We Appreciate Manga

EXPLICIT CONTENT as we talk about mature themes, you can skip the synopsis @ 3:18 Email: WeAppreciateManga@Gmail.com 111: Welcome to the NHK vol. 4 Chapters 16 to 17 'Welcome to the NO FUTURE' and 'Welcome to the Starry Sky' Story by Tatsuhiko Takimoto Art by Kendi Oiwa English Translation by Katherine Schilling and Zachary Rau Lettering by Star Print Brokers   Sato becomes afraid of Misaki and sh...

EXPLICIT CONTENT! Today's episode, Will and Steve talk about videogame addiction and Hikikomori culture as it pertains to this volume 3 Welcome to the NHK. Our protagonist falls for a Pyramid scheme and Misaki's tortuous methods to cure him do no good (no surprises there) skip plot summary @ 4:45   Email: WeAppreciateManga@Gmail.com   110: Welcome to the NHK vol. 3 Chapters 11 to 15 'Welcome to th...

EXPLICIT CONTENT! Inspired by today's manga, Will talks to Steven about his own personal ordeal with depression and suicidal ideation. They speak about their own relationship troubles. As well as how easy it is for people to become dependent on that which is not healthy for them. All in all, 'Welcome to the NHK' shows us that manga can deal with real, dark and murky issues albeit easily digestible...

Will gets Steven to read one of his fave mangas, a story that revolves around the lives of several young adults all living in or around the city of Tokyo. Many different lifestyles are shown but most of the time the story focuses on the concept of being a hikikomori (a reclusive individual who withdraws from society) and chooses to surround themselves in the comfort of all that is anime and otaku....

We talk about the conclusion to the Phantom Blood arc and how author Hirohiko Araki avoids "resetting to zero" in order to have a handle on the power creep of his heroes and villains. Skip synopsis @ 5:29   Email: WeAppreciateManga@Gmail.com   107: Jojo's Bizarre Adventure vol. 5 By Hirohiko Araki Chapters 38 to 44, The Three from a Faraway part Land part 3 and Fire and Ice part 6 Translation by E...

We talk about author Hirohiko Araki's flaws and success with the Phantom Blood arc of Jojo's Bizarre Adventure. Bringing up his issue with pacing the manga against multiple set pieces and fights spanning multiple environments but also praise his use of writing brave characters that inspire empathy, as well as his ability to use real world science to explain the most bizarre parts of the action.  S...

Continuing our read along of Phantom Blood we get our first appearance of the Yoda figure and Jobro Mr. Zepelli! A man who is willing to teach Jojo all the vegan chi powers he can muster (that's Hamon energy to Jojoites). Now a lot of sagely teacher characters can come off dull and boring but not in Jojo's world! We also talk about how brave characters can beget empathy from the reader and fact ch...

James and Steven continue their read-a-long of the Phantom Blood manga. Where the author Araki pays off the last volume by having lots of gore and shirtless action.  104: JoJo's Bizarre Adventure vol. 2 Chapters 9 and 17, 'The Stone Mask part 2' and 'The Birth of DIO' By Hirohiko Araki After striking a dagger at Jojo's dad, Dio is "fatally" shot by the police. The police captain expresses guilt, k...

The first part of Jojo's Bizzare Adventure (Phantom Blood) is best described as Dracula starring Jean Claude Van Damme with costume design by Jean Paul Gaultier, and you know something? It is a good read! Blending Shonen anime spectacle with the influence of classical literature. We see if the manga has stood the test of time since its 80's debut. Skip synopsis @ 6:32  Email: WeAppreciateManga@Gma...

We delve into Chainsaw Man author Tatsuki Fujimoto's coming of age one shot. A story that explores budding rivalry and companionship, as well as the artist's calling in a cruel and random world. Skip synopsis @ 9:52   Email: WeAppreciateManga@Gmail.com   102: Look Back By Tatsuki Fujimoto Translation by Amanda Haley Lettering by Snir Aharon Edited for English by Alexis Kirsch     Fujino is the man...

14 years after the original Death Note run ended, we were blessed with the return of familiar characters and introduced with a new one, Minoru Tanaka. A character whose ingenious actions causes the Shinigami king to create a new rule. This will be the last Death Note related episode between the boys as they discuss the manga's legacy and more. Skip synopsis @ 6:52   Email: WeAppreciateManga@Gmail....

Today's episode has Will, James and Steven talk about the pilot chapter to Death Note, this would have been the first one shot published, and although it may not have too much in common with the Light vs. L story it did pave the way for it. The boys also review the recent Simpsons' Tree House of Horror special that paid homage to Death Note as well as talk about the Death Note videogame spin offs...

Listen in on James, Will and Steven as they talk all about the final chapters of Death Note, discussing their favorite tricks that the characters utilised and more. What was your favorite trick? But beware! there are spoilers of both the 2006 Japanese two-part movie as well as the manga and the anime! Otherwise come and listen in! Skip synopsis @ 5:02   Email: WeAppreciateManga@Gmail.com 099: Deat...

On today's episode we compare the manga to the anime, specifically some key scenes set before the final chapters. As well as share some facts on the setting of Death Note and compare them to the real-world place they are based on. Skip synopsis @ 4:01   Email: WeAppreciateManga@Gmail.com   098: Death Note vol. 11 ⁓ Kindred Spirits Story by Tsugumi Ohba Art by Takeshi Obata Translation by Tetsuichi...

The two friends brace themselves for the final volumes of Death Note and James compares Near's/Ohba's comments on the Kira worshippers to that of the most avid of Trump supporters, albeit such riot scenes are all too common in the real world. Skip synopsis @ 4:31 Email: WeAppreciateManga@Gmail.com 097: Death Note vol. 10 ⁓ Story by Tsugumi Ohba Art by Takeshi Obata Translation by Tetsuichiro Miyak...

James tells Steven all about the Netflix Death Note movie whilst sharing opinions on volume 9 of the manga. And some talk around the effects of the Death Note and the how it functions as a magical almost Lovecraftian object of cosmic or psychological horror. Skip synopsis @ 4:25 Email: WeAppreciateManga@Gmail.com   096: Death Note vol. 9 ⁓ Contact Chapters 71 and 79 'Contact' and 'Lies' Story by T...

Did you know there was a musical based on the Death Note manga? And that Demon Kaka (formerly Kogure) made a Death Note tribute song? James tests Steven by seeing if he can connect the characters to their respective songs. As well as giving their impression and thoughts on volume 8 of the Shonen masterpiece. This episode also marks the reveal of one lucky manga winner. So come and appreciate manga...

A turning point in the manga's original run spurs conversation around what Hirohiko Araki (Author of Jojo's Bizarre Adventure) called "a return to zero", or as the boys like to call it, "the Dragonball problem", a problem that all long running Shonen authors tend to face. Beware, we got plenty of spoilers in this one! Skip plot synopsis @ 3:15 Email: WeAppreciateManga@Gmail.com 094: Death Note vol...

Steven and James share their thoughts on the Yotsuba arc of Death Note. Particularly showing appreciation on how character's thoughts can create plenty of twists and turns, in what is an undoubtedly seminal non-battle manga. skip plot synopsis @ 3: 00   093: Death Note vol. 6 ⁓ Give-and-Take Story by Tsugumi Ohba Artwork by Takeshi Obata Translation by Alexis Kirsch Lettering by Gia Cam Luc With e...

Ever wondered why the English names in Death Note sound so odd? Well today's episode has Steven and James talk about why that is as well as the "Yotsuba arc" of Death Note, besides expressing their thoughts and opinions on the art and pacing of the story. Beware of spoilers! Skip synopsis @ 3:10 Email: WeAppreciateManga@Gmail.com   092: Death Note vol. 5 ⁓ Whiteout Chapters 35 to 43 "Whiteout" and...

Today the guys talk about the impressions they have from the characters Rem and Misa Amane, the latter arguably being the most iconic alternative emo / gothic chick to ever step off from the pages of manga and into a hot topic. Skip synopsis @ 3:13 Email: WeAppreciateManga@Gmail.com 091: Death Note vol. 4 - Love Story by Tsugumi Ohba Art by Takeshi Obata Translation by Alexis Kirsch Lettering by G...

The dudes talk about the Death Note's impact as a "non-battle" manga and their feelings to what can be best described as the "Dragonball problem" James and Will also describe the very first panels they saw of the manga and how it convinced them to buy the manga, panels that appeared in volume 3. Skip synopsis @ 7:19 Email: WeAppreciateManga@Gmail.com   Death Note vol. 3 ­- Hard Run Chapters 17 to...

Will, James and Steven talk about the controversy around Death Note at the time of its translation as well as the character Naomi Misora. Skip synopsis @ 7:47 Listeners and readers may also find the following subject matter upsetting. Discretion is advised. If you would like to enter for our chance prize manga giveaway and support the podcast simply follow the links below to our social media pages...

For the Halloween holidays all 3 dudes, James, Will and Steven talk about one of the most successful manga of all time, and that is Death Note! Wherein a bored schoolboy picks up the grim reaper's notebook. It reads "The Human whose name is written in this note shall die" Skip synopsis @ 7:07 Email: WeAppreciateManga@Gmail.com 88:  Death Note vol. 1 ~ Boredom Story by Tsugumi Ohba Art by Takeshi O...

Steven and James return to talk about Takeshi Obata's vision of 'All You Need is Kill', and in turn compare the changes to the original light novel as well as the Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt movie adaptation, 'The Edge of Tomorrow' a.k.a. 'Live, Die, Repeat'. Both measuring the pros and cons of the differing plot points. Skip synopsis @ 5:00 Email: WeAppreciateManga@Gmail.com   087: All You Need is...