AB Manga Club

[Project Akira]

First off I want it to be known that this isn't some goofy club where every person comes in and says "OOOH I LIKE MANGA AND JAPANESE COMICS ROXOR OVER THOSE FAGGOR AMERICAN COMICS". Instead it's something that's a bit different and I hope interesting for anyone who is interested.

I've been talking with EVA fiend over the last day or too about the work of Masemune Shirow. In our discussion she's brought up points and ideas that I hadn't even considered when reading his work. This has inspired me to form a sort of internet book club, but instead of reading books we read manga. Though not just any manga, the manga that we all know to be definitive classics by the masters of Japanese Comic Art; Shirow, Otomo, Miyazaki, Samura, those guys who do Lone Wolf and Cub, and so on. This is a forum of discussion for Manga of relative substance not one for the discussion of Ranma 1/2 contributions to jokes about boobs and transsexuals. So if anyone is interested let me know here or through PM and we can all decide on a manga to discuss ^_^

[Drizzten]

This can substitute as the Manga Forum for now. Please keep the discussion limited to Asian-produced manga/comics. Side-discussion within the thread about manga/comics from other regions is permitted, but only when related to the topic at hand. When the forum opens, I'll move this over there.

[Stickied.]

[Dryden-san]

Ahem. The creators of Lone Wolf and Cub are writer Kazuko Koike and artist Goseki Kojima. Sorry, I just get a little worked up over this series. And you left Osamu Tezuka off the list.

*cough*

Anyway, sign me up. I love the idea of a critical discussion of the acknowledged classics of manga. Personally, I think there's room for critical analysis of any manga, but we can save that for the opening of the manga forum. Has there been any feedback about the first choice for discussion? I'd vote for something by Tezuka, but failing that (and his work really isn't that widespread over here) either Miyazaki's Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind or Ghost in the Shell. I don't even like Ghost in the Shell much, but I recognize the value of picking something both widely known and relatively cheap to buy.

[Master Ranma]

well, count me in....I read tons of mangas (known and unknow)..I think it's a great idea.

(wow! the temp. Manga Forum!) ;)

[Project Akira]

Originally posted by Dryden-san
I'd vote for something by Tezuka, but failing that (and his work really isn't that widespread over here) either Miyazaki's Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind or Ghost in the Shell. I don't even like Ghost in the Shell much, but I recognize the value of picking something both widely known and relatively cheap to buy. *glad Dryden-san will join in* Well one of the volumes of Phoenix was recently released here but I think it would be better to wait until more are released. And thanks for reminding me about Tezuka, I forgot all about him and he's the guy that practically invented the style ^_^

I would agree with Ghost in the Shell as well, volume 1 at least since volume 2 will be released as a mini series this fall. I'd like to also nominate Otomo's Domu since I feel it's the first real graphic novel of manga not just a collection of a portion of a series if that interests anyone.

[Drizzten]

Black Knight. Post off-topic in here again, and get a warning. Don't waste thread space.

[Post pruned.]


Unfortunately, you'll have to combine seperate manga discussions in this thread. There's no way around it, so try to do a good job quoting the people you respond to.

[Project Akira]

Yeah though if possible I would like to have discussions on particular manga such as a Book Club discusses one particular book.

[black_angel]

um count me in ...............

[mrgazpacho]

I bought the English translation of volume 2 of Tezuka's "Phoenix" last weekend. It was quite interesting.

[Kawaii Miko]

Ironically enough Chrisy-poo, I just read it while I was reading up on the history of manga in Japan: from the primal days to the present and was written originally and foreworded by the legend himself, Tezuka Osamu.

Phoenix is an interesting piece, even though I only read Rose of Versielles, Barefoot Gen and the other one which I forgot.

[Project Akira]

Originally posted by mrgazpacho
I bought the English translation of volume 2 of Tezuka's "Phoenix" last weekend. It was quite interesting. if I had more cash I probably would buy this. However, my next forseeable Manga purchase would be completing Akira and then getting Nauusica ^_^;;;

Ok here's a question for Dryden-san, EVA fiend, and anyone else who could possibly answer this question. I'm in one of my rare moods in that I have an artist I am really, really, really, wanting to see art by and this time it's Go Nagai's big robot series. Does anyone here know where I can buy some. I don't download my comics because I like compensating an artist whether I like what I buy or not. I would be grateful to anyone who could possibly do this for me and I don't care if they're translated or not ^_^

[EVA fiend]

The only Go Nagai manga I have are some old issues of Cutey Honey (picked up cheap in a secondhand Japanese book store in London).., & a translated Mazinger Z graphic novel, published by First Publishing in 1988...,

[jennwenn]

Can someone tell me what Lone Wolf and Cub is about? What is so appealing about this series that makes it so classic? I've been thinking of buying it, but right now the only thing that attracts me is the really cool cover design, since I've never read it....

I thinking of buying Pheonix too. I've never read anything by Tezuka, and he IS the king of manga.

Is Rose of Versailles available in English?

Also, if you could only buy one English manga anthology, what would it be? (eg. Raijin, Super Manga Blast, Animerica Extra, Shonen Jump, the now extinct Pulp...) I'd also like to buy one of those, but I don't know which ones are good!

[Dryden-san]

Lone Wolf and Cub is about a samurai who lost everything-his wife, his position, and his honor-to the machinations of a scheming rival clan. With his three year old son, he begins an epic quest for vengance, finding work as assassin. 'Epic' is a word that's tossed about far too readily, but it's 28 volumes. Sounds pretty damn epic to me. So why is it important? Well, for starters this is real quality stuff. The art style resembles old Japanese line art rather than the contemporary manga style-it's something of a break from the look Tezuka pioneered. It's very good at conveying the visceral power of the emotions and the battles. The format is also highly cinematic. You could easily translate the action of the panels to a film; the work's been done for you already. It can be deeply introspective and quite elegant even without the use of words. It's a similar situation to Mobile Suit Gundam. It's rough in comparison to more recent works, but if you take the time to read it you can see the beginnings of a massive legacy. Kenshin may be the complete opposite of Ogami Itto, but he uses the same tricks in battle. Every philosophical musing on bushido that later samurai manga feature probably has its roots here. It was a huge hit in Japan. I'm shocked it hasn't spawned its own anime series. Then again, you could say it spawned every samurai anime. That's why it's considered a classic.

I reccomend trying Adolf: A Tale of the Twentieth Century, to anyone looking for some Tezuka to read. One of his serious works. World War II from a very different perspective. Very good. Five volumes altogether.

Rose of Versaille is not available in English that I know of. Too bad. I want to get a look at it for the same reason I like Lone Wolf and Cub. It spawned a genre. Besides, anything that can make Japanese schoolgirls across the nation break down in tears has got to be worth checking out.

About Raijin, I know nothing. Super Manga Blast doesn't do anything for me. I'm not sure how much of Pulp is actually quality and how much is just titillation. It's gone now in any case. The US Shonen Jump is pretty much like the Japanese shonen jump: a bunch of action serials I don't really care for. One Piece is supposed to be good, but I don't know if it justifies the cost of the magazine. I guess that leaves Animerica Extra... I like Utena and Video Girl Ai, at least, but my fix of manga comes mostly from Tokyopop's monthly graphic novels. GTO is my favorite.

Hope that was helpful. :)

[Project Akira]

Originally posted by Dryden-san
So why is it important? Well, for starters this is real quality stuff. The art style resembles old Japanese line art rather than the contemporary manga style-it's something of a break from the look Tezuka pioneered. It's very good at conveying the visceral power of the emotions and the battles. The format is also highly cinematic. You could easily translate the action of the panels to a film; the work's been done for you already. It can be deeply introspective and quite elegant even without the use of words. It's a similar situation to Mobile Suit Gundam. It's rough in comparison to more recent works, but if you take the time to read it you can see the beginnings of a massive legacy. Kenshin may be the complete opposite of Ogami Itto, but he uses the same tricks in battle. Every philosophical musing on bushido that later samurai manga feature probably has its roots here. It was a huge hit in Japan. I'm shocked it hasn't spawned its own anime series. Then again, you could say it spawned every samurai anime. That's why it's considered a classic. It's interesting when you talk about the legacy of Lone Wolf and Cub because from what you're saying it becomes pretty obvious how influential that it was. And I definitely agree that the break from the Tezuka look was necessary otherwise I don't think that the art would have come across so powerfully. It was something I definitely think Katsuhiro Otomo would take to a new level with Domu and Akira. In fact I doubt that Otomo's work would have the same visual style without the influence of Lone Wolf and Cub's "more realistic style.

So if anything I suggest checking out Domu: A Child's Dream, which is the comic equivalent of a movie like The Sixth Sense, though in my opinion Domu is far more chilling.

I also second Dryden-San's warning on US manga anthologies. Most of them feature very dull and formulaic manga that are more cotton candy comics than anything of any real worth. I admit that I did like Pulp for its interesting articles (I need to get the one on "American Manga" artists) especially Warren Ellis's assessment of Akira.

[jennwenn]

I've just started to get into the samurai genre after seeing one OVA of Rurouni Kenshin, some episodes Kaze Makase Tsikukage Ran, and Samurai Deeper Kyo. So I think I am going to read some Lone Wolf and Cub. I realy like the cover art on the graphic novels, they remind me of Japanese woodblock prints or something...

I'm dying to see Rose of Versailles. I am a shoujo fan, so I'd like to read the MOTHER of all shoujo. Or at least obtain some copies of the fansubed anime. Has anyone licensed this yet?

Domu's been on my Must-Buy list for a while now too. The story seemed interesting and I haven't seen much of Otomo's work yet.

So manga anthologies aren't that great? I always buy my manga in graphic novels anyway. That way, I only get series I know I like and I get them in big bunches instead of in puny comic form.

