You must give some time to your fellow men. Even if it’s a little thing, do something for others – something for which you get no pay but the privilege of doing it.

~ Albert Schweitzer

The first time I rang the bells, I stood outside the entrance to Sears in Glenbrook Mall. The fountain before me usually got all the coins, but on this night those nickels and dimes found their way into the red kettle mounted on a stand beside me.

Two things I learned my first time ringing the bells:

1) That shit is hard! The bells I used that night were the muted kind. Less annoying to the shoppers and merchants, but you gotta really shake them things to make them jingle. When my arms started aching and my wrists seized up, I checked my watch; I’d been at it a whopping ten minutes. It was going to be a long night . . .

2) Most people are crabby. Especially in the mall. I’d smile and say “Merry Christmas!” or “Good evening!” if people glanced my way and made eye contact, but only a few responded in kind. Most just scowled and walked on by . . .

But not the family with the little guy in the stroller. He really wanted to put his change in my kettle, so they wheeled him over. I leaned the kettle down so he could reach it better, and then let him ring my bell before he and his parents wandered off toward Macy’s. The boy had cerebral palsy and a killer smile.

I had arranged with the local Salvation Army volunteer coordinator to ring the following morning at a grocery store. The sun broke through the clouds every once in a while, but added little heat to the air. The wind chill factor was about ten below zero, and I wore enough layers to where I resembled me back in my fat dad days. A lady with bobby pinned hair and a fur coat offered to buy me some Starbucks. I showed her my sixty four ounce insulated mug of hot chocolate and declined. She just shook her head, dropped in a folded dollar bill, and went about her busy day.

The next day, I met Manga Lady. Sitting on the bench next to my post by the automatic doors, she drew fan-fiction sketches of Cardcaptor Sakura. She mistook me for a fan when I commented on her wicked skills – how she kept the eyes big and the mouths small – and started rambling on and on about the love triangle her character had found himself involved in. I just smiled, shook my head, and thanked the baby Jesus when her bus showed up.

Later that same morning, I met Placement Guy. He had walked over from the McDonald’s across the street where his sister worked and he hoped to gain a bit of employment. They told him they could maybe give him five to ten hours a week, tops, and he figured that would be enough to keep the people in charge of his “placement” happy. It showed he had potential. And gave him just enough free time to prepare for his GED exam. He wore a button-up shirt under a zip-up hoodie that wasn’t zipped, and all that shivering made his voice shaky. He bummed my phone to call his mom and I overheard as he made plans to maybe get together over the holidays. I hope they worked it out. I told him that I too was out of work and wished him the best in the days ahead.

And then there was the family that reminded me of the clowns. I helped them to their car the following night at the Community Harvest Food Bank distribution center. I pushed the cart plumb full with over 120 pounds of canned foods, ramen noodles and frozen turkey. And I laughed out loud when I noticed four kids piled up in the back seat where the food had to go because the trunk was crammed with Toys for Tots. No way were they going to be wearing seat belts. As they climbed out and began running around the car . . . well, I thought of the clowns at the circus that pile out of a car way too small to hold so many clowns. We managed, and they drove away with the back of the car scraping the ground when they hit the bumps.

So many faces.

So many stories.

So many people in need. And so many people willing to lend a hand. It made the weeks leading up to Christmas more than a drudgery of days. Those hours spent swinging a bell or pushing a cart meant something. To me. And to those who will find a helping hand when they need it most.

This has not been the most pleasant of years for me and mine. But all that gets lost in the din of the bell ringer . . .

[Flickr photo is by ndrwfgg and is protected]

My computer works!! Apparently the IT at school is actually good for something, haha. I lied…my computer died again, so I have to take it back to IT tomorrow… BUT I GOT MY JOB BACK!! Another company bought the theatre that I used to work at and the new manager called and asked if I wanted my job back (which of course I did!). So basically I’m going on a manga/light novel spending spree the day after Christmas in Borders, haha.
I wasn’t really sure what to call this, but basically this part is series that are ending that are exciting, artbooks, special manga compilations, etc. Basically everything that isn’t a new manga series/oneshot coming out. Oh, and a warning for lots and lots of CLAMP. xD

Akira by: Katsuhiro Otomo
Complete at 6 volumes
volume 2 January 2010
US publisher: Kodnasha Comics
Price: US $24.99
From the publisher: IN THE 21ST CENTURY, Neo-Tokyo has risen from the ashes of a Tokyo obliterated by a monstrous psychokinetic power known only as Akira, a being who yet lives, secretly imprisoned in frozen stasis. Those who stand guard know that Akira’s awakening is a terrifying inevitability. Tetsuo, an angry young man with immense—and rapidly growing—psychic abilities, may be their only hope to control Akira when he wakes. But Tetsuo is becoming increasingly unstable and harbors a growing obsession to confront Akira face to face. A clandestine group including his former best friend sets out to destroy Tetsuo before he can release Akira—or before Tetsuo himself becomes so powerful that no force on Earth can stop him.
My ramblings: From reviews I read of the first volume, Kodansha’s new version of this series is basically the same as the old Dark Horse version, but it’s still nice that it’s being reprinted if you didn’t get it the first time around.

Fruits Basket Ultimate Edition by: Natsuki Takaya
Complete at 23 volumes (assumed 11/12 omnibus volumes)
Volume 4 January 2010, Volume 5 June 2010
US publisher: Tokyopop
Price: US $14.99
From the publisher: Can’t Miss Collector’s Item: It’s Furuba–The Ultimate Edition! Featuring a premium hardcover treatment with Fruits Basket Volumes 1 & 2, this beautiful hardcover includes interior color art and a new cover.
My ramblings: Heck yes! I have the first three of the Ultimate Editions and I’m so glad that Tokyopop will be publishing more of them, since I love the hardback and having my manga all the same format, haha. The color pages are also a definite plus for the so-called “Ultimate Editions” (they are nice, but there are some things that Tokyopop could have done to fix them up a little more, like do some reworking on the translations and type-setting). I really hope that people continue to buy the Ultimate Editions, since Tokyopop said in one of their Tokyopop Insider webcasts that they are pretty much dependent upon if they sell well (which I know is usually the case, but especially so for something that was on hiatus).

