Request & Review Manga

[ryushe]

What Manga Titles/Vols. have you always wanted to buy but don’t know if it’s a waste of money to do so? Well if so, just post it here and other AN members who has read said manga can review the series or just a volume for you.

Manga series I’ve always wanted to get:
So I’ll start, I’ve always wanted to collect the “Kare Kano” Manga series but I don’t know if its a good series but I always hear good stuff about it. Worth a read or not?

Manga Vol.s that I’ve stopped collecting:
I have up to the vol.4 of Tsubasa and the reason I’ve haven't collected anymore is because the story feels really episodic...ummm I guess you could say that -_-;, anyway the last volume just didn’t interest me and since it published by DelRey it’s kinda more expensive ($10.95) than a TokyoPop or a Shonen Jump manga, an with Vol. 6 just coming out, is it worth another try?

[Imasyon]

hm...there are a lot of mangas I want to buy but I'm not sure if they're good...mostly because I don't have much money I'm always very cautious with buying a new series.
so this is the list I have at the moment (mangas I want to buy but I'm not sure about it):
-tactics
-Chrno Crusade (quite sure I'll buy it)
-R2
-Princess Princess
-Crescent Moon
-Peace Maker
and a lot more I can't remember at the moment...(I've got the list somewhere at home...^^)

[SamiChan]

I really want to know if Peace Maker Kurogane is any good-I've seen one episode of the anime, which I thought was pretty good - but not sure if the manga is any good ^^
I'm also curious about Saiyuki, Chrno Crusade and Ragnarok.

[YellowThingie]

just do lots of research by reading up on reviews and editorials and general ratings of what you buy.
as for me, i'm waiting til i have enough money to buy the next few volumes of kare kano

[Manafairy]

I really want to know if Peace Maker Kurogane is any good-I've seen one episode of the anime, which I thought was pretty good - but not sure if the manga is any good ^^
I'd reccomend reading Shinsengumi Imon Peacemaker first, or at least finish the anime which, despite being called "Peacemaker Kurogane", actually follows the first Peacemaker series rather closely (With the exception of some added filler and minor characters). Though I haven't actually read the Peacemaker Kurogane manga yet, if it's anywhere near as good as what I've read of Peacemaker, then it's pretty darn awesome ^_^

I'm also curious about Saiyuki
Saiyuki's well worth purchasing even if just for Kazuya Minekura's awesome artwork :wub: It's a really character driven story that I, personally, have thuroughly enjoyed thus far. If you've seen the anime, imagine the first half, take out all of the filler, make the action better and a greater focus on the characters and it's something like that. the plot itself isn't that great, but the characters are really interesting and lovable, so it's still really enjoyable.

If you want to read the first Peacemaker series, since Manga City doesn't host licensed works, I can safely suggest you download it here (http://www.mangacity.net/). That way, you can see if it suits your taste and read it in the proper order ^_^

That said, the only series I can think of that I'm on the fence about is Gamerz Heaven. I mean, I read the first chapter scanlated before it was licensed and liked it, but knowing how badly Gravitation fell apart, I don't know if I trust that Maki Murakami didn't lose focus for that one as well....

[Ambient]

Any thoughts on Shaman king? Ive always wanted to read this manga, but I fear its to "kiddy" plz correct me if Im wrong.

[Alice20th]

I have up to the vol.4 of Tsubasa and the reason I’ve haven't collected anymore is because the story feels really episodic...ummm I guess you could say that -_-;, anyway the last volume just didn’t interest me and since it published by DelRey it’s kinda more expensive ($10.95) than a TokyoPop or a Shonen Jump manga, an with Vol. 6 just coming out, is it worth another try?

If you've read all the way through volume 4 and you aren't interested in the series, then you probably won't want to continue. I was quite the opposite. I wondered whether I would continue until Volume 4 and the Country of Jade, and that storyline pushed me over the edge to be a committed fan of the series.

It's episodic, but you can't mix and match episodes. Syaoran is growing as a character, and slowly the other characters are revealing more about themselves and the overall situation they find themselves in.

[ryushe]

Any thoughts on Shaman king? Ive always wanted to read this manga, but I fear its to "kiddy" plz correct me if Im wrong.
It's not kiddy at all, If you watched the 4kids version and liked it (Even hated it) I think you'll love the manga. I currently have up to vol.5 and it's very interesting, while it's not on my priority list, I still collect this version. also alot of stuff was cut out of the 4kids version (i.e. Faust whole "Experement" on Manta (Morty)) I suggest getting at least up to vol.2 too see if you like and if you don't Shonen Jump manga are $7.95 US, so it's all good I think.

Edit: Oh and guys, You don't have to be biased towards a series, I expect everyone here to review maturely and not say "such and such sucks just b/c it does" or "This series is great" for no apperent reason, so If you didn't like a series or do like it, just explain why. Thanks

[Dr. Ezra]

I really want to know if Peace Maker Kurogane is any good-I've seen one episode of the anime, which I thought was pretty good - but not sure if the manga is any good ^^
I'm also curious about Saiyuki, Chrno Crusade and Ragnarok.
The manga is better than the anime, in my opinion.

[Imasyon]

I'd reccomend reading Shinsengumi Imon Peacemaker first, or at least finish the anime which, despite being called "Peacemaker Kurogane", actually follows the first Peacemaker series rather closely (With the exception of some added filler and minor characters). Though I haven't actually read the Peacemaker Kurogane manga yet, if it's anywhere near as good as what I've read of Peacemaker, then it's pretty darn awesome ^_^


The Peace Maker Kurogane Manga is very good IMO, and you understand a lot even if you didn't read the Peace Maker manga (which I haven't but I want to buy when it comes out in winter)... So I'd suggest to buy it ^^

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

Any thoughts on Shaman king? Ive always wanted to read this manga, but I fear its to "kiddy" plz correct me if Im wrong.Even if you hate 4Kids' [kid-ified] dub, you may still like the manga. (And if you like 4Kids' dub, then you're in luck; the manga shouldn't disappoint.) So much of the original material 4Kids edited, or took out altogether. I think it's worth trying.

So I’ll start, I’ve always wanted to collect the “Kare Kano” Manga series but I don’t know if its a good series but I always hear good stuff about it. Worth a read or not?
I have not read much of the manga, but what I have read is pretty good. And I can safely tell you that it's better than the anime (especially when it comes to art quality). -_-;


Now it's my turn... For awhile now I've been considering collecting Maison Ikkoku; I have heard so much good stuff about the series, and it sounds like it's right up my alley. Could anyone who has read this series give me some feedback? It would appreciated. :)

Also, someone gave me the first volume of the Gundam SEED manga as a present, and I was wondering if it's worth collecting the rest of the series.

[ryushe]

Now it's my turn... For awhile now I've been considering collecting Maison Ikkoku; I have heard so much good stuff about the series, and it sounds like it's right up my alley. Could anyone who has read this series give me some feedback? It would appreciated. :)
Now were talking, Dude how can you love Rumiko and not have read this series, :huh:. IMO this manga is when Rumiko's was at her peak. I've never read a slice of life/comedy/romantic manga that ever got it perfect. I currently have up to vol.8 (I've been slacking lately on my manga :P) and I love every single page of Maison Ikkoku and it’s one of my favorite manga.

While the art isn’t “beautiful” by todays standards the story excels in many ways, At first I thought it was going to be a boring manga b/c the story sounded so/so, but once you read it you’ll wet your pants with laughter and the pacing of the two main characters is perfect, not to slow, not to fast, just perfect, and not just the main characters but even the supporting characters have life in them also.

Honestly if you like Rumiko's past or present works or manga in general, I suggest giving Maison Ikkoku a try, I doubt anyone will be disappointed.

Also, someone gave me the first volume of the Gundam SEED manga as a present, and I was wondering if it's worth collecting the rest of the series.
Ummm...I don’t know, it could really depend on if you liked the series, but I read vol. 1-3 at my local library and I’ve never had the intension of getting the manga. with this manga it’s honestly a whole bunch of political talk, and while that’s acceptable in my anime, it's unacceptable in my manga. Also this is one of the few manga that I prefer the animation in the anime, It’s not that it’s ugly, it’s just the character models leave much to be desired. From the first 3 volumes I’ve read I don’t suggest getting manga, but watch the anime instead.

[Manafairy]

The Peace Maker Kurogane Manga is very good IMO, and you understand a lot even if you didn't read the Peace Maker manga
But I imagine the story would have a much greater impact if you've seen where everyone's coming from (ie: how they first met, what they went through up to that point, so on and so forth). Of course, I don't doubt that you can understand PMK without having read PM, but it just seems like a better idea to read Peacmaker first, especially being it's easily accessable through scans or, if one is morally against such means, the story is, for the most part, even purchasable through domestically available DVDs. That's just my opinion though, so whatever works....

