The Manzai Comics
{{short description|Japanese manga series}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox animanga/Header
| image = The Manzai Comics.jpg
| caption = English edition of the first volume of The Manzai Comics as published by Aurora Publishing
| genre = Comedy
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Print
| type = manga
| author = Atsuko Asano
| illustrator = Hizuru Imai
| publisher = Jive
| publisher_en = {{English manga publisher|NA= Aurora Publishing}}
| demographic = Shōnen
| imprint =
| magazine = Comic Rush
| first = December 1, 2005
| last = March 10, 2009
| volumes = 5
| volume_list =
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Footer}}
The Manzai Comics (also known as The Comedy Team"[http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2007-12-17/aurora-its-luv-luv-imprint-announce-new-manga-titles Aurora, Its Luv Luv Imprint Announce New Manga Titles]." Anime News Network. December 17, 2007. Retrieved February 26, 2009.) is a manga series written by Atsuko Asano and illustrated by Hizuru Imai."[https://www.amazon.com/dp/1934496502 The Manzai Comics Volume 1 (Paperback)]." Amazon.com. Retrieved February 26, 2009. In Japan it is published by Jive."[http://www.jive-ltd.co.jp/catalog/asano.html まるごと あさのあつこ]." Jive. Retrieved on February 26, 2009. In the United States it is published by Aurora Publishing.{{cite web | url=http://aurora-publishing.com/manga_volume.aspx?mvid=17 |title=The Manzai Comics: Volume 1 | publisher=Aurora Publishing | accessdate= February 26, 2009 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100306043254/http://aurora-publishing.com/manga_volume.aspx?mvid=17 | archive-date=March 6, 2010 }}
{{nihongo|Takashi Akimoto|秋本 貴史|Akimoto Takashi}}, a confident and forceful student, cajoles {{nihongo|Ayumu Seta|瀬田 歩|Seta Ayumu}}, a misfit, into forming a {{lang|ja-Latn|manzai}} comedy duo together. Other characters include Meguna, Takashi's childhood friend and "fated partner", Kotomi, a yaoi fan who ships Takashi and Ayumu, Yuichi, a "class officer", and Nobuhiko, Takashi's soccer teammate who mediates between Takashi and Ayumu.{{cite web | url=http://www.aurora-publishing.com/images/manzai/manzai.html |title=Book of the Month: The Manzai Comics | publisher= Aurora Publishing | accessdate=January 24, 2010 }}
Volumes
Jive prints The Manzai Comics under its Pureful imprint in an A6 size{{cite web|url=http://pureful.jive-ltd.co.jp/ |script-title=ja:ピュアフル文庫 |publisher=Pureful.jive-ltd.co.jp |date= |language=Japanese |accessdate=December 17, 2010}} and under its Colorful Bunko imprint in a B6 size.{{cite web|url=http://hint.jive-ltd.co.jp/ |script-title=ja:カラフル文庫 |publisher=Hint.jive-ltd.co.jp |date= |language=Japanese |accessdate=December 17, 2010}}
{{Graphic novel list/header
|Width=70%
}}
{{Graphic novel list
| VolumeNumber = 1
| OriginalRelDate = December 1, 2005{{cite web|url=http://www.jive-ltd.co.jp/catalog/4861762537.html |script-title=ja:商品詳細 |publisher=Jive-ltd.co.jp |date= |language=Japanese |accessdate=December 17, 2010}}
| OriginalISBN = 978-4-86176-253-6
| LicensedRelDate = January 2009
| LicensedISBN = 978-1934496503
| ChapterList =
| Summary =
}}
{{Graphic novel list
| VolumeNumber = 2
| OriginalRelDate = March 1, 2006{{cite web|url=http://www.jive-ltd.co.jp/catalog/4861762812.html |script-title=ja:商品詳細 |publisher=Jive-ltd.co.jp |date= |language=Japanese |accessdate=December 17, 2010}}
| OriginalISBN = 978-4-86176-281-9
| LicensedRelDate = -
| LicensedISBN =
| ChapterList =
| Summary =
}}
{{Graphic novel list
| VolumeNumber = 3
| OriginalRelDate = September 11, 2006{{cite web|url=http://www.jive-ltd.co.jp/catalog/4861763355.html |script-title=ja:商品詳細 |publisher=Jive-ltd.co.jp |date= |language=Japanese |accessdate=December 17, 2010}}
| OriginalISBN = 978-4-86176-335-9
| LicensedRelDate = -
| LicensedISBN =
| ChapterList =
| Summary =
}}
{{Graphic novel list
| VolumeNumber = 4
| OriginalRelDate = November 10, 2007{{cite web|url=http://www.jive-ltd.co.jp/catalog/4861764554.html |script-title=ja:商品詳細 |publisher=Jive-ltd.co.jp |language=Japanese |date= |accessdate=December 17, 2010}}
| OriginalISBN = 978-4-86176-455-4
| LicensedRelDate = -
| LicensedISBN =
| ChapterList =
| Summary =
}}
{{Graphic novel list
| VolumeNumber = 5
| OriginalRelDate = March 10, 2009{{cite web|url=http://www.jive-ltd.co.jp/catalog/4861766459.html |script-title=ja:商品詳細 |publisher=Jive-ltd.co.jp |language=Japanese |date= |accessdate=December 17, 2010}}
| OriginalISBN = 978-4-86176-645-9
| LicensedRelDate = -
| LicensedISBN =
| ChapterList =
| Summary =
}}
{{Graphic novel list/footer}}
Reception
