Illegitimate Person!! Vol 4-5

 Hem.  Yes.  Were I actually reading this, I would likely be be feeling a considerable bit of mortification and shame.  Were I the sort to feel shame over the things I read.  But of course, I'm not.

Were I reading it, though, I would feel compelled to point out 2 important points of merit:

1) Despite the fact that their primary function is to cling to DS, provide fanservice, and fall victim to the power of DS's...uhm...parts(that I'm not sure he's actually had a chance to use yet...it's rather left for us to decide...) the female characters here are actually pretty strong.  They have survival skills, they have useful talents, and they put up with nothing.    Even after falling victim to the power of DS's parts, they don't put up with his slutting around(well, except Shiela, but she's the token sigh-y princess...and the other positive attributes still apply to her) and call him on it, and Yoko regularly slaps the *hem* out of him over it.

2) It's trashy, yes.  Very much so.  And it's insanely violent and over-the-top in every possible way.  However, the reason it's like that is because the genre is inherently trashy, sexist, violent, and...well, stupid, not just because being trashy and violent will help it make more money (though I'm sure that's also a factor.)  It takes all the cliches and characteristics of the genre and takes them to their extreme for the pure purpose of showing what the elements of the genre are really like, and how absurd they are, while staying within the confines and structure of the genre and obeying all it's popular rules.  It will also randomly take a break to insert meta about S&S and honen action, either with side diatribes and comments from the characters, or by actually incorporating a conversation about it into the story.  I have a weakness for things that go "to hell with it" and take the genre to the extreme just to show how absurd it is and throw in random meta, all while being the ultimate example of the genre.  It's what keeps me not reading, and why I read J.R. Ward's books.

It's also interesting to spot influences on other, more recent, shonen manga.  Both Naruto and Samurai Deeper Kyo seem to be very influenced by it(in addition to Ninja Master Gara and his jutsu, Lucian's origins and Naruto's are very similar, and the story-proper setup bears a marked resemblance to that of Samurai Deeper Kyo in a way,and DS himself could almost be Kyo's utterly insane, complete lech, sorcerous, trailer trash brother) but I also keep thinking I see spots of Bleach and Rurouni Kenshin.  There's also the theme of how being around him makes you a better person that's so dominant in Rurouni Kenshin and Samurai Deeper Kyo , as well as the "well, we're not trying to kill each other now, so let's be buds," that's so dominant in Samurai Deeper Kyo, Bleach, and Rurouni Kenshin and even, at times, Blade of the Immortal.  I'm sure both themes are also dominant in other shonen manga, but that I just haven't read those manga.

Incidentally, despite what I probably seem to be saying in the above?  No, it still doesn't have any redeeming literary merit or quality storytelling.

( If I were reading it, I may also have these random bits to say: )

To reiterate:

*To repeat, I absolutely AM NOT reading this.
*Attempts to use this to indicate my taste or tastelessness shall be dismissed.  Because I'm not reading this.
*It has virtually no intellectual merit at all, even for a manga.
*This is possibly proof that I should not be left alone with telophase[Bad username or unknown identity:  ]for a few hours ever again.
*To repeat: AM! NOT! READING!

Illegitimate Person!! Vol 4-5

 Hem.  Yes.  Were I actually reading this, I would likely be be feeling a considerable bit of mortification and shame.  Were I the sort to feel shame over the things I read.  But of course, I'm not.

Were I reading it, though, I would feel compelled to point out 2 important points of merit:

1) Despite the fact that their primary function is to cling to DS, provide fanservice, and fall victim to the power of DS's...uhm...parts(that I'm not sure he's actually had a chance to use yet...it's rather left for us to decide...) the female characters here are actually pretty strong.  They have survival skills, they have useful talents, and they put up with nothing.    Even after falling victim to the power of DS's parts, they don't put up with his slutting around(well, except Shiela, but she's the token sigh-y princess...and the other positive attributes still apply to her) and call him on it, and Yoko regularly slaps the *hem* out of him over it.

