@Aion. If you have not read Sundome yet that might be along similar lines. It's about a slightly introverted guy letting himself be controlled by a girl who transfers to his class. There is some mystery about the girl which we only get a little at a time of. As the story goes on we see more of the guy's perversions come into play, and the lengths to which he will go to protect/please the girl.
The Volume Rating Thread
- Thread starter Aion
- Start date
chaos
The Boss
fabricatedlunatic said:
ilmaestro said:Beards unite!
I'll grow mine again, Ayase should also do that and we could invite Hopeful to the bearded anime fans club.Dracos said:
Aion, do you have a beard has well?
Back on topic
I've watched Urusei Yatsura V1 / V2 / V3 and V4.
Volume one was surprisingly weak, Volume 2 and 3 were OK
Volume 4 was the weaskest of them all.
In honesty, I was expecting the same sort of humour you can see in Ranma 1/2, but the level of silliness is greater in UY. It's not a show I can actually see myself marathoning through all the 50 DVD's ...
Aion
Time-Traveller
No.
...
I re-read volume eight of GTO: The Early Days and read volumes 9-10 for the first time today.
While I do want to READ more 'cause, going on the final OVA episode, there's more decent, T(eacher)ILF comedy to be seen, the never-ending circle of 'new bad guy(s) > lots of manly stares/dull fighting > overly long arcs > a few light-hearted chapters in-between the arcs' gets old after 179 chapters. I do like it quite a lot, but with Ryuji's love life covered in full by volume eight and most of the penis/virginity laughs being dead and buried, there seems to be little left worth seeing. But, regardless of my negative thoughts, I still want to see it through to the end... and, sadly, I'm not likely to ever be able to do so with only 81 chapters being on the net (in English) and Tokyopop having been forced to drop it 10/15 volumes in.
Later on, I followed 'on-holding' GTO: The Early Years by reading its prequel-sequel (it's set before it but was made after), Bad Company.
Bad Company wasn't poor by any stretch of the imagination, but it wasn't amazing, either. Because it was made after Fujisawa's first Onizuka offering and set before it, it included characters (friends of Onizuka and Ryuji) not shown later on in the story, and that made little sense considering the strong bonds the characters were shown to have. What disappointing me the most was, rather than something dramatic occurring, Onizuka and Ryuji simply became friends after some brief mano-mano goings on... I was expecting something more epic to have started their friendship.
There was a panty flashing middle school girl, an amusing porn mag vending machine scene and a hot 18-year-old woman called Natsuki had some page time. And, as ever with Fujisawa's early work, Ryuji was the star, coming close to getting it on with an older woman once more (the fact that she's never mentioned later removes any impact her story could've had)... where as Onizuka just hit people. I can't think of many more plus points, though...
And, finally, I ended my 'Fujisawa day' by reading the first 16 chapters of GTO's sequel-prequel (like Bad Company, it was made after its prequel and set before), GTO: 14 Days.
I have mixed feelings about it so far. GTO - its 'prequel' - had originality on its side, as well as Fujisawa's near perfect artwork. But 14 Days has so far only gone over old ground in slightly different ways with new characters, and even the lovely art is starting to become less appealing because it seems like I'm seeing the same (beautiful) girls over and over now; their looks not differing much in my eyes because I've seen so much of GTO previously.
Onizuka goes back to Shonan and winds up living at a safe house of sorts for middle school kids with issues. The woman who brought him there is a clone of Azusa (his old love interest), the girl that causes him problems early on (Miki) is a clone of Miyabi... hell, there's even a a clone of Slomoko; some girl who's so simple she believes Onizuka when he tells her that cockroaches are actually Martian robots. It's leaving me with a 'same old, same old...' feeling, and that's preventing me from loving it like I love GTO.
I hope the old characters get some time later on. There were a few pages with the old GTO cast in the first chapter (Urumi <3), and a few faces (with very different looks!) from The Early Years have had cameo appearances, but it's been a disappointment for old fans up to yet. I'm hoping Urumi, if no-one else, gets time later on, and I'm also hoping the new older woman in chapter 17 turns out to be Kiyomi - an old 'love interest' of Onizuka from his school days. I'm hoping for a lot, actually - I'd also like to see the story jump back to the 'present' of the GTO story at the end and conclude everything GTO failed to with its open ending. Only time will tell if I'm going to be left unhappy, I guess...
