We Appreciate Manga

More ero themes on the penultimate volume. Kurumi becomes sexually aggresive but gets modest when she has a cold. We talk condoms, be them femidoms or glow in the dark and why it's important to have a test run with them. Skip synopsis: @ 13:11

036: Sundome vol. 7

By Kazuto Okada

Translation by Christine Schilling (now Christine Dashiell)

With Lettering by Abigail Blackman

Topics:

• Oldboys hiring a girl to have sex, (that's not right)
• The whole bathroom/toilet break to get characters separate.
• character development between Kyouko x Katsun.
• Kurumi's sexual aggression and modesty towards Hideo.
• Condoms, why it's best never to go cheap and to have a draw full of them for your boyfriend and yourself.
• Manga sutra (a.k.a. Futari Ecchi by Katsu Aki)

Synopsis:

During their date at the summer festival, Hideo Aiba is separated from Kurumi as she goes to the ladies' toilets. When alone Hideo meets the older man in Kurumi's life, Hideo proudly confesses that he drinks Kurumi's pee and the older man responds by saying it is the reverse case for himself. When Kurumi returns, she sees that Hideo is made to feel uncomfortable and Kurumi makes it clear that the man ought to not bully Hideo. Hideo and Kurumi meet with the rest of the roman club whilst the older man watches on, the man is not alone. A woman arrives at his side and sheds a tear when she sees Kurumi is happy with friends.

The next day, Hideo decides to stay over at Kurumi's and act as her personal pet. He's ordered to be a good boy and stay seated within his cardboard box. Although once Kurumi leaves him alone, he needs to pee, but he can't disobey and leave his box. He chooses to wet himself and although nervous at first, Kurumi is able to forgive him and give him a wash.

Katsun takes sick and ends up in hospital. The Roman club makes an effort to visit him although Hideo is apprehensive in taking Kurumi there. On their way back Kurumi thanks Hideo for arranging a holiday with her, as they part, he steals a kiss from her. It becomes their first kiss together. Hideo is surprised that instead of punishing him for being forward, she blushes and kisses him back. Hideo goes through some penance, as Kurumi makes it clear that he can't touch her until Katsun is out of hospital or else she'll refuse to speak to him. Katsun eventually does recover but the one who is most glad is Hideo, who stayed up all night praying at the shrine. Katsun himself plans to lose his virginity to Kyouko when he buys condoms, this sparks interest in Hideo, who ends up buying himself his first condoms.

It's on a camping trip that the Roman Club decide to go UFO spotting, amongst other things. That night Katsun finds out that Kyouko is a Roman Club assassin, on a mission to break Katsun's vow of celibacy. Both Kyuoko and Katsun discuss their circumstances and resolve that no matter what happens with Katsun's virginity, his intelligence will be enough to get him into university. Whereas Kyouko would prefer to full fill her mission to so gain roman club privileges. Yet their love making session is completely interrupted when they spot a UFO. It's a little oddly shaped, but it'll do. Besides, they don't know it was Hideo's glow in the dark condom, too baggy on Hideo, a jerk off session with Kurumi sent it flying in the air.

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For a lewd ecchi style manga we get a really artsy first chapter a la french cinema and tasteful panty shots. We also talk about how people do the come-on a.k.a. invitation attack method! And why girlfriends have the bath water too high a temperature! Skip synopsis @ 11:53

Sundome vol. 6

By Kazuto Okada

Translation by Christine Schilling

With Lettering by Abigail Blackman

Topics:

• Podcast making and possible plan for the future of our podcast.
• One of the most tasteful and artfully done panty shots in manga.
• The "I love you" moment. (And the ways lovers can get primal and territorial at times)

• The "Invitation" attack method, otherwise known as the "come-on" as evidenced in the bathtub scene and the Kyouko n Katsu scene. Sexual Tension. It's a thing.

• Sumidagawa (Firework festival among the the sumida river)

(It's a custom to wear a yukata)

Synopsis:

Hideo Aiba spends all his summer holiday pining over Kurumi Sahana, He arrives early on his return back to school in he hopes that he is the first to see Kurumi. His plans don't work out when the roman club members put him into a trap hole. At the end of the school day Aiba gives Kurumi a ride home but when their bike crashes both Hideo and Kurumi are sent flying. Both gain no injury but for a moment Kurumi was spellbound, her eyes were closed before she fell, when she opened her eyes, she could see that she was flying, if only for a moment. From this point on Kurumi gets a car ride home but she leaves her bag behind.

