Manga - Boys of Summer

idsunki · Post by **idsunki** » Wed May 10, 2006 5:24 am

Okay, so the manga bit is not 100% accurate as it is written by an American - our old friend Chuck Austen, to be precise!

He's teamed up with Japanese erotic artist Hiroki Otsuka to tell a three volume tale of college, baseball, and lots of women in small/no tops. While definitely an 18+ book, it's a pretty fun read. The main character is a pervert on the way to college with a bit of a troubled home life. He's an amazing pitcher, but refuses to play baseball. His best friend that comes with him is also a pervert, but is generally more concerned where his next meal is.

Together they brave the college gamut of bully upperclassmen, girls taking their tops off, overprotective and/or overembarrassing moms, the baseball coach and the coach's daughter trying to get the main character on the team, etc.

In between "chapters" (so called because they aren't labelled as such) there are pinups of the main character surrounded by various women in states of undress. For those of you who dig a little more mature-themed (but not outright porno) Japanese art, this is a good one. For the ones that are into characterization and a character-driven plot (like Austen's run on Uncanny), there's plenty here too.

Anyone else had a chance to pick this up?

Post by **Saint Kurt** » Wed May 10, 2006 3:14 pm

I remember hearing about this title a few months back and thinking "Oh no, this is going to open such a can of worms" since Austen got accused of writing smut even when he wasn't. Then again, I thought, maybe if he actually writes something that isn't supposed to be a general audiences superhero comic, people will give him a break.

I looked for some reviews and found a few.
This first one has pics: http://www.newsarama.com/tokyopop/Boyso ... tenBOS.htm

The IGN review is less favorable but very funny: http://comics.ign.com/articles/704/704051p1.html

And here's an older interview with Austen about it (he talks about Flywires too): http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/ ... gi?id=6679

I'm on the fence. I'm not a big fan of baseball or anime-titty. But I'm just one person, and most guys I know like both of those things. So maybe Austen hits one out of the park?

(sorry.)

-e

Bamfette · Post by **Bamfette** » Sat Jun 24, 2006 9:06 am

I haven't read it, baseball isn't my thing.... and i'm a girl, so I'm not exactly his target audience...

However, before the whole X-Men fiasco, Chuck had a smut comic called Strips (about strippers, duh) that had quite a loyal following, he has a great love for manga, and he can have a pretty wicked sense of humor. so basically, assuming the people it's intended for pick it up, I think they'd like it, since he's kinda writing to his strengths.

But i guess that's the same for anything.

about Flywires, though. Real shame. I mean, It's going to be released in its entirety in Europe, but since DC cancelled their deal with Humanoids before their books by American writers ever saw print (not just Chuck, i was looking forward to the other ones as well) if they ever reach American shroes they will be very expensive imports. I have a french copy, but it got mangled in my luggage on my way back from Colorado.

[Edited on 24/6/06 by Bamfette]

The Drastic Spastic · Post by **The Drastic Spastic** » Mon Jun 26, 2006 2:07 pm

Originally posted by Bamfette
However, before the whole X-Men fiasco, Chuck had a smut comic called Strips (about strippers, duh)

It wasn't about strippers.

It was about a college boy who is surrounded by tits. I'm trying to remember what else happened, but aside from the tits I'm coming up blank.

I almost want to read this Boys of Summer so I can see how it compares. It sounds about the same, actually, except for the baseball. I don't remember any baseball.