2) It's trashy, yes.  Very much so.  And it's insanely violent and over-the-top in every possible way.  However, the reason it's like that is because the genre is inherently trashy, sexist, violent, and...well, stupid, not just because being trashy and violent will help it make more money (though I'm sure that's also a factor.)  It takes all the cliches and characteristics of the genre and takes them to their extreme for the pure purpose of showing what the elements of the genre are really like, and how absurd they are, while staying within the confines and structure of the genre and obeying all it's popular rules.  It will also randomly take a break to insert meta about S&S and honen action, either with side diatribes and comments from the characters, or by actually incorporating a conversation about it into the story.  I have a weakness for things that go "to hell with it" and take the genre to the extreme just to show how absurd it is and throw in random meta, all while being the ultimate example of the genre.  It's what keeps me not reading, and why I read J.R. Ward's books.

It's also interesting to spot influences on other, more recent, shonen manga.  Both Naruto and Samurai Deeper Kyo seem to be very influenced by it(in addition to Ninja Master Gara and his jutsu, Lucian's origins and Naruto's are very similar, and the story-proper setup bears a marked resemblance to that of Samurai Deeper Kyo in a way,and DS himself could almost be Kyo's utterly insane, complete lech, sorcerous, trailer trash brother) but I also keep thinking I see spots of Bleach and Rurouni Kenshin.  There's also the theme of how being around him makes you a better person that's so dominant in Rurouni Kenshin and Samurai Deeper Kyo , as well as the "well, we're not trying to kill each other now, so let's be buds," that's so dominant in Samurai Deeper Kyo, Bleach, and Rurouni Kenshin and even, at times, Blade of the Immortal.  I'm sure both themes are also dominant in other shonen manga, but that I just haven't read those manga.

Incidentally, despite what I probably seem to be saying in the above?  No, it still doesn't have any redeeming literary merit or quality storytelling.

( If I were reading it, I may also have these random bits to say: )

To reiterate:

*To repeat, I absolutely AM NOT reading this.
*Attempts to use this to indicate my taste or tastelessness shall be dismissed.  Because I'm not reading this.
*It has virtually no intellectual merit at all, even for a manga.
*This is possibly proof that I should not be left alone with telophase[Bad username or unknown identity:  ]for a few hours ever again.
*To repeat: AM! NOT! READING!

Stargate S6 eps 13-17

*Uhm...ah...I'm not sure anything in the world tops Thor giving Kinsey the supreme verbal smackdown with two words.  In fact, I'm not sure anything else is worthy of being mentioned in the same post...

*Of course, that's partly because there was no Bra'tac or papa Carter.  That saddens me.  As does no Ba'al.

*But NIRRTI WAS BACK!  That made me very, very happy as we seem to have lost all the old school goa'uld(and Tok'ra) the last could seasons...

*And so was Maybourne.  Course, I knew how that would end up as soon as he wanted to get off planet, but hey, the fun is in the watching, not the knowing what's happening.  please tell me that wasn't the last of him, though...

*Glad to see they're finally getting some flak over keeping the program a secret.  Not to mention that the Russians are starting to be shown in a more positive light(seriously, I don't get the whole  "exiled to Russia is the worst fate ever" thing, or why they were often shown to be wrong for...being right...I mean, the Americans were also shown to be wrong so I didn't bother me as much as it would have otherwise, but they were usually more wrong, but it wasn't shown that way.)

*I consistently love Jonas more and more.  And get more and more depressed that he isn't staying.  It cracked me up that they obviouly went digging for something he couldn't knowm just so there'd be something he didn't know.  And I was saddened that Nirrti's fascination with him was cut off so soon.

*Jaffa not trained by Bra'tac continue to be subpar.

*Still no more Ba'al.  It's like I was given a brief glimpse of awesomeness and then robbed of it forevermore.

Stargate S6 eps 13-17

*Uhm...ah...I'm not sure anything in the world tops Thor giving Kinsey the supreme verbal smackdown with two words.  In fact, I'm not sure anything else is worthy of being mentioned in the same post...

*Of course, that's partly because there was no Bra'tac or papa Carter.  That saddens me.  As does no Ba'al.

