I've been back in the US for almost two weeks now. Eventually, I had to get out and go back to the bookstores and check what new issues of titles I've previously owned and if any new series had been released. What I've started to notice is that a lot of the US publishers seem to be compiling volumes into one book. I know this has been going on for long-running and popular series like Fruits Basket, Fushigi Yugi, and Dragonball Z, and it doesn't bother me. It was something I just found odd. Del Ray seems to be doing this primarily with combining three to make the final volume like Mushi-Shi and the upcoming Rave Master if it isn't already out (I haven't seen it), but Tokyopop is doing the same as well. It just isn't the final volume all the time. I just purchased "volume 8" of Yubisaki Milk Tea and it's apparently volume 8 and 9 combined, but it isn't the last volume. Another volume is due out at some point in time. I do not understand why Tokyopop would release two volumes as one, especially when it doesn't even make it less expensive than two volumes! The average US Japanese comic at one volume costs $9.99. This volume of Yubisaki costs $19.99, so it's actually costing you more for this one volume than two would be! I guess it was for a financial reason with Tokyopop alone, if for any reason at all.
This is my own personal gripe, but I cannot stand how Americans pronounce the word "manga". I've never liked how I hear people say "maynga" and not "mahnga" like it should be. Now after living a year in Japan, it sounds just down right hickish. It's similar to how some people will say my name as "Tayghun" and not "Teeghan" like it should be. That's partially my parents fault for spelling it the way it is, but doesn't change the fact that it is ingrating on my ears! Also, I don't understand why Americans seem to enforce that manga and comics/anime and cartoons are two different things. They aren't. In Japan, manga are often referred to as comics. Anime is just short for animation and will refer to anything animated as an anime. A common example is Tom and Jerry which is actually extremely beloved in Japan. Whenever I was in a store that had a TV for the kids to watch while mom and dad did their shopping, it was almost always Tom and Jerry being played. It is a minor complaint, but I just don't understand why they have to be considered different things when all that is differen is the country they were made in.
This was just something I wanted to post my opinion on. I plan on talking more about comics in the future. The Fatal Frame Playthrough will more than likely be taken off my Youtube account. I apparently had a infamous shitty harddrive and my data might be gone. Hope isn't totally gone, but I know my luck with these things. I often do not need confirmation from the computer doctor to know the diagnosis. I have finished No More Heroes 2, currently playing Deadly Premontion and writing a review for The Last Exorcism. I will let you know if anything in the future will be going on.
