Shojo & Tell: A Manga Podcast

Covers all three volumes of LEGAL DRUG by Clamp Get ready to get high. And horny. And gay. And paid. Okay, to be honest, we're not sure what the drug is, or that it's legal, but hey, we're here to talk about it anyway. Shojo & Tell host Ashley and her husband Asher continue their Clamp journey with LEGAL DRUG, which is technically complete, in the same way that QQ SWEEPER is complete (which is to say: Not at all, because there's a sequel, DRUG & DROP, and it's been on hiatus for forever). None of the central mysteries of LEGAL DRUG is solved within the confines of the volumes. Well, whatever. We're all just here for Kazahaya and Rikuo being in provocative poses, right? The biggest question of the episode is: Is this queerbaiting? Get ready to hear our thoughts about Clamp's fiftymillionth JOJO'S BIZARRE ADVENTURE fanfic (this one is basically the crappier version of XXXHOLIC).

Covers all of the original POE CLAN series by Moto Hagio It's time to talk about the gay vampires who built shojo manga. Year 24 author Moto Hagio, one of the most influential names in shojo, tells the tale of the Poe clan, a group composed of immortal vampirnella who turn the young siblings, Edgar and Marybelle, into one of their kind. Edgar turns his classmate, Alan Twilight, into a vampire, and the two go gallivanting through the forest like fairies. (Okay, they go on other adventures over the decades, too.) Vrai Kaiser, a managing editor at Anime Feminist, explains THE POE CLAN's place within vampire literature, while Megan DeYarman, of the sites Manga Test Drive and Renaissance Josei, explains THE POE CLAN's and Moto Hagio's impact on the history and trajectory of shojo manga. Shojo & Tell host Ashley is just here to look pretty and facilitate.

This episode discusses all volumes (1-5) of JULINE by Narumi Kakinouchi. When you think "shojo manga," you typically don't think "ninjas." But that's just a stereotype, and we're here to defy stereotypes. Shojo & Tell host Ashley and Megan DeYarman, of the sites Manga Test Drive and Renaissance Josei, talk about JULINE, a manga series from animator Narumi Kakinouchi (of VAMPIRE PRINCESS MIYU fame). The titular Juline, along with other young female ninjas Bakuya and Seika (and inevitable male love interest Kio), are looking for male relatives and lovers who have disappeared. They encounter a mysterious foe in Black Pearl (also known as Tamayo, also known as Mei). Is Tamayo a woman or a man? Can Juline, Bakuya, and Seika undo the spell that's been put on their loved ones? Ashley and Megan dive into the art style, the gender representation, and the overall ~vibes~ of this strange little series.

We discuss the two shojo manga versions of Cowboy Bebop: COWBOY BEBOP by Hajime Yatate [Sunrise staff] and COWBOY BEBOP: SHOOTING STAR by Cain Kuga Ask an anime fan above the age of 30 what their favorite anime is, and chances are high they'll say COWBOY BEBOP. The music, the animation, the mood — it's iconic. And then there are the two shojo manga iterations of COWBOY BEBOP, which have largely been lost to the sands of time (and then, there's the Netflix live action version...). Shojo and Tell host Ashley and her husband, Asher, read both of these severely out of print manga adaptations, and discuss here. Topics of discussion include: Ed and gender, why the heck is SHOOTING STAR the way it is, and why was it decided that this seinen anime needs not one, but two shojo manga adaptations?

This episode discusses all volumes (1-8) of THE VISION OF ESCAFLOWNE by Katsu Aki THE VISION OF ESCAFLOWNE is the anime that got Shojo and Tell host Ashley into anime. It sparked one of only a handful of great obsessions in Ashley's life. It's probably the reason this podcast exists at all. Katsu Aki's shonen manga version of the story is..... not like the anime you know and love. It's explicitly billed as a shonen series, and it's all downhill from there. Instead of being a badass track and field star with short hair who saves Van and Allen more times than anyone in the series bothers to count, Hitomi is now a busty babe with glasses who's necessary to pilot the giant mech, Escaflowne. Prince Van is an annoying uncouth and unskilled swordsman. Sir Allen is a knight who is nothingness. Dilandau is — well okay, Dilandau is still a pretty crazy delight, honestly. But a different kind of crazy delight. The Ashes discuss what this iteration of ESCAFLOWNE has to offer in comparison to the beloved TV anime and the gritty movie adaptation of the series.

Wondering if you should pick up LORD HADES' RUTHLESS MARRIAGE by Ueji Yuho? Ashley and Asher discuss the first volume of this new manga published by Yen Press, in which Lord Hades has been shot by one of Eros' arrows and thus is fated to fall in love. But not without a lot of hijinks happening first, harem manga style.

This episode discusses volumes 8–15 of SACRIFICIAL PRINCESS AND THE KING OF BEASTS by Yu Tomofuji. Sariphi has gone from ritual sacrifice to acting queen, but she's still working to gain the respect of members of beastkind. In this episode about the back half of Tomofuji's series, Mackenzie from Mac Loves Manga and Shojo and Tell host Ashley break down the highlights. We get to talk more about our favorite hyena boy, Lante, and his heartwarming worldviews; crotchety Anubis and the amazing journey he went on (where he got stabbed at least twice); the power of Sariphi, particularly in the arc with Fenrir; plus, we finally find out why the king is partially human, and meet some of the best side characters who should definitely have their own series.

This episode discusses volumes 1–7 of SACRIFICIAL PRINCESS AND THE KING OF BEASTS by Yu Tomofuji. Sariphi goes from ritual sacrifice to acting queen consort in the span of only a few volumes. The real problem? She's a human living among beastkind, hiding the secret of the part-human beast king while trying to win over the hearts and minds of people who look nothing like her. Tomofuji's series pushes boundaries, and Mackenzie from Mac Loves Manga is here to fully break them down. Mackenzie joins Shojo and Tell host Ashley to discuss the political intrigue of this series, how refreshing Sari is as a heroine, how endearing the tsundere boys Anubis and Lanteveldt are, and, as is only natural, make inevitable comparisons to BEASTARS and ZOOTOPIA.

Discusses all of the manga CODENAME: SAILOR V by Naoko Takeuchi. Before there was SAILOR MOON, there was CODENAME: SAILOR V. Or... maybe? Is that how the timeline lines up? Well, anyway. We're continuing our journey with the Sailor Guardians by discussing the prequel/sequel/???? to SAILOR MOON, which is all about Minako/Sailor Venus. Minako superfans Honey and Vixen explain how Usagi and Minako differ, why Sailor Venus is their favorite Sailor Guardian, and why everyone should be on Team Minako. Shojo & Tell host Ashley has to admit that Minako makes a lot more sense after reading this superhero gag manga. If you liked the silliness of the 1990s SAILOR MOON anime, then you should be reading CODENAME: SAILOR V!

This episode discusses the second half of the SAILOR MOON manga by Naoko Takeuchi. We're back to talk about the Infinity, Dream, and Stars arcs of the beloved SAILOR MOON series. Now that all the Sailor Guardians are here, Shojo & Tell host Ashley and Anne LaRose, who runs the Shojo Power blog analyzing SAILOR MOON, reveal their vastly different favorite Guardians. As a n00b to SAILOR MOON, Ashley wonders what is even going on with the Sailor Stars. And why there's a creepy circus. And what the heck any of these villains really want. It doesn't really matter, because the Sailor Guardians kick ass, right? And Mamoru is Sailor Earth. Right. Fangirl ChatGPT agrees.

This episode discusses the first half of the SAILOR MOON manga by Naoko Takeuchi. It's our 100th main episode(!!), so we finally suck it up and cover one of the biggest shojo series of all time: SAILOR MOON. To start off, Shojo & Tell host Ashley makes a shocking confession, which Anne LaRose, who runs the site Shojo Power dedicated to analyzing SAILOR MOON, takes in stride. From there, Ashley and Anne respond to listener feedback on what makes SAILOR MOON so beloved, rank their favorite Sailor Guardians, and explore how Takeuchi's series altered the course of magical girl stories. The story arcs discussed are the Dark Kingdom and Black Moon.

