Back when we scooped the release of this book two weeks ago it called out to me with the irresistible siren song of glorious 2D bishoujo ecchiness. Ensembles of doujin artists such as this don’t just grow on trees; they need to be coaxed and coerced to join forces by a power no less mighty than… well, the promise of a quick buck from Toranoana, which is no doubt what they received in return for services rendered. If you like Ikkitousen, doujinshi, scantily clad girls, or Ikkitousen doujinshi featuring scantily clad girls, you will certainly want to check this out.
Product Type: official doujin fan book
Circle: Toranoana Corporation
Page Count / Size / Type: 36 / B5 / full color
Publisher: Toranoana
Price: 1,050 yen (tax included)
Availability: Toranoana
![Heisei Democracy [ERO] Artbook Review: Toranoana-limited Official Ikkitousen Dragon Destiny Fan Book](http://heiseidemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/ikkifanbook/01.jpg)
![Heisei Democracy [ERO] Artbook Review: Toranoana-limited Official Ikkitousen Dragon Destiny Fan Book](http://heiseidemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/ikkifanbook/02.jpg)
![Heisei Democracy [ERO] Artbook Review: Toranoana-limited Official Ikkitousen Dragon Destiny Fan Book](http://heiseidemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/ikkifanbook/03.jpg)
![Heisei Democracy [ERO] Artbook Review: Toranoana-limited Official Ikkitousen Dragon Destiny Fan Book](http://heiseidemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/ikkifanbook/04.jpg)
![Heisei Democracy [ERO] Artbook Review: Toranoana-limited Official Ikkitousen Dragon Destiny Fan Book](http://heiseidemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/ikkifanbook/05.jpg)
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Contributing Artists:
- Kino Hitoshi
- Mizuhara Yuu
- Manabe Jouji
- Shiro Tsumekusa
- Eiwa
- Hazuki Kei
- AZASUKE
- Wamusato Haru
- Mutou Keiji
- Yasuiri Osuke
- Kinoko Nokko
- Yanagi Hirohiko
- Kawarajima Koh
- Ishigaki Takashi
- Kawaraya Eita
- Mizuryuu Kei
- Izumi Mahiru
- Same.
- CHIRO
- Maruto!
- Ookura Kazuya
- Iruma Kamiri
- Mizoro Tadashi
- Kunoo Kazuya (九尾かずや)
- Oshare Kyoushitsu
- Mogudan
- +3 official illustrations
As we discussed back when we introduced the book the status of this item as “doujinshi” is questionable in most aspects other than production (it’s offset printed on standard B5 stock similar to what you’d see in any other full color doujinshi) and distribution (sold exclusively via Toranoana’s doujinshi distribution outlets, namely its online mail order service and its brick and mortar stores).
One could argue the finer points of semantics and discuss the ramifications of this for the business and economics of the 2D industry as doujinshi and their parody subjects grow increasingly closer together (an official Godannar doujin was apparently produced to partially fund the production of the show’s second season), but in the face of all this Ikkitousen fanservice at a certain point I have to stop thinking with my brain and start thinking with another, more primitive organ.
This is a really, really nice volume. While short at only 36 pages it contains work from many artists I admire immensely, and a few I consider among my personal favorites; the thought that my purchase helped support them in their work is no small consolation for the steep cover price (steep by comparison with bona fide artbooks; it’s pretty average for a 36-page full color doujin).
There’s really not much more to say in a review of the book in terms of production; it is what it is, and if you like what you see here I’d heartily recommend tracking it down. Unfortunately it seems that while the book was in stock at Tora earlier today it is now unavailable for order from their online shop; Yahoo Auctions via proxy may be the only remaining bastion of hope for those who missed the initial preorder.
This is a foolishly optimistic desire knowing the Japanese love of the limited, but here’s hoping some of these illustrations make it into a mass-produced official Dragon Destiny artbook down the road.
Hey Shingo, nice review, I was hoping some retailers would carry this product for international buyers like me :\
Wow… I need to find a way to import this.
I want this, is it available at any websites in English?
