Genshiken: The Society for the Study of Modern Visual Culture, Volume 2 [Paperback]

Shimoku Kio (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 26, 2005

SAVE THE GENSHIKEN!

Kanji Sasahara has finally accepted that he’s a true otaku who belongs in the Genshiken. Meanwhile, Saki Kasukabe still can’t stand how much time her boyfriend, video game master Kousaka, wastes with the Genshiken guys.

Saki isn’t the only one who’s upset that the club members do nothing but sit around playing video games. Kitagawa, the vicious vice president of the campus activities organization, is determined to break up the Genshiken. But the Prez has some dirt (and leverage) on Kitagawa. In fact, the Prez seems to have the lowdown on a lot of students–including Saki Kasukabe, who suddenly harbors a fear of hidden cameras!

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. In volume one of this delightful manga we met Kanji Sassahara, a young Tokyo college student ashamed of his compulsive love of manga, anime and videogames;the hallmarks of the Japanese otaku, or crazily obsessive fan. Looking for a college club to join, Kanji discovers the Genshiken, shorthand for the Society for the Study of Modern Visual Culture, a motley group of otaku losers who started the club to indulge their manic devotion to all forms of collectible pop culture. There's also Kousaka, a complete otaku and girlishly cute boy, and Kusakabe, his very pretty girlfriend, who hates otakus (but loves Kousaka) and constantly tries to get him to quit the Genshiken and concentrate on her. Fat chance! In volume two, the club (which now includes Ohno, a busty girl member who loves costuming) faces new challenges. The student government wants to eliminate the Genshiken; Kusakabe suspects the president of the Genshiken is secretly videotaping Ohno changing costumes, and Kanji's sister shows up and, to Kusakabe's consternation, develops a crush on the supercute Kousaka. Using a clean, expressive drawing style reminiscent of American indie comics, Shimoku has created a wonderfully naturalistic story that investigates the nature of fan culture and the lives of a thoroughly entertaining group of young fans. (Aug.)
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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 16 and up
  
• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Del Rey (July 26, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345481704
• ISBN-13: 978-0345481702
• Product Dimensions: 5.1 x 0.7 x 7.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,018,419 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Crazy Otaku, August 6, 2005

By 

Hagaren Otaku - See all my reviews

This review is from: Genshiken: The Society for the Study of Modern Visual Culture, Volume 2 (Paperback)

I'm sure you know someone who's like one of the folks in this book. (coughYOURSELFcough) Genshiken is a "slice-of-life" story where a boy goes to college and meets up with his hentai (dirty stuff) obsession, and his shoujo games curiousity.
Anyway, so along goes Kanji Sasahara on his great quest to become as otaku as Madarame, and Saki's great quest to futilely try and get Kousaka out of the great black (and unescapable I might add) pit of otakuness.
The story is very well done, and is truly an easy read.
I might add that this manga is in no way kid-friendly. Doujinshi runs rampant (Fan comics oriented towards adults), and some of the jokes are a bit adult oriented. There really IS a reason why this manga is rated 16+, but that doesn't stop this manga from becoming one of the most comical and "inspiring" (I CAN be a better otaku!) mangas I've read this year.
Go out and buy this manga for a truly good read.
SUMMARY:
Pros: Quite the amusing and well written manga. The characters are easily identifiable with. The art is nicely done. Kujibiki Unbalance extras are included after the story as well.

Cons: I suppose it can be called a con for the younger people. This manga isn't kid-friendly. The President just disappears without any warning. *poof!GONE* He still remains a mystery... (Perhaps that's how the author wanted it though...)

5.0 out of 5 stars Genshiken: The Society for the Study of Modern Visual Culture, Volume 2, April 8, 2008

By 

PhantomKaizokuX (Baton Rouge, LA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Genshiken: The Society for the Study of Modern Visual Culture, Volume 2 (Paperback)

I love it! Makes me miss my manga and anime friends from where I used to live.

5.0 out of 5 stars puyopuyo, April 26, 2006

By 

Adam C. Bryant "jesty" (Midlothian, VA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Genshiken: The Society for the Study of Modern Visual Culture, Volume 2 (Paperback)

For anyone who loves anime, manga, or video games "Genshiken" is perfect. Volume two is much funnier than the first one and is really worth it just for the puyopuyo story.