Shojo & Tell: A Manga Podcast

Red River by Chie Shinohara has finally gotten an anime adaptation, so, just as everyone else is talking about it right now, we, too, are entering the fray of the ancient Hittite Empire. Shojo & Tell host Ashley is persuaded by her husband, Asher, that he's the guy fit for discussing this iconic series, because his rabbinic studies give him an informational edge. The Ashes debate what the relentlessness of sexual assault against Yuri culturally signifies, wonder at the limits of historical fiction, and get wistful about isekai of yore. On sillier notes, Ashley fawns over Yuri and praises Prince Kail for being so corny. This episode covers the first third of the series. REFERENCES Red River is available from Viz Media's Shojo Beat line The Red River anime is streaming on Crunchyroll Other anime/manga series mentioned The Vision of Escaflowne Fushigi Yugi Sword Art Online Sailor Moon Snow White with the Red Hair Hot Gimmick Fruits Basket Mars The Prince of Egypt is the source of all truth Books mentioned: Horse by Geraldine Brooks The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness Songs mentioned: "A Horse with No Name" by America "Yuri the Only One for Me" by LeetStreet Boys Ishtar Syrian civil war Outro: "Tokimeki no Doukasen" ( Fushigi Yuugi ending theme) + Fruits Basket (2019) episode 3 dialogue CONTACT Shojo & Tell on Bluesky , Tumblr , Instagram, and Twitter Ashley on Bluesky

We pick up right where we left off, and... It's not what you expect. At all. Rin is up to Rin machinations. Shion did exactly what you thought he did. Jinpachi is suddenly kinda sinister. Alice is struggling with her memories, in more ways than one. Daisuke exists. Tamura is still the best (Mikuro is a close second). Shojo & Tell host Ashley and special guest Autumn talk their overall thoughts on the ending of this slow-burn mystery/drama, delve into the worldbuilding presented by Mokuren's past (so you DID have cool flying spaceship jawns!), poke gentle fun at some new back-half characters, and of course, wonder "WHY?" about a slew of ridiculous ships. REFERENCES Please Save My Earth is available digitally from Viz Media Other anime/manga series mentioned Sailor Moon Red River Hana-Kimi Boys Over Flowers From Far Away The Vision of Escaflowne A Sign of Affection Fushigi Yugi Hot Gimmick Outro: "Tokimeki no Doukasen" ( Fushigi Yuugi ending theme) + Fruits Basket (2019) episode 3 dialogue CONTACT Autumn's blog: https://notanotakunao.blogspot.com/ Shojo & Tell on Bluesky , Tumblr , Instagram, and Twitter Ashley on Bluesky

It's 1980s Japan. Saki Hiwatari is telling a story set in the extremely near future, in 1990s Tokyo (now nostalgic past). A group of teens start to meet up because they all have dreams of a past life where they were people who were the size of human pinkies and they lived on the moon. Why do they have these dreams? What happened in their past life? It's an epic drama and drawn-out science fiction mystery for the times! Shojo & Tell host Ashley and shojo manga superfan Autumn get into themes of fate and cyclical wrongs with this singular series. The discussion mostly centers around how punchable Rin/Shion is, but hey, we swear there's other fun stuff packed in here, too. REFERENCES Please Save My Earth is available digitally from Viz Media Other anime/manga series mentioned Saint Seiya Tokyo Babylon The Vision of Escaflowne Banana Fish A Sign of Affection X/1999 Fushigi Yugi Paradise Kiss Legend of the Galactic Heroes Devilman Maid-Sama Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle Hot Gimmick Black Jack Hunter x Hunter YuYu Hakusho Rocky is rated PG when it probably shouldn't be (it should be PG-13) "This is a work of fiction" disclaimer history: Started in the 1930s in novels as a result of a defamation lawsuit Outro: "Tokimeki no Doukasen" ( Fushigi Yuugi ending theme) + Fruits Basket (2019) episode 3 dialogue CONTACT Autumn's blog: https://notanotakunao.blogspot.com/ Shojo & Tell on Bluesky , Tumblr , Instagram, and Twitter Ashley on Bluesky

