Catches tigers in red weather.

A heads-up for those interested: Women's outerwear is 30% off at Urban Outfitters until Oct. 12th. I'm currently eyeing the funnel neck peacoat from my last entry, debating whether or not to buy it. Ahhhhh, indecision.

Anyway, I do believe its time for a manga rec:

Detroit Metal City

by Kiminori Wakasugi

By all appearances, Soichi Negishi is a sweet, well-mannered boy who loves Swedish pop music, trendy boutiques, and all things fashionable. But at the same time he's also Krauser II, front man for Detroit Metal City, an indie death metal band whose popularity increases by the day. Once the DMC makeup goes on and Soichi takes the stage, his natural talents as a death metal god can't help but flourish. Is this the band he's truly destined to be in?
--summary from Viz

This series is INSANE. Also: the most hilarious thing ever. Negishi switches between his personality and the Krauser personality so much that sometimes his alter-ego bleeds into real life, often to hysterical results. One example is when Negishi is called a poser in the park while singing his original songs, and he ends up smashing a guitar over a policeman's head (as Krauser) while trying (and failing) to prove that DMC's stuff is as grating as they said his stuff was. Negishi's attempts to use the Krauser persona to get things to go his way usually end with him getting way too into character and doing things the Krauser way instead. Which generally mean lots of mishaps, lots of RAMPAGING. Oh how I cackle madly at his identity crisis.

Though there are some things about this series that might turn off readers such as, oh, the amount of obscene words used--never before have I heard the word 'fuck' used so much in a manga. And since its about a metal band of course there's going to be some crude stuff about them, which is something that embarrasses Negishi to no end. In costume, Krauser is the the terrorist from Hell, rumored to have killed and raped his parents, who wields his giant death penis with abandon, you know, stuff that is totally metal. Krauser is famed for his 'ten rapes in one second' where he shouts, obviously, rape ten times in a second. Generally, the fans that follow DMC see them as a group whose world revolves around sex and violence, which is just completely opposite from how the band is in real life.

If you're looking for a series that makes you laugh and go WTF, then this is the one for you.

---

Links.

× Photos from CEATEC Japan 2009,the largest consumer electronics trade show in Asia, that show the latest technology from various companies. The squid robots (yes, squid robots) are the cutest things ever. ♥

× Professah Smash Bros., a totally great Professor Layton/Smash Bros comic.

× This Dino/Gokudera comic kills me.

× Fanfic: Object of Gossip a Fullmetal Alchemist fic (link goes to chapter index). The summary pretty much says it all: "Roy and Ed are sleeping together, and everyone knows it! Everyone… except for Roy and Ed. " This fic makes me all giggly.

× Pyramid Head crocheted blanket! Are you brave enough to go to bed with this?

× Taiko no Tatsujin bento is adorable. Although...are those sprinkles on that shrimp? Uh...

× Hidden symbols in one dollar bills: Is that a Triforce?

× Princess Peach in a kimono. How cute!

× Fanfic: I Have My Dead is a collection of Persona 4 ficlets where the characters write goodbye letters to their parents to leave behind in case they die in the TV world. Teddie's broke my heart, and Souji's and Yukiko's. Ahhhh, so good, yet so sad.

× Fanfic: another P4 one, this one Yukiko/Chie, A Barrel in the Sea. Its set post-game, where Yukiko's parents find out she's romantically involved with Chie and demand she end their relationship. Yukiko refuses and is thrown out, practically disowned. Its so real and powerful and I just love it. Dojima plays an awesome role in this fic as well.

× 3 Color Joystick Repeat Drawing is really cool looking. Its something I'd probably put up on my wall.

× Kotaku's The Most Handsome Game Company Exec In Japan? labeled Chiyomaru Shikura, Executive Director of 5pb., as a dreamboat, and readers posted who they thought was an attractive man in the Japanese gaming industry. Of course Hideo Kojima was mentioned since, seriously, the man is just adorable, and then someone posted a surprisingly hot picture of....Hironobu Sakaguchi?!! Shit man, I didn't know you could look that good. Even non-industry people, like Yu Darvish, starting pitcher for the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters, (OMG so beautiful) were mentioned for no reason at all. And no Kotaku post is complete without a lulzy image: Kojima's head photoshopped onto a booth babe's body. Just look at that sexy expression of his. I SPEND WAY TOO MUCH TIME AT KOTAKUUUUUUU. Especially reading the most random things.

× Adorable advertisement for Kimi ni Todoke Nintendo DS game. Chibi!Kazehaya, you are such a cutie.

I'm on a major manga kick right now. Three weeks ago I felt the invisible thread of Naruto tighten around me once again and suddenly I was tossed back headfirst into manga scanlations. I've been blazing through chapters 89-457 like a woman possessed. Then last week it was Loveless' turn, and I spent an entire night with volumes 1-8 by my side, rereading each book and sighing (at times with content, at times with despair) at the relationship between Ritsuka and Soubi.

Otomen was next, then Switch, followed by Crimson Hero, which I read through back issues of Shojo Beat. And it was through SB that I discovered Kimi ni Todoke and I'm in love with it, oh god I'm so in love. This is my type of romance manga.

Kimi ni Todoke

by Karuho Shiina

Sawako Kuronuma, called Sadako by her classmates for her resemblance to the character from Ring, has always been feared and misunderstood because of her appearance. There are rumors that Sawako can see ghosts and curse people. But when her idol, popular boy Kazehaya, begins talking with her, everything changes. She finds herself in a new world, trying to make friends and talking to different people and she can't thank Kazehaya enough for giving her these opportunities.
--summary from mangafox

I know, I know, the Sadako-looking character in manga has been done before (see: Perfect Girl Evolution), but trust me, Kimi ni Todoke is a series worth checking out. To me this series is about true friendship, true love, honesty, and innocence. I love that the characters are very true to heart; the girls aren't extremely outrageous, the boys aren't complete pervs, which are qualities I see in other manga. Maybe this won't appeal to everyone, but I like this sort of thing. I like the quietness of each chapter, I like the slow pacing of the story. It makes me feel as if I, too, am sitting there in that classroom along with everyone else, living out the comedy and drama with them.

Sawako has the type of personality that simultaneously touches me and breaks my heart. Similarly, I adore Kazahaya's friendly nature that makes him reach out to Sawako. And when Sawako and Kazahaya smile at each other--oh god, their smiles--its like my world stops and everything becomes alright.

Equally endearing are the characters that Sawako befriends as she begins to open up: Ayane is perceptive and intelligent, but quick to anger when Sawako is hurt; Chizu is the lovable Yankee tomboy with a soft spot for innocent-mannered people; Ryu is the stoic best friend of Kazahaya that somehow gets his feelings across without speaking much.

I'm getting so kinda mushy over this series, aren't I? But I assure you, there's more to Kimi ni Todoke than what I've talked about above.




On an unrelated side note, for some reason I'm suddenly in the mood for Tezuka/Ryoma (Tenipuri) fanfic. I'm currently resisting the urge to open up all the bookmarks in my Tezuryo folder because, seriously, I'd be here forever reading and rereading and sighing with happiness. I LOVE THOSE TWO. Pillar Pair, fuck yeah.