Hunting the Elusive

The joy of the chase

Artist Watch: Comic Market (Comiket) 75

ava These artist watch posts which come with every Comic Market event are posts which I both dread and anticipate. I anticipate them, because they force me to go through my collection of artist sites, looking (and salivating) over new illustrations and information. I dread them, because they are a pain to compile, and because they are the engines which drive financial ruin. This year, I have once again made a useless pre-Comiket resolution to economise. I don’t think it’s going to happen, but there it is.

Covered in this post: 40 bookmarked artists, one bookmarked group, 10 new artists discovered during the session (these artists have stuff releasing in C75, but this post does not cover those). Some bonus material can be found scattered throughout this post, which is stuff I found during my travels through the net.

The way to use this is again very simple: scroll quickly down with just enough time to look through the pictures. If an image catches your eye, stop and read the information.

As always with Artist Watch posts, the artist names I use vary between the artists’ real names, their circle names and their nick names. I’d love to be consistent with this, but that would extend the compilation time beyond the acceptable.

I am also cutting other corners in this Artist Watch post. Basically, I went through all my bookmarks and eliminated those artists whose:

1) Comic Market information could not be found within three link clicks

2) Comic Market information too text heavy and graphics soft

3) Comic Market information where the only thing being released is manga doujin

4) Art looks pretty shit

5) Release information too NSFW

6) I just plain don’t feel like writing about

Some artists are of course immune from these specifications. These are the “classic” group which I have been following for a long time.

Despite this heavy pruning, there is still quite a lot of information, so please enjoy.

Some information pages have also been mirrored on this server because usually they go down after the event, resulting in a lot of broken links. These will be preserved for future reference. Please use them, as they usually contain images and other information I have not bothered covering.

Artist 1: Nouvelle Vague/Yukiwo

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The only way to get the full colour book by this artist is to buy the set, which provides the colour illustration book, a clear file, a shitajiki and a clear bag.

Artist 2: Akane Ikegami/AMR

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Early buyers get an eco-bag, I think. “Unspoilt Pre-Parade”, an illustration book for Toradora (no clue if full colour, but most of AMR’s illustration books are awesome full colour).

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Also very tempting is the Calendar Set (2009). The calendar itself is between A4 and A3 size in a square form factor. There is also a mug available separately.

Artist 3: Ben Ito/BWO

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Ben here has his fingers in so many pies it can get a bit confusing. Anyway, the main release for him in C75 is Typemoon Laboratory – preview – which is 12 pages and 300 yen. He claims the quality is better than last time, though no clues on whether full colour or not. He has also done stuff for Typemoon’s C75 merchandise, as well as Toranoana’s stuff.

Do check out those pages (which have been mirrored on this server). Some of the stuff there is pretty drool-worthy. I have already ordered Fate/Zero Tribute Arts (Toranoana) because it looks to be a pretty awesome book.

Artist 4: Closet Child

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I am only interested in Perpetual Rose, which is a full colour Rozen Maiden illustration book. Looks awesome, as always!

Artist 5: FMO

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With a name like “Stroking Me”, what do you expect? I only mention this artist because FMO has done bonus illustrations for the sale of CD-ROM versions of the Comiket catalogue.

Artist 6: Indico Lite

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Information page mirrored

Flower Tiara: NSFW A4 full colour original goth loli illustration book.

CG Collection IL Vol 6: Hella yeah.

Monster Hunter goods set: Just a shitajiki and paper and a PSP cleaner.

Artist 7: Kantoku

2008-12-15

Information page mirrored

Check x Check 2: Another awesome full-colour book! Also a stick poster.

Artist 8: Lily Lily Rose

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Nothing very interesting apart from card folders. But why?

Artist 9: Malino

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Information page mirrored

Also called Deja Vu Artworks, apparently.

Jamais Vu Quattro is a B5 size 52 page illustration book with 12 colour pages.

Artist 10: Penzenichinyo

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New release is Mugen, apparently based off a Nico Nico Douga movie. Full colour illustration (18+).

Artist 11: Pink Chuchu

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Information page mirrored

As always, Pink Chuchu has TOO MUCH STUFF.

PIX3 is an all colour illustration book with 24 pages.

The 2009 calendar is also worth getting, with 7 pages of full colour illustrations. Unfortunately it only comes as part of the set.

Artist 12: POP/ElectromagneticWave

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POP is partnering with Taiwanese artist Friendly Sky this time round (worth checking out, some pretty good art there).

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Also partnering with GC Factory in a Touhou collaboration. Not sure if this is a CD or what. POP x Touhou = ALWAYS GOOD

BTW, he has opened a new site. Looks bloody awesome.

Artist 13: Hato Rami

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I only put Hato Rami in this post because I am a long time fan. There is no guarantee the new book will be substantially full-colour (traditionally, it’s just one or two colour pages).

Artist 14: Retro/Satoshi Kiba

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Again sharing a stall with MillionBank, Retro is releasing 9th Wonder, a full colour illustration book.