Edit: ratings...
GTO: The Early Years - 8/10
Bad Company - 7.5/10
GTO: 14 Days - 8.5/10
...
I re-read volume eight of GTO: The Early Days and read volumes 9-10 for the first time today.
While I do want to READ more 'cause, going on the final OVA episode, there's more decent, T(eacher)ILF comedy to be seen, the never-ending circle of 'new bad guy(s) > lots of manly stares/dull fighting > overly long arcs > a few light-hearted chapters in-between the arcs' gets old after 179 chapters. I do like it quite a lot, but with Ryuji's love life covered in full by volume eight and most of the penis/virginity laughs being dead and buried, there seems to be little left worth seeing. But, regardless of my negative thoughts, I still want to see it through to the end... and, sadly, I'm not likely to ever be able to do so with only 81 chapters being on the net (in English) and Tokyopop having been forced to drop it 10/15 volumes in.
Later on, I followed 'on-holding' GTO: The Early Years by reading its prequel-sequel (it's set before it but was made after), Bad Company.
Bad Company wasn't poor by any stretch of the imagination, but it wasn't amazing, either. Because it was made after Fujisawa's first Onizuka offering and set before it, it included characters (friends of Onizuka and Ryuji) not shown later on in the story, and that made little sense considering the strong bonds the characters were shown to have. What disappointing me the most was, rather than something dramatic occurring, Onizuka and Ryuji simply became friends after some brief mano-mano goings on... I was expecting something more epic to have started their friendship.
There was a panty flashing middle school girl, an amusing porn mag vending machine scene and a hot 18-year-old woman called Natsuki had some page time. And, as ever with Fujisawa's early work, Ryuji was the star, coming close to getting it on with an older woman once more (the fact that she's never mentioned later removes any impact her story could've had)... where as Onizuka just hit people. I can't think of many more plus points, though...
And, finally, I ended my 'Fujisawa day' by reading the first 16 chapters of GTO's sequel-prequel (like Bad Company, it was made after its prequel and set before), GTO: 14 Days.
I have mixed feelings about it so far. GTO - its 'prequel' - had originality on its side, as well as Fujisawa's near perfect artwork. But 14 Days has so far only gone over old ground in slightly different ways with new characters, and even the lovely art is starting to become less appealing because it seems like I'm seeing the same (beautiful) girls over and over now; their looks not differing much in my eyes because I've seen so much of GTO previously.
Onizuka goes back to Shonan and winds up living at a safe house of sorts for middle school kids with issues. The woman who brought him there is a clone of Azusa (his old love interest), the girl that causes him problems early on (Miki) is a clone of Miyabi... hell, there's even a a clone of Slomoko; some girl who's so simple she believes Onizuka when he tells her that cockroaches are actually Martian robots. It's leaving me with a 'same old, same old...' feeling, and that's preventing me from loving it like I love GTO.
I hope the old characters get some time later on. There were a few pages with the old GTO cast in the first chapter (Urumi <3), and a few faces (with very different looks!) from The Early Years have had cameo appearances, but it's been a disappointment for old fans up to yet. I'm hoping Urumi, if no-one else, gets time later on, and I'm also hoping the new older woman in chapter 17 turns out to be Kiyomi - an old 'love interest' of Onizuka from his school days. I'm hoping for a lot, actually - I'd also like to see the story jump back to the 'present' of the GTO story at the end and conclude everything GTO failed to with its open ending. Only time will tell if I'm going to be left unhappy, I guess...
Edit: ratings...
GTO: The Early Years - 8/10
Bad Company - 7.5/10
GTO: 14 Days - 8.5/10
Aion
Time-Traveller
Mars - 9/10
It's very easy to know when a romance story is good, I find. If I care enough about the relationship (and the characters themselves) to feel twinges in my chest when the two are having problems, I know I'm into something worth reading. And, when I, a guy, feel all fuzzy inside after ten volumes because the two finally do the deed in girly, romantic fashion, I know what I'm reading is up there with the best. Simply being happy and not viewing sex in an erotic manner is a big thing in the mind of a pervert!