Hideo can't help but feel another man in Kurumi's life is making things worse for her and for him but after dwelling on it, he decides to return Kurumi's bag at her home, and when meeting her he draws her a warm bubble bath. Hideo chooses to stay at Kurumi's whilst she takes her bath alone, but Kurumi invites him into the bathroom. She has a sore bump which Hideo kisses better. When he goes down on her for more, he ends up burning his eyes out due to the soapy water. Yes, Hideo just had to catch a peek!

The roman club including Hideo and Kurumi are sent on another ghost hunting activity. This time it leads them to the old ruins of a hospital, the Ex-president of the club and Yatsu are forced to spend the night in the hospitals most haunted room, the red room, and Kyouko and Kurumi find nurses uniforms to wear and tease Hideo and Katsu with. Eventually a loud booming voice scares the club members out by booming the "Get Out". Kurumi and Hideo find a place to hide and spend the night together. At Sunrise it becomes clear whose voice it was at that night. Looking at the camera the club members set up it becomes clear that the ex-prez took advantage of Yatsu whilst he was sleeping.

Hideo and Kurumi are crestfallen when the rainy weather prevents them from enjoying the fireworks festival. But they do somehow manage to open a vent and light sparklers in the bathroom, which also triggers the alighting of Hideo's firework package. Hideo quickly puts Kurumi into the bathtub and shields her from the sparks. Their date is put on halt when Kurumi's guardian arrives. Hideo choosing not to go home, instead hides and feels powerless. Once the man leaves, Kurumi finds that Hideo has resorted to self-harm, popping his earlier attained blister red raw.

Kurumi bandages up Hideo and Hideo begins to cry, tears of happiness as if the pain from before has now gone thanks to Kurumi. Kurumi tells him that she loves him and with the bandages covering his eyes, Hideo can't see that Kurumi is crying too. Katsu and Kyouko's relationship also develop too, as during one ghost hunting night, Katsu gets a stomach ulcer from the sexual tension. And once again the ex-prez is up to his pervy antics. Even with a chastity belt on to protect the sleeping Yatsu, the ex-prez somehow gets his hands caught in it, surprisingly Yatsu can sleep right through it.

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Is it okay to be called daddy? Healthy kink or just plain creepy? How about mommy? We talk about it and more on our review of this (very lewd) coming of age comedy. Skip synopsis @ 10:03 email: [email protected]

Sundome vol. 5

By Kazuto Okada

English Translation: Christine Schilling

English Lettering: Abigail Blackman

Topics:

• The formula of Sundome
• Boy is curious/anxious about girl friend
• Curiousity/anxiety creates tension as he oversteps his boundaries.
• Not to worry as girl loves boy and has sexy time with him.

Note how the love interest, Kurumi, seems to be escaping her problems and masking her issues with sex. Meanwhile the sex scenes are used as filler or as the main action set piece.

• Kyouko x Katsu
• The mystery of Kurumi / hospital encounter
• Calling your lover mommy/daddy
• Changing the lightbulb cliché.

Synopsis:

Hideo Aiba sees that Kurumi has a cold and hopes that it will pass away from her and over to him. As expected, Hideo gets sick and luckily Kurumi is over it. The roman's club ex-president visits Hideo and is all too excited to give him suppositories in order to make Hideo feel better, yet the ex-president, being the pervert that he is, gets kicked out. When Kurumi visits Hideo she nurses him. She finds the suppositories and puts one inside Hideo, bringing him a new sexual experience.

Another time, another day, Hideo takes the ex-president to the hospital and ends up encountering Kurumi there. She asks him why he is there but Hideo senses anger in her voice and cowardly runs away from her. He can't help but think of her, even at his workplace, Kurumi arrives to return his bag that he left behind and it seems she is not angry and is as affectionate to Hideo as ever. But Hideo can't help but have nightmares about Kurumi whilst at that hospital.

Eventually, the ex-president and Yatsu get suspicious of Kyouko and Kurumi since, Hideo and Katsu always spend time with them when they divide into groups. This is not a good thing due to the club rules being to remain virgins and that club alumni will send an "assassin" to test the boys. To remedy this issue the two, decide on another activity. To play at night during after-school hours, Yatsu and the ex-president spend time alone with the girls whilst Hideo and Katsu dress as Shinigami so to find and scare them. Unfortunately, it only takes less than 2 minutes for Kurumi and Kyouko to be scared out, not by the Shinigami costumes but by the perverts that are Yatsu and the ex-president.