(which I haven't but I want to buy when it comes out in winter)...
"Comes out in winter"? Did it get licensed? :huh:

[meowchi]

I love Peacemaker, but I think that the way they have put out the manga is crap. How can you just start in the middle of a freaking story and call it the begining???? Anyway, watch the anime first, and then if you like it get the manga. The anime covers what you'll miss in the manga. The story and art are AWESOME, but that does not mean that this is a good buy unless you know how the story starts. I've got most of the first part of the story in scanlations, just pm if you want me to send it to you.
Manga series I’ve always wanted to get:
So I’ll start, I’ve always wanted to collect the “Kare Kano” Manga series but I don’t know if its a good series but I always hear good stuff about it. Worth a read or not?
Kare Kano is a great story if you like high school romance. I've read up to volume 16 and I love it. But it can be very run of the mill Shojo. I think you should read at least two volumes, and see how you feel after that. If you don't love it by volume 2, then you'll never really get into it.

Manga Vol.s that I’ve stopped collecting:
I have up to the vol.4 of Tsubasa and the reason I’ve haven't collected anymore is because the story feels really episodic...ummm I guess you could say that -_-;, anyway the last volume just didn’t interest me and since it published by DelRey it’s kinda more expensive ($10.95) than a TokyoPop or a Shonen Jump manga, an with Vol. 6 just coming out, is it worth another try?
I love Tsubasa, but I don't mind the episodic feel of it. I think if you have read up to 4 and still don't like it, then you should just give it up. I loved this story by the 2nd volume, so I can't see reading anymore then 4 if you don't like it by now.

[owl]

Any thoughts on Shaman king? Ive always wanted to read this manga, but I fear its to "kiddy" plz correct me if Im wrong.

Shaman King might be worth reading, but definitely not buying. It's full of old shonen cliches and scenes very reminiscent of every shoune manga you've read or seen. You know... When the protagonist "almost" dies once in a while then against all odds beats the enemies... Or when the "power of friendship" defeats the evil antagonists. Sounds familiar?

[Ambient]

Shaman King might be worth reading, but definitely not buying. It's full of old shonen cliches and scenes very reminiscent of every shoune manga you've read or seen. You know... When the protagonist "almost" dies once in a while then against all odds beats the enemies... Or when the "power of friendship" defeats the evil antagonists. Sounds familiar?

Any thoughts on One Piece? Im looking for action comdey manga, if anyone can give me some suggestions plz thanks.

[ryushe]

Any thoughts on One Piece? Im looking for action comdey manga, if anyone can give me some suggestions plz thanks.
I read up to vol. 3 and the way owl feels about "Shaman King" is the same way I feel about "One Piece". While it's an "ok" series, it's not really worth colecting IMO. The story for the most part is kinda predictable and really cliché. But if ya wanna try it, get the first 2 volumes and see from there. But if ya looking for an action comedy manga I suggest Naruto. same "shonen" feel, but it does it better.

[Stelok]

What Manga Titles/Vols. have you always wanted to buy but don’t know if it’s a waste of money to do so? Well if so, just post it here and other AN members who has read said manga can review the series or just a volume for you.

Manga series I’ve always wanted to get:
So I’ll start, I’ve always wanted to collect the “Kare Kano” Manga series but I don’t know if its a good series but I always hear good stuff about it. Worth a read or not?

How it's worth reading depends on your tastes. I didn't exactly enjoy the Kare Kano storyline or artwork but the only volume I really liked was volume 10 because I really more than enjoyed the story about Maho and Takashi.



Manga Vol.s that I’ve stopped collecting:
I have up to the vol.4 of Tsubasa and the reason I’ve haven't collected anymore is because the story feels really episodic...ummm I guess you could say that -_-;, anyway the last volume just didn’t interest me and since it published by DelRey it’s kinda more expensive ($10.95) than a TokyoPop or a Shonen Jump manga, an with Vol. 6 just coming out, is it worth another try?

Yes, it's worth a try if you're a Sakura & Syaoran fan.

Manga series I’ve always wanted to get:
Gunslinger Girl- I've got the volume 1 but as I flip the book open, I was turned off by the cluttered artwork. Character designs are neat but the artwork was ruined by too much lines representing movements. Fortunately the very well-paced, smoothly executed storyline and complex character development saves the book.

Love Hina: I really liked the Love Hina series but wasn't sure purchasing them is worth the money because the artwork is decent at best. So I only purchased one volume.

[ryushe]

Love Hina: I really liked the Love Hina series but wasn't sure purchasing them is worth the money because the artwork is decent at best. So I only purchased one volume.
I have up to vol.5 and It's a good & funny manga, I would get more, it's just I have more important manga to collect at the moment. So I guess if you liked vol.1, try vol.2 to see if it's worth the collect.

[Ambient]

Can anyone give me some insight on Dr. Slump please, thanks.

[hiei_kurama27]

Ive wanted to know what Hands Off! is truley about, and if it is worth buying. Im not too clear of the genre either.

[Manafairy]

Can anyone give me some insight on Dr. Slump please, thanks.

I don't know if it's good or not, but in case it's any kind of deciding factor for you like it is for me, Viz took their magic, editing wand of righteousness to the second volume. It's a good thing too. What would we do without their protection from the extreme content of a book meant for children <_<

[meowchi]

Ive wanted to know what Hands Off! is truley about, and if it is worth buying. Im not too clear of the genre either.
I love Hands off! I'm not really sure what genre it falls into, but I can't ever wait to read the next volume when it comes out. It's got a good story behind it, and I love the comedy it has. I also love the trying to figure out what Tatsuki is going to do next.

Here is a summary from Tokyopop
Kotarou Oohira is a boy with the clueless touch -- he has an unusual type of ESP that is transmitted via physical contact. When he accidentally gives his cousin Tatsuki the "gift", he comes to realize that there is much more to his powers than he ever imagined!

[DazzleKitty]

Manga series I’ve always wanted to get:
So I’ll start, I’ve always wanted to collect the “Kare Kano” Manga series but I don’t know if its a good series but I always hear good stuff about it. Worth a read or not?



It's very good if you love romance and drama. I like the main female character because she's not whiney and indecisive like many shoujo female leads. Also, it has very good character developement. You can see there is a definite change in them main couple as you get further into the story. Also, every supporting character gets their own little story too. You get to know almost everyone.

Ive wanted to know what Hands Off! is truley about, and if it is worth buying. Im not too clear of the genre either.

Well, I know a lot of shounen-ai fangirls like it for it's slashiness. :P But if you're not into that, it still has some interesting bits. It's about three high school boys. They have these psychic power abilities(or at least two of them do), and they use them to help others when it's needed. Yeah....that's pretty much it.


As for me....I've always wanted to check out the Saiyuki manga. I love the anime, but I don't know if it's a waste or not to buy it since I've already seen the anime. Does the manga have some stuff that's not in the anime?

[owl]

Can anyone give me some insight on Dr. Slump please, thanks.
Dr. Slump is one of the better shonen titles partly because it can make fun of itself, and partly because it's one of those ageless classics in manga. If you're lookg for comedy adn action and you pick up Dr. Slump, you'll get a WHOLE lot of comedy and nice humorous action.

Oh, and guys, a favor: can someone just REVIEW GTO V.25 without telling me what happens in it? Like, just give me your honest opinion, was it a good ending to the series? I think I'm gonna buy this volume tomorrow.

[Imasyon]

Well, I know a lot of shounen-ai fangirls like it for it's slashiness. :P But if you're not into that, it still has some interesting bits. It's about three high school boys. They have these psychic power abilities(or at least two of them do), and they use them to help others when it's needed. Yeah....that's pretty much it.

So do you know if it's a finished series? Or is it still going on in Japan?
(I got interested by your description... ^_^ )

[DazzleKitty]

So do you know if it's a finished series? Or is it still going on in Japan?
(I got interested by your description... ^_^ )

I think it's finished. If I remember correctly, it was seven volumes long.

[Imasyon]

I think it's finished. If I remember correctly, it was seven volumes long.

ah ok, thank you :)

[ninjaspazz]

Kare kano has a great plot, and there's a charcter for everyone to relateto, especially if you're a student. Plus, the artwork is great. But be warned, it's pretty long, and up around volume 12 (I think) it starts getting serious. Mostly a romance/comedy, but like I said, it starts to get really serious towards the end. But its really good, so give it a shot.

Maison Ikkoku is frickin awesome! :D I love the comedy, and even thought there's no real plot, besides get the girl, its cute and funny. Well worth the money. A classic.
Surprised its not that popular...

I buy Shonen Jump, so I've read most of One Piece. Its pretty good, and the characters are really original. Not to mention so is the plot and style. Not great comedy, but its fun to read.