Mars' romance isn't what I'd call original - it's an opposites attract type - but the execution is so wonderful that originallity doesn't even matter. They came together through chance, fell in love, helped each other with their psychological problems... and none of it ever seemed fake; like such a relationship couldn't occur outside of the pages the story was printed on.
It has its flaws, though. The most bothersome for me is the 'ladybody sociopath'. He was inserted mainly to highlight the darker side of the male lead, Rei, but the inclusion of a total nutjob struck me as being out of place in such a series, and it could've been avoided, with Rei instead getting violent over thugs or something like that. Seeing the sociopath get two volumes AND come back at the end rubbed me up the wrong way when I saw no value in his character.
My other issues aren't as major. One is the lack of background art, with there instead being a lot of white on show. The characters look nice, although the designs are typical of a shoujo series, but it seemed lazy for there to be so little in the way of backgrounds. My other issue is with the rushed ending, which didn't even zoom into the future or anything like that.
I can't give it 10/10, but I have put it as my #2 manga.
It's very easy to know when a romance story is good, I find. If I care enough about the relationship (and the characters themselves) to feel twinges in my chest when the two are having problems, I know I'm into something worth reading. And, when I, a guy, feel all fuzzy inside after ten volumes because the two finally do the deed in girly, romantic fashion, I know what I'm reading is up there with the best. Simply being happy and not viewing sex in an erotic manner is a big thing in the mind of a pervert!
Mars' romance isn't what I'd call original - it's an opposites attract type - but the execution is so wonderful that originallity doesn't even matter. They came together through chance, fell in love, helped each other with their psychological problems... and none of it ever seemed fake; like such a relationship couldn't occur outside of the pages the story was printed on.
It has its flaws, though. The most bothersome for me is the 'ladybody sociopath'. He was inserted mainly to highlight the darker side of the male lead, Rei, but the inclusion of a total nutjob struck me as being out of place in such a series, and it could've been avoided, with Rei instead getting violent over thugs or something like that. Seeing the sociopath get two volumes AND come back at the end rubbed me up the wrong way when I saw no value in his character.
My other issues aren't as major. One is the lack of background art, with there instead being a lot of white on show. The characters look nice, although the designs are typical of a shoujo series, but it seemed lazy for there to be so little in the way of backgrounds. My other issue is with the rushed ending, which didn't even zoom into the future or anything like that.
I can't give it 10/10, but I have put it as my #2 manga.
fabio de lunatico
Claymore
Only just noticed this. Did you mean to post that in the anime watching thread?chaos said:
Have you progressed any further? Many long time fans regard the first "season" as, ironically, not the best place to start. I don't agree entirely, but those early episodes are generally weaker than the later ones. There's an hour long special on volume 6, and after that the format changes to one story per episode, some new staff come in, and Oshii becomes less concerned with following the manga than making UY his own show (much to Takahashi's disapproval). It doesn't get any less insane, though; that's Urusei Yatsura's "thing".
Aion
Time-Traveller
Hiroki Endo's Tanpenshu - 8/10
I started reading it last night, stopping because I was too tired to fully appreciate it. I got the general jist of the second story, but it didn't really sink in until I'd finished. For example, I was left going 'What?' when Mina sat and watched her dad's porn collection first time around.
It's rare to see anything that requires you to think a little for yourself; stories with meaning. I went into it all wrong.
Anyway. I re-read the first two chapters again. The first chapter was a great read once again - I loved how Aoki said his life might've been different if only that little bird he released hadn't been killed be a crow - and the second chapter was much more enjoyable. I understood Mina's character better, having a firmer grasp on her dislike of sexual things and being treated like a female, and that made it much more accessible for me.
My favourite single chapter is the third. It had no death or insane people like the previous two chapters, but I just loved how the issues of people working together on a play for a uni drama club got joined together with the play they were doing - one about a serial killer. It was truly excellent, and I'd have liked it to have been longer; maybe even having its own series.
The first two chapters of the second volume weren't great, though. The first was plain weird, involving lots of sex, a robot the sex crazy/raped by her uncle (/random) school girl referred to as her brother... which told her to have sex and a world floating in the air, supported by cables. I got nothing out of it. The following chapter wasn't exactly bad, it covering a small part of the life of Endo - explaining just why he wants to get with a school girl because of his failings when he was younger - but it also wasn't anything special.
Thankfully, however, it ended on a high (well, in terms of story-telling, anyway..), with a 130 page double chapter yakuza story; one about a love that could never be. Usually in manga, you get romantic comedy moments and a happy ever after ending. Not in Endo's twisted, and slightly more realistic world, though - instead, he has the love interest of the lead watch as his father screws his love interest, the reason being that his father pays for her keep. I didn't care much/at all for the yakuza chatter, and I ignored it for the most part, but the depressing romance did it for me.
(Is there anything else similar to the final, two chapter story out there?)
Overall, I found the collection to be unusual; different in a good way. I want to see more of Endo's work... and I'm saddened to ee the only option is to read a lengthy sci-fi series.
I started reading it last night, stopping because I was too tired to fully appreciate it. I got the general jist of the second story, but it didn't really sink in until I'd finished. For example, I was left going 'What?' when Mina sat and watched her dad's porn collection first time around.
It's rare to see anything that requires you to think a little for yourself; stories with meaning. I went into it all wrong.
Anyway. I re-read the first two chapters again. The first chapter was a great read once again - I loved how Aoki said his life might've been different if only that little bird he released hadn't been killed be a crow - and the second chapter was much more enjoyable. I understood Mina's character better, having a firmer grasp on her dislike of sexual things and being treated like a female, and that made it much more accessible for me.
My favourite single chapter is the third. It had no death or insane people like the previous two chapters, but I just loved how the issues of people working together on a play for a uni drama club got joined together with the play they were doing - one about a serial killer. It was truly excellent, and I'd have liked it to have been longer; maybe even having its own series.
The first two chapters of the second volume weren't great, though. The first was plain weird, involving lots of sex, a robot the sex crazy/raped by her uncle (/random) school girl referred to as her brother... which told her to have sex and a world floating in the air, supported by cables. I got nothing out of it. The following chapter wasn't exactly bad, it covering a small part of the life of Endo - explaining just why he wants to get with a school girl because of his failings when he was younger - but it also wasn't anything special.
Thankfully, however, it ended on a high (well, in terms of story-telling, anyway..), with a 130 page double chapter yakuza story; one about a love that could never be. Usually in manga, you get romantic comedy moments and a happy ever after ending. Not in Endo's twisted, and slightly more realistic world, though - instead, he has the love interest of the lead watch as his father screws his love interest, the reason being that his father pays for her keep. I didn't care much/at all for the yakuza chatter, and I ignored it for the most part, but the depressing romance did it for me.
(Is there anything else similar to the final, two chapter story out there?)
Overall, I found the collection to be unusual; different in a good way. I want to see more of Endo's work... and I'm saddened to ee the only option is to read a lengthy sci-fi series.
Aion
Time-Traveller
Me-Teru No Kimochi - 8/10
Until yesterday, I hadn't even heard of the wonderful manga known as 'Me-Teru No Kimochi'. And, going on the small amount of ratings it has, many others are still in the dark. After just reading all 28 chapters in one sitting, never once feeling bored, my goal is to bring this unknown gem some much needed love.
If you've read 'Welcome to the NHK' then you'll have a decent idea how the story goes: a reclusive guy gets helped out of his shell by a beautiful lady, eventually finding himself able to live a more normal life. The big difference between the two is that, where as it's fairly believable for a slightly nutty young(er) girl to want to use a loser for her own interests (NHK), it's pretty... out there for a HUGE breasted, super model type 22-year-old woman to first marry a bald old man (because he looked like her father) and, later, go on to mother/wife his 30-year-old son; a son who has locked himself in his room for 15 years.