*But NIRRTI WAS BACK!  That made me very, very happy as we seem to have lost all the old school goa'uld(and Tok'ra) the last could seasons...

*And so was Maybourne.  Course, I knew how that would end up as soon as he wanted to get off planet, but hey, the fun is in the watching, not the knowing what's happening.  please tell me that wasn't the last of him, though...

*Glad to see they're finally getting some flak over keeping the program a secret.  Not to mention that the Russians are starting to be shown in a more positive light(seriously, I don't get the whole  "exiled to Russia is the worst fate ever" thing, or why they were often shown to be wrong for...being right...I mean, the Americans were also shown to be wrong so I didn't bother me as much as it would have otherwise, but they were usually more wrong, but it wasn't shown that way.)

*I consistently love Jonas more and more.  And get more and more depressed that he isn't staying.  It cracked me up that they obviouly went digging for something he couldn't knowm just so there'd be something he didn't know.  And I was saddened that Nirrti's fascination with him was cut off so soon.

*Jaffa not trained by Bra'tac continue to be subpar.

*Still no more Ba'al.  It's like I was given a brief glimpse of awesomeness and then robbed of it forevermore.

Illegitimate Person Vol 6

 Well, while pretty much everyone else on my f-list who is of the anime/manga contingent(and even some of those who aren't) are busy spazzing over finishing yuletide stories, realizing they didn't get something fixed in them, or dying of exhaustion nowthat they're done, I continue to not read this, for the pleasure of those who do not flee in terror after the last two posts.

I shall not attempt coherency or anything, and instead simply move on to the insanity(only 2 more volumes left online to not read...woe.)

( I'm so still not reading this )

AM! NOT! READING!

Illegitimate Person Vol 6

 Well, while pretty much everyone else on my f-list who is of the anime/manga contingent(and even some of those who aren't) are busy spazzing over finishing yuletide stories, realizing they didn't get something fixed in them, or dying of exhaustion nowthat they're done, I continue to not read this, for the pleasure of those who do not flee in terror after the last two posts.

I shall not attempt coherency or anything, and instead simply move on to the insanity(only 2 more volumes left online to not read...woe.)

( I'm so still not reading this )

AM! NOT! READING!

Skip-Beat Vol 7-9

You know, I've talked so much lately about shojo that annoys me that I should probably make a post about the shojo I'm still reading or something.  But that's for another time.

For now, let's talk Skip-Beat.  I haven't posted about Skip-Beat in...uhm...a long time, so:

Skip-Beat is about Kyoko, a girl who follows her childhood friend, Sho, to Tokyo when Sho decides he wants to be a pop star.  Thinking that she and Sho are boyfriend and girlfriend and will get married once he's famous, Kyoko drops out of school, takes on multiple jobs and does all the housework so that Sho can focus on becoming a success...until she comes home one day and finds him making out with his manager and learns that he only sees her as a housekeeper.  At which point, she basically goes insane and swears vengeance on Sho, vowing to make him regret ever crossing her.  She also manifests little demon grudge Kyoko's that basically kill anyone and everyone in the area when they manifest.  She decides to get her revenge by becoming more famous and joins a rival talent agency, only to have the agency's Very Eccentric president put her in the newly created "Love Me" section, which is designed to...uhm...I forget the official reason for the section, but basically to make them more of people people and to appreciate the work, while also having more underlings for errands and un-fun jobs.  And to have them run around in hot pink clothing.  She also immediately clashes with Ren, the agency's extremely driven up and coming(and most popular) star, who forms a bad opinion of her because she sees his career as nothing more than a tool in her revenge(note: future love interest) and Kanae, a gifted but anti-social young actress with no people skills, who she immediately becomes rivals with, and who is also the only other member of the Love Me section(note: future best friend.)

Two important bits that make it stand out to me:

*Kyoko's relationship with Kamae is treated as being more important than that with Ren.  Or anyone else, really.

*Kyoko and Kanae's rivalry, and later friendship, has nothing whatsoever to do with boys.  Not even in the most remote way possible.

