#294 Dan Kanemitsu & the Tokyo manga/anime law

AkisoraLast December, we discussed a law that had just been passed in Tokyo to limit access by minors to manga and anime showing certain sexual acts. Now the law has gone into effect: what’s changed? What’s covered and what isn’t? What effect does the law have on what’s published, or what’s sold in other parts of Japan? This week Mulele and Tim talk to perhaps the most authoritative English-speaking voice on this topic, Dan Kanemitsu a manga translator who has helped to bring international attention to Tokyo’s Bill 156. A very educational discussion about Japan, child porn, and manga publishing ensues.

U.S. Embassy in Japan on child pornography and manga/anime: Spring 2008

Pornography, Rape, and Sex Crimes in Japan by Milton Diamond and Ayako Uchiyama

Japan Refuses to Pass Legislation Banning Child Pornography Possession (mediaite.com – 5/14/10)

Critiquing Comics 004: “Burnt”

BurntTim and Mulele try to get “Burnt” — Thane Benson’s graphic novel. With only a ten-page preview available, they only manage to get singed, but it’s not an unpleasant experience! Is it any wonder that his Kickstarter project got funded?

Critiquing Comics 003: “Flying Sparks”

Flying SparksIs Meta-girl’s boyfriend secretly a villain? What’s Meta-girl’s relationship with the mysterious Meta-man? We critique the weekly Web comic Flying Sparks, by Jon Del Arroz, Michael Yakutis, Ren McKenzie, and Jethro Morales!

#292 Women’s Issues

women's issues

At a panel at San Diego Comicon last month, Dan DiDio (bottom picture at left) caused a stir by seeming belligerent when a fan asked why the DC reboot included fewer female creators — even fewer than had worked on for DC pre-reboot. DiDio seemed to think there were hardly any female comics creators he could consider. Hear it here

Jake Ekiss was probably not alone in expressing disapproval of this sentiment — in this case, on Twitter. So Tim invited him to come on the podcast and discuss it here. (Jake’s comic is Solomon Azua.)

Joining Tim and Jake is one of those female comics creators the mainstream isn’t hiring, EK Weaver, creator of the Web comic The Less than Epic Adventures of TJ and Amal (that’s Amal in the top picture at left). We discuss why women are so much further out of the comics mainstream in the US than they are in, oh say, Japan.

Also this week, Tim’s former day-job office mate Cassey, now based in Anchorage, joins Tim to discuss Bryan Lee O’Malley’s pre-Scott Pilgrim work Lost at Sea, the coming-of-age story of 18-year-old Raleigh (middle picture).

#291 Justifiable Homicide? pt 2: MONSTER

MonsterPlanning a murder that you think will prevent future murders? That’s the premise — or, at least, one of the premises — of Monster, Naoki Urasawa’s 18-volume series. Set in Germany, the series focuses on the unintended consequences of Dr. Kenzo Tenma’s good deed; he saved the life of a boy who turned out to be a remorseless killer. Tim and guest reviewer Natalie Nourigat discuss.

A review on alltooflat.com

Critiquing Comics 001: “Birth of Venus”

Critiquing Comics

Birth of Venus

We inaugurate our new podcast series where we critique our listeners’ comics work!

This week: “Birth of Venus” (birthofvenuscomic.com)

Story/script/lettering: Andrew Makishima

Story/illustrations: Matthew JLD Rice

Colors Rory Walsh

#290 Justifiable Homicide? pt 1: NEXUS

Nexus

We begin a two-review series on comics that ask hard questions about whether murder can ever be justified. This week, Mike Baron and Steve Rude’s Nexus. Beginning in the early ’80s, Baron’s philosophical writing and Rude’s increasingly polished art presented the story of a the far future in which a man kills mass-murderers not out of revenge, but because he feels forced to “in self-defense.” Tim and Paul review.

Steve Rude’s Web site

Baron & Rude interviewed (May 2007)

Nexus no more (June 2009)

Steve Rude recalls making Nexus (video)

#289 Putting your stuff out there!!

self promotionPart of being a creator is promoting your work. But among all the other creators promoting their own work, how can you make yours stand out? (Aside, of course, from making your work really good!)

This week Tim talks with three creators who have found a variety of ways to promote their comics: Ed Luce, whose merchandising of his self-published Wuvable Oaf comics has helped to pay the bills; Reed Greenfield, who appears at conventions dressed as his character; and Jess Smart Smiley, who has a book coming from Top Shelf this fall, and is in the midst of a campaign to be invited onto — well, listen to the podcast and find out…

#288 “Changing Ways” and “Heroic: A Womanthology”

Changing Ways A creepy, rainy night. Mysterious red scars appearing on animals and people. Vicious wild pigs roam the streets. Justin Randall’s “Changing Ways” Book 1, published by Gestalt, reviewed by Tim and Brandon.
The Womanthology Heroic: A Womanthology, an anthology of comics created by women (some famous, others not yet) is currently in development and expected later this year from IDW. Tim talks to Athens-based participant Eugenia Koumaki, and IDW editor Mariah Huehner, about the background of and expectations for this project.