280 - Prose Picks 1 - Last and First Idol

280 - Prose Picks 1 - Last and First Idol

Author: Manga Mac Crew February 3, 2020 Duration: 1:12:16

Morgana and Darfox are out this week so Seamus leads the charge into the uncharted territory of light novels this week! We'll be reviewing Gengen Kusano's award winning Last and First Idol to see how dakazu handles reading a book without pictures!!!

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Timestamps:

  • 00:00:00 - Intro Song: "Massara" by KANA-BOON from Sarazanmai, Opening, Introductions
  • 00:01:00 - Revealing our fantastic new host avatars by Chess Albaneze
  • 00:02:47 - Whatchu Been Reading: Transition Song: Dragon Ball Z OST "Prologue", *SPOILERS* dakazu finished the epic sci-fi war series Juuza no Ulna
  • 00:10:44 - dakazu is excited for Boys Run the Riot with its trans-man narrative
  • 00:15:38 News: Editor-in-Chief of Jump+ tweets about the increase in readership for Manga PLUS after major scanlation groups stopped working on Weekly Shonen Jump manga
  • 00:23:20 - Netflix officially announces the live-action One Piece series with Eiichiro Oda overseeing production
  • 00:27:05 - Next Episode Preview and Rundown:  One Shot on Ghost in the Shell: Global Neural Network, we will review this anthology of stories by Western comic creators that take place in the world of Ghost in the Shell 
  • 00:28:04 - Main Segment Prose Picks: Last and First Idol, Transition Song: "Fiction" by sumiko from Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku, we read and review the award winning hard sci-fi tales by newcomer Gengen Kusano
  • 00:29:07 - Seamus explains the connection between this book and the British science fiction novel Last and First Man
  • 00:30:44 - dakazu explain why he doesn't like light novels in general
  • 00:33:32 - We breakdown the plot of the first story Last and First Idol
  • 00:36:56 - Seamus thought this story was trying to take the piss out of Last and First Man
  • 00:40:26 - We discuss how the creative and transcendental ideas fall flat from the lack of interesting plot or characters to connect them
  • 00:42:52 - We breakdown the plot of the second story Evolution Girls and compare it to Spore
  • 00:47:59 - We breakdown the plot of the third story Dark Seiyuu and how its main concept of aether has been scientifically debunked
  • 00:51:24 - dakazu notes the inclusion of casual cannibalism that adds to the edgelord factor of these stories
  • 00:54:48 - Seamus explains what Jainism is until dakazu recognizes it from Osamu Tezuka's Buddha
  • 00:55:48 - We discuss the prose filled with casual swearing that gives the book a juvenile tone
  • 00:58:50 - dakazu doesn't understand why certain words weren't translated for a better explanations
  • 01:03:58 - We share our final thoughts on the book
  • 01:11:00 - Next Week's Topic: Ghost in the Shell: Global Neural Network, Social Media Rundown, Sign Off Song: "wish men" by sunbrain from Beet the Vandel Buster

Every Monday, the Manga Machinations podcast gathers for a conversation that feels like pulling up a chair with friends who are deeply passionate about comics from Japan. Hosted by dakazu, darfox8, Seamus2389, and Morgana Santilli, the discussions are less about the biggest mainstream hits and more about the hidden gems and foundational works that often fly under the radar. You’ll hear them introduce a wealth of unknown manga you’ve likely never encountered, alongside thoughtful, in-depth retrospective reviews of significant titles. These deep dives have covered works like the poignant comedy of 'Tokyo Tarareba Girls', the cyberpunk dystopia of 'BLAME!', and the legendary, epic scope of Tezuka Osamu's 'Phoenix'. The charm of this podcast lies in the hosts' genuine enthusiasm and varied perspectives, which can make a niche title sound like your next must-read. It’s a weekly exploration for anyone looking to move beyond the surface of manga, offering both discovery and a deeper appreciation for the art form’s vast landscape. For more from the Manga Mac Crew, you can visit their website or reach out via email.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 586

Manga Machinations
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