I’ve heard that comics are the only publishing sector that’s growing right now, which I personally think is pretty cool, though my heart will always lie with novels. I think it’s even more cool that women’s issues — and interesting takes on gender relations — have started getting some serious representation in the comics world. Via Publishers Weekly, I learn about Kaoru Mori’s upcoming “A Bride’s Story”; look at some gorgeous panels here. I haven’t read it because it’s not out yet, but I was arrested by both the art and the description:
By Kaoru Mori, the creator of “Emma”, “A Bride’s Story” follows Amir, a young bride in nineteenth-century Asia, who is sent to a neighboring town to get married. When she arrives she discovers her new husband is eight years younger than her. However, soon she develops a deep affection for the boy and his family as she integrates into the culture of her new home. “A Bride’s Story” will be released by Yen Press this week.
That looks gorgeous.
Mori-san’s art is lovely. I really liked Emma, so I was really excited when I first heard about The Bride’s Story (Otoyomegatari). I’ve been following it through scanlations, and can’t wait to buy it once it’s available.
For the most part, I’ve really liked it — sure, there’s fluffy romance like most shojou manga (and I find the budding relationship between the title character and her 12-year-old husband to be too close to romantic for comfort), but there’s a fair amount of attention focused on the communities of women, their daily lives, and their arts. For example, there’s a very nice little storyline about embroidery patterns being passed down in the family. Mori-san also talks a bit about domestic violence as something feared by women who have their marriages arranged for them.
Another really great series is Fumi Yoshinaga’s historically-set Ooku: The Inner Chambers. In it, a disease that only affects men has killed most of them off, and women have taken over most of the roles in society, even the position of shogun. The way gender roles are explored is all kinds of awesome.
Ooku: The Inner Chambers….
Sweet! Gonna check it out. Thanks for the recommendation. :3
I missed this on the sci-fi thread, but have you ever read Ursula Le Guin’s “Left Hand of Darkness”. Do not die before you do.
I really enjoy her work. Its very different from traditional manga and beautifully drawn.
Whoa, thanks for the recommendation. It looks really good.
There is a lot of interesting japanese manga/anime out there. A lot of them have deeper meanings than a lot of western entertainment
Aha! I’v been waiting for months for this book :) plus I just got Ooku, volumes one through five :D
I should mention while I’m at it, a new title coming out “Wandering Son,” from fantagraphics. It about the lives of 2 kids, one a boy who wants to be a girl, and the other a girl who wants to be a boy. I read a bit of it and it was really good….
Did anyone else boggle at the jump here: “bride in nineteenth-century Asia, who is sent to a neighboring town to get married.” Um.. Asia is not a country, province or town. It is the largest continent. This comes off to me as really.. othering. The people and cultures throughout Asian nation states are many and varied, they can not be generalised (as they so often are) as Chinese or Japanese.
“Possibly… we humans can exist without fighting. But many of us have chosen to fight. For what reason? To protect something? Protect what? Ourselves? The future? If we kill people to protect ourselves and this future, then what sort of future is it, and what will we have become? There is no future for those who have died. And what of those who did the killing? Is happiness to be found in a future that is grasped with bloodstained hands? Is that the truth?”
“Anyone who has ever wept because the felt weak or powerless has always had those kinds of thoughts. Oh, yes. But the moment you acquire all that power you dreamt of, you become the one who causes others to weep tears of loss. Never forget that.”
“If you shoot someone’s husband, the widow will detest you. If you shoot somebody’s son, his mother will hate you. And if you were to die by somebody’s hand, I would detest him. Why can’t you understand this simple chain reaction?”
Godamn I forgot how deep japanese entertainment can get sometimes.