I was wondering if anyone had read Immortal Rain? It looks interesting, and the artwork is pretty good. Also, Scrapped Princess. Artwork is ok, but I want to know if the plot is good.

[Ambient]

Does anyone if FLCL has finished in Japan? I would also like to know how many volumes of FLCL have been translated to english and released in North America.

[kf1]

Does anyone if FLCL has finished in Japan? I would also like to know how many volumes of FLCL have been translated to english and released in North America.

It's finished and both voumes have been released in english.


My question: Is the Scryed manga worth picking up or should I pass on it?

[Gundam Girl]

I've been thinking of starting to collect Mars and xxxHolic. Anyone have any thoughts on these two? I've already heard many good things about xxxHolic.

[kenshinbebop]

My question: Is the Scryed manga worth picking up or should I pass on it?

I've read all 5 volumes and I found them very interesting. I have't seen the series however and so I don't know ho well it relates, but it was very good.
Edit: Being as it is a 5 volume sohrt series, I would think it did what the Wolf's Rain manga did and just went through the story plain and clean, no fillers, nothhing off track. Just my guess, but it seems that way. Anyone who has read and seen the series, please clarify for me. Thanks. :D

[ninjaspazz]

Mars is SO good! Great romance story! And the main guy is just hot. ^_~ Its not shojou at all. Its serious and you go in depth into the charcters' lives, which are each unique. Its more real, and it can be funny, but its more of a love story between two people you never would have thought would be together. Its sweet. ^_^

And XXXHolic is good too. Its actually creepedme out a couple times... -_-; *twitch* Monkey's paw...o_O But its funny too. Plus, the art is gorgeous, becuz, of course, its CLAMP. :D

[DazzleKitty]

I've been thinking of starting to collect Mars and xxxHolic. Anyone have any thoughts on these two? I've already heard many good things about xxxHolic.


I started reading Mars a few months ago. To me, it wasn't anything that really held my interest for long. I stopped at volume six. I may start reading it again some day, but I'm in no rush to finish it. I got bored at some parts, and the art doesn't really appeal to me all that much.


Has anyone here read Pita-Ten? I was in a book store today and the covers have really cute and pretty artwork. How is the story?

[ryushe]

Oh, and guys, a favor: can someone just REVIEW GTO V.25 without telling me what happens in it? Like, just give me your honest opinion, was it a good ending to the series? I think I'm gonna buy this volume tomorrow.
I thought I was a perfect ending to the series, way better than the anime IMO and this was one of the only manga I've ever read that was a tear jerker.

[Suikoden6880]

I want to know about Tactics...I going to read it, but I kept on giving it seconds thoughts. How is it? Does anyone know any manga or anime that they can relate it to so I can know if I could read it or not?

[owl]

Thanks about GTO 25... Actually, I just got the last volume and read it.

Regarding Mars - It's a great romance series, simply because it's much more down-to-earth and to a certain extent realistic than the great majority of romance series out there.

[Gundam Girl]

I started reading Mars a few months ago. To me, it wasn't anything that really held my interest for long. I stopped at volume six. I may start reading it again some day, but I'm in no rush to finish it. I got bored at some parts, and the art doesn't really appeal to me all that much.

Yeah, one of the things I'm worried about is the art kind of losing me. I've seen some pictures, and it's definitely not the best I've seen. May I ask why you got bored with it? Right now I'm inclined to get it, just because I've heard such great things about the story, but I don't have much money to spare.

What about Cardcaptor Sakura? Does anyone think it's worthwhile to collect that even after seeing the anime?

[ryushe]

What about Cardcaptor Sakura? Does anyone think it's worthwhile to collect that even after seeing the anime?
Well, if you liked the anime then of course and with only 12 vols. (6 for catching the Clow Cards and 6 more for the master of the Clow) It's a great value and while I've never read the final vol., my sister (A CCS fanatic) says the Manga ends differently than the Anime. So I think it's a safe bet.

[nameo9876]

I've read all 5 volumes and I found them very interesting. I have't seen the series however and so I don't know ho well it relates, but it was very good.

The Scryed anime and manga are almost completely different. The story and many of the characters are much different. The anime has the better, more fleshed out plot. Scryed is one example of how an anime can be better than a manga.

[DazzleKitty]

Yeah, one of the things I'm worried about is the art kind of losing me. I've seen some pictures, and it's definitely not the best I've seen. May I ask why you got bored with it? Right now I'm inclined to get it, just because I've heard such great things about the story, but I don't have much money to spare.


I guess the story seems sort of slow to me. I can't bring myself to really care for any of the characters.... Also, it keeps on going into the past of one of the characters and has all kinds of flashbacks referring to it, and it gets kind of old. The art was a big turn-off too. I'm kinda shallow when it comes to artwork....right now I usually only go with manga that appeals visually to me.

I'd say give volume one a go. If you really like it, try more.

[owl]

I guess the story seems sort of slow to me. I can't bring myself to really care for any of the characters.... Also, it keeps on going into the past of one of the characters and has all kinds of flashbacks referring to it, and it gets kind of old. The art was a big turn-off too. I'm kinda shallow when it comes to artwork....right now I usually only go with manga that appeals visually to me.

I'd say give volume one a go. If you really like it, try more.
If we're talking about Mars, I have different feelings about it. I found myself becoming more and more attached to the characters as the series went on. They were fleshed out very well, although I do admit that at some points, the story get extremely and heavily melodramatic, and I felt like the author was pushing the limits and was about to lose me.

As for the art, the artwork of Mars, in my opinion, is original and much better than most series in which the manga-ka simply immitates the classical style of manga. But this is merely a matter of personal opinion.

As for Scryed, I read the first volume of the manga, and I really, really didn't like it. I haven't seen the anime, though, and the general concensus seems to be that the anime is better.

[ryushe]

Anyone have any thoughts on "Please save my Earth". I read it a while ago (Vol. 1-3) and I can't find vol. 4 and up in store's, so I have to resort to ordering online and while the story was good, does it get better for me to resort to order onlne.

[FURUBA4EVER]

Some manga I've wanted to pick up but haven't:

-Chrno Crusade
-Tactics
-Rizelmine
-Seimaden
-I"s
-Dr. Slump
-The Devil Does Exist
-RG Veda
-GALS!
-Swan
-Beet the Vandel Buster

Manga I've stopped getting altogether:

-Kare Kano: there were just too many volumes...I started getting bored with the story around volume eight. (Stopped around volume 8)
-Gravitation: this story started boring to me too. Plus, yaoi manga don't really interest me much anymore... (Stopped around volume 7)
-Ai Yori Aoshi: this was too much of a shonen title for me. Too much fan service...I could handle Love Hine, but this, I could not... (Stopped around volume 2)
-Yami no Matsui: I just didn't see the thrill of this manga...I need to have a specific reason to buy manga, but I couldn't find one for this series... (Stopped around volume 1)
-Case Closed: Mysteries never interested me much, but I picked this up anyway. I didn't think I could collect all the volumes, though... (What are there, fifty and counting?) Plus, VIZ barely ever goes monthly, so I decided to stop then. (Stopped around volume 1)

I've read lots of manga, but they are expensive. Especially if you want to commit to buying long-running series (such as Inuyasha, Naruto, Bleach...). I've had lots of misses, but now I make sure to know a lot about the manga I get before I buy it. :)

[owl]

^ Yeah... When I first started collecting manga, I made the same mistakes of picking up titles that I hadn't researched previously. Now I have a bunch of first volumes that I never re-read and need to get rid of. They include Ceres V.01, Full Metal Panic V.01, InuYasha (I stopped after 4th volume... Kinda boring, to tell the truth), and my latest mistake, Legal Drug.

[FURUBA4EVER]

^Really? You don't like Ceres or Inuyasha? I almost stopped buying Ceres, too...and Inuyasha, for that matter...But, I changed my mind (because Yuu Watase and Rumiko Takahashi are my favorite manga-ka!).

Yeah...I made a mistake with Legal Drug too...I only have volume one...I thought it would be good because it's CLAMP...but it wasn't... :(

I actually stopped reading Full Metal Panic also... (after two volumes) The anime is much better. I don't know...It dragged, I guess... :(

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

What about Cardcaptor Sakura? Does anyone think it's worthwhile to collect that even after seeing the anime?
I haven't seen the unedited version of the anime (I have only seen the monstrosity that 4Kids churned out), but I would definitely recommend the manga. It's cute...and has a cute ending (in my opinion, anyway). ^_^

Now I have a bunch of first volumes that I never re-read and need to get rid of. They include Ceres V.01, Full Metal Panic V.01, InuYasha (I stopped after 4th volume... Kinda boring, to tell the truth), and my latest mistake, Legal Drug.
I stopped collecting Ayashi no Ceres, too, although I got to the fourth volume before I changed my mind and moved on to other series. I may start collecting it again, though....I'm thinking about it...slowly....

