bleeb's Blog

Anime Relations: Koukaku Kidoutai, Akira, Sakigake!! Cromartie Koukou, Elfen Lied, Bleach, Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, Howl no Ugoku Shiro, Hotaru no Haka, Giniro no Kami no Agito, Gake no Ue no Ponyo, Inaka Isha, Batman: Gotham Knight

Anime


Manga


US comics


European comics


These animations and series are placed somewhere on my bookshelves. So I can't say I'm a leech, reading free online manga, and never supporting a mangaka by buying something. There are even some series I really would like to have but they aren't officially translated. Therefore, thank you many anonymous scanlators out there!

When I look down at this list I can honestly say that every single one of them was bought because we (we = my boyfriend and I) were aware of the high standard from the author, or read it online before buying. We are aware of what we buy. It's a fact people buy less manga or comics that are sealed because they can't see what they're buying. It is a fact that the comics you can read every day in your news paper are sold better than stories people don't know.

Now here am I. Online manga reading is something I can describe as a daily activity. Too bad one of the foreign languages I do speak and read isn't Japanese. Otherwise I could have had a subscription on the weekly Shounen Jump, Kiss, Be x Boy, Business Jump, or another magazine I don't even know about. For me, this would have meant I could have read and collect series in the genres I like and ignore whatever is happening with web comics disappearing.

Too bad these aren't available in any of the languages I do comprehend. So now I am driven in a corner. I can't read anything online before buying because the crusade of the manga publishing companies is paying off.

So how the hell am I supposed figure out what to buy in this situation? Because I can't read it online anymore, and I like spoilers before buying. If I hate one thing, it is realizing I have spent money on a book or volume with a crappy plot.

The reason I embraced manga, being to ill to read a 'real book', is now history. Afterwards, I sticked with manga because I thought it was more fun. Maybe I should just quit reading manga and enjoy the luxury of a library once again.

I think Viz, Tokyopop and June will be really pleased with what they've accomplished.
Now where is that Philip Roth I started reading...?