From: kuo@sumax.seattleu.edu (Chih-Ping Kuo)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.manga
Subject: R.A.M. year end awards
Date: 23 Jan 1993 03:36:42 -0800
Organization: sumax city 0093
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: sumax.seattleu.edu

well, with the coming of new year, (I mean the Chinese new year!)
I decide to write this up, beside, I was bored :)

as this is my production (produce, direct, start), I will write down   
whatever I think, what?! take a poll? who cares! :)

***The Best Manga Title for 1992

Five Stars Story

yeah, I mean it, too.  The side story Nagano put out during the year 1992
is simply incredible, (I guess every FSS story is a side story from
the main timeline), the artwork is dramatically 'different' again, 
not necessary 'improve', the old 91 artworks weren't bad mind you. 
the new style is taking Nagano up another level, (check the 
poster for book V, I think you will agree compare to book I or II),
the story?  awesome is not the word, (then what is the word? :)  to 
kill off your main character, offer a temple revolt, bring in God and
Satans....with a teaser for Atropo and the new Led Dragon, there is 
enough action and story to satisfy just about anyone.  I was actually
waiting for each of the next NewType to know what happen next, a truly
amazing work, just hope he can work faster....

honorable mention:
Ah! My Goddess (a slow down second half cost it the title)

***The Best New Manga Title for 1992

Deep and Beautiful Asia

no contest here, most new titles look weak and unsure compare to this one, 
no new title can compare with it for artwork quality, the story, while 
might be confusing, can be contribute to its 'grandness', beside I 
believe this is actually the author's first long length original story.
(Chen used to improvised historic stories..)

honorable mention:
New Vampire Princess Miyu (artwork dramatically improve from the original
Miyu and Yuri, story is ok, look forward for the next one)

***The Best 'Alternative' Manga Title for 1992
 
Dr. Kishiwada

simply funny, and if I can describe what it is, then it is not 'alternative'.
if anyone who read the parts about the Ninja Science Team w/o busting to 
laughter then you have some nerves in the wrong places of your body!

honorable mention
Hen (strange is not the word for it)

***The Manga that ought to be finished but isn't in 1992  

Silent Service

ok, I am willing to suspend my belief sometime for some title, but this
is ridiculous, trying to be realistic on a totally impossible premise, 
if I send in my vote for its outcome during the mailin, I would 
say "damn that toropedo, please sunk the boat and get it over with!"

honorable mention
Yawara!  (obvious the story is approaching its end, and Urasawa is milking 
it for all its worth, probably 2-3 books longer than it need.)  

***The Manga that ought to take longer to finish but isn't in 1992  

Niji-iro Tohgarashi

another famous Adachi 'I guess I better end this now' ending.  a story
with great promise turn into mush.

honorable mention
Taiho Shichauzo (a good series that take the easy 'UY ending' way out,
I would like to see it develope farther, oh well)

***The Manga that ought to be finished 2 years before 1992 but isn't

Akira

I don't think Otomo know how to end this better than the movie version, 
that is why he keep putting off to write the ending, (please don't
give me this 'he had no time with his other project' junk, he has
plently of time, he just chose to do other things....)

honorable mention
Nausicaa of the valley of wind (see above) 

***The Lazest Manga author in 1992  

Masami Yuki

another no contest, Mr. Yuki ought to be ashamed that he produces only 
12 pages of Patlabor each week (compare to the normal 18-22, or compare
to Kia Asamiya who has three titles running at the same time), not to mention
the numerious time he took vacations.  (I say NOT to mention it! :)

honorable mention
Izumi Matsumoto (who knows what he is up to, and who cares?)
Tsukasa Hojo (15 months and 3 short stories to show for it)
Hirano Toshihiro (my account will probably expire before he come
out Iczer #2, and I have a life time account!)

***The Worst over-hyped manga story in 1992

The missing #3 and #5 of Video Girl Ai

come one, if H is all you want many other titles are better in that 
aspect then these 2 books, this only proved the old theory that 
censorship increase sales demand/value.

***Best Americanized Manga Title in 1992

Battle Angel Althea (Gunnm)

Give credit for Viz for finding this gem among the thousand of titles, 
it is a perfect story (cyberpunk) for the western world.

honorable mention
Striker (action with a sig-sauer, what else do you need? :)  

***Worst Americanized Manga Title in 1992

Ranma 1/2

classic + colorization + adaptation = trash 

honorable mention
High School Agent (why bother?)

***Worst interfenence of pursue of manga in 1992

Paramount stop the publishing of Star Trekker II

honorable mention
The L.A. riot. 

there might be more, there must be more....oh well, later.

-- 
*********************************************************************
Ping Kuo			"There is not enough darkness in all    
kuo@sumax.seattleu.edu		 the world to put out the light of  
standard disclaimer applied   	 one small candle."