Pandora Hearts vol. 2, Yen Press edition

[dhuaine]

I just unpacked it. :D It was published on May 18th; I pre-ordered it from Book Depository (due to outrageous exchange rates I couldn't afford Amazon), but it looks like Yen Press, all right. The volume is back up on BD's website. It went out of stock immediately after publication. Last weekend I was informed it was available, and today I found it

Comments

[enjolras]

Valet is actually a better word for what Gilbert is to Oz, imo. He's more of an attendant than a servant.

Reveil makes sense, since it's an actual French word (or a variation), I believe.

I think the English edition is great, personally. The only thing I don't care for are the Japanese honorifics. I don't really think they are necessary, especially if they still have Break calling Sharon "lady" and such.

[pocketclocks]

The only thing I don't care for are the Japanese honorifics. I don't really think they are necessary, especially if they still have Break calling Sharon "lady" and such.

I actually agree. I think that preserving Japanese honorifics when the setting is Japanese is a nice way to introduce culture into the manga, but in a European setting like Pandora's it doesn't fit nearly as nicely.

[enjolras]

Yup, I feel exactly the same way as you. For this setting, it would be perfectly easy to translate "Oz-sama" as "Master Oz" or something. This, along with them having Break say Sharon has a "shota complex", is just a tad out of place. Awkward, even...

[pocketclocks]

"Shota complex" was definitely what stuck out most to me as well, since that's even inappropriate for the time period. I suppose there isn't much that can be done about it if they want to use that language, though... I should look up what term is used in the original Japanese.

[hoshinautau]

I got my volume 2 last week and I'm noticing the things you wrote about just now on my copy. xD Ick, the paper is indeed thinner. >.

[dhuaine]

You haven't noticed them earlier? xD The yellowish color of the paper really struck me when I opened the volume. xD

[sparkling_raven]

Ah! I got mine today too. The yellowish paper annoyed me quite a bit as well >_>

Overall, the translation was good I thought ^^ I did notice Zwei was referred to as a 'he' however... XD

[dhuaine]

Nice catch XDD Though I can't really blame the translator, I thought Zwei was a dude until her being female was spelled right into my face XD

[sparkling_raven]

Haha, that is true, as I read the manga first too. She doesn't really have any clue to her being female ^^; It was her voice in the anime that told me XD

[dhuaine]

Really? D: I hope to order from Amazon next time, though probably it had nothing to do with BD. - -

I normally support recycled paper, but in books with no illustrations xD

[astrialite]

Hmm, we were kind of close with guessing the capital's name, with "Reveille"... just another form that the French verb can take, I think. /knows nothing about French and relying on friend's past explanations

Not sure why you pointed out "clown" since that's what Alice calls him in the Japanese too. "Incuse" and "Intention of the Abyss" are taken directly from volume 8.5 Though if they continue to follow 8.5, the Baskervilles will be referred to as "the Baskerville race". 8D;

"Valet" definitely weirded me out though.

[dhuaine]

"Reveille" sounds prettier. xD

Ah, I didn't know that. I mentioned "clown" because of funky fansubs for the anime (one group translated it as "pierrot"). As for the others, I just listed what caught my eye and was different from scanlations. xD

[endoh_miku]

A pierrot is a clownish-figure of the French variety. Whatever word the translators opted to use, they all come back to the term "clown", so I wouldn't worry so much about that. xD

[dhuaine]

It's a clownish figure, but not a clown xD Plus, it's a sad character. I really prefer "clown".