There are few authors more synonymous with "shojo" than Arina Tanemura. We've done Tanemura works before. But Full Moon is peak Tanemura. Which is not to say it's a masterwork. For those who don't idolize Tanemura and are wondering what Full Moon is about, the series follows a 12-year-old girl named Mitsuki who wants to be a singer so she can reconnect with her childhood crush, whom she met when they both lived at an orphanage, but she can't become a singer because she has throat cancer that, if left untreated, will kill her. Some shinigami show up telling her she only has one year left to live, and she somehow convinces the shinigami to turn her into a 16-year-old so she can become the idol of her dreams before she dies. Are you keeping up? Tanemura fan Laura Spicer joins Shojo & Tell host Ashley once again to go through the whirlwind of a manga to, first, figure out what even all happened here, and second, to determine what the good emotional beats are. REFERENCES Full Moon is available digitally from Viz Media's Shojo Beat line The Full Moon anime is available on blu-ray Tanemura's other projects Phantom Thief Jeanne Idol Dreams idolish7 The Gentlemen's Alliance Sakura Hime Time Stranger Kyoko Music mentioned +44 Linkin Park Evanescence Within Temptation t.A.T.u. Maaya Sakamoto Yui Horie AKB48 Morning Musume Ayumi Hamasaki Other anime/manga series mentioned Fruits Basket Sailor Moon Cardcaptor Sakura Ouran High School Host Club Yona of the Dawn Hana-Kimi A Condition Called Love Not Your Idol Oshi no Ko The Vision of Escaflowne Outro: "Tokimeki no Doukasen" ( Fushigi Yuugi ending theme) + Fruits Basket (2019) episode 3 dialogue CONTACT Laura on Bluesky, Instagram Shojo & Tell on Bluesky , Tumblr , Instagram, and Twitter Ashley on Bluesky

Hanayu wants to be a sushi chef, but her father expects her to take over the family pastry shop. Hayato wants to be a pastry chef, but is expected to take over his family's sushi restaurant. Uh, you can see where this is going, right? Shojo & Tell host Ashley and her husband Asher discuss this romantic comedy series in which these 15 year old children place the weight of the world on their shoulders. Mixed Vegetables may be a mixed bag, but hey, maybe that's your cup of tea (to mix metaphors). REFERENCES Read Mixed Vegetables digitally on the Viz Media app Other manga/anime mentioned Maid-Sama Kimi ni Todoke Full Moon o Sagashite Yuu Watase Locations in Japan mentioned Kagoshima Okinawa Hokkaido How Japan’s Female Sushi Chefs Are Claiming a Seat at the Counter (Conde Nast Traveler 2022) Koseki Outro: "Tokimeki no Doukasen" ( Fushigi Yuugi ending theme) + Fruits Basket (2019) episode 3 dialogue CONTACT US Shojo & Tell on Bluesky , Tumblr , Instagram, and Twitter Ashley on Bluesky

Caitlin and Ashley are back to discuss the second half of Horimiya , aka, all the bits that don't matter. Like, it's a miracle this episode is over an hour long, because the two spend most of the time talking about *checks notes*: Sawada, Iura, and Watabe. And they're definitely the most interesting characters in this whole series, right? Especially Iura. Jokes aside, Caitlin and Ashley spend time going over the chapters they did like (and some they really didn't), plus there's a shipping corner with an 11th hour bombshell dropped. Just like the second season of the Horimiya anime, this episode isn't boring, but it might also not be necessary. Tune in to hear for yourself. REFERENCES Horimiya is published by Yen Press Other manga/anime mentioned Maid-Sama! Outro: "Tokimeki no Doukasen" ( Fushigi Yuugi ending theme) + Fruits Basket (2019) episode 3 dialogue CONTACT US Shojo & Tell on Bluesky , Tumblr , Instagram, and Twitter Caitlin's writings at Anime Feminist and Anime News Network Caitlin on Bluesky Ashley on Bluesky

