclusive Hermit who's not all he seems to be. Fantasy clichés galore, but a fun and straightforward title nonetheless.

Gyakushu! -- A cold story of revenge by Dan Hipp. The plot follows a nameless thief who reforms and then turns murderous after his peaceful life is shattered by an evil king. The art and story presentation in this title are striking.

CLASSICS

Sometimes you happen across a piece of work that makes you sit up and take notice, regardless of where it came from or what it looks like. These are some of the titles that caught the attention of the American mainstream, including well-known movie critics like Ebert. If you're still not sure if you'll ever be able to give your heart to anime or manga, these are stories that will sway you one way or the other.

The Grave of the Fireflies -- The Grave of the Fireflies is an animated movie about two Japanese orphans who struggle to survive during the tail-end of World War II. What makes it such a memorable title is its focus on the main characters rather than the circumstances surrounding them: Neither the Japanese nor the Americans are made into heroes or demons. Nor does the movie even attempt anything like a happy ending. Seita, the main character, dies alone in a train station in the movie's opening scene.

The Last Unicorn -- The animated take on Peter S Beagle's beloved fairy tale isn't often classified as anime (and the movie initially wasn't released in Japan). But the animation is definitely Japanese in flavour and origin, put together by early members of Miyazaki's Studio Ghibli. The movie is a very faithful adaptation of the book, which tells the story of a unicorn who sets out to find the long-lost members of her species. When she becomes a human to disguise herself from the ferocious Red Bull, a creature trained to round up unicorns, she falls in love with a prince and must choose between him and her immorality.

Just About Anything by Hayao Miyazaki -- All right, that doesn't really narrow it down. But Miyazaki is one of Japan's most renowned directors for a reason. Everything he's come up with is brilliant to at least a mild degree. Not only is he an awesome director, he's also a remarkable artist and writer, and he's an outspoken environmentalist. A common theme in his movies is the exploration of mankind's place alongside nature; his concern for the state of the Earth takes the form of nature-themed monsters and creatures in movies like the Oscar-winning Spirited Away and the critically-acclaimed Nausicaa.

COMEDY

Okay, so you don't want to save the whales or hug a tree. You want to laugh. Some people have a hard time turning to anime and manga for comedy. A lot of Japanese humour tends to be pun-based (which often requires some knowledge of how the language works), or involves pop culture or weird sight-gags. But it's still possible to get a good laugh if you know where to look.

Pantheon High -- Pantheon High might not qualify as "manga" by the strictest sense of the definition (it's written by Paul Benjamin), but it's still a very fun and clever story put together in a satisfyingly compact manga-sized package. Pantheon High is an Academy for demi-gods (offspring of humans and gods from Greek, Norse, and Hindu pantheons) and the subjects studied within aren't exactly conventional. Aside from normal school troubles, the daughter of Tyr and the son of Hades quickly get wrapped up in a plot to revive the World Serpent and have to do what it takes to prevent Ragnarok.

Queens -- Pil-Hyun Jung is a "pretty boy" living under the same roof as his testosterone-driven father (who is a pretty boy in denial of his dainty past). Jung gets plenty of attention from the ladies with his talent for conversation and sewing, but the object of his affections is smitten by the school's ultra-manly star athlete. Heartbroken, Jung begins to apprentice for a manhwa artist who's putting together a story about a pretty boy who becomes a man. Queens' over-the-top art and characters make for a very fun story.

Azumanga Daioh -- You'll be hard pressed to find anyone who hates Azumanga Daioh, regardless of their experience and background with anime and manga. Although it has its goofy and funny moments, Azumanga's stories about a band of schoolgirl friends are very human and down-to-earth. The characters' chemistries compliment each other extremely well, from the airheaded Osaka to the taciturn but soft-hearted Sakaki.

ONE-SHOTS

One of the most intimidating things about manga is the number of volumes an established series can run. More than one prospective fan has blanched at the idea of running a manga marathon from Issue One to Issue Six-skillion. Is there anything good that's a little … tamer?

Popular manga-ka Mitsukazu Mihara specalises in one-shot stories. Her artwork is well-known for its gothic Lolita look, but she's also an excellent storyteller. RIP: Requiem in Phonybrian is the story of an angel who befriends a very unusual undertaker, and IC in a Sunflower is a collection of stories that will definitely satisfy any fan of short jaunts.

The bottom line is, anime and manga is more than triangle faces and watery eyes. Granted, there's plenty of that, and some people love it. But I'm always on the lookout for what's new and interesting, and I enjoy showing others around the fandom. There's so much more to look at and read than what I've listed here, but I hope I've been useful in kicking you out of the nest. Now go and annoy your local comic book vendor.