Omoi

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I have recently discovered Omoi (www.omoi.com) which is a digital manga service that makes it easy to read hundreds of legally licensed manga series across a variety of genres and publishers, for one low price. It distributes manga from English manga publishers like Kodansha and J-Novel Club, as well as exclusive series licensed directly from Japan. Fans can read manga on the Web, or with an iOS and Android app. Omoi pays royalties back to publishers based on readership data. 

When you register, the first fourteen days are free and the first chapter of each series is also usually free (with ads). More chapters are available with a Premium subscription ($4.99 US / mo) and the latest chapters of a series are generally unlocked “with a one-time payment” (each volume costing between  $7.99 and $19.99 or between $6.39 and $15.99 with a Premium subscription).

Here is what I think:

Pro:

  • Interesting way to sample titles
  • With the premium subscription it might seems like a good deal…

Con:

  • …however it seems impossible to read an entire series without paying extra. What’s the use to pay a monthly premium if you have to pay for the last volumes in the end ? Therefore, it looks like a bait and switch scam (which is minimally immoral and, in some places, illegal).
  • What’s the advantage to read in electronic format if the cost of a volume is roughly the same or just slightly less than a printed volume (considering that 60% of the cost of a printed volume is the distribution in stores which is not necessary with an electronic format) ?! It seems to me that the Japanese publisher are simply too greedy.
  • Some series are incomplete
  • No possibility to search by author

At first, I really thought that this was an interesting way of reading manga. However, I have nearly a thousand manga in my library and I paid for just a few of them. Most titles are press copies that I received in the days of Protoculture. And I am not planning on starting paying for manga now (anyway, most of the manga I read lately came from my local public library). So, I applied for press copies, but considering that my blog has only a small readership (between fifty and an hundred visits daily), I doubt I would get any.

Anyway, I don’t think it’s worth to pay so much for an electronic version of a manga (for which you can lose access at any moment, which is not the case for a physical book in my library), but with the fourteen-day trial and the premium subscription, it’s a great way to sample titles before committing to purchase a series (electronically or otherwise). 

In their catalog, I found just a few titles of interest (for me anyway):

  • Apollo’s Song, Osamu Tezuka (Kodansha) [Chap. 0 free with ads / Vol. $11.99]
  • Arte, Kei Ohkubo (Coamix) [Chap. 1 free with ads / Chap. 2-15 unlocked with Premium]
  • Ashita no Joe, Asao Takamori, Tetsuya Chiba (Kodansha)[Vol. $19.99 ea]
  • Ayako (Osamu Tezuka, to come later from Kodansha)
  • Battle Angel Alita, Yukito Kishiro (Kodansha)[Chap. 1 free with ads / Vol. $10.99 ea]
  • Battle Angel Alita: Last Order, Yukito Kishiro (Kodansha) [Chap. 1 free with ads / Vol. $19.99 ea]
  • Battle Angel Alita: Mars Chronicle, Yukito Kishiro (Kodansha) [Chap. 1 free with ads / Vol. $10.99 ea]
  • Battle Angel Alita: Holy Night and other stories, Yukito Kishiro (Kodansha) [Vol. $14.99]
  • Black Jack, Osamu Tezuka (Kodansha) [Chap. 1 Free with ads / Vol. $7.99 ea]
  • Beck, Harold Sakuishi (Kodansha) [Chap. 1 free with ads / Vol. $10.99 ea]
  • Blue Period, Tsubasa Yamaguchi (Kodansha) [Chap. 1 free with ads / Vol. $10.99 ea]
  • Buddha, Osamu Tezuka (Kodansha) [Chap. 1 Free with ads / Vol. $11.99]
  • Delinquent Detective: Sukeban Deka (available Fall 2026)
  • Descending stories, Haruko Kumota (Kodansha) [Chap. 1 free with ads / Vol. $12.99 ea]
  • Dororo, Osamu Tezuka (Kodansha) [Chap. 1 free with ads / Vol. $12.99]
  • Ghost in the shell: Stand Alone Complex, Shirow Masamune, Yu Kinutani (Kodansha) [Chap. 1-3 free with ads / Chap. 4-18 unlocked with Premium / Vol. 3-5: $10.99 ea]
  • Initial D, Shuichi Shigeno (Kodansha) [Chap. 1-3 free with ads / Chap. 4-305 unlocked with Premium / Vol. 25-48: $10.99 ea]
  • Le chevalier d’Eon, Tou Ubukata, Kiriko Yumeji (Kodansha) [Chap. 1 free with ads / Vol. $10.99 ea]
  • Manchuria Opium Squad, Tsukasa Monma, Shikako (Kodansha) [Chap. 1 free with ads / Vol. $10.99 ea]
  • Message to Adolf, Osamu Tezuka (Kodansha) [Chap. 1 Free with ads / Vol. $11.99 ea]
  • Mushishi, Yuki Urushibara (Kodansha) [Chap. 1-3 free with ads / Chap. 4-20 unlocked with Premium / Vol. 5-8: $10.99 ea]
  • MW, Osamu Tezuka (Kodansha) [Chap. 1 Premium / Vol. $11.99]
  • Neo Faust, Osamu Tezuka (Ablaze) [Chap. 1-2 with Premium]
  • Ode to Kirihito, Osamu Tezuka (Kodansha) [Chap. 1 Free with ads / Vol. $11.99]
  • One Hundred Tales, Osamu Tezuka (Ablaze) [Chap. 1 Free with ads / Chap. 2-4 unlocked with Premium]
  • Paradise Kiss, Ai Yazawa (Kodansha) [Chap. 1 Free with ads / Vol. $10.99]
  • Princess Knight, Osamu Tezuka (Kodansha) [Chap. 1 Free with ads / Vol. $7.99 ea]
  • Sakuran, Moyoco Anno (Kodansha) [Chap. 1 Free with ads / Vol. $9.99]
  • Shakespear Manga Theatre, Osamu Tezuka (Ablaze) [Chap. 1-2 free with ads / Chap. 3-6 unlocked with Premium]
  • She and her cat, Makoto Shinkai, Tsubasa Yamaguchi (Kodansha)[Chap. 1 free with ads / Vol. $7.99]
  • The Apothecary Diaries, Natsu Hyuuga, Nekokurage, Itsuki Nanao, Touco Shino (Square Enix) [Vol. 1-15: $7.99 ea / $6.39 ea with Premium]
  • The Book of Human Insects, Osamu Tezuka (Kodansha) [Chap. 1 Free with ads / Vol. $7.99]
  • The Drops of God, Tadashi Agi, Shu Okimoto (Kodansha)[Chap. 1-3 free with ads / Chap. 4-219 unlocked with Premium / Vol. 23-44: $10.99 ea]
  • The Drops of God: Mariage, Tadashi Agi, Shu Okimoto (Kodansha) [Chap. 1 free with ads / Vol. : $9.99 ea]
  • The Ghost in the shell, Shirow Masamune (Kodansha) [Chap. 1-3 free with ads / Chap. 4-11 unlocked with Premium / Vol. 1.5-2: $15.99 ea]
  • The Ghost in the shell: The Global Neural Network, Max Gladstone, Alex de Campi, Brenden Fletcher, Genevieve Valentine (Kodansha) [unavailable?]
  • The Ghost in the shell: The Human Algorithm, Shirow Masamune, Junichi Fujisaku, Yuki Yoshimoto (Kodansha) [Chap. 1 free with ads / Vol.: $10.99 ea]
  • The Heroic Legend of Arslan, Yoshiki Tanaka, Hiromu Arakawa (Kodansha) [Chap. 1 free with ads / Vol.: $10.99 ea]
  • The Tale of Genjj: Dreams at Dawn, Waki Yamato (Kodansha) [Chap. 1-3 free with ads / Chap. 4-27 unlocked with Premium / Vol. 6-10: $13.99 ea]
  • Vinland Saga, Makoto Yukimura (Kodansha) [Chap. 1 free with ads / Vol.: $17.99 ea]