Finally, we're here to talk about the shonen elephant in the shojo room: Horimiya . Look at almost any list of "best shojo anime," and you're bound to see Horimiya near the top of it. But, just so we're all clear: Horimiya isn't a shojo series. It is, however, a very good shonen romance series. Shojo & Tell host Ashley and Anime News Network and Anime Feminist writer Caitlin dig into why people often mistake Horimiya for a shojo series and how the series lovingly subverts a lot of stereotypical romance tropes through the main couple, Hori and Miyamura, and many of the B couples, especially Remi and Sengoku. There's a lot of gushing over how relatable Hori is (seriously, so relatable). But most importantly (regrettably?): Ashley and Caitlin delve into what makes the sex scene so touching and how nice it is to see an authentic teenage exploration of kink. REFERENCES Buy Horimiya from MangaMart, a family-run manga store offering some of the most competitive prices around (affiliate link) Horimiya is published by Yen Press Other manga/anime mentioned Fushigi Yuugi: Genbu Kaiden Millennium Snow Attack on Titan Sword Art Online Black Bird Hot Gimmick Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun Fushigi Yuugi Boys Over Flowers Kodocha Marmalade Boy Full Moon Outro: "Tokimeki no Doukasen" ( Fushigi Yuugi ending theme) + Fruits Basket (2019) episode 3 dialogue CONTACT US Shojo & Tell on Bluesky , Tumblr , Instagram, and Twitter Caitlin's writings at Anime Feminist and Anime News Network Caitlin on Bluesky Ashley on Bluesky

Get ready to go to the beach in this emotionally affecting, short josei series. Mermaid Scales and the Town of Sand by Yoko Komori follows Tokiko, a sixth grader whose parents are recently separated; as a result, she moves with her dad from Tokyo to the small beach town where her mother grew up where legends of merfolk are still honored. As she grapples with her new normal, Tokiko is also looking for a particular merman for saving her from drowning. Shojo & Tell host Ashley and her husband Asher dive deep into Tokiko's family dynamics, whether or not one citizen of the town is actually real, and the consequences of pathological lying. REFERENCES Buy Mermaid Scales and the Town of Sand from MangaMart, a family-run manga store offering some of the most competitive prices around (affiliate link) Mermaid Scales and the Town of Sand is published by Viz Media's Signature line Other manga/anime mentioned Horimiya Outro: "Tokimeki no Doukasen" ( Fushigi Yuugi ending theme) + Fruits Basket (2019) episode 3 dialogue CONTACT US Shojo & Tell on Bluesky , Tumblr , Instagram, and Twitter Ashley on Bluesky

Ashley and Asher are back to discuss volumes 11 through 20 of Snow White with the Red Hair , and they have a lot more to say this time (most of it is still some variation of "they're so cute!"). The Ashes talk about new characters (Hisame, the Bergat brothers, Lilias folks), the overarching plots (Izana's coronation, Lilias part 2, Sereg assassination plots, Kiki's marriage machinations), the official character poll (lol Mitsuhide), and of course, all the ships (yes, Zen and Shirayuki are cute, but why not Kiki and Shirayuki?). Let the fangirling and fanboying commence. REFERENCES Buy Snow White with the Red Hair from MangaMart, a family-run manga store offering some of the most competitive prices around (affiliate link) Snow White with the Red Hair is published by Viz Media's Shojo Beat line Other manga/anime mentioned Bleach Fushigi Yugi Fushigi Yugi: Genbu Kaiden Jesse and James from Pokemon WHYY: "How experiments with gila monster venom led to blockbuster weight loss drugs like Ozempic" Outro: "Tokimeki no Doukasen" ( Fushigi Yuugi ending theme) + Fruits Basket (2019) episode three dialogue CONTACT US Shojo & Tell on Bluesky , Tumblr , Instagram, and Twitter Ashley on Bluesky

