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RE:Play #1
Re:Play, Vol. 1
He's the answer to her prayers, and the beginning of her nightmares!
When Cree's bass player bails on her band, she finds herself in a bind. Through a twist of fate, she meets Izsak, bass player extraordinaire, and all her problems are solved! But when a pair of mysterious figures begins to stalk the band, her world quickly turns into one big bad dream. Between Izsak's dark past and shadowy future, can the light of Cree's promising romance with him survive?
When Cree's bass player bails on her band, she finds herself in a bind. Through a twist of fate, she meets Izsak, bass player extraordinaire, and all her problems are solved! But when a pair of mysterious figures begins to stalk the band, her world quickly turns into one big bad dream. Between Izsak's dark past and shadowy future, can the light of Cree's promising romance with him survive?
188 pages, Paperback
First published August 8, 2006
About the author
Christy Lijewski
8 books16 followersChristy Lijewski is an American comic book artist and illustrator from Baltimore, Maryland who specializes in OEL manga. She operates on the internet under the pen name and-babel-fell.
Christy Lijewski attended Savannah College of Art and Design for their Sequential Art program. Her big break was Tokyopop's Rising Stars of Manga contest, in which her entry "Doors" placed runner up. Although this meant that the Lijewski did not win the guaranteed contract with Tokyopop, it did bring her work into the public. Doors was also the genesis of Lijewski's series Next Exit, which Slave Labor Graphics began to publish in 2004. Next Exit is an expanded version of the story in "Doors", the two even sharing the main characters Retrab and Markesh. She was then one of a few runner up artists to enter a deal publishing with Tokyopop, and has written RE:Play as an entirely new series for release. (Wikipedia)
Christy Lijewski attended Savannah College of Art and Design for their Sequential Art program. Her big break was Tokyopop's Rising Stars of Manga contest, in which her entry "Doors" placed runner up. Although this meant that the Lijewski did not win the guaranteed contract with Tokyopop, it did bring her work into the public. Doors was also the genesis of Lijewski's series Next Exit, which Slave Labor Graphics began to publish in 2004. Next Exit is an expanded version of the story in "Doors", the two even sharing the main characters Retrab and Markesh. She was then one of a few runner up artists to enter a deal publishing with Tokyopop, and has written RE:Play as an entirely new series for release. (Wikipedia)
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
April 7, 2013
[Reread 1/30/2021 - My feelings about this volume are much less gushy than they were 11 years ago. I still think the character designs are fairly attractive, but I noticed a lot more problems in the artwork than during my original read - anatomical issues, moments when better layouts or use of certain types of visual shorthand would have made scenes and panels stronger, etc. I'm still interested in the mystery of Izsak's past, though, and I'm looking forward to finally reading past this first volume and finishing the series up.
I opted to downgrade my rating to 3 stars. Originally I gave it 4, and you can see the 2010 review for that rating below.]
Ohmigod, ohmigod, I have to buy more volumes of this! Well, actually, I have the first two volumes, and it turns out there are only three total, so I guess I only need to get one more. While I'm happy I won't need to make a huge monetary investment to own all of this, I'm already sad that this series is so short. Because, ohmigod, it's good.
Ok, don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that you should drop everything and go out and buy this - just because I love this series so far doesn't mean you're going to. I can't even say that this is a very original series, because this is another one of those where it's pathetically easy for me to come up with read-alikes. However, this series has so many things I tend to like in a series that it just brings me all kinds of joy.
First, there's the pretty guys. Izsak is not only gorgeous, he's nice. The mystery surrounding him origins and even what he is (I'm guessing vampire, but can it really be that simple?) makes him even better. Rail is also gorgeous, although his other appealing characteristics are different. He's got the scowling delinquent look down pat (think Ichigo Kurosaki from Bleach), and yet he's got a cute, sweet secret thing for Cree (how cute and sweet you think it is all depends upon how you tend to feel about "sibling-by-marriage" romance stories - I'm usually not that wild about them, which is why I'm rooting more for Izsak than Rail). Also, according to his bio at the end of the volume, he's pretty smart. As a reader, both guys seem fairly yummy to me. Izsak doesn't have all the "but we're siblings!" baggage, while Rail is probably better for Cree in terms of long-term health and piece-of-mind. I'm still rooting for Izsak, though.
Second, there's the artwork. It took me longer than it should have to place what I think is Lijewski's biggest artistic influence, but I'm guessing it's Tite Kubo, the artist and author of Bleach. I can see that influence most clearly in Rail. It's something about his eyes. And his scowl. Anyway, I love both Tite Kubo and Lijewski's artwork. Lijewski (as she was when she created this volume) could stand to improve her full-body anatomy skills, but hoo boy does she draw abs nicely.
Ahem.