BTW, has anyone seen the Violinist of Hameln manga? It's hilarious! Definately on a par with Rumiko Takahashi's work for humour and action. I'll have to look up the name of the mangaka, he's great!

[EVA fiend]

Originally posted by jennwenn
I'm dying to see Rose of Versailles. I am a shoujo fan, so I'd like to read the MOTHER of all shoujo. Or at least obtain some copies of the fansubed anime. Has anyone licensed this yet?

I'd like to see this series too..., but considering how old the series is, I'd be surprised if it ever got translated in to English..., either in manga form or the anime...,
I think the manga is still available in original Japanese.., & translations can be found on the net..,
As for the anime series..., I don't think it has been licensed in the US.., but it has been screened in France, Italy & Germany under the title Lady Oscar...,

[Dryden-san]

At some point, I'd like to a more in-depth review of Lone Wolf and Cub. I have plenty to say about it now, but I'd like to finish it before I try to write about it. According to Dark Horse's webpage, the final volume is due out sometime in December. This will mark the first time the complete series will be available in English, so you know I'm looking forward to that. It's a lot of manga to buy, so if you're interested in the series, try flipping through a random volume and see if it looks interesting. Be warned, this is a mature work with little to no comedy. It's grim.

I think I will buy a copy of Domu. I've read through the first two volumes of Akira in the bookstore, and I like what I see, but it's an awful lot to absorb all at once. Let's see what he does with a shorter format.

[Project Akira]

Originally posted by Dryden-san
I think I will buy a copy of Domu. I've read through the first two volumes of Akira in the bookstore, and I like what I see, but it's an awful lot to absorb all at once. Let's see what he does with a shorter format. It's interesting to compare the two but in my opinion, Domu is Otomo at the height of his storytelling abilities. The centerpiece of the book is the fight between Old man Cho and the little girl as they fight through the apartment complex in quite possibly the best aerial battle committed to the printed page. However, it's like comparing From Hell to V for Vendetta, you have two works by the same man (in this case Alan Moore) yet they couldn't be as different as night and day. It's really in the eye of the beholder ^_^

[Petezilla]

I've been reading bastard(all 22 vols so far) and i was wondering if anyone esle has read this and what their opion is about it. I loved the first 12 episodes or so but then SPOILER

when you think the final confrontation is about to happen and all the samurai are dying the hero dies too from this point on everything becomes pure chaos there are so many unexplained events it would take at least 20 more mangas to explain everything correctly on top of that in manga 22 instead of using the all the pages he throws in a story about some dude who loves his sister what a rip off. I really dont think there will be an other 20 mangas so i think many things will remain unexplained.
The reviews i've read are all agreeing with me its pure chaos and hagiwara is insane(who else would love iron maiden, motorhead, megadeath, .... sure they are all very funny but most of the music they make is a pain to the ears).

[Project Akira]

If you can, AB's own Doku-Beibi is the biggest fan of that series so you might want to talk to her about it. She might know more about what happens in it.

[Project Akira]

Anyone here reading any of the US releases of Osamu Tezuka's work that has been released recently?

[Project Akira]

Out of curiousity, who here has any thoughts or opinions on the glut of manga that's based on TV series? Personally I think most of them are garbage though I am a fan of Sadamoto's Evangelion manga because just how good it is ^_^

[mrgazpacho]

One of the local stores occasionally gets bits of "Adolf" in, but I've never read it.

Another store is slowly getting in Astroboy, but it seems like poor value for money (little books, big prices).

[Project Akira]

Actually, that's the most cost effective size to print them with since if it was normal size they would have to print far more and that might take many more years to do than what they currently are set for printing.

[Linna32]

i just got myself chobits the manga... rather interesting but altogether disturbing comparing to all the other clamp manga....

[Project Akira]

OK to get some discussion rolling, what manga do you consider classics of the genre (yes manga is a genre not a medium :p)? My picks would be Akira, Domu, Ghost in the Shell, and Blade of the Immortal. At the moment, I'm waiting to finish the aforementioned Akira and then getting Naussica of the Valley Wind and Phoenix as soon as I get the cash :)

[EVA fiend]

Hmm.., the only manga that I would define as a classic is Miyazaki's Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind.., I've read loads of stuff, including Akira, Domu, & GiTS..., & IMO, none of these titles touch Miyazaki's work.., hell.., not even my favourite Shirow work Appleseed can hold a candle to it...,

[Project Akira]

I don't think that's fair to say only one series in this genre is a classic. I mean I can understand your stance that Naussica is really good but I think that discounting the work of other cartoonists from Japan (especially Tezuka) is the same as saying that Maus is the sole classic of American graphic novels which is to say that any other work can never compare. While I certainly don't hold a work like say Watchmen in the same esteem that I do Maus I certainly don't think it not to be classic. I know it's opinion but what about Lone Wolf and Cub? And of Osamu Tezuka's work? Do these comics not qualify as highwater marks of the manga genre?

