Has another year gone by already? Wow… When I think about all that’s happened, it feels believable that it’s been a year. But, when I look back at Kuriousity’s archives to a hundred instances of ‘that was how long ago?!’, suddenly the year feels so much shorter.

Did you know Kuriousity had exactly 200 reviews in 2009? Neither did I but I’m amused by it! It was a great year for good books – I’m not a big list maker but I hope all our reviews have done our favourites justice. I love that I’ve had several new faces joining me here on Kuriousity – 2009 saw the addition of Shannon Fay and Andre to our ranks, and just this week we welcome our light novel reviewer, Jaime Samms to the fold as well. Expect lots from all of us in 2010!

Along with reviews there was plenty of big news this year, including lots of fantastic new licensing announcements too long to list. A few of the top entries posted here on Kuriousity in 2009 include Farewell to Viz’s Shojo Beat, Tokyopop Webinar: Part One, YaoiCon 2009 – Digital Manga, There Are Some of My Favourite Things… And Yours? and Omnibus: The New Manga Frontier.

Other notables for me in the past year include lots of Twitter with many other fantastic bloggers who’ve added a whole new level of amazing interaction to my web-surfing days. I’ve also had the opportunity to have a go at one of my dream-jobs when I lettered a few short stories for Yaoi Press’s Happy Yaoi Yum Yum, plus the web comic I flat colour and letter for, Whore of Turfan, reached it’s one year anniversary! I also launched Boys-Luv.com which I hope to expand even more in the coming year.

And what does 2010 hold? A whole lot that’s for sure! You can check out our release schedule for books coming out over the next 12 months with so many amazing new and continuing titles that it will undoubtedly boggle your mind and your wallet (but worth it!). Expect lots more news and reviews here on Kuriousity as we continue to help you fulfill it in this wonderful world of manga :)

In distinctly-not-short, Happy New Year everyone! May it begin fantastically so as to give the rest of the year a solid step in the right direction – see you in 2010!

Image above from Kiyohiko Azuma’s Yotsuba&! (c) Yen Press

Just in time for the New Year, Yamila Abraham – owner of Yaoi Press – has officially launched YaoiProse.com. Available to purchase on this site will be digital light novel-style boys’ love stories complimented by artists and characters familiar to fans of Yaoi Press’s library of current titles.

Their first release is Incubus Master:

“Incubus Master is an erotic ebook written by Yamila Abraham (Winter Demon, Dark Prince) and illustrated by Barbara Apostolico (Cain, Winter Demon).It will be serialized in eight parts over the coming weeks. Each section will have 6,000 to 7,500 words and a color illustration.”

Proceeds from the works purchased on YaoiProse.com will go towards funding future series, including sequels to both KOSEN’s Saihoshi and Yamila’s four-part fantasy series, Dark Prince.

I had the opportunity to read the first part of Incubus Master (my review you can read under the cut) which includes chapters one to three, totaling about 6000 words. It’s enough to feel like a pretty substantial one-sitting read without any hefty time investment. And if you’re in it for the sex scenes then you should be satisfied regardless .

Read more…

Manga-ka: Hidenori Kusaka
Publisher: Viz Media
Rating: All Ages
Release Date: November 2009

Synopsis: “Red is improving rapidly as a Pokémon trainer–and so is his competition. But now Red must team up with his biggest rival Blue and thief Green to defeat a common enemy! And watch out for Team Rocket, Red… They won’t let you into Saffron City!”

In this third volume suddenly Pokemon Adventures starts feeling much less episodic. From the beginning there has always been a continuing plotline, but though each one is connected to the next, they still felt fairly self-contained. All previously present characters return in this book and it’s one long string of events. It includes a number of the classic Pokemon staples – fighting against Team Rocket, rescuing Pokemon and a showdown between Red and Blue tournament-style – but also hits hard with its share of surprises.

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Author: Yuiko Takamura
Manga-ka: An Kanae
Publisher: June
Rating: Mature (18+)
Release Date: April 2008

Synopsis: “Tsukasa Shinozaki is a dutiful secretary, performing above and beyond the call of duty. Yes, Tsukasa has fallen into that time-honored trap of a secretary falling for the boss. When Tsubasa’s boss dumps him for a marriage of status, Tsubasa hooks up with a mysterious man at a bar-under the rule that he not reveal his name. Will Tsubasa ever truly know his Prince Charming?”