When I discovered Omoi, I was hopeful, but in the end their offering is rather disappointing.

And what about the other platforms ? 

  • ComiXology (owned by Amazon, similar to Kindle; app with flat fee of $5.99 US/mo; not publisher specific, offers unlimited access to over 45,000 digital comics, GN and manga)
  • Crunchyroll Manga (expensive flat fee at $13.99 or $17.99 per month, but includes anime). Notable: Initial D, Salary Man Kintaro, The Apothecary Diaries.
  • Manga Plus (owned by Shueisha, flat fee standard at $1.99 or Deluxe at $4.99). Notable: Rurouni Kenshin (255 chap.), Thermae Romae Redux (15 chapters).
  • Mangamo (app with a flat fee of $4.99/mo). Notable: Blue Period.
  • Viz Manga offers a flat-rate subscription ($3.99 US / mo), but it’s mostly Shonen Jump titles (shonen, obviously, so of little interest to me). Notable: Golden Kamuy (314 chapters or 31 volumes) and Tokyo These Days (3 vol.)

However, none of those platforms offers enough interesting titles to justify a subscription. Short of learning Japanese, the best option remains the public library… Although I might try one or two of those for a short time…

Japanese culture update

NHK World Japan documentary series continue to be a great source of information about Japanese culture, history and life — including popular culture like anime and manga. Here are some interesting Video On Demand (VOD) that I have noticed this week.

Comiket

Our Comiket’s History: 50 Years of Love : “First held in 1975, Comiket has long shaped Japan’s creative culture from manga and anime to games and cosplay. The committee, exhibitors, volunteers, fans, and cosplayers share their devotion to it.” This episode was originally broadcast on April 25, 2026 and will be available as VOD until April 25, 2027.

National Museum of Japanese History

Japanese Life and Culture: A Journey Through 37,000 Years ～National Museum of Japanese History～ : “The National Museum of Japanese History boasts a vast collection that traces everyday life and culture through Japan’s history. Andy [Pompilio] and Shaula [Vogue] will travel through time to explore life, culture, and the wisdom and spirituality of Japan.” This episode was originally broadcast on December 5, 2025, with an edit on Jan. 27, 2026; it will be available as VOD until December 5, 2026.

