interview with queenie chan

remember onmyodo's first manga review? well, if you liked it you're in luck. the very lovely, very eloquent queenie chan, author of the dreaming has kindly agreed to an interview with us! here it is...

onmyodo: what do you like about manga?

queenie chan: ah, i like good stories, and not just in manga form. i like to watch movies a lot, too - so you can say that i have a lot of affection for visual storytelling mediums. manga is very close to movies in the way it presents its stories (unlike graphic novels), so while i like comics too, manga is what i choose to express myself by.

o: what is your inspiration for your art?

qc: hmm, too many things to list. i like to experiment with different art styles, and with different genres. often, i like to create stories to suit an art-style, and vice versa. i've also wanted to write stories based on pieces of music i've heard, and ideas gained from watching movies or reading books. so really, everywhere. it's the way it should be. :D

o: when creating manga, do you begin with the storyline or artwork first? is it hard to concentrate on both?

qc: as per my reply to the previous question, sometimes it's the art, sometimes it's the story. that said, the story is still the most important thing though. if a story isn't good, no matter how interesting the art is, it won't make up for it. the ideal is to concentrate on both, but in the end story wins (or for me anyway). i daresay it's different for other people.

o: do you read manga? if so, what is your favourite/what are you reading at the moment?

qc: i find that i read a lot less manga than i used to. it's sad, but true... as a mere consumer, i didn't have to think so much, but i find that as a writer now, mediocre manga just annoys me to no end. right now, there are some series i still follow out of obligation, such as naruto, one piece, and beserk. but i'm afraid i can only recommend one piece - even beserk is irking me a bit. i follow some artists, namely takeshi obata (death note) and oh! great (air gear), but neither of these have particularly good storylines. i'll rather go retro, with osamu tezuka and hagio moto at the top of my list.

o: are you a fan of anime?

qc: except for evangelion and studio ghibli, not really, i'm afraid.

o: did you always think you would end up as a manga-ka?

qc: no! i was supposed to be a systems analyst. i graduated with a 3-year degree, a bachelor of science in information systems. and then the dot-com bust stole my job. i guess you go in the direction least expected - at least it turned out well for me.

o: what's it like working with tokyopop?

qc: hmm, i did my own work and kept to my deadlines... it was good working for them. they didn't make crazy or unreasonable demands on me, if that's what you're asking, but every company has its quirks. i was treated quite well, so i have no complaints with working for them. everyone has a different take on it though.

o: what do you think about being called stuff like "one of the leaders of the manga revolution"?

qc: i don't "mind", though i can live without having that label put on me. it's a marketing tagline and there are always going to be things like that, but it's a tad embarassing because i don't think i'm good enough to be called a "leader" of any "revolution." if tokyopop is the company that line is referring to, then yes, i think tokyopop was responsible for a revolution in comics - at least from a sales and distribution point of view. for me, though, i'd rather hide. :P

well, thanks very much queenie! it was great chatting to you; thanks for your generousity. (and i'm glad you didn't end up as a systems analyst). 

more? queenie's just finished her newest book, in odd we trust, with dean koontz. it's due out in mid-july this year. be sure to check her website (queeniechan.com) for the latest updates and more from this talented lady.

murphy's law and magazines

ironic, isn't it? the day after i post a rant about the animanga magazine industry and how good newtype usa is (see best of three: anime magazines), it posts a letter on it's website announcing it's kaput. finit. over. sigh. on the contrary to the obvious sarcasm in this introduction, however, i'm really, truly shattered.

i'm sad to report that the wonderful newtype magazine will indeed be closing doors to production forever, after the february issue, which is it's last. but, i'm happy to inform you that the dream is not fully over. the same team will be releasing their all-new brainchild, PiQ, which, while covering a broader spectrum of the entertainment industry, will still have some focus on anime, manga and japan-fandom in general.

i hope you, like me, will support this new reincarnation, and i endeavour to review the first issue as soon as i get my hands on it.

kudos to newtype, anyway, for having such an inspiring run in a complaint-worthy industry - i wish them all the best in what looks to be a bright future.

the details? issue one of PiQ magazine will be released in march. the rrp is unknown. details are at the currently unfinished website piqmag.com.

best of three: anime magazines

several things about the anime magazine market irks me. first is the sheer lack of produce. there are only a few magazines out there dedicated solely to the noble art of japanimation, and they seem to be hidden beneath loads and loads of pc and playstation magazines; cowering in a corner of meagreness. second is the depths one has to go to find them. in most cases, you will only find them at large chain bookshops (namely borders), specialty stores (eb games) or, for independent magazines, conventions. never at newsagents. and third is the price. more about that later.

nonetheless, the reading of these magazines is without a doubt rewarding, so i have put together a comparison list of three of them, complete with pros, cons, and directions on how to find them.

newtype usa - very popular magazine with large variety of content regarding anime, manga and japan. reviews, information and extras are absolutely wonderful, and the magazine has a large fan base across the globe. well written and readable; perfect for the otaku, casual fan or anyone in between. i absolutely loved this.

