365 Days of Manga, Day 277: Bat-Manga! Also Special News!

BAT-MANGA!: THE SECRET HISTORY OF BATMAN IN JAPAN • Jiro Kuwata • Pantheon • Unrated (All Ages)
This licensed manga adaptation of the American Batman TV series, drawn by 8-Man creator Jiro Kuwata, was published by Shonen Gahosha in 1966. In a one-page interview, the aged Kuwata explains how he didn’t have time to adapt a more realistic American drawing style (his art is pretty cartoony), but he did fiddle with the storylines, creating his own villains like Lord Death-Man, Go-Go the Magician, Dr. Faceless, and Professor Gorilla. American Batman comics from the same period, unable to show serious violence because of the Comics Code, were full of contrived mysteries and puzzles; Bat-Manga, while still not very violent, is more about action and speedlines, and in that way, it’s very manga. The English edition plays it all for nostalgic camp, both visually and textually; Chip Kidd’s design shows off every bit of grungy ink, cheap newsprint and crease marks, and the intentionally clunky translation includes lines such as “I resurrected myself by the strength of my righteousness,” “I’ll turn you into a beehive,” and “What if mutants want to conquer the human race and bring it to its knees?” It’s a questionable reprint decision, but since the Silver Age Batman comics and TV series were just as intentionally cheesy, it all fits fairly well into the silly style of the original. The only problem is that some stories are in fragments, or end on cliffhangers, because the opening or ending chapters are lost. But perhaps this only adds to the mystique of forgotten things. Also includes color photographs of vintage Batman toys and memorabilia. (Review by Jason Thompson – originally printed in Otaku USA magazine.)
*** (three stars)
There’s still thirty minutes left in Friday (at least here on the West Coast far away from the headquarters of suvudu) and that means I can honestly say that today’s winner is Kyle W. of Illinois. Congratulations, Kyle!
Now pull up your chair. Listen. I also have a shocking announcement to make: I am yaoied out. No, really. I’m spent.
Yes, it’s true: I have run out of yaoi manga, aka Boy’s Love manga, to give away for “365 Days of Manga!” (Well, I did keep a few favorite titles for myself, of course, I’m only human, but the “365 Days” allocation is totally empty.) I’m a little proud and a little ashamed: I’m proud that I gave so much already-read yaoi manga away, like shelter kittens, to good homes. But I’m ashamed that I will no longer be able to fulfill the rose-scented dreams of yaoi fans. What can I say — I was taken off guard by the APPETITES, the INSATIABILITY, of America’s yaoi fans. I received more yaoi requests than I expected, and now I must reap the whirlwind of a shonen ai shortage. On the other hand, my goal for “365 Days of Manga” is to give away a lot of manga of different types to different people, so I can now say that I am one step closer to the end of this manga potlatch.
Of course, I’m still picking up and reading lots of yaoi manga, but not at a fast enough rate to be able to promise to turn right around and mail it into your sweaty little hands, you. The entry form on the left has been altered, and from now on winners will only be able to choose from shonen, seinen or shojo/josei manga. Sorry all! But I’ll still have more yaoi *reviews* to put up before the 365 Days of Manga are over! Join me as I put up more reviews and continue to plumb the depths of manga-land! It’s July 2nd, and the contest is three-quarters over!