Tokyo National Museum

Explore the Tokyo National Museum : “The Tokyo National Museum is home to a collection of some 120,000 objects of beauty and interest, mainly Japanese art and craft pieces along with work from the Asian mainland and historical artifacts. The museum houses 89 items deemed by the Japanese government to be of especially high value and designated as national treasures. Paying a visit to this historic museum that is celebrating its 150th anniversary are Andy [Pompilio] and Shaula [Vogue], hosts of NHK WORLD-JAPAN’s popular program DESIGN TALKS plus. They marvel at the majestic building, visit an exhibit that offers insights into 30,000 years of creativity in Japan, and revel in the first ever exhibit of every national treasure in the museum’s possession — an experience that will surely make art aficionados across the world jealous. The two also get a glimpse of the future of museums, experiencing high-definition imagery, 3D computer graphics, and other cutting-edge digital technology. Come join us on this 50-minute adventure exploring the Tokyo National Museum, something not to be missed by anyone visiting the metropolis.” This episode was originally broadcast on January 7, 2023  and will be available as VOD until January 24, 2027.

Other notable news

Anime & manga update [002.026.234]

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Pérille en la demeure

Perilla frutescens 'Britton (bicolor)'
Perilla frutescens 'Red'
Perilla frutescens var. crispa fo. Purpurea
Perilla frutescens var. crispa fo. Purpurea

[ iPhone 17 Pro, Jardin botanique & Domus, 2026/08/14 & 16 ]

Perilla frutescens / Pérille / Perilla / cultivar ‘Britton (bicolor)‘ & ‘Red‘

La Pérille aromatique est une plante condimentaire d’origine asiatique qui a un usage alimentaire, médicinal et ornemental. La variété la plus utilisée est la Perilla frutescens var. crispa fo. Purpurea et est le plus souvent connu sous son nom japonais de shiso (シソ / 紫蘇) — qui dérive lui-même du nom chinois (zǐsū). Son feuillage coloré en a d’abord fait une plante ornementale, mais comme elle est comestible et odorante elle a rapidement été utilisée en cuisine: en salade, dans les marinades (漬物 / Tsukemono), en jus, séché en poudre sur le riz (おにぎり / 御握り/ onigiri), pour faire de l’huile (avec les graines), comme colorant (notamment dans les umeboshi ou beni shōga), comme épice (pour aseptiser la viande entre autres) ou encore comme édulcorant. En herboristerie ou phytothérapie, elle est utilisée comme antiallergique. Son goût, sans être désagréable, ne m’a jamais beaucoup enthousiasmé, mais je dois avouer qu’en été, elle permet de concocter des plats rafraîchissants. Il y en a partout dans notre jardin.

Pictorial chronicles [002.026.230]

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Anime & manga update

NHK World Japan continues to be a great source of information about Japanese culture with their documentary series. This time nothing much to report about anime and manga in itself, but I’ve seen several interesting documentaries about Japanese culture, history and life.

Sugamo Diary

From the “Broadcasters’ Eye” series, “Sugamo Diary: The Life of a Class B/C War Criminal” is an anti-war documentary about the diary of a Japanese war criminal. “Near the end of World War II, a Japanese soldier executed four American POWs. A year later, he was sent to Sugamo Prison and sentenced to death. His six-year diary offers a personal reflection on war.” Toji Kentaro was a young man with a sharp mind. He accepted his fate. He understood that the Japanese had a collective responsibility for the war (Japan being the aggressor and the people passively agreeing with its military) and that he was wrong to have killed prisoners. However, they would have been killed anyway, whether he was the executioner or somebody else. He was angry, because he had just found out that his mother was killed in the bombardment. And those airmen were responsible for it, so he volunteered to behead them. After all, they were themself criminals, having just bombed civilians. Also wasn’t the court hypocritical to condemn him to death for having killed those soldiers, who had just killed his mother ? Where does “Justice” stops ? An incredibly insightful reflection on war. This episode was broadcast on August 15, 2026 and will be available as Video On Demand until August 22, 2026.

Otagiri Vegetables Are Delicious

From the same  “Broadcasters’ Eye” series, I noticed an older episode titled “Otagiri Vegetables are Delicious – Depopulation and Aging: The Future of Farming.” 85-year-old Sakai Masayuki lives in Otagiri, in Nagano Prefecture. He’s fighting to keep farming alive as depopulation and aging take a major toll on the area. Join him as he explores possible new solutions to the many problems ahead. This episode was broadcast on November 29, 2025 and will be available as VOD until November 29, 2026.

Picture Brides

Another older episode, this time from the documentary series “Documentary 360”. Titled “Picture Brides: Echoes from Beyond the Frontier,” it tells the story of singer song writer Hana Hope who discovers the history behind the Picture Brides and all those Asian women who helped built America. “A hundred years ago, “picture brides” crossed the ocean to America with just one engagement photo. We have unearthed audio tapes in which they reflect on their lives! This is the story of three generations who found their place in America.” This episode was broadcast on September 12, 2025 and will be available as VOD until September 12, 2026.

Kurashiki: Feline Friends

Finally, no video viewing on the internet would be complete without a cat video. “Kurashiki: Feline Friends” is an episode of the short documentary series “A Cat’s-Eye View of Japan” where Iwago Mitsuaki, a globetrotting wildlife photographer and filmmaker, offers the best of a vast collection of cat footage he took in Japan. “A cat rides his owner’s shoulder through Kurashiki, a city known for its beautiful white-walled storehouses. Friends Mikan and Mame visit a shop for a meal and even offer the shopkeeper some help.” This episode was broadcast on August 15, 2026 and will be available as VOD until August 22, 2026.

