Gothic_&_Lolita_Bible

<i>Gothic & Lolita Bible</i>

Gothic & Lolita Bible

Japanese magazine and book


Gothic & Lolita Bible (ゴシック&ロリータバイブル, Goshikku ando Rorīta Baiburu) was a quarterly Japanese fashion mook which focuses on the Gothic and Lolita fashions. It was first published in 2001 by Index Communications, and is a spin-off of the Japanese fashion magazine Kera.

Quick Facts Editor, Frequency ...

In February 2008,[2] an English-language version was released in North America by Tokyopop. English-language critics praised the Gothic & Lolita Bible as an entertaining magazine with nice pictures and content.[citation needed] It was discontinued after 5 issues in Spring 2009.

History

First published in 2001 by Index Communications, the Gothic & Lolita Bible is a spin-off of the Japanese fashion magazine Kera.[3] The "mook" was created by former Kera editor Mariko Suzuki.[4][5] The Japanese musician Mana originally proposed the creation of the Gothic & Lolita Bible and along with Kana, a Japanese singer-songwriter, helped to promote the magazine and the Lolita fashion by dressing in the fashion while performing.[3] Essays by Japanese author Takemoto Novala about "the proper behavior and attitudes" of girls also influenced many to join the Lolita fashion and lifestyle.[3] Most of the Gothic & Lolita Bible focuses on the Lolita fashion as it is "the more popular of the two fashions".[3]

The idea of publishing the Gothic & Lolita Bible in North America was first suggested in 2003.[6] In June 2007, Tokyopop announced the decision to publish an English-language version and released the first volume in February 2008.[7] It contained articles from past issues, which the editors chose based on available material, and original content.[6] Beginning with the second volume, the English-language Gothic & Lolita Bible features articles, short stories, and interviews that originally ran in the Japanese version a year ago, along with original content about the fashion, events, and trends in the United States.[6]

Reception

Gothic & Lolita Bible ranked tenth in About.com's 2008 reader poll for the best manga magazine or magazine and book hybrids and was ranked by About.com's Deb Aoki as 2008's eleventh most anticipated manga.[8][9] It received positive reviews from English-language critics. Active Anime's Sandra Scholes wrote: "Superb, this is an essential buy for any Lolita's bookshelf!" [10] While noting it as "dated" content and not "a serious scholarly journal", Danielle Van Gorder of Mania Entertainment praised the magazine as a "gorgeous glossy mook that should satisfy both the casual fan of lolita fashion as well as the most discriminating sweet lolita princess."[11] Writing for Coolstreak Cartoons, Leroy Douresseaux commented on the "lovely photographs" of the Gothic and Lolita models and called it "a photographic art mook from "The Twilight Zone" via A Clockwork Orange, Dangerous Liaisons, Mad Max, etc."[12] In March 2017, Gothic & Lolita Bible announced they would be going on hiatus May 24, 2017 after 16 years of publication.[13]

Issues

Japanese language edition

There were a total of 63 regular issues and 5 special issues.

More information Issue, Publication date* ...
  • Many times there are differences between the release date from the publisher's website[14][15] and the publication date printed on the issue itself. Dates marked with a * are dates printed on the back cover of the issue.

English language edition

More information Issue, Publication date ...

References

  1. Talmadge, Eric (August 7, 2008). "Tokyo's Lolita scene all about escapism". Japan Times. Retrieved May 15, 2010.
  2. Aoki, Deb. "Interview: Jenna Winterberg and Michelle Nguyen". About.com. p. 1. Archived from the original on March 12, 2008. Retrieved May 15, 2010.
  3. "Mariko Suzuki: a Tokyo Guidebook from a Lolita's View". Matcha. June 28, 2015. Archived from the original on November 16, 2016. Retrieved November 15, 2016.
  4. "FWF Seminar: Mariko Suzuki w/ special guest Misako Aoki". Fukuoka Now. March 8, 2013. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  5. Aoki, Deb. "Interview: Jenna Winterberg and Michelle Nguyen". About.com. p. 2. Archived from the original on March 30, 2008. Retrieved May 15, 2010.
  6. "Tokyopop to Ship Gothic & Lolita Bible in February". Anime News Network. December 4, 2007. Retrieved May 9, 2010.
  7. Aoki, Deb. "2008 Reader's Poll: Best Manga Magazine". About.com. Archived from the original on January 24, 2009. Retrieved May 9, 2010.
  8. Aoki, Deb. "2008 Preview: 20 Hot New Manga". About.com. Archived from the original on May 6, 2012. Retrieved July 9, 2010.
  9. Scholes, Sandra (June 17, 2008). "Gothic & Lolita Bible Vol.1". Active Anime. Archived from the original on January 14, 2012. Retrieved May 9, 2010.
  10. Van Gorder, Danielle (April 22, 2008). "Gothic & Lolita Bible Vol. #01". Mania Entertainment. Demand Media. Archived from the original on February 18, 2009. Retrieved May 9, 2010.
  11. Douresseaux, Leroy (April 21, 2008). "Gothic & Lolita Bible Volume 1". Comic Book Bin. Toon Doctor. Retrieved May 9, 2010.
  12. "Fashion Magazine KERA to End Print Publication". ARAMA! JAPAN. 2017-03-29. Retrieved April 7, 2017.
  13. "Gothic & Lolita Bible Index Mook KERA". Index Communications. Archived from the original on 2012-10-14. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  14. "Gothic & Lolita Bible Index". J-International. Retrieved June 20, 2021.

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