A discussion about all three volumes of CLAMP SCHOOL DETECTIVES by CLAMP. We're rounding out the unofficial Clamp School trilogy with CLAMP SCHOOL DETECTIVES, which is actually a shojo series! Nokoru, Suoh, and Akira (from MAN OF MANY FACES) make up the elementary student council representatives at Clamp School, and they're determined to help any maiden in distress. Shojo and Tell host Ashley and her husband, Asher, discuss how Clamp School is a dystopian totalitarian state disguising itself as a utopia, what it does or does not get right about going to prestigious schools, and how the council would react if a girl asked for help with period cramps. Ashley insists multiple times that you don't need to read volume 2 of this manga. It's superfluous!

A discussion about the two-volume series DUKLYON: CLAMP SCHOOL DEFENDERS by CLAMP. Another two-volume shonen gag manga from CLAMP, an even sillier and shorter Shojo & Tell episode than usual. The CLAMP School Defenders Kentarou Higashikunimaru and Takeshi Shukaido are trying to protect the institution from the Imonoyama Shopping District Association. From there, an alien romance commences. DUKLYON is strange, comedic, and a loving send up to tokusatsu shows. Most of this episode is just Asher and Ashley trying to say "Higashikunimaru" 10 times fast. (No, it's not. That's only part of the episode. We promise.)

A discussion about the two-volume series MAN OF MANY FACES by CLAMP. This is a two-volume gag manga about a gentleman thief who's in elementary school named Akira. He has two moms who look identical to each other. He's part of the Clamp School Detectives. He's in love with a kindergartener named Utako. It might be one of the best romantic relationships in any Clamp manga. Wait, what? Shojo and Tell host Ashley and her husband do their best to crack the case as to why this strange, should-be-problematic short series is actually endearing and wholesome.

This episode discusses all seven volumes of ALICE 19TH by Yuu Watase. Sisters Alice Seno and Mayura Seno end up falling for the same handsome boy, Kyo, and their fight for his affection threatens to destroy the whole world. That's a bit of an oversimplification, but the general gist of Watase's ALICE 19TH. Chika and Giana from the podcast Shoujo Sundae join Shojo and Tell host Ashley to talk about the battle between the Lotis Masters and Maram Masters, where words are turned into magical but very deadly violence. We discuss the influences of September 11, 2001, on the story, Watase's efforts at diversity and inclusion, whether we consider Alice a magical girl or not, and more.

This episode discusses all of TWINKLE STARS by Natsuki Takaya Welcome, hoejos, to the first Shojo and Tell episode of 2023, with special guest Colleen. We're here to discuss Natsuki Takaya's TWINKLE STARS, which is the only series Takaya has completed since she finished this little series called FRUITS BASKET. (That is, aside from Furuba spinoffs.) Prepare your tear ducts, because it dives just as hard — if not harder — into twisted family dynamics like Furuba. We answer burning listener questions like "which page made you cry the most?", marvel at the star imagery, and of course, make endless comparisons to FRUITS BASKET. Which Takaya series is better? You'll have to listen to find out. CONTENT WARNING: Suicide

This episode discusses all volumes of WOTAKOI by Fujita. Gather 'round, gamers, and let you freak flag fly, fujoshi: WOTAKOI is the lighthearted, reassuring read all otaku need. It follows six young adults as they navigate fandom and romance, to hilarious, heartwarming effect. Ellie from the Religiously Nerdy podcast joins to discuss our three main couples, answer a slew of listener questions, and generally identify aspects that make the series so relatable. (Ashley, unfortunately, relates a bit too much to Kabakura.)

Covers all 4 volumes of SKULL-FACE BOOKSELLER HONDA-SAN by Honda. Ever wanted to know what it's like to work in a bookstore? Well, your friendly neighborhood bookseller, Honda-san, has some funny stories to share and will teach you about wholesalers. Oh, and Honda's a skeleton. Of course. Honda relays many hijinks at their Kin*kuniya or B**k*ff in Tokyo, particularly in regards to foreign customers. The Ashes compare the anime and the manga, talk about issues surrounding book distribution and discovery, and name their favorites among Honda's coworkers. Here's a short episode for Halloween that has absolutely nothing to do with Halloween other than everyone's portrayed in a funny costume. Anyway, enjoy our rants about Rakuten Kobo!

Discusses all eight volumes of MARMALADE BOY by Wataru Yoshizumi. MARMALADE BOY is a quintessential shojo that has it all: Swingers! Step-sibling romance! Student-teacher relationships! And it does it all in a fast-paced eight volumes. In this episode, Lucy from the CLAMPcast podcast and Shojo & Tell host Ashley answer a ton of listener questions, which cover topics ranging from MARMALADE BOY’s place in shojo history, our feelings about Meiko and Namura, how Miki and Yuu’s parents rank against other manga parents, what we hope for from Seven Seas’ upcoming rerelease of the manga, and much more. (Hint: We definitely hope for less sentences like “I love you, Yuu!”)

This episode discusses all six volumes of ABSOLUTE BOYFRIEND by Yuu Watase. The Ashes are back to do a compare and contrast between two shojo heavyweights, Yuu Watase and CLAMP. Last episode we covered CHOBITS even though it's a seinen series, partially because we're determined to read every CLAMP series, and partially because we knew ABSOLUTE BOYFRIEND appears to have taken heavy inspiration from CHOBITS and shojo-ified it. We talk about how ABSOLUTE BOYFRIEND handles sex and A.I. compared to CHOBITS, whether it's magical and dreamy that your boyfriend can be destroyed and have to go to the Apple Store, and are thankful that, at the very least, Riko is not a schmuck. (Although, she might be the high school female equivalent of a schmuck? You decide after hearing how she handled her love triangle between the figure, Night, and her best friend, Soshi.)

This episode discusses all eight volumes of CHOBITS by CLAMP. We're continuing our journey through CLAMP with their most provocative, perverted, and problematic series yet: The sci-fi series CHOBITS, where personal computers (persocoms) take the form of cute high school girls with cat ears. Hideki, peak schmuck boy, finds a free one in the trash, and he names her Chi, and then he may or may not fall in love with her, even though she behaves like a child. Talk about awkward. Asher and Ashley have A LOT of feelings about the moral implications of the relationships between humans and persocoms that are presented by each character arc, the way artificial intelligence and computer memory is discussed, and about the handling of the sexual topics. Look. CLAMP apparently isn't saying it's okay to marry Hatsune Miku. But your love of Hatsune Miku is real love. Ashley's still waiting for the "so what?" of it all.

This episode discusses volumes 9–17 of LOVE COM by Aya Nakahara. We're back with a walkthrough of the highs and lows of the second half of LOVE COM, where we no longer see height. Height means nothing when it comes to true love. (Or... does it?) Anyway. Ashley and Loyola discuss the appearance of Kohori, how Otani and Risa broke up (!!) then got to back together (!!!), slept together (!!!!) but no not in that way, they haven't even kissed four times in a row yet (?!?!). We have one of the most heated shipping corners on this podcast so far, where Ashley insists that Haruka and Seiko are a couple and that Otani and Risa might be better off just friends. In conclusion: Nobu's still the best and Risa's brother, Takato, is hot.

Discusses volumes 1–8 of LOVE COM by Aya Nakahara. Ashley and Loyola are here to discuss the first half of the romantic comedy LOVE COM, aka Lovely Complex, which is the romcom that all other romcoms should aspire to. We gush about how cute Risa and Otani are, the impeccable comedic timing, the emotional levity that hits home, and so much more. Loyola is subjected to Ashley making her take the quizzes at the end of volume 8, to hilarious results.

Discusses all 9 volumes of THE STORY OF SAIUNKOKU, written by Sai Yukino and illustrated by Kairi Yura. ASHLEY: I'm like, 'I could have been a better person if I'd read [The Story of Saiunkoku] 10 years ago.' DEE: That's how we should have ended the no spoiler section! 'Read this manga, it will change your life.' In this episode, we're going to historical China for a semi-supernatural, extremely feminist manga adaptation of a light novel series. Dee, who makes the Josei Next Door blog and writes/edits for Anime Feminist, joins to discuss why this series never got its time in the spotlight in English like it deserves, why Shurei’s journey to fulfilling the seemingly impossible dream she has of becoming a civil servant is one of hope, and how Shurei's dad may just be the best dad in all of anime/manga, despite being a killer. We also, of course, talk about the gaggle of hot men in Shurei's life and her badass boss, Kochou.

