The student/model-builder character breaks my heart. You see him in his room studying math while he’s surrounded with his plastic models and his stereo - his creative outlets. His parents go to bed and he can finally stop his futile studying and work on his model and feel creative and passionate and alive for a few minutes. So much storytelling and character in so few words and panels.
Ed, a really good book on writing is "Aspects of the Novel," by E.M. Forster. It's a short series of lectures he did in 1927, and it explains a lot of useful tricks to draw in the reader. It's the one I go back to again and again more than any other guide.
An interesting note on a variant translation: in the Mandarin version out of the UK, the female shaman tells the detective, "The child! Beware the child!" Later, when Cho is in custody, the detective returns to this warning and explicitly identifies Cho as the child he should beware of (at least to himself). So, less ambiguous than the Dark Horse translation. (The Mandarin translation was done by Tony Kehoe.) ---Thanks for another illuminating episode!
I just read Fireball and Domu, following your videos, in anticipation of reading Akira for the first time after habing seen the film for a second time and getting it 100 times better than my first viewing. I personally interpreted the scene towards the end where the children are standing around cho as either the spirits of children who he had previously sent to their deaths, evidenced by certain objects he collected along the way like the teddy bear that is almost front and centre in the shots of his apartment, or as spirits that were inhabiting cho's body. The second seems a little more farfetched, but it might help to explain why the girl calls him a 'naughty little boy' and things along those lines, why he sticks his tongue out like a child and throws tantrums etc. Perhaps after the real Cho's daughter and family left him, he died alone and a child or children with strong abilities decided to inhabit the body? I suppose that's getting more into the realm speculation and theory-crafting, but we have seen in his other works, particularly with the character of Tetsuo in Akira, where children in his stories are made to feel outcast and downtrodden, and perhaps someone in the apartment complex felt that way and decided to escape into the body of Cho to be treated equally as an adult and began all the killings as a way to get back at adults, or even as a childish prank gone too far once he discovers the breadth of his abilities? Anyway, speculation aside, that's how I saw that scene, not as the girl's army of other supernaturally-inclined children but as a reminder to Cho of something from his past or a kind of exorcism.
1st Comment. Great vid. Awesome discussion. I bought this comic for my Best Friend's Birthday in Middle School. I stayed up until 3 am reading it then wrapped it real quick before I gave it to him the next day.
Great episode, guys! Cannot wait for Akira! (One of your previous shows inspired me to track down those storyboard volumes, which wasn't easy -- or cheap -- but definitely worth it.)
Read this in preparation for the episode. The psychic battles were very reminiscent of Scanners for me, to add to the movie references/influences. I guess the Cronenberg parallels could also coincide to the body horror present in Akira
Fantastic ep! I read Domu year ago, early in my comic book reading life, and I liked it ok but I think a lot of it went over my head. After watching this I can’t wait to read it again!
Another amazing offering from you all - thank you. I am wondering how much of an influence David Cronenberg was as well - the movie Scanners in particular comes to mind as far as psychic duels go. Can't wait for the main attraction to be uploaded and then to see where things go from there!!!
And I can't wait! I just wanted to point out how even as someone who hasn't read Domu, I found y'all's convo incredibly interesting and engaging. Hopefully it gets brought back to print someday, because I'd love to check it out.
Weird story, I got my Domu copy because some guy used it (and several anime DVDs ) to secure a box full of Lone Wolf and Cub manga that he shipped me. It was a happy bonus when I cracked it open .
Great analysis. Skipped the Fireball video since I haven't read that one yet. Looking forward to the Akira breakdown. Requests for the future: Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind and Barefoot Gen
you know Ed when you made the comment to me that 'genius'is not a word we Kayfabers use lightly--now I get it Thanks for turning me on to this. Look forward to hunting this down.
I think she cut him in half because she's a kid. It's an intense moment for her... As Ed said, "professor X" wasn't there to control her. 'Just a kid in her feelings--- It's like a story of two kids fighting over a shovel in a sandbox. --I don't think they value other lives in a mature way. It 's all emotion. Also, every time I see that first Dark Horse edition, I cry a little bit inside over the one I lost. Cheers!
I think there are other allusions to war as well in Otomos works. Like children with psychic abilities, people war without thought. Without wisdom I guess. Like he is saying the powers that be are children with power. Another great ep guys! Thanks.