When Hideo's mother finds Kurumi's underwear in his room, she demands answers. In an act of defiance Hideo runs away from home. It's only when Hideo stays the night at Katsu's He finds that Katsu is stashing away a soiled photo of Kyouko.

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EXPLICIT CONTENT BTW! A lot of firsts begin to happen, such as getting your first job and bringing your date home to the parents. Originally recorded on 03/12/2019 hence all the xmas talk, ho ho ho! Skip synop: @ 13:00 email: [email protected]

Sundome vol. 4

By Kazuto Okada

Translation by Christine Schilling

Lettering by Rob Flores

Topics:

Sex scene recount:

• The rope bridge – Hideo's food is stuck in the rain and Kurumi pees on him.
• The game of darts – for every dart, Hideo gets a few seconds to touch her, penalty is he goes for days without masturbation. He eventually gets a sympathy touch, but loses feeling in hands.
• Kurumi jerks off Hideo in the middle of class.

• James realises this is a "coming of age" story
• Hideo vs Peeping Tom
• Kyoko vs her ex-boyfriend
• First job/ pay check
• Bringing a girl/boy home to show off to your parents

Pop culture references/Product Placement:

• Yukata, a summer dress given to Kurumi.
• "Nami no hana" Nami no hana (波の花), or "wave flowers," is a phenomenon that occurs along the coast of the top of the Noto Peninsula, particularly around coasts of Wajima and Suzu, during the winter.
• Gatchapon (and Panties in vending machines)

Synopsis:

For the first time ever, Hideo Aiba brings a girl home, specifically Kurumi Sahana, who has come to pick up a recorded video tape of a special she missed on TV. Kurumi makes such a good impression on his family that Hideo's mother offers her own Yukata as a gift to Kurumi. However, Hideo is taken back by finding out that Kurumi is an orphan. Later on, he apologises for his dad having asked about it only for Kurumi to claim that she was lying. Hideo takes umbrage with her lie and in turn Kurumi apologises to him, albeit she is surprised by how quick Hideo reverts back to his submissive self.

Eventually Hideo and Kurumi ditch school to go on a date. Afterwards Kurumi asks Hideo to take her to "Namino flower" someday.

When Kurumi gets hit by a car, he finds that Kurumi is inside with her guardian of sorts. The man with the distinct shoes. The man takes Kurumi and Hideo out for dinner and whilst alone with the man, Hideo takes the chance to explain his sexual relationship with Kurumi. The man is calm and unfazed by this. Hideo is emasculated by this man's presence and although he wishes to pay for his part in Kurumi's and his own meal, he sadly can't afford to.

Hideo decides to work part time at a convenience store. The roman club believe he is seeing a sophomore girl behind their back. But they soon learn about it his workplace and treat it like as their new hang out! Kurumi is proud of Hideo, so much that she gives him her panties and goes full on commando. But when a peeping tom lurks around the shop this causes Hideo to defend the demure qualities of Kurumi and confront the perv.

Hideo saves up enough money to pay back for the meal and buy Kurumi a gift. But the roman club impose on Hideo and force him to treat them to a karaoke night together, in the end Hideo can only afford so much but he does get a gift from Kurumi. With help from a Gatchapon vending machine he buys Kurumi a capsule that, oddly and conveniently contains panties.

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Poor Kyoko! We ask ourselves if it's ever cool or attractive to be a virgin and talk about why boys can be so cruel to girls, especially when it comes to sex, not for the faint hearted! contact: [email protected]

Sundome vol. 3 (Yen Press)

By Kazuto Okada

Translation by Christine Schilling

Lettering by Roberto M. Flores

Topics:

• Kazuto's improved cheesecake pinup style.
• Shame in relationships.
• Why boys treat girls like garbage, the Kyoko pathos.
• Hideo's Self-improvement.
• The high school experience of sex and is it ever cool to be a virgin?