[WelsperTheCat]

Originally posted by EVA fiend
IMO, none of these titles touch Miyazaki's work.., hell.., not even my favourite Shirow work Appleseed can hold a candle to it...,
Hey, another Appleseed manga fan! :D

Are you picking up Super Manga Blast for Appleseed Hypernotes (the never completed Volume 5)? They're not going to be released in TPB form, per Shirow's request so this is the only shot we're going to get at them.

As for Super Manga Blast, I have to admit that 'What's Michael', 'Club 9', and 'Seraphic Feather' are filler, but '3x3 Eyes' is good and 'Shadow Star' is so unique it's... well, I hesitate to say what I make of it. SMB #25 certainly leaves you with enough to think about in the 'Shadow Star' arena. :sweatdrop

[EVA fiend]

Originally posted by WelsperTheCat
Hey, another Appleseed manga fan! :D

Are you picking up Super Manga Blast for Appleseed Hypernotes (the never completed Volume 5)? They're not going to be released in TPB form, per Shirow's request so this is the only shot we're going to get at them.


It's not coming out in TPB form...? Hmm..., probably because he's re-writing Appleseed vol. 5..., bugger..., I'll have to order Super Manga Blast then...,

[jennwenn]

Hey has anyone seen the latest article from ANN: "Astro Boy bra".
In recognition of the upcoming Birthday of Astroboy (Astroboy was activated on April 7th, 2003), Triumph Japan has designed an Astroboy bra. While the bra is not for sale, a picture of it (and the Japanese Press Release) can be seen at
http://www.triumphjapan.com/triumph/release/021106_main.html

*sigh* Yes what an appropriate and fitting way to commemorate Osamu "god of manga" Tezuka's seminal work. :mad: :dodgy:
kinda funny though...

[EVA fiend]

An Astro Boy bra....?!? Oh my..., that just looks so silly..., :lol: :lol:

[AchtungAffen]

I was also desperately looking for Nausicaas manga, but my local manga store told me the only ones they had where japanese imports, costing a fortune each, so I think I'll desist for a while.

But I've been wondering, does anyone know when they're releasing Kare Kano's manga in America? For what I've heard, it shows how the story should have been without those Gainax 'comicals', and that it was more of a drama. Is this correct? Is it good? When is it coming to the continent?

BTW, has anyone read this 'autoconclusive' Blood the Last Vampire manga? Is it good? Does it reveal many things the movie left unexplained? I found a local edition with a price of 4 US$, and I'm planning to get it next time I'm uptown.

[EVA fiend]

Originally posted by AchtungAffen
I was also desperately looking for Nausicaas manga, but my local manga store told me the only ones they had where japanese imports, costing a fortune each, so I think I'll desist for a while.

Perhaps you may wanna try amazon instead..., they've got the collected boxset on sale there...,

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1569313482/qid=1037060682/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_1/102-7767956-5011365

[Eddy]

Originally posted by EVA fiend
An Astro Boy bra....?!? Oh my..., that just looks so silly..., :lol: :lol:

i think it looks great:o especially on taht cute j-girl..pity she is;nt J-Cup:p

[Linna32]

ok well to start a completely random converstation , after reading Utena, i got interested in other of Chiho Saito's works's and have discovered Sekai s&m, anyone else heard of it?

[jennwenn]

Originally posted by Linna32
ok well to start a completely random converstation , after reading Utena, i got interested in other of Chiho Saito's works's and have discovered Sekai s&m, anyone else heard of it?

What gender is Chiho Saito? Just wondering if that's a guy, because I'm forming this new theory that men make the best shoujo/"heartwarming" anime/manga and women make kick-ass shounen. (Pretear- manga by a guy. All of Miyazaki's films- incredible emotional depth, made by men. Ranma 1/2, most popular shonen ever - Takahashi, a woman. And so and so on.)

What do you think about this possible trend?

[snowcherry]

Ms. Saito is in fact a woman.

Not that it disproves your theory; I think of her works as being somewhat mediocre, if at times creative.

While your theory makes sense, the number of mangaka writing for the opposite gender is so small that their works naturally stand out on that fact alone. CLAMP, for example, has written two shounen series: Angelic Layer and Chobits. These aren't really all that incredible on their own merits, but they stand out because four women made famous for shoujo melodrama created them. They're not -bad- by any means, but they're not -the best-.

It is interesting to note, however, that male mangaka were generally considered to have created the first shoujo manga. A lot of this could be attributed to women not having much of a presence in the manga world at that time anyway.

Oh, and to answer Linna32: yes, I've heard about it, but all I know is that it involves a Japanese schoolgirl named Sekai getting transported to the Middle Ages while on a class trip to France, and she ends up geting involved somehow with two men (one rescues her, the other is after her---something like that).

[Linna32]

[minor spoilers for the first 40 pages]yes i got it its bloody wonderful, im in the process of reading it at the moment and i absolutely adore Montespan omfg!!!! she is a juri look alike hmmmm well lesse heres a piccie of her but damn she is evil[/spoilers]
**points at a piccie attached**
the art has greatly improved since utena hasnt it? she has a lot more skill now and its damn beautiful isnt it?