Wow! Nice sample images Shingo! I have already secured a copy of this fanbook and it should arrive in a couple weeks! Woohoooooooo! ^_^
I was actually quite disappointed with it, really. Not being a fan of many of the artists within, I only found several drawings worth a second look. I’d recommend it only to Ikkitousen fans, or fans of the participating artists.
Furthermore, this book isn’t actually 18+. Tora no Ana had it with green stickers, i.e. non-ero.
Proxying this one would’ve set me back 3500-4000 Y. Not worth it IMO for 32 pages.
Now, the book I am looking forward to is INO’s velvet skin, I think we have a winner with that one!
>>Manning
Unfortunately not; at this point it seems you’ll have to use a proxy service (such as one of the four linked in the lower left sidebar) to acquire a copy from Yahoo Auctions.
>>DJnerate
A glance at the artist list before purchase might have saved you 1,050 yen. ^^;;
While there are no shots of exposed genitalia or hardcore depictions of intercourse in the book there are certainly images of the bare human female torso, which for some reason tend to injure the tender retina of children in certain countries. Tora might not flag the book as ero but it’s certainly not work safe, and I’d rather be safe than sorry.
>>Y
I’ll have a review of Velvet Skin up on Friday, hopefully (assuming shipping goes as planned). I can’t wait… :3
> Shingo
I did look at the artist list, but even the few that I do like didn’t seem to do particularly well to me. Maybe because they only had a single colour page to do it in, but Yasuiri Osuke seemed kinda generic, Kino Hitoshi seemed kinda meh, Azasuke and Mogudan were still same old. Recognized a few other names but nothing seen here particularly changed my mind.
Maruto! was the only artist I knew beforehand that pleased me. Several others I’d not heard of before were pretty good as well, but there were just about as many hits as misses. I wouldn’t say that it was a waste of 1050 yen, but it certainly wasn’t as ground-shattering as I had hoped it would be. On the other hand, I’d probably get a Dragon Destiny official artbook if they released one, the official illustrations were mighty fine.
>>DJnerate
I was a bit disappointed with the selection of official art in the book, as it’s all been published in other formats already (a few of them here). Then again that’s not why I bought the book; I knew there would be stuff in it that I didn’t care for but I was looking forward to the chance to see some familiar artist takes on the Ikkitousen cast (CHIRO!!) and maybe discover some new (to me) talent, which I did (Oshare Kyoushitsu++, I knew his work from Oshiri Princess but never put a name to the art).
Overall it’s an item that smacks of opportunism and probably isn’t worth it from an objective standpoint - if you’re going to do an artbook do an artbook for crying out loud and not something this half-assed - but I’m happy with it from a suppport-the-artist perspective as well as for its utility in finding new artists to follow.
I hope for an official artbook as well, especially if it compiles all of the limited edition work that came with the R2 DVD releases. Wish I’d been on top of those when I had the chance…
> Shingo
Well, I’d say once again that our opinions are pretty much the same. I’d really hoped that the artists would take this opportunity to showcase their abilities as much they could, but I was left only half-impressed at best. I think it would probably have turned out better as an ero doujin with several pages for each artist. In that case I wouldn’t mind paying even more.
Dragon Destiny artbook, mmm. Don’t give a bantha’s turd about the manga or anime, but we need a collection of related delectable artwork.
well, this book will definitely not pass Sinkapore’s censors.
Guess, I either have to smuggle it in and risk getting a fine and maybe even jailtime for smuggling ‘pornography’, or just enjoy the digital photos of Shingo here.
Thanks again to Shingo, and in general the Internet for giving us ADULTS freedom to make up our minds what to view and what not to view.
[...] In other news, I can confirm that I am a devout Ikkitousen fan ~_~ I will shake my fist in fury at two friends who have led me down this path, but now I must have all things Ikki! Including this, the Official Ikkitousen Dragon Destiny Fan Book. [...]
*dances around in delight*
Friend won one for me on Y!J ^___^
HAH- Gratz Zeb!! Enjoy!!