To ryushe and ninjaspazz: Yes, Maison Ikkoku is awesome. (This one just bought the first 12 volumes of the series.) I must figure out why I didn't start collecting this series sooner. -_-;

[ryushe]

-Gravitation: this story started boring to me too. Plus, yaoi manga don't really interest me much anymore... (Stopped around volume 7)
My sister picked up vol. 1 from her friend and I am by no means into Yaoi, but it was ok, not anything I would buy though. I did pick up vol. 5-10 at my library and it was kinda bad IMO.
I almost stopped buying Ceres, too...and Inuyasha, for that matter...But, I changed my mind (because Yuu Watase and Rumiko Takahashi are my favorite manga-ka!).

I bought up to vol. 7 of Ceres and I just couldn't do it anymore, I'm sorry but the story really wasn't going anywhere fast IMO. And I wanna start collecting Inu to but I'm already in a long series manga (Naruto).
To ryushe and ninjaspazz: Yes, Maison Ikkoku is awesome. (This one just bought the first 12 volumes of the series.) I must figure out why I didn't start collecting this series sooner.
Yeah, Why didn't you. :P

[FURUBA4EVER]

I bought up to vol. 7 of Ceres and I just couldn't do it anymore, I'm sorry but the story really wasn't going anywhere fast IMO.

I guess I'm just addicted to the art. :lol: Plus, I like romantic manga anyway... ^_^

And, you're right...Maison Ikkoku is really great! :P

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

Yeah, Why didn't you. :P
Uhh... :unsure: When I figured out good excu--*cough*reason, I shall let you know. -_-; Truthfully, I wasn't sure about the series. All I can say now is that I think my uncertainty was made partially of stupidity, and that my admiration for Rumiko Takahashi's storytelling abilities have increased by...well, a lot. Tenfold, at least.


I've heard snatches about Chrno Crusade--just enough to get me curious. How is this series? Is it really worth collecting? (And which is better, the anime or the manga?)

Also, does Fruits Basket get a lot better? I have only read the first volume, and I'm not quite sure about collecting the rest of the series.

[FURUBA4EVER]

Also, does Fruits Basket get a lot better? I have only read the first volume, and I'm not quite sure about collecting the rest of the series.

It does get better...The romance doesn't kick in for a while, though. It's great if you like fantasy along with comedy...Plus, the characters get better and better. It's my favorite series, too. :P

Also...That's great that you read Maison Ikkoku now! It's a great series, isn't it? Happy to meet another Maison Ikkoku fan!!! :lol:

[ssj4goku]

I've heard snatches about Chrno Crusade--just enough to get me curious. How is this series? Is it really worth collecting? (And which is better, the anime or the manga?)


So far I've read the first two volumes of the Manga and it a very good series. It really was very interesting and I enjoyed the Manga a lot. If I had to pick the Anime or the Manga I'd say based on what I've seen of both that each is good but would have to pick the Anime just because I've seen more of it. But I do plan on continuing the Manga also.

Now if anyone could give me there opinions on Pita-Ten or Tokyo Mew Mew that be great.

[meowchi]

Anyone have any thoughts on "Please save my Earth". I read it a while ago (Vol. 1-3) and I can't find vol. 4 and up in store's, so I have to resort to ordering online and while the story was good, does it get better for me to resort to order onlne.
I was thinking about getting this as well, but I have a few others in line in front of it. It looks pretty good over all, but I have not read any of it yet. If you want an awesome web site for super cheap manga go to HERE (http://www.justmanga.com) these guys are super fast and they always give free stuff. Not only that, but the manga is ALWAYS on sale.

[FURUBA4EVER]

Now if anyone could give me there opinions on Pita-Ten or Tokyo Mew Mew that be great.

I've read the first volume of Pita-Ten... WARNING: Extreme Cuteness Ahead. It was a bit much for me. It has a promising storyline, though. :)

As for Tokyo Mew Mew...I read the first five volumes. The only thing I didn't like about it was the love interest... :lol:

Anyway...these two series are extrememly shojo (and cute), so if you don't like that sort of thing...Don't start reading them. ^_^

[FURUBA4EVER]

I know the manga hasn't come out yet...but does anyone have any thoughts on the Girls Bravo manga? I saw an ad in a TOKYOPOP manga, and the art looked good...I know the anime is extremely hentai, but I wanted to know if anybody knows if the manga's the same? (I hope not...) It just looked like a good romance...

[meowchi]

I've heard snatches about Chrno Crusade--just enough to get me curious. How is this series? Is it really worth collecting? (And which is better, the anime or the manga?)
I think the manga is WAY better. It's almost finished in the US, volume 6 of 8 is out now. The story gets alot better after the first volume. It's one of my favorite reads right now.

Also, does Fruits Basket get a lot better? I have only read the first volume, and I'm not quite sure about collecting the rest of the series.
YES! Fruits Basket gets way better as the story goes on. There isn't alot of romance in this story at all, I would more say aganst (sp?). But as the story goes on it just gets better and better. I think you should read at least read up to volume 4, and if you don't like it by then give it up. I can honestly say that Fruits Basket is my all time favorite manga. And that's comming from some one who has read a lot of diffrent series.

[SigonWulf]

I've been wanting to try out Culdcept and Priest.

[Ambient]

Is Peace Maker considered Yaoi?

[Imasyon]

I've been wanting to try out Culdcept and Priest.

For Priest I don't know, but Culdcept is very good (childish sometimes, but even then, very good :) )...I've completed it (4 vol.) but it isn't finished, though the mangaka doesn't seem to want to continue this series...I was very angry because the story was to becoming very interesting...
Nevertheless I'd ercommend it.

[Ambient]

The Peace Maker Kurogane Manga is very good IMO, and you understand a lot even if you didn't read the Peace Maker manga (which I haven't but I want to buy when it comes out in winter)... So I'd suggest to buy it ^^


So The Peace Maker manga comes out in the US in winter? Im refeering to the first Peace Maker not Kurogane.

[Imasyon]

oh sorry...I don't know if the Peace Maker manga is any good, 'cause in german it comes out in winter...I don't know if there is a english release though...^^

[Manafairy]

I've been wanting to try out Culdcept and Priest.
I don't know about Culdcept, but Priest is absolutely incredible. It starts out as a wild west action kind of story but by the third volume or so it goes from pretty good to mind-blowingly awesome. Erm, if you're really religious you might want to steer clear of it though. It's very, well, sacrilegious, so if that offends you then this story's going to piss you off quite a lot -_-;
Is Peace Maker considered Yaoi?
No, but it's one of the most easily slashable shonen series I've come across. It's really good though, so even if that bothers you it's all been, for the most part, just heavy undertones. The original Shinsengumi Imon Peacemaker isn't licensed for a US release as of this moment though, so you won't be able to get it domestically.

[FURUBA4EVER]

^I've been wondering, Manafairy...Are you a samurai fan, too? (You have a character from Samurai 7 as your avatar, too...) (Sorry if I sound like I'm just realizing this...:P)

[Manafairy]

^I've been wondering, Manafairy...Are you a samurai fan, too?
How could anyone not be :P

[FURUBA4EVER]

^That's true! :P Gotta love the samurai! ^_^

[Suzaku no Miko]

I want to start a new manga series either

Angel Sanctuary or
FullMoon wo Sagashite

Can I have everyones opinion, please? :P

[FURUBA4EVER]

0_0 Full Moon wo Sagashite is one of my favorites!!! I love it!!! You should definitely think about buying it!!! (Volume 2 just came out recently, if I remember correctly) It's a great shojo series. You wouldn't be disappointed. ^_^

[DazzleKitty]

I want to start a new manga series either

Angel Sanctuary or
FullMoon wo Sagashite

Can I have everyones opinion, please? :P

I've only read the first volume of Full Moon, and I loved it. I'm going to look for the second one in stores next time I go. The artwork is very nice, too.

I did not like Angel Sanctuary at all. I've only read the first two volumes, but I didn't enjoy either of them. It starts out way too fast, moves too fast, and introduces way too many characters at once. I had to reread certain parts because some were confusing.

[Carmel]

I want to start a new manga series either

Angel Sanctuary or
FullMoon wo Sagashite

Can I have everyones opinion, please? :P

Full Moon wo Sagashite, there's no contest there ^_^

[FURUBA4EVER]

I have a certain quirk...The art has to be really nice for me to be interested in a series. (It has to have a clean, neat look to it) Angel Sanctuary's art didn't appeal to me. Plus, the angels and devils stereotype is kind of old. -_-

[SigonWulf]

I want to start a new manga series either

Angel Sanctuary or
FullMoon wo Sagashite

Can I have everyones opinion, please? :P

My girlfriend suggested me to get Angel Sanctuary but I still haven't been able to. I'll ask her what she thinks about it and get back to you on it.

Edit: Ok she said the story was nice. Also if it helps I asked her once to give me a couple of action mangas to buy and she suggested Angel Sacntuary.

[kenshinbebop]

Well, all I've done is reeview, so how bout a request :)
How's the Bleach manga.

[FURUBA4EVER]

O_O BLEACH IS AWESOME!!!!!!!!! I bought volume 8 a few weeks ago...You would not be disappointed if you bought this series. It has a great premise, great characters, and awesome art. (And a good story, too. ;)) I'm a girl, and I really enjoy this shonen series. And, boys enjoy it even more, I think. :P

[meowchi]

How's the Bleach manga.
I am also a Bleach fan. I really love the story and art in this manga, I'm a girl also BTW. My roommate is a guy and he loves the manga also. I think what really makes me love Bleach is the fights and the art. Best advise I can give you is to read volume one and two, and see if you like it. If you don't like it after the second volume, then you won't like it at all. I was hooked after the first chapter.. :D

[Manafairy]

Bleach has been okay so far. I've only read through volume 8 now, but I can say it really lacks the addictive and charismatic qualities of, say, Naruto, or One Piece, or Hunter x Hunter, or GetBackers. Most of the characters just aren't very likable, the plot is nothing special, and the fight scenes aren't good enough to be a saving grace. It's not horrible and it is entertaining, but it's not something that's proven itself to be great over its first 8 volumes. Most people seem to love it though, so I'm probably an odd one out here. You may want to check it out anyways, but I honestly can't give it a high reccomendation....

In other news, Angel Sanctuary is really good and anyone who says otherwise does not simply differ in opinion from me, but they are wrong :P Okay, so I suppose they do simply differ in opinion, but that's besides the point! Admittedly, I didn't absolutely love it until volume 5 or 6, but it's still at least decent up until that point. It's one of the only shoujo stories I follow, as it's light on romance and heavy on story, which is a blessing or a curse depending on who you're talking to. Of course, I don't know how it compares to Fullmoon wo Sagashite, having only read the handful of pages in the Shoujo Beat sampler. As I know the preview didn't in the least bit appeal to me, I can say that I, personally, would greatly prefer Angel Sanctuary, but I guess that all depends on what makes a series "good" to you :|

On that note, does anyone have any opinions one way or the other on Banana Fish?

[meowchi]

In other news, Angel Sanctuary is really good and anyone who says otherwise does not simply differ in opinion from me, but they are wrong :P Okay, so I suppose they do simply differ in opinion, but that's besides the point! Admittedly, I didn't absolutely love it until volume 5 or 6, but it's still at least decent up until that point. It's one of the only shoujo stories I follow, as it's light on romance and heavy on story, which is a blessing or a curse depending on who you're talking to. Of course, I don't know how it compares to Fullmoon wo Sagashite, having only read the handful of pages in the Shoujo Beat sampler. As I know the preview didn't in the least bit appeal to me, I can say that I, personally, would greatly prefer Angel Sanctuary, but I guess that all depends on what makes a series "good" to you :|[/b]?

I totaly agree with on Angel Sanctuary. I really had a hard time with getting in to it at first, but now (volume 9) I just love it. It is a great story and the art is to die for. I am really impressed every time a new volume comes out at the amount to story this manga has. I was already a fan of her other work Count Cain so I stuck with it, and boy am I glad that I did. It's a wonderful story!

[ryushe]

And here I was just about to ask about "Bleach", -_-;. Anyway, Anyone have any thoughts on the Megaman.EXE manga.

[ryushe]

My bad, Double post -_-;.

As meowchi suggested in another thread, how's Aquarian Age Juvenile Orion? I've always been interested the animation but I don't know anything of the story. And if it matters, I've seen some of the Aquarian Age anime (The one where they're rock stars).

[HitokiriShadow]

Well, all I've done is reeview, so how bout a request :)
How's the Bleach manga.

Bleach is probably one of the best shonen manga currently coming out. Personally, the only shonen manga I like more than Bleach is Rurouni Kenshin. At first, the plot may sound like Yu Yu Hakusho, but the only remote similarity to YYH is that the story and fighting involves a 'spirit world' of sorts. One of the reasons I think Bleach is so great is because Ichigo isn't the annoying brat (Naruto) or the delinquent (YYH) that seem to star in so many manga (although he does share some of the impulsiveness seen in those characters).

Unlike Naruto, the main character is actually pretty mature and I actually like his personality. The plot is rather slow up until volume 5 as it spends time introducing characters and explaining "the rules" of the Bleach world.

[meowchi]

My bad, Double post -_-;.

As meowchi suggested in another thread, how's Aquarian Age Juvenile Orion? I've always been interested the animation but I don't know anything of the story. And if it matters, I've seen some of the Aquarian Age anime (The one where they're rock stars).
Well... I guess I'll answer your question for you, since I was the one to make the suggestion. I loved the manga, super cute art, hot guys, cute girl, good story, and to top it all off it's nice and short. Only 5 volumes long!
And it doesn't really matter if you've seen the anime because they are diffrent from each other.
Here is the summary for it from Justmanga.com
Aquarian Age: Juvenile Orion Vol. 1 Summary

Sixteen year old Mana returns to her hometown to unite with her childhood sweetheart after 7 years. But Kaname seems to have changed during their years apart. Mana's presence sets off a chain of events that changes the lives of Kaname and his best friend Naoya forever. Their classmates Isshin and Tsukasa, and their teacher Tomonori find themselves drawn to her as well.

They soon discover that they are all a part of the Aquarian Age - a secret war raging for thousands of years. Now the fate of the world hangs in the balance as one girl meets her destiny.

[enakakooc]

I liked the anime version of Full Metal Alchemist but not the manga version.

[enakakooc]

My local book store lets me just read the mangas and put it back when I'm done.

[enakakooc]

I'm pretty sure its Walden Books

[FURUBA4EVER]

Any good bookstore is like that, though... -.-

[meowchi]

My local book store lets me just read the mangas and put it back when I'm done.

Could you try and keep from triple posting??? And stay on topic please.

[FURUBA4EVER]

I like this manga review section. It gives me a chance to hear about series I'm interested in.

Has anybody heard about the CLOVER box set? I just saw it on a website today (it was also released (?) today). Does anybody have an opinion about this manga? I want to read it, but I'm not sure... :(

[Wind.::.Raven]

On that note, does anyone have any opinions one way or the other on Banana Fish?

I've never read it in any order or even read all of the voumes, and I followed it briefly when it ran in Pulp. But I really enjoyed the little of it I did read. I never completely understood what happens in the story, (which comes from not reading it from the begining or in any coherent order) so I won't bother with a summary. Its written/drawn for an older audience, deals with alot of mature themes (drugs, gangs, boy-toys, politics etc.) and is something of a shounen-ai. The art may not be the best, its really plain, but the artist does a really good job of giving the characters a sense of motion, almost as good as Yuriko Nishiyama (who did Rebound & Dragon Voice). I'm actually trying to find the rest of this series, but its really hard to find. If you haven't read any of it yet, and if you can find it, I really recommend it.

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

I have a question: How does the Fullmetal Alchemist manga compare to the anime? Anyone have any opinions? I'm curious.

[Carmel]

I've never read it in any order or even read all of the voumes, and I followed it briefly when it ran in Pulp. But I really enjoyed the little of it I did read. I never completely understood what happens in the story, (which comes from not reading it from the begining or in any coherent order) so I won't bother with a summary. Its written/drawn for an older audience, deals with alot of mature themes (drugs, gangs, boy-toys, politics etc.) and is something of a shounen-ai. The art may not be the best, its really plain, but the artist does a really good job of giving the characters a sense of motion, almost as good as Yuriko Nishiyama (who did Rebound & Dragon Voice). I'm actually trying to find the rest of this series, but its really hard to find. If you haven't read any of it yet, and if you can find it, I really recommend it.

^ That's was pretty much my opinion of the first volume, what I read was mysterious, people going insane and uttering something about Banana Fish. I've always planned to buy more, but it's never happened. The art seems more suited for an America comic than a Japanese one, so I didn't like that art style. I could also detect the slight shounen-ai...

[Imasyon]

I have a question: How does the Fullmetal Alchemist manga compare to the anime? Anyone have any opinions? I'm curious.

no clue about the manga compared with the anime, but the manga is very good, I would definitly recommend it^^

[Ambient]

no clue about the manga compared with the anime, but the manga is very good, I would definitly recommend it^^

I heard the FMA Anime is totally diff then the manga. Although I haven't actually read any of the FMA manga.

[FURUBA4EVER]

^The manga's really good, though. It has a similar storyline like the anime, but then it goes in a totally different direction at one point...It's nice to see some differences too. :)

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

Thanks for the feedback. I'll keep this all in mind. ^_^

[FURUBA4EVER]

^Volume 3 is coming out next Tuesday, if I'm supposed to go by what I read a few days ago... ^_^ Happy to be of help!

[ryushe]

I have a question: How does the Fullmetal Alchemist manga compare to the anime? Anyone have any opinions? I'm curious.
I've only read up to vol. 2 but I have to say so far I enjoy the anime far more than I do the manga. First is, I don't know about anyone else, But the art in the manga kinda sucks compared to the anime, everyone seems really short and pudgy (And I'm all for manga art over anime) second the first vol. was so filler-ific. I've never read a manga that I had to force myself to read other than Gravitation vol.8-10, And I love FMA. I don't know how the later vols. are but I heard it takes a complete 360 turn around the Greed arc.

[FURUBA4EVER]

^I want to read it just for that 360 degree turn. :lol: I want to be able to compare the differences between the two. :) I heard Sloth is a man in the manga. Is this true?! :unsure:

I agree, though...For FMA, Manga Art < Anime Art. :P I still like the manga art, though...The anime art is just on a whole different level, though... :)

[ryushe]

^I want to read it just for that 360 degree turn. :lol: I want to be able to compare the differences between the two. :) I heard Sloth is a man in the manga. Is this true?! :unsure:

I've heard that to, but I honestly don't know, There is an indication though that it's ED's mom through failed human transmutation, Not really sure about it myself though..

OK, I heard the reviews of BLEACH a few pages ago and it's kinda piqued my interest but I don't know if I should get it still. I have one question, Does it follow the same Shonen Jump feel? (i.e. The main character is invincible) that has that "Oh no, I'm loseing, But I have to fight for my friends" and get super powered kind of thing in it? Still I'm really interested in it seeing so many like it (Cuz I have to follow the masses to be cool -_-; ). Also I read the first vol and thought it was "Ok" at best IMO.

[FURUBA4EVER]

I have one question, Does it follow the same Shonen Jump feel? (i.e. The main character is invincible) that has that "Oh no, I'm loseing, But I have to fight for my friends" and get super powered kind of thing in it?

Definitely not. :) Here's one example In volume 7, Ichigo loses to Rukia's older brother Byakuya and loses his shinigami powers. He has to go through risky training sessions to gain them back. Bleach is...a very good series, in my opinion. I really like it. It starts to get better around volume 6...when the story starts to head into the Soul Society and their secrets... The first five volumes are character introduction volumes. They're still good, though. And...Ichigo really doesn't need that 'power-up'...Sure, it helps if he does get support from his friends, but he has powerful shinigami powers without that. That's my opinion of Bleach. (Sorry for so many spoilers...I wanted you to know where I got my info from.) :P

[ryushe]

Well, I'll guess i'll get it then :D (I know a place I can get vol.1-8 for about $60 so might as well buy in bulk :P). Thanks again. :)

[FURUBA4EVER]

^Sure. ^_^ As long as I know about a series, I'll give an opinion on it...whether it's good or bad. Bleach just happens to be one of the good ones. :P

[Malik_Fan]

Can someone please give me a reveiw of the manga, Doubt!!...? I'm not sure, and I don't want to waste my money. :smokin:

[cyborgaaron]

Ive seen megaman battle network. Its not that great. Is the manga any better? Also how is Orphen? Ive played the game, its great but hows the manga?

[FURUBA4EVER]

Can someone please give me a reveiw of the manga, Doubt!!...? I'm not sure, and I don't want to waste my money. :smokin:

It's not the best romance manga...but it's pretty good. (I've read the first two volumes) It's not bad, but some of it is kind of...racy, IMO. It's not my favorite shojo manga, but I find it pretty good to read since any girl can relate to Ai's insecurities. Of course, she goes a little too far by redoing her whole image and trying to hide her true self away...It's an okay manga. I'd give it a 6/10. :P

[Gundam Girl]

I've been thinking of starting D.N.Angel. Any thoughts on this manga? I don't have much money to spend so I really don't want to waste any on something that won't keep my interest.

[FURUBA4EVER]

D.N. Angel's a really good romance. ^_^ The story starts out slow, but by the middle of volume 3, the romance really starts to get...interesting. :) The character relationships are cute, which keeps the story nice and fresh. From the volumes I've read (8 so far), I'd say the story shows its high points in volumes 3, 5, 6, 7, and 8. It really starts getting good in the latter half of the series. ;)

It has a great story, awesome art, and two of the best bishonen I've seen in a while (Dark and Krad). (It has a fantasy element to it, too) I highly recommend this series. :)

[Gammi]

Fruits Basket seems very popular. I always see a lot of people checking the series out at the bookstore and it's always in the top 10 on the charts. It looks like a good series and Tokyopop is releasing the series pretty fast. I want to check it out but I don't know much about it. I get paid on Friday so I was thinking about getting the first volume. For anyone who is reading Fruits Basket is it a nice read?

[FURUBA4EVER]

Fruits Basket seems very popular. I always see a lot of people checking the series out at the bookstore and it's always in the top 10 on the charts. It looks like a good series and Tokyopop is releasing the series pretty fast. I want to check it out but I don't know much about it. I get paid on Friday so I was thinking about getting the first volume. For anyone who is reading Fruits Basket is it a nice read?

O_O Now this is my forte!!!!!!!!!!!!! :P

Fruits Basket is one of the greatest manga I've ever read. It starts out all nice and easy with a young girl who's just lost her mother...until you find out she's living in a tent! From there on, the antics just get wackier and wackier as Tohru Honda meets the Sohma family when her castle (a.k.a. the tent) gets covered by a landslide. Soon, she is living within the Sohma household...only to find out minutes later that certain members of the Sohma family can change into the animals of the Chinese zodiac!!!

The story and art are very appealing...Also, the story's characters each have their own personalities, likes, dislikes...They're all very human. It's not all fun and games, though...A darker, deeper, sinister undecurrent lies beneath the Sohma's curse...Each character has their own dark sides and pasts that they would like to keep hidden away. Even Tohru has her skeletons in the closet...She isn't only the cheerful, happy girl we always see...She has her own dark past which she wants to keep hidden...

We meet all 12 members of the zodiac, including the forgotten cat. However, I don't want to spoil too much, so you'll have to read it for yourself if you're interested. :)

All in all, Fruits Basket is a great series. I guarantee you will be hooked after volume 1. Then, you'll have Furuba Fever, which is treatable only by more indulgence in Fruits Basket! :P

[Wind.::.Raven]

Can someone please give me a reveiw of the manga, Doubt!!...? I'm not sure, and I don't want to waste my money. :smokin:

I really, really like it. I found it quite a bit more mature than most shojo. There's alot of graphic jokes, and even the art is somewhat more mature. I actually like all of the characters, even the annoying ones becase they seem so realistic. I suppose that's really what I find sets Doubt!! a little apart from most of he licensed shojo, is that its much more realistic, set more in the real world as oppose to an overly dramatic soap-opera world. Also that its light reading, in a way. It doesn't take itself too seriously --so far, anyway.

If you're looking for something like Full Moon wo Sagashite, Fushigi Yugi, or even Peach Girl then you might want to look somewhere else, though I say give it a try anyway. I find that it kind of has the same tone as Nana, though I wouldn't really put them on the same level.

[Wind.::.Raven]

I've been thinking of starting D.N.Angel. Any thoughts on this manga? I don't have much money to spend so I really don't want to waste any on something that won't keep my interest.

I really suggest saving your money for something else.

Its not that DN Angel is bad, so much that it isn't very good. Yukiru Sugisaki has a kind of disjointed way of setting her frames and speech bubbles, so its kind of hard to follow whats happenning. It isn't even just the frames but the story as well, it just kind of jumps all over the place. The art is beautiful, and the story is cute and has and interesting idea, but it takes a long time for it to get anywhere and which is bad enough without having a hard time to even understand what's happening.

[Imasyon]

I've been thinking of starting D.N.Angel. Any thoughts on this manga? I don't have much money to spend so I really don't want to waste any on something that won't keep my interest.

hmm...this is quite difficult...it really depends on what you like...
it has a lot of romance in it, but I find it too...indefinite.
You never know, what the author's up to. This is one of the few magnas (and this are really not that much) I want to sell...
The art is not so bad and it has some humour, but overall I wouldn't say it is worth buying so I don't rrecommend it^^

[Manafairy]

Yes, I definately wouldn't reccomend DNAngel. It's not horrible, but its not really good in any way either. It had an interesting premise, but what should have been the overarching plot has gone absolutely no where over the course of the 8 volumes I've read. Almost the entire series has been mindless, boring filler that hardly even serve to develope the characters. The art's wonderful and the fact that Satoshi is beyond shadow of a doubt in love with Daisuke amuses me greatly, but the actual story itself can't carry itself outside of those little quirks. There are too many good series out there to merit giving this one a purchase....