Welcome to the special collaboration episode between Ashley of Shojo & Tell and Chika and Giana of Shoujo Sundae (hereby dubbed the "shojo trio"). In this episode, we talk everything Josee, the Tiger and the Fish : the animated movie version (amazing!), the manga (basically the same as the movie but taking things at your own pace can be helpful!), the live-action movie (oh no!), and the original short story (very Japanese!). Josee, the Tiger and the Fish follows Josee, a sheltered, curmudgeonly wheelchair user, and Tsuneo, a try-hard college boy who loves diving, as they both come out of their shells to meet each other and the sometimes scary, sometimes harsh, occasionally beautiful outside world. Let's dive! REFERENCES You can watch the animated movie on Crunchyroll You can read the manga version, published by Yen Press You can read the original short story, also published by Yen Press You can watch the live-action version on RetroCrush STAY IN TOUCH Find Shoujo Sundae on: Bluesky , Instagram , X Find Chika on: Bluesky , Instagram Find Giana on: Bluesky , Instagram , Personal Website Find Shojo & Tell on: Bluesky , Instagram , Tumblr Find Ashley on: Bluesky

There are few contemporary shojo manga that are more popular and beloved that Sorata Akizuki's wholesome fairy-tale-inspired story Snow White with the Red Hair . The protagonist, Shirayuki, has apple-red hair that attracts attention from unsavory characters and noble princes alike, and the story follows her as she becomes a court herbalist and a worthy bride-to-be for Prince Zen Wisteria. Shojo & Tell host Ashley and her husband Asher delve into why this story is so special, while walking through the highs (and the lows) of the first 10 volumes. Asher expresses his undying love for Obi, while Ashley pledges allegiance to Prince Izana. But in the end, it's all about the best ZenYuki moments. REFERENCES Buy Snow White with the Red Hair from MangaMart, a family-run manga store offering some of the most competitive prices around (affiliate link) Snow White with the Red Hair is published by Viz Media's Shojo Beat line Other manga/anime mentioned Waiting for Spring Maid-Sama! Shortcake Cake WHYY: "How experiments with gila monster venom led to blockbuster weight loss drugs like Ozempic" Outro: "Tokimeki no Doukasen" ( Fushigi Yuugi ending theme) + Fruits Basket (2019) episode three dialogue CONTACT US Shojo & Tell on Bluesky , Tumblr , Instagram, and Twitter Ashley on Bluesky

This episode discusses all 9 volumes of the My Love Mix-Up! manga by Wataru Hinekure and Aruko, and contains comparisons between it and the Japanese live-action adaptation. My Love Mix-Up! (not to be mixed up with Aruko's other work, My Love Story!! .... deep sigh ) tells the story of Sota Aoki, a seemingly happy-go-lucky boy who has a crush on a female classmate, Mio Hashimoto, but winds up in a relationship with male classmate Kōsuke Ida. It sure is all mixed up, and it's a pure delight. Romance novelist Megan Frampton joins Shojo & Tell host Ashley to discuss what makes the series so funny, how that does or does not translate to the Japanese live-action screen adaptation, and the surprising amount of character growth the main cast goes through. Jump into the fluff and feels with us! REFERENCES My Love Mix-Up! is available from Viz Media's Shojo Beat line Watch the My Love Mix-Up! Japanese live-action version on Viki There is also a My Love Mix-Up! Thai live-action version Other manga/anime mentioned MARS My Love Story!! Maid-Sama Kimi ni Todoke Kimi ni Todoke live action Kimi ni Todoke anime Live-action Bleach movie Kaguya-Sama: Love is War Outro: "Tokimeki no Doukasen" ( Fushigi Yuugi ending theme) + Fruits Basket (2019) episode three dialogue CONTACT US Find Megan on BlueSky and Instagram Check out Megan's books https://www.meganframpton.com/ Subscribe to Megan's Substack Shojo & Tell on Bluesky , Tumblr , Instagram, and Twitter Ashley on Bluesky

