HOT! Read TOKYOPOP's interview with creator Anike Hage!

Manga fandom and manga creation have become global phenomena in this world’s increasingly internationalized culture. Nowhere is this more true than in Germany, which is producing some of the most cutting-edge manga art out there—and TOKYOPOP is proud to take the lead in presenting this work to an English-speaking audience. First came the rock music drama Yonen Buzz, and now we’ve followed up with the descriptively named Gothic Sports!

I’ve been intrigued with the idea of Gothic Sports since the first time I heard its title, and I found the book to indeed be an entertaining read—one that left me anxious to know what happens next.

Packed with comedy, sports action, and relationship drama, Anike Hage’s story of the first Gothic-Lolita soccer team is sure to please!

Check it out!

~Peter Ahlstrom, Editor

Rejected? Disrespected? Make your own rules!

Anya, the new girl at Lucrece High, just isn't fitting in. Her dream is to join one of the school's elite sports teams, but when she tries out, she's instantly rejected! Anya doesn't get mad, though—she gets even. When she meets other "misfits" who've been similarly written off, they form their own soccer team, complete with cool, edgy uniforms.

They may not be the most experienced, but they've got something no other team has: style. Say hello to the world's first Gothic-Lolita soccer team!

Anike Hage

HOT! Read TOKYOPOP's interview with creator Anike Hage!

Anike Hage is from Wolfenbüttel, Germany, and has been drawing since elementary school. She started out drawing fan art for video games, but soon moved on to create her own work. Her “big break” came in 2004, when she won second place for ages 16 and up in a manga contest at the Leipzig Book Fair. She was then tapped to work on the poster for the 2005 Leipzig competition.

Finally, after her inclusion in the anthology Manga Fever from TOKYOPOP Germany (similar to TOKYOPOP’s Rising Stars of Manga anthologies in English), she was offered the chance to create her first graphic novel series, Gothic Sports. Her artwork has also appeared in the popular German dojinshi anthology Kappa Maki.

For more info about Anike, please visit her personal Web site  www.snow-flake.jp.pn

Also check out the English translation of Pummeldex's interview with Anika at Deutsche Mangaka

BASIC FACTS
Name: Anike Hage
Nickname: Nike
Birthday: March 19, 1985
Zodiac Sign: Pisces
Location: Wolfenbüttel, Germany

LIKES
Activities: Games, Drawing, Piano
Music: Metallica, Brahms, Korn, Oldies
Movie: Indiana Jones, Star Wars (4–6)
Manga: Blade of the Immortal, Eden, Iscel, Gantz, Vagabond
Games: Resident Evil, Metal Gear Solid, Silent Hill (1, 2, 3), Quake
Foods: Noodles, Chocolate, Salad

 

 

 

Anya       
In tenth grade, Anya is finally able to transfer to Lucrece High, where she dreams of being on one of its famous sports teams. Unfortunately, the other players don't think she's good enough! But Anya's the kind of girl who never gives up, so she decides to start her own soccer team and prove them all wrong.

Luise (Loo)      
One of the first people Anya runs into at her new school is Luise, who she knew back in elementary school. The two of them hit it off again immediately, and Luise is a bright spot in Anya's difficult adjustment period.
    
Leon      
Leon did something back in elementary school that still has Anya holding a grudge, but Luise can't remember what he did. Now he's a womanizer and a smoker, but does he look at Anya more favorably than she does him...?
    
Julia      
Julia has been a member of the Lucrece High soccer team for two years--but you'd never know it from watching the games, because she's been watching them too--from the bench! Anya's plans are her only hope for some action.

Filiz      
Filiz is well known and somewhat teased by her classmates for her elaborate Gothic fashion sense. When Anya has trouble recruiting for her new soccer team, Filiz has a brilliant idea to help attract more interest...     
Marie      
Marie is the star player of the basketball team Anya tries out for. It's not hard to get on her bad side!
    
Delia      
Delia is another senior on the basketball team. Anya pegs her as an obvious Marie flunky, but she may have a larger role to play... 

Unknown gem from the german manga market!
User review by JoannaZhou

Hehe, I apologise for being obnoxious and reviewing a manga which isn't available in english :P!

(Editor's note: Your wish has come true, Joanna! Gothic Sports is now available in English as of April, 2007)

I'm hoping to stir up enough interest so more OGL mangas will be licensed for the USA/UK market. There are fantastically talented artists in Germany who deserve wider recognition, but the market is very self-contained so few people know of their work outside the german speaking countries.

Gothic Sports is one of the most successful homegrown mangas from Tokyopop Germany. The protagonist Anya is excited to be at a new school renowned for its sporting success. Though she soon discovers that the basketball team is too bitchy and the soccer team only accepts male players. In a flash of inspiration, Anya decides to form her own soccer team with an unusual twist. What they (might) lack in skill they will compensate with outrageous Gothic Lolita style uniforms...

One remarkable feature of Gothic Sports is how it handles a whopping cast of 11 characters (plus peripherals like the headmaster and soccer coach) without appearing disjointed. The concept would make a brilliant anime, similar to Kickers. Anike is extremely skilled in differentiating the characters so the reader rarely gets confused. Her character designs are cute, light-hearted and very appealing.

What I love most about GS is the drawing style...there's something brilliantly 'effortless' about the lineart that makes each page a joy to read. Facial expressions and body postures are rendered spot on with single lines, never appearing awkward or overworked. Anike's techniques are very traditional and you can tell she works with a dip ink pen (which I swear to god is something that adds the 'X-factor' to any manga!) Toning is minimal but very effectively placed.

There are only minor drawbacks which include wobbly speedlines near the beginning and occassionally sparse backgrounds...but all easily forgiven for someone's first manga. Story-wise I felt the first book moved a teeny bit slow, it actually only encompasses the team selection process and ends without them having played their first game. I used to be a passionate soccer player and was on a girls team for 5 years...and I somehow feel that the most electric part of a sporting experience isn't quite captured here. The first book is mostly devoted to preparation and does a good job of building up anticipation...so I'm very eager to see how the action kicks off in the second book (February 2007).

Sound interesting? Well let's hope GS will be translated sometime soon ^_^! Another german TP manga I'm dying to get is 'Summer Rain' by Nathalie Wormsbecher. Oddly, I find that german mangas tend to look more japanese than english ones (quite aside from the fact that they're all right-to-left!). OEL manga often has indie or american influence whereas germany had a relatively weak graphic novel culture before manga came in. German artists tend to be a lot younger as well...the huge majority of professional mangakas are 18-23 years old (makes me feel like having missed the bandwagon >_<).