V.B. Rose by: Banri Hidaka
Complete at 14 volumes
Volume 7 January 2010, Volume 8 May 2010
US publisher: Tokyopop
Price: US $10.99
From the publisher: Something old, something new, something velvet, something blue…Shocked and heartbroken when her beloved older sister announces that she’s pregnant and getting married to (in Ageha’s mind) the most boring man alive, Ageha stumbles onto the job of a lifetime–helping to make her sister’s wedding dress. Velvet Blue Rose is a super-exclusive bridal design shop run by Yukari and Mitsuya, two super-hot guys. When Mitsuya, the pattern-maker at V.B. Rose, hurts his hand, will Ageha jump in to save her sister’s happy dream of marriage, in spite of her own reservations? Frills and fancy fill this blissful new series from the creator of I Hate You More Than Anyone and Tears of a Lamb!
My ramblings: I’ve read so many good reviews of this series, and I know plenty of people will be glad to know that the series is off of the semi-hiatus Tokyopop had put it on.

Beast Master by: Kyousuke Motomi
Complete at 2 volumes
Volume 2 February 2010
US publisher: Viz Media – Shojo Beat imprint
Price: US $9.99
From the publisher: Leo’s 18th birthday is around the corner, but celebrating seems impossible as someone is after Leo’s life! Can Leo overcome the dangers of his past? Or will this beast-like boy be separated from his beloved “master”…forever?
My ramblings: This is one of the series that I plan to buy on my post-Christmas manga binge, as I haven’t seen a bad review of the series yet! Everyone seems to love it, and I wanted to be able to include it on this list somehow, though it doesn’t really need the publicity, since like I said, it’s gotten plenty of great reviews. I hope if it is as good as everyone says that this will lead to more Kyousuke Motomi series being licensed, as I’ve heard great things about their (from what I’ve heard, it’s a male mangaka writing shojo, but for some reason Viz has him listed as a her on their site?) newest series Dengeki Daisy too.

Chobits (omnibus edition) by: CLAMP
Complete at 8 volumes (2 omnibus volumes)
Volume 1 February 2010, Volume 2 May 2010
US publisher: Dark Horse
Price: US $24.99
From the publisher: Some people buy their personal computers based on style . . . and in near-future Japan, the hottest style for your “persocom“ is shaped like an attractive android! Poor student Hideki, fresh off the farm and trying to get into a Tokyo university, has neither money nor a girlfriend — then finds a persocom seemingly discarded in an alley. Taking the cute robot home and activating it, Hideki finds her affectionate, but amnesiac, able only to say the word “Chi” — and so he names her. But who is this strange new persocom in his life? Instead of being his digital assistant, Hideki finds himself having to teach Chi how to get along in the everyday world, even while he and his friends try to solve the mystery of her origins. Is she one of the urban-legendary Chobits — persocoms built to have the riskiest functions of all: real emotions, and free will?
My ramblings: I’m going to buy this right when it is available, because I absolutely love the series and don’t have it and because the Clover omnibus put out by Dark Horse was so amazingly top-notch it’s not funny. This is the perfect way to get even more fans for this series.

High school Debut by: Kazune Kawahara
Complete at 13 volumes
Volume 13 February 2010
US publisher: Viz Media – Shojo Beat imprint
Price: US $9.99
From the publisher: When Haruna Nagashima was in junior high her life consisted of playing softball and reading comics. But now that she’s going to high school, Haruna decides to put all of her energy towards getting a boyfriend and having the high school romance of a lifetime. To help in her quest, she enlists cute upperclassman Yoh Komiyama to coach her as she eschews her jock tendencies and turns herself into the kind of girl who can catch a guy. Yoh agrees, with one catch: Haruna had better not fall for him!
Yoh faces a difficult choice: should he go to university all the way in Tokyo or stay near Haruna? Haruna wants to support Yoh’s decision no matter what, but will her high school romance end with his graduation?
My ramblings: This series is absolutely fantastic! If you haven’t read it, you should definitely get on that! And now that the whole thing will be available in English legally, you can go marathon the series quickly. I really hope that Viz licenses Kazune Kawahara’s newest series Aozora Yell, as it’s really good too from the few chapters I’ve seen of it.

Karakuri Odette by: Julietta Suzuki
Complete at 6 volumes
Volume 2 February 2010, Volume 3 June 2010
US publisher: Tokyopop
Price: US $10.99
From the publisher: What does it mean to be truly human?…Odette is a lovely android built by Professor Yoshizawa. Curious to find out what it’s like to be human, she convinces the Professor to enroll her in high school. And thus, with a new group of friends in tow, Odette sets out to discover the true meaning of life as a human, where even the simple stuff is an adventure! A touching slice-of-life comedy, Karakuri Odette does nothing If not uncover the incredible possibilities of the “human” spirit!
My ramblings: Another series that I plan of getting in my after-Christmas manga binge, this series didn’t get a lot of attention when it was first licensed (or at least, I don’t remember it getting any sort of attention when it was), but people have gushed over the series since reading the first volume, and Viz even picked up on that and licensed Suzuki’s newest series Nice to Meet You, Kamisama. From what I’ve heard this is definitely a series not to be missed.

Remember by: Benjamin
Complete at 1 volume
February 2010
US publisher: Tokyopop
Price: US $14.99
From the publisher: When is letting go of your inhibitions worth the risk? International graphic novel artist Benjamin uses his trademark painterly style to depict moving portrayals of love and loss that get at the heart of what it means to throw your heart into life, no matter the consequences.
My ramblings: The first few pages of this are already up on Tokyopop’s website, and while it’s kind of hard to read them due to the fact that they’re so small (even when using the full screen function), the illustrations are absolutely gorgeous! I’m pretty sure this will be a full color publication (the preview is full color, and I don’t think it would be quite the same without the colors). Tokyopop has apparently published other works by this artist and my interest has definitely been piqued, as it’s beyond lovely work!

CLAMP in America by: CLAMP and Shaenon Garrity
Complete at 1 volume
March 23, 2010
US publisher: Del Rey Manga
Price: US $27.99
From the publisher: CLAMP in America is a history of CLAMP from their humble beginnings as doujinshi (fanzine) creators to international manga superstars, including: a detailed guide to their work, from RG Veda to Tsubasa, and beyond; behind-the-scenes looks at how the members of CLAMP work, together and separately; CLAMP’s part in the explosive success of manga in America, and the effect of their manga on U.S. distribution and marketing; their work with American publishers; their 2006 visit to America; interviews with the American manga creators they’ve influenced; and interviews with the editors and publishers who have had the opportunity to work with CLAMP.
My ramblings: I’m personally really interested getting this, I think it’ll be really, really interesting to see basically everything about CLAMP in one book. Plus, from what I’ve heard Del Rey went directly to CLAMP for the idea, and they were all for it (the cover is even a CLAMP original).

Itazura na Kiss by: Kaoru Tada
Incomplete at 12 omnibus editions
Volume 2 March 2010
US publisher: DMP
Price: US $16.95
From the publisher: Kotoko passes the college entrance exam and gets accepted to the same college as Naoki and their first semester has just begun. Kotoko’s excited and looking forward to spending more time with Naoki, thinking it’s the beginning of her new and happy school life! But no! Now she has competition! And her competition is tall and beautiful, smart, good at sports…Oh my god, she’s practically perfect!…and she is also after Naoki! Is Kotoko ready to take on a nemesis?
My ramblings: I loved the anime for this series, but I’m a little learey about getting into the manga, because I know I’ll like it and then be left hanging due to the author’s untimely death…but I do know that it’s a great series other than the probable cliff-hanger ending, and DMP is doing this in omnibus versions, so you’ll be able to get more Itazura na Kiss goodness in one go.

The Gentlemen’s Alliance† by: Arina Tanemura
Complete at 11 volumes
Volume 11 April 2010
US publisher: Viz Media – Shojo Beat imprint
Price: US $9.99
From the publisher: Haine goes to Shizumasa and Takanari’s grandfather, the head of the Togu family, to ask him to release the twins from their fate. He tells her she must pass the same trial the twins went through for determining the Togu heir. Haine agrees, but little does she know that a former friend is now out for her life.
My ramblings: It shouldn’t really come as a surprise that I would include the last volume of The Gentlemen’s Alliance in my list of manga. I just love the series, and I really, really want Viz to license more Arina goodness too!! (Please, please get MisuFo and Sakura Hime Kaden!) The ending of this series is almost bittersweet. It’s the first Arina series that I really followed (I got KKJ after they were all released), from the preview in Shojo Beat to the final volume, it makes me kinda sad actually…but the first editions come with a special postcard!!

The Ghost in the Shell volume 2: Man-Machine Interface by: Shirow Masamune
Complete at 1 volume
April 2010
US publisher: Kodansha Comics
Price: US $26.99
From ANN: Taking place a few years after the first Ghost In The Shell manga. The Major has been missing since then and Ghost in the Shell 2 follows the mysterious Motoko Aramaki as she runs an investigation into a incident at an organ factory and it’s consequences. she’s on the run to clean up the mess and save herself in the process Meanwhile the former members of section 9 investigate Motoko to find out who she really is.
My ramblings: Again, from what I’ve heard, this is probably going to be the same as the Dark Horse version, but it’s still Ghost in the Shell, and therefor worth getting if you don’t have it already (which I don’t). I am a little scared by the price though…It only has 320 pages (a normal volume of manga usually has around 200), which makes me wonder what exactly you’re paying for…

Okimono Kimono by: Mokona of CLAMP
Complete at 1 volume
April 21, 2010
US publisher: Dark Horse
Price: US $12.99
From the publisher: Here’s an exciting and charming addition to the CLAMP collection of works! CLAMP artist Mokona loves the art of traditional Japanese kimono. In fact, she designs kimono and kimono accessories herself and shares her love in Okimono Kimono, a fun and lavishly illustrated book full of drawings and illustrations, interviews (including an interview with Ami of the J-pop duo Puffy AmiYumi!), and even short manga stories from the CLAMP artists.
Fans of CLAMP will love Okimono Kimono for the personal glimpse of Mokona’s kimono obsession, and people who love the traditional Japanese arts will appreciate the love and detail Mokona puts into her work.
My ramblings: This is basically Mokona’s excuse to show off her extensive kimono collection, with Kobato on the cover (side note, there’s going to be a Kobato figure based on the cover image, which isn’t really news, but still fun). I’m certainly not complaining, because it looks fun, and the few inside scans I’ve seen (on the Japanese site for the book) are really neat!

YOTSUBA&! volume 8 by: Kiyohiko Azuma
Ongoing with 9+ volumes
Volume 8 April 2010
US publisher: Yen Press
Price: US $10.99
From the publisher: Yotsuba is a strange little girl with a big personality! Even in the most trivial, unremarkable encounters, Yotsuba’s curiosity and enthusiasm quickly turn the everyday into the extraordinary!
My ramblings: I haven’t read any of this series, but it seems like the general consensus that Yen Press saved a great series. I did read Azumanga Daioh, so I can have a sort of general idea of the series, and I’m guessing that it’s absolutely hilarious. Plus, good ole Yen Press has re-published the first 5 volumes, plus published volumes 6 and 7, which fans were waiting for since ADV (who had the original license and stopped after volume 5) went under. On a side note, Yen Press is also releasing an omnibus version of Azumanga Daioh sometime this month, with a brand new cover (it looks super nice and the image wraps around the whole thing, front and back).