A discussion about the two-volume manga FLOWER IN A STORM by Shigeyoshi Takagi Wife and husband duo Ashley and Asher are back to talk about the short comedic manga Flower in a Storm. While neither would say they really loved the story of rich-boy Ran going after super-strong Riko, Ashley, at least, thinks it shows lots of promise from the author, and is a funny parody of mid-2000s shojo manga tropes. But the real standouts are the two unrelated short stories that are included.

Covers the entire series of PLANET LADDER by Yuri Narushima. Wife and husband duo Ashley and Asher discuss the wild ride that is PLANET LADDER. They're not quite sure what happened, but they both know Bambi is the best. Also, there's a giant chicken. Surely you want to know more?

A discussion of volumes 7–12 (the second half) of SHORTCAKE CAKE by Suu Morishita. Ashley and Olive are back to process what the heck happened in the back half of Morishita’s series. They discuss Rei and Riku's family drama, Riku and Ten and Chiaki’s relationship (how is Riku not canonically confirmed bi??), the use of tension in Morishita's works, and much, much more. Because so much happened in these six volumes, and the reader is definitely not prepared for all of them.

This episode covers volumes 1–6 of SHORTCAKE CAKE by Suu Morishita. The duo that makes up Suu Morishita burst onto the English manga scene in recent years with SHORTCAKE CAKE and A SIGN OF AFFECTION. In this episode, Shojo & Tell host Ashley and manga reviewer Olive discuss what makes SCC a breath of fresh air, from Ten's kind frankness, to Chiaki's dorkiness, to Riku's fumbling sincerity. Then again, there's also Rei, who's been going Goblin Mode since before it was cool. Why??

We discuss all three volumes of AFTER HOURS by Yuhta Nishio. Welcome to the club. Emi knows nothing about dance music. Kei is a DJ with manic pixie dream girl energy. Emi gets sucked into Kei's world in this series that's basically a 101 lesson in EDM. "Isn't this a seinen manga?" Yes, yes it is. But Shojo & Tell host Ashley has a soft spot for these lesbian DJs, so we're covering it anyway! Ashley and her husband, Asher, discuss the particular moment in music time the series is in response to, how relatable Emi's millennial struggle is, the rosy portrayal of technology and the club scene we get, and more. Let's vibe.

Covers volumes 10–18 of TAKANE AND HANA by Yuki Shiwasu (that's the second half of the series). Takane is 27. Hana is 17. They're arranged marriage partners, and they're finally read to admit that they're in love. Shojo & Tell host Ashley and librarian Kelly are back to discuss how this age-gap romance wrapped up its story with a blissfully minimal amount of squick but still a high amount of disappointment. THAT'S what the drama was between Takane and his mom and the whole Takaba corporation? Takane and Hana have to get married RIGHT NOW? Hana ends up just as a HOUSEWIFE? But we did get something great in the end: a possible OT3 with Yukari, Kirigasaki, and Rino.

Covers volumes 1–9 of TAKANE AND HANA by Yuki Shiwasu. Hana is a perfectly average high school girl. Takane is a 26-year-old scion of a conglomerate. Together, they are arranged marriage partners (but they're definitely not dating!!). Kelly returns once again to talk about an age-gap romance — one that both she and Ashley are highly positive on. In this episode about the first half of the series, Kelly and Ashley try very, very hard to articulate how the series never (well, almost never, anyway) enters squick territory, talk about the wide cast of characters (Rino is great! Also, why is Rino here??), and discuss the funniest parts of the series. We promise, it's worth giving this hilarious contemporary a chance!

Covers all 10 volumes plus the 10th anniversary side stories of THE ROSE OF VERSAILLES by Riyoko Ikeda (that's the five omnibus volumes released by Udon!) It's hard to overstate how significant THE ROSE OF VERSAILLES is to the history of shojo manga and beyond. In this episode about Riyoko Ikeda's masterpiece, Erica Friedman, the editor of the English edition of the series, details the legacy of Oscar François de Jarjayes, the ultimate girl prince. Erica answers listener questions about the localization, plus she and Ashley dive into the series' queerness (despite not being ABOUT gender or sexuality), how historically accurate it is to the events of the French Revolution (immensely), and much more. We hope you're as delighted as we are to finally be able to read this iconic series legally, in gorgeous English editions.

Covers both volumes of SP BABY by Maki Enjoji. We're back with another Enjoji title! This time, it's a classic bodyguard romance, full of tragic backstories and sexual harassment. Tamaki joins the Security Police for Kagetora, the prime minster's nephew, against her better judgment (she really needs this job) and of course, romance ensues whether the heroine wants it or not. Ashley and Asher discuss how Tamaki's extreme form of accountability is actually refreshing, while Kagetora manages to avoid landing at the very bottom of the barrel for romantic heroes. We've seen worse. We've also seen way better.

Covers all 7 volumes of AN INCURABLE CASE OF LOVE by Maki Enjoji. We're back with a cute josei series! It's like GREY'S ANATOMY, but with a more contained cast and a lot more sexual harassment from the patients. Sakura has had a crush on Dr. Tendo since she saw him save a stranger in the streets, but when they finally start working together, he's not exactly the kindly doctor she imagined him to be. Shojo & Tell host Ashley is joined by Alex Yates of The Yona Podcast to talk about this blossoming workplace romance, boundary setting in relationships, and more. How 'bout that turn with Nice Guy Nishi??

Covers volumes 16–23 of HANA-KIMI by Hisaya Nakajo. Welcome back for the final HANA-KIMI episode! The Ashleys are back to discuss how wild this ride has been: The strange results of the final character poll, what the series says about gender, how it compares to other gender-bending series, and of course, finally, the ships. Also: Can you believe this manga kept up the premise of Mizuki's gender being a secret the ENTIRE TIME? We just don't get manga like this anymore!

Covers volumes 9–15 of HANA-KIMI by Hisaya Nakajo. Welcome back to Osaka High and the middle third of HANA-KIMI. Shojo and Tell host Ashley is joined by Manga Librarian Ashley to talk about all the hijinks that ensued here. What’s the tone? Gil’s still here?! How can Mizuki assume Sano doesn’t know she’s a girl when she sleeps with him in the same bed half the nights and she’s got her boobs pressed up against him? Mizuki grew up in Berkeley, California? You know what, that makes a lot of sense, actually...

Covers volumes 1–8 of HANA-KIMI by Hisaya Nakajo. We're throwing back and throwing down with a big-time, gender-bending shojo classic: HANA-KIMI, aka, the precursor to OURAN HIGH SCHOOL HOST CLUB. Mizuki Ashiya moves all the way from America to Japan, in high school, without express permission from her parents, just to be with her favorite high-jumper, Izumi Sano, a boy she's never met. Even better: She has to disguise that she's a girl so she can attend Sano's all-boys school. Who approved this premise? We don't know, but we do know it is full of good boys. Come listen if you love hijinks and dogs and stereotypes about gender (and America, too).

Covers all of RG VEDA by CLAMP. This hyper-violent fantasy series was CLAMP's first traditionally published work — and it shows. Shojo & Tell host Ashley and her boytoy Asher talk about the highs and lows of this high-concept series about destiny and the power of love (what else is new?). All good boys are praised, and Yasha is not on the list.

Covers all of EARTHIAN by Yun Kouga. Anime Feminist writer Vrai Kaiser joins Shojo & Tell host Ashley to discuss this late 1980s boys' love hot mess of a manga. EARTHIAN starts off as a sort of mashup between PET SHOP OF HORRORS and THE GOOD PLACE and ends somewhere way, way off from that. Vrai and Ashley discuss all the religion that is (and isn't) happening with the Catholicsploitation, how sweet Chihaya and Kagetsuya's relationship actually is, how many of the ideas the series presents (but doesn't follow through with) are actually still startlingly relevant, and tons more (probably problematic) topics. The journey is surprising and delightful and horrifying all at the same time.

