Comments on: Suppli 1-3 by Mari Okazaki

By: shannon

shannon — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 13:17:50 +0000

Comics about work?

Tramps Like Us[the US name of Kimi wa Pet]

Planetes

Saturn Apartments

Bitchy Bitch?

Ok, I’m out.

By: Art, commerce, and josei « The Manga Curmudgeon

Art, commerce, and josei « The Manga Curmudgeon — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 12:57:46 +0000

[...] Update: In the comments, Derik (Madinkbeard) Badman points to his great, image-heavy look at the visuals of Suppli. [...]

By: Snow day « MangaBlog

Snow day « MangaBlog — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 12:17:47 +0000

[...] Ray) Ed Sizemore on vol. 1 of The Summit of the Gods (Comics Worth Reading) Derik Badman on vols. 1-3 of Suppli (Madinkbeard) Rob on vol. 2 of Tanpenshu (Panel Patter) Connie on vol. 3 of Totally Captivated [...]

By: DerikB

DerikB — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 18:20:35 +0000

I should add, that Suppli does not seem to be going the route that you describe (the heroic work). This is much more about the inter-relationship of work and non-work and how work can take over one’s life to one’s detriment.

By: DerikB

DerikB — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 18:19:31 +0000

Thanks for the info, Xavier. I guess I was aware of other “salaryman” type manga, but none of that (as far as I know) has made it to English… though I think have a scanlation of the Nananan series that I’ve not read yet.

By: Xavier Guilbert

Xavier Guilbert — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 16:52:38 +0000

Manga has a huge number of comics dealing with all sorts of mundane jobs, where the “professional formula” (identified by Julien Bastide) can be put at work. Basically, the idea is that the “professional” is a quiet loner with exceptional skills; he is as versed in his area of expertise as in the secrets of the human soul; and he will put these skills and knowledge to good use to help the people he encounters — and then he’ll move on, not waiting for thanks. Hence titles such as “Sommelier”, “Le cuisinier de l’ambassadeur” and other variations around food (and the preparing of), archeology (“Master Keaton”), etc.

I can think of a few other titles not falling into that category, but involving “normal” job settings: “Someday” by Hara Hidenori (about a young guy finding his dream job in selling rooftop advertising board structures, I kid you not), or “Kekkon Shiou Yo” by Hoshisato Mochiru (about intercompany romance), or some parts of “Strawberry Shortcakes” by Nananan Kiriko (involving Office Ladies).

The Japanese seem to find adventure in the most ordinary places…