Anime & manga update [002.026.228]

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Capsules de curiosité

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Il faut croire que je ne sors pas souvent, reclus dans mon refuge urbain, car je viens tout juste de découvrir que Solaris avait une chaîne YouTube… depuis 2021 ! On y retrouve en autres des rencontres avec des auteurs (comme Philippe-Aubert Côté, Vic Verdier, Éric Gauthier, la rédaction de Brins d’Éternité, Dave Côté, Geneviève Blouin, Mathieu Lauzon-Dicso, Ariane Gélinas, Claude Bolduc, Francine Pelletier, Jonathan Reynolds, Frédérick Durand, Pascal Raud, Jean-Louis Trudel, etc.) mais surtout, plus récemment, les fascinantes capsules du Cabinet des curiosités surnaturelles de Sébastien Chartrand:

  1. Les créatures fantastiques I : Dragons (3:28)
  2. Les créatures fantastiques II : Reptiles (3:29)
  3. Les créatures fantastiques III : Bestiaire marin (3:35)
  4. Les créatures fantastiques IV : Coquillages (4:23)
  5. Les créatures fantastiques V : Les oiseaux (3:32)
  6. Les créatures fantastiques VI : Les végétaux (4:13)
  7. La Géographie de l’impossible I : Le septentrion fantastique (3:37)
  8. La Géographie de l’impossible II : Les mystérieuses cités d’or (2:43)
  9. La Géographie de l’impossible III : Les continents imaginaires (4:02)
  10. La Géographie de l’impossible IV : Les reines noires mythiques (3:43)
  11. La Géographie de l’impossible V : Fabuleuses colonies scandinaves (4:02)
  12. La Géographie de l’impossible VI : Mystérieuse Sibérie (4:52)
  13. Les machines merveilleuses I (4:10)
  14. Les machines merveilleuses II (3:37)
  15. Les machines merveilleuses III (2:30)
  16. Les machines merveilleuses IV (3:50)
  17. Les machines merveilleuses V (3:22)
  18. Magie et sciences occultes I (3:34)
  19. Magie et sciences occultes II (3:37)
  20. Magie et sciences occultes III (3:41)

Attention, il faut être inscrit à YouTube pour voir les vidéos (et parfois, hélas, il y a de la publicité). Chose amusante, il y a apparemment un réglage qui donne la possibilité de visionner les vidéos avec un doublage IA dans la langue de votre choix (principalement l’anglais; vous allez dans “paramètres”, “Piste audio” et sélectionnez la langue de doublage) ! À voir absolument si vous êtes fervent de sciences naturelles et surnaturelles ! Bon visionnement…

(Mise à jour le 2026/08/22)

Funny Life Lessons

Cartoons in the newspaper funnies are not just merely entertainment. They are also often exercises in modern philosophy. We like a cartoon not only because it is funny, but because it touches something in us, making us think “That’s so true”. It makes us smile and it makes us reflect on our human condition.

Here are two examples that I found in my readings this week (from June’s newspapers — yes, I know, I’m late in my readings):

© 2026 Mediagraphics, Inc. Dist. by Andrews McMeel Syndication

The “CrankShaft” story (titled “The Good Old Days, Getting Old Days”) reminds me in a funny way that I am getting old and nostalgic. Each day brings new pains and I cannot do as much as I did before, besides just getting older each day. And it’s only now that we realize how good we had it when we were young, without ever being conscious of how lucky we were. Carpe Diem ! Live in the present and enjoy every moment of it !

©2026 Mark Parisi Dist by Andrews McMeel

The “Off The Mark” story reminds us that the best cure to feeling down is to go out and exercise, surrounded by the beauty of nature. However, if we want to keep being able to make those regenerative walks, we have to take good care of our natural environment (Please Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle — also keep the park clean!). Sitting inside and staring at your phone is the worse thing you can do for your health. Believe me, there is nothing like a good walk in the park, looking at greenery, flowers, birds and other creatures!

Keep reading (even cartoons!) and keep learning. That’s the only way to constantly improve yourself. Ja ne !

Paululum Rideamus [002.026.227]

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Revue de ‘zines

Je continue (tant bien que mal) mon perpétuel rattrapage sur les magazines et autres ‘zines pertinents dans mon champ d’intérêt… Pour vous éviter le souci de courir après l’information, j’en épluche donc le contenu pour vous. C’est plein de bonnes suggestions de lectures… (Faute de temps et d’énergie, j’ai limité ou omis les hyperliens. Si vous voulez en savoir plus sur un auteur, un titre ou un sujet, vous pouvez consulter par vous-même soit Google ou Wikipedia!)

Animeland #254 (Avr. – Juin 2026)

Ce numéro nous offre un dossier sur One Piece: le manga, portrait du créateur, Eiichirô ODA, les Vivre Cards, l’univers étendu, les versions anime, l’Exposition Emotion, rencontres avec Hisashi Kagawa (chara-designer), Tatsuya Nagamine & Keni Yokoyama (directeur et animateur), Vincent Chansard (animateur), Noureddine Widad (producteur et aide du studio Massket), et les versions françaises.

On retrouve également un dossier sur le 70 ans de TOEI animation: L’Histoire de Toei, Toei en 30 productions, ainsi que des Rencontres avec Shin’ya Hasegawa (animateur), et Katsuyoshi Nakatsuru (animateur & chara-designer).

