Post by Noriko on Jul 15, 2009 22:20:25 GMT -5
This classic manga has just recently released in the US. Fun and certainly a change of pace from what tends to be released, Oishinbo follows two newspaper reporters in their quest for the 'ultimate menu' and their trials, foibles and triumphs along the way. A bit like Alton Brown's Good Eats in manga form, Oishinbo has delightful little culinary tidbits with an assortment of fun characters.
The American release is termed 'ala carte' in which the editors pick and choose episodes from the strip's 25 year run that center around a particular theme (sake, ramen, aspects of wafuku etc.). This means that some of the episodes can be a bit repetitive and can be heavy on the 'food battles' that occur between Yamaoka, the main protagonist and his gourmet father (who is an insufferable *bleep* and the comic sometimes suffers when he shows up), which must be an attempt to bring the comic in line with shonen battle-type manga.
However, this manga is wonderfully text dense and full of Japanese cultural flavor. Each volume also comes with two recipes that are featured in the manga.
Basically, I'd give it a solid B. Pick up a volume and give it a shot.
The American release is termed 'ala carte' in which the editors pick and choose episodes from the strip's 25 year run that center around a particular theme (sake, ramen, aspects of wafuku etc.). This means that some of the episodes can be a bit repetitive and can be heavy on the 'food battles' that occur between Yamaoka, the main protagonist and his gourmet father (who is an insufferable *bleep* and the comic sometimes suffers when he shows up), which must be an attempt to bring the comic in line with shonen battle-type manga.
However, this manga is wonderfully text dense and full of Japanese cultural flavor. Each volume also comes with two recipes that are featured in the manga.
Basically, I'd give it a solid B. Pick up a volume and give it a shot.
