Manga Reviews
Keep in mind that different strokes for different folks. I mainly wanted to put off studying for THAT much longer. Keep in mind that if I won't read it, it's not on the list. These are all manga that I read (or will read). By defenition, that means that I like them. Keep in mind that I may have forgotten a series here or there. I didn't go into great detail about each one, but if you care, I'll be happy to tell you EXACTLY what I think about this manga or that one. Without more dillydallying around, here's the rankings:
First, the 10's:
Yami No Matsui
Hellsing
Tarot Cafe
Shutterbox
Okane Na Gai
Utena
These, for me, exemplify what I love about manga. They all have quite a serious side to them, and although they may goof 'round a bit, they keep it serious (albeit the anime moreso than the manga in both the case of Hellsing and YNM). The drawing styles, though all different, are unique and beautiful in their own way. The dialogue is quotable, and they're reasonably deep stories overall. The stories progress. Of these, I'm not as familiar with Shutterbox as I'd like, but it's definately one that I want to own at some point. Okane na Gai is Yaoi manga that isn't actually *in* the US in translated form, but it's still very, very good.
The 9's:
Juvenile Orion
Saikano
Alichino (although, it's more like a nine and a half, really)
Chobits (this one is a 9 and a half too)
Petshop Of Horrors
Chobits
Immortal Rain (although this one is more like an 8 and a half)
These, although really good, are not QUITE perfect. They're just darned close. JO has most the qualities I look for in a 10, but it's just so darned SHORT. Saikano has amazing dialogue, but the drawing style is not my favorite (and it's just so darned DEPRESSING). Alichino is GORgous, but I'm starting to need a cast-of-characters. Chobits could be a TITch more serious, but it gets extra points for being absolutely squee-worthy adorable and pretty. Petshop is a wonderful manga that is abot 90% short stories, but the stories are really quite nice, and I love the count *gives D a cookie* Immortal Rain is a newfound wow, so I'm not quite decided on it just yet, but what I've read I really like.
The 8's:
Red River
Les Bijoux
Wolf's Rain
FMA (this one is an 8 and a half)
X-1999
These are all manga that I read and like. Wolf's rain is gorgous and has angst up the yin, but it's short (and because it tries to condense a long anime into 2, count 'em 2, manga, it's a bit confusing for the uninitiated). Les Bijoux is pretty, the plot is good (if a bit round-robin), but the ending makes NO sense WHATsoever. Red River is similar to inu-yasha, only perhaps a bit more mature-content in tone. Good, but it's starting to go in a few circles. FMA is well written, though not "pretty" in the traditional sense. I like the anime better than the manga, but it IS one of the few more comedic manga that I've ever read and really enjoyed (although it's got its SERIOUS angst too). This one might be higher if there weren't only *TWO* of them out. The anime of FMA is a 9, no question. X/1999 is alright, but it's getting rediculous with people getting knocked off.
The 7's:
Angel Sanctuary
Inu-Yasha
Bleach
Naruto
Mars
Priest
Saiyuki
These are all manga that I will read if they're at the store, but won't immediately buy and rub all over my body to get the full manga experiance. AS is pretty, but the cast of characters is getting way, way, WAY too large to keep track of them all, and the story isn't simple to compensate for it. Inu-Yasha I enjoy, but BOY do we run in circles. Bleach is cute (keeping in mind that i've only READ one) but, so far, the story isn't grabbing my attention by the horns (though some of it actually made me laugh out loud. Rare for a manga.). Naruto is ok, and I'd like to read more of it, but so far, it's very much action based. Same with Priest (although the action is a hellofalot more violent). Mars has the opposite problem. It's ALL soap opera, with little *action* or *adventure* to it. Saiyuki is a good mix, but I can see the circle-running a bit. This one would benefit from introspection.
First, the 10's:
Yami No Matsui
Hellsing
Tarot Cafe
Shutterbox
Okane Na Gai
Utena
These, for me, exemplify what I love about manga. They all have quite a serious side to them, and although they may goof 'round a bit, they keep it serious (albeit the anime moreso than the manga in both the case of Hellsing and YNM). The drawing styles, though all different, are unique and beautiful in their own way. The dialogue is quotable, and they're reasonably deep stories overall. The stories progress. Of these, I'm not as familiar with Shutterbox as I'd like, but it's definately one that I want to own at some point. Okane na Gai is Yaoi manga that isn't actually *in* the US in translated form, but it's still very, very good.
The 9's:
Juvenile Orion
Saikano
Alichino (although, it's more like a nine and a half, really)
Chobits (this one is a 9 and a half too)
Petshop Of Horrors
Chobits
Immortal Rain (although this one is more like an 8 and a half)
These, although really good, are not QUITE perfect. They're just darned close. JO has most the qualities I look for in a 10, but it's just so darned SHORT. Saikano has amazing dialogue, but the drawing style is not my favorite (and it's just so darned DEPRESSING). Alichino is GORgous, but I'm starting to need a cast-of-characters. Chobits could be a TITch more serious, but it gets extra points for being absolutely squee-worthy adorable and pretty. Petshop is a wonderful manga that is abot 90% short stories, but the stories are really quite nice, and I love the count *gives D a cookie* Immortal Rain is a newfound wow, so I'm not quite decided on it just yet, but what I've read I really like.
The 8's:
Red River
Les Bijoux
Wolf's Rain
FMA (this one is an 8 and a half)
X-1999
These are all manga that I read and like. Wolf's rain is gorgous and has angst up the yin, but it's short (and because it tries to condense a long anime into 2, count 'em 2, manga, it's a bit confusing for the uninitiated). Les Bijoux is pretty, the plot is good (if a bit round-robin), but the ending makes NO sense WHATsoever. Red River is similar to inu-yasha, only perhaps a bit more mature-content in tone. Good, but it's starting to go in a few circles. FMA is well written, though not "pretty" in the traditional sense. I like the anime better than the manga, but it IS one of the few more comedic manga that I've ever read and really enjoyed (although it's got its SERIOUS angst too). This one might be higher if there weren't only *TWO* of them out. The anime of FMA is a 9, no question. X/1999 is alright, but it's getting rediculous with people getting knocked off.
The 7's:
Angel Sanctuary
Inu-Yasha
Bleach
Naruto
Mars
Priest
Saiyuki
These are all manga that I will read if they're at the store, but won't immediately buy and rub all over my body to get the full manga experiance. AS is pretty, but the cast of characters is getting way, way, WAY too large to keep track of them all, and the story isn't simple to compensate for it. Inu-Yasha I enjoy, but BOY do we run in circles. Bleach is cute (keeping in mind that i've only READ one) but, so far, the story isn't grabbing my attention by the horns (though some of it actually made me laugh out loud. Rare for a manga.). Naruto is ok, and I'd like to read more of it, but so far, it's very much action based. Same with Priest (although the action is a hellofalot more violent). Mars has the opposite problem. It's ALL soap opera, with little *action* or *adventure* to it. Saiyuki is a good mix, but I can see the circle-running a bit. This one would benefit from introspection.