[Gundam Girl]

Ah well...I guess I'll wait until I'm filthy rich (if that ever happens) to buy D.N Angel. It didn't really spark my interest in the first place when I read the summary on the Tokyopop website...

Well, my mind is just a bucket full of questions, so can anyone give me a review of Fushigi Yugi? A lot of people seem to like it and I haven't heard anything bad about it so far.

[FURUBA4EVER]

Fushigi Yugi is a really good romance. It has wonderful art, cool characters, and a great storyline. The main character is Miaka Yuuki, who is your average teenage girl. She's a bit below average with her grades, though...making her 'dream' of getting into Jonan (is that the name? I can't remember...) High School pretty slim. Her best friend, Yui, is a shoe-in for Jonan, so Miaka tries her hardest to get in. (This is just the first few pages, though...)

One day, however, both Miaka and Yui are in the library...when they uncover a backroom to the library with old books. One is The Universe of the Four Gods. Curious, the two girls open the book only to be transported to the world of the four gods!

There, they almost get attacked by some thugs, only to be rescued by the dashing Tamahome. As soon as Tamahome leaves, however, both girls are transported back to their own world, thinking it was only a dream...

Later, when Miaka re-enters the book, she is thought to be the Priestess of Suzaku, who will save the land of Hong-nan when it is on the verge of destruction...How will Yui play a part in this? Well...you'll have to find out for yourself in later volumes... :)

I don't want to ruin anything, so I'll just include this summary of the first few pages. It gets really good around...the end of volume 1? Once the Suzaku Seven (Miaka's guardians) are all introduced, you start to really feel for the characters. Plus, Miaka and Tamahome's romance is one of the best in any manga or anime I've seen. :P (18 volumes all together; 15 are out in the US, though.)

There's a prequel as well called Fushigi Yugi: Genbu Kaiden. I would recommend reading this first, since it's a prequel. (It was written by Yuu Watase after the original FY, though...) I tells the story of Takiko, the priestess of Genbu, who came before Miaka to the Universe of the Four Gods. Only one volume has been released in the US, but...I would recommend this along with the original FY. (The art's more updated than FY, too, since of the age difference between the two...:P)

[HitokiriShadow]

Well, my mind is just a bucket full of questions, so can anyone give me a review of Fushigi Yugi? A lot of people seem to like it and I haven't heard anything bad about it so far.

I think Furuba covered it pretty well.

I just want to add that the main story ends at volume 13. Volumes 14+ are a second story that isn't as good. The main story, however, is a must read.

[FURUBA4EVER]

Sorry, I forgot to include that information. -_-; The second story arc (volumes 14-18) seems to be a way to deepen Miaka and Tamahome's relationship...not that they need it. If you didn't care much for the main story, you should probably steer clear of those volumes...unless you become a die-hard fan of Fushigi Yugi. (I just read them to find out how the story ends...) I also like Tasuki's 'kiss' with Miaka in volume 15... I guess it's a way to end the story logically... :rolleyes: It also develops some of the characters more, but...It's not essential reading. :P

[Gammi]

O_O Now this is my forte!!!!!!!!!!!!! :P

Fruits Basket is one of the greatest manga I've ever read. It starts out all nice and easy with a young girl who's just lost her mother...until you find out she's living in a tent! From there on, the antics just get wackier and wackier as Tohru Honda meets the Sohma family when her castle (a.k.a. the tent) gets covered by a landslide. Soon, she is living within the Sohma household...only to find out minutes later that certain members of the Sohma family can change into the animals of the Chinese zodiac!!!

The story and art are very appealing...Also, the story's characters each have their own personalities, likes, dislikes...They're all very human. It's not all fun and games, though...A darker, deeper, sinister undecurrent lies beneath the Sohma's curse...Each character has their own dark sides and pasts that they would like to keep hidden away. Even Tohru has her skeletons in the closet...She isn't only the cheerful, happy girl we always see...She has her own dark past which she wants to keep hidden...

We meet all 12 members of the zodiac, including the forgotten cat. However, I don't want to spoil too much, so you'll have to read it for yourself if you're interested. :)

All in all, Fruits Basket is a great series. I guarantee you will be hooked after volume 1. Then, you'll have Furuba Fever, which is treatable only by more indulgence in Fruits Basket! :P
Thanks so much for the synopsis. I went out last night and bought volume one and read it in one sitting. Great choice! Now that I've read volume one I really want to continue reading the whole series.

[FURUBA4EVER]

I'm glad you liked it. It really is a good series, isn't it? Just don't read so fast that you go up to volume 11...Volume 12 won't be in stores until December. :( (But, if you do, you can always read summaries online. :P) If you like it now, you'll REALLY like it once all the members of the zodiac are introduced. :)

[Gundam Girl]

Fushigi Yugi is a really good romance. It has wonderful art, cool characters, and a great storyline. The main character is Miaka Yuuki, who is your average teenage girl. She's a bit below average with her grades, though...making her 'dream' of getting into Jonan (is that the name? I can't remember...) High School pretty slim. Her best friend, Yui, is a shoe-in for Jonan, so Miaka tries her hardest to get in. (This is just the first few pages, though...)

One day, however, both Miaka and Yui are in the library...when they uncover a backroom to the library with old books. One is The Universe of the Four Gods. Curious, the two girls open the book only to be transported to the world of the four gods!

There, they almost get attacked by some thugs, only to be rescued by the dashing Tamahome. As soon as Tamahome leaves, however, both girls are transported back to their own world, thinking it was only a dream...

Later, when Miaka re-enters the book, she is thought to be the Priestess of Suzaku, who will save the land of Hong-nan when it is on the verge of destruction...How will Yui play a part in this? Well...you'll have to find out for yourself in later volumes... :)

I don't want to ruin anything, so I'll just include this summary of the first few pages. It gets really good around...the end of volume 1? Once the Suzaku Seven (Miaka's guardians) are all introduced, you start to really feel for the characters. Plus, Miaka and Tamahome's romance is one of the best in any manga or anime I've seen. :P (18 volumes all together; 15 are out in the US, though.)

There's a prequel as well called Fushigi Yugi: Genbu Kaiden. I would recommend reading this first, since it's a prequel. (It was written by Yuu Watase after the original FY, though...) I tells the story of Takiko, the priestess of Genbu, who came before Miaka to the Universe of the Four Gods. Only one volume has been released in the US, but...I would recommend this along with the original FY. (The art's more updated than FY, too, since of the age difference between the two...:P)

Thanks for all of your help...now I'm looking forward to buying it!

[FURUBA4EVER]

^I hope you enjoy it! ^_^ (The romance part starts to kick in around volume 3, so...I hope you like it!) :teehee:

[meowchi]

Can anyone tell me if The Wallflower manga is good. I read volume one and liked it, but I don't love it yet. So I would like to know if it gets better, or pretty much stays the same. Thanks for any help! :D

[FURUBA4EVER]

I really, really like The Wallflower. :) It gets better around volume 2...and just keeps getting better. You can tell that Sunako-chan and Kyohei are starting to get to know each other better...So, soon they might become a couple. :) Also, Sunako-chan's antics just get funnier and funnier. :P Oh, and about Noi and Takenaga, their relationship starts moving forward as well. :teehee: And, if that doesn't pull you in, the lovely bishonen also keep getting more irresistible with each volume... (And, of course, there's more Ranmaru, the resident ladies' man, and Yukinojo, who may be a crybaby sometimes, but he's just cuter that way...) :P

(Also, volume 1 started kind of slow, which made me wonder if I would read the later volumes...but once I read volume 2, I was hooked...)

[meowchi]

^ Thanks for the info. :D I've got volume one and two, so I will keep reading. Now at least I am looking forward to reading the second volume!

[meowchi]

Just trying to keep this thread alive.... I've read up to volume 3 now of wallflower, and I'm starting to really love it.

[FURUBA4EVER]

Just trying to keep this thread alive.... I've read up to volume 3 now of wallflower, and I'm starting to really love it.

Yay! :D I'm glad you like it more now! (I really want this thread to stay alive as well!) ^_^

Anyone have any opinions on the other volumes of Saiyuki? I have volume one, which I thought was kind of blah compared to what I've seen from the anime. Does it get better? :)

[meowchi]

^ It does get better in the sence that it doesn't have any filler story. I have all of the Saiyuki volumes, and volume 1 of reload. I like it alot better then the anime now that I've read more of it. I think you may get board if you've seen all the anime, but all in all it's very good from volume 3 and on.
I have a question about Socrates in Love.... does any one know anything about this other than what they've put in Shojo Beat? It looks like something that I would really like, but I really don't know anything about it.

