So, how many of you out there forgot that T’pop has a Hamburg office? Be honest. (Yeah, I thought so.)

German Manga? Yep.

Kinda throws all the standard arguments about authentic vs. OEL manga out the window, doesn’t it? One also supposes that titles like this one and A Midnight Opera and the Manga Fieber compilations lend support to Tokyopop’s use of the term Global manga as opposed to OEL. (Since the O. L. for these is German. And just wait until I get into nouvelle manga — not that I read French, but it looks like Ponent Mon has things covered)

I’m thankful for enough cognates and half-remembered high school and university German classes that I can navigate tokyopop.de, because they have a preview up of volume 2, which you can check out after reading the first book, or as a way to see Anike Hage’s art & style, or because you read German. And wait, is that Honey and Clover auf Deutsch? Verdammt! Ist meine Hälfte sich erinnerte an deutsches gutes genug, ein vollständiges Buch zu lesen? Und liefern sie an die United States? Say, T’pop: what are the chances of getting Honey and Clover auf English?

(The German version of Extra Heavy Syrup looks pretty damn tempting too. Aber vergessen das…)

Obviously, if we really wanted to find Goths (loli or otherwise), Deutschland is a decent place to start. Let’s take a look at Anike-sensei’s book, shall we?

Gothic Sports, vol. 1

Published by: Tokyopop
Writer & Artist: Anike Hage

192 (168) pages.
Original Language: German
Orientation: Right to left
Vintage: 2006. US edition May 2007.
Translation: Annika Romero
Adaptation: Erin M. Blakemore
Retouch & Lettering: Star Print Borkers
Production Artist: Mike Estacio
Cover Design: Jose Macasocol, Jr.
Editor: Carol Fox
Publisher’s Rating: Teen, ages 13+

Rating: 4 out of 5

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Premise: Won’t let her play with the boys? She’ll just take her ball and form her own team. With cool uniforms, even…

Synopsis:

Anya is the new girl at Lucrece High. She’s been trying for years to transfer in, not only because Lucrece is noted for it’s academics, but also for it’s top ranked sports teams. When she tries to sign up for a team, though, things don’t go as smoothly as she had hoped.

She’s too short for basketball, and the soccer coach doesn’t seem likely to give any girl a chance to play. Anya isn’t the sort to take things lying down, though, and manages to find enough misfits and malcontents that want to play to start forming her own team.

And the new soccer group almost catches a break: they have permission from the principal to start not just a club, but a new school-sponsored girls soccer team, but only if they can perform well in a test match versus the boys.

Anya still needs to find enough players to field a full eleven. (but at least they already have the cool uniforms.)

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Review:

Like some of the titles from Seven Seas, the book reads right to left even though it wasn’t originally written in Japanese. Alongside that is the unfamiliar-if-not-quite-Japanese name on the cover, combined with the [*cough*] high concept of girls soccer plus misfit kids plus fashionable uniforms. I think we’re going to trick quite a few kids into picking this one up and they’re going to have no idea that it’s not Japanese.

Which is a good thing. And it’s a good book, so there.

Obviously there isn’t going to be much new plotwise, as this seems like just another sports manga, but it’s a well executed example of the type. Anya and her new friends are likeable characters, and I’m willing to give this title a volume or five to build on the premise and work it’s way toward something a bit more exciting than the obvious boys-vs-girls matchup. This seems a lot like Angel Cup (previously reviewed, twice) though with a much different vibe and personality.

The title may not be able to keep momentum going but this is a strong start — and of course, I like the uniforms. I’m giving Gothic Sports 4 marks out of 5. (For those out there who can’t get into the ‘goth’ thing, I’ll note that even without the fashion this would be a solid 3.)

shill: Gothic Sports is available from TRSI