Gothic & Lolita Bible

Gothic & Lolita Bible (ゴシック&ロリータバイブル, Goshikku ando Rorīta Baiburu) is a quarterly Japanese fashion "mook", a combination of a magazine and book, 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.

Gothic & Lolita Bible

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
Year founded	2001
Company	Index Communications Tokyopop
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 will be going on hiatus May 24, 2017 after 16 years of publication.[12]

Issue	Picture	Contains	Patterns Inside	Other
#1			- NA+H Collar - Victorian Maiden Skirt - H. Naoto Skirt - H. Naoto Tie - Black Peace Now Collar
#2			- Victorian Maiden Caplet - H. Naoto Skirt and Neck Tie - Baby the Stars Shine Bright Purse and Headdress - Miho Matsuda Purse - Black Peace Now Bloomers
#3			- Baby the Stars Shine Bright apron and skirt combo - Baby the Stars Shine Bright one piece dress - Random assortment of small things: mittens, bonnet, gloves, bowclip
#4
#5
#6
#7			- H Naoto Blood Headdress - Angelic Pretty Bear Ears Headdress - elements Rabbit Pochette - Black Peace Now Choker
#8
#9
#10			- MAM Headdress - Moon Kana Skirts, Tops & Capelet - MA Neck Tie - Innocent World Capelet
#11
#12			- Cocochip Cookie Tote - A+Lidel Asymmetric skirt - Innocent World Bloomers - MAM Bonnet - elements Belt
#13
#14
#15
#16
#17
#18
#19			- のん's Bustier & Skirt set - G's Skirt
#20
#21
#22
#23
#24
#25
#26
#27
#28
#29
#30
#31
#32

References

1. Talmadge, Eric (August 7, 2008). "Tokyo's Lolita scene all about escapism". Japan Times. Retrieved May 15, 2010.
2. https://www.amazon.com/Gothic-Lolita-Bible-1-Various/dp/1427803471 February Edition Gothic & Lolita Bible
3. Aoki, Deb. "Interview: Jenna Winterberg and Michelle Nguyen - Page 1". About.com. Retrieved May 15, 2010.
4. "Mariko Suzuki: a Tokyo Guidebook from a Lolita's View". Matcha. June 28, 2015. Retrieved November 15, 2016.
5. Aoki, Deb. "Interview: Jenna Winterberg and Michelle Nguyen - Page 2". About.com. Retrieved May 15, 2010.
6. "Tokyopop to Ship Gothic & Lolita Bible in February". Anime News Network. December 4, 2007. Retrieved May 9, 2010.
7. Aoki, Deb. "2008 Reader's Poll: Best Manga Magazine". About.com. Retrieved May 9, 2010.
8. Aoki, Deb. "2008 Preview: 20 Hot New Manga". About.com. Archived from the original on July 2, 2012. Retrieved July 9, 2010.
9. Scholes, Sandra (June 17, 2008). "Gothic & Lolita Bible Vol.1". Active Anime. Retrieved May 9, 2010.
10. 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.
11. Douresseaux, Leroy (April 21, 2008). "Gothic & Lolita Bible Volume 1". Comic Book Bin. Toon Doctor. Retrieved May 9, 2010.
12. "Fashion Magazine KERA to End Print Publication". ARAMA! JAPAN. 2017-03-29. Retrieved April 7, 2017.

External links

• Gothic & Lolita Bible at Tokyopop's website
• Gothic & Lolita Bible (manga) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia