The Eastern Edge

Feedback was great. No scarcasm or cynisism here, I mean that sincerely.What it all seems to boil down to, however, is a great big collective yawn with a couple Frank Miller insults tossed in for fun (some just can't resist, can they?).I'm no pla… more »

To everyone who has commented on my post yesterday so far,Thanks for the feedback. It's very much appreciated! My intention was to I wrote that post not because I care about Nick what happens to Nick Simmons, or because I have anything against Ba… more »

If you're American and you rip-off Japanese comics like this:American fans of those Japanese comics will not only expose you, they will rip you and new one and make sure the world knows what a scumbag they think you are. more »

I had some very thoughtful comments from readers - all of whom I thank very much for sharing their thoughts - about the Japanese weeklies.Obviously when you state that an up-to-now successful status quo has to go, you're going to get various reactio… more »

Why do you have to prove to the world that you have no life in order to be a respected comic artist in Japan?What would be wrong with making some of these weekly anthologies that many artists are killing themselves to appear in into monthlies? Couldn… more »

Yesterday I wrote about the importance of the spirit of collaboration for Japanese comics in future, but I didn't really another major factor that is stiffling creativity here - the weekly serials! Let's get this kicked off with an excerpt from my tran… more »

The decade is over, most of the "best of" lists have been compiled and published, and reaction and commentary on what has been and what will be abounds.I don’t have a lot to say about the previous decade and I have few “most anticipated” upcomi… more »

Ummmmmm...What the F*ck is this!?According the DC's blog and comicbook Grant Morrison A prehistoric giant rodent pelt wearing caveman, and a Pirates of the Carribian Davey Jones clone are “The latest chapter in the long-running, ‘definitive… more »

I hope Handley doesn't go to jail, but I'd be lying if I said I had much sympathy for him if he did. He does deserve some form of punishment, but I've come to think that the humiliation and time already served is more than enough. more »

While Neil Gaiman & Andy Kubert's "Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?" was brilliant, it was an end to a character I don't want to see end yet. I want to see the original Dark Knight, Bruce Wayne, get old and still kick ass like he does in Fra… more »

Normally I would only link to this but, since Japan Today stories have a habit of "expiring" and becoming unavailable after a certain time, this time I thought I'd post the entire thing. This article is one reason I avoid crowded trains, although I ma… more »

First of all, I must confess that the final part of the Naoki Urasawa interview is way behind schedule. The truth is that I'd actually lost the magazine I was translating from after I put it in a "safe place" while house cleaning.The good news is tha… more »

This is in response to the hail of bullets fired at me via my comments section after I wrote "I draw the line at kids". Despite the fact that everyone who commented was against me, it made me glad I use a comment section. I appreciate the people who ta… more »

I wrote about the Handley case once before last October. It was more of a rambling rant anything else, but a few things have come to light since then and I want to restate what I think. Please keep in mind that the following rant is not intended to be… more »

I was having my usual look around all the major comic sites on the internet yesterday when I got stuck on something I was lead to via one of the must see sites of the English speaking Japanese comic world, aka MangaBlog. It was a debate on the Japanes… more »

Before I get going with this, I'd like to give a little background into why I'm ranting about anime. I've been thinking about the use of terms like manga and anime in English ever since I wrote about manga and comics a few weeks back. As much as I… more »

Last night was the second night in a row of live-action Yatterman movie hype on NTV’s News Zero and it has got me thinking about how utterly ridiculous all this Manga vs American Comics crap really is. The feature that set me off was one on the NYC… more »

I stumbled on a very good opinion piece, with a somewhat unfortunately worded title, from the Japan Times that though I'd like to post because I really agree with what it has to say (if not how it is worded in a few places). In essence it takes the Ja… more »

I'm writing so much about him that it's looking more and more like I'm going to have to give Urasawa his own category. Maybe I'll create it when I start publishing excepts from this: (Thank you, Stuart!) I just found it on my lunch break today s… more »

Both Japanese serials I follow, Vagabond and Billy Bat are on short hiatus (well, relatively short for those two, anyway) and I haven’t got my mitts on either Mouse Guard or The Joker yet. Until I get them I have little on the subject of com… more »