Episodes
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...
Published 03/27/24
Published 03/06/24
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...
Published 03/06/24
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...
Published 01/10/24
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...
Published 12/28/23
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...
Published 12/13/23
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.
Published 11/23/23
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...
Published 09/02/23
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...
Published 07/27/23
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...
Published 06/29/23
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...
Published 05/09/23
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...
Published 04/23/23
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...
Published 04/06/23
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...
Published 03/04/23
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,...
Published 02/18/23
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...
Published 01/30/23
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...
Published 01/04/23
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...
Published 11/27/22
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...
Published 10/29/22
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...
Published 10/27/22
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...
Published 10/05/22
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...
Published 09/11/22
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...
Published 08/27/22
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.
Published 07/24/22
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...
Published 07/05/22