A while back ComiPress posted a feature on the Tsundeban (tsundere + taliban) manga coming out of South Korea. It’s part parody and part commentary on a serious hostage situation (23 Korean Christians were kidnapped; the Taliban keeps extending the deadline on negotiations for their release…after having killed one of them already). Oh, and the comics are based on the Churuya-san 4koma, which fans of Haruhi will no doubt recognize. Some Koreans find it a bit too flippant for the situation and the cops are asking people to report users who spread it.

I didn’t get the chance to talk about it at the time, but I was reminded of it today when I stumbled upon this blog entry on MideastYouth.com, which talks about Muslim comics and particularly the creations of Asia Alfasi, a Libyan who draws manga in conjunction with drawing on her Arab heritage, using the calligraphy, myths, and legends of her background and incorporating them into manga-style comics. It’s kinda neat. (Ater talking about Alfasi, the article goes on to complain about depictions of Muslims in other comics.)

I don’t have a lot of commentary to offer on these, but I think they’re both interesting reads, so check ‘em out.