Otakuusa

I love Otaku USA. It is how I discovered many anime I would have normally passed on, and while anime in it is usually done airing when the magazine comes out (due to its bimonthly publication), it is still worthwhile to read it because you may find a title in there you missed.The manga reviews are usually current though, and are usually pretty good. The video game section is also good, allowing me to read about games I may not have found on my own.I do not like the live action or yaoi sections, but just skip those.My big complaint with the magazine comes from its cosplay section. I love cosplay. I love looking at pictures of cosplay. But the tips the magazine gives are somewhat elitist. This month has an article on photography that says you need to learn modelling techniques and pay a photographer for pictures of you want to be seen as being good. It's fine and dandy if you want to pay someone to take your picture because you want pictures (sometimes, it's sadly the only way you get them) but calling it a must and saying you need to learn how to model if you want to be good is elitist imo. The advice itself is good for those who want professional pics, but I just didn't like what was insinuated. Another complaint is that almost all of the cosplayers shown are the ones that look like models or had photo shoots scheduled. There are very few hobbyist cosplayers ever shown, and there is almost never someone in there that isn't skinny. And almost all the girls shown are girls with perfect figures in sexy outfits. Guys get a slight break, but they still have to be perfect.. The cosplay section is totally discouraging towards those who do not fit a certain look. I also don't like that there never seems to be anything on wigs, fabric choices, sewing advice, or props. This is cosplay section. There is never a how to. Ever. Or even advice on anything that is necessary. I want to see how tos, advice on crafting armor, sewing tips, wig tips, material recommendations (for armor and props), and fabric tips in the magazine. Con fitness would also be helpful occasionally. Con reports are ok, but I would like to see the stuff I mentioned as opposed to con reports all the time or tips on helpful but not essential parts of cosplay.I could just do what I do with the live action and yaoi sections and skip it, but I love cosplay. I am a cosplayer myself. I don't want to skip something I normally like. I just want it to improve.

While Japan has plenty of thriving anime/manga magazines, most the American ones have died off until now Otaku USA is the last surviving one still in print. And it's still a pretty good magazine - some of the tone and style is still that of older fans, which is nice for those of us that have been around for a little while, and yet it covers plenty of stuff that's current and popular now - so no worries about it being a retro nostalgia magazine.Every issue has letters from fans, anime and manga reviews, generally a cover story or main focal article of some kind, a couple of chapters of manga (that aren't continuing from issue to issue, so you get a random sampling every time you get the magazine which is nice IMO), a small cosplay section,regular giveaways, etc. Go into it knowing what you're getting and you might like it - a bit of news, reviews, previews, interviews, and other bits all in one nice quality magazine. You won't get second-to-second updates a la Twitter, and you shouldn't expect that from a bi-monthly magazine anyway. I definitely recommend it if you're willing to give it a try without misplaced expectations.

I have been a subscriber for many years, please keep your snarky political comments out of the reviews. I don’t read your magazine to be insulted by anyone.!! Reappraising my subscription….

The magazines took pretty long to start arriving (several months), but once they did, I thought they were quite cool magazines. Aside from the long wait, I recommend checking these out if you like anime and want an anime magazine.

This is probably the only magazine that you can get for anime now a days. It has decent variety of content from cosplay, games, movies, manga, and such. The problem is that the content is wide in variety but small in what it encompasses. It lacks good content except for what it advertises on its cover. Cosplay section is okay but lacks quality. Manga section depends on your taste each month but its okay and iffy with the previews. Anime and Games is good with its reviews and thats what I really want but it doesn't have enough in one issue. Drama movies are meh with what you can get.Overall I got what I paid for but want more content every issue it comes out with. It feels like I got half of what I want and half what I don't want.

I am so happy to be able to subscribe to this. I am willing to wait months for it. But you may not he so make sure to read the delivery and frequency details.

This Magazine is everything! It has all the latest anime and manga reviews .... what to expect ..... upcoming shows and games! Best thing ever!

This was a gift