[FURUBA4EVER]

Socrates in Love...I would read the novel before the manga, but both are sad, I think. :( I'll still pick them up, though, since they seem to have interesting stories of romance and loss. (I'm only going by what I've seen in SB as well, though...) -_-; If I find any info on the 'net, I'll send it to you, though. ^_^

[meowchi]

^ Thanks :D I think I want to get both as well. I really wanted to get the novel, but then I saw the manga in this months SB. So I think I will just give in and get them both when they come out. It looks like the manga will be out first, does any know if that is right?

[FURUBA4EVER]

I think they're both coming out on October 4th...I'll go check some of my magazines...:P

All right...In the August issue of Newtype, it says the novel is coming out in October. I saw in an ad (in another magazine) that it is $17.99, hardcover, while the manga is the same price as any of the other SB manga ($8.99?). :) (Yay!)

[FURUBA4EVER]

Time to get this thread going again! ^_^

Has anyone read Gacha Gacha vol. 1? I'm curious about this series, since it seems like it would be a good romance...Just wondering what people thought about it...^_^ (I'm a little worried to try it, since it seems like another typical shonen romance...) -_-;

(I'm also wondering about Love Roma, Sugar Sugar Rune, and Ghost Hunt. -_-; Lots of Del Rey titles, I know, but they all look very good...:P)

[Makimachi]

I did want to try Tokyo Boys and Girls because it's by Aihara Miki, but the artwork's holding me back. I've always wanted to try D.N.Angel but I've gotten a variety of mixed respones about it. But I'm really considering Naruto. I'll probably try it soon. Do you think the anime or manga is better?

Some others I've wanted to try are Hana-Kimi, Kare First Love, Red River, Sensual Phrase, and there's more but I can't really think of them now. And I'm not sure if I should continue From Far Away or not.

[FURUBA4EVER]

I've always wanted to try D.N.Angel but I've gotten a variety of mixed respones about it.

I think D.N. Angel is very good. Then again, I love fantasy and bishies, so what's not to love? ;) Anyway...The story focuses around Daisuke Niwa and his age-old family tradition of having the youngest Niwa male house Dark, the phantom thief. However, this transformation must be triggered by a first love. Unluckily for Daisuke, he gets rejected by the girl he loves...and that same day, his Love DNA reacts, unleashing the Phantom Thief Dark! This story has cute romance (which starts to get good around volume 3) and some shounen-ai moments (between Satoshi, the rival, and Daisuke). I'd give it an 8/10.

But I'm really considering Naruto. I'll probably try it soon. Do you think the anime or manga is better?

Naruto. I love this manga. It's really good. It's about a young boy named Naruto and his dream to become the top ninja (Hokage) of his village, since he's looked down upon by almost all of the villagers. At the end of the first chapter, a secret about Naruto is revealed to us...which sets the story into motion. Also, the characters themselves are worth it. We meet the bubbly and in love Sakura, her crush Sasuke (and ninja rival to Naruto), and Kakashi, the mysterious teacher who guides them through their ninja paths. Things start to turn in a new direction around volume 5, when we see glimpses of a darker side to Sasuke. (I haven't seen the anime yet, but I think the manga's story, characters, and the art is really good...:)) I'd give it an 8.5/10.

Hana-Kimi

Well...I like Hana-Kimi...but it's really slow. The romance part doesn't really kick-in until volume 3, yet...the setting is awkward, since the main character is trying to disguise herself as a boy at an all boys' school. So, you can guess there won't be any concrete romance for a while. :P The characters and art make it enjoyable (and funny!) enough to read. I'd give it a 6/10 (when being compared to other shojo/romance titles).

Kare First Love

Well...This series reminds me of Peach Girl. It's a very enjoyable romance. It's realistic (like Peach Girl), yet you see nice and sweet moments of romance. Karin (who's a typical wallflower at the beginning) seems to bloom as a character throughout the first few volumes. (Of course, she only started to change after she met the love interest, Kiriya. ;)) Honestly, you can see how love changes her throughout the story. I'd give this series an 8.5/10 just for Karin's growth as a character (and the romance too XD).

Red River

Well...If you're expecting something like FY, it might be best not to pick this up. Even though there is plenty of romance, you also feel like you're getting a history lesson with this series. (It's not boring, though.) All the characters and their countries seem to tie in with history, so it might be best to know a little bit about the Ancient Middle East before reading this. (It's not essential, though...The romance is enough.) Honestly, though, I've learned a lot about the Middle East that I didn't know before. Good romance and a nice, refreshing new viewpoint on history. I'd give it an 8/10.

[meowchi]

Hana Kimi and Red River are two of my favs right now. I really think Hana Kimi is one of the best that I read. I agree with every thing that FURUBA4EVER said, she and I seem to have the same thoughts on a lot of titles. :D

[FURUBA4EVER]

Hana Kimi and Red River are two of my favs right now. I really think Hana Kimi is one of the best that I read. I agree with every thing that FURUBA4EVER said, she and I seem to have the same thoughts on a lot of titles. :D

Aww...thanks. ^_^ (I feel the same way, meowchi!) I love Hana-Kimi and Red River a lot...They're both really good! (I can't wait for volume 8 of Hana-Kimi and volume 9 of Red River to come out!...even though Red River volume 8 just came out last month...-_-;...:P)

[HitokiriShadow]

Actually, Red River vol. 8 was released this month, though some stores may have gotten and shelved it early. Sadly, I haven't been able to find it yet :(

[FURUBA4EVER]

Actually, Red River vol. 8 was released this month, though some stores may have gotten and shelved it early. Sadly, I haven't been able to find it yet :(

Oh, no, I'm already going by the October list...so I'm thinking it's October...Sorry about that if I confused you. -_-; I know Red River volume 8 was released in September...since I bought it a few days ago. You'll find it soon, and you'll like it just as much as the other volumes. It's really great. ;) Red River volume 9 has a release date set for November, if anyone's wondering. (And it's a long series as well...I think it's close to 30 volumes? :P)

[HitokiriShadow]

I think it was 27 volumes.... well, according to AoD, it's 28 volumes.

I still can't find volume 8, and it's upsetting me. I may have to special order it.

[meowchi]

I think it was 27 volumes.... well, according to AoD, it's 28 volumes.

I still can't find volume 8, and it's upsetting me. I may have to special order it.
I got my copy of volume 8 a week ago at least. Go to WWW.justmanga.com and order it from them. They always have books early and they sell them for below the normal price, I get all of my manga from them now. I freaking LOVE that site!!!

[ryushe]

Time to bump my own thread (Sad, huh?)

I've been interested in getting the D.Gray-man manga for some time now. So I did the next best thing, download the first 5 fansub episodes, which I didn't really "get into". But I keep hearing fans say the anime isn't as good as the manga. Is it worth a get?

[goddessofanime]

Wanna try Ouran Host Club. And is Bleach different from the anime?

[KitsuneMaryohki]

Wanna try Ouran Host Club. And is Bleach different from the anime?

Dunno about Bleach, but I will put in a good word for Host Club. OHSHC is my favorite manga, tied with Black Cat. I would give you an "i you like ___, you'll like Host Club" list, but I can't think of anything that's really that close to it. The manga says Hana Kimi though. But anyway, go read it. It is pure amazing.

I'm kinda curious about Eyeshield 21...

[ryushe]

And is Bleach different from the anime?
Aside from the fillers, The Bleach anime and the manga are almost 100% identical. I was actually very surprised on how much they were similar to one another.

[Ariel Tsuki]

Time to bump my own thread (Sad, huh?)

I've been interested in getting the D.Gray-man manga for some time now. So I did the next best thing, download the first 5 fansub episodes, which I didn't really "get into". But I keep hearing fans say the anime isn't as good as the manga. Is it worth a get?

I do admit that the anime isn't as good as the manga (loses its momentum). Truth to be told, you don't read D.Gray-man for its story but for its characters. From where I'm at for the scanlations (I'm up to the 99th Night [aka Chapter], there's only 100 chapters available now), this series moves ZOMG slow. It may be in part that the author, Katsura Hoshino-sensei, got sick and it stalled for 6 months. If anything, D.Gray-man's slow pacing is its greatest flaw. If you have the patience for it, go on ahead. The characters alone is worth the books, but expect story to speed up or anything like that.

And the anime slows it down even more (due to there isn't much material to work with [100 chapters is very easy to go through in terms of animating it]) and makes it boring. It's really suprising to me that the anime is no where as good as the manga.

[HitokiriShadow]

Aside from the fillers, The Bleach anime and the manga are almost 100% identical. I was actually very surprised on how much they were similar to one another.

A couple of scenes were removed from the anime, but other than that and the filler (everything after the Soul Society arc at this point), they are pretty much identical.