( a few random thoughts on these volumes )

Skip-Beat Vol 7-9

You know, I've talked so much lately about shojo that annoys me that I should probably make a post about the shojo I'm still reading or something.  But that's for another time.

For now, let's talk Skip-Beat.  I haven't posted about Skip-Beat in...uhm...a long time, so:

Skip-Beat is about Kyoko, a girl who follows her childhood friend, Sho, to Tokyo when Sho decides he wants to be a pop star.  Thinking that she and Sho are boyfriend and girlfriend and will get married once he's famous, Kyoko drops out of school, takes on multiple jobs and does all the housework so that Sho can focus on becoming a success...until she comes home one day and finds him making out with his manager and learns that he only sees her as a housekeeper.  At which point, she basically goes insane and swears vengeance on Sho, vowing to make him regret ever crossing her.  She also manifests little demon grudge Kyoko's that basically kill anyone and everyone in the area when they manifest.  She decides to get her revenge by becoming more famous and joins a rival talent agency, only to have the agency's Very Eccentric president put her in the newly created "Love Me" section, which is designed to...uhm...I forget the official reason for the section, but basically to make them more of people people and to appreciate the work, while also having more underlings for errands and un-fun jobs.  And to have them run around in hot pink clothing.  She also immediately clashes with Ren, the agency's extremely driven up and coming(and most popular) star, who forms a bad opinion of her because she sees his career as nothing more than a tool in her revenge(note: future love interest) and Kanae, a gifted but anti-social young actress with no people skills, who she immediately becomes rivals with, and who is also the only other member of the Love Me section(note: future best friend.)

Two important bits that make it stand out to me:

*Kyoko's relationship with Kamae is treated as being more important than that with Ren.  Or anyone else, really.

*Kyoko and Kanae's rivalry, and later friendship, has nothing whatsoever to do with boys.  Not even in the most remote way possible.

( a few random thoughts on these volumes )

Illegitimate Person!! Vol 7-8

Well, for better or for worse, I am now all out of what's currently available for me to not read.  Granted, given the sheer brain breakage of vol 8, it's probably "for better."

Somewhere in Vol 6, right around that "brothers" thing, the mangaka just threw out all illusions that that this was anything but a massive, insane meta and went nuts.  Judging the manga up until then as a standard for sanity.

( as i pick up the scattered pieces of my brain... )

Overall, now that the not reading is going on a forced hiatus?  Had I almost mainlined 8 volumes in 2 days, I can honestly say that, for most standards of reccing or liking manga, I can't say that I'd rec or say I liked it.  It does, however, have some of the most amazing, insane, and insanely amazing meta-as-story that I've ever read, and several scenes that I might be tempted to post for the meta, were it not for the fact that I'd have to label it explicit conent.

Please recall that I did not read this and as such, it is never to be held up as an example of my taste.

I will now finish Stargate, and ponder whether or not my brain can handle Princess Tutu, a meta(though much less brain breaking one, I'm told) on storytelling and fairy tales.

Illegitimate Person!! Vol 7-8

Well, for better or for worse, I am now all out of what's currently available for me to not read.  Granted, given the sheer brain breakage of vol 8, it's probably "for better."

Somewhere in Vol 6, right around that "brothers" thing, the mangaka just threw out all illusions that that this was anything but a massive, insane meta and went nuts.  Judging the manga up until then as a standard for sanity.

( as i pick up the scattered pieces of my brain... )

Overall, now that the not reading is going on a forced hiatus?  Had I almost mainlined 8 volumes in 2 days, I can honestly say that, for most standards of reccing or liking manga, I can't say that I'd rec or say I liked it.  It does, however, have some of the most amazing, insane, and insanely amazing meta-as-story that I've ever read, and several scenes that I might be tempted to post for the meta, were it not for the fact that I'd have to label it explicit conent.

Please recall that I did not read this and as such, it is never to be held up as an example of my taste.

I will now finish Stargate, and ponder whether or not my brain can handle Princess Tutu, a meta(though much less brain breaking one, I'm told) on storytelling and fairy tales.