This episode discusses MARS volumes 9-15 and the prequel story, "Horse with No Name" How many suicide attempts can happen close to Kira and Rei? How many car crashes and motorcycle accidents? Shojo & Tell host Ashley and CLAMPcast in Wonderland co-host Lucy are back to discuss the second half of the melodrama MARS by Fuyumi Soryo, and their biggest question is about whether the series accurately portrays the way trauma stacks (both Ashley and Lucy lean toward no). Ashley and Lucy share their thoughts about Kira seeming to give up her dreams to be with Rei, and so Rei can pursue his, what they wish "Horse with No Name" had been about instead, how they're glad Tatsuya made it out unscathed, and more. REFERENCES MARS is available from Kodansha Comics digitally Listen to Ashley's MARS DJ set! Read Robin's book! Other manga/anime mentioned RG Veda Kimi ni Todoke Marmalade Boy My Love Mix-Up! Snow White with the Red Hair Songs mentioned: "A Horse with No Name" by America Misc. mentions: Grey's Anatomy The Last Unicorn Outro: "Tokimeki no Doukasen" ( Fushigi Yuugi ending theme) + Fruits Basket (2019) episode three dialogue CONTACT US Find CLAMPcast on BlueSky , Twitter , Instagram , and Facebook Find Lucy on Threads , Instagram , and BlueSky Shojo & Tell on Bluesky , Tumblr , Instagram, and Twitter Ashley on Bluesky

This episode discusses volumes 1-8 of MARS by Fuyumi Soryo. We continue our melodrama mood with the late 1990s/early 2000s series, MARS . Kira Aso is a quiet girl who loves to paint. Rei is a bad boy who loves to race motorcycles. Naturally they fall in love, and all the dark secrets come out about them both. Shojo & Tell host Ashley and Clampcast in Wonderland co-host Lucy discuss what makes this series so gripping despite it being over the top, how iconic the art is, the portrayal of America, how cute Rei and Kira are, and much more. REFERENCES MARS is available from Kodansha Comics digitally Colleen's MARS retrospective video Other manga/anime mentioned Hot Gimmick Fruits Basket Hana-Kimi The Vision of Escaflowne ( Dilandau ) LoveCom Marmalade Boy Clover Cardcaptor Sakura Songs mentioned: "Safe with Me" by Gryffin "Ride or Die" by The Knocks Outro: "Tokimeki no Doukasen" ( Fushigi Yuugi ending theme) + Fruits Basket (2019) episode three dialogue CONTACT US Find CLAMPcast on BlueSky , Twitter , Instagram , and Facebook Shojo & Tell on Bluesky , Tumblr , Instagram, and Twitter Ashley on Bluesky

This episode discusses the second half (volumes 7–12) of Hot Gimmick by Miki Aihara. Oh, so you thought the first half of Hot Gimmick contained the worst of the problematic hot trash? Think again. Shojo & Tell host Ashley and Naja of Blerdy Otome are back to talk about this wild, wild ending to a wild, wild series where all the content warnings apply. Who does Hatsumi end up with in her triangle of horrible choices? Why are Tachibanas like this? What are you doing, Shinogu? Who is THE worst character in the entire series (on a scale of constant abuse and gang rape to actually why the heck isn't this series about cuties Subaru and Akane?)? What are the most popular ships on Ao3/FF.net for this series, and do the people writing it know they're wrong? All that and more is touched on in this podcast episode. You've been warned. REFERENCES Hot Gimmick is available from Viz Media in English Hot Gimmick S is a reimagining of the ending Other anime/manga mentions Gundam My Hero Academia Archive of Our Own FanFiction.net Misc. media mentions "We Found Love" by Rihanna and Calvin Harris Otome game: In Your Arms Tonight Outro song: "The Streatham Hill Gods" by Danosongs CONTACT US Find Naja's work on her website , Twitch , Twitter , and BlueSky Shojo & Tell on Bluesky , Tumblr , Instagram, and Twitter Ashley on Bluesky