Artist 15: Teddy Plaza

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Releasing Eternal SkyScraper, which looks to be a manga, but with Teddy Plaza’s great city illustrations, this might be a worthy get.

Artist 16: Tokiame

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Carefree Scribble Sou Vol. 3, new illustrations in a full colour book!

Artist 17: WNB

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WNB, as well as a number of other artists (such as Tinkle), are participating in Rabbit Net specials for C75. This includes an adult-oriented hug pillow cover and telephone card.

Book release is Mitsuiro Ehon, a full colour publication which will include stuff from a variety of series, including To Aru Majutsu no Index.

Artist 18: Yuuri Nishiwaki

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Gururi Volume 8 is a full colour illustration book. It looks like it is going to be awesome (love the Sheryl).

Artist 19: Milk Bar

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Information page mirrored

Mostly monochrome doujins, although the covers are very tempting. Full colour A4 book is exclusively for the goods set, which also includes bag, cup, shitajiki, rough sketch book, and postcard.

Artist 20: Carnelian

beni22

Information page mirrored

Four new publications. Two Macross F doujins, and Benigyokuzui vols 21 and 22, which are illustrations books which have a mix of monochrome and colour illustrations.

The goods are also something worth looking at, with a 6-page A4 sized calendar, as well as a deck of Guardian Tarot, with 22 pieces.

Artist 21: empathy

tmcj

empathy will not have a presence in Comiket this time round, but has collaborated with Tatsh to provide the illustrations as well as a bundled full colour doujin for the Tatsh Music Collection J.

Some of this artist’s stuff can also be found at the Web-Marmalade stall.

Artist 22: Essentia/Takuya Fujima

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Information page mirrored

Full colour 18+ doujin for Toradora, and also a 2009 calendar “Punito”.

Artist 23: Hisuitei

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Information page mirrored

Colorful Pop 6 is the full-colour illustration book relevant to our interests.

Goods set includes the 2009 Calendar.

Artist 24: Kaze Michi

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All full colour 20 page illustration book “Ten no Rei” based on the Tenshi character from Touhou.

Artist 25: Mitsuishi Shona

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“Relaxation Switch Colors001” which is a full colour compilation of this artist’s previous works. Samples of contents here. (Yeah the page is dodgy)

Artist 26: Nagomiko

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Information page mirrored

Miko and Kimono full colour book. Also a clear file and the usual bag and things.

Artist 27: Rei’s Room

meido

Information page mirrored

Maidism, a 32 page full colour illustration book. Also stick posters. Sets only.

Artist 28: dmyo

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dmyo will be in the same stall as Rei's Room (see immediately above). Release is Dmyotic 4.0. I am unsure if this is going to be full colour. Looks like CC goodness though.

Bonus PS: Current Gainax FP is by dmyo.

Artist 29: Spread Pink

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“Double 0 Character Costume (00CC)”. Looks like a book of Gundam 00 characters dressed up in Out Of Character Clothing (OOCC). :P High chance of being full colour.

Artist 30: Studio SDT

uki76

Looks to be an awesome release with Trashbox #18. Unsure on theme, but it looks like Studio SDT might have reverted back to Touhou.

Artist 31: Fancy Fantasia

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Information page mirrored

If there is a calendar I want more than the rest, it’s Fancy Fantasia’s. I love her art. The calendar is ring-bound and comes with a clear file. Color Defragmentation is a collection of previous works (not sure if this means a compilation of the Alice books). The cover is a new illustration, and the book is full colour, 36 pages. There is also other stuff for groups like C-Clays with their stick posters and what not.

Artist 32: Venom

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Information page mirrored

Maboroshi Hakkin (?), a full colour 36 page A4 size illustration book, containing stuff from Touhou, Toradora, and Macross F.

Artist 33: Lu Sear

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I think this book is monochrome, but you never know.

Artist 34: Oninekoya

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Oninekoya is collaborating with CranBerryCrown for this book, which looks like it is a monochrome illustration book. It is supposed to have some colour stuff though.

PS Bonus: wallpaper

Artist 35: Wada Rco

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TOKA + TOKA, a 20 page A4 full colour illustration book.

Artist 36: Ryuga Syo

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Information page mirrored

The only thing I am interested in is “Digital Space” which is a CG collection. Only comes in the set though.

Artist 37: Coconut Bless

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Information page mirrored

Goods set includes 2009 calendar, postcards.

SugarBouquet is a full colour B5 size illustration book.

Interestingly, RomanticLolita is a doll book based on the EX☆CUTE series of dolls.

Artist 38: Fururi

karenda08

Information page mirrored

Long Comiket information page, as always. Also, again, Fururi is working with Chronolog, and they are sharing most of the titles, so I won’t have to cover Chronolog.

Kami-sama no Iu Toori is a 52 page A4 sized “special paper” illustration book. There are 32 pages of monochrome and 16 pages of colour. JohnHathway is a contributing guest.

Lover Soul is a B5 size 264 page doujin, with 12 colour pages. 2000 yen. Mostly by CHRONOLOG, I think.