[Petezilla]

I read that a third series of hokotu no ken came out in japan
i've saw an advertisment of it in a magazine.
My question is has anyone read it yet and what's your opinion about it.
I still need to read the first and second series my buddy bought it but that sob is such a psycho:splat: he thinks that even sweaty hands will cause the pages to be damaged.

[Linna32]

hmmm nope.. tell your buddy he/she is a weirdo, sweaty handswill damage pages!!! hahaha well how in the heck does he/she read it then hehehe :rolleyes:

[Petezilla]

From what he tells me he lays the book on his desk and flips the pages with a pincer:rolleyes:

[EVA fiend]

Originally posted by Petezilla
From what he tells me he lays the book on his desk and flips the pages with a pincer:rolleyes:

That's a rather extreme way of reading manga..., :heh:

[Linna32]

heh my manga books are all over the place!!! i even chuck em about, but only after i cover them in clear contact, coz it pi!sses me off when the cover gets wrecked :(

[AchtungAffen]

You mean that adhesive contact? But wouldn't that mean spoiling them? Ahh, and remember, too much handling and the contact might start to move destroying the cover. That's what happened to my id 'booklet' when the cops told me to put the contact attached to the last page on the picture and fingerprint page to avoid flasification. 5 years of carriyng it around made the pic, fingerprint and annotations so blurry that can't be read at all.

[Project Akira]

I think she means mylar unless she really is putting that clear adhesive on her books then she is nutty @_@

By the way what manga is everyone reading at the moment?

[AchtungAffen]

Nausicaa, but in a couple of months I'll have Evan nr. 8 in my hands

[snowcherry]

Not-so-legally, MPD Psycho (pure. freaking. brilliance.) and W Juliet. Legally, X and D.N. Angel.

I wanted to bring up MPD Psycho anyway. I know a lot of people here are familiar with the site scanslating it, so I wanted to ask: is anyone else here reading it? I'd read the first three volumes thanks to text translations a while back, but now that I've discovered the scans (and how quickly they've been done @_@) I've been able to read much further. If you can handle a lot (and I do mean a lot) of quite disturbing blood and gore, and you like a good mystery/thriller, you will LOVE this series. It's amazing.

[Linna32]

By the way what manga is everyone reading at the moment?
Utena
Sekai s&m
Love Hina
Chobits

[Petezilla]

kenshin: I'm not to enthousiastic about this one.
Jojo's bizarre adventure:Now this is much better for many reasons a classic of manga.
I think that there are many other series bassed on this one for example scryed the altar abillity is just a ripoff of the stands.
I also read that Togashi(the man behind yu yu hakusho and hunter x hunter) bassed some of his characters on this manga.

Pop quiz does anybody know the exact number of mangas jojo's bizarre adventure has?

[jennwenn]

Originally posted by Petezilla
kenshin: I'm not to enthousiastic about this one.

I'm also reading Kenshin, and so far, I'm not very impressed. After reading Samurai Deeper Kyo (which I love) and hearing that its a "Kenshin clone", I thought I should check out the real thing. Well after 1 volume, I'm not that impressed and I don't see that many similarites. Oh well, with that many fans Kenshin must get more interesting, so I'll stick it out a little while longer.

[Linna32]

Originally posted by Petezilla
kenshin: I'm not to enthousiastic about this one.
kenshins pretty weird as manga isnt it? i was suprised at the quality when i first saw it, a rather big shocker

[Petezilla]

If you think kenshin is weird check out jojo's bizarre adventure.


damn still no answers on my pop quiz snif.

[snowcherry]

I'll humor you.

Isn't it 75 volumes or thereabouts (counting part six, Stone Ocean or something like that) and still running? Not counting part six, it's 63 volumes.

[Dryden-san]

According to the American Shonen Jump, Jojo's Bizarre Adventures is indeed 75 volumes and still going. Speaking of which... Since I haven't seen anyone talking about it, I thought I'd give my impressions on the magazine.

The magazine itself is squarebound instead of stapled and published right to left, as I'm sure you all know. It's good quality paper. Not too thin and the ink didn't smear even when I wiped my hands on it repeatedly. There are a few colored sections printed on glossy paper as well, like the first few Yu-gi-oh pages, and the Akira Toriyama interview. The rest of the color pages are dedicated to hawking merchandise related to Shonen Jump properties. Thinly-disguised advertisements posing as reviews of the upcoming videos for DBZ and YuYu Hakusho, breathless two page spreads on Yu-gi-oh and DBZ card games and video games, etc. It can be obnoxious, but did you really expect them to feature stuff from their competitors? Skip it if it bugs you; you're buying the thing for the manga anyway, right? What of these manga? Well...

Yu-Gi-Oh, by Kazuki Takahashi: In that grand US tradition of dropping the sections of a show which aren't marketable-in this case, the episodes which did not prominently feature that damn card game-the animated version we've been getting started after the first season, or six volumes of the manga. Luckily we get the manga from the very beginning. Unedited, too. The characters names are left intact as is a shot of Anzu's (Tea Gardener in the US version of the TV series) panties and the tomfoolery with knives they get into later on.