Goddamn yeah they pressed for time, if it wasn't for that, vagabond would be already finished, and I guarantee that it would not only sell, they would be selling deluxes today, fuck
I had this Manga, and had always wanted to watch Akira, problem was I was unaware of Akira being the name it anime, so finding it was very hard. I watched Akira for the first time the other day, and had this manga in my head because the similarities in drawing style and theme- what do I find out is their both by Otomo, and I gave this manga away years ago. The plunder lol
I found Domu when I was in upper secondary. It was in my local library. I read it many many times. I find it better than Akira: more concise, thrilling, subdued and mysterious. Don't get me wrong: Akira is great as well, but it gets a "bit" over the top with the whole biomechanic-ESP-apocalypse.
Great stuff here. About Domu being out of print, my guess is that Otomo doesn't want it in print for some reason. The Japanese copy isn't in print anymore either. So that sort of backs up the idea.
The student/model-builder character breaks my heart. You see him in his room studying math while he’s surrounded with his plastic models and his stereo - his creative outlets. His parents go to bed and he can finally stop his futile studying and work on his model and feel creative and passionate and alive for a few minutes. So much storytelling and character in so few words and panels.
I love this book club format. Cartoonist Kayfabe has become the podcast/video thingy I look forward to most each week. Thanks for making them.
Ed, a really good book on writing is "Aspects of the Novel," by E.M. Forster. It's a short series of lectures he did in 1927, and it explains a lot of useful tricks to draw in the reader. It's the one I go back to again and again more than any other guide.
Your videos are so informative and full of knowledge.
7:40 did man just mention Tekashi 69 and Treyway? lool
An interesting note on a variant translation: in the Mandarin version out of the UK, the female shaman tells the detective, "The child! Beware the child!" Later, when Cho is in custody, the detective returns to this warning and explicitly identifies Cho as the child he should beware of (at least to himself). So, less ambiguous than the Dark Horse translation. (The Mandarin translation was done by Tony Kehoe.) ---Thanks for another illuminating episode!
I just read Fireball and Domu, following your videos, in anticipation of reading Akira for the first time after habing seen the film for a second time and getting it 100 times better than my first viewing. I personally interpreted the scene towards the end where the children are standing around cho as either the spirits of children who he had previously sent to their deaths, evidenced by certain objects he collected along the way like the teddy bear that is almost front and centre in the shots of his apartment, or as spirits that were inhabiting cho's body. The second seems a little more farfetched, but it might help to explain why the girl calls him a 'naughty little boy' and things along those lines, why he sticks his tongue out like a child and throws tantrums etc. Perhaps after the real Cho's daughter and family left him, he died alone and a child or children with strong abilities decided to inhabit the body? I suppose that's getting more into the realm speculation and theory-crafting, but we have seen in his other works, particularly with the character of Tetsuo in Akira, where children in his stories are made to feel outcast and downtrodden, and perhaps someone in the apartment complex felt that way and decided to escape into the body of Cho to be treated equally as an adult and began all the killings as a way to get back at adults, or even as a childish prank gone too far once he discovers the breadth of his abilities? Anyway, speculation aside, that's how I saw that scene, not as the girl's army of other supernaturally-inclined children but as a reminder to Cho of something from his past or a kind of exorcism.
This book changed the way I see comics
Spectacular episode!!! Thank you guys! Amazing analysis!
1st Comment. Great vid. Awesome discussion. I bought this comic for my Best Friend's Birthday in Middle School. I stayed up until 3 am reading it then wrapped it real quick before I gave it to him the next day.
This was such an entertaining episode; you guys did a great job of hitting meaningful story beats and sharing your enthusiasm. Thank you!
Been loving the Akira / Otomo vids
I like how its got the scale of destruction of Akira but on a more personal level, or personal playground
Great episode, guys! Cannot wait for Akira! (One of your previous shows inspired me to track down those storyboard volumes, which wasn't easy -- or cheap -- but definitely worth it.)
this is a MASTERFUL work.. gad damn man.