Covers volumes 8–14 of WAITING FOR SPRING by Anashin. We’re back to talk about the second half of WAITING FOR SPRING, aka, Girly Kuroko's Basketball. Kelly and Ashley discuss how Towa and Aya are in a philosophical fight over what strength is, how well-handled Ryuji and Nana's relationship is, and just what about WAITING FOR SPRING makes it so special. Also a lot of complaining about Aya. He's 17. He doesn't know anything!

Covers volumes 1–7 of WAITING FOR SPRING by Anashin. The wait is finally over! We're FINALLY talking about the basketball boys! WAITING FOR SPRING is one of the most wholesome shojo series around and will have you smiling like a fool. Librarian Kelly and Shojo & Tell host Ashley discuss why Towa is THE BEST, why Aya does not deserve to be in second place in the character poll (rude to Mitsuki and Ryuji), how you shouldn't write real-people fanfiction, and much more. It's basically KUROKO'S BASKETBALL, but shojo. What more could you want? Seiryo, fight!

Covers volumes 8–13 of AO HARU RIDE by Io Sakisaka. One year after recording about the first half of AO HARU RIDE, we’re back on the bandwagon to talk about the ending. Shojo Beat Senior Editor Nancy and Shojo & Tell host Ashley talk about every single confession and rejection scene, consistently compare the series to WE WERE THERE, bring up one too many times that [SPOILERS] it’s annoying that Kou was hit by a car, and so much more. Like, get out of here, Kikuchi. Kou and Futaba forever.

Covers all the short stories in REVOLUTIONARY GIRL UTENA: AFTER THE REVOLUTION by Chiho Saito For the 20th anniversary of REVOLUTIONARY GIRL UTENA, we were gifted this volume of short stories (one for Touga and Saionji, another for Juri and Shiori, the final for Miki and Kozue) that function as a "sequel" of sorts to the UTENA anime (not the manga). Anime scholar Rose Bridges comes back on the Shojo & Tell to talk about UTENA without Utena (sort of?). Rose and Ashley debate which story of the three is the strongest, what it means for there to have been a revolution if the characters haven't really changed, and why the heck Nanami keeps getting so slighted.

Covers all 10 volumes of the original PET SHOP OF HORROR series by Matsuri Akino. Welcome to Count D's pet shop, where you can find the rarest pets that will make your dreams come true — and might just murder you, too. Horror fan, Yen Press employee, and Manga Machination's co-host Morgana Santilli explains why this wish shop fantasyland appealed to her so much growing up, and what makes Akino's work so special. Morgana and Shojo & Tell host Ashley also discuss: What IS Count D? Is he good, is he bad, is he amoral? What exactly is going down with him and Leon, anyway? There's a lot to unpack here, but the answer to all questions about favorites (characters, stories, pets) is Leon's brother, Chris. He's such a good boy!

Covers all of TOKYO MEW MEW and TOKYO MEW MEW A LA MODE by Reiko Yoshida and Mia Ikumi. In the early 2000s, this series about a team of five young girls infused with the DNA of rare animals fighting aliens bent on reclaiming the Earth became a phenomenon. TOKYO MEW MEW is supposed to get a new anime adaptation in the year 2021, so we decided to read the original magical girl series and its sequel. MEW MEW superfan Mercedez Clewis expounds on why the series left such a lasting impact on her and the magical girl genre in general. Mercedez and Shojo & Tell host Ashley also discuss their favorite Mews, what is and isn't a magical girl series, how the aliens were kinda right though, how they prefer to eat strawberries, and so much more in this jam-packed episode.

A discussion about the manga adaptation of SOCRATES IN LOVE by Kyoichi Katayama and Kazumi Kazui Get ready to cry at this one-volume melodrama about a teenage couple torn apart by a tragedy. SOCRATES IN LOVE follows Sakutaro and Aki as they go from being friends to lovers, but have their happiness cut short through illness. Chaplain-in-training Asher Sofman and Shojo & Tell host Ashley discuss how love and death are intertwined, how people grapple with suffering and illness, and other such fun, cheery topics. Ashley makes extensive comparisons between SOCRATES IN LOVE and Nicholas Sparks' A WALK TO REMEMBER, since they have similar plots and Sparks' novel is traditionally one of Ashley's favorite books. (Yes yes, we know.)

Covers ALL MY DARLING DAUGHTERS by Fumi Yoshinaga This one-volume manga about three generations of women in a family is masterfully told and extremely relatable. Shojo & Tell host Ashley and boytoy Asher discuss their favorite stories from this collection of five, dwell on the theme of love being a form of discrimination, and fret about how to avoid some of these parenting pitfalls when raising children. A content warning for the second story: There's an age-gap romance between a teacher and a student, and it escalates immediately.

Covers volumes 6–10 of AFTER SCHOOL NIGHTMARE by Setona Mizushiro Welcome back to discuss the second half of a manga that is full of twists and turns. This episode, cartoonist Mouna Toure and Shojo & Tell host Ashley have more questions than answers after that whirlwind of an ending. Like, was there ever a real Ai?? Were there two Mashiro Ichijos? No, seriously, _what was up with Sou and Ai_? Mouna and Ashley reprise certain topics, like intersex representation, in light of the ending. This is a manga that needs an immediate reread.

Covers volumes 1–5 of AFTER SCHOOL NIGHTMARE by Setona Mizushiro Welcome to the most mysterious and frightening after school club you’ll ever join. Content warning for sexual assault and gender essentialism themes. This is a manga that isn't afraid to go to dark places, as its intersex main character, Mashiro Ichijo, grapples with his gender (he currently identifies as a "he") and fights his fellow classmates in a collective nightmare, hoping to graduate. Cartoonist Mouna Toure and Shojo & Tell host Ashley discuss what genre Setona Mizushiro’s series is (is it horror? is it drama? is it BL?), the representation of an intersex character, how they feel about the love triangle between Mashiro, Kureha, and Sou (Team Kureha!), and generally what the heck is even going on in this manga. Listen if you dare.

Covers volumes 7–12 of FUSHIGI YUGI: GENBU KAIDEN by Yuu Watase Caitlin (OG FUSHIGI YUGI superfan), Sara Linsley (manga letterer extraordinaire), and Zahra Ymer (manga scholar in training), and Ashley (Shojo & Tell host) are back for the second half of FUSHIGI YUGI: GENBU KAIDEN, aka The Better FUSHIGI YUGI (sorry, OG FY). This episode gets heavy: The primary topic is about accepting death (it's better if you know going in that priestess Takiko is going to die!). All four talk about the points at which they cried, and how much (not Soren!!), make fun of Efinluka's name (.... well, how would you pronounce it?), and ponder if Takiko and Uruki having sex while Uruki presents female would upset the god, Genbu. You will laugh, you will cry, and if we're lucky, you won't die.

Covers volumes 1–6 of FUSHIGI YUGI: GENBU KAIDEN by Yuu Watase GENBU KAIDEN is Shojo & Tell host Ashley's second-favorite manga (behind only the illustrious MAID-SAMA), and so, this episode has several special guests. Caitlin (OG FUSHIGI YUGI superfan), Sara Linsley (manga letterer extraordinaire), and Zahra Ymer (manga scholar in training), and Ashley discuss how the series compares to its predecessor, pick apart Watase's sidebar notes (she thinks she'd be Tomite if she were a boy?!), fawn over Uruki / Limdo and Takiko (okay, that's mostly Ashley), and discover that all the good guys in this manga are basically serial killers.

Covers all of PARADISE KISS by Ai Yazawa. Welcome to the world of high fashion (or at least, high drama). PARADISE KISS is one of those rare josei titles that got released in English, and it had a huge impact on this episode's special guests, Robin and Lucy (who host the podcast CLAMPcast in Wonderland). Ai Yazawa's work is relatable in many ways, and really inspired Shojo & Tell host Ashley to want to make some art after reading it. In the podcast, Robin, Lucy, and Ashley discuss the connection between creating art and creating life and how creators have limited control, the weight of expectations, the manga's amazing and frustrating LGBTQIA+ inclusions, how PARADISE KISS may or may not have influenced Akiko Higashimura's PRINCESS JELLYFISH, and much, much more. This episode is long, because we just love Isabella, Yukari, Miwako, Hiroyuki, Arashi, and even George, way too much.

