270 – One Shot 25 – The Ghost and the Lady

On this episode Morgana loves the wholesome Nicola Traveling Around the Demons’ World while dakazu reads Nagata Kabi’s newest book and absolutely hates the illogical Kunihachibu. We also discuss updates to piracy litigation and Japanese censorship laws. Finally, we dive into Kazuhiro Fujita’s historical ghost story about the Man in Grey and Florence Nightingale in The Ghost and the Lady!!!

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Timestamps:

• 00:00:00 -Intro Song: “Gekkou” by BUMP OF CHICKEN from Karakuri Circus, Opening, Introductions, 
• 00:01:07 – The BEASTARS episode of Manga Mavericks is finally out, a Manga Machinations sitcom pitch
• 00:02:29 – Whatchu Been Reading: Transition Song: Dragon Ball Z OST “Prologue”, Morgana is in love with the all-ages story of friendly demons in Nicola Traveling Around the Demons’ World
• 00:07:31 – *SPOILERS* Morgana and dakazu cry while reading the end of Our Dreams at Dusk: Shimanami Tasogare
• 00:12:20 – *SPOILERS* Darfox compares the tight narrative of Our Dreams at Dusk: Shimanami Tasogare to the questionable stance on discrimination found in Blue Flag
• 00:21:51 – dakazu talks about Nagata Kabi’s newest book Genjitsu Touhi shitetara Boroboro ni natta Hanashi
• 00:25:49 – dakazu gives some teasers for Tokyo Tarareba Girls Returns and Tokyo Tarareba Girls Season 2
• 00:35:38 – Kekkai no Noah is a horror manga about a cruise ship filled with vampires and their unknowing human prey
• 00:37:50 – dakazu thinks a remote village full of cannibals in Gannibal is terrifying
• 00:41:19 – There’s a lot of modern conflict and political commentary to be interpreted in Senshi ni Ai wo
• 00:48:05– dakazu disliked the old yaoi troupes of Fumi Yoshinaga’s Solfege and Fumi Yoshinaga’s: Lovers in the Night but loved Antique Bakery
• 00:53:31 – Morgana talks about Not Love But Delicious Foods and the Japanese stigma against women who enjoy eating
• 00:56:50 – The illogical premise of Kunihachibu makes dakazu rage
• 01:06:01 – News: MR Comics have taken down their app in the Apple and Google Play stores but it can still be found elsewhere
• 01:09:49 – Manga leech site Haruka Ume no Ato to pay 1.6 million in damages to Kodansha
• 01:18:16 – Launch of new manga subscription service Manga Planet
• 01:27:26 – Upcoming releases by Square Enix Manga and Books include Hi Score Girl, A Man and His Cat, Beauty and the Feast, and My Dress-Up Doll
• 01:33:14 – Rensuke Oshikiri will be doing a sequel series to Hi Score Girl called Hi Score Girl Dash
• 01:36:05 – Carlsen Manga will be releasing a German edition of Blue Giant Supreme and skip over the prequel series Blue Giant
• 01:42:19 – A movement to remove Japanese pornography censorship meets opposition over 2D shota and lolita hentai
• 01:58:05 – Next Episode Preview and Rundown: Fantasy Magazine: Horror, a new podcast format where each of the hosts will draft picks to create their ideal Horror themed manga magazine
• 02:01:21 – Main Segment One Shot: The Ghost and the Lady, Transition Song: “Mazeruna Kiken” by Kinniku Shōjo Tai from Ushio to Tora, we review Kazuhiro Fujita’s story about the Man in Grey and Florence Nightingale during the Crimean War
• 02:02:50 – Morgana is thrilled to learn that Kazuhiro Fujita is the same manga artist behind Ushio to Tora
• 02:05:05 – We discuss Fujita’s unique drawing process that skips over sketching and goes directly to inking
• 02:08:49 – dakazu recognizes a lot of Fujita trademarks of horrific monster designs, dynamic action scenes, and distinct otherworldly eyes in this manga
• 02:12:19 – We praises Fujita for the relationship between Florence Nightingale and the Man in Grey
• 02:17:31 – We lament the lack of availability for Fujita’s other book in the Black Museum series, Springald
• 02:19:48 – dakazu is not a fan of Fujita’s current series Sobotei Kowasubeshi
• 02:20:40 – dakazu runs down the list of famous manga artists who worked as Fujita’s assistants like Nobuyuki Anzai, Makoto Raiku, and Kazurou Inoue
• 02:23:02 – dakazu recounts Kazuhiro Fujita’s appearances as a character in Semai Sekai no Identity and Hoeyo Pen
• 02:27:14 – We discuss Zack Davisson’s use of Victorian era dialogue
• 02:28:47 – We comment on the real historical figures that are utilized as characters in The Ghost and the Lady
• 02:30:06 – We discuss the design of Monsieur Black and other minstrel and blackface looking African characters in manga
• 02:33:16 – Morgana shares her distaste for the abundance of scenes showing a naked Nightingale being subjected to violence
• 02:40:52 – We discuss how the relationship between Grey and Nightingale ends
• 02:44:52 – We give our final thoughts on the manga
• 02:47:46 – Discussing sappy melodrama leads us on a tangent about Naruto
• 02:50:26 – Next Week’s Topic: Fantasy Magazine: Horror, Social Media Rundown, Sign Off Song: “wish men” by sunbrain from Beet the Vandel Buster