Comic Book Guys

Several years ago, I jumped on the e-book reader bandwagon. I did so, not because I no longer enjoy the sensuous feel of yellowing pages or the unique aroma of old pulp, but because I have run out of room in my “library.” (No kidding, folks. I have boxes, chocked full of books, in one room, stacked practically to the ceiling.) Indeed, it is much easier having a voluminous library stored in a cloud than upon a few shelves in a standard 8’ X 8’ bedroom.

As a result of this epiphany, I have been slowly freeing myself from my materialism, selling or donating my many books, and discovering the zen resulting from being thus unencumbered. Lest anyone fret, though, I assure you that I have retained all of my Silver and Bronze Age Comics. These are safely nestled in mylar sleeves and enclosed within a large, gorilla-proof Samsonite suitcase.

However, a problem remains. I still enjoy owning graphic novels, comics, and manga, but am unwilling to yield any further physical real estate to my literary pursuits.  I know that many publishers, such as Marvel, have had digital comic subscriptions available via their websites for quite a while now.  Unfortunately, though, I found this form of the medium less than satisfactory. (There is just something unnatural about double-clicking a mouse to turn a page.) With the advent of the Android and iOS tablet, however, comics can now be enjoyed more naturally with a readable format enabling even the illusion of flipping the comic book page with the swipe of one’s finger.

Herein lies the problem, though. I doubt many of us want a bunch of different comic apps on our tablets, especially if we only like one or two of the titles obtainable through said app. So, what apps are available for comic connoisseurs with a Kindle Fire HD or Apple iPad? (Allow me to pause here and state my belief that artists should receive compensation for their work. Thus, despite the fact that I know that there are apps offering free access to many titles, I am giving consideration only for those apps that enable the purchasing of comics, graphic novels, and manga.)

For lovers of comics and graphic novels, I would highly recommend the Comixology app. Fortunately, it comes installed on many devices. Comixology gives you access to content from many different publishers, including DC and Marvel. Unless you are wanting to read yaoi manga, though, I definitely would not suggest Comixology to meet your manga needs. Comixology is definitely lacking when it comes to manga.

Marvel recently introduced its own free app. I cannot say that I have actually purchased any comics through their proprietary app. I did snag it, though, to give it a test drive. It appears to be a good app if you are only interested in their best known and selling titles, such as The Avengers or Spider-Man. In regards to the variety of titles, Comixology has them beat.

The one feature that may distinguish Marvel’s proprietary app is the availability of titles available to purchase from the Bronze Age of Comics. For example, you can purchase the Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars from 1984 and 1985. I enjoyed that series as a youth because of such things as the introduction of Spider-Man’s alien, black suit and the Beyonder marooning Ben Grimm, as a human, on a planet inhabited only by Things.

When it comes to manga, there are titles available via Dark Horse’s app. Unfortunately, the Dark Horse app is only available for download through Google Play or iTunes. As a Kindle Fire owner, without a rooted device, I am, therefore, unable to test the Dark Horse app. I hope that this will change in the near future. I know I have certainly petitioned the folks at Amazon about obtaining the Dark Horse app also. Dark Horse was actually one of the first companies to offer English-language manga titles in the United States. Plus, Dark Horse carries a lot of comic and graphic novel titles also.

Finally, I highly recommend the Viz Media App for manga. For example, if you purchase a yearly subscription to Shonen Jump ($25.99), you are given access to many popular titles like Blue Exorcist, One Piece, and Naruto on the same day it is released in Japan. There are other popular manga titles available via the Viz Media app as well. Certainly, the Viz Media app seems to be the only viable app for manga lovers within the United States.

If you’ve come across a good comic or manga app, please let us know. I would enjoy hearing your recommendations. I know I am constantly on the lookout for ways to enjoy my favorite titles traditionally available only in print.  

 

     This is a book I’ve been looking forward to since I first heard about it last year. It’s one of DC’s second generation of  ”New 52” comics, and this volume collects the first six issues, as well as #0. This is a modern take on a series that started in the Sixties, and has gone through a couple of iterations since.

     The concept is a special dial that, if used correctly, turns one into a random superhero. And I’m not talking about Superman or Green Lantern, here; the heroes it generates are new, bizarre, off-the-wall creations, Examples include Boy Chimney and The Iron Snail, for starters. The powers are also fairly unique, and don’t last very long. The user has to hope that the character he generates is going to help the given situation, which is not always the case.