It's interesting to see the introduction of the characters and how they were acting before the US version started. Anzu is the same as she's ever been but Jonouchi (Joey) and Honda (Tristan) are bullies who always push Yugi around. Yugi is the very picture of wide-eyed innocence , a kind of quiet kid who'd rather work on his puzzles and games than play basketball (the fact that he's about half their size might have something to do with it). A bit of a wuss, really. Either his grandfather mellowed out in previous volumes or they changed his personality for the US, because I found him a little creepy, frankly. A far cry from the sweet old man I was expecting. Basically a good sort, but a little perverted and very eccentric.

The story revolves around Yugi's efforts to complete an ancient puzzle he found in the attic and deal with the school thugs. When he completes the puzzle, the story takes a darker turn. His alternate personality is a lot meaner than the show would have you believe. He plays ruthless games of skill with Yugi's enemies, dealing out ironic punishments when they lose. No wonder kids loved this guy.

There are a couple strange bits... Yugi's grandfather evidently runs the most successful game shop in the world since he can afford to just hand out 200,000 yen so Yugi can pay one of the bully's protection fee. Come on, don't they have cops in Japan? For that matter how did he double it in only a few hours? Steal from the petty cash fund? Take a trip to the yakuza gambling dens? I kinda like that last idea, actually, but they never say. The art style also has a few quirks: I know anime characters tend to have small noses, but Yugi's disappears completely when you look at him head on. Regardless, it's an interesting start. I'll look forward to following it at least until the card game shows up and takes over.

Dragonball Z, by Akira Toriyama: What can I say? It's DBZ. They pick up at chapter 134, which is right where the monthly comics stop and include a short summary of everything that came before, including a character guide. Someone who's never read it before wouldn't have any trouble following it, but they wouldn't see much reason to bother based on these chapters. Namek blows up, they revive everyone, Freeza comes back. The DBZ section ends just as The Boy Of Mystery (aka, Trunks) shows up. Not a whole lot of action. People who have been following it will keep following it, and that's all that needs be said. I must say though, that while the anime drags things out far too long, these chapters seem almost rushed and a bit lacking in drama. I wonder if there's a happy medium?

Sandland, by Akira Toriyama: Now this is different. Toriyama's style has become much more polished and detailed by the time this was published (2000). I doubt he was as pressed for time after the end of Dragonball, which also helped, I'm sure. I think this title shows his real talent for world building. After a series of long and nasty wars among the humans, the entire world has been reduced to desert. The human king controls the only source of water in the land and charges exorbiant rates for it. People are dying of thirst and even the demons must resort to stealing water shipments. Demons? Yeah, there's a whole village of 'em. Gremlins, ghosts, devils, the whole lot. What are they doing there? Who knows? Akira Toriyama rarely explains his worlds, he just presents them and demands you accept it. I can respect that but tastes may vary.

There is some action, but this story falls firmly into the humor category. The demons play handheld videogames, read comics and are pretty non-threatening. The protagonist is Beezlebub, Lucifer's son. Despite his heritage he's not an especially bad guy. Piccolo at the start of DBZ was meaner than this. Some of the more amusing bits involve the brief appearance of his dad, who acts just like any other parent. "Only one hour of videogames a day. Don't sit too close to the screen." What can I say? It sounds funny coming from a giant horned demon.

Anyway, a human sherriff shows up to request their help in finding a lake to help the dying populace and he, Beezlebub and Thief, an old and possibly wise demon set off on a journey to find it. Sandland is rarely laugh-out-funny, but Toriyama's drawing style is inherently amusing to look at. The story has the feel of a high energy road trip among friends. I wouldn't expect much in the way of hardcore action or great drama but it's light, enjoyable fare.

Yu Yu Hakusho, by Yoshihiro Togashi: Yuusuke Urameshi, a juvenile punk if there ever was one, gets hit by a car while saving a child's life. Since not even the Buddha expected it, he doesn't belong to either Heaven or Hell. But there might be a way to come back if he so chooses... C'mon, isn't the plot of this series common knowledge by now? Watch more TV! *shakes fist*

The first chapter plays out exactly like the first episode. Scene for scene. If you've seen one, you know what to expect from the other with one caveat: the manga, at least to start with, is more cartoony than the anime. The plot is exactly the same, mind you, but actions and facial expressions are all more exaggerated. Perhaps someone more familiar with later volumes could tell us whether this continues, or if it gradually changes to match the style of the anime. This is mostly a comedic title, though it switches gears to fighting later on. Still, there is some genuine emotion here, among the few who actually care about Yuusuke's death. It's a welcome break and the series is better for it. The series picks up as time goes on, and the cast expands but this is a decent introductory chapter. It won't convert people who dislike the TV show however. Oh, and Botan is even cuter in the manga. ;)

One Piece, by Eiichiro Oda: One Piece is the story of Monkey D. Luffy, a young boy who wants to be a pirate. He idolizes Shanks and his crew, who have set up shop in his hometown. They don't take him seriously however, even when he scars his face to prove his toughness. To make matters worse, he accidentaly eats the Gum-Gum fruit, a rare treasure which turns his body to rubber. Now he'll never be able to swim. Luffy is an extremely confident type however. There doesn't seem to be any room whatsoever in his head for self-doubt. "If I can't swim, then I'll just be the pirate who never falls into the ocean!" The first chapter covers Luffy's childhood. At the end, he is a young man setting off on adventure. His quest: to become the Pirate King!