pros? the sheer length of the thing is sure to make you grin semi-sanely; exclusive articles and up-to-date anime scoops

cons? the australian price, $24.95, is close to outrageous (american fans have it much easier), but it is almost justified

shonen jump - a compilation of several manga serials for the shonen

demographic, including bleach, naruto, yu yu hakusho, and more. the manga is fantastic, but aside from the comics, there's not much else aside from a couple of giveaways and a lot of ads (although the

re is a wealth of information on the series which are featured)

pros? HUGE value - at $13.95 for gallons of manga, this is worth it any day

cons? the other articles are basically propaganda; ads are plentiful

sfx total anime - the only aussie-based mag of the bunch (and the first i found), and without a doubt one of the best. articles are utterly wonderful, reviews are spot-on, and it makes you want to read it over and over and over again. the price is ok at $14.95, for a stand-out in an expensive market, but unfortunately it's only released once every six months.

pros? australian-tailored content; great articles and reviews

cons? six-monthly gap between releases; ever-so-slightly shorter than the others

the wrap? all up, the three magazines are probably some of the best. i've read others that i won't mention, and they didn't quite stack up... actually, they didn't stack up at all. which would i buy? that's a hard one. i'd definitely buy sfx total anime no matter what. if you read more than three of the manga published in shonen jump, get it for sure. and if you need a magazine every month and you can sacrifice the money as often as you crave an anime fix, go for newtype usa on top of it. because honestly, if the price tag was a little more forgiving, i would be subscribing in a flash. and the subscription offer of around $165 USD for a year internationally is very tantalising...

the details? newtype usa costs $24.95 an issue in australia, and is available from eb games, and online from madman entertainment. newtype's website and blog is at newtype-usa.com.

shonen jump costs $13.95 per month in australia, and is available from borders. subscription is currently illegal for those outside of the usa. more information can be found at the magazine's website, shonenjump.com.

sfx total anime has an RRP of $14.95, and is published twice a year. it is available from borders and some newsagents.

sweet dreaming

manga-ka queenie chan has produced some of the most celebrated works ever to come out of studio tokyopop, and is probably the best known australian manga artist all over the globe. she burst onto the japan-inspired comics scene with surprising talent and aplomb... and she hasn't stopped. she's been drawing manga for ten years - and not one of those years have been wasted. you can tell when reading her most recent work the dreaming; it's polished, pensive and absolutely beautiful, and it's onmyodo's first manga review.

the story? twin sisters amber and jeanie have just moved to a new boarding school in australia (hooray!). the ancient greenwich private college is filled with history - and exclusivity - so the girls are lucky their aunt is principal. soon, however, they learn of frightening rumours of pupils vanishing from the academy long ago - and hundreds of old mysteries come to light. question after question is asked, and the plot thickens chapter by chapter.

the opinion? i'm not such a fan of 'suspense-horror-drama' (as described by the artist), but the dreaming really blew me away. the artwork is intricate and thought-provoking, drawn with amazing care and huge talent. the storyline deepens and deepens as you read on, and sends quivers down your spine as you begin to understand the narrative in all its facets. it's a hundred percent unique - and chan has recieved much critical acclaim for the trilogy. she definitely deserves it. 

a page-turner with real meaning to aussie readers.

the details? all three volumes of the dreaming, by queenie chan are available in the usa and australia. rated T (teen). rrp is $14.95 in australia and $9.99 in the us. published by tokyopop. for more information see tokyopop.com. The artist's website is queeniechan.com.

haruhi who?

anime fandom wouldn't be what it is today without five not-so-simple words. these are words which have encouraged and gathered millions of fans all over the globe. these are words which seem way too strange for a title. but this is no ordinary show. this is the melancholy of haruhi suzumiya. it's a mouthful, yes - but it's also one of the best and most creative shows under the sun. and it's onmyodo's first review.

the story? kyon is just a normal kid. he's just started a normal high school. he's got normal friends. he's got a completely normal life. until he meets haruhi suzumiya. "i'm not interested in ordinary people," she says on her first day of class. "but if anyone is an alien, time traveller or esper, please come see me." as kyon unwittingly helps her create the sos brigade, she attracts (well, forces) three extraordinary people (and kyon) to meet each other - among them a time traveller, alien and esper. and haruhi is far from ordinary herself...

the opinion? the melancholy of haruhi suzumiya is an amazing show; it's funny, clever, and oh so strange, with tidbits of philosophy and randomness along the way. it's delightful and unique, and once you start watching, you won't want to do anything but finish the series, and watch it over and over again. and there are so many fans of the show out there! in almost every country where haruhi's mishaps are available, there is an sos brigade for you to join. and did  i mention how great the ending song is?

the details? dvds of the melancholy of haruhi suzumiya are available from madman entertainment in australia. the first and second collections of the first season have already been released, and the third and fourth are on there way. rated ma 15 +. rrp is $29.95 AUD. see madman.com.au for more.

p.s. welcome to onmyodo! enjoy the site. ;)