Rocket Bomber - article - Manga Moveable Feast - manga - Emma MMF: Rob McMonigal

Rob McMonigal of Panel Patter has three links to get the ball rolling this evening:

Emma vol. 1

“Those with weak hearts should pause for a moment before I reveal that this is a shojo manga that doesn’t feature girls in a Japanese high school! The setting is in fact late Victorian-era London, with a meticulously researched setting by Anglophile Mori. Emma, the title character is a commoner straight out of a Henry James novel, working as a maid for an elderly widow. When the widow’s former student returns for a visit, romantic sparks fly—but can the class barrier be broken?”

Excellent intro to the series, Rob. And the choice quotes continue: Emma vol. 2

“I also appreciate that, while growing the cast, Mori does not forget anyone. William’s friend is back, with some strong language for Emma, serving as the outsider who cannot understand English conventions. A throwaway character like a friend of Mrs Stownar, Al, ends up with the potential to affect so much of the story, and even gets to be the means of a flashback. Even William’s family, odious as they are for being stuffy upper class jerks, as fleshed out enough for the reader to appreciate their presence. “

And from his take on Emma vol. 3

“As much as I enjoyed the start of the series, I’m really looking forward to the complex dynamics Mori set up for both the servants (who seem to have their own dysfunctions within a smoothly operating household) and the wealthy family they work for. Plus, the fact that she did not completely abandon her original creations says there’s a lot to look forward to over the course of the series.”

These were previously posted May-August 2009, but are quite timely since the Daily Diary is [almost] up to Volume 3.
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