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 VOICES FROM ON HIGH #2: STEVEN AND PAUL’S HOLIDAY SHOPPING GUIDE 2006
Written by Paul Benjamin & Steven and Megumi Cummings
Ah, it seems like just a week or so ago that Steven Cummings and I introduced ourselves. We talked all about our upcoming TOKYOPOP book PANTHEON HIGH and our love for manga. We also talked about how this feature would be biweekly. Well, we couldn’t wait two weeks! We’re back with our Holiday Shopping Guide. Following are a handful of recommendations of some of our favorite manga from around the world. We’ll tell you why we like these books and who might appreciate them as gifts. I suppose we could’ve waited the two full weeks to post our recommendations, but December 26th seemed a little late for the gift giving season. Also, feel free to forward this list to your friends if they need any hints about what you want this year. You might find out what they think of you depending on which books they buy for you!
Happy Holidays,
Paul Benjamin
BLANK - Written and illustrated by Pop Mhan
What it’s about: The story of a teenage boy with no memory who thinks he’s a government agent assigned to protect a cute high school girl – and to ogle her goods. Pop Mahn has illustrated Batman, Marvel Adventures Spider-Man, and SpyBoy, but he adds some new tools to his toolbox as he dives headlong into the world of manga. Blank is a frenetic, fun ride with beautiful girls, perverted boys and more spies than you can shake a stick at.
Who to buy it for: Horny high school boys; spies; girls who dig cute boys with amnesia.
Age Recs: 16+
 BOYS OF SUMMER - Written by Chuck Austen, Illustrated by Otsuka Hiroki
What it's about: BOYS OF SUMMER is the story of new college student Bud Waterston and the all the big experiences waiting for him in his new world away from home. Upon arrival at his new school, Bud finds the girl of his dreams, but she's as distant as the home he left behind. This book is full of horny misadventures, new relationships and baseball, which might be Bud's best shot at getting with the girl he likes who is also on the team. If only he can get over his personal issues with baseball.
Who to buy it for: Horny adolescents; baseball fans; those who dream of moving away to college just for a shot at getting into some of the same situations Bud finds himself in.
Age Recs: 16+
 DEATH NOTE - Written by Tsugumi Ohba, Illustrated by Takeshi Obata
What it’s about: This book is a fantastic example of what makes manga great. It’s a translation from Viz about ace student Light Yagami who finds a magical artifact called a Death Note. The rules for the Death Note notebook are somewhat complex and watching Light experiment to test the rules’ boundaries is half the fun. The short version is that anyone whose name is written in the notebook dies. Light vows to use its power to rid the world of evil, but when criminals start dropping dead the authorities send the legendary detective L to track down the killer. The battle of Light versus L and the innocents caught in-between creates a compelling examination of good v. evil and all the gray areas in the middle.
Who to buy it for: That friend or family member with the dark streak. You know the one.
Age Recs: 16+
 DRAMACON - Written and illustrated by Svetlana Chmakova
What it's about: DRAMACON is the story of aspiring comic-writer Christie who, while attending her first anime convention with her artist-partner boyfriend, seemingly finds the man of her dreams amidst all the chaos and confusion of the show. Drama ensues. Hilariously funny drama. Not only is this an upbeat romantic comedy in the shojo style, it is also an introduction to the world of comic conventions (well, in this case anime cons). To anyone who has spent any amount of time at a comic or anime convention, the world in this book will ring true (especially by the second page where Christie has a run-in with a guy in a schoolgirl outfit). Dramacon is a funny tale of uncertainty, romance and otakuness, certain to inspire a yearning for the next convention season.
Who to buy it for: The romantically challenged; otaku, and those who aspire to be otaku.
Age Recs: 13+
 EARTHLIGHT - Written by Stuart Moore and illustrated by Christopher Schons
What it’s about: From its ominous opening to its shocking ending, this tale of teenagers living on a moon colony is powerful and compelling. Fifteen year-old Damon Cole is new to the moon colony and just trying to fit in. But living on the moon is tough and many of the kids who live there are hard-hearted. Stuart Moore and Christopher Schons effectively blend teen drama, excellent acting and cool environments to create a Sci-Fi world that feel as real as the Earth beneath our feet. Who to buy it for: Science Fiction fans; high school students; moon colonists.
Age Recs: 13+
 I LUV HALLOWEEN - Written by Keith Giffen and illustrated by Benjamin Roman
What it’s about: This is one of the funniest books ever. If you don’t believe us, go read it. You’ll see. Halloween may be over, but this sick and disturbed story is timeless. This warped tale follows a group of kids as they go trick or treating. But we know something’s wrong when we see that some of the kids’ parents are just desiccated corpses propped up at the dining room table. And that’s just page 3. Benjamin Roman’s quirky style makes all the blood, guts, and groin kicking creepy without being nauseating as Keith Giffen’s sick streak comes out to play. If you or your friends are ready to get treated by watching others get tricked (and eviscerated) get this book!
Who to buy it for: Halloween lovers (duh); anyone with a sick and twisted sense of humor; serial killers.
Age Recs: 16+
 KAT & MOUSE - Written by Alex de Campi and illustrated by Federica Manfredi
What it’s about: Kat just moved to a posh new private school and straight to the bottom of the social ladder. That’s what happens when you’re smart and your dad is the new science teacher. When an anonymous student blackmail’s Kat’s dad for better class grades, Kat joins forces with rebellious science nerd Mouse to find the culprits before her dad gets fired. As a special bonus, the book has instructions for the fingerprinting techniques Kat & Mouse use in the book and also features bios of the girls’ real-life female role models.
Who to buy it for: Smart, precocious would-be crime fighters; girls looking for heroes they can relate to; Harry Potter fans willing to trade fantastical magic for real world science.
Age Recs: 8-12
 PSY-COMM - Written by Jason Henderson and Tony Salvaggio. Illustrated by Shane Granger
What it’s about: In a future where corporations are like countries and wars are entertainment, psychic commandos (Psy-Comms) are the hottest stars around. Mark Leit is a Psy-Comm who can see the future but who can’t escape his past. This book is full of super powered action and incredible battles, but it also has a soft side and soulful character development among the various Psy-Comms as they face the ravages of love and war. It also boasts the best uses of precognition powers I’ve ever seen (even when I look into the future).
Who to buy it for: Your psychic; anyone who digs action with a side of romance.
Age Recs: 13+
 SCOTT PILGRIM’S PRECIOUS LITTLE LIFE - Written and illustrated by Bryan Lee O’Malley
What it’s about: If you only buy one gift this year, make it this book! There’s a whole series of Scott Pilgrim books and you’ll be hooked hard after reading the first one. What starts out as the seemingly ordinary story of a 23 year-old guy dating a high school girl and jamming with his band turns into one of the wackiest tales ever told with interdimensional portals through Scott’s brain and battles with evil ex-boyfriends that mix a real world feel with video game logic. It’s a wild ride that shows just how imaginative a storyteller can be when he throws the rulebook out the window!
Who to buy it for: Anyone who’s ever played a Mario Bros. game, played in a band, wanted to play in a band, dated someone younger than them or deal with evil ex-boy/girlfriends to go out with someone. Okay, really anyone who loves a hint of wackiness will dig this series.
Age Recs: 13+
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