Synopsis:

Rumours of Kurumi Sahana spread around the school and she is assaulted by one jealous schoolgirl. Kurumi becomes absent from school and Hideo Aiba begins to set the record straight on the rumours. He meets with the leader of the music club whom is able to trick Hideo into thinking Kurumi is in the same room as them, having sex. Of course, it being a trick, the boy simply has a talent for miming, and calls it an air-blow job. It was how he was able to fool his girlfriend who spread the rumours. He even goes so far to suggest settling things with Hideo through an air-fight. Hideo visits Kurumi afterwards and she tells him that she'll return to school tomorrow. All would be well for Hideo but he finds a pair of men's shoes at her home. Hideo assumes it's a deterrent for burglars and thinks no more of it.

After school, Katsun takes Kyouko home by his bike and Hideo takes Kurumi home on his. Kurumi notices that Hideo has become more stronger, this is because Hideo wanted to exercise so to alleviate the sexual frustration from their relationship but now, he does so because he wants to be able to carry Kurumi.

Kyouko's ex-boyfriend arrives at the Roman club house and makes it clear that he wants to spend time with her. Kyouko is happy to ditch her karaoke plans and join him but it becomes all too clear to her that she is being used for sex and nothing else. When she returns to the club house, she finds that the boys have left without her. Kurumi stayed behind in case she returned and Kyouko finds solace in having Kurumi as a friend.

The rest of the club happen to walk by the ex-boyfriend of Kyuoko and overhear his disrespectful conversation about her. Katsun, the one who is always quick to call Kyouko a moron is the first person to defend her honour. After the geeks get a beating, they deduce Kyuoko and Kurumi are available and regroup for Kareoke with them.

When Kurumi falls sick again Hideo manages to look after her and shows initiative by cleaning up after her and carrying her. One evening, whilst leaving Kurumi's home, Hideo bumps into an older boy and almost gets in to a fight until a much older man comes to save Hideo. Hideo recognises the shoes are the same ones he found in Kurumi's home. After this hideo is no longer sexually aroused by Kurumi and is found in the library researching on erectile disfunction. The Roman club attempt to solve Hideo's problem, including the well-endowed Kyouko who sadly fails to excite Hideo much to her own dismay. When alone with Hideo, Kurumi finally succeeds in getting rid of Hideo's anxiety and arouses him once again.

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Kazuto Okada relies too much on the saucy cheesecake spectacle of panty shots and cleavage when in reality he shines with comedy. skip the synopsis @ minute 9:00 contact: [email protected]

Sundome vol. 2

By: Kazuto Okada

Translation by: Christine Schilling

Lettering by: Roberto Flores

Topics:

• Criticism and disappointment.
• Has Kurumi and Hideo done the sexy yet?
• Censorship, comparing "Honey Room" to Sundome and the "Barrier kink"

Further reading: The Art of Censorship in Post-war Japan ( by Kirsten Cather)

• Appreciating Kyouko!

Synopsis (and first impression):

Hideo runs errands for the sick Kurumi only to almost get ran over whilst crossing the road. Soaked by the crush water bottles he was carrying, Kurumi lets him into her apartment, where apparently, she lives alone. Since his pants are wet, Kurumi let's Hideo wear her gym pants which ends up giving him an erection.

The next day Hideo sees that Kurumi is wearing those same gym shorts, hot and bothered by this distraction he gets his arse kicked by his gym teacher. The alumnus of the Roman Club (a.k.a. an Old-Boy) visits the club members and helps them in strength training at the dome. He also wears a mask to protect his identity, it's straight up a gimp mask.

The Oldboy has been monitoring the club members, and when Kurumi is cryptic and asks him if his connections have given information on her, he responds by saying "in a way yes".

Throughout her exploits, Kurumi is able to tease and seduce Hideo. She says to him that she was once a boy in order to get him to stop masturbating but later retracts her statement. During a Roman club sleep together, she touches Hideo, Hideo feels guilty but she lies to him, and tells him that it was a wet dream, "an act of god" and that he couldn't help it. The terms of the relationship are clear. Hideo can't touch himself to the point of orgasm unless Kurumi tells him to.

Where ever Kurumi is a spy, sent by the Old-boy's to test the Roman club's strict policy of no sex or girlfriends, is something that remains a mystery.