This is a review of FUSHIGI YUGI: BYAKKO SENKI volume 1, a new series by Yuu Watase that's going to be released by Viz. Whether you've read the original FUSHIGI YUGI and GENBU KAIDEN or not, you should be hype for the latest (and last) installment in Yuu Watase's beloved series. BYAKKO SENKI is set slightly after GENBU KAIDEN and follows Suzuno as she struggles with the sudden loss of her parents and being the destined priestess inside THE UNIVERSE OF THE FOUR GODS. FUSHIGI YUGI has always been dark, but this first volume is the heaviest of the series yet. Shojo & Tell host Ashley and her boytoy Asher run through all the heavy events of this volume and about what they're excited to see in the future. (Which brother is Tatara?!?!)

Covers volumes 10–17 of HARUKA: BEYOND THE STREAM OF TIME by Tohko Mizuno. We’re back to discuss the second half of HARUKA, a manga series based on one of the earliest otome game franchises. Suddenly, the story remembers it’s a romance, and all eight of the guardians realize they're vying for the priestess Akane’s heart. And she starts to see all of them as the sexy menfolk they are. (Except Yasuaki, who is still the best. But he's a golem (or is he a homunculus?), so we get it.) Shojo & Tell host Ashley and her boytoy Asher discuss Yorihisa and Akane’s relationship and the representation of the Demon Clan and gush about their favorite characters. Thanks to the two people who listen to this episode! You know who you are.

Covers volumes 1–9 of HARUKA: BEYOND THE STREAM OF TIME by Tohko Mizuno. HARUKA was one of the first-ever otome games, and it launched a franchise that spun off into manga and anime adaptations as well. Though the series didn’t gain popularity in the United States, we thought HARUKA was important to cover for its historical context. In this episode, Shojo & Tell host Ashley and her boytoy Asher journey back to the Heian era with Akane (a normal high school girl who’s a priestess in this alternate timeline), Tenma, and Shimon (two of Akane’s classmates that end up being her guardians) to meet even more hot men vying for Akane’s heart. (And fighting a war against a clan of demons.) It’s basically a much worse FUSHIGI YUGI. But Yasuaki and Eisen make it all worth it. Well… almost.

Covers all three volumes of FRUITS BASKET ANOTHER by Natsuki Takaya Would you like to have another basket of fruit? Natsuki Takaya shows us what the kids of everyone from the original FRUITS BASKET cast are like in this sequel to the blockbuster series. ANOTHER centers around Sawa Mitoma, aka NegaTohru, as she suffers abuse from her single mother and meets the Sohma kids in high school. In this podcast, FRUITS BASKET fanatic Jacob and Shojo & Tell host Ashley get into whether the sequel series stands on its own, whether it's worth reading, how Takaya handles the same themes but with different power dynamics between the characters, and of course, and who the best Sohma kid is. (They may all love each other, but remember: The curse is family.)

Covers all five volumes of ANGELIC LAYER by CLAMP. What if battle shonen, but for GIRLS? That's the premise of ANGELIC LAYER, where young girls get to fight with super-cool dolls that they control with their minds (OK, Ohjiro can play too). Upon coming to Tokyo, Misaki immediately becomes smitten with this game and learns the ropes very quickly. Shojo & Tell host Ashley, her boytoy Asher, and guest Aisha discuss the gender dynamics of the manga (moms can play with VR tech too!!), the fanfiction-y nature of CLAMP’s works, and who the best deus and angel are (Sai! Wizard??).

Covers both volumes of BEAST MASTER by Kyousuke Motomi "There is a beast inside of each of us that protects the things we hold dear." That’s the driving force behind this short story from Kyousuke Motomi (DENGEKI DAISY, QQ SWEEPER). It follows Yuiko as she tries to tame the beast of a boy named Leo. Shojo & Tell host Ashley and her boytoy Asher discuss how moar money leads to moar problems in Leo’s family, why English is wrong for having “fear” and “hatred” be separate words, how this story of domestication and bestiality compares to manly man menfolk literature from the likes of Jack London and Ernest Hemingway, and how the lion testicles are a metaphor for manhood. Plus, we revel in the one-shot, "Cactus Summer Surprise."

Covers volumes 1–7 of AO HARU RIDE (aka Blue Spring Ride) by Io Sakisaka. AO HARU RIDE is the story of sweethearts Futaba and Kou after they were separated in middle school and reunited in high school. On this special episode, Nancy Thistlethwaite (the editor of the series for Viz Media's Shojo Beat!) delves into the enduring appeal of Io Sakisaka's work, how AO HARU RIDE pays homage to WE WERE THERE by Yuki Obata, and explains the use of some unexpected slang. This is also the first time the podcast has covered a series that is currently still publishing in English.

Covers all 4 volumes of THAT WOLF-BOY IS MINE! by Yoko Nogiri THAT WOLF-BOY IS MINE! is a lot cuter and more innocent than its title suggests. Four hot boys can shapeshift into animals in a story that's a much lighter and faster FRUITS BASKET. Sara Linsley, the letterer of the series, explains what exactly a letterer does in manga, and why she loves working on Yoko Nogiri's series so much. Discussion topics include: Who is best boy (of course!), how cool Komugi is (so cool), and how actually, wolves are way bigger than that.

Covers both volumes of METEOR PRINCE by Meca Tanaka. A wild and whacky ride awaits in this super-short series about an alien named Io (who is essentially Tamaki Suoh from OURAN HIGH SCHOOL HOST CLUB) looking for his soul mate, Hako, on Earth. Shojo & Tell host Ashley and her lover Asher dive deep into the use of soul mates in literature and have an excessively silly shipping corner. Remember: You and me, baby, ain't nothing but mammals, so let's do it like they do on the Discovery Channel. (But is Io a mammal??)

This is a review of NOT YOUR IDOL volume 1, a new series by Aoi Makino that's going to be released by Viz. NOT YOUR IDOL tackles the ups and downs of idol culture in Japan (as you can probably tell from the title). It follows a girl named Nina, who was once the leader of the idol group Pure Club. At an event for Pure Club, she was attacked by a supposed fan, which leads her to drop out of the group and start dressing as a boy to protect herself. That's only the beginning of the drama, though. Shojo & Tell host Ashley and basically a cohost Asher give their thoughts about what a promising start volume 1 is for the series. (With a warning that NOT YOUR IDOL is also pretty upsetting.)

Covers volumes 19–27 of BASARA by Yumi Tamura (the last third of the series). The war epic that is BASARA finally comes to an end in this long denouement (and two volumes of side stories). Shojo manga master Caitlin and Shojo & Tell host Ashley answer a listener question about lost limbs, pay tribute to the characters who didn't survive to the end of the story, go into the handling of the later plot developments involving the White King, Ginko, and chat about all the side stories (there were so many!). Along the way, dolphin bombs are discussed, and Nachi canonically becomes a California surfer bro.

Covers volumes 10–18 of BASARA by Yumi Tamura (the middle third of the series). The middle third of BASARA contains some wacky stuff, like a baby who's not really a baby and threatens to stab Sarasa. But honestly, we don't get into all that: shojo manga master Caitlin and Shojo & Tell host Ashley discuss the identity crisis of Sarasa/Tatara and how that's wrapped up in gender, get into Ageha as a character and the manga's main theme about reconciling with your perceived enemies, and both applaud and laugh at the sexy sex scene between Sarasa and Shuri. Plus, we weigh in on the most important part of all: Ageha's haircut, yay or nay?

Covers volumes 1–9 of BASARA by Yumi Tamura (the first third of the series) Strap in for a classic epic fantasy shojo series with BASARA. Though it never quite blew up in the United States, Yumi Tamura's manga is spectacular, and Anime Feminist's Caitlin and Shojo & Tell host Ashley are here to set the record straight about its greatness. BASARA tells the story of Tatara, the child of destiny, who's fated to overthrow the evil rulers of Japan. When Tatara dies, his sister, Sarasa, takes his place. And she falls in love, unknowingly, with her greatest enemy, Shuri, the Red King. Talk about drama. Again — it's the best drama. Caitlin and Ashley delve into exactly why BASARA never blew up with the English fandom, celebrate that sweet, sweet menstrual period representation, fawn over Ageha, and much more.