Le numéro se conclut sur une série de chroniques: Wish List (nous offre une sélection de mangas, anime et goodies), Hommage (Kiriko Nananan, mangaka de Blue), Aparté (rencontres avec Yumiko Shirai [Wombs], Mujirushi Shimazaki & Kuroimori [Erio & The Electric Doll] et Koré Yamazaki [Ancient Magnus Bride, Ghost & Witch]), et Postface.

À lire absolument pour tous fans d’anime.

dBD #200 (mai-juin 2026)

Dans le cahier actualités on mentionne la parution de Printemps bleu par Taiyo Matsumoto chez Delcourt/Tonkam, de Métal Hurlant #18 sous-titré “Upgrade ou crève“ sur le thème du transhumanisme, la réédition patrimoniale de Le char de l’État dérape sur le sentier de la guerre par F’Murr chez Édition 2042, de Eyeshield 21 Brain Brave par Riichirô Inagaki et Yûsuke Murata et Dragon Ball Full Color – Les Saiyans par Akira Toriyama, tous deux chez Glénat. On retrouve également un article (L’Intégrale du mois) sur la traduction du western italien La Conquête de l’Ouest, vol. 1-2, par Gino d’Antonio, Renzo Calegari et Renato Polese aux Éditions Paquet.

À la une de ce numéro anniversaire, dBD a demandé à dix collaborateurs de présenter leur bibliothèque idéale des dix dernière années, leur entrevue favorite ainsi qu’un coup de coeur: Philippe Peter (#1: Révolution par Grouazel & Locard chez Actes Sud, entrevue avec Guillaume Singelin, coup de coeur: Le voyage de Marcel Grob par Colin & Goethals chez Futuropolis), Yannick Lejeune (#1: 1629, ou l’effreyante histoire des naufragés du Jakarta par Dorison & Montaigne chez Glénat, entrevue avec Xavier Dorison, coup de coeur: House of X / Powers of X par Hickman, Larraz & Silva chez Panini), Philippe Tomblaine (#1: Révolution par Grouazel & Locard chez Actes Sud), Éric Adam (#1 La Couleur des choses par Martin Panchaud, entrevue avec Jean-David Morvan, coup de coeur: L’Odyssée d’Hakim par Fabien Toulmé chez Delcourt), Jean-Samuel Kriegk (#1: Spirou, L’Espoir malgré tout par Émile Bravo chez Dupuis, entrevue avec Bryan Talbot, coup de coeur: Imbattable par Pascal Jousselin chez Dupuis), Frédérique Pelletier (#1: Maus, un survivant raconte par  Art Spiegelman chez Flammarion), Philippe Cauvin (#1: Lucky Luke: Les Rivaux de Painful Gulch, par Morris & Goscinny chez Dupuis), Maxime Gueugneau (#1: Le Grand Vide par Léa Murawiec chez 2042, entrevue avec Léa Murawiec, coup de coeur: La vie est une corvée par Salomé Lahoche chez Exemplaire), et le Géant Vert (#1: Viens faire un tour chez Marx Donald par Prior & Danide chez Ça et Là, entrevue avec Magali Le Huche, coup de coeur: Les Derniers Jours de Robert Johnson par Frantz Duchazeau chez Sarbacane). 

Les entrevues se poursuivent avec Matthieu Bonhomme (sur La Longue Marche de Lucky Luke, chez Lucky Comics) et Brigitte Lecardier (sur La réalité est énorme, avec Arcady Picardi, chez Dupuis). 

Côté manga on retrouve une entrevue avec Oh! Great (auteur de Air Gear et Bakemonogatari, sur Smoke, un manga réalisé en couleur et en format franco-belge publié chez Kana) et “Le Territoire des Mangas” nous présente sur deux pages les nouveautés du genre (No Longer A-Rank Party T.1 par Unagi, Zombie & Yûri chez Delcourt/Tonkam, Shinobi Undercover T.1 par Takegushi & Mitarashi chez Soleil, Mad T.1 par Yusuke Otori chez Kazé, Smother Me T.1 par Hiroshi Shimamoto chez Glénat, Blade & Bastard T.1 par Fugetsu & Kagyu chez Pika, No Devil T.1 par Senchiro chez Big Kana).

Et finalement quelques rubriques : dans le Cahier Critique on commente des parutions récentes (j’y note Le dernier écrivain par Chitose Akai chez Glénat), “Ça vaut le détour” commente quelques titres supplémentaires, puis L’Art de la couverture (Dred Scott par Jérome Ropert, Tom Graffin & Thibault Descamps chez Grand Angle), et Humeur.

Une lecture indispensable pour se tenir au courant des nouveautés en BD.

Métal Hurlant N° 17 (Nov. 2025)

Ce numéro regroupe 27 courts récits et 12 articles (que je n’ai parcourue qu’en diagonale sauf les entrevues avec Shintaro Kago et Naoki Urasawa que j’ai lu avec beaucoup d’intérêt) sur le thème de “l’Hôtel de la Dernière Nuit” (pourquoi faut-il que quand il est question d’hôtel ou de motel on en vienne presque toujours à de l’horreur ou du fantastique ? Heureusement, parfois cela donne aussi de la SF)! Comme pour les numéros que j’ai commentés précédemment, si souvent les styles (extrêmement variés) des artistes n’étaient pas toujours de mon goût, j’ai quand même trouvé que la plupart des courts récits méritait d’être lus. J’ai mis en caractères gras les titres les plus intéressants (narrativement et/ou graphiquement)…