(Although this was a disappointing volume, the page flow is good considering how much dialogue there is and how it's not an action manga. Moments of physical comedy prove to be Kazuto's best, such as the drop kick to the ex-president being a good example. – James)

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James and Will talk about Incels, what it feels like for a woman to challenge (or belittle you) as a man and also clavicle sucking! Skip synopsis @12:56

Sundome vol. 1

By Kazuto Okada

Translation: Christine Schilling

Lettering: Rob Flores

Topics

• Kurumi as instigator, enabler and Machiavelli
• Being tested in a relationship/dating
• Will's Clavicle sucking girlfriend
• The love interest's potentially disturbing backstory

Synopsis

Hideo Aiba's sexual desires awaken when he meets the new girl in class, Kurumi Sahana. The first of many struggles begin when she puts her table up to his. Aiba gets paranoid when trying not to bring attention to his erection. He decides to quit his geeky school club, the roman club, whose only rule requires that members be virgins. However, Aiba is promoted to club president since the previous leader is kicked out for allegedly losing his virginity. Soon Kurumi decides to join their club, being the first girl to join the club, the boys seem apprehensive. Except for Aiba who is willing to go through masochistic feats in order to humour Kurumi.

The school's martial arts club invades the roman club's territory as their own. Kurumi wagers a battle between the two clubs. If Aiba can last long enough in an arm lock then they'll keep the club room and have Kurumi but also the martial artist will serve to protect the boys. Kurumi prevents Aiba from tapping out, by being close to him during the wrestling, she traps his hand from under her crotch. Poor Aiba can't hide his erection whilst he gets his arm broken.

Through the following days, Kurumi tests Aiba, who is willing to go to dangerous lengths to get her number but he is fortunately safe with the protection of the martial arts club. Another girl, Kyouko, gets jealous of Kurumi and steals a voodoo doll from the roman club but ends up enjoying her time with the roman club so much that she makes herself a member. When Kurumi falls ill, Aiba can't help but blame himself and think that in someway her distance is a way of punishing him.

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We look into the boundaries and sexual tension that all good relationships have, how vampires are born and why Stephenie Meyer's vampires are valid! Subscribe as our romance season begins. Contact: [email protected] skip synopsis @8:41

Twilight: The graphic Novel - volume 2

Art: Young Kim

Story/writer: Stephanie Meyer

Inking: Ashley Marie Witter

Background Assistant: Haya C

Topics:

· The cat and mouse chase.

(Plot holes = How did James know where Bella's mother lived?)

· The Cullen family and the backstory of the characters, Carlyle, Edward and Alice

· Stephenie Meyer's take on the vampire lore (are they vampires?)

· How to be born or become a vampire.

· The boundaries/sexual tension that the Bella and Edward relationship has.

No killing, No turning etc.

Synopsis + first impression:

Bella, having fallen for the vampire Edward Cullen, sets out to be introduced to Edward's family/covern. Bella is greeted warmly by them and she deduces that the matriarch, Esme, respects her lack of prejudice and abundance of courage to have appeared. Bella learns about the history of the Cullens, Dr. Carlyle is the patriarch of the family. Edward was the first to be sired by Carlyle, then Esme, Rosalie was sired afterwards and then Rosalie saved Emmet from a bear attack by having Carlyle turn him. The other two, Jasper and Alice were already turned when they met the Cullens. These two have powers as strong as Edward's senses. Jasper can control the mood of those around him, and Alice has visions of the future. Jasper came from an abusive family and would be found by Alice yet Alice has no memory of her past life or how she was turned, she found the Cullens all by herself.

Edward shows Bella to his room and they both tease each other about the dangers of a being in a relationship with a vampire as well as the horror clichés. Bella has never felt more so safe than with Edward. She is invited to a game of baseball with the Cullens, having the use of a thunderstorm as cover. The game is stopped as soon as Alice gets a vision of vampires interrupting their play. The Cullens do their best to protect Bella and decide to leave immediately in pairs of two.

One to return Bella home, the others to go back to the Cullen House with this new vampire gang. Unfortunately, James, the leader of this gang, senses that Bella is human and outwardly threatens her, a cat and mouse game begins. Laurent, the vampire who seemed to be the leader, tells the Cullens that he will back down, This leaves just the two , Victoria and James to hunt Bella.

Bella confronts her father, Charlie. Telling him that she is packing her bags and leaving Forks immediately. She tells him the same words that her mother and his ex-wife told him upon leaving. This upsets Bella but she does this in order to protect Charlie.

