Lucky Star - Manga Discussion Thread

[Konatafan]

Man was vol 2 delayed too? I thought it was supposed to be out already.

[Mckendrick]

Amazon says it's to be out by late sept. With the third volume out by late dec. And the fourth by march of 2010. DX

[Konatafan]

Oh well, I'm glad they are at least getting it out this month.

[Vexx]

Originally Posted by Konatafan

Oh well, I'm glad they are at least getting it out this month.

These days I don't relax until I see a manga release "on the shelf".

[Kagami~n]

Originally Posted by Vexx

These days I don't relax until I see a manga release "on the shelf".

Ditto. Delayed till October-November.

These days I don't even take confidence in the notion that it won't be canceled.

[bhl88]

I bought all latest volumes (up to 4....)

And the bad part is....

Volume 2 is delayed to next year

We're writing about the order you placed on September 12 2009 (Order# XXX-XXXXXXX-XXXX230). Unfortunately, we are unable to ship the item(s) as soon as we expected and need to provide you with a new estimate of when the item(s) may be delivered:
Kagami Yoshimizu "Lucky Star Manga Volume 2"
Estimated arrival date: April 05 2010 - April 09 2010

Volume 3 is by December but no delay news yet
and Volume 4 is by March 2010

DAMMIT

[cmage]

Just checked Rightstuf, and it says volume 2's been delayed to November 30. Really sucks, since Bandai's website just updated recently saying it'd be out on time, with volume 3 out in November. Wonder how late that'll get pushed back; Rightstuf says it's due out in December.

[bhl88]

Originally Posted by cmage

Just checked Rightstuf, and it says volume 2's been delayed to November 30. Really sucks, since Bandai's website just updated recently saying it'd be out on time, with volume 3 out in November. Wonder how late that'll get pushed back; Rightstuf says it's due out in December.

Probably.... but they held back my darn order...

[Kagami~n]

What I want to know is how freaking hard it is for Bandai to send some mook to a computer and update their own god damned website. I've gotten one of those bullshit emails from Amazon three times now. Amazon says not till November OR December, most other websites say January, and BANDAI THEMSELVES still say October, with vol 3 in November and Vol 4 going "back on schedule" after that.

Delay after delay is one thing. Not keeping us updated is another. The rumors about when this volume will come out are more accurate than the official word. If we're expected to be mature, understanding fans who will forgive Bandai's situation, then they should treat us as such. They have our preorders, they've kept us waiting since August, and all I've heard from them was one update (that I got THIS month) containing a flat-out lie.

This is supposed to be a professional organization we're dealing with. I can forgive all the troubles they've been having, but I can see little excuse for them to leave us hanging for months at a time on a single word as to when we'll get our product from them, or their ACTUAL release schedule. They must have known for a long time that the schedule projected on the website is bullshit. I'm getting tired of being treated so irresponsibly.

[bhl88]

It seems there's also a 7th volume... (I saw the Japanese version...)

[Vexx]

A 7th? Hmmmm, after the long silence I figured the series was done at 6. EDIT: found it (searching at amazon.co.jp is always a bit tweaky).

http://www.amazon.co.jp/%E3%82%89%E3...8124383&sr=8-3

Amazon executes a "just-in-time" inventory which is why they'll often offer something only to find they can't get it. They keep trying but it strings the customer out for months and eventually when they give up, the customer can't find it anywhere else. It is a disaster to use them for collectibles and I rarely use them even for manga anymore.

All the manga publishers seems to have absolutely terrible skills at fan relations. ADV and now Tokyopop are often the worst offenders. They don't seem to realize that even a "please stand by, up to ass in alligators" would be appreciated.

Right now, I'm very unlikely to start *any* series that isn't complete from any publisher but Yen, Viz, or Del Rey because of the reliability issues with ADV, TP, Bandai, etc. And that's because of issues with series like Yotsuba, ARIA, Karin (Chibi Vampire), etc.

Well... now I have Yotsuba volume 9 and Lucky*Star volume 7 to seek and acquire.... time to hit Uwajimaya before I resort to ordering online.

[Kagami~n]

Seems Bandai was telling the truth, actually... the brick and mortar shop near me got it before any of the online retailers did. Pretty messed up. Glad to have it, though.

Does anyone think this whole gross situation is ever going to improve? Is this really gonna be the death of the US's anime/manga boom or what?

[Vexx]

Yen is currently doing a pretty good job (as is Viz and Del Rey). Tokyopop feels to me like its sliding down the ADV path of doom and they're moving heavily into OEL comics (its much cheaper apparently). I was elated when they lost Yotsuba to Yen... and I'd like to see ARIA moved from them.