Ce numéro nous présente donc les récits suivants: ”Hôtel Baja” (Salvador Sanz, 7 pg), “Étoiles Fugitives” (Daniel Blancou & David Ferracci, 7 pg), “Do Not Disturb” (Ryan Heshka, 7 pg), “Hôtel Paradis” (Gregory Panaccione, 9 pg), “Mizpah, Tonopah” (Jerry Frissen & Afif Khaled, 8 pg, B&W), “Otto” (Alexander & Dona Asisi), “Vénus” (rien mangold & Eduardo Francisco, 9 pg), “Bye Bye, Planète Poussière” (Anne Masse, 9 pg), “Week-End d’Évasion” (Koren Shadmi & Kilos Felvidéki, 9 pg), “Cornelius” (Miguel Baqbiano & Alex C. Santana, 9 pg), “Tartarus Hôtel” (Thibault Claudel & Ronan Toulhoat, 9 pg), “Yomi Motel” (Jacques Després, B&W, 7 pg), “Villa Castagnola” (Marvin Paval & Julien Noirel, 9 pg), “Desert Lake Motel” (Lola Owl & Iwan Lépingle, 5 pg), “Le Petit Homme de Prague” (Miguel Vila, 9 pg), “El Rancho Motel” (Otto Maddox & Erwann Surcouf, 7pg), “Voyage Immobile” (Étienne Appert, 7 pg), “L’Hôtel Beauregard” (Benoit Feroumont, 9 pg), “Les Âmes Salées” (Céline Colliot-Thélène & Joseph Callioni, 9 pg), “Entre-Monde” (Thibaud de Rochebrune, 5 pg), “Le Grand Tour” (Fabrizio Dori, 11 pg), “L’Amant Épris” (Enzo Berkati, 5 pg), “La Somnambule” (Alexandre Kha, 9 pg), “Jour de Chance” (Lilian Coquillaud, 9 pg), “La Vouivre” (Galaad, 7 pg), “Dark Polar” (Philippe Scoffoni, B&W, 9 pg), et “Honey Moon Suite” (J.R. Hughto & Curt Merlo, 5 pg).

Inégal, mais une bonne lecture quand même.

Pour plus d’Infos: [ Goodreads • Humanos • Nelligan • Wikipedia ]

Revue de ‘zines [002.026.221]

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Revue de ‘zines

Je continue (tant bien que mal) mon perpétuel rattrapage sur les magazines et autres ‘zines pertinents dans mon champ d’intérêt… Pour vous éviter le souci de courir après l’information, j’en épluche donc le contenu pour vous. C’est plein de bonnes suggestions de lectures… (Faute de temps et d’énergie, j’ai limité ou omis les hyperliens. Si vous voulez en savoir plus sur un auteur, un titre ou un sujet, vous pouvez consulter par vous-même soit Google ou Wikipedia!)

Animeland #253 (Jan. – Mars 2026)

Un autre numéro sous le signe de la nostalgie ! Celui-ci nous offre un dossier sur le 50e anniversaire de Goldorak: la série TV de Goldorak (Grendizer), sa réception en France, l’exposition à Japan Expo, le manga, piloter Goldorak, les autres mangas clefs de Gô Nagai (Mazinger, Devilman, Cutie Honey, Kekko Kamen, Violence Jack), Goldorak U (remake), rencontre avec Barbara Tissier (comédienne et directrice artistique). Pour compléter le sujet on retrouve également un dossier sur les robots géants: mecha designs, l’origine, expositions, rencontre, panel et exposition sur Yoshikazu Yasuhiko (char. des. de Gundam), exposition sur Mamoru Nagano (L-Gaim, Five Star Stories), rencontres avec Shinji Aramaki (Artmic: Mospeada, Appleseed, Megazone 23, Madox-01, Gasaraki, Bubblegum Crisis), Toshihiro Kawamoto (BONES: Cowboy Bepop, Wolf’s Rain), Yoshitomo Yonetani (GaoGaiGar), Gorô Taniguchi (Code Geass), et panel M.S. Gundam GQuuuuuuX.

Le numéro se conclut sur une série de chroniques: Wish List (nous offre une sélection de mangas, anime et goodies), Aparté (rencontres avec Naoki Urasawa, Disciples), et Postface.

À lire absolument pour tous fans d’anime.

dBD #199 (mars-avril 2026)

Dans le cahier actualités on mentionne la parution de Princesse Saphir vol. 1, par Osamu Tezuka, chez Delcourt et du Jojo’s Travel Guide par Hirohiko Araki & Akiyo Yura également chez Delcourt. On y retrouve aussi un article sur la réédition en dix volumes de La Grande Histoire de Picsou T.1 par Don Rosa chez Glénat.