After being dumped by his lover and boss in favour of the company president’s daughter, Tsukasa Shinozaki is convinced he has no taste or discretion when it comes to men. When a beautiful stranger hits on him in a hotel bar, Tsukasa can’t help but take the invitation, only to find his new mystery man refuses to reveal his identity. Despite this, he decides to continue the illicit relationship and tries to make himself believe he isn’t falling for his secretive lover. It isn’t until the man makes a surprise appearance at Tsukasa’s job that he finally has to admit he’s fallen. But now that the mystery is over, the relationship doomed to end as well, and Tsukasa resigns himself to another broken heart.

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Author: George Iida
Manga-ka: You Higuri
Publisher: Del Rey
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Release Date: November 2009

Synopsis: “The world is a lonely place for Naoto and Naoya, brothers with amazing psychic powers that set them apart from humanity. Their parents cast them out–and had them imprisoned in an exploitative research center. But after they make a daring escape from the institution, Naoya has a psychic vision of an even greater threat: a deadly plague that threatens the entire world!”

Reading like that paranormal save-the-world movie you’ve probably seen done a dozen times on VHS, Night Head Genesis is a one-dimensional race against time that pits psychics against scientists and two brothers against the world they’re trying to save. Del Rey and You Higuri ensure the visual packaging makes this book a no-brainer on the pick-up-and-flip-through scale but read at all deeper and you’ll find this modern day mystery is as transparent as the cover’s fan service.

Read more…

Joining the other boys’ love publishers offering some spiffy deals this season, the semi-still-new-kid-on-the-block, Yaoi Generation, is offering cheap savings on shipping their books around the world. (via TheYaoiReview)

Until January 1st, all books shipped to Canada and the US will be free of shipping costs. Also for a select other number of countries, all books will be shipped at a flat-rate of $2/US. These countries are Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

Currently the company has released volumes 1-4 of Chifumi Ochi’s breath, an enjoyable mature boys’ love read that I’d recommend to any fan of the genre. YaoiGen offers up quite a few deals throughout the year as well so certainly keep an eye out for future ones in 2010 and the first releases of their next series.

Kuriousity has landed itself in a momentary hiatus the last week - my apologies to readers for the sudden lull! Life has thrown more than its compacted share of curve balls that’s for sure. But rest assured we’ll be back after the holidays with new reviews, news, thoughts on the past year and the introduction of Kuriousity’s newest reviewer!

But until then -

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

May everyone’s days be full of smiling faces, seasonal cheer and good times all around with friends and family :)

If there’s something more fun than reveling in what boys’ love is available now, it’s looking forward to what’s available in the future! Media Blasters – more specifically their imprint Kitty Media – has officially confirmed its March releases, and with a company so short on online resources for publicizing their books (not keen on the Flash-only website interface, MB), I can at least make the information available here. Both titles have also been added to the release schedule. Enjoy!

Synopsis: “Tomoki was specifically requested by Tougo Tsubaki, popular romance novelist to do the illustrations for his novels. Tougo calls it “inspiration“ and seduces Tomoki. A love that started from sex…! His heart is racing and his body is so hot! Drawn to him is a manga artist’s professional and private life, with lots of sex!”

Street Date: 3/24/2010
ISBN 1598835084
Price: $11.99/US – $13.99/CAN
Rating: Mature (18+)
Pages: 184 Pages

Key Selling Points

• Author You Higashino is considered the smut god in Japan with 10 yaoi/mature bestselling releases to his name.
• He is widely known for writing about shy young men thrown into relationships with older, more experienced men.
• He is also the creator of the Japanese classic The Man Called Tsuaari (collectors editions found on Amazon for $50+).
• Projected media coverage: exposure on mania.com (1 million unique visitors per month).

Synopsis: “Could you stop acting like my older brother already? I told you not to tease me, didn’t I? I’m not going to stop even if you beg me now.” Hana always seems to catch Nodoka at the most unflattering moments. I don’t like Hana treating me like his little brother. I’m not in high school (middle school) anymore. Tempted by Hana’s flirtatious demeanor, Nodoka takes Hana by force and…?! A story about a guy pursuing his older crush. (Heart) This book contains many short stories.”

Street Date: 3/31/2010
ISBN 1598835807
Price: $11.99/US – $13.99/CAN
Rating: Mature (18+)
Pages: 200 Pages

Manga-ka: Kiminori Wakasugi
Publisher: Viz Media
Rating: Mature (18+)
Release Date: December 2009

Synopsis: “By all appearances, Soichi Negishi is a sweet, well-mannered boy who likes Swedish pop music, trendy boutiques, and all things fashionable. But at the same time he’s also Krauser II – prepare to have your mortal soul devoured by the demonic front man for Detroit Metal City, the most outrageously hilarious death metal band on the Japanese indie scene! Death metal screams the despair of dying heathens! What the hell kind of song would you sing?!”

