Animerica Extra (Vol. 4)

    (Viz, 2001-2002)
™ and © Viz Communications, Inc.

Although Animerica Extra calls itself “the anime fan’s comic magazine,” all the better to differentiate itself from its manga anthology competitors, only half of its features actually have anime counterparts out in America. Those that do are Fushigi Yugi (the epic fantasy becomes a soap opera here), Revolutionary Girl Utena (the manga is actually more accessible than the anime), and the usual bittersweet teen romance of Video Ai (which takes a sudden, realistic turn; when a willing magical girl materializes in front of a teen boy, he immediately takes advantage).

So far, there’s no sign of an anime for Marionette Generation (nor a sign of a point in this shaggy cartoonist and living ragdoll story) or Steam Detectives, a wonderfully retro series where boy hero Narutaki battles evil armed with only a cool gun and entirely too many buttons on his coat. In this installment, he’s too depressed to detect, so his Nurse (he sure doesn’t look sick) Ling-Ling takes up the slack. Regardless of the animation tie-ins, Animerica Extra remains, hands down, the best of the manga anthologies.

—S.A. Bennett
Jump to issue:
  • 1
    #1
    Jan 2001
    Cover: $4.95
    W: Yu Watase, Haruhiko Mikimoto, Kia Asamiya, Masakazu Katsura, CLAMP, Chiho Saito  ·  A: Yu Watase, Haruhiko Mikimoto, Kia Asamiya, Masakazu Katsura, CLAMP, Chiho Saito
    Extras Include Feature: Chiho Saito, Feature: Interview With Chiho Saito And Kunihiko Ikuhara, In Depth: Kochi-Kame, In Depth: Rose Of Versailles, Previews, Extra Art Gallery; Manga Anthology Book
    1 copy for $4.50
  • 3
    #3
    Mar 2001
    Cover: $4.95
    W: Yu Watase, Haruhiko Mikimoto, Kia Asamiya, Masakazu Katsura, CLAMP, Chiho Saito, Be-Papas  ·  A: Yu Watase, Haruhiko Mikimoto, Kia Asamiya, Masakazu Katsura, CLAMP, Chiho Saito
    Extras Include Feature: Mysteries In Manga, Previews; Manga Anthology Book
    1 copy for $14.98
  • 4
    #4
    Apr 2001
    Cover: $4.95
    W: Yu Watase, Haruhiko Mikimoto, Kia Asamiya, Masakazu Katsura, CLAMP, Chiho Saito, Be-Papas  ·  A: Yu Watase, Haruhiko Mikimoto, Kia Asamiya, Masakazu Katsura, CLAMP, Chiho Saito
    Extras Include Feature: Manga By Urusawa, In Depth: Crayon Shin-Chan, In Depth: Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure, Editorial, Previews; Manga Anthology Book
    1 copy for $14.98
  • 5
    #5
    May 2001
    Cover: $4.95
    W: Yu Watase, Haruhiko Mikimoto, Kia Asamiya, Masakazu Katsura, Chiho Saito, Be-Papas  ·  A: Yu Watase, Haruhiko Mikimoto, Kia Asamiya, Masakazu Katsura, Chiho Saito
    Extras Include Feature: Must Read Manga, In Depth: Hanazakari No Kimitachi E, Previews, Editorial, Extra’s Art Gallery; Manga Anthology Book
    2 copies from $3.00
  • 6
    #6
    Jun 2001
    Cover: $4.95
    W: Yu Watase, Haruhiko Mikimoto, Kia Asamiya, Masakazu Katsura, Chiho Saito, Be-Papas  ·  A: Yu Watase, Haruhiko Mikimoto, Kia Asamiya, Masakazu Katsura, Chiho Saito
    Extras Include Feature: Watase’s Works, Special Preview - Ceres: Celestial Legend, In Depth: Flame Of Recca, Editorial, Previews, Extra Art Gallery; Manga Anthology Book
    1 copy for $14.98
  • 7
    #7
    Jul 2001
    Cover: $4.95
    W: Yu Watase, Haruhiko Mikimoto, Kia Asamiya, Masakazu Katsura, Chiho Saito, Be-Papas  ·  A: Yu Watase, Haruhiko Mikimoto, Kia Asamiya, Masakazu Katsura, Chiho Saito
    Extras Include Steam Detectives Poster, Feature: Boys’ Bonanza, Previews, In Depth: Hyper Baby; Manga Anthology Book
    1 copy for $14.98
  • 8
    #8
    Aug 2001
    Cover: $4.95
    W: Yu Watase, Haruhiko Mikimoto, Kia Asamiya, Masakazu Katsura, Chiho Saito, Be-Papas  ·  A: Yu Watase, Haruhiko Mikimoto, Kia Asamiya, Masakazu Katsura, Chiho Saito
    Extras Include Feature: King Kaiji Kawaguchi, In Depth: Happy Mania, Editorial, Previews, Extra Art Gallery; Manga Anthology Book
    1 copy for $14.98
  • 10
    #10
    Oct 2001
    Cover: $4.95
    W: Yu Watase, Haruhiko Mikimoto, Kia Asamiya, Masakazu Katsura, Chiho Saito, Be-Papas  ·  A: Yu Watase, Haruhiko Mikimoto, Kia Asamiya, Masakazu Katsura, Chiho Saito
    Extras Include Feature: Monstrous Manga, Special Preview! Bastard!!, In Depth: Yu Yu Hakusho, Previews; Manga Anthology Book
    1 copy for $14.98
  • 12
    #12
    Dec 2001
    Cover: $4.95
    W: Yu Watase, Haruhiko Mikimoto, Kia Asamiya, Masakazu Katsura, Chiho Saito, Be-Papas  ·  A: Yu Watase, Haruhiko Mikimoto, Kia Asamiya, Masakazu Katsura, Chiho Saito
    Extras Include Feature: Tsukasa Hojo, From The Inside Looking Out, Editorial, In Depth: Wazuka Icchomae, Previews, Extra Art Gallery; Manga Anthology Book
    1 copy for $9.98