Iwanaga Ryotaro - Pumpkin Scissors, vol. 01 (Eng. trans.)

[oyceter]

The Empire and the Republic of Frost have been waging war for a long time, but the series actually begins when the two nations agree to a cease-fire. As a caption says, "There is no war, yet peace has not graced the land... This is the story about the stage in between..." Second Lieutenant Alice Malvin is the commanding field officer of Imperial Army State Section III, also known as Pumpkin Scissors (yeah, I have no idea either). Her unit is dedicated to peace building, though it's difficult given how much looting, corruption, and general lawlessness there is following the war. And then, they come across a mysterious, scarred stranger named Randel Oland, who is a veteran of the war, but not a particularly happy one.

I can see now why people compare this to Fullmetal Alchemist, although the first few pages looked like they were straight out of Gundam Wing. I love the premise of the series, especially since most series tend to focus on the war and winning the war, as opposed to the process of rebuilding, which I think is much more complex and interesting. So far, I'm not quite sure just how political this series will get, since it does feel like the focus will be on Randel's mysterious past, old war crimes, and conspiracies. On the other hand, even if it doesn't get into politicking, it'll still be interesting going around with the cast seeing the effects of the war.

I'm a bit leery of the class issues, particularly in the chapter focusing on Alice and her status as an aristocrat, which is largely on her guilty feelings and on her role being justified by other people, as opposed to actually concentrating on the lower class.

Still, this is a promising beginning, and I'll be looking for more.

Comments

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

The "rebuilding country after war" aspect is the part I find more interesting myself.

It's been a bit since I read Vol 2 and Vol 3 is resting somewhere in the Manga Backlog of Doom, but from what I remember of Vol 2 (thematic element as best as I can recall, no actual spoilers) the class issues are still there, and still mostly from Alice's perspective and her trying to be more socially aware, but it does show more of the lower classes and what their lives are like.

[oyceter]

Hey, thanks for the spoiler text! Not peeking for now, though may change my mind later. Sigh. I just wish Del Rey manga weren't so expensive, although they do a really good job with production.

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

This is something where I actually think (based on the first 2 books) that overall theme is more of a spoiler than actual events, if you know what I mean, though that may change.

I forget where you live, but do you watch rightstuf's sales? You have to be patient 9like, 4-6 months between studios) but you can get most manga 30-33% off with the sales, and an extra 10% off with membership. it's why i now have a lovely box of CMX shoujo to discover, as well as a chunk of You Higuri's Seimaden(which kind of reads like a proto-Cantarella at times, only Demon Lords, reincarnation, angels and devils and the mortals they love.)

[octopedingenue]

I ♥ my employee discount for manga buying, even if the store does accidentally re-order things I special-ordered for myself that no one else on earth not as evil-crack-minded as me will ever buy. Sigh. Anyway, BigWords.com is good for book-bargain-shopping, though most of the time it's cheapest there at Half.com anyway. And I've gotten some ridiculously good deals at garagesalejapan, but you do have to watch the seller feedback and shipping fees.

[oyceter]

I usually take advantage of sales and Amazon gift certificates (I have the Amazon credit card), but since I'm a student and have no paycheck now, I think even sales will be out of the question. Sigh....

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

The sad thing is, I think I have even less money now that I'm not paying for college...

[rilina.livejournal.com]

I tried watching the anime version of this but got bored quickly. Maybe I'll give it another try at some point.

[oyceter]

Oh huh, anime version... maybe I'll try that now that I'm done mowing through Vampire Knight. Although I feel I should watch more kdramas to improve my Korean listening skills (ha. haha. what little there is).

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

Kdramas: May I rec Hwang Jin Yi? Stars Ha Ji Won (Damo) with the girl who played young!Sujini in Legend playings young!Hwang Jin Yi, and all sorts of amazing costume and art pr0n. Not my absolute favorite drama, but one of my favorites.

[oyceter]

I have it on my computer in preparation for watching, but my brain is so dead that I need complete fluff right now... I think I watched ep. 1 and it looks good, but serious (also, the Korean is more formal and probably harder to pick up).

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

Ok, yes, very, very serious.

For kdrama fluff, I rec 1% of Anything. It...I...I admit it isn't great. Or well acted. But there's something very, very charming about it.

[the_rck]

The unit name eventually got explained in the anime, so I assume that it will in the manga (I've only read v.1 so far).

[oyceter]

Hrm, looking forward to how they explain it!

[larryhammer]

Agree that it's a promising beginning, and the promise improves in the second volume. But is still, at that point, still only a promise.

---L.

[oyceter]

*nods* Gotcha. I wonder how long the series is...

[larryhammer]

Nine volumes and ongoing, in Japan.

---L.