Jasper and Alice protect Bella as the rest of the Cullens try and pre-emptively attack. Alice reveals her visions as drawings to Bella. One is of a ballet studio and the other, her mother's home. When Bella receives a call from her mother's phone, she finds James' voice on the other end. He demands that she escapes the Cullens and go to the ballet Studio. Bella gives in to the demands and on her arrival, she finds that James has a camcorder hooked up to a TV. The TV showing video of Bella's mom, a mere decoy but Bella falls for it. James is a bully and a sadist, he wishes to record Bella's death but not before he confesses that he turned Alice upon failing to kill her, Alice is now too strong of a vampire for James to kill but James has a sense of entitlement. He claims that since he can't have Alice's life, he will take Bella's instead.

Bella loses consciousness. When she wakes, she finds that her body is in pain due to the venom from James' bite. Edward sucks out the venom and prevents Bella from becoming a vampire. James is killed by Emmet and Jasper, Alice watches video of James' confession. Alice had visions before she turned but had no memory of her past life due to her mental state and imprisonment.

In the hospital, Bella and Edward have a long talk about their relationship. Bella wanted to be turned into a vampire so that she could live forever with him but Edward denies her. Upon her recovery he takes her to prom and as they watch the sun set the question lingers. What if Edward turned Bella into a vampire? And could he do so without killing her? Could he grant Bella's wish?

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Yes, they made a Twilight manga and it's pretty good! James is joined with new host Will! They talk about Stephenie Meyer's urban fantasy success and how such a cultural touchstone informed their own relationships at the time. Skip synopsis @ 15:33

Twilight: The Graphic Novel

Art by: Young Kim

Assistants: Haya C and Ashley Marie Witter

Story/writer: Stephenie Meyer

Topics

· Bella's dad, Charlie (Why does Bella refer to him by name?)

· Sex / vampire theme or metaphor: (Bella and Edward first see each other in the Dining room then they formally meet in biology class)

· Kim Young's reliance on copy and pasting photos, using photoshop. Mid-tones are filtered.

· The drip feed clues to him being a vampire.

1.) Old fashioned name 2.) Cold to touch 3.) Changing Eye Colour 4.) Car Crash scene

· The adrenaline rush of love. Why does Fear = sexy (or for that matter cute = tasty/hungry)

Real talk

Edwards flirtation with Bella, keeping secrets and yo-yoing between friendly and mean.

Synopsis

Isabella Swan (or Bella) arrives from Phoenix Arizona to the small north west American town of Forks/. On arrival she is not use to the cold rain. Her dad, Charlie, greets her and buys her a second hand Chevy for a homecoming present.

At her new School many people befriend Bella. Eric, Jessica, Angela and Mike, all curious strangers but Bella's curiosity is stoked by the attractive group at one lunch room table. The Cullens, a family of adopted individuals, all beautiful looking. One of them, Edward Cullen makes eye contact with Bella. When it comes to her biology class, Bella sits next to the empty seat beside Edward, she senses that he is incredibly tense and as soon as the bell rings he darts out. Bella discovers from Mike that he is acting strangely and when she goes to the school office, she finds him complaining and wanting to switch class. Bella doesn't see Edward within two weeks but the next time she sees him in Biology class he becomes more polite and strikes a conversation with her, Bella is suspicious of his behaviour.

The next day, Bella is saved from a car crash. Edward should not have been able to save her from across the road but he does, and when Bella confronts him on this, he denies it, saying he was already beside her. They maintain a distance from each other but eventually Edward befriends Bella whilst maintaining his secrets, and his mystery.

On a day out with her friends, Bella meets Jacob, the son of Billy Black, the original owner of her Chevy. He is younger than Bella but is far taller than her. When Bella expresses her disappointment at not inviting the Cullens, Jacob tells her about the myths that surround his tribe and the Cullens. Bella researches these myths and accusations. She avoids eating with her friends to go book shopping but whilst lost in town, Bella is surrounded by a gang of men, Luckily Edward finds her and she quickly gets in his car. Edward takes her to dinner and Bella confesses that she knows he is a vampire. A relationship blooms between the two, Mike is jealous but the rest of her friends are surprised. Edward takes her to the woods and shows Bella what happens when he stands within the bright sunlight. He dispels the myth that he burns and shows her that his skin sparkles and shimmers. Bella is in awe of his beauty but Edward protests such compliments, after all he is a vampire and to love Bella is like a Lion were to love a lamb. As a test the two kiss each other. The day finally turns to night.