This episode discusses the first half (volumes 1-6) of Hot Gimmick by Miki Aihara It's here. It's finally here. Shojo & Tell host Ashley has been trying to make this episode happen for at least two years. And now, here we are. We're talking about the first half of Hot Gimmick , aka, Hot Trash, aka Hot Mess. Seriously: Content warning for basically everything. Ashley was prepared to have nothing nice to say about this series (she's read it before and thought it was the worst shojo series ever), but it's surprising what reading something 12 years after your initial encounter with it can do... Naja of Blerdy Otome is a big fan of Hot Gimmick , despite also recognizing that it's extremely problematic. There's underage sex and drugs, there's blackmail, there's demeaning servitude, there's gang rape. And that's just the first three volumes. Hatsumi's a doormat, Ryoki's bad, Azusa's bad, Shinogu's bad trying to be good, Akane is the reason we're in this mess. Only Subaru is good. Team Subaru! Let's talk it through. REFERENCES Hot Gimmick is available from Viz Media in English Hot Gimmick S is a reimagining of the ending Other anime/manga mentions Chobits Cardcaptor Sakura Gundam Red River Basara From Far Away Archive of Our Own Wattpad Story of NHL player who Ashley went to college with Misc. media mentions Gossip Girl You Outro song: "The Streatham Hill Gods" by Danosongs CONTACT US Find Naja's work on her website , Twitch , Twitter , and BlueSky Shojo & Tell on Bluesky , Tumblr , Instagram, and Twitter Ashley on Bluesky

This episode discusses all of Neon Genesis Evangelion: Angelic Days (volumes 1-6) by Fumino Hayashi. Shinji, get in the robot! Shojo & Tell host Ashley and the guy previously known as Ashley's " Cyborg 009 buddy," Josh McHugh, delve into this version of the beloved series Neon Genesis Evangelion , which is an alternate universe of the video game Neon Genesis Evangelion : Girlfriend of Steel 2nd (a PlayStation 2 game, and yes there is first Girlfriend of Steel before this entry), which is an alternate universe of the events in the final episode of the original anime. The main plot is mostly about whether Shinji will pick Rei or Asuka to be his life partner while they're all still in high school. Are you keeping up? Great! Ashley and Josh do a sort of cultural exchange in this episode: Ashley doesn't really like Evangelion (ikr?), and Josh, like many a millennial, thinks Eva is the GOAT and is very hype to discuss the Instrumentality sequences; Ashley is over 100 episodes deep on a shojo manga podcast, while Josh hadn't read a shojo manga before this. The two talk about how, in Angelic Days, Rei is a completely different person from her beloved anime self; the shortcomings of the backstory about Shinji's parents, Gendo and Yui Ikari; what punk bands Gendo would be into; and much more. And if you're wondering: There ARE still mech fights in this, but there shouldn't have been. So on second thought: Shinji, don't get in the robot! REFERENCES Neon Genesis Evangelion: Angelic Days is out of print. You can find used copies on resale sites. It was published by ADV manga in English. Other anime/manga mentioned: Neon Genesis Evangelion Rebuild movies End of Evangelion Cyborg 009 The Vision of Escaflowne Cowboy Bebop Serial Experiments Lain Soul Eater Neo Yokio Your Name My Hero Academia Hot Gimmick Punk bands named Linkin Park Fall Out Boy Panic at the Disco Yellowcard Hawthorne Heights Misc. other mentions The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness xkcd Red oni/blue oni Manic pixie dream girls Controversy over Netflix's translation of Eva BattleTech / MechWarrior Three Wise Men Outro song: "The Streatham Hill Gods" by Danosongs CONTACT US Josh wants you to check out his Soundcloud because we're both stuck in the year 2005: https://soundcloud.com/j_m_p_h Listen to his Serial Experiments Lain OP a capella version in particular: https://soundcloud.com/j_m_p_h/boa-duvet-a-cappella Shojo & Tell on Bluesky , Tumblr , Instagram, and Twitter Ashley on Bluesky