Ok, moving past the whole drooling fangirl stuff. Third, I really like the overall mix of romance, mystery, and supernatural. I can't wait to learn more about Izsak and see where things go with him and Cree. Who are the two mysterious stalkers, and what do they want with Izsak? Who killed Ashley?
While I may have a few complaints about this volume, those complaints are very minor in comparison with all the things I loved about it. I can't wait to read volume 2, and it looks like I'll be adding volume 3 to the list of things I'll be spending my Amazon.com gift certificate on.
Extras:
Bio pages for Cree, Rail, Izsak, and Char that include age, date of birth, height, birthplace, hair color, eye color, style mode (not sure what this means, but then I'm style-less), major (for those characters who are in college), and a bulleted list of extra tidbits. Also, a few paragraphs from Lijewski.
(Original review, with read-alikes and watch-alikes, posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
I opted to downgrade my rating to 3 stars. Originally I gave it 4, and you can see the 2010 review for that rating below.]
Ohmigod, ohmigod, I have to buy more volumes of this! Well, actually, I have the first two volumes, and it turns out there are only three total, so I guess I only need to get one more. While I'm happy I won't need to make a huge monetary investment to own all of this, I'm already sad that this series is so short. Because, ohmigod, it's good.
Ok, don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that you should drop everything and go out and buy this - just because I love this series so far doesn't mean you're going to. I can't even say that this is a very original series, because this is another one of those where it's pathetically easy for me to come up with read-alikes. However, this series has so many things I tend to like in a series that it just brings me all kinds of joy.
First, there's the pretty guys. Izsak is not only gorgeous, he's nice. The mystery surrounding him origins and even what he is (I'm guessing vampire, but can it really be that simple?) makes him even better. Rail is also gorgeous, although his other appealing characteristics are different. He's got the scowling delinquent look down pat (think Ichigo Kurosaki from Bleach), and yet he's got a cute, sweet secret thing for Cree (how cute and sweet you think it is all depends upon how you tend to feel about "sibling-by-marriage" romance stories - I'm usually not that wild about them, which is why I'm rooting more for Izsak than Rail). Also, according to his bio at the end of the volume, he's pretty smart. As a reader, both guys seem fairly yummy to me. Izsak doesn't have all the "but we're siblings!" baggage, while Rail is probably better for Cree in terms of long-term health and piece-of-mind. I'm still rooting for Izsak, though.
Second, there's the artwork. It took me longer than it should have to place what I think is Lijewski's biggest artistic influence, but I'm guessing it's Tite Kubo, the artist and author of Bleach. I can see that influence most clearly in Rail. It's something about his eyes. And his scowl. Anyway, I love both Tite Kubo and Lijewski's artwork. Lijewski (as she was when she created this volume) could stand to improve her full-body anatomy skills, but hoo boy does she draw abs nicely.
Ahem.
Ok, moving past the whole drooling fangirl stuff. Third, I really like the overall mix of romance, mystery, and supernatural. I can't wait to learn more about Izsak and see where things go with him and Cree. Who are the two mysterious stalkers, and what do they want with Izsak? Who killed Ashley?
While I may have a few complaints about this volume, those complaints are very minor in comparison with all the things I loved about it. I can't wait to read volume 2, and it looks like I'll be adding volume 3 to the list of things I'll be spending my Amazon.com gift certificate on.
Extras:
Bio pages for Cree, Rail, Izsak, and Char that include age, date of birth, height, birthplace, hair color, eye color, style mode (not sure what this means, but then I'm style-less), major (for those characters who are in college), and a bulleted list of extra tidbits. Also, a few paragraphs from Lijewski.
(Original review, with read-alikes and watch-alikes, posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
June 23, 2023
Lots of stuff here has really not aged well but this book is almost old enough to vote so I think I’m willing to overlook most of it…
The clothes are great, the art is very Bleach-y, Char is still THAT GIRL and I still absolutely love her, otherwise mehhhh???? I don’t really care about anyone but her but I care about her so much that I’m gonna continue my re-read lmao
Side note: as a kid I didn’t realize Rail has a thing for Cree and euuuughhhhh she’s your sister and Char is right there??????
The clothes are great, the art is very Bleach-y, Char is still THAT GIRL and I still absolutely love her, otherwise mehhhh???? I don’t really care about anyone but her but I care about her so much that I’m gonna continue my re-read lmao
Side note: as a kid I didn’t realize Rail has a thing for Cree and euuuughhhhh she’s your sister and Char is right there??????
April 1, 2008
Original English Language manga created by Christy Lijewski, who was a runner-up winner for her short story, "Doors" in TOKYOPOP’s third Rising Stars of Manga talent search competition. Cute, cute, cute punk rock illustrations!