I suspect Bandai will bumble along since they're directly connected to their Japanese corporate parents.

Personally, I'd be fine with less of a boom and for the remaining reliable publishers to focus a bit more tightly.

[Kagami~n]

I agree with you, with the exception of these delays and the ever-looming fear of cancellation. It feels like something I'll be having to put up with for a few series I like, and I'm preeeetty sure that they wouldn't be a problem if there was still a "boom" going on.

Thank goodness for Yen in regard to Yotsuba&! I'm also excited about the Spice and Wolf light novels, but I fear for their longevity and a bi-annual release schedule is not a fun prospect.

All this would be but a distant disturbance (aka someone else's problem) if I had a fluent understanding of Japanese. I should work harder on that.

[bhl88]

I found out the release from Bandai:

November 16 Volume 2, December XX Volume 3, February 2010 Volume 4

Seems like it's faster now...

Is this really gonna be the death of the US's anime/manga boom or what?

lol plenty of fans to have a "death"... plus the fandom of anime/manga is very strong (even if anime and manga disappeared all of a sudden, you still have the fanbase).

@topic: lol the translations were much better now... (with the exception that -sensei still remains as Ma'am) and it's truly now rated PG-13 XD (and characters in better poses XD).

[Vexx]

The latter volumes have really nice eyecatch art to stop and start chapters.... some very pretty work.

B&N just notified me that volume 5 translation is due out on 10Jan2010.

[bhl88]

O_O My fourth volume will come on 2010 of February...

[Mckendrick]

The item(s) listed below will actually ship sooner than we originally expected:

Kagami Yoshimizu "Lucky Star Manga Volume 3"
Previous estimated arrival date: December 30 2009 - January 05 2010
New estimated arrival date: December 03 2009 - December 07 2009

Seems amazon is getting their stuff together. Cant wait. Still need to read the second one. >.>

[bhl88]

I can't wait to get the 3rd volume... it's coming this week XD (there were a lot of stuff not shown in the anime... especially where:
Tsukasa: H-h-hello!
Kagami: Tsukasa, she was just speaking Japanese... (referring to Patricia)

Spoiler for 3rd volume:

- Konata was recommended by Kagami to live in Akihabara instead. (Konata's reply: Now you've hit upon it! The Otaku Dream!) (afer which Kagami imagined her living a depraved life of otaku-goods addiction).
- Miyuki played DS Brain Age, suddenly goes yandere aura and starts tapping on the DS. Later Kuroi whacks Konata for making Miyuki play in the library and (double standard), starts playing as well (her brain age was written as 42). And Konata was making fun of her after that.
- the older you get, the more people avoid you (Narumi Yui)
- Hiyorin got contacts (she's with Miyuki), the window opened and dust got in her eye (it traumatized Miyuki for life)
- Normal gag manga Lucky Star: Yutaka spits out blood, Minami plays how she feels on a piano, Kagami becomes violent (along with harisen), Yui is accident prone (in any vehicle, plus she has authority over them: helicopter, boat and car), Tsukasa's food makes one overreact about it like in cooking anime, Miyuki is emotional (and an idol), with a fan club), Konata didn't change as she's close to a gag manga)
- Patricia: Servant - someone who helps, Maid - someone who makes us feel happy.
- Kagami managed to convince Konata to study (by saying she went to a game arcade with a quiz game and she's studying for that).
- Tsukasa said she wasn't a ditz, then she slips up after.
- Disk utilities by Konata: 79 minutes, 65 minutes... it's going fast... 88 minutes. HEY.
- Kagami didn't read online and tried to sign on (forgot to read the manual), and Konata chided her as lonely as she was typing alone.... later she felt depressed at which Konata was saying: "I'll teach you! Cheer up!"
- Konata proclaimed that the otaku culture has shouldered a pertion of the entire society's economy. (was thinking if people will buy more cars if there were moe car system stuff).

They should make Miyuki animated in her yandere form while playing the DS.

[Vexx]

Yeah... More Misao and Patty in volume 3 - looking forward to it.

The *translation* of Lucky Star I'm finding interesting to compare with my own notes. For the most part - the translator is doing the "deep fan" approach: the translation is fairly literal, some particular words are simply left in their japanese state. Sometimes its literal enough you can feel the japanese sentence structure lurking behind it.
There is inconsistency in the use of honorifics (Ms.->sensei->Teacher->Kuroi, hey!) but since honorific transition isn't fundamental to the storyline (like it might be in a romance) - no big deal. The translator has also decided to put in a lengthy translation notes appendix which I applaud.

Volume two's printwork seems a bit darker and smudgier than volume 1. Hopefully not a trend.