I'll say this right now: One Piece is not only my favorite title in the magazine, I believe it is one of the best manga running today. Some people don't like the art style: too cartoony, they say. To hell with 'em. They're wrong, I'm right and that's all there is to it. Yes, it is "cartoony." Moreso than Toriyama's work, even. Luffy may actually be made of rubber, but all the characters are elastic. Look at those mouths stretch! If you enjoy the style of Dragonball, you have nothing to complain about, though Oda's style is his own. It manages to be both toon-like and detailed at the same time with nice, clear linework.

One Piece is frequently hilarious, thanks to the laughably exaggerated facial expressions. I just chuckle looking at them. Maybe Luffy's general enthusiasm for life is just infectious. And while Sandland seemed more like a road trip, Luffy is clearly setting off on a grand adventure. With pirates. There really isn't anything else like One Piece out there, and you owe it to yourself to check it out.

Summary: I didn't really expect to enjoy Shonen Jump (except for One Piece of course), but it went down easy, without an aftertaste. This certainly isn't a magazine for the shoujo fan, but there is more to it than mindless action stories. Oh, they're all action to a greater or lesser extent, but they're better. Don't let DBZ hatred prevent you from giving it a try. The future looks fairly bright. Naruto starts in issue 2, which I am looking forward to based on the anime episodes I've seen, and Shaman King starts in issue 3. It sounds interesting, at least.... I don't look towards the non-manga content improving, but there's an interview with Yu-Gi-Oh's creator in the next issue and hopefully more interviews from the others will follow. Guess who I want to hear from?

I don't visit the shops that carry it often enough to keep up with Raijin. Anyone care to offer an opinion on that one?

[Shax]

Originally posted by Project Akira
By the way what manga is everyone reading at the moment?

Chobits and Groove Adventure RAVE

Kenshin manga is pretty good, at least it is better than the anime. The begining of vol 24 nearly freak me out :p

[Project Akira]

I'm not surprised to hear about Kenshin manga, it's anime counterpart struck me as nothing more than Ninja Scroll-lite while I'm guessing that the manga is not much more than say a wannabe Lone Wolf and Cub.

Dryden, thanks for the recommendation on One Piece, if and when Viz collects it (and I have a feeling that they will) I'll definitely be buying that one :)

As for what manga I'm reading, the only at the moment is Sadamoto's Neon Genesis Evangelion manga which I personally think is the best Japanese comic being reprinted in North America at the moment. Though I have being meaning to get into X/1999...

[AchtungAffen]

Is NGE Manga nr 8 (the last one) available in the US now?

[Linna32]

are you serious? i've had the manga for about 3 years now :) (the entire set, in jap though)

[Project Akira]

That must be in Japanese or been done by a scan group because Viz has just finished publishing volume 7 in monthly form. I'm waiting for it to be released as a trade.

[AchtungAffen]

I read on a french site some weeks ago that they were releasing recopilatory volume 8 (the last one, I mean the end of the series) on december, because also its being released here as nrs 15 & 16 next march.

BTW: I'm reading Battle Angel Alita now, and I know there's anime for this, but how many episodes and under what name? Is Gunm and Alita the same thing? And what a fag name they chose, because well, Alita is some kind of diminutive for wing, like wingie or something, remembers me of fried chicken wings.

[Petezilla]

Battle angel Alita is the title of the anime there is only one as far as I know.
Alita=Gunm indeed.

[jennwenn]

I've read Shonen Jump #1 and I'm also fairly surprised at how much I enjoyed it! I too expected dumbed-down kiddy fare, but I was pleased to see some informative, interesting articles (like the Jojo's and Kinnikuman ones) , interviews, and great manga. My favorites right now are definitely Sandland and One Piece.

Like you said Dryden-san, I really like Oda's "cartoonish" drawing style. Its distinctive and entertaining. Young Luffy just looks so darn cute! The gags are hilarious. I thnk I'm getting hooked on pirates. :D (Also the manga is MUCH more entertaining than the anime.)

Akira Toriyama's Sandland is also fascinating and funny. The demons, the desert world, the search for the mysterious lake. Interesting stuff that I never expected from the creator of Dragonball. I'm actually impressed with Toriyama after seeing more of his work. Also interesting to note that almost EVERY mangaka featured in Shonen Jump said Toriyama was one of their biggest influences and favorite mangaka!