However, if you can get over the basic premise, you're in for something of a treat. Slowly but surely, Haruka - the aforementioned big-breasted lady – attempts to get her reclusive 'son-in-law' out of his room by first trading a notebook that they can communicate with to work around his shyness with and, later, helping him talk, go out and... well, do 18+ things I'll cover at the end. Early on in particular, there's always comedy preventing the mood from being depressing (just like in NHK), with the reclusive lead plotting how to win the heart of his new 'mother' and, among other things, naming a dog after her in order to practice calling her name affectionately. (Note: The dog and him get pretty close - there's mouth-on-mouth action! If you love your dog more than you should, this is the manga for you!)
Ignoring how well the manga compares to reality, the biggest issue series has is, not surprisingly (for a NHK fan, that is), its ending. It's open-ended and rushed, and it didn't even end how I'd hoped in terms of the relationship of the main two. It wasn't the worst ending known to man, but there are examples of far better executed endings out there. The mangaka working on 'Gantz' at the same time may have played a part.
Honestly, I'd recommend this to anyone not cynical to the point they'd judge it based on its first chapter and/or basic premise. It's a heart-felt comedy/drama, sure to be involving for anyone who can relate to the lead and enjoyable for those looking for something different from the usual romantic comedy offerings. The art is very appealing, which allows readers to fully understand just why the reclusive lead gets tongue-tied around his new mother, and the manga is short enough to read in one sitting. What do you have to lose? Give it a go!
Extra: The manga isn't ecchi until towards the end, when a few chapters are dedicated to a sex scene. There aren't any nipples or private parts on show, but there's plenty of kissing and touching, and it's made perfectly clear what's going on. If you're against the idea of cunnilingus in your manga, then this might not be the one for you. But let me repeat myself in order to make this crystal clear: the scene is near the end and there are only a few chapters covering it. The sex scene in question does serve a purpose, meaning it'd be wrong to class the manga as pornographic because of it.
Until yesterday, I hadn't even heard of the wonderful manga known as 'Me-Teru No Kimochi'. And, going on the small amount of ratings it has, many others are still in the dark. After just reading all 28 chapters in one sitting, never once feeling bored, my goal is to bring this unknown gem some much needed love.
If you've read 'Welcome to the NHK' then you'll have a decent idea how the story goes: a reclusive guy gets helped out of his shell by a beautiful lady, eventually finding himself able to live a more normal life. The big difference between the two is that, where as it's fairly believable for a slightly nutty young(er) girl to want to use a loser for her own interests (NHK), it's pretty... out there for a HUGE breasted, super model type 22-year-old woman to first marry a bald old man (because he looked like her father) and, later, go on to mother/wife his 30-year-old son; a son who has locked himself in his room for 15 years.
However, if you can get over the basic premise, you're in for something of a treat. Slowly but surely, Haruka - the aforementioned big-breasted lady – attempts to get her reclusive 'son-in-law' out of his room by first trading a notebook that they can communicate with to work around his shyness with and, later, helping him talk, go out and... well, do 18+ things I'll cover at the end. Early on in particular, there's always comedy preventing the mood from being depressing (just like in NHK), with the reclusive lead plotting how to win the heart of his new 'mother' and, among other things, naming a dog after her in order to practice calling her name affectionately. (Note: The dog and him get pretty close - there's mouth-on-mouth action! If you love your dog more than you should, this is the manga for you!)
Ignoring how well the manga compares to reality, the biggest issue series has is, not surprisingly (for a NHK fan, that is), its ending. It's open-ended and rushed, and it didn't even end how I'd hoped in terms of the relationship of the main two. It wasn't the worst ending known to man, but there are examples of far better executed endings out there. The mangaka working on 'Gantz' at the same time may have played a part.
Honestly, I'd recommend this to anyone not cynical to the point they'd judge it based on its first chapter and/or basic premise. It's a heart-felt comedy/drama, sure to be involving for anyone who can relate to the lead and enjoyable for those looking for something different from the usual romantic comedy offerings. The art is very appealing, which allows readers to fully understand just why the reclusive lead gets tongue-tied around his new mother, and the manga is short enough to read in one sitting. What do you have to lose? Give it a go!
