| "Laika 28" by Akira (2006-05-19) |
5/20 Sat - I'm forcing myself to draw three comic strips per week, so I uploaded 30% finished rough sketch version. It is better than uploading nothing..., I think. I'll ink and complete the page within few hours, I hope...
5/20 Sat - finished rought sketch. Now I need to ink this page.
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Hai Ran
If I keep introducing strange minor manga with gore (like Shigurui), people might think I'm crazy or something. So this time I'll introduce 4-koma manga drawn by Hai Ran (meaning "Ocean Blue" in Chinese). Hai Ran's comic strips are written in four-panel style just like "Azumanga Daioh". I enjoy Hai Ran's manga since characters, story, and jokes are cute. I think people who loved "Azumanga Daioh" will also enjoy Hai Ran's comic strips. I recommend "Tokudane Sanmen Captors" over "Tori Koro" since jokes are easier to understand.
- Tori Koro vol. 1 + 2 - about a family of mother and daughter + two girls who homestay at their house... Characters are more 'normal' compared "Azumanga".
- Tokudane Sanmen Captors vol. 1 - about a highschool newspaper club with interesting characters. There is a main male character in this manga, very rare for Hai Ran's comics.
When compared to "Azumanga Daioh", Hai Ran's jokes are weak (less punch lines) and difficult to understand. I had to re-read a title and a strip again (+think for few seconds) before I get the joke (especially for "Tori Koro"). And I sometimes had a trouble distinguishing between characters too. Hai Ran tends to quit drawing for few months a lot (from pressure or from writer's block)... , it takes forever for tankoubon to come out..., but I'll wait for years for the next comic book ; _ ;...
It seems like Dr.Master is releasing "Tori Koro 1&2". I wonder if they are going to release "Tokudane Sanmen Captors" too.
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