Ponent mon website redesign and new forums

Roadie Joined: 15 Jan 2004 Posts: 66

Ponentmon the only people who are actually translating manga that doesn't suck into english has opened up their forums here. Good luck finding them if you live in an uncultured part of the US though Razz

I reviewed Kinderbook for the mangascreener magazine awhile ago, though it seems no progress has occured on it in awhile...

Fan Boy Joined: 20 Aug 2003 Posts: 43 Location: MA

Quote:

Ponentmon the only people who are actually translating manga that doesn't suck into english has opened up their forums here. Good luck finding them if you live in an uncultured part of the US though

I reviewed Kinderbook for the mangascreener magazine awhile ago, though it seems no progress has occured on it in awhile...

It's coming, it's coming.

Speaking of belated things, where is Mariko Parade anyway? I thought that was coming out months ago...

Edit: "New" Tatsumi collection in France:

http://univers.bdnet.com/Album.htm?cde=9782908981872

Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2004 3:56 am

neilworms wrote:

Ponentmon the only people who are actually translating manga that doesn't suck into english

Uh...you are free to be an elitist manga snob if you want, but I think you can at least do MS the courtesy of not insulting us while you use our forums.

Fan Boy Joined: 20 Aug 2003 Posts: 43 Location: MA

Quote:

Uh...you are free to be an elitist manga snob if you want, but I think you can at least do MS the courtesy of not insulting us while you use our forums.

I think he was referring to print publishers, not online scanslations.

At any rate, I enjoyed the Kan Takahama photo gallery. But how about one for Nananan too?

Groupie Joined: 03 Apr 2004 Posts: 118

I'm really glad you pointed that publisher out before on these forums, because I had not heard of them earlier. I'm going to be ordering all their books. Smile

I'm also going to reveiw Kinderbook for another site, thanks to your recommendation! (I'm sure it won't be out till after yours though, so not to worry. ^_~) I'd love for this publisher to get lots more publicity. I can't wait to read Taniguchi and Nananan in English too.

If neilworms is referring to print publishers in his post, I agree that all US releases are crap. Well, with the exception of Vertical Inc. who released a great edition of Buddha and the occassional good Viz title, like No. 5, Eagle, Phoenix, Black and White, and Nausicaa. (Sometimes a Darkhorse title isn't bad.)

What really makes me mad is Tokyopop's release of Love Hina (!) and Tokyopop the company were voted "best manga release" and "best US manga publisher" at AnimeExpo! What?! Who the heck voted that? Tokyopop have one of the worst critical selections of manga in the US (only ComicsOne beats them in crap levels). At least when aiming for mass appeal, Viz go for the top rated commercial titles and not the mediocre and absolute shitty ones like Tokyopop. Not to mention that Tokyopop are making poor quality control, shitty printing, and "Americanization" the industry standard. Consumers are fooled into thinking that just because Tokyopop's manga are unflipped and sound effects untouched that they are being accurate. *weeps* Guess which manga publisher was never nominated for an Eisner?

How sad that the only places to get good manga are the independent publishers like Vertical, DH Publishing, or Ponent Mon. (Or import from France and Japan!)

God I could rant forever, but I'm preaching to the choir here. If US publishers would quit aiming for a juvenile maturity level in their title selections, I wouldn't even need to be reading scanlations right now. I think groups like Mangascreener are here and popular for a reason. We want to read GOOD manga in English, and few publishers will give it to us. (For fear it won't sell? Who knows...)

Street Musician Joined: 16 Feb 2003 Posts: 530

jennwenn wrote:

What really makes me mad is Tokyopop's release of Love Hina (!) and Tokyopop the company were voted "best manga release" and "best US manga publisher" at AnimeExpo!

I presume they were voted so because they sold a lot of copies, which when you get right down to it is the biggest criteria for winning most any industry award?

Groupie Joined: 03 Apr 2004 Posts: 118

Emperor Ketchup wrote:

jennwenn wrote:

What really makes me mad is Tokyopop's release of Love Hina (!) and Tokyopop the company were voted "best manga release" and "best US manga publisher" at AnimeExpo!

I presume they were voted so because they sold a lot of copies, which when you get right down to it is the biggest criteria for winning most any industry award?

They probably did. I think the award was voted by convention attendees (?), and if that's the case it would be better to call these "fan awards" or "reader's choice awards". Love Hina is probably the most popular manga/anime in the US, so if that were the title of the award then it would certainly deserve that one. "Industry award" seems so misleading, and I don't think they necessarily deserve that one...

EDIT - But I suppose I shouldn't complain. The readers who pick up Love Hina and the like will one day (hopefully) want something more stimulating. When there are enough of those types out there, maybe we'll get more of that type of manga. In the meantime, I'm learning Japanese. Cool

Roadie Joined: 15 Jan 2004 Posts: 66

[quote]I think he was referring to print publishers, not online scanslations. [\quote]

Yes I was actually refering to print publishers. Mangascreener is awsome why else would I be here Smile

...

Street Musician Joined: 13 Oct 2002 Posts: 402

Funny you should mention this.

I couldn't find "Blue" here in Malaysia, OK fine, I thought. It is, after all, "hot lesbian schoogirls".
But in Singapore, no luck either. Rolling Eyes

What bookshops do you guys buy your Ponentmon releases from. Is it available in your Kinokuniya?