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Ms. Suzue Miuchi’s Glass no Kamen in BetsuHana Magazine
Oh, L-chan. Thank you muchly for the heads up. You have brighten my drab day.
Manga artist Suzue Miuchi will relaunch her long-running Glass no Kamen (The Glass Mask) theatrical romance epic in Hakusensha’s Bessatsu Hana to Yume magazine in its September issue (on sale on July 26). The manga had previously run in the main Hana to Yume magazine, but the 42nd and last compiled volume of the manga was published back in 2004. Bessatsu Hana to Yume’s advertisement says that the story will pick up where volume 42 left off and will still feature the rising stage actress Maya Kitajima and her suitors Yū Sakurakōji and Masumi Hayami.
source: ANN
And so the uber-romance between purple rose dude and the Crimson Goddess protégé continues.
As a huge fan of the manga, and by extension the anime, I am thrilled, ecstatic, and awestruck. Why? Because it has been too darn long since I’ve read a new chapter. I adore Ms. Miuchi, but she sure takes her time.
At the crux of Ms. Miuchi’s epic is Maya Kitajima, an actress of immeasurable talent, mentored by a great theater actress Chigusa Tsukikage. The manga begins with Maya as a thirteen year old dreamer, and goes on until she reaches the ripe age of twenty. She, assisted by a stalker-like yet sigh-inducing phantom, journeys into the world of theater, but not without the addicting uber-angst and melodrama that hasn’t been replicated in the current shoujo titles around. (And no, I refuse to accept the idiotic angst that is NANA. I used to enjoy that series, until the characters became TSTL. And I digress.)
Of course, no self-respecting old school heroine is complete without The Rival. She exists in the form of Ayumi Himekawa. Think Hikaru no Go’s Hikaru and Touya, but without the sexual tension. I’ve always compared GM to the sports genre, wherein one’s skills — in this case acting skills — powers up every so often.
Setting aside Maya’s odyssey amidst the theatrical backdrop, Glass Mask shines the most in its chronicle of star-crossed lovers and of unrequited love. Enter Masumi Hayami and his trademark (Murasaki no Bara) Purple Roses. An urge to giggle like school girl arises whenever he and Maya are in together in a scene.
Ah, what a delightful news. I might buy the mag or maybe subscribe just for this series.
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Thursday, June 26th 2008 at 4:26 am
How amazing, it’s actually continuing! I still remember that I started reading the manga back in 2004 and then heard that it was put on hiatus. I’m looking forward to it now, of course, and it makes me wish I could read japanese.
Thursday, June 26th 2008 at 5:23 am
Never heard of this lols
Friday, June 27th 2008 at 9:41 am
Ooooh, man. I can’t wait.
Especially when you consider what happened in the last chapter. Is poor Mizuki going to see the Masumi Scary Expression™?
Friday, June 27th 2008 at 9:24 pm
I might try reading it. But there had better be cute love scenes cause I’m a sucker for those. Here’s how much: I read Hana Yori Dango just for the cute romance between Tsukasa and Tsukishima. But after they went to Canada and all of that, the cuteness went away and they just became bland. I felt angry.
Friday, June 27th 2008 at 11:34 pm
Eh, there aren’t a lot of what I’d call “cute” love scenes in GM, partly because Masumi is in the position of not being able to show his feelings openly to Maya. He almost always has to act behind the shadow of “the purple rose.”
And what do you mean no cute scenes between Tsukasa and Tsukushi in HYD? There’s tons of them!
Saturday, June 28th 2008 at 1:07 pm
@Sasa: I can’t believe that after all these years, we’re gonna have a continuation after all. I hope Miuchi will close this manga soon. I adore this series, but I think it’s about time it ends.
@blissmo: Old school shoujo romance and angst. Awesome combination.
@Christina: Not really much of cuteness, but it’s giggle-worthy. There’s something about seeing this particular couple fall desperately in love with each other. I suppose, it’s because at first glance, they are so odd together.
@L-chan: Oh, yeah. That was an awesome scene, with the Masumi tantrum and all.
Hm. I wonder how MIuchi will incorporate contemporary references in the BetsuHana chapters.
Monday, June 30th 2008 at 9:34 am
Yeah, Glass Mask is so old after all, I think we can expect an end soon - especially considering what happened in the story before it went on hiatus.
Actually I mainly love Glass Mask so much because it goes beyond the romance, emoness and relationships, but there also is the dramatic aspect of theatre play <3 I’m excited whenever Maya has to deal with another acting challenge, that’s just the silly fangirl I am, ahem.
Monday, June 30th 2008 at 2:33 pm
Oh, I wish it ends soon. And if Miuchi refuses us the Masumi-Maya ending, there is no justice in the world.
What I love about GM is how the characters gradually changes over time. They are subtle, but significant changes. And yes, I’ve always enjoyed the acting aspect. It’s a thrill to see Maya find answers for those tough challenges. Although I’m sometimes disturbed by the extreme method acting used by the actors. Way too method.
Wednesday, July 16th 2008 at 3:27 am
are the love story maya and masumi really continuing…????
pleaz… coz i wait this for long time… well.. i read a massage for suzue in another website than she start to read volume 43… i hope the news is true…
Sunday, July 27th 2008 at 11:44 am
I am so happy to know that they’ll continue with this story. Is fantastic my brother is an actor and live that exprience is great that manga was so special I hope they could make it in an anime too. Love Masumi-Maya love since they look so good together. Thanks for the info. Can someone help us to subs the anime of GLASS MASK there some episodes that are not subs yet so we need some help we find them in VEOH.COM from ep 37 to 51 but they need to be sub can someone be so kind and sub them for us. Thanks GLASS MASK FANS.
Sunday, July 27th 2008 at 10:06 pm
Hana to Yume magazine which includes the continuation of GM vol 42 was published on 26/7/2008/ Does anyone know how it is? I’m so curious and impatient. I live in VietNam and I can’t buy the magazine. If anyone knows anything about the continuation, please share with me!!
Sunday, August 3rd 2008 at 2:34 am
IT’S FINALLY HERE!!!
Does anyone know where i can download a copy of the translated volume 42? really want to read it but don’t know japanese and don’t know where i can get my hands on it.
Sunday, August 3rd 2008 at 3:43 pm
volumes 42 is not translated in english . Continuation is middle , spoilers are on italian forums but I didn’t see pictures
Sunday, June 14th 2009 at 11:58 pm
This series rocks! and the anime is pretty good too! I ABSOLUTELY ADORE THE MAYA X MASUMI RELATIONSHIP! It’s very sweet! I hope their feelings for each other will develop into a true love story…LOVE IT! haha