I sat down expecting to only be mildly entertained and to be slightly irritated. I'm glad to say that this wasn't the case here.
Since this manga was...moreI sat down expecting to only be mildly entertained and to be slightly irritated. I'm glad to say that this wasn't the case here.
Since this manga was released as a "mature" manga (not to mention being sold shrinkwrapped!), I was a bit surprised to see how much it resembled its more innocent kin. This is pretty much your typical "girl meets boy, they fall for each other, things conspire to keep them apart" type of read. The interactions between the two main characters are incredibly cute and the artwork definitely reminds me of some of the cuter reads out there. Where the mature content in this volume comes out is in the references to sexual acts. None really take place in this volume but they are lightly alluded to. (Later on in the series it does become more graphic, though.)
I absolutely loved the artwork for this and I couldn't help but giggle at the chibi-izations. I'll admit that at times I felt like it interrupted the flow a little but at other times it just seemed to really fit. Style-wise this reminded me an awful lot of Sensual Phrase, so fans of that work will probably like this series as well. (less)
I'd heard a lot about the Sailor V manga and let me tell you, it's all true. Not only can you see where Takeuchi started toying around with the charac...moreI'd heard a lot about the Sailor V manga and let me tell you, it's all true. Not only can you see where Takeuchi started toying around with the character designs for Sailor Moon, but you can also see where some view it as close, but not quite as good as Sailor Moon. (Still worth reading, though!)
First I just have to say that like Sailor Moon, the artwork is gorgeous. It's a little rough in places compared to her later work (especially since the new [[ASIN:1935429744 Sailor Moon]]), but it's still incredibly fun to look at. The story is also interesting since it's both a standalone manga as well as being linked to the SM universe. I have to warn readers that they should take this manga with a grain of salt as far as how it fits into the SM world since you'll see various things that don't match up with what we know about the Sailor Venus in Sailor Moon. This is because Sailor V was initially released before Sailor Moon was and eventually sparked the idea for what is now her best known series.
The most fun of this volume is to look to see where Takeuchi started playing around with character designs. Minako (Sailor V) was quite obviously a springing board for Usagi, as she shares many of Usagi's characteristics and surroundings, most notably Usagi's parents and a few of her classmates. It's interesting to also see how the story changed over time, as the Sailor Moon series started up not long after Sailor V started up and ran alongside the Sailor V manga. (Sailor V releases started coming out more sporadically.) You can see some of the Sailor Moon characters (most notably Usagi), which was pretty neat.
Translation-wise, this isn't bad. I did spot a grammatical error in the volume and at times it does suffer from awkward translating, it's pretty well done and actually flows a little better than the Sailor Moon translation did. (Possibly due to it being potentially less scrutinized by the fanbase as the SM manga would be.)
This isn't as strong as the Sailor Moon manga is, but it's still very fun and it's a must buy for fans of Sailor Moon. For those who aren't as die-hard? Well, personally my gut reaction is to collect everything and tell everyone else to (hey, I'm a completist), but some might find that this just doesn't grab them as much as the Sailor Moon series does (or vice-versa). For them it might be worth checking out in the bookstore before buying it.(less)
I have to say, I've really enjoyed the Sailor V manga. It's such a great look into the thought processes of Takeuchi. In the first volume she played a...moreI have to say, I've really enjoyed the Sailor V manga. It's such a great look into the thought processes of Takeuchi. In the first volume she played around with character designs that would later appear in Sailor Moon. In this volume we can see where she had fun fleshing out the world from the first Sailor Moon arc. (This series ended about the same time as the Sailor Moon manga did, so all of this was drawn way after the Dark Kingdom arc ended.)
It's really neat to see manga like this, where you not only get to see the creator play around with character designs but to also develop their art and storytelling styles as well. It's a pretty fun experience, to be honest. (And of course the artwork is spectacular.)
As far as storyline goes, I found that volume 2 had a tighter plot. You can tell that Takeuchi had a better idea of how the story was going to end, so as a result the characters were better defined and the stories were faster paced. I was a bit sorry to see it end, but it wouldn't have fared well if there were more volumes to the series.
This is an absolute must have for all Sailor Moon and shoujo fans. (less)
I'd seen this on the shelves & flipped through it a few times but it wasn't until I managed to pick this up for ultra cheap that I finally gave th...moreI'd seen this on the shelves & flipped through it a few times but it wasn't until I managed to pick this up for ultra cheap that I finally gave this series a try. Why do I mention that? Because the price for this manga is rather steep for casual collectors. I'll justify my reasons for saying this later.
First off, let me just say that this is a rather cute manga. The main character of is pretty energetic & while the whole "happy go lucky girl everyone likes" character is pretty done to the point of death in the world of manga, Rinna does manage to remain endearing. You can't help but root for her. Something else that I liked was that there was no clearly defined "winner" of her love. You know what I'm talking about- when the manga sets up one guy that you just *know* is going to be the one the heroine ends up with. While that can be fun, it's kind of nice when I find a series that doesn't bash me over the head with "these two are totally supposed to be together" foreshadowing. Rinna has about three love interests that are worth mentioning & so far I could see her ending up with just about any one of them. And the artwork? Awesome. There's no "one face/hair/style fits all" for these characters & being different actually helps give them that much more personality. (You know what I mean by one size fits all, when manga characters all generally look the same.)
Unfortunately where this series falls a little short is that at times it's just a little bit too all over the place. Things happen pretty quickly in this series & at times I just felt like it was just a little forced. I sort of felt like this would have been better served with maybe a few more chapters so the story can unfold a little further & come along a little more naturally. The male characters were also a teensy bit annoying at times & once in a while I just kind of wondered why Rinna even bothered with some of the characters she tried to befriend. (Then something cute would happen & Fujieda's art would draw me back in again- the artwork is truly the best part of the series.)
Offhand I'll say that there was enough here for me to warrant purchasing the next volume in the series. It's pretty cute & while this wasn't the absolute best manga I've ever read it still manages to stand out enough to get & keep my attention. The only other drawback is the price. At about twenty dollars in the average store (not including online prices) it's a pretty expensive venture for a series that isn't really that well known in the US. While other series might have compilation sets that are just as expensive as this is (such as Wallflower), they're also fairly well known & have a big fanbase who wouldn't mind investing in a set this expensive. This is still a very good price as far as manga goes but I can't help but think that the price tag will scare off a few readers. (I didn't take off any stars for it, though. That's not fair to the series.)
I've both avoided and been drawn to this comic for various reasons. I love Adam Warren's art style but the general idea of the comic just seemed reall...moreI've both avoided and been drawn to this comic for various reasons. I love Adam Warren's art style but the general idea of the comic just seemed really stupid. After putting it off for a while I finally gave it a chance & while it's stupid, it's stupid in a good way.
If you want a series with depth, you'd be looking in the wrong place, at least in this volume. (I've been told that the series gets more depth as it goes along.) This is solidly cheesecake fare and it revels in this fact. I think that this is what made this such a fun read. I loved all of the little jokes here.
The artwork is what really won me over. As always you can expect lovely ladies drawn with loving care. There's a bit of a rough edge to the drawings, but it works here. It's not the uber-polished style that you might see in some of the comics out there but it works to help set this aside from some of Warren's other works. (less)
I got this at the same time as I did volume 2, so I dove into this immediately after finishing the previous one. (Now I just have to wait for my other...moreI got this at the same time as I did volume 2, so I dove into this immediately after finishing the previous one. (Now I just have to wait for my other volumes to get here!)
The artwork in this is just as good in the previous volumes, so if you've been a fan of the artwork then you're going to love this volume.
Where this volume really shines is in the further character development. If you've been waiting for lots of great action scenes, this is the volume you'll definitely want to read. Emp has a lot of kick butt scenes and the volume ends on a pretty awesome one. I can't elaborate without getting too spoilery, but it's probably her coolest one so far and it emphasizes the mystery of the suit and what it's capable of doing. We get a little explanation towards the suit's tendency to short out on Emp as well as more background on Thug and Ninjette. It's a really great volume and it really makes me impatient for the next volume.
This is one that you definitely have to get, although unlike the previous volume it's not one that you could easily and instantly get into without having read anything prior. You could if you really wanted to, but you'd be missing out on quite a bit of story. (less)
I'd initially been introduced to this series via the fan translations of this volume & the anime, but I'm glad to say that I got the chance to rea...moreI'd initially been introduced to this series via the fan translations of this volume & the anime, but I'm glad to say that I got the chance to read the official translation. It's an entirely different thing to read the book with the illustrations.
If you're not familiar with the series then you're in for a treat. This is one of the better light novels available on the market, being both lighthearted & serious at the same time. It's rather hard to dislike the titular character, to be honest. Haruhi is pretty much the epitome of a selfish & obnoxious average girl (minus the whole factor of her *not* being an average girl, of course) but Tanigawa manages to make her entertaining & endearing. You can't help but want to keep reading in order to see what she does next.
The illustrations in this volume are fantastic. You have not only the occasional picture for each chapter but you also have a few pages of color illustrations in the back of the book to flip through at your convenience. I also enjoyed that the version I bought (the hardcover) had the original Japanese covers rather than the plain blue cover of the paperbacks. (Plus the hardbacks will last longer!)
This really was a blast to read & I'm already diving into the second volume. This really is a great read for those who want a nice quick or leisurely read that they can finish in one sitting.(less)
I'm reupping the date of the review since I finally got the actual book itself!! :)
It took me a long time to get my hands on a copy of this due to the...moreI'm reupping the date of the review since I finally got the actual book itself!! :)
It took me a long time to get my hands on a copy of this due to the first printing selling out, but it was worth it. This volume is awesome. There's so much going on in this volume that the pacing is actually a lot faster than in previous volumes. (And this is just what Zahler managed to get into it! There's more to the series...)
In this volume we're shown what it's like for Abby and Mark to be married as well as all the typical things of superhero and normal life. There's death, love, and taxes. Lots of taxes. Let me just say that Abby's never had to be around Mark during tax time, so while the idea of watching a fictional character do taxes might not sound entertaining, Zahler makes this a pretty funny bit to read about. The romance between Amazonia and Darkblade is actually the best part of the series, I have to admit. I initially wasn't as into her character as I was for the other characters, but the romance does bring out a lot more to her personality. She's a lot more insecure and naive than previous chapters have let on. (What her people are supposed to wear when meeting the parents is pretty funny.) The volume ends on a great tone that leaves the series open for more volumes to come out. (Oh, and as a bonus most of the chapters have alternate covers drawn by someone other than Zahler, which were pretty fun to look at.)
Overall this was just awesome to read and this is definitely worth tracking down if you're a fan of the series. (less)
The Numbers Man follows Pat, a sixty-three year old ex-geophysicist turned apartment complex owner that just wants to settle down with the right woman...moreThe Numbers Man follows Pat, a sixty-three year old ex-geophysicist turned apartment complex owner that just wants to settle down with the right woman & decides to try internet dating. He figures that statistically speaking, the more women he dates the more likely it'll be that he finds Miss Right. Unfortunately for him, he's only able to remember the women he's dated by numbers- something that's understandable when the amount of your internet dates have risen up into the 40s & 50s. While he tries to find that one great woman Pat is also trying to drum up sales for his latest book, The Single Man's Guide to a Quick Meal. When he clashes with a TV chef over one of the suggestions in his book (date a woman who knows how to cook), his agent & her TV staff smell the chance to not only boost his sales but also her ratings. But as Pat's dating life gets more complicated & he keeps getting hit on by the wife of one of his employees, Pat's going to figure out how to get himself out of this mess before someone gets hurt.
There really was a lot to like about this book. While Pat does come off a little old school, Muir manages to make the character likable & endearing. Readers will also enjoy the back & forths between Joyce & Pat, one of the more entertaining points of the book. Also incredibly interesting is when the reader begins to discover that the book is more than just fiction- it also seems to be partially based on the author's own experiences in life, something Muir delights in poking fun at several times during the book.
The only drawback to the book (other than not knowing where to find a copy) is that towards the end everything does seem to try to wrap up a little more quickly than I would have liked. While I'm not going to divulge details, I would have liked for a little more detail to the last 10 pages or so.
All in all, this was a cute book to read & I managed to finish reading it in the span of a day. Readers looking for a hugely meaty read won't find that in this particular book, but why should every book be some weighty 500 page tome?(less)
I'll admit that this is one of my favorite parts of the series for reasons I can't really divulge due to spoiler reasons. (There's got to be at least...moreI'll admit that this is one of my favorite parts of the series for reasons I can't really divulge due to spoiler reasons. (There's got to be at least 4-5 people who haven't seen the anime or read the Wikipedia synopsis.) I'm going to review this in two parts: the artwork and the story.
First the artwork: It's gorgeous. This is a pivotal time in the series, so the artwork gets both dreamy and serious accordingly. The splash pages at the beginning of the manga really are fun to look at. A great addition at the end of the manga was the inclusion of several character designs for both Usagi (one being a slightly different haircut!) as well as uniform designs. The sailor fuku uniform wasn't the first choice- there were several different ideas, ranging from skimpy armor to long sleeved sailor suits. I have to say, they made the right choice in the long run.
Story-wise, this was awesome. I loved it. There's still an element of playfulness to this volume but overall the tone here is serious. The romance in this volume is also excellent and I couldn't help but love the finding of the silver crystal. (My favorite part in this arc.)
Overall you can tell that this volume was very lovingly put together by Kodansha. It was clearly designed with the Sailor Moon fanbase in mind, which I whole heartedly appreciate. The translations are also a little easier to read this time around, something that tripped me up in the first volume. This is absolutely a must buy for manga collectors. (less)
While I've never read the Scary Godmother series before, I was pleased to discover that I'd seen Thompson's work before via the Fables & Sandman s...moreWhile I've never read the Scary Godmother series before, I was pleased to discover that I'd seen Thompson's work before via the Fables & Sandman series. She's got an incredibly playful touch that worked well with both series & I was delighted to be able to review this book for Netgalley.
There's a lot to love about this comic book. For starters, you don't have to have read the book series to understand what's going on so if (like me) you haven't seen the SG series before you won't have any problem figuring out what's what & who's who. The artwork is easily one of the best parts of this book, with Thompson doing a very good job of capturing the playful natures of her characters.
What I really loved about the book was how dark the stories would occasionally get. Parents, don't worry- it doesn't get that dark, although if you're truly worried you can always sit & read this with your kids. There's nothing here that the average child or teen won't already be seeing on Cartoon Network. This hopefully won't deter people from getting this & will hopefully bring in a few of the older readers since this really has an incredibly wide appeal.
I do recommend reading this in smaller gulps than I did. This was very fun to read but I'll admit that a little goes a long way. There's a lot of wackyness in here & as such can be a little much all at once. (But I couldn't stop reading, so that says something for the addictiveness of this read.)
I was a little skeptical of this manga, seeing as it fit so many different manga cliches. Two lead characters who are perfect for each other but are o...moreI was a little skeptical of this manga, seeing as it fit so many different manga cliches. Two lead characters who are perfect for each other but are oblivious to it? Check. Cute high school atmosphere? Check. Technically almost all of the stuff in this series have been used before in various different manga & anime series.
Yet when this series puts it together it's absolutely fantastic. I just couldn't put this manga down & I hated that I didn't have all of the volumes in front of me to read.
The artwork in this is just adorable. It hits all of my key "cute" needs & it also shows the characters' quirks & personalities incredibly well. I can tell that the artist really put a lot of love into drawing this. If that wasn't enough, the story is just so well done that I find myself getting very drawn into everything.
I just can't wait to get the next volume of this series!(less)
**spoiler alert** Parts of this review could be considered spoilerish, so you've been warned.
This book finishes out the series & to be honest, it...more**spoiler alert** Parts of this review could be considered spoilerish, so you've been warned.
This book finishes out the series & to be honest, it was a rather cute volume. There's a nice lighthearted feel to this one. Nothing incredibly serious is really brought up, which I believe is partially due to the fact that this was a game to manga adaptation. Normally about this time there'd be one specific ending if this was the game, so because Hitomi doesn't actually end up with anyone there's a little bit of a lack of oomph here. This can be pretty common with dating game adaptations since they don't want to alienate fans who prefer a specific pairing. The lack of any dedicated love interest has hurt the previous volumes but you never feel it as strongly as you do in this volume. I still enjoyed it but it's kind of like eating an egg without salt. It's good but it just feels a little bland.
I do have to say that the artwork seems to have slipped slightly in this volume. It improves in the final chapter since we do see a skinny Hitomi (something that the artist says that they'd been looking forward to drawing), but overall the artwork here felt distinctively lazy in comparison to previous volumes. (Which probably isn't saying much since the artwork in the previous volumes did slip as well.)
Overall this is pretty much more of the same from previous volumes, but with a resolution to the series. Taking out the portion where Hitomi chooses a specific guy left this volume with a huge gap that was never properly filled, so it's just a bit of a letdown to be honest. If you've been collecting the series then you'll want to get this one but this volume probably isn't going to make anyone want to rush out and purchase the entire series. (less)
(I want to disclose that I read the fan translated English version of this via MangaFox.)
This really is a cute series, but I have to say that it's a l...more(I want to disclose that I read the fan translated English version of this via MangaFox.)
This really is a cute series, but I have to say that it's a little too "monster of the day" so far. I love the premise of a dating sim otaku having to win the heart of girls, but this if you're looking for something that will be quickly wrapped up and not be 100+ chapters, this isn't that type of manga.
It does have a better premise than most as far as "umpteen chapters for eternity" mangas tend to go, so I'm going to go ahead and give the other volumes of this series a try. It's pretty cute so far, although I will say that when this gets picked up here in the USA I'll probably decline purchasing these. (Not if, but when since this is a decently written series with a HUGE fanbase both here and in Japan.)(less)
This review was taken from the fan translated version by Baka-Tsuki! (See their website if you want to read this book!)
I recently picked up the first...moreThis review was taken from the fan translated version by Baka-Tsuki! (See their website if you want to read this book!)
I recently picked up the first volume in the manga series & not being content to wait to find out how the series finishes, I located the fan translations of the light novel series. This is really worth the time it takes to locate this series.
This has pretty much all of the standards in anime & manga, yet the author manages to pull it off so well. The story is fun to read & the characters are so cute in their interactions together. It's a quick read, so there's no worries about investing long amounts of time to finish one volume. You could finish this in one sitting if you were so inclined & probably real all 10 volumes in one day. (But a little bit goes a far way with this series so I recommend parceling them out over a few days.)
I really wish that one of the various companies would release an official version of this light novel series. The market is small, but growing & I'm certain that this would do fairly well. (less)
As with the previous Toradora LN, I read the Baka-Tsuki translation of this book.
I have to say that this entry was actually a little stronger than th...moreAs with the previous Toradora LN, I read the Baka-Tsuki translation of this book.
I have to say that this entry was actually a little stronger than the previous one, but that's probably because at this stage we know quite a bit about our characters. This means that the author can expand a little on the situations & bring out more secondary characters. (Ami is one of those characters you love to hate!)
This is a pretty cutesy book so if you're looking for something a little less wacky or anything serious, this isn't the book for you. There's a short story along with this book that was also pretty entertaining to read.
(For people who might be reading this alongside or after the anime, be aware that they did alter the story very slightly, but not enough to really disrupt your reading experience.)(less)
I've really started to enjoy the interactions in the Toradora series. Ryuji and Taiga really are adorable together and their antics are pretty enterta...moreI've really started to enjoy the interactions in the Toradora series. Ryuji and Taiga really are adorable together and their antics are pretty entertaining.
There's really not much more I can say about this other than saying that since you can get free fan translations from Baka-Tsuki, you should really give this series a try. (less)
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