Sig IKKI Talkback (Spoilers?)

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claptonlover

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While it has been active for a while with the serialization of Daiuske Igarashi's Children Of The Sea, the website for Viz Signature IKKI, the US version of Shogakukan's Monthly IKKI seinen magazine and a part of the Viz Signature lineup, has just launched on the eve of Comic-Con, where it will publicly debut on Saturday in grand fashion. The first chapters, and the 10th of Children Of The Sea, are online now:

Children Of The Sea
Dorohedoro
Saturn Apartments
I'll Give It My All...Tomorrow
Bokurano: Ours

Next week will see the debut chapters of the following:
Afterschool Charisma
Kingyo Used Books
House Of Five Leaves
Tokyo Flow Chart

New chapters for each series will appear at a rate of once per month as the website will post them on a weekly basis, along with bonus features. There's also a video that showcases two new titles not yet announced along with those that are. And, this is the talkback to these Comix, as IKKI calls them. Whose ready to join the IKKI Underground?

Official Website | Official Blog
 
I'm completey ready to jump in.
I know I started getting into Seinen with Inoue's works, but IKKI's concept in general IN BOTH Japan and the U.S., showcasing really alternative and even avant-garde manga series?
I dig.
Especially since I've always been into the whole idea of the "underground" scene.
And with manga?
I'm sold.
I'll report on the series as I go through them.
 
Bought Children of the Sea Vol.1
The intial setup and premise reminRAB me vaguely of Mushi-Shi.

OH and Afterschool Charisma!?
Doesn't it seem like Serious In-Toned Japanese Clone High?
 
They are. Select titles will be based on reader feedback (mostly through the Sigi Ikki website, I think its cool to send them a tweet). The only three that are confirmed to have GN volumes are Children Of The Sea, Bokurano, and Dorohedoro. Here's the current GN schedule (via Viz's web site):

-NOW: Children Of The Sea Vol 1 ($15 but it is thicker than the average manga volume, even those from Viz Signature, and features full-color art where needed)
-Dec. 15: Children Of The Sea Vol 2
-Feb 16: Bokurano Vol 1
-Mar 16: Dorohedoro Vol 1

So far now, Children Of The Sea has been really good. It does start off slow, but it does pick up after a few chapters and becomes really intriguing. The artwork is really impressive. My advice is to read it online before deciding on purchasing it. I gave up on it when the first chapter came online, but after the full launch and more chapters became available, I was able to read the chapters one after another and enjoyed it. Ruka and Umi act like kiRAB and it feels natural. Definitely a good way to kick off the line.

I'm about to read House Of Five Leaves, the only title I have yet to read. I'll give my two cents on it and the others later.
 
To re-iterate and elaborate: Each series (and that includes Children Of The Sea from this point forward) will only have one new-to-US chapter per month. These series will be spread out throughout the month so that each Thursday (when new chapters come out), there will be something new. We don't know what Viz will put out this week, since this is the first real month of releasing the schedule. But, we will find out what a little bit of the projected monthly schedule will be this Thursday.
 
Think about how bad it was waiting reading it the "other way".

Thanks for the info, Vyse. Sucks I have to wait till Feb. but, maybe I'll luck out and Children will be worth the wait.
 
I'm totally digging House of Five Leaves, added I am a sucker for Samurai/Tokugawa era stuff. But I'm interested on where it goes.

The one series that caught me off on being highly enjoyable was 'I'll Give It My All... Tomorrow'.
That huge, qwirky yet somewhat awkward interaction between the characters and of course Shizuo's overall guy in his 40's having a midlife crisis?
Gold.

Kingyo Used Books seems like slice of life in that "Nolstalgic Otaku" way.
Bokurano and Afterschool Charisma?

Eh, Bokurano I've heard a lot of good things about so I'll stay with it but how many "Japanese Pre-Teens save the world with Giant Robots" stories do I need?
Charisma? I'll see where it goes.

Ironicly, outside of Five Leaves and I'll Give It My All, I really really enjoy Children of the Sea, I'd only slightly agree that first volume moved slow but like Vyse said, the interaction between Umi and Ruka felt very natural and it seems a much epic story is going to unfold and of course yes, the artwork is beautiful.

I'ma try and read Dorohedoro and Saturn Apartments when I feel up to it.
 
Oh, yeah!

I've actually heard about Bokurano before now, which is why I'm so into it. It appeals to both my desire for a good story and for giant robot carnage at a truly epic scale.
 
Nope. Blame using a netbook and having the text bubbles be tiny. Haven't read them since August.

I want to pick up Children of the Sea Vol. 2, but haven't due to other titles I like - Detroit Metal City and Dogs. I may pick up "not simple" from the person behind House of Five Leaves, though, if I have enough money left over from Rin.

EDIT: They've been taking a break since Deceraber, but they have put out some new stuff like Bob & His Funky Crew and What's The Answer?. Anyone read them yet?
 
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