Pop culture references/Product Placement:

· 1953 Chevrolet pick-up truck (in the film adaptation it's an older model)

(good plot device as it established Jacob and the fact that she was able to move in to Forks so quickly)

· Spider-man and Batman (at one point in the story Bella can't help but compare him to the iconic superheroes whilst figuring out the reason for his powers, one hero is DC, Batman created by Bob Kane with writer Bill Finger the other being Marvel's Spider-man, created by Steve Ditko and writer, Stan Lee)

Subscribe for part 2!

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The horror Mangaka returns to the genre with this gross out gory social commentary of cancel culture and body dysmorphia. Listen to the start for the chance to win your own copy of Dissolving Classroom, skip to minute 19:25 if you want to ignore the synopsis.

Junji Ito's Dissolving Classroom

(a.k.a. Yokai Kyoshitsu)

By Junji Ito

Translation by Melissa Tanaka

Published in the Japanese Motto! Magazine in 2015, and in English in 2017 by Vertical Comics.

Talking about the following stories/chapters:

Dissolving Classroom

Dissolving Beauty

Dissolving Apartment

Chizumi in love

Interview with the Devil

Topics:

· 'Dissolving Classroom' and the concluding chapter, 'Interview with the Devil' being a commentary on cancel culture and the need for celebrities to apologise in today's culture for fear of fan backlash. Ariana Grande, we're looking at you!

· 'Dissolving Beauty' being a commentary on body dysmorphia and anorexia in an age of social media.

· Did the last chapter have a downer ending?

Synopsis:

Dissolving Classrom –

The new boy in class, Yuuma Azawa, is known for his overly apologetic behaviour and becomes a target for bullies because of it. Keiko Arisu befriends him out of pity but is quickly stalked and harassed by a creepy girl on her way home. The girl demands to suck out and feast upon her brains. In an attempt to flee, Keio gets ran over crossing the road.

As Keiko recovers in hospital, Yuuma apologises for his sister, Chizumi, the girl who scared and chased Keiko into the road. Yuuma visits her in hospital and it becomes apparent that keiko is feeling the soothing effects of his apologies, as if her mind and body, not just her worries, were melting away. Behind Yuuma's back, Keiko finds his home in order to speak to Chizumi and befriend her.

Chizumi explains that her brother doesn't apologise for her sake but for himself, he is addicted to apologising and has become a devil worshipper. Keiko is scared away when Chizumi reveals the decrepit heads of her dead parents, their brains having been melted away.

Chizumi believes the heads were fake but she is still left unsettled when a flu like sickness grips her parents and herself. On her return to school she finds that her class has become sick as well. Keiko goes to protect Yuuma from his bullies but finds that the bullies all physically melt in front of her. Chizumi arrives in the middle of a devastating attack on the school, everyone is melting away into goo. She explains to Keiko that Yuuma has the power to melt people via his apologies and Chizumi herself loves to drink and lick up what's left of them. Keiko flees from the siblings and survives.

Chizumi in love –

As the two siblings settle in a new place to live, Chizumi falls in love with a young boy of the same age, Tomohito, who is quickly stalked by Chizumi. Tomohito's parents melt away due to Yuuma's apologising but with a bit of luck, and through help of the spirits of those who were melted, Tomohito is able to escape Yuuma and Chizumi.

Interview with the Devil –

Eventually a journalist called Hamaoka is able to track down the siblings and bring a paralysed Keiko to meet with Yuuma. Keiko can't walk but is able to manage some speech. Upon seeing Yuuma she is unsettled and starts to scream. Chizumi is surprised to see that Keiko is alive, considering any girl that Yuuma dates, tends to have their face physically melt whenever he compliments their looks.

Yuuma burns the remains of his dead parents and flees town with Chizumi. Tomohito is found dead which makes Keiko the only survivor of the Dissolving incident. Hamaoka explains that Keiko developed psychic powers from her brain damage and is able to know where Yuuma is, he puts her hand on a map and her finger guides the way. Eventually Hamaoka manages to set up a press conference for Yuuma and Chizumi with plans to live stream it. To Keiko's horror, Hamaoka brings her to watch. Yuuma doesn't actually confess but apologises for the murders towards everyone at the conference and the world. As for what happened to the people who watched it and where the Aizawa siblings are now, well that will be left to your imagination.

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