Raiku’s Tale: The Editors from Hell
- Categories: Manga, News
- Date: Jun 12, 2008 15:55 JST
- Tags: Konjiki no Gash, Makoto Raiku, Mangaka, Shogakukan
Konjiki no Gash creator 雷句誠 / Makoto Raiku brings a series of scandalous allegations regarding the conduct of his editors to light, as if his last were not severe enough. Shonen Sunday magazine and publisher Shogakukan, coincidentally also in trouble with the ending of one of their major series, and also having abused a somewhat charismatic lady mangaka, seems set to have its reputation utterly destroyed. In an interview with Raiku the details emerge in lurid detail, and the full story is provided below.
It seems his work involved working with five editors over seven years of serialisation, and each apparently brought their own particular brand of oppression to bear.
First, we hear of an editor being routinely late for meetings, treating them a little more than inconveniences, and being intolerant of any criticism or corrections. Such is the least of Raiku’s complaints, however.
“The editor who was worst at being late kept everyone waiting. Without any advance notice, he would keep us waiting for an hour or more. When he finally did turn up, he came out with the excuse that he was in some important meeting with a big name figure. When I slaved to meet a deadline for submitting a colour piece, he wouldn’t even come to pick it up, saying “Whenever’s fine”. When I lost it and raised my voice at him, he suddenly came out with the excuse that he caught a cold”.
The litany of infamy continues, with Raiku complaining of another editor who barely read the manga he was submitting, and who interfered in the story based on his own misapprehension of the manga. So aggravated was Raiku (and here we perhaps get a hint that maybe Raiku is a more complex character than his apparent victimhood might suggest), that he struck a table out of aggravation with such force that he broke a bone in his hand and had to suspend publication for two months whilst recovering.
Next we hear of a big name editor who apparently harried an assistant he deposited with Raiku with such ferocity that the unfortunate assistant was soon reduced to a nervous wreck, constantly being shouted at over the phone, told to “Die!”, and phoned whilst sleeping to be harangued for having the temerity to sleep when work remained to be done.
We also hear of an editor who told his charge, by fax no less: “I ain’t got time to meet with you. Write it like this”. Proceeding thus the story soon suffered, and when the mangaka finally offered words of protest, the situation deteriorated and serialisation had to be terminated.
It’s no wonder then, that Raiku was willing to declare on his blog that he would have no further truck with Shogakukan. He says of 800 responses he received by email, all but a few dozen were words of support.
Whether or not he possesses a more combative personality than he lets on is probably something which can be left aside, given that his story is corroborated by other mangaka apparently also suffering at the hands of a publisher seemingly so little concerned with the artists under its employ.
Top 10 Most Anticipated Anime of Winter 2016
Splatoon “Super Play Time” Absolutely Cringe-worthy
Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut “Dragons & Mechs?”
Monster Hunter X Megaman Event Profusely Blue
Love Live! Sunshine!! MV “Will Brighten Up Your Day!”
Top 10 Best Anime Girls of 2015
Hai to Gensou no Grimgar “Has Oppai!”
Picking Up Japan Express Vol. 36 Worth a Pickup
Dimension W Out Of This World
Odin Sphere: Leifthrasir PV Certainly Nostalgic
One-Punch Man Soundtrack PV Packs A Wallop
XmasTrickStar “A White Christmas Indeed…”
Wo-Class Carrier Ero-MMD In Dire Straights
Voice Translation Tool Promotional Video “Inexcusable!”
Luck & Logic Far From Lucky
Yandere Simulator Possibly Headed to Kickstarter
Top 20 Recent Anime Most In Need Of A Sequel
Hyrule Warriors Legends PV Clashes Interminably
Akagami no Shirayukihime English Dub Surfaces
Koukaku no Pandora Really Opens That Box
Gothic Lolita Hatsune Miku Cosplay Busts Out
Delectable Dizzy Cosplay by Lechat
Dark Elf Cosplay by Non Very Dark Indeed
Titillating Tamako Cosplay Perfectly Pink
Goddess of 2ch: “Full of Lust & Urges (& Also Videos)!”
Raunchy Reisen Inaba Cosplay by Tsuyato
Haruhi Bunny Girl Cosplay Rocks Out
Youmu Ero-Cosplay by Madoka Adachi Deadly Sexy
Comiket 89 Cosplay Sickeningly Sweet
Comiket 89 Cosplay A Guilty Pleasure
I'll definitely keep this information in mind when choosing what publishers to submit manuscripts to in the future. although gash bell makes me want to vomit, I feel disgust and anger at such disgraceful editors.
although I think it'll be a year or two atleast before I'm good enough to worry about that....
*Posting almost over a year afterwards, but oh well.*
Gash makes you want to vomit? Konjiki no GashBell!! is one of the better Anime to come from Japan, IMO. If you REALLY want to vomit, go watch Naruto.
Believe it.