but here’s one obligatory book i did buy - i must confess that “best of” comic compilations i generally find unsatisfying, if not depressing - inconsistence and crap (in thou humble opinion) is guaranteed - and in this case we are dealing with uncompromising “alternative manga” (where maruo is considered too mainstream?!) - yep it’s cutting edge and experimental, dahlings - so “heta-uma” (bad art) is de rigueur - determining which is faeces and which is chocolate somewhat subjective? (even dependent on your mood at the time of reading!) - but then we have a takato yamamoto strip dropped in here - which, despite the exquisite art, i don’t think anyone can deny is anything but pretentious drivel - so…??? - there are quite a few metaphysical type pieces included which i liked very much - but the standout for me is an all too brief six pages (of noodle eating!) by einosuke, which offers both artistic prowess and non-conformity - overall it is an erratically interesting and refreshing read and, despite inherent drawbacks, something to be recommended - a worthy successor to the previous anthologies “secret comics japan” and “comics underground japan”

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and now a list of manga recently read (or reading) and loved - scanlations of course (mostly) - yes it’s ethically questionable but at least i can feel conscientiously happy about the saving on bookshelf space - (stop crying, viz media, pump out e-manga!)

and the manga i had high hopes for but ultimately disappointed (those i abandoned reading):