With Comp Heroines now established in its bimonthly slot, how does the late-May release of volume four stack up against the monthly competition from veteran poster magazine Megami? Check the list of posters, extras, and other content below for a summary judgement.


Megami Magazine vol. 86 (July 2007)

Heisei Democracy magazine review: Megami 86 vs. Comp H's 4 Heisei Democracy magazine review: Megami 86 vs. Comp H's 4 Heisei Democracy magazine review: Megami 86 vs. Comp H's 4 Heisei Democracy magazine review: Megami 86 vs. Comp H's 4 Heisei Democracy magazine review: Megami 86 vs. Comp H's 4 Heisei Democracy magazine review: Megami 86 vs. Comp H's 4 Heisei Democracy magazine review: Megami 86 vs. Comp H's 4 Heisei Democracy magazine review: Megami 86 vs. Comp H's 4 Heisei Democracy magazine review: Megami 86 vs. Comp H's 4 Heisei Democracy magazine review: Megami 86 vs. Comp H's 4 Heisei Democracy magazine review: Megami 86 vs. Comp H's 4 Heisei Democracy magazine review: Megami 86 vs. Comp H's 4 Heisei Democracy magazine review: Megami 86 vs. Comp H's 4 Heisei Democracy magazine review: Megami 86 vs. Comp H's 4 Heisei Democracy magazine review: Megami 86 vs. Comp H's 4 Heisei Democracy magazine review: Megami 86 vs. Comp H's 4 Heisei Democracy magazine review: Megami 86 vs. Comp H's 4 Heisei Democracy magazine review: Megami 86 vs. Comp H's 4 Heisei Democracy magazine review: Megami 86 vs. Comp H's 4 Heisei Democracy magazine review: Megami 86 vs. Comp H's 4 Heisei Democracy magazine review: Megami 86 vs. Comp H's 4

Comp H’s (Heroines) vol. 4

Heisei Democracy magazine review: Megami 86 vs. Comp H's 4 Heisei Democracy magazine review: Megami 86 vs. Comp H's 4 Heisei Democracy magazine review: Megami 86 vs. Comp H's 4 Heisei Democracy magazine review: Megami 86 vs. Comp H's 4 Heisei Democracy magazine review: Megami 86 vs. Comp H's 4 Heisei Democracy magazine review: Megami 86 vs. Comp H's 4 Heisei Democracy magazine review: Megami 86 vs. Comp H's 4 Heisei Democracy magazine review: Megami 86 vs. Comp H's 4 Heisei Democracy magazine review: Megami 86 vs. Comp H's 4 Heisei Democracy magazine review: Megami 86 vs. Comp H's 4 Heisei Democracy magazine review: Megami 86 vs. Comp H's 4 Heisei Democracy magazine review: Megami 86 vs. Comp H's 4 Heisei Democracy magazine review: Megami 86 vs. Comp H's 4 Heisei Democracy magazine review: Megami 86 vs. Comp H's 4 Heisei Democracy magazine review: Megami 86 vs. Comp H's 4 Heisei Democracy magazine review: Megami 86 vs. Comp H's 4 Heisei Democracy magazine review: Megami 86 vs. Comp H's 4 Heisei Democracy magazine review: Megami 86 vs. Comp H's 4 Heisei Democracy magazine review: Megami 86 vs. Comp H's 4 Heisei Democracy magazine review: Megami 86 vs. Comp H's 4 Heisei Democracy magazine review: Megami 86 vs. Comp H's 4 Heisei Democracy magazine review: Megami 86 vs. Comp H's 4 Heisei Democracy magazine review: Megami 86 vs. Comp H's 4 Heisei Democracy magazine review: Megami 86 vs. Comp H's 4

In extras this month the two magazines run neck and neck, both choosing pencil boards based on their cover illustrations over the large posters that have come with them in the past. Comp H’s sports postcards, Megami has an alternate dust jacket for Nanoha StrikerS manga vol. 1; on pure volume Comp H’s pulls ahead with its separate Xenoglossia feature (Megami’s similar StrikerS feature must be decoupled from the magazine’s binding staples for removal, always an irritation).

In posters your mileage will vary based on personal preference, but in my opinion Megami comes out slightly ahead this month with two offerings I would put up (if my apartment allowed it, *weeps*): the Ikkitousen and positively delicious Gurren Lagann Yoko. Only Code Geass’s C.C. really speaks to me in Comp H’s, though as usual the Kadokawa properties (Lucky Star and Haruhi) are strong with this one.

If you’re buying for the articles, once again your mileage will vary. While both cover the same basic territory Megami presents a generally more balanced, thorough look at current and upcoming bishoujo anime while H’s focuses much more heavily on Kadokawa / Kyoani properties.

In closing, while the past three iterations of Comp Heroines have been clearly superior to their concurrently released Megami counterparts, this month’s release shows no clear victor (to those in Kyoani neutral territory, at least). Both present decent, though not exceptional showings, and as such I’m tempted to recommend both (or neither); if you’ve got the budget for one I’d go for Megami, as that Yoko poster is definitely the best of the lot this month. I wonder if I covered my walls in sheets of cork they’d let me put these up…

Shameless commerce edit: Comp H’s is available here, and Megami is here (subscription).

Edit 2: Comp H’s gets points for their Kono Aozora ni Yakusoku wo poster being a quick Photoshop job away from XP-tan. :3