Extra: The manga isn't ecchi until towards the end, when a few chapters are dedicated to a sex scene. There aren't any nipples or private parts on show, but there's plenty of kissing and touching, and it's made perfectly clear what's going on. If you're against the idea of cunnilingus in your manga, then this might not be the one for you. But let me repeat myself in order to make this crystal clear: the scene is near the end and there are only a few chapters covering it. The sex scene in question does serve a purpose, meaning it'd be wrong to class the manga as pornographic because of it.
fabio de lunatico
Claymore
Yotsuba&! volume 7 - 10/10
How to explain to the uninitiated what's so good about this manga? It's simply a story about a crazy little girl, her adoptive father, the family next door, and a couple of other random people. Yet it's the most delightful thing ever committed to paper, funny without ever resorting to slapstick, and heartwarming without ever being sentimental. It's the happiest manga in the world and even jaded cynics like me are powerless to resist its innocent charm. Truly a manga that everyone can enjoy.
How to explain to the uninitiated what's so good about this manga? It's simply a story about a crazy little girl, her adoptive father, the family next door, and a couple of other random people. Yet it's the most delightful thing ever committed to paper, funny without ever resorting to slapstick, and heartwarming without ever being sentimental. It's the happiest manga in the world and even jaded cynics like me are powerless to resist its innocent charm. Truly a manga that everyone can enjoy.
ayase
State Alchemist
Very true. even YKK had me going "Yeah, it's a nice world but it'll never be real, will it?" Yotsuba... if we all looked at the world with a little more childlike wonder, it could be like that. The only thing that makes me sad about Yotsuba is that I don't have my own Torako.
And here, I made you a better avatar because I'm feeling generous:
And here, I made you a better avatar because I'm feeling generous:
fabio de lunatico
Claymore
How did you manage to find the same image I used? You truly are a man of mystery. But I'm deepy moved by your gesture and will gladly use the avatar you made.
I still haven't read YKK. I think I'd like it, but scanlations aren't my favourite method of reading manga, hence I'm still waiting for a US publisher get a frigging clue and license it. I thought I'd like Aria, which has kind of a similar premise, but found it cloying and mawkish.
I still haven't read YKK. I think I'd like it, but scanlations aren't my favourite method of reading manga, hence I'm still waiting for a US publisher get a frigging clue and license it. I thought I'd like Aria, which has kind of a similar premise, but found it cloying and mawkish.
fabio de lunatico
Claymore
Akira volume 1 - 9/10
Back when I first got into anime and manga, I picked up a full colour version of the first graphic novel. I've no idea what happened to it. Anyway, the point is, when I was reading this black & white edition yesterday, the only things that seemed familar were scenes from the movie, so it's quite possible that I never read it. I feel rather dumb that it's taken me so long to start reading this properly. Otomo's art and panel layout is fantastic, the story is exciting, and it already makes a whole lot more sense than the abridged movie (which I've had to knock a point off). Want moar.
Back when I first got into anime and manga, I picked up a full colour version of the first graphic novel. I've no idea what happened to it. Anyway, the point is, when I was reading this black & white edition yesterday, the only things that seemed familar were scenes from the movie, so it's quite possible that I never read it. I feel rather dumb that it's taken me so long to start reading this properly. Otomo's art and panel layout is fantastic, the story is exciting, and it already makes a whole lot more sense than the abridged movie (which I've had to knock a point off). Want moar.
fabio de lunatico
Claymore
Detroit Metal City volume 1 - 8/10
The English adaptation is credited to Annus Itchii. This is telling because some of the content in this book is so outrageous that no professional would want to put their real name to it.
Having seen the excellent anime adaptation, this **** is as funny and downright wrong as I expected. Most of the stories in this volume were, in fact, familiar to me from the anime, so there wasn't too many "did they really say/do that?" moments, but anyone reading for the first time might well do an occasional double-take. My only concern at this point is whether repetition might become an issue, but at the moment it's still hilarious.
The English adaptation is credited to Annus Itchii. This is telling because some of the content in this book is so outrageous that no professional would want to put their real name to it.
Having seen the excellent anime adaptation, this **** is as funny and downright wrong as I expected. Most of the stories in this volume were, in fact, familiar to me from the anime, so there wasn't too many "did they really say/do that?" moments, but anyone reading for the first time might well do an occasional double-take. My only concern at this point is whether repetition might become an issue, but at the moment it's still hilarious.
