Fair and Balanced Fanservice

I've heard about the manga series Gantz before but don't really know much about it, other than it has a legion of obsessively rabid fans who seem to prize it mainly for (1) the art and (2) excessive levels of graphically detailed gore, neither of which were convincing selling points for me. Then I came across Newsarama's interview with Michael Gombos, Dark Horse’s Director of Asian Licensing, who is attempting to sell the series to readers like me who are unfamiliar with the series / unconvinced why they should buy it:

And since I really can't avoid mentioning this, there is fan-service. I don't think it appears at the point where it becomes a "gratuitous detractor," but it's certainly there. Obviously, there is so much more to Gantz than guns and breasts, but if that happens to be the sole reason you buy Gantz, I can assure you that you won't be let down.

On the one hand, Gombos' comment comes across as a form of having-it-both-ways pandering: "The fanservice isn't excessive or gratuitous, but if that's what you're here for, boy, will you be satisfied!!!"

On the other hand, I was amused that not only did all the preview art not feature naked boobies, but the only nudity on display was of the full-frontal male variety. (With the naughty bits digitally scrambled, something I'm assuming will be undone in the published book?) Yay for equal opportunity objectification!

Breaking the tie, Gombos's level of excitement and enthusiasm for this series is simply adorable, so I've decided I will check out the first volume of Gantz after all. PR push successful!!

Labels: Dark Horse, Manga, PR, The Double-Edged Sword of Fanservice

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