From: tal691@huxley.anu.edu.au (Tonio Loewald)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.manga
Subject: (WS) Should there be an X-Rated manga translation?
Date: 9 Nov 92 20:27:47 GMT
Organization: Australian National University
NNTP-Posting-Host: 150.203.2.12
Summary: An inquiry into whether a Western publisher should translated and
Keywords: X-Rated, Censorship, Sex, Gost, Ghost, Shell

Hello, folks,

Hoo boy.  I've just had a glimpse at those *three* pages from _Ghost in the
Shell_.  No wonder you keep rereading it!

Which brings me to the point about X-Rated manga.  With the surgeance of
sex comics in the alternative comics field (cf. Eros comics, Forbidden
Fruit comics, etc.) I'm surprised that no one has thought about trans-l
lating one of the better X-Rated manga.  Most of the artwork in the existing
comics are pretty woeful, and they pretty much skirt around some of the
mechanics anyway.

The Japanese depictions (of what I've seen) are hot and heavy- and if any 
fanboy wanted their thrills, this would be it.  With all the publicity Japanese comics have been getting over the last few years, it's a wonder that no one
has garnered an interest.

Of course one of the problems is in the selection.  I'm not advocating any
of the controversial manga, such as _Rapeman_.  Some of the others are too
explicit (in terms of S&M, bondage) or too "girly".

Another problem is in the editing of the artwork, ie. putting certain things
back.  At AnimeCon last year I asked the comics and manga panel if Studio
Proteus would, and Lois Buhalis laughed and said she would!  However, if 
you were more delicately fine tuned, you might...  (BTW, they're not doing
it for _Crying Freeman_...  hmm...)

One of the more popular anime are the _Cream Lemon_ series.  I haven't a
doubt that perhaps an X-Rated manga wouldn't be equally as popular.

Now it gets down to the nitty gritty.  Who would one select?  I haven't a
preference, mainly because I *don't* read enuff of them, although I can't
see the fuss about U-Jin, I think his work is overrated.

(Before any of you think that I am a depraved, corrupt, sex-mad fiend, I'll
say I'm not.  I am Catholic, but despite that, I'm also a comics reader, 
and when it comes to sex comics, I'll read those whose art is good.  Not
necessarily explicit.  It has to have a good story as well.  Larry Welz'
_Cherry_ comics come to mind.  I certainly don't get any other *pleasure*,
other than a good read.  As for reconciling my religious beliefs with
sex comics, let me say that while I read them, I am not "tempted" by them.
I maybe be "turned on", but my mind doesn't immediately turn to lust.  There
endeth the sermon.)

I'm not suggesting that any of you are hard core "hentai's" (they're all in
r.a.a. (meyow!)), I'm just interested in your thoughts about it.  If you 
have any comments or suggestions, post them on the board, please.

(For Australian readers, does anyone know who does the artwork for the
_Nurse Nancy Nightingale_ strip for _Picture_ weekly?  He/she does an in-
credible imitation of Shirow's art.  (Not as good, though.)  (For overseas
readers, _Picture_ weekly is a soft core newstand magazine, featuring silly
sex articles, dumb "Weekly World News"-esque stories, and soft core girly
pictures.  _Nurse Nancy Nightingale_ is about the sex adventures of, well,
you can guess.)  Is there a compilation?  (It's a guilty pleasure- hey, I
like the art!))
----------------------------
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