Covers all 3 volumes of LOVE IN FOCUS by Yoko Nogiri LOVE IN FOCUS is a very cute and subtly subversive series about a high school love triangle between Mako, Kei, and Mitsuru and their experiences with a photography club. Shojo & Tell host Ashley and her boytoy Asher heap tons of praise on this highly aware manga. Ashley rants about why Kei is too relatable and therefore is aggravating, there's debate about the state of photography in the modern day, and there are revelations about what makes Mako a refreshing shojo manga protagonist. In the end, this episode turns into a relationship advice podcast.

Covers all 10 volumes of GIRL GOT GAME (also known as POWER!!) by Shizuru Seino GIRL GOT GAME is a basketball manga about Kyo Aizawa, who’s pretending to be a boy so she can play on the men’s team and live out her father’s dream of becoming an NBA star. And yet it’s also not at all a basketball manga, because they never actually play a basketball game. (Okay. Maybe once. In 10 volumes.) Even so, Shojo & Tell host Ashley and her good friendo Loyola Rankin have a soft spot for this ’90s manga. Ashley relates perhaps too much to Kyo, and Loyola definitely likes bad boy Yura far too much. In the episode, Ashley and Loyola list off all the crimes Yura commits and somehow doesn’t go to jail for, praise the representation of menstrual cramps and periods generally, have a heated shipping corner, and come up with many lucrative business ideas. This is the funniest episode of the podcast to-date.

Covers all of MY LESBIAN EXPERIENCE WITH LONELINESS and MY SOLO EXCHANGE DIARY by Nagata Kabi Not a shojo manga episode, yet also not a shonen exception: MY LESBIAN EXPERIENCE WITH LONELINESS and MY SOLO EXCHANGE DIARY are memoir manga about a young woman’s experience coming out and dealing with deep-rooted depression. In an episode largely fueled by listener questions, Shojo & Tell host Ashley and her lover, Asher Sofman, go over the most #relatable bits of Kabi's life, whether Kabi should continue down the road of writing about her own life, how there's actually not a lot of lesbianism, and most importantly, THESEX. Hope you like "I Just Had Sex" by The Lonely Island ft. Akon.

Covers all seven volumes of BEHIND THE SCENES!! by Bisco Hatori What if OURAN HIGH SCHOOL HOST CLUB, but with college students who are members of the “art squad”? That’s the premise of Bisco Hatori’s follow-up to her smash-hit, formative comedy series. Shae from Shaegeeksout and Shojo & Tell host Ashley discuss all the ways in which BEHIND THE SCENES!! is and is not like OURAN, give some sound dating advice, shout-out the representation of anxiety in Ranmaru, choose which Goda is better (long hair? short hair?!), and stan Tomu x Maasa forever. If you don’t want to craft after reading this series, do you have a soul?

Covers all of WISH by CLAMP I can be your angle or yuor devil. Shojo and Tell host Ashley and journey-through-all-of-CLAMP pal Asher Sofman go on a bizarre adventure with CLAMP’s JOJO’s fanfiction. Topics of discussion include gender pronouns, purity, tests of love, and shipping, where the conclusion is that the most interesting romantic ship is between Shuichiro and his mom, Hotaru, who is a tree fairy. We know this manga about the angel Kohaku was very formative to plenty of people. Please explain to us why?

Covers all seven volumes of A SILENT VOICE by Yoshitoki Ōima It’s a Shojo & Tell first: We’re acknowledging the worthiness of a shonen series. A SILENT VOICE became one of the most beloved manga of our time thanks to its raw and emotional exploration of bullying and its portrayal of living with a disability. On this episode, voice actress Kimlinh Tran and Shojo & Tell host Ashley discuss whether Shoya is a redeemable character, the effectiveness of punishment, and who wins first place for being the worst character (there are so many top contenders!). Of course, there are also comparisons between the manga and the movie adaptation (spoiler alert: the manga is better, and pushes what the medium can do in its valiant efforts to convey what living is like with deafness) and a weird shipping corner that’s mostly just about Naoka and Miyoko. Lots of ranting about how terrible these kids were to Shoko (and how relatable that is) ensues.

Covers THEY WERE ELEVEN, A, A PRIME, and A DRUNKEN DREAM, all short works by Moto Hagio In honor of the release of THE POE CLAN by Moto Hagio, longtime manga reviewer Kate Dacey (@manga_critic on Twitter) and Shojo & Tell host Ashley take a look at some of Hagio’s shorter works. They talk about how rare and refreshing it is to read a shojo scifi story, Hagio’s influence on the space of girl’s comics, and how the exploration of gender in THEY WERE ELEVEN and A,A' does or doesn’t align with our modern understanding of gender. If you learn nothing else from this podcast, remember: Iguanas and bulls forever.

Covers volumes 10-18 of OURAN HIGH SCHOOL HOST CLUB by Bisco Hatori OURAN superfan Rose Bridges, manga reviewer Aisha Soleil chat, and Shojo & Tell host Ashley are back to talk about even more host club hijinks. Specifically, this episode is basically about everything that wasn't adapted into the anime version. (You've been warned.) The three dive into more comparisons between the anime and manga, discuss some responses from listeners about their favorite host club boys (y'all are such haters about the twins, you know that?), talk about why there aren't more reverse harem series of late, and have a 40-minute Shipping Corner. There is just so much to say about Haruhi x Tamaki x Kyoya, okay?

Covers volumes 1-9 of OURAN HIGH SCHOOL HOST CLUB by Bisco Hatori Bisco Hatori’s breakout hit has made everyone laugh at pretty rich boys and their host club hijinks for over a decade. At the same time, it’s got a fair amount of problematic takes in it. So should OURAN be considered a must-read classic? OURAN superfan Rose Bridges and manga reviewer Aisha Soleil chat with Shojo & Tell host Ashley about who their favorite boy is (lots of unpopular opinions abound, but we can all agree that Haruhi Fujioka is the best part of this manga) and dissect the ups and downs of Ranka’s portrayal as a drag queen. Of course, there's also plenty of talk about gender being a performance, social class being a different kind of performance, and how the facade of the Host Club lets characters be their authentic selves. Welcome to Music Room #3.

Covers all of PHANTOM THIEF JEANNE by Arina Tanemura This is the first series by Arina Tanemura discussed on the podcast! What the heck’s a Phantom Thief, and what does it have to do with Jeanne d’Arc? Wait, God and some angels are here, too? There’s time travel? Long-time Tanemura fan Laura Spicer, Shojo & Tell host Ashley, and begrudging participant Asher Sofman delve into “Arina’s Christianity fanfiction” to discuss purity politics, how the anime compares to the manga, and how everyone in this manga got with the wrong person except Finn Fish and Access Time. (Chiaki doesn’t deserve Maron! HE DOESN’T DESERVE ANYBODY!) Also, did you know that Jeanne d’Arc and Eve (of Adam and Eve fame) are the same? Yeah. You’re in Tanemura land now. Proceed with caution.

Covers all of TOKYO BABYLON by CLAMP In an alternate Tokyo, Subaru, Seishiro, and Hokuto have otherworldly adventures in this prequel to CLAMP’s unfinished series, X. In a poll about which CLAMP series we should cover next, TOKYO BABYLON came out victorious. We’re here to give the people what they want, so on this episode, Shojo & Tell host Ashley and her journey-through-all-of-CLAMP buddy Asher Sofman answer many listener questions, like: Does Seishiro love Subaru? Why is Hokuto so great? What’s the true nature of evil? What were our favorite cases? This is a heavy episode to go with a heavy manga. Watch out for the turn about 30 minutes in. You’ve been warned.

Covers all of EVERYONE’S GETTING MARRIED by Izumi Miyazono This is a josei battle of wills as our heroine (Asuka) wants nothing more than to get married and become a homemaker, while the man she’s fallen for (Ryu) is determined to never be bound by the plague of marriage. (Can’t imagine who wins this war.) Aisha Soleil of MommaLuvsManga tells Shojo & Tell host Ashley what makes EVERYONE’S GETTING MARRIED stand out among other josei fare (the feminism is strong here!) and both constantly dunk on the love rival, Kamiya, for being the worst. Aisha and Ashley also lament that there weren’t enough sexy times in this manga, even though there was a PRIME opportunity for Asuka and Ryu to show off their sexting skills. Honestly, this episode might be a little TMI. You’ve been warned.

