2006-09-01T13:50:00.000-02:00

Greeeetings! Wow, it's friday which means it's my weekend "on". Usually "on" is a good thing but it means working 6 days a week.

I guess I'll throw in my two cents about the Publisher's Weekly interview of Stuary Levy, the CEO of TokyoPop. First my feelings about TP. I like their stuff, I mean, scoring Fruits Basket must have been some kind of coup. Plus the decision to published unflopped manga was obviously a brave and cool move. BUT the OEL line, in my opinion, is sort of pathetic. I know a lot of people like Dramacon but besides the presence of a one-eyed hottie it's just sort of boring and predictable. Plus, there are all the issues of how they pay their authors/artists. Shady.

Oh, here's the PW article
http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6366455.html?nid=2789

First off, Stuart Levy sounds like a self-congratulatory ass which is never good. You know who else sounded this way this past week - Thomas Kinkade! Ewwwww~! He mentioned that he was the, by his estimates of course, the most collected US artist. Uh. Have they really changed the bookstore environment? I mean, not really. I've been in a Borders lately and yes there is more manga but it's not like there are clouds forming on the ceiling or roaming packs of poku teens roaming the open plains. The environment? Pretty much the same.

I'm also confused at how they are bringing the independant comics stores back to their roots? Someone explain this too me please! It is true that local comic shops need to stock up on their manga and that most are resistant. Luckily for me my local Dragon's Horde is cool.

I do have to give Levy some credit for acknowledging that the whole "manga revolution" was helped out with the work done over at Viz. Also keep an eye on Digital Manga for your yaoi needs - rowrrrr.

2006-08-30T16:57:00.000-02:00

I mean, I just want to fit in! Be like everybody else, wow, it didn't hurt so bad, do I look different?

Ok, um, welcome to my blog. I guess I'll answer some questions you are undoubtedly having.

What's an american poku?
Poku is a term coined by superflat artist Takashi Murakami - it's a cross between 'pop' and 'otaku'. American is what I am, at least a part of what I am and at least for now. I do hope to reside on the poor defunct planet Pluto one day but I have to get over my fear of flying. Anyway...I chose this name because I think it describes most western manga readers. Our manga consumption (yum yum manga) is a popular culture activity. It is based first in entertainment. While spiritual hanges might occur, the American Poku is first and formost a tourist. Hooked on the cultural artifacts of a foreign place, revelling in the familiar, gaping at the unfamiliar and hungry for a thrilling experience - that's us. Of course there is the theory that we read manga because we want to be contstantly stimulated (could these be why I spend hours tending to my Animal Crossing sheep) but that there is little emotional response - almost like autism. So, perhaps the american poku is an autistic tourist? ok, I'm getting sidetracked and why do I keep saying "we"?

what's the ever future?
I have no idea.

Next question - what is this blog about?
Manga. And the reading of it.

So to wrap this up -
just got Chobits vol. 2 and Death Note 6 - mmmm L

There are people out there that point to the sexism of Chobits but personally I'm hooked. Yes, the guy is a loner who would rather dress and stare at a doll than do schoolwork but seriously...who wouldn't?

AMERICAN POKU AND THE EVER FUTURE