AX: A Collection of Alternative Manga by: Various artists
Anthology with an unknown number of volumes
Volume 1 July 2010
US publisher: Top Shelf Productions
Price: US $29.95
From the publisher: A groundbreaking introduction to the most creative and cutting-edge works of Japanese independent comics, presented in English for the first time, AX is the premier Japanese magazine for alternative comics. Published bi-monthly for over ten years, the pages of AX contain the most creative and cutting-edge works of independent comics in the world’s largest comics industry. Now, Top Shelf presents this collection of stories from ten years of AX history, and features work by such visionaries as Yoshihiro Tatsumi, Akino Kondoh, Kazuichi Hanawa, and Shinichi Abe.
My ramblings: I don’t think I’ve ever heard of Top Shelf Productions before finding this on Amazon, but this looks like it could turn out to be a really interesting and well done publication. It seems to me to be the equivalent of many of the IKKI manga, or the manga version of FAUST, both of which I highly suggest.

Mangettes: Gate 7 by: CLAMP
Yet to start
Volume 1 August (?) 2010
US publisher: Dark Horse
Price: TBD
From the publisher: Between our conscious, waking world and the subconscious state of slumber, there is a thinly veiled plane of lucid dreaming. While the conscious state belongs to individuals, the hidden plane of dreams is one shared by all human minds, past, present, and future. Yet only a few have ever possessed the power to enter this secret realm at will – where a war is being waged to control the waking world. For our earthly wishes and desires are not our own, but under the manipulation of these unseen masters of dreams. The heroine of Gate 7 is Hana, a high-school girl hailing from Kyoto, the daughter of a temple caretaker. Her peaceful ways give her the self-control to act in the hidden realm. But Hana can only reach it through the strange beast that acts as her totem in the world of dreams – and her companion on a journey to confront the puppeteers of our reality!
My ramblings: Last I heard, Dark Horse doesn’t even know when this will come out. It basically hangs on whenever CLAMP feels like doing it…It was first announced in 2007, so here’s hoping it will really come out sometime in 2010!

Vampire Knight Official Fanbook by: Matsuri Hino
Complete at 1 volume
September 2010
US publisher: Viz Media – Shojo Beat imprint
From the publisher (general series summary): Cross Academy is attended by two groups of students: the Day Class and the Night Class. At twilight, when the students of the Day Class return to their dorm, they cross paths with the Night Class on their way to school. Yuki Cross and Zero Kiryu are the Guardians of the school, protecting the Day Class from the Academy’s dark secret: the Night Class is full of vampires!
My ramblings: I’m certainly getting fed up with the most recent chapters of Vampire Knight, but it’s pretty awesome that Viz is bringing over the fanbook for the series, since I do love Hino’s artwork and am looking forward to seeing the other things that are included in the fanbook (I think there are color pages in the Japanese version, and really hope they’re in the Viz version if that’s true). Here’s hoping Viz will get the novels too (since it’s the goodness that was Vampire Knight [theoretically without the emo-ness that it's become]).

Cardcaptor Sakura (omnibus edition) by: CLAMP
Complete at 12 volumes (4 omnibus volumes)
Volume 1 TBD 2010
US publisher: Dark Horse
Price: TBD
From ANN: One day Sakura Kinomoto accidentally opened a book containing dozens of magical cards called Clow Cards, and they scattered around her hometown of Tomoeda. Sakura was chosen to be the master of these cards and has been enlisted by the sun-based guardian Kerberos to use her magic and reclaim these cards before they make any more trouble in town. She is encouraged by her best friend Tomoyo Daidouji, and she meets a rival cardcaptor, Syaoran Li, who is a direct descendant of the creator of the Clow Cards.
My ramblings: I can’t wait to get this series! I’m a terrible fan and only have like 3 random volumes of the original 12 (granted I did read most of them in the library, so I’m not that terrible of a fan). Also, it makes me happy that this will be 4 omnibus version instead of 3 (with 3-in-1 instead of 4-in-1), for a few reasons; first the binding on Clover is not great, so I don’t think it could handle it unless they improve that in future versions…and also since that puts the first half of the series in 2 volumes and the second half in another 2 volumes. I’m really excited to see the covers that Dark Horse puts on these, since I didn’t realize how different the Tokyopop versions were from the originals until  I saw the original, and I think the original looks a whole lot better (though I don’t really mind the Tokyopop version)!

Magic Knight Rayearth (omnibus edition) by: CLAMP
Complete at 6 volumes (2 omnibus volumes)
Volume 1 TBD 2010
US publisher: Dark Horse
Price: TBD
From ANN: Hikaru, Umi, and Fuu, girls from separate schools, find themselves linked together as they fall through the floor during a field trip to the Tokyo Tower. They land in a place called Cephiro, where their will controls what happens. They meet with Guru Clef and find out that they were summoned to save Princess Emeraude who has been imprisoned by High Priest Zagato. They learn magic and acquire weapons on their quest to save Cephiro from the evils of Zagato.
My ramblings: Since I only have one random volume of this series, I’m especially glad that this is one of the series that Dark Horse will be giving the omnibus treatment. Apparently Dark Horse has decided to publish Magic Knight Rayearth as one omnibus (3-in-1), and then Magic Knight Rayearth II as another omnibus (3-in-1), which I love, since it’s the most logical thing to do with the series, and it gives you what I’m assuming is a full story in each volume. Also (and this is a little ridiculous), but I’m excited to see Mokona’s original appearance (even if it can’t talk in this series). And good timing on the part of Dark Horse, since the remastered anime is being released on DVD starting in January (here on Amazon).

Today’s picture is of a Cardcaptor Sakura figure. I wish there were better figures of Sakura but sadly while there were a lot of figures of her most of them were prize figures. My local comic book shop actually got this one in stock but I happened to be in the store with a friend of mine and he spotted it before me and snatched it up for his wife, his wife and I had a bit of a history as we had previously bumped heads a few times on ebay bidding against each other on CCS items (haha I got the Tomoyo doll). I tried unsuccessfully to talk him into letting me have the figure but he wouldn’t be swayed . I was kind of annoyed with him at the time until I got home and ordered my own, she arrived a few days later.

