Important:
For any matters relating to joining our group, using our scans for release in another language or coloring (colored pages may be featured in our chapter releases), or any other issues pertaining to the group and our projects, please go to the
website or on IRC (#
strays@irc.irchighway.net) and
contact Not_Log or any other member of the group. I (Siedhr) am retired and only do some work once in a while. I will pass on your messages, but you'll save time going directly to the source.
Hello everyone,
Since we now have more than one released project, I decided to make a presentation thread for us. Late I know, considering we've been around since September, but I wanted to avoid the "Who the hell are you people and what do you want from us orphan thread" problem. Prepare yourselves for quite a long read.
So how did we stop whining and learned to satisfy ourselves, you ask?
Well, some months ago (early Spring if memory serves), I was wandering around the interwebz, desolately looking for Vagabond Edited Mangas past volume 20. As you might know, there were none to be found, but I lucked out and stumbled upon some other people who also wanted them, mainly NeoShweaty from KO-Scans. Soon enough, zindryr started translating the newest chapters, and this is how I was reborn as a fanatical groupie/supporter. Edited Mangas were coming around slow due to lack of people, so one day I wondered: but what can I do to help these nice people? Sure enough, there was plenty I could do, so I got off my ass and started learning to typeset (still haven't seen the end of this one, by the way).
Soon enough, KO-Scans was merrily releasing Vagabond chapters, and due to some influx of new blood, we had caught up with the 20 volumes already released. By far the most important person of this new generation was Devin (Devin Lane who doesn't like usernames or doesn't have anything to hide or both). Devin started by ganking one of zindryr's translations and making his own Edited Manga, which made us see red at first, but then we thought: Hey, this might be an opportunity in disguise.
Here's an approximate rendition of our first encounter:
Siedhr: hey, since you're a fan of Vagabond, don't you wanna join us and help us release faster and better Edited Mangas?
Devin: omg, sure, though I don't know much about Editing
Siedhr: yay
Devin: I'm a serious person that can be counted upon. I'm also willing to learn everything I don't know
Siedhr: yayay
Devin: by the way, I'm also learning how to clean
Siedhr: yayayay
Devin: I can work hard, long hours and stay awake until the release is out
Siedhr: yayayayay
Devin: do you guys want some server space and bandwidth? also, I know how to make websites
Siedhr: Santa, is that you?
Devin quickly became essential to the Vagabond project, and soon we were spending long hours chatting and trudging along, releasing stuff.
Let's back up a bit now. I've read some insane amounts of manga, most of them largely unknown. And unfortunately, many of these projects have been abandoned half way, mostly for lack of staff, cause everyone in the universe seems to be translating and Editing Naruto. Also, there is plenty of very good manga out there, that no one except the Japanese have heard of. This was a major frustration of mine that was shared by Devin and zindryr both.
There were a lot of conversations going along back and forth the three of us for about a month (August).
Abridged summary:
zindryr: I found some manga noone is doing and I'd like to translate it and I'll give it to you guys to scanlate
Siedhr&Devin: omg, cool
Since we worked so well together, Devin and I talked about branching out, maybe making our own group (KO-Scans mainly does mainly sports manga and we wanted to do seinen). We came up with a name and a list of projects we'd like to do and the rest is history, as they say. The Mangahelpers staff, especially Gold Knight, were very supportive of our efforts.
Bottom line is that Strays was born and bred in the bowels of Mangahelpers (GK is like our godfather), more from necessity than anything else, the necessity to scanlate some manga nobody else was doing. Isn't this what the purpose of this website is after all?
You've all seen the unhappy leechers whining around threads here and there. However the majority of them don't seem to realize that the only way to see their beloved manga released is to actually get off their butts and work on it.
So what can you learn from our story:
1. We started literally from scratch, with just a copy of Photoshop, some basic knowledge of how to work with it and a handful of tutorials. Most importantly we had the desire to actually do something instead of waiting around for others to do it for us.
2. If you're a wannabe Manga Editor, instead of wasting your time and doing the umpteenth fast Edited Manga for Naruto, Bleach or One Piece, think about either joining another group (all groups suffer from lack of people), or if that doesn't work for you, make your own. Ok, you can do fast Edited Mangas too, since there's a demand for it. But don't stop there.
3. Instead of whining, just Do It.
Strays is basically me and Devin Lane trying desperately to keep up with our many projects. We've recently aquired some brand new members, and by aquired I mean went into the world and harpooned them, because they didn't seem to be coming by themselves.
We also lucked out because of Zindryr (
he's from Bakafish, if you didn't know), who translates most of our series. I'm pretty sure he's one of the most active translators around.
Projects that we do:
Current projects
1. Vagabond by Takehiko Inoue
This is our most important project (the "leaveeverythingelseandreleasethis" project).
2. Chevalier
This is the project that actually started our group, about a guy who needs to crossdress as his sister to kick some monster ass.
3. My Balls
Our most popular project to date, apparently because it includes nekkid chicks and a crazy concept.
4. Jackals
If you're into shady underworlds and cool looking assasing, you definitely cannot miss this one out.
This was originally a KO-Scans project, but Neo graciously passed it to us, since unfortunately he's too busy with college (girls and drinking) to be as active as he was in the Editing world.
Upcoming projects - which means we're working actively on them at the moment
5. Chunchu
By the same artist as Jackals, this manwha has astonishing art and a very good story. It features your misunderstood, brooding hero who has a big sword. "cough"
6. Slam Dunk - 10 Days After
Ever wondered what happened to Sakuragi and Rukawa after the Nationals? Well, here's your chance to find out.
7. Legend of the King of Wolves
This is the sequel to King of Wolves by Kentaro Miura.
8. Companion by Yoshitomo Akihito
Companion is about the people who escort you from purgatory into the world of the dead. After you die you must go through your personal gate into the world of the dead, and companions are the ones who lead you there.
There are others projects in the pipeline, so look forward to them.
You can find all of our releases on our website.
We still need staff, so if you're interested come join us. You don't have to be a specialist (heck for typesetters, we'd be willing to teach you starting from "double-click this icon to open Photoshop"), but you do have to be willing to learn and commit to a project.
Right now we have all the people don't know much but want to learn that we can handle. For now, anyway. But feel free to post in this thread and we'll give you all the assistance we can, and when we'll be looking for people again, we'll be sure to contact you.
We still need cleaners with experience, and especially someone who knows how to redraw. If you want to be part of Strays, please take the
Cleaning Test. The zip contains the pages you have to work on and an Instruction file.
I kinda doubt there would be many questions after this exhaustive presentation that took me an hour to write, but if you have any, please go ahead. If you don't, feel free to worship us instead.
