Gothic & Lolita Bible
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.
 The cover of the first English-language volume as published by Tokyopop in February 2008 in North America | |
| Editor | Jenna Winterberg, Michelle Nguyen |
|---|---|
| Frequency | Quarterly |
| Circulation | 100,000 (2008)[1] |
| Founder | Mariko Suzuki |
| Founded | 2001 |
| Final issue | 2017 |
| Company | Index Communications (1-49) Jack Media (50) J-International (51-63) Tokyopop (English edition) |
| Country | Japan |
| Based in | Tokyo |
| Language | Japanese |
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. 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 founder was Mariko Suzuki.[4] It is a "mook", the combination of a book and magazine.[3] 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.[5] In June 2007, Tokopop announced the decision to publish an English-language version and released the first volume in February 2008.[6] It contained articles from past issues, which the editors chose based on available material, and original content.[5] 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.[5]
Reception
Gothic & Lolita Bible ranked tenth in About.com's 2008 reader poll for the best manga magazine or magazine and book hybrids.[7] It received positive reviews from English-language critics. About.com's Deb Aoki listed it as the 11th most anticipated manga for 2008.[8] Active Anime's Sandra Scholes wrote: "Superb, this is an essential buy for any Lolita's bookshelf!"[9] While noting some "dated" content and that it "isn't a serious scholarly journal", Danielle Van Gorder of Mania Entertainment praised the magazine as "gorgeous glossy mook that should satisfy both the casual fan of lolita fashion as well as the most discriminating sweet lolita princess."[10] 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."[11] In March 2017, Gothic & Lolita Bible announced they would be going on hiatus May 24, 2017 after 16 years of publication.[12]
Issues
Japanese language edition
There were a total of 63 regular issues and 5 special issues.
| Issue | Publication date* | ISBN |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | 2001 April 21, 2007 (Premium reprint) |
ISBN 4894614170 ISBN 978-4894614178 |
| #2 | July 18, 2001 | ISBN 4860480015 ISBN 978-4860480011 |
| #3 | December 1, 2001 January 10, 2002* |
ISBN 4860480163 ISBN 978-4860480165 |
| #4 | April 30, 2002 June 13, 2002* |
ISBN 4860480392 ISBN 978-4860480394 |
| #5 | July 29, 2002 September 5, 2002* |
ISBN 4860480481 ISBN 978-4860480486 |
| #6 | October 7, 2002 November 16, 2002* |
ISBN 4860480562 ISBN 978-4860480561 |
| #7 | December 11, 2002 | ISBN 4860480678 ISBN 978-4860480677 |
| #8 | March 22, 2003 April 30, 2003* |
ISBN 4860480775 ISBN 978-4860480776 |
| #9 | June 28, 2003 | ISBN 4860480856 ISBN 978-4860480851 |
| #10 | September 29, 2003 | ISBN 4860480961 ISBN 978-4860480967 |
| #11 | December 19, 2003 | ISBN 4860481100 ISBN 978-4860481100 |
| #12 | March 12, 2004 April 9, 2004* |
ISBN 4860481232 ISBN 978-4860481230 |
| #13 | May 28, 2004 June 23, 2004* |
ISBN 4860481356 ISBN 978-4860481353 |
| Hair & Makeup | August 31, 2004 | ISBN 4860481518 ISBN 978-4860481513 |
| #14 | August 24, 2004 | ISBN 4860481461 ISBN 978-4860481469 |
| #15 | November 25, 2004 December 22, 2004* |
ISBN 4860481615 ISBN 978-4860481612 |
| Extra #1 | January 31, 2005 | ISBN 4860481690 ISBN 978-4860481698 |
| #16 | February 24, 2005 | ISBN 4860481720 ISBN 978-4860481728 |
| #17 | May 24, 2005 | ISBN 4860481836 ISBN 978-4860481834 |
| #18 | August 24, 2005 | ISBN 4860481933 ISBN 978-4860481933 |
| #19 | November 24, 2005 December 21, 2005* |
ISBN 4757333099 ISBN 978-4757333093 |
| #20 | February 24, 2006 | ISBN 475733317X ISBN 978-4757333178 |
| #21 | May 30, 2006 | ISBN 4757333323 ISBN 978-4757333321 |
| Extra #2 | June 24, 2006 | ISBN 4757333366 ISBN 978-4757333369 |
| #22 | August 24, 2006 | ISBN 4757333420 ISBN 978-4757333420 |
| #23 | November 24, 2006 | ISBN 4757333544 ISBN 978-4757333543 |
| #24 | February 24, 2007 | ISBN 4757333625 ISBN 978-4757333628 |
| #25 | May 24, 2007 | ISBN 4757333749 ISBN 978-4757333741 |
| #26 | August 24, 2007 September 21, 2007* |
ISBN 4757333838 ISBN 978-4757333833 |
| #27 | November 24, 2007 | ISBN 4757333943 ISBN 978-4757333949 |
| Boudoir | January 31, 2008 | ISBN 4757334028 ISBN 978-4757334021 |
| #28 | February 21, 2008 March 23, 2008* |
ISBN 4757334052 ISBN 978-4757334052 |
| #29 | May 24, 2008 June 21, 2008* |
ISBN 4757333943 ISBN 978-4757334137 |
| #30 | August 22, 2008 | ISBN 4757334222 ISBN 978-4757334229 |
| #31 | November 21, 2008 December 21, 2008* |
ISBN 4757334281 ISBN 978-4757334281 |
| #32 | February 24, 2009 March 22, 2009* |
ISBN 4757334346 ISBN 978-4757334342 |
| #33 | May 25, 2009 | ISBN 4757334427 ISBN 978-4757334427 |
| #34 | August 24, 2009 | ISBN 4757334486 ISBN 978-4757334489 |
| #35 | November 20, 2009 December 20, 2009* |
ISBN 4757334540 ISBN 978-4757334540 |
| Gothic & Lolita Ensemble | April 5, 2010 | ISBN 486190563X ISBN 978-4861905636 |
| #36 | April 10, 2010 May 8, 2010* |
ISBN 4757334702 ISBN 978-4757334700 |
| #37 | August 24, 2010 September 20, 2010* |
ISBN 4757334834 ISBN 978-4757334830 |
| #38 | November 24, 2010 December 20, 2010* |
ISBN 4757334869 ISBN 978-4757334861 |
| #39 | February 24, 2011 March 24, 2011* |
ISBN 4757334923 ISBN 978-4757334922 |
| #40 | May 24, 2011 June 20, 2011* |
ISBN 475733494X ISBN 978-4757334946 |
| #41 | August 24, 2011 September 21, 2011 |
ISBN 4757334958 ISBN 978-4757334953 |
| #42 | November 24, 2011 December 21, 2011* |
ISBN 4757334982 ISBN 978-4757334984 |
| #43 | February 24, 2012 | ISBN 4757335032 ISBN 978-4757335035 |
| #44 | May 24, 2012 | ISBN 4757335059 ISBN 978-4757335059 |
| #45 | August 24, 2012 | ISBN 4757335075 ISBN 978-4757335073 |
| #46 | November 24, 2012 December 21, 2012* |
ISBN 4757335083 ISBN 978-4757335080 |
| #47 | February 23, 2013 March 23, 2013* |
ISBN 4757335091 ISBN 978-4757335097 |
| #48 | May 24, 2013 | ISBN 4757335113 ISBN 978-4757335110 |
| #49 | August 24, 2013 | ISBN 4757335121 ISBN 978-4757335127 |
| #50 | November 25, 2013 | ISBN 475733513X ISBN 978-4757335134 |
| #51 | February 24, 2014 | ISBN 4757335148 ISBN 978-4757335141 |
| #52 | May 23, 2014 | ISBN 4757335156 ISBN 978-4757335158 |
| #53 | August 25, 2014 | ISBN 4757335164 ISBN 978-4757335165 |
| #54 | November 25, 2014 December 21, 2014* |
ISBN 4908158002 ISBN 978-4908158001 |
| #55 | February 24, 2015 | ISBN 4908158029 ISBN 978-4908158025 |
| #56 | May 25, 2015 June 21, 2015* |
ISBN 4908158037 ISBN 978-4908158032 |
| #57 | August 24, 2015 | ISBN 4908158045 ISBN 978-4908158049 |
| #58 | November 24, 2015 | ISBN 4908158053 ISBN 978-4908158056 |
| #59 | February 24, 2016 | ISBN 490815807X ISBN 978-4908158070 |
| #60 | May 24, 2016 | ISBN 4908158096 ISBN 978-4908158094 |
| #61 | August 24, 2016 | ISBN 4908158118 ISBN 978-4908158117 |
| #62 | November 24, 2016 | ISBN 4908158126 ISBN 978-4908158124 |
| #63 | February 24, 2017 | ISBN 4908158134 ISBN 978-4908158131 |
English language edition
| Issue | Publication date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | February 12, 2008 | ISBN 1427803471 ISBN 978-1427803474 |
| #2 | June 17, 2008 | ISBN 142780348X ISBN 978-1427803481 |
| #3 | September 16, 2008 | ISBN 1427803498 ISBN 978-1427803498 |
| #4 | December 9, 2008 | ISBN 1427803501 ISBN 978-1427803504 |
| #5 | April 1, 2009 | ISBN 142780351X ISBN 978-1427803511 |
References
- Talmadge, Eric (August 7, 2008). "Tokyo's Lolita scene all about escapism". Japan Times. Retrieved May 15, 2010.
- https://www.amazon.com/Gothic-Lolita-Bible-1-Various/dp/1427803471 February Edition Gothic & Lolita Bible
- Aoki, Deb. "Interview: Jenna Winterberg and Michelle Nguyen - Page 1". About.com. Retrieved May 15, 2010.
- "Mariko Suzuki: a Tokyo Guidebook from a Lolita's View". Matcha. June 28, 2015. Retrieved November 15, 2016.
- Aoki, Deb. "Interview: Jenna Winterberg and Michelle Nguyen - Page 2". About.com. Retrieved May 15, 2010.
- "Tokyopop to Ship Gothic & Lolita Bible in February". Anime News Network. December 4, 2007. Retrieved May 9, 2010.
- Aoki, Deb. "2008 Reader's Poll: Best Manga Magazine". About.com. Retrieved May 9, 2010.
- Aoki, Deb. "2008 Preview: 20 Hot New Manga". About.com. Archived from the original on May 6, 2012. Retrieved July 9, 2010.
- Scholes, Sandra (June 17, 2008). "Gothic & Lolita Bible Vol.1". Active Anime. Retrieved May 9, 2010.
- 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.
- Douresseaux, Leroy (April 21, 2008). "Gothic & Lolita Bible Volume 1". Comic Book Bin. Toon Doctor. Retrieved May 9, 2010.
- "Fashion Magazine KERA to End Print Publication". ARAMA! JAPAN. 2017-03-29. Retrieved April 7, 2017.
- "Gothic & Lolita Bible Index Mook KERA". Index Communications. Archived from the original on 2012-10-14. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
- "Gothic & Lolita Bible Index". J-International. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
External links
- Gothic & Lolita Bible at Tokyopop's website
- Gothic & Lolita Bible (manga) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia