It's never been the character's speech balloons that have stumped me - I've got the original English versions here at home to remind me exactly what I forced them to say in each situation - it's the surrounding Japanese text the braintrust at Kodansha's 'Comic Morning' magazine would consistently add ALONGSIDE my cartoon strips that's always left me asking the question: 'wot's it say; wot's it say'.
I can't begin to understand Japanese. Are these foreign ink scratches translating a more dimwitted-than-usual comment I might have made once upon a time ago? Because I recall submitting myself to interviews (conducted by phone) for these 'about the author' segments that would accompany selected examples of my comic, so I can only imagine that what they've done here is to repeat certain blatherings I may have blathered during those interviews. Long since forgotten by me I'm quick to add.
Or it could just be the editor's personal opinion of my story; or maybe an explanation to the confused Japanese reader of an otherwise common North American phrase I've employed in the dialogue. I don't know for sure, but SOME of my cartoon punchlines probably sailed far over the head of the average Bullet train rider. Stands to reason, they might try to explain the gag to the reader or tell them when to laugh. Lord knows I've had to do that with my friends many times.
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