Genshiken Official Book cover courtesy barnesandnoble.com.

Rating “OT Ages 16+”

Genshiken is a popular manga series about a college club for otaku and the lifestyles its members pursue.  A Japanese term, “otaku” is a label given to extremely obsessed fans of various media – anime, manga, videogames, etc.).  The members this of club are drawn together by their shared interests in hobbies, and their obsessions lead to various trials and adventures.  Created by Kio Shimoku, Genshiken originally ran in Kodansha's monthly manga anthology, Afternoon, from June 2002 to June 2006, and was also adapted into an anime series.  The manga was eventually collected in nine volumes, with Del Rey Manga also publishing the volumes in English.

Del Rey Manga’s latest Genshiken publication is Genshiken Official Book.  Originally published in Japan, Genshiken Official Book is something like the “ultimate sourcebook.”  It covers every aspect of Kio Shimoku’s series, and even seems to make up aspects, from a fan’s point of view, just to have something else to cover.  The book also includes information on Kujibiki Unbalance – the manga within the manga.  Kujibiki Unbalance is the manga series that the characters in Genshiken love, and it later became an actual manga (also published by Del Rey Manga).

How much does the Genshiken Official Book offer?  There is so very much: (1) a full-color pull-out poster, exclusive to this book; (2) Kujibiki Unbalance trading cards; (3) a how-to on creating a fanzine; (4) 5 columns discussing otaku lingo; (5) extensive character guides, and more.  It’s also lavishly (in an anal way) illustrated with character and spot illustrations and also panels and scenes from the Genshiken manga.

It’s all overwhelming, really, especially for someone who has never read Genshiken (me, although I’ve read the Kujibiki Unbalance manga).  I don’t know if Genshiken Official Book is a good way to introduce a newbie to Genshiken; I kind of doubt it.  On the other had, the Genshiken diehards will need this belated Christmas gift.