This episode discusses Miyuki-chan in Wonderland and The One I Love by Clamp A short episode to discuss two short Clamp works. Shojo & Tell host Ashley and her husband/journey-through-all-of-Clamp-buddy Asher recognize that hentai Miyuki-chan was perhaps.... just not at all for them. And also isn't meant to be taken seriously anyway. Which is good, because neither Ash really enjoyed it. Then there's The One I Love , which feels like a strange gender experiment gone wrong. To quote Asher: It feels gender essentialist and "homework-y." The best we can say is we did our homework assignments of reading these for our Clamp 101 course. REFERENCES Miyuki-chan in Wonderland is available from Viz Media The One I Love is available from Viz Media You should probably listen to CLAMPcast instead Other Clamp works mentioned: Shirahime-Syo Legend of Chun Hyang X Suki Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicles Magic Knight Rayearth Clamp School Detectives The One I Love Tokyo Babylon Man of Many Faces Duklyon xxxHolic RG Veda Cardcaptor Sakura Chobits Angelic Layer Wish Legal Drug Clover Other manga/anime mentioned Delicious in Dungeon A Sign of Affection JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Evangelion: Angelic Days Snow White with the Red Hair Mars Vampire Knight Back in our Digimon podcasting days... Read Miyuki-chan while listening to Miami 2 Ibiza by Swedish House Mafia Outro song: "The Streatham Hill Gods" by Danosongs CONTACT US Asher on Archive of Our Own: @dashery Shojo & Tell on Bluesky , Tumblr , Instagram, and Twitter Ashley on Bluesky

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 ). REFERENCES Legal Drug is available from Dark Horse Comics Drug & Drop is also available from Dark Horse Comics You should probably listen to CLAMPcast instead Other Clamp works mentioned: MuriKuri Suki Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicles Magic Knight Rayearth Clamp School Detectives The One I Love Tokyo Babylon Man of Many Faces Duklyon xxxHolic RG Veda Cardcaptor Sakura Chobits Angelic Layer Wish Other manga/anime mentioned Delicious in Dungeon QQ Sweeper Queen's Quality Kimi ni Todoke Cyborg 009 Neon Genesis Evangelion: Angelic Days Snow White with the Red Hair Figs need wasps The Ashes love Tales of games maybe too much Tales of Vesperia (Raven) Tales of the Abyss (Jade) There is only hitsuzen Archive of Our Own Outro song: "The Streatham Hill Gods" by Danosongs CONTACT US Asher on Archive of Our Own: @dashery Shojo & Tell on Bluesky , Tumblr , Instagram, and Twitter Ashley on Bluesky

Covers all of the original The 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. REFERENCES The Poe Clan is available from Fantagraphics As mentioned in the episode, there is a rebooted Poe Clan series that Hagio started in 2016. Fantagraphics will also be releasing that starting in 2025. Other Hagio works mentioned: Heart of Thomas Otherworld Barbara A Drunken Dream A Cruel God Reigns Rachel Thorn (translator) Previous podcasts with Megan and Vrai: Earthian (with Vrai) The Full-Time Wife Escapist (with Megan) Key to the Kingdom (with Megan) Juline (with Megan) Other manga/anime/artists mentioned: Yun Kouga Yumiko Igarashi Tokimeki Tonight The Sword of Paros Sakura-Gari Boy's Abyss Keiko Takemiya Oizumi Salon Fruits Basket Shotaro Ishinomori Mist, Rose, and Stars Fairy Ranmaru Riyoko Ikeda Dear Brother Ooku: The Inner Chambers Vampires The Palgrave Handbook of the Vampire (Vrai cowrote an essay in this!) Our Vampires, Ourselves Frankenstein Lord Byron "Christabel" Carmilla Bram Stoker Anne Rice Interview with the Vampire The Gilda Stories Twilight Vampire Princess Miyu CONTACT US Follow Vrai on Blue Sky @writervrai.bsky.social Read Vrai's work on Anime Feminist Support Anime Feminist on Patreon Follow Megan on BlueSky @brainchild129.bsky.social Follow Manga Test Drive on BlueSky @mangatestdrive.bsky.social Support Megan on Patreon Visit Renaissance Josei Read Megan's work on Anime Feminist Shojo & Tell on Bluesky , Tumblr , Instagram, and Twitter Ashley on Bluesky