She’s a pretty cute figure but the plastic they used to make her was kind of cheap so she is really shiny

Clamp in Wonderland: Clamp OVERLOAD

Well, not really… I love clamp and I’ve been watching clamp-made animes since I was 9 years old. My very first was Magic Knights Rayearth but I really didn’t care about Clamp about that time (I was still a little kid… Didn’t really care that much at that time).

If you’re wondering why I’m posting something about Clamp right now, I have four reasons: (1.) I just feel like doing it because ‘coz I’m bored (2.) One of my friends started to become “obsessed (?)” with Clamp (3.) I just like posting something about one my favorite mangakas and (4.) I want to cover up what I posted before this….

My obsession with Clamp probably started the first time I saw CCS…

As we, anime-lovers know, Clamp’s themes are usually mixed with themes like Shounen-ai/ Shojo-ai (e.g. KuroganexFai, WatanukixDoumeki, KamuixFuuma..) but I don’t really mind about it. As long as the pairing are canon. But they also include explicit themes like incest and adultery which is somewhat disturbing but that what makes Clamp’s creation unique from other mangakas. And I also noticed how some their characters usually lost their eye or something like that…

I love their crossovers especially TRC. I loved how they integrated the other characters form different Clamp series into the main plot of the story. But I will be very surprised if they try to fit Suzaku ang Lelouch in but still, it would be interesting what roles are they gonna get in the story.

Another news about Clamp is  about them making a character design for Tekken, my favorite arcade game. Now that’s what I call EPIC.

Maybe next time they can do character designs for NINTENDO. Now that is what we call DOUBLE EPIC.

Though I have not seen the Kobato anime yet. I’m still contemplating if I’ll watch it or not…

-Klarcatz-

Aaa this is really cute ^_^…. And kind of wrong ^^’   sai is soo cute and not creepy

BBB-Extra – Sakura-chans Amazing Adventure Book (English)

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King of Fighters – Yuri & Friends Full Color 6 (English)

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[Sakura Kinomoto & The WINDY card from CardCaptor Sakura. Bought on Ebay.]

This is actually two figurines, but they look like they go together. They are from the same set of Gashapon figurines, so i’ll assume that was on purpose. Can you tell I was trying to be creative with the teaser picture? n_-

The Sakura Gasapon is actually pretty cute releasing The WINDY. However, I do have some issues with it. First of all, who forgot to paint the Clow Wand? It’s almost entirely pink! And not even the RIGHT color pink! Secondly, why do these figures OBVIOUSLY go together, but there is no way to link the two? Third, why does Sakura’s cape have a big GAP through the middle.. Couldn’t they have cover it up a little more. Finally, why is The WINDY see-through? I know they were going for a more “spirit” look, but… The WINDY was never ever see through in the anime. In the manga, yes, but not the anime. And, this is obviously based off the anime because of the outfit, unless they meant to do The JUMP instead. Personally, I would have liked to see Yue with this set so I can showcase the Final Judgement with Figurines. xD

Sakura’s cape can come intirely off without any problems. It’s funny to see her without the cape. It’s just not the same outfit.

I unfortunately lost the little paper that comes with these that shows what other figurines are in the set. If I find it, i’ll post a picture of the set on each one of these figurines I have (and post here). I’m not quite sure if I have all 5.x

[Syaoran Li from CardCaptor Sakura. Bought through a Livejournal Seller.]
This figurine is a CC or CardCaptors Release, meaning it was released in America only. And, this one is a little more special because it was released in limited quantities during a Promotion in Blockbuster Video Rental stores. This figurine is one of Six and the only Syaoran figurine in the set.

Since I bought this from a seller who bought this from someone else, it didn’t come with a package of any kind. However, I was able to track down a pretty old (and horrible quality) image of the actual packaging:

According to the site, this was released as one of the promotional items at Blockbuster (A Video Rental Store) along with Six other figurines and a clow wand (unfortunately, I don’t know if there was anything else released in this promotion. This is all the information I have about it). It was scheduled to be released in Toys R Us stores but CardCaptors never took off and the product was never made or released again. The packaging makes it seem like there was a clow symbol stand, but I can’t find if this is true or not. There isn’t any holes in the bottom of his feet and he stands on his own without problem, so this would make me think otherwise. This is an American Only Item and I can’t find a Japanese counterpart (although I have seen Japanese counterparts of the other figurines in the set).

The painting quality is what you can expect for a CardCaptors release, rushed and sloppy on parts. However, it’s actually rare to find any Syaoran items, even in CardCaptors merchandise, so it was nice to come across him.

By now, you know the deal.

Candy Boy – Kanade Sakurai

Kanade is the one on the left, with the darker hair. The other one is her sister, whom she is dating (incest and yuri....yup, I watched it, and it wasn't bad)

Candy Boy. No boys involved (I think someone made that joke on some blog before). Anyway, there are really only 4 characters here, and as far as I’m concerned they’re all lesbians. Three of them are sisters, by the way. Why did I choose Kanade as the best characters? Well, she’s more mature than her sister/girlfriend, Yukino. Also, I like her character design more, and she’s sick at art, which is always awesome. She wears the pants in the relationship, but also has a soft side, and I think that her character as a whole has more depth than the others.

CANAAN – Taxi Cab Driver

WTF? A Taxi Driver?

Am I serious right now? A Taxi Driver? he was in like, 3 episodes. He had like, 6 lines in the entire show! Well, you know what? When you have an ISSS, you can chose whoever you want as your favorite character. And despite the fact that Canaan has a fucking cool character design, and sick ass powers, along with parkour moves that resemble Faith from Mirror’s Edge, the Taxi Driver has what Canaan does not…..a TAXI.

• Despite being a normal taxi driver from Shanghai, he has no problems with driving his taxi off of a bridge and onto a building. He also doesn’t get fired for doing something like that, because he’s the fucking man.
• Basically, this Taxi Driver is what Bill the Ass-Kicker would be like if he drove a Taxi: Fucking Awesome.

Cardcaptor Sakura – Tomoyo Daidouji

*This show was dropped at 9

Should I even include this? There’s really not any good characters, and I realized after I started watching that this show was dumb, and definitely not good. I’ll be honest, I hate all of the characters in this show, hence I dropped after only 9. I guess I’ll go with Tomoyo, for the sole reason that she’ll grow up to be a respectful lesbian.

Chaos;HEAD – Ayase Kishimoto

Chaos;HEAD was an awesome anime, and I liked it a lot. Now, my art teacher for screen-printing tells me that you can’t just say you “like something,” you have to explain why. And I will, with bullets….actually, I’ll use numbers.

1. Murder
2. Supernatural Powers
3. Dynamic Lead Character
4. Many BAM Moments
5. A pacing that is fast, but not too fast (except the last episode, I felt it should have been two episodes, and explained better)

That being said, Ayase is my favorite, because to me, she seems to be a more unique character than the others. Err, well, actually all of the characters are pretty unique, I actually had a touch time deciding to put Ayase up here, or instead vouch for Kozue, who speaks telepathically. In the end, I decided that Ayase was:

• In a rock band
• Has the best character design (I guess this is important to me)
• Has a different way of thinking (6 Dark Knights as opposed to Gigilomaniacs)

Clannad/Clannad ~After Story~ – Kyou Fujibayashi

See my review of Clannad ~ After Story ~: Kyou Chapter.

Claymore: Teresa of the Faint Smile

I was going to choose Deneve, but she really doesn’t get awesome until later in the manga, so I’m going with Teresa, who is probably still more awesome than Deneve, except for the fact that she dies, which sucks. If you’ve seen her fight, than you know that she’s unbeatable, except that she stupidly shows mercy and pity for Priscilla, which ultimately got her beheaded. I for one don’t believe in mercy (especially in sports). Claymore is one of the best anime ever. Manga is too. I just had to say that.

Chibi Vampire Karin (Karin) – Anju Maaka

She doesn’t talk. I should say, she has one of those personalities. Yea, I can’t really remember much about the actual characters in this show. I guess it wasn’t that great. Also, the anime is actually just called Karin, but for some reason I have the manga name listed, and I’m too lazy move it down. So yea.

Chobits – Chi

Don’t get me wrong, I loved this anime (does that make me a fucking homo? Don’t care.), but as far as characters go, there really wasn’t much to choose from. Chi isn’t really that great of a character, I mean, she’s not even a living thing. but she’s better than the moron who fell in love with her (how do you fall in love with a robot? How much of a loser are you dude?). First of all, robots can’t love or feel emotion at all. Whatever, I’m not going to get into it. And I know that Chi is technically a persecon or whatever, but it’s really the same thing. In the end, I chose Chi because you have to touch her vagina (or the place where a real girl would have a vagina) to turn her on. That’s right, I just dropped a FACTUAL PUN on you.

Code-E -Keisuke Ebihara

Here’s how bad this show was. Keisuke wins because he is wearing a cool Hawaiian shirt…and it’s not even that cool. God this show was bad.

Code Geass – Lelouch Lamperouge/Zero

Do I really have to explain? Ahhhh fuck. Lelouch is fucking awesome. I’m just going to list in bullets:

• Nasty at Chess.
• Nasty at formulating plots, as well as creating strategies.
• Looks fucking awesome.
• Is an anti-hero, which I love.
• Provided me with many BAM moments.
• And so on and so forth.

Code Geass rocked hard.

Cowboy Bebop – Spike Spiegel

Spike kicks ass. The end.

Okay I’ll put some work in. Why he kicks ass is really not a question that needs answering, but he kicks as firstly because he’s just so smooth. Take his fighting style for example. I forget specifically what episode it was (it was the one with the flower I think), but Spike actually shows the audience his technique, which is use the other person’s momentum against them. Needless to say (I really need to stop using that phrase), his style not only works, but makes him look really cool, smooth, and nonchalant when he fights.

Secondly, his general demeanor matches his fighting skill. He takes everything in stride, and doesn’t get flustered or agitated easily. He’s the man.

]]> http://heartlesseponine.wordpress.com/2009/11/12/chette-dizons-cardcaptor-sakura-fanfiction-in-books/ Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:05:12 +0000 heartlesseponine http://heartlesseponine.wordpress.com/2009/11/12/chette-dizons-cardcaptor-sakura-fanfiction-in-books/

I went to check on my message inbox in Friendster. (Heck! It’s been a freaking while, FriendsTALKER xD!)

Until I recieved one message saying about Chette Dizon’s (a Pinoy Cardcaptor Sakura  fanfiction writer. Won a lot of awards for her work.) fanfiction titled “Melody in my Heart” is now on sale! I then checked her twitter then it says that the first 50 stocks are now released. You can check on this link for more details.

Ahh~ Ate Chette. It’s been a while. ^_^~ I can still remember those highschool days when I stare at my computer for hours and get scolded by my mother just to read her fanfics “Melody in my Heart” and my most favorite “Hurt to Heart”. Man, all this excitement makes me want to watch CCS again. T^T

Chette-sama with her "Melody in my Heart" book. T^T

Well anyways if I have free time on my hands, I’ll try to read Chette-sempai’s works again. Nostalgia~ sigh…

Click here for more Cardcaptor Sakura fanfics made by Chette Dizon.

Cardcaptor Sakura

Cardcaptor Sakura is a magical girl series released in 1996 (manga) and 1998 (anime) which remains very popular among otaku. Following the life of a young girl who discovers magic powers and must use those new-found abilities to collect magical cards which have been dispersed throughout her city, Cardcaptor Sakura’s main draw is the natural charm its characters possess, particularly the heroine Kinomoto Sakura. Sakura exudes a sense of authenticity in her character that makes older male fans feel for her, and sometimes even develop sexual feelings for her.

