CWR WEEKEND BLOG EXTRA

Welcome back to another Blog Extra! This week, the spotlight falls on a graphic novel from our wacky neighbors to the north, Arcana Studio. The graphic novel in question? BANZAI GIRL, written and drawn by Jinky Coronado and Wilson Tortosa. Let’s dig in, shall we?

The basics: Coronado herself is a model, beauty queen, and has developed quite a following on the web. Her abilities at the first two jobs put her in a position to develop her talents as an artist and writer, leading her to create this book. The plot: Jinky, based on herself, has dreams of herself in other worlds and eventually discovers that she’s a legendary heroine. Which is good, because all sorts of nasty creepy-crawlies are rising in her neighborhood, and her gifts will be needed. Armed mainly with her wits and a skirt three sizes too small, she’ll save her friends and show the world she wears only thongs, or die trying.

And therein lies the true rub about BANZAI GIRL: this isn’t just a fanservice book of biblical proportions. It’s a flat-out fetish book wrapped in a very thin layer of story.

Asian schoolgirl in short skirt? Check. Skirt WAY too short? Check. Parents inappropriately give her stripper heels to wear with skirt? Check. Creepy villains made of tentacles that wrap around nubile schoolgirl flesh? Check. (Shh- Joe Quesada still doesn’t know there’s such a thing as tentacle porn- don’t wake him.) Schoolgirl’s friends also wear thong undies and way too short skirts? Check. Every page has at least one ass shot or crotch shot? Check.

Look, I know there’s a market for this type of book. And I genuinely respect the fact that Coronado has developed her talent as an artist and writer. Honest-to-God, she can work a pencil on the page. But I am so NOT the audience for it- I felt dirty reading it, and I’m not making that up. Underage girls just aren’t my thing, and even though I read mangas which feature fanservice, they’re nothing compared to the heaping amounts of jailbait flesh on display here. No one’s naked, but it doesn’t matter- it’s close enough.

I can appreciate good erotica, no question. And if Ms. Coronado were to revisit her characters after they turn 21 or so, I’d be more than willing to take a look. This is her niche, and it’s one she knows how to work well. But for now, it can’t include me.

That’s all for this week. Be here through the week for site updates and friend me on MySpace, and back here next weekend for the next Blog Extra!

/Mason