[Bootlegged artbook] World's end ~ Fairy's diary

For local collectors of Japanese artbooks/PVC figures, it is common knowledge that a popular local manga chain carries bootlegs of both merchandises. Fake Megahouse Bleach figures is sold together with authentic Gundam SEED figures at heavily reduced prices and bootlegged trading figures lean spectacularly in their display shelves. I visit the chain mainly to hone my skills at identifying knock-off PVCs. However of late, I've been lurking in its artbook section to hunt for rare artbooks already extinct from Kinokuniya. Sadly, unlike its figure section where there are at least some authentic goods, its Japanese artbook collection is thoroughly bootlegged. (I know because I have seen the most of the originals in Kinokuniya.)

Going for about S$20-30 less than the original Japanese publications, these artbooks are published in notorious parts of the Orient with inferior printing standards. (Do note that there are conversely GENUINE Taiwanese artbook licenses and I have seen these worthy publications in Kinokuniya too.) My question is how bad.

My academic interest got the better of me when I saw World's end ~ Fairy's diary at one of the stores on a super discount for S$10. A small price to pay for a little research I thought. After all, Kinokuniya doesn't carry this item anymore and Tenhiro Naoto's babelicious artwork should shine through even poor publishing controls. I was wrong.

My first challenge came when I turned it first page only to find that some excess glue has kept pages 1 and 2 stuck. The right photo above shows the aftermath of my damaging remedy. Scanning through the pages, I immediately noticed the illustrations were neither as crisp nor as vibrant as my other Japanese artbooks. The left photo above shows also how some dialogue was cut off from the page - a common occurrence throughout the artbook.

To be fair, Tenhiro sensei's artwork remains breathtaking despite being severely nerfed by inferior publishing. I can only imagine how awe-inspiring its original publication is. Still, this artbook is barely worth its measly S$10 price tag although it served its higher purpose of hardening my stance against the bootlegged publications found in these stores. I'll sticking with overpriced Kinokuniya originals.

Related posts:

1. [Artbook] Cielo – Kozue Amano Illustration works III
2. [Artbook] Galaxy's Child by Nao Goto
3. [Artbook] Dengeki Hime Illustration collection ~ Girls museum