     The story centers on Nelson Jent, an overweight, unemployed guy who’s been recently dumped and only has one friend in the world, Darren. They get into an argument at the beginning, and then Darren storms out. When Nelson goes to apologize, he finds his friend being beaten by some thugs. Nelson sees an old phone booth nearby,and tries to dial for help. The right combination of numbers turns him into the aforementioned Boy Chimney, who makes short work of the thugs. When Nelson turns back to normal, he tries to recreate the process. When it finally does, it starts a series of adventures that I won’t spoil here. The only thing I’ll say is that it eventually leads to a world-ending scenario that only Nelson can stop. ( Did I mention The Iron Snail?) .

     The story is really a mystery, and while it takes some time to finally reveal what’s going on, the end result is satisfying. There’s lots of action, drama, and comedy, especially in the form of the superheroes that are created by the dial. The artwork took some getting used to, but once you do, it’s actually works for the story. The first adventure is told in five parts, and concerns the mystery of the dial and the motives and machinations of the villain. There is a single issue story dealing with the aftermath of the first, which I enjoyed a lot. The last tale tells of a previous user of the dial, and also sheds some light on where it draws its power from.

     I would definitely recommend this book. While the main story doesn’t quite flow as well as it it should, it still all makes sense in the end. I’m looking forward to where this series leads to next.

-CS.

Among the anime options simulcasting in the United States during the spring of 2013, via Crunchyroll, is the psychological drama and dark romance, “Flowers of Evil.” Only two episodes have been shown, at the date of this publication, and, yet, this title has already become somewhat controversial among viewers. 

It seems that manga and anime fans have become so accustomed to the art form pioneered by Astro Boy creator, Osamu Tezuka, that it is hard for some to accept something that so drastically departs from the firmly established, stylized “norm.” Yet, Flowers of Evil does this through the use of rotoscoping.

Rotoscoping was patented by American animator, Max Fleischer, in 1917. Fleischer was able to use rotoscoping to bring a greater depth of realism to his work. For example, Fleischer used rotoscoping to portray the unique dance moves of Cab Calloway in the Betty Boop short, “Minnie the Moocher.” (Walt Disney later utilized rotoscoping to create his first full length animated classic, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, in 1937.)

As one Crunchyroll site member, “yukijoro,” posted in response to the second episode, however, “I’d never be able to take this show seriously if it was done in a moe style.” I agree. The use of rotoscoping really accentuates the surrealistic, internal struggle depicted within Shuzo Oshimi’s work, even if its look markedly departs from that used in his manga. 

Frankly, “Flowers of Evil” is uncomfortable to watch. The reason for this is due to the fact that the anime, just as the manga, explores the subject of shame one feels resulting from his breach of societal mores and the sadistic pleasure one feels as she flouts those same morals.

The manga and anime’s title, “Aku no Hana,” is derived from Charles Baudelaire’s, “Les Fleurs du Mal.” Within this volume of poetry, which was considered indecent in its day, Baudelaire explored the societal decay of Paris during the mid-nineteenth century. Similarly, Shuzo Oshimi, is exploring this theme of decadence within contemporary Japan, which some have suggested is in the midst of yet another Lost Decade. 

In an interview given about the anime version of his manga, Oshimi agrees with the director, Nagahama Hiroshi’s desire to emotionally “scar” the audience with his “anti-anime” anime. In this same vein, following the preview given for the next episode, given at the end of each episode, Oshimi invites you to watch the next episode while simultaneously and literally comparing you, the viewer, to excrement. 

Personally, I plan on seeing this anime through to its 13-episode conclusion, provided that my mind can take it. Overall, I give Flowers of Evil, 4.3 out of 5 stars. I think the anime rates 5 stars for its content and use of rotoscoping. In regards to its music, however, I give Flowers of Evil  3 stars. The performer singing the opening theme sounds like an amateur singing karaoke, while the ending theme sounds, well, eerily demonic. 

You can watch Flowers of Evil here. It simulcasts during its 13-episode run on Mondays at 12:30 EDT. Note: Only premium members can access the latest episodes. All other visitors will be on a delayed schedule, watching the episode simulcast the previous week. 

The Synopsis of Flowers of Evil provided at Crunchyroll:

FLOWERS OF EVIL revolves around Takao Kasuga, who is caught stealing Nanako Saeki’s gym clothes by Sawa Nakamura whose cold attitude makes her generally disliked by everyone. In exchange for her silence, he makes a ‘contract’ with her, in which he must abide by all of her unreasonable demands. Initially torturous, Kasuga wants out until one day when things start to change between them…