Manga(s) galore!
I really must thank and revere the staff at this place, because without them, my life will be significantly boring and lacklustre in quality. Of course, I'm sure other non-manga/anime people will think the exact opposite, but well, who cares!? XD
Anyhoo, because of their lovely and steadfast commitment to their work, I have gained access to a lot of manga titles which I'd been chasing, and had been dying to read as well. It doesn't really matter whether I know of a title through the manga or the anime first, but, I know the mindset is vastly different when I have acquainted myself with the manga, and then I have to wait with chewed-up fingernails when the anime is hyped to be released.
"If it's like poo, then that studio has commited sacrilege to the highest order, and must be flamed endlessly to our hearts' satisfaction."
But to be honest, I am such a lukewarm critic, because I've not really dedicated myself to abhor any particular studio yet, and I still prefer to think on the optimistic side of things. I mean, life's pretty bleak if you dislike everything, desho?
Some of the manga(s) I'm currently chasing include :-
1) Nodame Cantabile
I know the anime just ended, so that was how I started on a blood frenzy because I JUST HAD to find out wot happens next. I mean, I know I can't get enough of Chiaki-sama. It's ok that I don't get to hear Seki-san's voice anymore, and my imagination can do lots of merry things. Ooohhh, and the complicated status between Chiaki and Noda has grown even more complicated still. Don't we lurve creating more problems for ourselves!? -chuckles-
I really love music, and I don't tie myself to a specific genre. Basically, I'm your "anything-really-goes" person, which tells you something about my character. But I digress.
Anyhoo, looking at this cover reminded me dearly of the "wannabe-clarinetist" I was for 4 years in Secondary School. I got into the Military Band by some clash of unfortunate timing and strings of fate, and I found myself clad in uniform and wielding an "advanced recorder".
Well, I forgot much about classical music after graduation. Tertiary, College and Postgrad were gruesome fun times! I did stupidly try to pick up piano and violin, but my procrastination had been the only consistent trait in me. I must say, I sincerely regret not being more proactive. But still, unlike many who tried to learn tennis because of Echizen Ryoma and the other bishies whom we know very well, I think I understand my weaknesses and have learnt to accept them with tears. Lol.
Okay, I admit. I have a slight urge to pick up the clarinet again. Shit.
2) Vampire Knight
HAWT BISHIES ALERT!!
Yes, I may be slightly later than most of you up-to-date peeps, but as they say, "Better late than nevar!" Woah, this title is simply choked-full of hawt bishies, and yes, they're all vampies too. Kyuuketsukis have never looked more modern, smexy, hawt, and "normal" too. How are they "normal"? Well, they can walk around in the day, they don't cower by the sight of the Cross, and I definitely think garlics are totally powerless against them. Heck, they can even mix them in their food, I assume.
For the yaoi fangurls amongst us, there are so many pairings that your blood level will rise and you will spend many nights pondering over the "oh-so-many-possibilities". I know, I drooled at the mere thought.
I think mangaka(s) are getting the idea that a successful femme character in a leading role has to evolve. Sorry, we don't need any more whiny, wingy, teary-eyed (all the time), hapless girl who is utterly useless in everything she does (then again, there IS a difference when it comes to MOE though). For sure, I really don't have a shred of dislike towards Cross Yuuki, the femme of our story.
Also, this title made me really frisky for cosplay pics. I mean, imagine the whole contingent of the "Night Class" in beautifully-tailored white uniforms, with Kaname heading them, complimented with Yuuki and Zero in elegant black ones. And I have all sorts of images involving Zero and Kaname conjured up. -goes into spasms-
Seriously heart-stopping stuff. I wish somebody would make wallpapers out of these!
3) Gakuen Alice
Another one of those ingenious titles which I caught the anime, and then began another blood lust for the manga, because I dig small children Hyuuga Natsume. Lol! And I was a very, very lucky girl because the manga story was on our protagonists having to grow older temporarily, for a special mission. Fwoah. I lost a lot of blood on that day. No, not because of bishie vampies (I wish), but because I nosebled ordinarily.
Hyuuga Natsume + Paku Romi = Heaven XD
Picture credits all go to OneManga.com!