Blood on Blood is a 36 page 18+ doujinshi.

Now, the special stuff which is going to be bidded up to around 200 USD on the Yahoo schiller’s market: Stick poster calendar with a fabric backing. I think they are clear stick posters or something, and the illustrations are pretty much dakimakura-cover type illustrations, though suited for all ages. Six sheets (two months each). Includes illustrations by both Fururi and Chronolog, and has Touhou, Ranka Lee, etc.

Artist 39: Miyashita Miki/Kyougetsutei

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Full colour book with kinda like profile illustrations of 12 girls. Or something. Is this a calendar or something, I dunno.

Artist 40: KEI

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Full colour compilation volume 3, 28 pages.

and “Last”, full colour Rozen Maiden illustration book, 28 pages.

Group Alpha: I.S.W.

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Releasing another compilation of wallpapers by their artists. Yum.

 

New artists discovered during Comiket hunting

 

Artist A: Kasuga Sunao

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PS Bonus: wallpaper (widescreen)

Artist B: Sapuri

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Artist C: Yahata Aya

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Artist D: Kino Konomi

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Artist E: Rin/Shounen Sennen Sai

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Artist F: Yuki Senkou

roz

Artist G: Kazumi

qoh

Rediscovery: I believe I have covered this one before.

Artist H: Sakura Dai

gift01

Reminds me at times of Penzenichinyo.

Artist I: Glass Heart

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Artist J: Lunatic moonorbit Re-CODE

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WTF, crazy name for a circle. But they are releasing a volume of Fantasy phones Reader (volume 2, apparently).

That’s it guys. I’m done. I’m sure there’s much more stuff (haven’t even covered TINKLE, or T2 Artworks, or Itou Noizi, or…etc). Still, I reckon this is a pretty nice post, with enough good looking material for a good nosebleed.

13 comments

13 Comments so far

  1. Zhlink December 26th, 2008 12:17 am

    Woah.
    I seriously feel like going to C75 even more.

  2. Zeroblade December 26th, 2008 6:02 am

    I seriously feel like I want to go even more. But I can’t.
    And I’m normally supposed to page-down my way through, but then like, 70-80% of the artists’ illustrations caught my eye anyway, so I figured I might as well read through everything. lol

  3. Merun December 26th, 2008 8:39 am

    It seems most artist puts information about Comiket for Christmas… I just checked on the 23

    >>Still, I reckon this is a pretty nice post, with enough good looking material for a good nosebleed.

    You mean a good wallet depleting..

    Must get is Colorful Pop 6 to complete the collection… and I must resist against the rest… but no one can

  4. tundra_no_caps December 26th, 2008 9:57 am

    Indico Lite’s images, wow. At least the link from K-books.

    I like D-Myo’s style, their name actually stands out in my memory.

    BTW, who is the character on the Dy-Motic cover? I’ve seen a very good cosplay of this.

  5. soloista December 26th, 2008 11:11 am

    Hmm, Kantoku, Malino, Retro, Teddy Plaza, Studio SDT, Fancy Fantasia are all solid choices.

  6. Julian Fisch December 26th, 2008 12:22 pm

    Actually, UraFMO`s ~Stroking Me~ was released in SC41. The circle’s page was updated recently with the C75 info.

    PINK CHUCHU, REI and Kantoku stuff are always nice. I wasn’t following dmyo but his/her new doujinshi might interest me if it ends to be fullcolor. Thanks for the heads up.

    Will try to buy every CARNELIAN stuff I can from shops since I don’t like to get doujinshi from auctions.

  7. ritchan December 27th, 2008 4:01 am

    Malino? aka Deja Vu? Yeah, I sense some serious deja vu here. It’s Alphonse Mucha! Great to see more work in the same vein as his.

    BTW, Alphonse Mucha is probably the only non-anime artist I bother with. I just don’t get the others.

  8. ritchan December 27th, 2008 4:02 am

    Oh well screw that, it’s just the front page that’s in Mucha’s style.

  9. Comiket 75 « Hau~ Omochikaeri~! December 27th, 2008 6:15 am

    [...] up at Comiket. You can also find other bloggers writing about ones they like too, such as icie on Hunting the Elusive, which is a great blog if I may add. If you have access to the catalogue and plenty of time, [...]

  10. Leefe December 27th, 2008 5:07 pm

    Most of the artists just caught my eye anyway. So I thought there’d be no point tryin to filter through ^^

  11. suneo December 30th, 2008 2:32 am

    ooh will definitely have to keep a lookout for many of the ones in your list

  12. aoie_emesai January 1st, 2009 4:18 pm

    It’s been a while since you posted something about Miyashita ^^

    Mitsumi Misato hasn’t updated her blog or site on what she released >.<

  13. Sarukah January 8th, 2009 4:02 pm

    Dang, I would freaking kill to see that Yuuri Nishikawa book. I’d really love to see that Gundam 00 book by Spread Pink out of pure curiosity as well, not to mention how beautiful that actual artwork is though.

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