Category Archives: Graphic Novel: Tonoharu

Tonoharu: Part Two is now available at fine retailers everywhere! (At least, that’s the word on the street; I haven’t been to a bookstore this week, so I can’t say for absolute certain. If anyone’s actually seen it in a bookstore, please leave a comment!)

But in the very least, it’s now in stock at Amazon.com, so if you’ve been waiting for that, head on over and pick up a copy!

(And of course, you can always order a signed copy from my store.)

Boing Boing has an exclusive preview of Tonoharu: Part Two up on their website. Check it out!
http://www.boingboing.net/2010/11/10/tonoharu-part-two-ex.html

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If you’re a new reader who came to this site because of the Boing Boing coverage, here’s a few things you might enjoy:

Posts about Tonoharu
Posts about the making of the book, etc.

Miscellaneous amusing posts
Most of which are Japan-related

Web comics by me
Not many of them, but do check them out.

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You can get a signed copy Tonoharu: Part Two from my store. Otherwise you can pick it up at your favorite comic store, or pre-order it from Amazon. (Or I’ll be at the Miami Book Fair on November 20th, if anyone’s in the area.)

My sincere thanks to Boing Boing’s Mark Frauenfelder for his coverage & interest in the book!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DRAWN FROM EXPERIENCE
An American Cartoonist’s Life in Japan

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA ‒ Imagine moving to a foreign country where you don’t speak the language and starting a job you are in no way trained to do.

From 2003 to 2006, cartoonist Lars Martinson did just that. Working as an assistant English teacher in rural Japan, he taught 1800 students, ranging in age from six to sixteen. With a background in graphic design, Lars had no previous teaching experience before taking the job.

“Coming up with lesson plans for all the different age groups was a real nightmare at first. It took about a year before I felt like I had any idea what I was doing,” Lars said. “But for all that, I wouldn’t trade my time in Japan for anything. It was one of the best experiences of my life.”

Lars’ graphic novel series Tonoharu is based on this period of his life. He feels that comics are well-suited for this type of story.

“I’ve always had a hard time describing my life in Japan to those who have never been there before, because there’s no common frame of reference,” said Lars. “By relating the experience in comics, I can show what happened rather than just tell about it, which really helps bring the story to life.”

Tonoharu: Part One is available now; the follow-up Tonoharu: Part Two hits shelves this December. For further details, visit:
http://pliantpress.com/media

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Well folks, this is the last press release I’ve prepared for Tonoharu: Part Two, so no more puns based on the word “drawn” for a while! Next week, something else.

Publisher’s Weekly has an exclusive 11-page preview of Tonoharu: Part Two over at the Panel Mania section of their website. Check it out!

[ Panel Mania: Tonoharu: Part Two ]

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Get a signed copy of Tonoharu: Part Two from my store
Pre-Order Tonoharu: Part Two from Amazon.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THE MIDWEST MYSTIQUE
Dating in the Land of the Rising Sun

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA ‒ How favorable is the dating scene in Japan for Americans? It depends on your gender.

“It’s a lot easier for men than it is for women,” says Lars Martinson, a cartoonist who’s lived in Japan for five years. His latest graphic novel, Tonoharu: Part Two, explores aspects of the international relationship dynamic.

“Japanese men still expect to be treated as the proverbial ‘master of the house’. This makes it tough for American women who are looking for equal partnerships,” Lars said. “Conversely, it makes American men seem chivalrous in comparison, elevating their status in the eyes of Japanese women.”

One of the main characters in Tonoharu: Part Two, an American named Steve, takes advantage of the favorable cultural preconceptions about American men, and acts like a modern-day Casanova. The character represents a familiar type, Lars says.

“It’s not often that a guy from, say, Wisconsin can be perceived as exotic and mysterious, but in Japan they can. Some guys become intoxicated by their elevated status, and act like kids in a candy store.”

Tonoharu: Part Two will be out this December. The preceding volume, Tonoharu: Part One, is available now. For further details, visit:
http://pliantpress.com/media

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