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Seed of an Idea
Bob hasn’t posted in a coon’s age but he’s still active (in an odd definition of the term…)
–here’s an excerpt from a recent email (me to Bob)
You’re watching Eva right now: that’s a 12 year old anime but it’s a classic — evergreen, always of note; combine it with gundam, macross, and patlabor and you have very strong case for defining ‘giant robots’ as a genre: in that light Voltron can be painted as a pared-back, dumbed down version for the kids, Transformers is a cool toy line that ended up as an adaptation for the western market, Eva itself was an update of earlier tropes for the mid 90s (as Macross was for the 80s) and the whole robot thing goes back to astroboy and tetsujin 28(gigantor) and that shit is 50 years old — and this is *all* still worth talking about.
SO, fanbase, here’s a question:
Yeah, sure, the fan boys & girls are posting on any & all anime and manga that are so brand freakin’ new they’re not even available in the States yet, but that doesn’t begin to cover the admittedly short history of the medium — Where is the criticism? Where’s the analysis?
Even reviews (of which there are legion) break down into a “yeah I like” “gods I hate it” dichotomy, but where is the insight? Is it enough to say, “this is good stuff here,” without context? I’m not looking for scholarly papers (OK, so maybe I am) but past that — What about the ‘backlist,’ properties from just a couple of years ago, or even a decade ago: is there a readership for reviews that go further than the shiny-new-novelty of the very latest reviews? I mean, I have a stack of Erika Sakurazawa manga just to hand (even closer than the beer, even) and I think it’d be great to break these down in series of reviews. But would anyone care? …not to mention the giant-robot-essay that I managed to outline–off the cuff–in an email to a friend of mine. Obviously I could write that up in a couple of days (or a week) but what’s the point?
Folks only link to the new new new.
Flip that around: As bloggers, yeah we like the new, too, but we’re also looking for links and readers. We only cover the very latest, because we think that’s what the wide internets want to read…
and yet, there is this big black hole of even a couple of years ago where lurk properties that really should be discussed but no one will bother because it’s not now.
I don’t know if this is something that can be fixed, but damn, I’m going to take a hard look in the next few months and see if this isn’t something that someone can address.
Posted by Matt Blind on May 4th, 2008
under Site News, snark.
Comments
Comment from John Thomas
Time: May 5, 2008, 12:51 pm
I agree 100%. I look at titles even only a few months old, and think “It’s too late” which is silly, as it isn’t like books go bad… Great insight!
Comment from Lissa
Time: May 5, 2008, 3:58 pm
Review what you’re reading I say, regardless of how old it is. When I reread an older manga that’s been sitting on my shelf, I review it. A day, a year, it doesn’t make any quality difference for the books and I personally would love to read more reviews for older books in general. They’re still sitting on store shelves, waiting to be bought and deserve the same spotlight treatment as the newer ones. Some nice insightful reviews are always a treat to read too so I say bring ‘em on!
Comment from Michelle
Time: May 5, 2008, 4:11 pm
I’m interested.
Review what ever you’re reading, or when you have something to say about it. I’m always interested in old reviews, because I often get stuff even a YEAR after it came out.
Reviews that’s gives more insight is a good too. I don’t even mind if it’s mostly opinion. I like the fact that the reviewer points out something interesting that I’ve never thought of or tell why it’s so good, ect. Just be careful not to go on tangents….
Comment from Matt Blind
Time: May 5, 2008, 5:09 pm
I’m all about tangents — I can’t even get through a paragraph without throwing in at least one parenthetical aside.
I get your point, though: for the (still hypothetical, but looking more likely all the time) new set of reviews of older material I’ll try to keep on topic, and will likely edit myself more heavily (edit as in rewrites, not censorship) because after all, it’s not like a review of manga from 2002 is time sensitive.
Comment from Chloe Ferguson
Time: May 5, 2008, 8:18 pm
There’s a focus on the new because, well, when companies ship out to reviewers, it IS the new. There’s certainly a void for someone to go back in and catch all the things missed, though. Simply put, it’s possible to request an older title from a pub, but when you’re facing a stack of new stuff that needs to get reviewed and out the door every month, the will to get after a publisher for older editions kinda goes out of you. Not to mention that if a pub sends a box of new stuff out, they’re probably not hugely inclined to start catering to backorder requests until you blow through what’s given…and lo, the reviewing hole grows ever deeper.
Comment from John Thomas
Time: May 5, 2008, 8:42 pm
I have never heard a publisher complain about having to ship stuff from their back catalog. If they have cases of the title sitting in boxes, you are doing them a favor. At the same time, all publishers can do is ask you to review new stuff, as that is what is getting the immediate attention, but I have talked to at least one publisher that is always excited by ANY exposure to their company’s titles, new or old(er).
Comment from Matt Blind
Time: May 5, 2008, 9:11 pm
…this is where I have a distinct advantage, perhaps, if I can be allowed to spin the facts in a positive direction
I don’t get advanced copies. Oh sure, I work at a book store and in fact we see the HC and RH field reps at least twice a year, but these fine, hardworking folks are pimping the entire line, not the manga imprints — well, not just the manga. They try. In fact, I often explain the manga offerings to *them*, so they can then share the info with other booksellers.
There are loads of galleys and ARCs knocking around the store; but manga, not so much. I got the first copy of Kilala Princess, Stone Bridge mailed me a copy of the Anime Encyclopedia *after* I mentioned a few of their other titles in a New Release post, Toni was good enough to hook me up with an ARC of Thompson’s book about 6 months before it hit stores, which was extremely cool — but there have been some real random grabs. Warcraft vol 2, after vol 3 came out? Avatar Cine-manga? This is what I have to work with.
So I get to review the stuff I like because I have to buy it, and while I’ll gladly risk a sawbuck or two on an untried title, by the time I get to 4 or 5 volumes worth of an investment (that is, a big enough pile to bear up to the brunt of some heavy analysis) then it goes without saying that there is something about the books that I really like.
Which is part of the reason I often don’t review these titles because I’ll come off as a fanboy cheerleader posting rave review after rave review — but combined with other points (noted in the post above) an enthusiasm for the material isn’t the same sort of handicap if the goal is criticism and analysis, as opposed to a thumbs-up-thumbs-down or 5 point rating.
You folks have answered my question, I think. There is a need, and an audience.
Comment from Katherine Dacey
Time: May 6, 2008, 6:22 am
Castigating manga reviewers for focusing on new arrivals is like chiding David Denby for focusing on the latest Adam Sandler movie instead of one that was released two years ago. When media outlets do revisit older material, it’s usually because the work (a) has demonstrated longevity and significance and (b) has reached an important milestone, i.e. the thirtieth anniversary of Star Wars or the fiftieth anniversary of Johnny Cash’s Live at Folsom Prison. I can think of a handful of manga titles that fall into this category, but not too many, given the medium’s brief history in English. (Put another way: would you read your local paper’s movie section if it focused on films released three, four, or eight years ago to the exclusion of what was playing at the multiplex right now? I wouldn’t.)
I also think your comments about the quality of manga criticism are a little off-base. To be sure, there are plenty of sites that vacillate between fanboy gushing and outright snark–two of the easiest poses a critic can adopt–but rating systems don’t automatically preclude “criticism and analysis” any more than a healthy enthusiasm for the material. Carlo Santos’ Right Turn Only! is a great example of a column that entertains and critiques without bogging down in verbiage.
Don’t get me wrong–I’m all for thoughtful criticism, and for highlighting great books that got lost during the last Naruto blitz. But coming from someone whose blog focuses on current manga sales, industry trends, and new releases, this post feels a little disingenuous.
Comment from Matt Blind
Time: May 6, 2008, 11:34 am
You might also have noticed, we’ve been mighty lax when it comes to reviewing *anything* recently.
After a year and a half of this thing, Bob and I are spitballing ideas about the blog, what we might want to do with it, and What Comes Next.
Originally started as comic review site, we quickly (as in, I came in and starting writing my posts) transitioned to comics & manga, and then to mostly manga, and then to viewpoints on the industry (because I am a bookseller and I had something to say about it) and then also to the manga sales charts because I am a big honkin’ Nerd in addition to being a geek and a fan (and possibly also a dork)
So yes, I already had “the seed of an idea” when I posted a drunken, sloppy rant to my blog about fanboy ‘critics’ and what I saw as a lack of insight into comics.
The only thing that I have perhaps proven is that
1) I don’t read enough other blogs to generalize
and
2) Katherine has excellent insight into people. (that or my writing is about a subtle as a handgrenade in a barrel full of oatmeal)
Thank you for your comments, Katherine, and you are correct, I was being disingenuous. I already had half an answer and was looking for a little confirmation from the internet.
Your points are quite valid, and something I need to consider as we transition to Comicsnob 2.0.
Pingback from comicsnob.com » The (small) Reveal
Time: May 6, 2008, 7:45 pm
[…] Only because it is true: My reply, as posted to the comments of the original post “You might also have noticed, we’ve been mighty lax when it comes to reviewing *anything* recently. […]
Comment from Sabrina
Time: May 7, 2008, 5:53 pm
This is a great idea. In fact, once I trudge through all the manga I have in my house, I’ve got a list of great, old manga that could use some lovin’.
A.K.A.:
Duck Prince (the Ai Morinaga series that everyone forgets about)
From Eroica with Love (vintage 70s, yo)
a Basara-thon (vintage 90s, yo-squared)
Urusei Yatsura (my pride and joy, the first volume! And it’s not the Perfect Collection either!)
All sitting on my shelves. Look for these reviews on Comics Village or my LJ, lalacanthearyou, soon!
Comment from Erin F.
Time: May 8, 2008, 4:38 pm
If you’re looking academic criticism of anime and manga, have you checked out Mechademia? http://www.mechademia.org/
I can think of another reason why bloggers tend to only review new releases: It’s easy to find new manga titles in both comic book stores and bookstores. In B&N stores I’ve checked out the new releases get prime real estate. My local comic shop tends to have multiple copies of the flavor of the week - back issues get a little weird in terms of manga.
When it comes to titles time forgot, like Tough or The First President of Japan, it’s a little hard to find this stuff in stores. I had to do some real digging to find volume one of Taiyo Matsumoto’s No. 5 (volume two is plentiful for some reason) - I still want to review it, but the aim of that review would be to get a re-release by Viz. It’s kind of cruel to the blog readers to review awesome stuff they won’t be able to find… It’s one thing if it’s good, but it’s just kind of weird to review a mediocre title from a couple years ago. “It’s kinda lame! Good luck finding it! Over and out!”
Although now that I think about it, it would be interesting to do a column on $5 Bin manga, because the same titles come up in the $5 bin at conventions, and readers could know what to look for. (Examples: Cyborg 009, Firefighter, Moon Child)
Pingback from Kuriousity » Blog Archive » Summer Review Time!
Time: May 12, 2008, 1:47 pm
[…] Now for some future stuff: there’s been some talk on various sites about more reviews for older series, perfect timing for my upcoming summer manga review project! I’m all up for reviewing older series, showcasing some classics, and perhaps hidden gems, of the hundreds of titles out there. Throughout the summer I’ll be having themed weeks: each week a new theme and five reviews related to it. I’ll be focusing on older manga releases that are still available for purchase. There will also be some guest reviews sprinkled in so expect some nice diversity in both genres and opinions! […]
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