July 2, 2025
i think it was nice. a couple years ago my aunty gifted me this because she works at a second hand store thingy.. forgot the name. uh but i only just read it maybe a couple months ago when on a road trip. i havent read the other volumes yet, but i think i will. i liked it. ^^
June 2, 2017
Good, the art got a little loose in spots but not bad.
The story surprised me actually, I just thought it was a punk band manga not a supernatural one.
The story surprised me actually, I just thought it was a punk band manga not a supernatural one.
August 13, 2019
The story was better than I expected it to be, but still not amazing. Personally not a big fan of the art style.
May 8, 2020
2020 Read #396
Not the most original thing ever, but I think I would have eaten this up as a teen. The mystery/horror aspect is kinda unnecessary, even so.
Not the most original thing ever, but I think I would have eaten this up as a teen. The mystery/horror aspect is kinda unnecessary, even so.
January 21, 2010
I don't have a lot of English-language manga in my repertoire, so I was first drawn to Lijewski's series simply out of curiosity. The story itself is actually a nice change from the usual manga/manhwa I pick up, perhaps due to the more familiar (Western) environments, settings, characters, etc. The heroine, Cree, is in a struggling rock band desperate for a new bass player to replace her ex-boyfriend. Enter a cute, homeless teen that just happens to be playing a killer bass for pocket change in the subway. Cree takes him home, cleans him up, and lets him into her band...and her life. Of course, our homeless bass player has an otherworldly secret that starts to surface at the end of volume one (me thinks in the vein of being a vampire). Volume two (and the rest of the series) will hopefully continue to engage.
June 2, 2020
2022.09.27
It's high time to re-read this volume and read the other two volumes, so that I can archive it.
A bit meh, to be honest.
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2020.06.02
It wasn't that bad and there are involved.
I bought it almost one and a half year ago and it waited patiently to be read. To be honest, my second copy came in in worst condition then I expected and I'm not a big fan of tattered books.
So, there's a girl who plays in a band and who's recently lost her bass player. Fortunately, she finds a bassist in the subway, and she takes him home to her sort of brother. The guy is actually good at playing and he enters the band. But he had amnesia, and he only remembers the last five years or so. And there are weird flying creatures.
It's a bit predictable but it's not that bad. I like the "dirty" art.
It's high time to re-read this volume and read the other two volumes, so that I can archive it.
A bit meh, to be honest.
-----
2020.06.02
It wasn't that bad and there are involved.
I bought it almost one and a half year ago and it waited patiently to be read. To be honest, my second copy came in in worst condition then I expected and I'm not a big fan of tattered books.
So, there's a girl who plays in a band and who's recently lost her bass player. Fortunately, she finds a bassist in the subway, and she takes him home to her sort of brother. The guy is actually good at playing and he enters the band. But he had amnesia, and he only remembers the last five years or so. And there are weird flying creatures.
It's a bit predictable but it's not that bad. I like the "dirty" art.
March 12, 2023
This series always gives me so much nostalgia!
This was one of my first manga, ever. I read it in middle school (borrowed from a friend who was insistent that I get into manga & anime) and I absolutely loved it. While I know now that this is not technically a manga (since it was written by an American author) it still served as the gateway to my intense love and passion for manga, anime, and sequential art.
I'm dying to reread the whole series. I'm afraid I probably won't love it nearly as much as I did in middle school, but that won't change my incredible fondness for this series and its adorable characters.
5/5 stars!
This was one of my first manga, ever. I read it in middle school (borrowed from a friend who was insistent that I get into manga & anime) and I absolutely loved it. While I know now that this is not technically a manga (since it was written by an American author) it still served as the gateway to my intense love and passion for manga, anime, and sequential art.
I'm dying to reread the whole series. I'm afraid I probably won't love it nearly as much as I did in middle school, but that won't change my incredible fondness for this series and its adorable characters.
5/5 stars!
January 22, 2013
Second time around, I couldn't give this manga my original five stars.
I think Lijewski has very interesting art, no doubt about that. Her characters are distinct and her idea is pretty original. Good humor mixed with seriousness throughout. But I think this manga was a little too melodramatic for me. I'm going to continue, however, because this manga IS good enough to keep me interested. Plus, I borrowed it from a friend, so no money lost on my part.
I think Lijewski has very interesting art, no doubt about that. Her characters are distinct and her idea is pretty original. Good humor mixed with seriousness throughout. But I think this manga was a little too melodramatic for me. I'm going to continue, however, because this manga IS good enough to keep me interested. Plus, I borrowed it from a friend, so no money lost on my part.
October 11, 2008
i liked it. it starts kind of slow but i think it can be really good
August 14, 2011
Enjoyable. But not enough for me to buy the second volume.
September 11, 2014
I need the next book now!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews