Sure, Previews is useful for those of us whose shops aren’t able to order a little bit of everything. But sometimes, it goes beyond service as a valuable consumer tool to become something much, much stranger. Take the May 2005 edition.
There’s the solicitation text from Rica ‘tte Kanji!? from ALC Publishing. Rica is an example of the yuri (girl love) genre of manga, and ALC lists one of its features as “a refreshing lack of self-hatred and doubt.” Sold! No, really. I’ve been looking for a yuri title to try. But that blurb does make me wonder if the rest of ALC’s line is filled with portraits of shame and pain. Probably not. And now I’ve got “Jonny and Betty” stuck in my head.
On page 248, a happy tour through the fresh-scrubbed world of Riverdale High. On page 249, Satan’s 3-Ring Circus of Hell! Run, Archie gang, run!
In the Fantagraphics listings, Previews takes a firm hand with the copy for The Comics Journal 269 (the shojo issue). The contrast between what editor Dirk Deppey wrote and what Previews printed is quite striking, so why not pop over here and compare the two for yourself? You can also gaze in wonder at the near-final cover design, which is soooooo pretty.
A high-school comedy featuring super-intelligent monkeys? Why yes, Oni, I will be purchasing Banana Sunday.
I have to hand it to Kazurou Inoue, creator of Midori Days (Viz). In a stunning bit of manga-ka inventiveness, Inoue has come up with a plot where it’s absolutely essential for the boy to have his hand up the girl’s skirt. Well played.
And on page 373, I find perhaps the best review blurb ever: “Tozzer and the Invisible Lap Dancers is Harry Potter done right.” I wish I had better needlepoint skills, because I absolutely must have that on a sampler or a pillow.