While it’s never clear as to whether or not Cardcaptor Sakura was intended to be received by the fans in this manner (even though Sakura creators CLAMP were fans themselves before becoming professionals), there exists little of that ambiguity with a similar show, Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha. Essentially following the same basic premise as Cardcaptor Sakura, Nanoha features a young girl who receives magical powers and has to go collect items, but the key difference between the two series is that while Cardcaptor Sakura was targeted towards primarily young girls, Nanoha was aimed squarely at those older male otaku who were very fond of Kinomoto Sakura and the world in which she lived. The late-night time slot, the merchandising (posters in the otaku-oriented Megami Magazine, Nanoha-themed hug pillows), all of it points to a show made for otaku. Why then, do the people who make and promote Nanoha go through all the trouble of giving the series this magical girl facade and having it designed to look on the surface as if it were designed for the enjoyment of young girls when it clearly is not? The answer is, because that’s what the fans want.

Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha

“Textual poaching” is a term which refers to the act of engaging a work of media, be it text, television, radio, etc., and taking from it not so much what the author intended, but what is pleasurable or enjoyable to the reader/viewer instead of the work as a whole. Coined by Michael de Certeau in 1984, the term was utilized by Henry Jenkins in his study of Star Trek fans, particularly in the way that fans approached their own creative endeavors pertaining to their chosen fandom. The classic example of this is the notion that Kirk and Spock are romantically interested in one another, based on their close friendship and lines which are interpreted as “hints” towards their “true” relationship.

More recently, Jenkins has talked about how the one-sided conversation between creator and consumer has broken down, and how easy it is now for people to talk to a creator, albeit in the indirect form of shouting into the internet. While Jenkins does not focus particularly on Japanese animation, this is essentially the environment modern anime finds itself in, and in this setting you will find that a number of shows, like Nanoha, are designed to be poached.

At the zoo, chimpanzees are not fed by simply placing the food in front of them. Instead, what the zookeepers do is hide the food in the chimpanzees’ cage so that the chimps may find it themselves, and in doing so are creating a facsimile of the wild setting where chimps would forage for food. Even though the zoo is obviously not the jungle, this artificial foraging is what the chimpanzees prefer to simply having the food given to them. In essence, this is the situation surrounding the otaku and the otaku-conscious creator. The otaku, the fan, gains enjoyment from being able to draw from these works a secondary interpretation of events and characters within, and so the creator responds by making a story which on the surface seems very similar to an “innocent” series, but in actuality is constructed from the ground up as a work meant to simulate the foraging otaku engage in to find aspects of a work they can extrapolate as fans. Another example of this is Prince of Tennis and other similar series which, while running in Shounen Jump, are designed in part to attract the female readers who, similar to the Kirk/Spock fans, saw the “close friendship” theme common in shounen manga as “CLOSE FRIENDSHIP.”

Prince of Tennis

The joy derived from not approaching a work as intended makes sense when you realize that many fans are familiar with the notion of liking things to an extent others may not. Fans, after all, are not the majority. As such, they are experienced with liking things which are not intended for them, to the point that the act of pursuing series not intended for them may become the focus of their activity as fans. Creators understand this desire, and so have responded in kind by making series which are designed to be used in that manner, like a small man-made pond where pre-caught fish are thrown in to make things easier. The relationship between creator and fan/otaku is thus predicated on this willful suspension of disbelief. The otaku are willing to pretend that this series made for otaku is not made for otaku. The creator, in turn, continues to intentionally hide bits of “sustenance” in the fans’ cage, a cage which the fans have willfully constructed themselves and can leave at any time should they choose to do so.

[CardCaptor Sakura- The Refurbishment Edition Volume 2. Bought on EBay.]

I wish Manga were made this way in America. Or at least, made this way and completed this way as a series *cough*FruitsBasketUltimate*cough*. This “Refurbishment Edition” or Deluxe Edition, as they’re most known as, is a hard cover manga which is almost twice the size of it’s normal tankoubon format and has colored chapter images. It’s literally the way manga SHOULD be seen.

I got this jewel on EBay along with several other volumes of it. Unfortunately, that was the last and final time I seen Refurbishment editions on EBay. There’s not much to say about it. It pretty much speaks for itself. The manga has a slip cover like a normal hardbound. On the back flap, there’s a Tomoyo Clow Card printed, exactly like the paper bookmark version that came with the original tankoubon. I love the Colored Chapter images. They really give this version a unique and fun twist. If I lived in Japan, I wouldn’t mind re buying the CardCaptor Sakura series just for these Deluxe Editions.

Comparing it to the original Japanese Release (right) and the American Second Release (left).

Back cover of the original Japanese Release (right) and the Refurbishment Edition (left). Spine of the Refurbishment (left) has the english ‘CardCaptor’ printed under the name while the original release (right) does not.

Quality of the pages aren’t improved, but the size is almost double.

However, the Colored Chapter Images are Wonderful:

Under the Dust Jacket/Slip Cover:

Back Flap:

[Sakura from CardCaptor Sakura. Bought on Ebay.]
Like her Sister, I like her uniqueness. Unfortunately, she can’t stand on her own either. She holds together better then her sister, though.

Not much to say about her that wasn’t posted in her sister’s post. She came from the same Ebay Buyer without boxes, tags or marks. I did find two more figurines that looked like the same type of material and size on Ebay. Unfortunately, I didn’t grab them up. I’m still hitting myself for that.

By the way, these are made of “Soft Plastic”, not the hard plastic that most of my figurines are made of..

A BIG THANKS TO Marusera for letting me know a little more about these figurines! Apparently, they are Banpresto released and hard to find!

[Sakura from CardCaptor Sakura. Bought on Ebay.]

This Sakura is my one of my pride and joys. Why? Because she’s different. She’s bigger then the normal Gashapon and sports a different outfit then any figure I’ve seen.