Danica Davidson finds Ayumi to be a very sympathetic character, as she regards his "insecurity" and drive to be "normal" as being "understandable to readers his age or anyone who’s ever been his age". Davidson felt that the serious treatment of Ayumu's family tragedy was incongruous with the broader comedy themes of the manga, and wondered in what tone the manga would continue.{{cite web | author=Davidson, Danica |url=http://www.graphicnovelreporter.com/content/manzai-comics-vol-1-review |title=The Manzai Comics, Vol. 1 | publisher=Graphic Novel Reporter |accessdate=January 24, 2010 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100330142406/http://www.graphicnovelreporter.com/content/manzai-comics-vol-1-review | archivedate=March 30, 2010}} Ed Chavez feels that the theme of the manga is "learning about relationships" and feelings, and notes that they've "gone through a lot", particularly Ayumu, who is starting at a new school after a family tragedy. Ayumu feels responsible for the incident, and is making an effort "not to stand out" and to "just be a normal kid".Chavez feels that Takashi sees Ayumu's true personality under his "normal kid" facade, and decides that Ayumu is the perfect teammate for Takashi's dream of being part of the funniest comedy duo in Japan. Chavez did not find the main duo engaging enough to wish to continue reading the series, although he enjoyed the interactions of the whole cast. He feels the theme of The Manzai Comics is learning to grow up and have fun along the way and learning to hold on to your ambitions, classifying The Manzai Comics as {{lang|ja-Latn|seinen}}, but feels the manga would be more suitable for younger readers despite some swearing.{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/MangaCastVol_363 |author=Chavez, Ed |title=MangaCast Vol. 363 |accessdate=December 17, 2010}}
Chavez places the theme of the manga within the context of a manzai boom of the 1980s, and a subsequent general increase of manzai on television and anime. He felt that the comedic twist on the staging of Romeo and Juliet was refreshing. Brigid Alverson was disappointed that there were no translator's notes explaining manzai. Chavez feels that later, the more complicated manzai humour is lost in translation, and that it is a difficult topic for a manga. Alverson did not find the comedy particularly funny, but felt the secondary characters were well-developed, especially enjoying the lampooning of "super-cute shoujo girl" characters via Meg.Alverson, Brigid (January 1, 2009) [http://www.mangablog.net/?p=3110 Review: The Manzai Comics, vol. 1] MangaBlog Retrieved January 24, 2010. Chavez also remarked on the character designs of the females, describing them as "moe", noting the illustrator's previous work for Gainax. Katherine Dacey felt that the manga "covered familiar ground, but yielded some funny moments nevertheless", feeling that the more "melodramatic" moments were not well-integrated with the rest of the manga, but that they added an extra dimension to the characters' friendship.{{cite web|url=http://mangacritic.com/?p=1094=1 |title=Short Takes: The Big Adventures of Majoko, The Magic Touch and The Manzai Comics |author=Dacey, Katherine |publisher=Mangacritic.com |date=July 1, 2009 |accessdate=December 17, 2010 }} Connie C. for PopCultureShock felt that the blending of genres was done well, and although she found the plot and characters "unremarkable", she felt that the manga was well-executed.{{cite web|url=http://www.popcultureshock.com/manga/index.php/reviews/manga-reviews/manzai-comics-vol-1/ |author=C., Connie |title=The Manzai Comics, Vol. 1 |publisher=PopCultureShock |date=May 1, 2009 |accessdate=December 17, 2010 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090802101417/http://www.popcultureshock.com/manga/index.php/reviews/manga-reviews/manzai-comics-vol-1/ |archivedate=August 2, 2009 |url-status=usurped }}
References
{{reflist|2}}
Further reading
- {{cite journal|date=June 2009 |journal=Otaku USA |publisher=Sovereign Media |url=http://store.otakuusamagazine.com/ME2/Sites/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=&type=Publishing&mod=Publications::Article&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=2&did=5A7987B19DFA4305B8A7A1A7682609B1&dtxt=Volume+2,+Number+6,+June+2009&SiteID=6817839757EF4441818726B97A2175A5 |title=Manga Reviews - The Manzai Comics |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715020500/http://store.otakuusamagazine.com/ME2/Sites/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=2&did=5A7987B19DFA4305B8A7A1A7682609B1&dtxt=Volume%2B2%2C%2BNumber%2B6%2C%2BJune%2B2009&SiteID=6817839757EF4441818726B97A2175A5 |archivedate=July 15, 2011 }}{{subscription required}}
External links
- {{ann|manga|9112|The Comedy Team}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Manzai Comics}}
Category:Aurora Publishing (United States)
Category:Comedy anime and manga
Category:Drama anime and manga