A bonus episode discussing the release of the first two episodes of the new FRUITS BASKET anime in theaters and the performance of PRETTY GUARDIAN SAILOR MOON: THE SUPER LIVE in Washington, DC for the start of the Cherry Blossom Festival. Shojo & Tell host Ashley and friendo Asher delve into the highs and lows of these shojo special events.

Covers all of THE YOUNG MASTER’S REVENGE by Meca Tanaka What if you had scars on your butt. From being bitten by snapping turtles when you were little. That is the whole premise of this comedy from Meca Tanaka, and for such a quick, silly series, it really is delightful. The revenge that Leo, the boy with the turtle butt scars, wants to exact on his childhood friend and crush Tenma of course turns into true love. You’ve seen all these tropes before, but not quite with this amount of disregard and subtle subversion. Shojo & Tell host Ashley and librarian and manga reviewer Anna discuss their favorite scenes (girls kabedon'ing boys!!), how this slots into the current crop of shojo manga with male leads, and have a very silly shipping corner. A short and sweet episode for a short and sweet series!

Covers all of MY LOVE STORY!! by Kazune Kawahara and Aruko Just how subversive (or not) is this story about an unconventionally attractive hero (Takeo Gouda), his best friend (Makoto Sunakawa), and his cute girlfriend (Rinko Yamato)? What’s up with its purity politics? How does it fit into the rise of shojo with male protagonists? How pleasant is it to see a story about characters in a relationship through 97.892749%* of the story, instead of having a series of miscommunications preventing them from dating? (*This number is an estimate.) And just who IS the better boy in this beautiful manga, Takeo or Sunakawa? (Hint: It’s Sunakawa.) Shojo & Tell host Ashley discusses these topics and more with the hosts of the podcast Manga Mavericks. (This actually isn’t an episode of Shojo & Tell! It’s an episode of Manga Mavericks. If you already listened on their feed, you don’t need to listen again here!)

Covers volumes 8–13 of HOUSE OF THE SUN by Taamo One Panel Later co-host, librarian, and manga reviewer Kelly Quinn Chiu and Shojo & Tell host Ashley dig deeper into the small moments that make this sleeper hit from Taamo so special. OK, honestly, Ashley mostly just rants about how Daiki is perfect and how he was robbed in this manga, while Kelly details how perfect Mao and Hiro’s relationship is. Both express shock and dismay at how, in a manga full of crummy characters like Mao’s dad and Sugimoto, Mao’s mom somehow ends up being the worst of them all. Both appreciate the understanding Mao’s dad and Hiro’s sister, Hina, have. There’s also a long discussion about the woes of publishing quiet romance manga that never get the hype they deserve. Just one more time, for emphasis: DAIKI IS THE BEST.

Covers volumes 1–7 of HOUSE OF THE SUN by Taamo One Panel Later co-host, librarian, and manga reviewer Kelly Quinn Chiu explains why Taamo’s HOUSE OF THE SUN is such a hidden gem. Kelly and Shojo & Tell host Ashley discuss the ups and downs of this slice-of-life drama and age gap romance, why libraries don’t often have digital manga, why Mao is so obsessed with a phallic creature, how Hiro needs therapy (lots and lots of therapy), and how truly awful Mao’s family (and Sugimoto) are. The metaphors of umbrellas and fireworks and the trap that is the influence of consistency are also scrutinized. Spoiler: Daiki is the best, can’t nobody tell Ashley otherwise.

Covers volumes 21–30 of KIMI NI TODOKE by Karuho Shiina (end of the series) Welcome to our final episode on Karuho Shiina’s contemporary classic. Shojo & Tell host Ashley and shojo manga connoisseur Caitlin Moore FINALLY get to reflect on what went down between Ayane and Pin (how it was all handled was such a pleasant surprise!). Plus, Kurumi finally gets her time to shine in our elaborate alt ending where she ends up with Sawako and as a contestant on TERRACE HOUSE (this episode involves a lot of fanfiction-making). And most importantly, Ashley and Caitlin rank Pin’s hairstyles (some are much better than others). We hope this manga reached you!

Covers volumes 11–20 of KIMI NI TODOKE by Karuho Shiina Winter is here, which means it’s time to settle in with the coziest manga for the season: the beloved KIMI NI TODOKE. Shojo & Tell host Ashley and shojo manga connoisseur Caitlin Moore are back to discuss the good and the bad about the middle of Karuho Shiina’s hit series. Somehow, Kazehaya and Kento have flipped in quality during these 10 volumes (KAZEHAYA. GET IT TOGETHER. HOLD SAWAKO’S HAND.), so a lot is said about how that weirdness happens. Also discussed: The best Chizu moments (when she says Kento is a “schmuck” is very high on the list), why Ayane continues to be the best, and how crummy Kazehaya’s dad is. Plus, we figure out Ayane’s love language, because she deserves a nice boy and happiness.

Covers volumes 1–10 of KIMI NI TODOKE by Karuho Shiina The year 2018 marked the end of an era: After 30 volumes, the deeply treasured KIMI NI TODOKE is over. And to mark this special occasion, we’re once again embarking on a trilogy of podcasts. Shojo & Tell host Ashley is a huge KIMI NI TODOKE fan, as is Anime Feminist author/editor and all-around shojo manga connoisseur Caitlin Moore. The two gush about the series’ best qualities (particularly the developments of healthy and tender female friendships) and how Ayane is the best character but Chizu is more relatable. Kazehaya is called “a good boy” several times. Constant questions about whether Pin is good or bad come up. Angry exclamations of KENTOOOOOO!! YOU IDIOT!! happen. A rant about how several men in Ashley’s life have very WRONG opinions about Shiina’s series ensues. Sawako captures our hearts and doesn’t let go. Here’s a message, from me to you: KIMI NI TODOKE is a delight.

Covers WAKE UP, SLEEPING BEAUTY by Megumi Morino (all six volumes of the series) “I can't believe WAKE UP, SLEEPING BEAUTY single-handedly convinced me that manga was not a mistake.” “This is up there with ERASED and PRINCESS JELLYFISH for me as far as human relations go.” “I don't know if I'm going to be able to go back to manga after reading this manga, it was everything I ever wanted in a romance manga.” “This manga is much better than you would expect since nobody’s hyped it up — and we want to be the hype.” Quite simply, if you’re not reading Megumi Morino’s debut series, WAKE UP, SLEEPING BEAUTY, you are missing out. It’s easily the most underrated shojo manga of the year. It’s short and sweet and you should read it. If you want to find out a bit more before committing to the six volumes, give the beginning of this a listen. The story follows a girl who gets possessed by ghosts, and a boy who is afraid of ghosts but ends up falling in love with her. Except it’s so much more than that. The Ashes delve into who their favorite spirit is, and then explain why actually, everything about this ends up being your favorite. SHIZU AND TETSU AND HARU AND AKIRA AND LITERALLY EVERYONE ARE JUST TOO GOOD Y’ALL.

Covers volumes 17-23 of FRUITS BASKET by Natsuki Takaya The curse has finally broken! And did you hear there’s going to be a new FRUITS BASKET anime?! Great. We don’t talk about that on this podcast! (This is a MANGA podcast, after all. And this episode was recorded before the announcement.) But don’t worry, massive Furuba fan and Anime News Network editor Jacob Chapman and Shojo & Tell host Ashley find plenty to talk about in the last third of the series (this concludes our trilogy of podcasts!). Jacob explains why Akito is such a compelling character, and he and Ashley delve into the series’ handling of gender overall. But most importantly, Jacob and Ashley finally get to talk about ALL THE SHIPS (including some that didn’t sail) in the most massive Shipping Corner to date. Obviously, Kyo and Tohru OTP. NOTE: Apologies for the subpar audio quality in this episode. The Skype connection was worse than usual, and unfortunately Jacob’s local track was corrupted. There is at least one instance where Jacob cut out for several seconds. It is easy to infer what he said from where he picks up, but it’s still not great. Sorry again!

