Kujibiki Unbalance, vol. 1

Story by Kio Shimoku and Art by Koume Keito
Released in the US by Del Rey


Slugline: So little to do with Genshiken, which is the reason people will pick this up in the first place.

The reason that so many people will be willing to pick up and check out Kujibiki Unbalance is due to its connection to Genshiken, a series that we have previously reviewed. Kujibiki Unbalance was the show within the show that the characters of Genshiken watched, collected the merchandise and doujinshi of, and argued over. That being said, this is not that version of Kujibiki Unbalance that was seen in the Genshiken series, but a standalone series that was broadcast after the Genshiken as a sort of unofficial sequel. That explains why the plot sounds different from any memories of the original Genshiken show.

But what made Kujibiki Unbalance special in the first place was not any intrinsic characteristic of the story itself, but how the characters in Genshiken reacted to it. They were a mirror of the reader's own fandom, and one could see one's own obsessions and behaviors in how the Genshiken loved, hated and just generally enjoyed Kujibiki Unbalance. So seeing it on it's own, doesn't have the same punch or meaning. It's just another, well, it may not technically be a harem comedy, but it sure acts like it. And while the story works and the art is fine, this isn't even in the same neighborhood as Genshiken. Maybe it would have been more interesting for me if I had seen the anime, and you can see some of the character work that Kio Shimoku had earlier lavished on Genshiken showing in the characters here, but the story is not deep enough to allow that many layers of characterization.

Needless to say, we have reviewed volumes of Genshiken here.



Kujibiki Unbalance, vol. 1 is also available from Right Stuf, Intl., an online retailer specializing in anime and manga

-Ferdinand

Series Update: Genshiken v. 1 & 2

SERIES UPDATE

Genshiken is another series that we started partway through, with volume five, so here we are backtracking a little bit to talk about it. As we have said before, Genshiken is an unapologetic look at otaku life in college. If you have seen the anime series, the first 2 volumes of the manga are almost entirely used in the first 8 or so episodes of the anime. This is where the "Seduction of the Innocent" (and if you don't get the reference, read up on your comic history or look here) of our main character Sasahara begins: being introduced to the perils of the otaku lifestyle, especially the doujinshi-loving end of it. Kasukabe is introduced with her original hard edge, being far from accepting of the otaku lifestyle but desperate to lure Kousaka into her grasp. It also shows that this series is unveiling in anything but real time, with time between chapters uncertain but certainly moving quickly. I would definitely pick this up, for no other reason than that the progress of Kasukabe's character is easiest to see with this as a reference point to show the beginning of her journey.

Genshiken vol. 1 and vol. 2 are both available from Right Stuf, Intl., an online retailer specializing in anime and manga.

-Ferdinand

Series Update: Genshiken, v. 3 & 4

SERIES UPDATE

It is in these volumes that the anime and the manga start to diverge, with the differences being more issues of timing than radical changes in the story. We are introduced to Chika Ogiue, and while we don't quite get the fact that she is into yaoi (a sin that many in the US gleefully indulge in) she starts out very bitter but is brought short by Kasukabe of all people, who points out that Ogiue needs these people, these otaku, for companionship if for nothing else. Also in the manga you can see the weird trajectory of Kasukabe's and Madrame's non-relationship a little better, along with Kasukabe's journey if not to otakudom, at least to her acceptance of it. Sasahara starts growing into a leadership role by helping the Genshiken move out of their apathy and into action. This is a strong continuation of the series, with no major missteps that shows that the characters can remain true to themselves yet still grow.

Genshiken vol. 3 and vol. 4 are both available from Right Stuf, Intl., an online retailer specializing in anime and manga.

- Ferdinand

Genshiken, v.5

by Kio Shimoku
Released in the U.S. by Del Rey Manga



Slugline: See otaku in their natural environment try to create and sell a doujinshi!

I honestly don't know how to feel about this title. Well, maybe not the title in general, but this issue in specific. The main story of this issue is about a club of otaku making a doujinshi and getting it to a convention to sell.

I've done something similar, with all (and more, since I was putting up my own money) the pain and delight that entails. Mostly pain. Which made it difficult for me to read at times, since I winced at some scenes as I mentally projected the features of the people who I had similar experiences with. Though there was one thing that happened to the Genshiken -- a sellout of their product -- which never happened to us.

I guess the discomfort is a sign that the story rings true. A couple times the layout bothered me, but the story certainly had the ring of truth, and does give one an idea of how the con scene in Japan works. And for giggles, here is one of the 'zines I was involved with: http://www.studentorg.umd.edu/tas/tsunami/index.shtml



- Ferdinand

p.s. For the record, I would've given it three and a half stars. The situations rang true, yes, but I don't think it's on par with Gunslinger Girl.

- Miranda