À la une de ce numéro, on retrouve une entrevue monstre avec José-Louis Bocquet (sur son oeuvre en général). Les entrevues se poursuivent avec Salvarore Adamo (sur son dernier disque, Des nèfles et des groseilles…, chez Universal, sa collection d’art et ses relations avec les dessinateurs), avec Clément Argouarc’h, Daniel Goossens et Yves Frémion qui rendent hommage à Édika (Édouard Karali) décédé en décembre 2025, avec Virginie Ollagnier et Yan Le Pen (sur L’escadron bleu, 1945, chez Dupuis), Alex Jordanov (sur Radio Club, avec Ké Clero, chez Glénat), 

Côté manga on retrouve un article sur Rumiko Takahashi (sur Urusei Yatsura, Maison Ikkoku, Ranma 1/2, Inu-Yasha, Rinne, Mao, One-Pound Gospel, Mermaid Saga, Rumic World et la parution chez Glénat de Rumiko Takahashi Colors, 1978-2024) et  “Le Territoire des Mangas” nous présente sur deux pages les nouveautés du genre (Kraken Mare T.1 [Izu & Hagane, chez Pika], Shiba Inu Rooms T.1 [Esu Oomori, chez Doki Doki], Spring Storm and Monster T.1 [Mitsubachi Miyuki, chez Delcourt/Tonkam], The Regalia of the Underdog T.1 [Shinachiku, chez Glénat], The Hitman’s Fave [Rintaro Ôshima, chez Kurokawa] et Goze Hotaru T.1 [Kou Tosaya, chez Kazé]).

Et finalement quelques rubriques : dans le Cahier Critique on commente des parutions récentes (je note Train de nuit dans la Voie lactée (Adrien Demont, d’après Kenji Miyazawa, chez Morgen), Rai Rai Rai t.1 (Yoshiaki, chez Ki-oon), Witch and Mercenary t.1 (Kaoru Chôhôkiteki & Makoto Miyagi, chez Doki Doki), et Mon adolescence explosive t.1 (Tao Nohara, chez Doko Doki)), “Ça vaut le détour” commente quelques titres supplémentaires (dont Planetarium Ghost Travel par Sakana Sakatsuki, chez Rue de Sèvres), puis L’Art de la couverture (Sigi t.1 par Érik Arnoux & David Morancho, chez Glénat), Avant-Première (extrait de six pages de Le Marche-Lune, par Simon Spruyt, chez Le Lombard) et Humeur.

Une lecture indispensable pour se tenir au courant des nouveautés en BD.

Revue de ‘zines [002.026.220]

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Anime & Manga update 

NHK World Japan continues to be a great source of information about Japanese culture with their documentary series, and many of them are about anime & manga. Here are some recent documentaries that I found interesting:

Anime Manga Explosion

The latest episode of this documentary series is offering us a Detective Conan Special, which is “a mystery series loved for more than 30 years. We introduce the appeal of the original manga and go behind the scenes of the anime’s production, exploring how mysteries are adapted for animation and how the characters are designed with respect for the source manga. We also follow the scenario meetings where the anime’s original stories are created, and highlight the dedication of the staff behind this long-running series.”This episode was broadcast on July 25, 2026 and will be available as Video-On-Demand (VOD) until July 25, 2027.

Manben

The latest episode of “Manben: Behind the Scenes of Manga with Urasawa Naoki” is dedicated to Oshimi Shuzo. “Check out manga artist Oshimi Shuzo, whose trauma-probing stories have led to many screen adaptations. Learn how manga can be self-therapy as he works on Blood on the Tracks and Welcome Back, Alice.” This episode was broadcast on July 18, 2026 and will be available as Video-On-Demand (VOD)  until July 18, 2027.

AI x Anime

An episode of the documentary series “Deeper Look” was dedicated to the impact of AI on anime. Titled The Future of Animation in the Age of AI, it asked the question: “Is generative AI a creative revolution or chaos? Rob Salkowitz, technology and pop culture analyst, examines the impact on the animation industry.” This episode was broadcast on February 2, 2026 and will be available as VOD until February 2, 2027.

Animated Documentary

It is August, therefore NHK is offering a lot of stories about the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This is a nice animation titled Iwata’s Grandma that retell the personal experience of Chizuko. “Why does Iwata’s Grandma refuse to be in photos? This animation documentary is based on a picture book about the atomic bomb tragedy, but conveys kindness and hope rather than fear and anxiety.” This episode was broadcast on July 31, 2025 and will be available as VOD until July 29, 2027.

Barefoot Gen

The documentary series “Project X: Unsung Heroes” is offering an episode titled “Barefoot Gen: Bridging the Divide”. It is another story about the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, but this time it focuses on a group of young Japanese and American in the 70s (including Oshima Masahiro, Jim Peck, and Alan Gleason) who were impressed with the depth of the manga Barefoot Gen by Nakazawa Keiji and decided to form “Project Gen”to translate it in English. A must-see documentary! “The true story of how amateur translators brought a manga about the Hiroshima atomic bombing to the US and the world, bridging cultural divides and spreading a message of peace.” This episode was broadcast on August 1, 2026 and will be available as Video-On-Demand ONLY UNTIL August 8, 2026.

Netflix Japanese drama

I am almost done with watching the 151-episode morning drama series Mampuku (まんぷく / lit. “full stomach” or “stuffed”). I have already talked about it in a previous update, but I can only add that, if you like Japanese culture and food, this is a must-see series. It is the story of the couple who, through a lot of hardship, invented the instant ramen and the cup noodles ! I just bought some Nissin package instant ramen to celebrate this show. When I am done with this show I will most probably continue with another morning drama. This 15-minute format is really a blast !

So far, I could find just another Japanese Morning Drama series on Netflix: Soar High! (舞いあがれ! / Maiagare!) about a young woman who wants to become a pilot. It is a 2022 126-episode series with Haruka Fukuhara, Katsunori Takahashi and Hiromi Nagasaku. “Passion. Dedication. Flight. With a childhood dream in her heart, Mai toils to become a pilot — but the long path to her first takeoff never deters her.” [Wikipedia]

Other notable news

The digital manga service Omoi has announced at Otakon that it will release Shinji Wada‘s Delinquent Detective: Sukeban Deka shojo manga on its manga reader app this fall. It has also acquired fifty-four manga titles from Kodansha, including many manga by Osamu Tezuka (Apollo’s Song, Ayako, Black Jack, Buddha, Dororo, Message to Adolf, MW, Ode to Kirihito, Princess Knight, The Book of Human Insects), Moyoco Anno’s Sakuran and Ai Yazawa’s Paradise Kiss. Omoi is a digital manga service that makes it easy to read hundreds of legally licensed manga series across a variety of genres and publishers, for one low price (Premium: $4.99 US / mo). It distributes manga from English manga publishers like Kodansha and J-Novel Club, as well as exclusive series licensed directly from Japan. Fans can read manga on Web, iOS, and Android, and Omoi pays royalties back to publishers based on readership data. (Sources: ANN, Omoi)

Drawn & Quarterly has announced at the San Diego Comic-Con the acquisition of Shigeo Ito’s Marmalade Princess  and Hinako Sugiura‘s Miss Hokusai manga to be released respectively in spring and fall 2027. (Source: ANN)

Anime & manga update [002.026.214]

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Le parc en juillet / The park in July

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[ iPhone 17 Pro, Parc Frédéric-Back, 2026/07/19 & 31]

Juillet est le mois où le parc est à son plus coloré. On y retrouve de nombreuses fleurs, notamment des Échinacées, des Topinambours, des Monardes, et de la Carotte sauvage (dont le nom est tellement plus poétique en anglais: Queen Anne’s lace, ou dentelle de la reine Anne). On remarque que les ouvriers travaillent à l’aménagement d’une nouvelle section du parc, le Boisé Ouest, qui en sera la colline la plus élevée et qui devrait ouvrir en juin 2017. On note également que des Bernaches ont fait un retour dans le parc, probablement chassées par les incendies de forêts du nord. Le parc est donc à son meilleurs et il fait si bon s’y promener.

July is the month when the park is at its most colourful. There are many flowers there, including Echinacea, Jerusalem artichokes, Bergamot, and Wild Carrot (whose common name is so much more poetic: Queen Anne’s lace). We note that workers are working on the development of a new section of the park, the Boisé Ouest, which will be its highest hill and which should open in June 2017. We also note that Geese have made a return to the park, probably driven out by the forest fires in the north. The park is therefore at its best and it is so good to walk there.

Pictorial chronicles [002.026.213]

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Introduction to the Saviour

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My wife picked up a manga at the cultural center’s bazar from an artist that she remembers liking when she was younger: Kyôko Ariyoshi (有吉京子).

She was born in Kumamoto in 1950 and started trying to get stories published when she was a teenager in junior high school. After graduation, having received letters of encouragement from magazine editors, she moved to Tokyo to become a shōjo mangaka. In 1971, she was selected as a finalist in the 9th Margaret Manga Research Student competition and published her first story, “仔ネコと少女” [zi Neko To Shōjo / lit. “Kitten and Girl”], in Weekly Margaret summer supplement. It was quickly followed in #32 of Weekly Margaret by the ballet story “白鳥の歌をきいて！” [Hakuchō no uta o kīte! / “Listen to the swan song!“]. 

For five years, she had to comply with her editor’s instruction to draw school manga, but in 1976 she finally got the permission to draw the ballet story she always wanted to do and for which she is now mostly known. And thus, Swan began its serialization in issue 47 of Weekly Margaret and lasted for six years (1976-1981, compiled in 21 volumes !). It was followed by many sequels (白鳥の祈り [Hakuchō no inori / “The Swan’s Prayer”] and Swan Act II) and other ballet stories (アプローズ -喝采- [Apurōzu – kassai – / “Applause”], ニジンスキー寓話 [Nijinsukī gūwa / “Nijinsky Fables”], etc.). Swan is her only work to have been translated in English, but unfortunately publication stopped after volume 15 (2005-2010, CMX Comics). For more information you can check: Manga Update [author • title] and Wikipedia [JP / EN / FR].

Introduction to the Saviour [救世主入門 / Kyūseishu nyūmon] is a minor work. It was serialized in Bessatsu Princess magazine from 1993 No. 10 to 1994 No. 17 and was compiled in two volumes in 1994 by Akita Shoten’s Princess Comics (Vol. 1: 1994-01-21, 183 pages, 978-4-253-07556-5; Vol. 2: 1994-12-16, 211 pages, 978-4-253-07565-7). The back cover description simply says: 庭師にして、元救世主…それは誰!?　心優しく不思議な青年・ジョーが示す奇跡とは…!? [A gardener and a former savior… who is that!? What kind of miracle will Joe, a kind-hearted and mysterious young man, show…!?].

Basically, it’s the story of Jesus being reincarnated into a young gardener and trying to make good and helping people around him… The art is relatively simple, but quite nice. As for the storytelling, well, I wish my Japanese was better so I could tell you more about the story. I just thought this was an interesting find worth talking about. Unfortunately, there are so many nice old shōjo manga that were published in the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s that only a fraction of them can by translated and we’ll never know most of them…

Here’s a few sample pages:

And a rough translation: 

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