I'm used to be a Dragonball fan, so I'm biased, but I like the manga. It seems to me that Toriyama's manga has more dramatic moments to it, ie. Yamcha trying to break the news that Goku is dead and he isn't coming back, or Krillin wondering what is the sense in being brought back to life only to die again. For a fighting-oriented shounen manga, it has its serious moments. Plus a lot more humour than the anime would have you believe. That Vegeta and Bulma joke was pretty funny, especially if you know that they later get married. Toriyama's art style is also distinctly his own: clean, simple, yet still conveys emotion and dynamic movement.

I can't wait to see Naruto and Shaman King.

[Majin LinK]

Originally posted by AchtungAffen
I read on a french site some weeks ago that they were releasing recopilatory volume 8 (the last one, I mean the end of the series) on december, because also its being released here as nrs 15 & 16 next march.

BTW: I'm reading Battle Angel Alita now, and I know there's anime for this, but how many episodes and under what name? Is Gunm and Alita the same thing? And what a fag name they chose, because well, Alita is some kind of diminutive for wing, like wingie or something, remembers me of fried chicken wings.

Theres 2 eps, basicly the first one ep of the manga's first book and the the 2nd ep of the 2nd volume. but it ends there, the company went bankrupt that was producing it or somthing and couldn't create anymore.

[7thchildren]

count me in
uhh is there a boogiepop phantom magna or am i just going insane

[Petezilla]

When you say battle angel alita has two episodes you mean that each of them is 30 mins right, I saw the whole one hour movie, but i remeber reading it was split up into two parts. But this is all there is right ?

[Dryden-san]

Questions, questions... Fortunately, I actually have answers to most of them. The Battle Angel anime consists of two half-hour episodes on one tape or DVD. Not bad, but woefully incomplete compared to the manga. It was distributed in the US by ADV, but is now out of print. In the original Japanese, Alita was named "Gally." Alita was the name given to her in Desty Nova's dream world. For the US release, VIZ reversed this: now her dream-world name is Gally and her real-world name is Alita. I don't know why they did this. I object to editing on general principal but "Gally" isn't much better, if at all.

Boogiepop Phantom was based on a series of novels called "Boogiepop and the Others," or something similar. The anime covers only part of the story, but at least it's a complete arc. There may have also been radio or cd dramas, but there is no manga as far as I know.

The 8th volume of the Neon Genesis Evangelion manga is not the last one. Yoshiyuki Sadamoto is one of the busiest artists in Japan today. He has a lot on his plate and this is not the first time he took a hiatus from drawing the manga. Remember the gap between volumes four and five? Same thing. Now, I could be wrong... If someone who owns vol. 8 in another language wishes to correct me, feel free. But two volumes is hardly long enough to finish the series from where they left off (the destruction of Unit-03).

Project Akira, I strongly disagree with your classification of the Kenshin anime as "Ninja Scroll lite." However, this is not the place to discuss it. Please start a thread in the Kenshin forum or send me a PM. I promise to give you a fair shot to make your case even if no one else will.

In other news... I got Shonen Jump #2, which I needed to cheer me up after the end of Lone Wolf and Cub. Reviews of both will be forthcoming.

[AchtungAffen]

I don't know if we both are talking about the same book about evangelion manga. In most countries it has released as 2 books for one of the original japanese recopilatory ones. In my nr. 14, they introduced Tabris-> Kaworu in a tube similar as Reis, and nrs 13 & 14 corresponded Japanese volume nr.7. So I'm betting nr 8 is going to be the last one (15&16 for me), and I've read some notes about the guy who was translating evangelion manga to spanish that said that vol 8 was the last one.

[Petezilla]

The exact number of volumes of jojo's bizarre adventure is 77 I read that this is the biggest manga ever.
Is there someone who knows a bigger one ?

[Drizzten]

[Moving to Manga Forum (http://animeboards.com/f151/s).]

[snowcherry]

Originally posted by Petezilla
The exact number of volumes of jojo's bizarre adventure is 77 I read that this is the biggest manga ever.
Far from it. The longest manga series I know of is Kochi Kame, which is 126 (I think) volumes and (last I heard) still running.

[WGeneral]

Kochi Kame (Full name Kochira wa Katsushika-ku Kameari Kouenmae Hashutsujo = This is the police box in front of the Kameari Part of the Katsushika District) now stands at 133, and is still running since 1976. It's just a series of little adventures/stories about a Japanese cop and his co-workers at their police box.

The longest running manga ever is actually Golgo 13, still running since 1968. It's just a manga about this sniper called Toukou and his missions - it's a Jame Bond type manga... I forgot how many books though.

[snowcherry]

Ta-da! Someone knows more than I do. Thank you, WGeneral.

I can't believe I forgot Golgo 13. I -knew- that one was long as hell.

[WGeneral]

No problem.

So anyone grabbed Jump 2? Even Jump 3 is out. I love Shaman King, and so far I've only heard positive comments about Shaman King from those that have read it.