Covers volumes 9-16 of FRUITS BASKET by Natsuki Takaya Massive Furuba fan and Anime News Network editor Jacob Chapman is back to discuss the middle third of Takaya’s classic with Shojo & Tell host Ashley. Most of the dark, dark Sohma family secrets have been revealed this time around, and Tohru is in turmoil over Kyo’s fate. But we’re saving most of the Kyo talk for the third and final podcast! This time, Yuki’s struggles shine after his confrontation with Akito. The particular pains of motherhood — with Tohru’s mother complex and many of the Sohma’s crummy parents — are scrutinized at length. And Jacob explains how FRUITS BASKET accurately captures the cyclic nature of abuse. It’s a heavy episode, but then, there’s also talk about how the play “Sorta Cinderella” is very funny. Try not to cry too much, alright?

Discusses the first volumes of AO HARU RIDE by Io Sakisaka and KIRA-KUN TODAY by Rin Mikimoto After September brought no new shojo manga series debuts in the US, October has brought two! Shojo & Tell host Ashley McDonnell and her bestie Asher Sofman have differing opinions on the quality of this month’s debuts. They discuss the wackiness of KIRA-KUN TODAY and what makes Io Sakisaka’s much-hyped AO HARU RIDE special. Whether you like talking birds or childhood crushes, strange depression or persistent melancholy, there’s probably something here for you between these two series.

Covers volumes 1-8 of FRUITS BASKET by Natsuki Takaya At the height of the mid-2000s manga boom in the US, there was no bigger series than FRUITS BASKET. And this story about orphaned Tohru Honda and the Sohma family curse has endured, getting a very special rerelease in recent years. For a series this influential, we brought on one of the biggest Furuba fans of all: Anime News Network editor Jacob Chapman. We discuss why FRUITS BASKET left such a lasting impression, who our favorite Sohmas are, how Tokyopop and Yen Press’ translations compare, what the curse really is, Kyo’s “true” form and the search for what’s real, Furuba’s message about belief in others, particularly as it relates to religion and family, and much, much more. Most importantly, obviously, we answer the question: Yuki or Kyo? And just think: This is only the first of three episodes about Takaya’s masterpiece.

Covers all of MAGIC KNIGHT RAYEARTH by CLAMP (that's six volumes across MKR I and II) Take a trip to Cefiro, grab a sword, and get in a mech in this wild and beautiful Clamp classic. Asher and Ashley do a character walkthrough that’s mostly gushing about how pretty everyone is (Eagle! Lantis! Umi! Fuu! Hikaru! That's only 1/100th of the number of characters in this six-volume manga!), debate whether Princess/Pillar Emeraude committed suicide and how this relates to controversies over assisted suicide, and of course, fail to escape hitsuzen because everything is hitsuzen. Plus, the Ashes solve global problems that plague many nations, laugh at how many characters/places are named after cars (AUTOZAM! CLEF!), and fawn over how cute all the (problematic) ships are.

Covers volumes 12 through 19 of BANANA FISH by Akimi Yoshida It’s the moment you’ve all been waiting for: BANANA FISH fan Marion goes on an epic rant about The Ending of the series. Seriously! What?! WHY?! Who thought this was okay!? Marion and Shojo & Tell host Ashley also discuss the role of women in Yoshida’s series, touch on the importance of found families, walk through all the ships we’re given in the end (obviously, OTP is Ash and Eiji), and ponder why Blanca has such broad shoulders. Plus: Did Ashley cry while reading the short story “Garden of Light” on the bus? You’ll just have to listen to find out.

Covers volumes 1 through 11 of BANANA FISH by Akimi Yoshida It’s a perfect day to discuss BANANA FISH, the revived classic about how everyone — except some select gang members and an innocent Japanese boy named Eiji Okumura — wants to kill the brilliant and beautiful and deadly Ash Lynx. Shojo & Tell host Ashley found the biggest BANANA FISH fan in Marion, and together they discuss the literary and political history Akimi Yoshida’s work draws from, the representations of race and queerness in the story, answer some of your questions about how the modernized anime compares to this very ’80s manga, and list favorite Ash and Eiji moments. Plus, Ashley and Marion take plenty of time to discuss Ash’s transformation from River Phoenix to Nurse Barbara.

Discusses the first volume of SHORTCAKE CAKE by Suu Morishita We’re back for our second preview guide, covering this month’s new shojo manga series debut of SHORTCAKE CAKE. Viz Media’s mobile app developer Jeff Ruberg and host Ashley review and react to this first volume, digging into its fresh pop aesthetic, which boy is the cutest, Ten’s really long hair, and more. Should you pick up this volume, or should you just go pick up a piece of shortcake instead? Find out here.

Covers CLAUDINE by Riyoko Ikeda (it’s only one volume long!) Though Riyoko Ikeda’s classic manga featuring a transgender protagonist originally came out in 1978, it was officially released for the first time in English in the summer of 2018 (40 YEARS LATER!). S&T host Ashley asks Jocelyne Allen, the translator of CLAUDINE (and many other manga), about the use of gender pronouns and other translation challenges with this work that's set in early 1900s France, originally published in 1970s Japan, now being translated for late 2010s America. Plus, Jocelyne and Ashley walk through Claudine’s three romances, ponder if queerness coupled with tragedy are implied to be cyclical, and take a gender quiz that begs the question: Could Claudine be a mech?

Covers all of PRETEAR by Junichi Sato and Kaori Naruse (four volumes) Remember back in 2001 when the PRETEAR anime was the cool new shojo? Did you know there was a manga that’s actually pretty vastly different than that anime you remember so fondly? May Fisher-Guest (host of the Digimon podcast Lost in Translationmon) and ever-present host Ashley get into the differences between the anime and the manga, dissect the series’ connections to the fairytales SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS and CINDERELLA, talk about the cyclic nature of suffering, and fawn over how hot Hayate and the other boys are (the art is amaze!). In addition to an epic shipping corner, May and Ashley also answer the ultimate question: Which one of the seven dwarfs are you?

Discusses the first volumes of FRUITS BASKET ANOTHER by Natsuki Takaya and SACRIFICIAL PRINCESS & THE KING OF BEASTS by Yu Tomofuji Welcome to our first preview guide! What's a preview guide, you ask? Our preview guide episodes will cover the first volume of newly released shojo/josei series (in the US), providing first reactions about the manga (mixing review with our normal discussion format). These will be shorter episodes that come out in addition to our normal bi-weekly, in-depth series discussions. More shojo talk! What could be better? Our inaugural series are FRUITS BASKET ANOTHER and SACRIFICIAL PRINCESS & THE KING OF BEASTS. Honestly, you know what you’re getting just from those titles alone, but Shojo & Tell host Ashley and her bestie Asher Sofman tell you their likes and dislikes and hopes and dreams. Can the world handle yet another FRUITS BASKET (without the gimmick that made the original such a success)? Does this new riff on BEAUTY AND THE BEAST have a uniquely compelling hook? Find out from the Ashes.

Covers volumes 9 to 17 of PRINCESS JELLYFISH by Akiko Higashimura Don your armor (read: your prettiest, frilliest dress) and get ready to defend Tsukimi and all the residents of Amamizukan from corporate kidnapper Kai Fish. Guest Carrie McClain (an editor at Black Nerd Problems) and host Ashley list off the moments that made them cry in the second half, what clothes come to mean for the Amars, who has agency (and who doesn’t), and have one of the most epic Shipping Corners on the podcast yet. (Shu!! How dare you worm your way into our hearts like this?! HOW DARE YOU make us doubt Kuranosuke x Tsukimi for even a minute?!) Plus, in an author’s note, Higashimura questions why PRINCESS JELLYFISH is so popular in America, so Ashley and Carrie, as Americans, provide personal (and speculative) answers.

Covers volumes 1 to 8 of PRINCESS JELLYFISH by Akiko Higashimura Chances are you’ve heard heaps and heaps of praise bestowed upon this manga about a jellyfish otaku whose life is changed forever by a crossdresser. That praise is HELLA ACCURATE. Carrie McClain (an editor at Black Nerd Problems) and host Ashley reveal how much they’ve become PRINCESS JELLYFISH otaku by fangirling all over the Amars and Kuranosuke, dissecting how Higashimura explores identity politics through the narrative and motifs in the art, and remind you that everybody, EVERYBODY, is an otaku. Yes, even straight-laced, stuffy Shu. He’s a Tsukimi otaku.