Bringing more of the same combination of shock value and endearing characterization as the first volume, the third collection of Wakasugi’s DDetroit Metal City gives us more inappropriate behaviour to ponder. Wakasugi delivers on his early promise, while also finding a way to succumb to traditional manga expectations in a way I hadn’t expected.

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Manga-ka: Kubo Tite
Publisher: Viz Media
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Release Date: December 2009

Synopsis: “Ichigo and his friends knew invading Hueco Mundo wouldn’t be easy, but even the lesser Arrancars are pushing to their limits. Can Ichigo, Uryu and Chad find the inner strength to overcome the first line of attack, or will Orihime be stuck in Hueco Mundo forever?!”

Our team of heroes have embarked into the proverbial lion’s den. Out to save Orihime, who remains notably absent throughout the volume, the group splits up to cover more ground. It’s no surprise then though that each character suddenly finds themselves face to face with an adversary all to themselves.

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AnimeNewsNetwork has officially announced the start of their 2009 Holiday Logo Contest. The contest is open to “to any and all residents of the planet Earth and neighbour parallel dimensions” and, while potential prizes are not yet listed, they promise a value of at least $500-worth.

Entries must be created to certain size specifications and Nina from their weekly web-comic. I recommend checking out the comic for not only inspiration and reference but some good anime-related laughs as well.

The contest catch however? Only four days until deadline! All entries are due December 20th at midnight (EST). If last year’s prize lot is any indication there, though’s more than enough reason to snap up your art supplies and get crackin’!

VIZ MEDIA TO KICK OFF 2010
WITH THE RELEASE OF NEW MANGA
not simple

Emotional Slice-of-Life Story About A Man’s Search For Family, Love And His Place In The World Engages Fans Of Both Manga
And U.S. Indie Comics And Previewed On SigIKKI.com

San Francisco, CA, December 15, 2009 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, kicks off 2010 with the release on January 19th of Natsume Ono’s manga, not simple. The story, contained in a single volume, is rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens, will be published by the VIZ Signature imprint and carries an MSRP of $14.99 U.S. / $19.99 CAN.

To celebrate this launch, a preview of the prologue of not simple will be available on SigIKKI.com, VIZ Media’s premiere website for presenting a diverse collection of titles which include the most inventive, bold, and compelling titles in the world of contemporary manga.

Read more…

Lives of Butterfly Puzzles on Amazon? … so to speak. Fellow Kuriousity reviewer Andre has spotted some new books on Amazon.ca early this week from Tokyopop:

Lives (Vol. 01) – Masayuki Taguchi [Nov 29 2010]

“The peaceful lives of many are taken away as a freak meteor shower destroys the Kanto area of Japan. However, the lives of the victims aren’t lost, as they start to awaken one by one into a strange pre-historic world…”

Butterfly (Vol. 01) – Yu Aikawa [Jan 3 2011]

Puzzle+ (Vol. 01) – Manami Sugano (unconfirmed) [Jan 3 2011]

Please keep in mind that until titles are officially annouced by the company, all listings found on retail sites remain purely speculative.

For those still looking for that perfect gift this holiday season (or a little treat for themselves!), Aurora Publishing joins the publishing ranks of seasonal discounts with their Holiday Sale. And what a sale it is!

They’re selling almost all their books at single-volume prices of $4.00 and most impressively, numerous complete series for $10 and under! Personal recommendation above all else there is Future Lovers (Vol. 01-02) – both volumes at a $5 set price! You can’t top that – I’m tempted to buy a series’ set for every boys’ love fan I know who hasn’t yet purchased one themselves. The entire line of their LuvLuv imprint for $15 isn’t bad either.

International buyers, such as myself, watch the shipping costs though – that’s where the price can really add up, along with an 8% addition to the cost of the books themselves. I recommended asking for a price quote from them before requesting the PayPal invoice, just to be sure you know what you’re getting for how much in the end.

Now excuse me, I must fill up my Paypal after the first round of holiday manga shopping this week.

Manga-ka: Jun Mochizuki
Publisher: Yen Press
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Release Date: November 2009

Synopsis: “Rescued from the darkness by Xeno, a mysterious swordsman, Claudia the Rose Witch is the foundation of the Crimson-Shell, a special division of the Red Rose-an organization aiming to capture the results of one mad scientist’s experiments, the deadly Black Roses. But when Xeno’s loyalties are called into question, will Claudia be strong enough to believe in her dearest friend?”

Fans often see manga as primarily never-ending epics, when in fact, much of the material published in Japan is far shorter. Works are more commonly intended to just be short stories or mini-series, often earlier works of creators who later go on to longer series. Crimson-Shell is one such series, from the creator of Pandora Heart, Jun Mochizuki.

Read more…