Just discovered this series- very excited by the quality of conversation - The WEST SIDE STORY x AKIRA comparison made my week - SUBSCRIBED
Read this in preparation for the episode. The psychic battles were very reminiscent of Scanners for me, to add to the movie references/influences. I guess the Cronenberg parallels could also coincide to the body horror present in Akira
Read this for the first time recently, really enjoyed it. Definitely worth picking up if you can
this was straight-up scary to read when i was a kid
you guys are killing it! thx for putting out great content like this
Holy S---! My skull just cracked from my brain expanding. Incredible episode!
Fantastic ep! I read Domu year ago, early in my comic book reading life, and I liked it ok but I think a lot of it went over my head. After watching this I can’t wait to read it again!
Another amazing offering from you all - thank you. I am wondering how much of an influence David Cronenberg was as well - the movie Scanners in particular comes to mind as far as psychic duels go. Can't wait for the main attraction to be uploaded and then to see where things go from there!!!
Absolutely excellent. Best episode yet.
A+++++ Love this Episode great build up for Akira!
Great video
Man, I could've listened to an entire extra hour of this discussion. Great stuff.
Check back in about 4 weeks and we'll be talking about Akira vol 1.
And I can't wait! I just wanted to point out how even as someone who hasn't read Domu, I found y'all's convo incredibly interesting and engaging. Hopefully it gets brought back to print someday, because I'd love to check it out.
I have to read this! sounds so great.
Beautiful! Thank you
The greatest channel on youtoob
Great job guys ! And what a classic this manga is ! I would like so much to be able to read it again...
Yes!! Probly going to watch it twice!
Ever since I known of otomo I have been making it my mission to read this amazing Manga works...Ever since I watched Akira as a kid.
About the firefighter chopped in half, she blows up the other one in the next panel.
Just discovered the channel. Love it!! Any chance you guys will ever do this for Cerebus?
Weird story, I got my Domu copy because some guy used it (and several anime DVDs ) to secure a box full of Lone Wolf and Cub manga that he shipped me. It was a happy bonus when I cracked it open .
Great analysis. Skipped the Fireball video since I haven't read that one yet. Looking forward to the Akira breakdown. Requests for the future: Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind and Barefoot Gen
How do you feel about Dennis the Menace in Hawaii?
@@CartoonistKayfabe better than I feel about any live action versions of Dennis the Menace.
you know Ed when you made the comment to me that 'genius'is not a word we Kayfabers use lightly--now I get it Thanks for turning me on to this. Look forward to hunting this down.
Watching Ed Piskor slowly turn into a more professional businessman with every video is totally worth it. Good stuff guys!
I think she cut him in half because she's a kid. It's an intense moment for her... As Ed said, "professor X" wasn't there to control her. 'Just a kid in her feelings--- It's like a story of two kids fighting over a shovel in a sandbox. --I don't think they value other lives in a mature way. It 's all emotion. Also, every time I see that first Dark Horse edition, I cry a little bit inside over the one I lost. Cheers!
You're probably right. Instincts and emotions. Fight or flight...
I think there are other allusions to war as well in Otomos works. Like children with psychic abilities, people war without thought. Without wisdom I guess. Like he is saying the powers that be are children with power. Another great ep guys! Thanks.
Goddamn yeah they pressed for time, if it wasn't for that, vagabond would be already finished, and I guarantee that it would not only sell, they would be selling deluxes today, fuck
I had this Manga, and had always wanted to watch Akira, problem was I was unaware of Akira being the name it anime, so finding it was very hard. I watched Akira for the first time the other day, and had this manga in my head because the similarities in drawing style and theme- what do I find out is their both by Otomo, and I gave this manga away years ago. The plunder lol
I own the tpb from the 90s. I also just looked it up on eBay. Holy Jesus, it's a rare book.
Fantastic video guys, I can hear my wallet whimpering as it knows I’m off to buy Domu.
I found Domu when I was in upper secondary. It was in my local library. I read it many many times. I find it better than Akira: more concise, thrilling, subdued and mysterious. Don't get me wrong: Akira is great as well, but it gets a "bit" over the top with the whole biomechanic-ESP-apocalypse.
Tom dropping knowledge
Great stuff here. About Domu being out of print, my guess is that Otomo doesn't want it in print for some reason. The Japanese copy isn't in print anymore either. So that sort of backs up the idea.
I need to watch West Side Story now.
Had to stop at 10 minutes and go read Domu