Arguably, not the cutest outfit, but that’s kinda outweighed by the uniqueness of the figurine. She’s constructed like a Gashapon, meaning there’s many small parts that make this figure whole. The Staff is two parts, the arms, the hands, the legs and even the bows come off. Unfortunately, this is pretty horrible when it comes to actually displaying it. She doesn’t stand on her own two feet (she’s too heavy on one side) and when she falls, things tend to fall off her. I almost lost the bottom half of the staff to a vacuum when it fell off.

I bought this from a seller who bought it from a seller who bought it from a seller, so needless to say, I don’t know much about this figurine. I’ve never seen it before, not even on Yahoo!Japan Auctions (The Japanese Ebay for those who don’t know). It doesn’t have any marks other then “Made in China”. I’m not sure where it came from or what kind of packaging it came in. But, I guess that just adds to the uniqueness that is this figurine.

A BIG THANKS TO Marusera for letting me know a little more about these figurines! Apparently, they are Banpresto released and hard to find!

(The Clow Book won’t be used as a background again. It was the only thing I thought of at the time to hold her up. It’s too busy. Dx)

(In case anyone’s curious, she’s standing on the CardCaptor Sakura Manga Refurbishment/Deluxe Edition Volume 2 and she’s leaning against the US CardCaptors release of the Clow Book)

Kinomoto Sakura, the heroine of Cardcaptor Sakura, is one of the most beloved anime characters of all time. Full of energy, enthusiasm, and a drive to find happiness for everyone with mixed an innocent girlishness, Sakura became what is essentially the lofty goal of most moe characters. She tugs at the heartstrings in a convincing manner, gets you rooting for her as she goes out to face the next challenge, and is both believable and fantastic. A good portion of this power and majesty (at least in the anime!) lies in her voice actor, Tange Sakura.

Tange Sakura to certain otaku such as myself is one of the finest voice actors ever, due mainly to the convincing humanity she puts into her roles. But then a  few years back Sakura retired from the world of voice acting, right around time anime really started to take off around the world, leaving a small semi-generation of anime fans unfamiliar with her abilities. But now she’s back, and I have to say few things are as momentous in anime voice acting as the return of Tange Sakura. I don’t know why she left, or why she’s decided to come back, but it is welcome news.

So far she’s played a character in the video game Love Plus, with her first anime role since her retirement being the vampire Hatori Kanon in Anyamaru Tantei Kirumins (which if I were to try to translate into English would be something like “Animeow Detective Mascots”). It’s definitely Sakura all right, though she doesn’t get very many lines. She’s also working with a mix of relatively new voice actors, and some people she’s worked with before, namely Tanaka Hideyuki (Sakura’s dad in CCS). I wonder if anyone out there is watching this show just for her, and not say, because it’s directed by Kawamori Shouji (Various Macross seres, Escaflowne, Aquarion).

I would not be surprised if that were the case, and wouldn’t really mind anyone watching this show in particular for the voice actor(s).

There is no way I like this girl!
You got it all wrong!

OMG. The character interactions between Kobato and Fujimoto have been so cute so far. I can’t help but remember my days of watching Cardcaptor Sakura in November 2004. I’m rather disappointed that I didn’t have much to say about it then. Regardless, I loved it and found it a solid show. I loved the character interactions and among my favorites were those between Sakura and Shaoran. It is just cute how Shaoran starts out so combative towards Sakura thinking nothing of her. She is only competition for him. At school he’s always degrading Sakura and making fun of her. But by the end of the series they get together in one of my favorite scenes in anime.

Absolutely cute.

CLAMP should really just disband and do character designs or whatever they’ve been doing lately with their involvement with Code Geass and other anime. CLAMP used to make some awesome stuff.

I said that back in May 2008 with my disgusted reactions to watching Tsubasa Chronicles. This has changed watching Kobato. I can’t help but feel nostalgia watching Kobato. Honestly, it is the first CLAMP work since CCS that I’ve really taken a liking to. Chobits was decent and I absolutely hated Tsubasa Chronicles which was in part due to Bee Train producing it.

Regardless, I just couldn’t like the meek and humble Shaoran. He was horrible. Sakura was flat. What was with those two guys, and the talking Mokona…? Don’t get me started. Just read my rants about the show if you’re interested.

Watching Kobato and Fujimoto interact I’m remind of Sakura and Shaoran. Sure they don’t fight and argue as much as those kids, but they’re older. Still it’s absolutely cute! Kobato is just this amazingly cheerful and a stylish dresser while Fujimoto is this Suzaku Kurugi clone with long hair and glasses. Don’t be fooled because he is just as aloof and female lead degrading as Shaoran. I can’t wait to see the romance kick into gear and the H doujins between these two. These two are the pair I wanted to see in Tsubasa Chronicles but didn’t.

CLAMP brought the girl in me out 5+ years ago with stuff like Rayearth, and Cardcaptor Sakura. During the times characters got together, I couldn’t help but KYAA over and over while watching such shows. It was cute then and it’s cute now with Kobato. I am happy that I don’t have to degrade CLAMP anymore. Now get to finishing X already! …please.

All figures sold as-is. Figures come from a smoke free environment and are sold in united states dollars. Paypal only.

All shipments inside the USA will be sent United States Postal Service Priority Mail and costs $6.00 USD. Prices will very if shipping outside the United States, please email me for a price quote.

Questons? E-mail me at buyfrompanda@gmail.com

Full Metal Panic Fumoffu

Tokiwa Kyouko: $5.00 MUST BE 18 OR OLDER TO BUY THIS FIGURE!
Gundam Seed Destany

Rey ZaBurrel: $10.00 USD

Goku: $4.00 USD SOLD

Sailor Moon

Sailor Moon: $5.00 USD
Cardcaptor Sakura

Sakura: $4.00 USD
Yu-Gi-Oh

Dark Magician: $4.00 USD
Hikaru no Go

Sai and Hikaru: $1.00 USD

Video Game Characters

Unknown: $4.00 USD

Unknown: $4.00 USD

Peach: $2.00

Sternness 1 (English)

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BBB-Extra – Sakura-chan’s Amazing Adventure Book 3 (English)

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