Ok, everyone SHOULD know what a Manga is... Just in case, however, I shall explain for those who dont know. A Manga is basically a Japanese Comic Book. Also called Graphical Novels in America. However a Manga is much more in depth than a comic book. Most popular Anime Series started off as Mangas. Dragon Ball Z, Tenchi Muyo, Love Hina, Ranma 1/2, just to name a few. Some people believe that the original Manga is better than the Anime Series. Usually because the author can tell more in manga form then when pressed for time doing an anime series. Personally, I like the Love Hina Manga more than the Anime Series. I cant compare other series because I havent seen them. Anyways, on to my Manga Reviews:
Series: I"s
Author: Masakazu Katsura
Length: 15 Volumes, 143 Chapters
Summary by: Ryo Misaki
Download at: isscans.cjb.net
Well, Ive found a new great series. I found this on the same site I got the Love Hina Mangas. I's is another romance comedy story. Personally, I cant get enough of this genre of anime. The story is about a boy, Seto Ichitaka, who is a sophmore in High School. One day he was assigned to work on the Freshman welcoming project with a girl, Iori Yoshizuki. Since that day, he was deeply attracted to Iori. But, of course due to his own insecureities, he couldnt ever bring himself to confess his love to her even though they became close friends. I's is longer than Love Hina, by 20 Chapters. Love Hina has 123 whereas I's has 143 chapters. I am almost willing to say that this story is more touching than Love Hina. Whereas Love Hina poked the hell out of my heart, I's takes the heart, wrings it out like a wet rag, and then proceeds to dust your brain off with it. Ok, so maybe that is a little bit exaggerating. The point is that I's is a really great story and by far worth your time to read.
Series: DNA2
Author: Masakazu Katsura
Length: 5 Volumes, 41 Chapters
Summary by: Ryo Misaki
Download at: dna2scans.cjb.net
In the future, Japan has a major problem with overpopulation. Laws limiting child birth to only one child per family are in effect. However there is the problem of the MegaPlayBoy Junta. He fathered over 100 children with 100 women. However, by that time, Junta has died. So the goverment sends Karin into the past to change Junta's DNA so he never becomes the MegaPlayBoy...
In the present, Junta is a normal boy... Normal except one problem. He is somewhat allergic to girls. He likes girls, its just that he manages to puke everytime a girl gets close to him. His life changed when he met Karin. She shot him with a DCM (DNA Controll Medicine) bullet. This was supposed to change his DNA so he would never become the MegaPlayBoy. However she shot him with the wrong bullet... Now Junta is getting strange powers! Could it be that he is changing into the MegaPlayBoy sooner???
I have to say that this is a VERY interesting series. Hummmm... genre... Genre? I dont know what genre it is... Well... There is some romance, alot of comedy, and a decient amount of fighting and psionic powers. MegaPlayBoy Junta kind of looks like Vash the Stampeed, with the hair of Super Sayian 2 Gohan, kind of... Either way, this story was great, albeit quite short. There are many twists, not one of those predictable stories. Another great Manga that is worth your time to read!
Series: No Need For Tenchi!
Author: Hitoshi Okuda
Length: 12 Volumes
Summary by: Ryo Misaki
Download at: Belive it or not, but I actually bought this whole series. You can get at www.viz.com or www.bamm.com (Books A Million is cheaper!)
Well, I suggest this Manga to anyone who enjoys Tenchi Muyo. I cant really give a series summary due to the fact that the whole series doesnt follow one specific storyline. This is an extention of the original OAV, and involves many new characters, the great old ones, new adventures, and lots of humor and action. Ive always liked the Tenchi Muyo series. This manga often makes references to the fact that it is a manga. Poking fun at the author and plot development at times. And Tenchi always complains when he doesnt get to me the main character in a certain chapter or so. I enjoyed this series, and I believe any true Tenchi fan would enjoy it as well!
Series: Atashi Wa Bambi
Author: Maki Youko
Length: Unknown. Possession of 2 Chapters.
Summary by: Ryo Misaki
An intresting series, although Ive only read two chapters of it... A girl, Mai Yoshimura, starts a new year in High School. Before class, she runs into a guy, Ishigaki Sen, who is really rude to her. Turns out that they are in the same class. Eventually, she starts to fall for him and makes it her goal to go out with him. As far as I can tell, It is a Romance Manga... Maybe a bit of comedy, but not much. I am currently searching for more!
Series: Gals!
Author: Fuji Mihona
Length: Unknown, Possession of 1 Chapter.
Summary by: Ryo Misaki
Well, this is another Manga that I dont know much about... I only have one chapter of this one. It seemed rather boring at first, but towards the end of the chapter, it got interesting... Must find more. Anyways, summary time! The story starts off with a girl, Kotobuki Ran, fighting with a guy. Soon after the conflict arises, a police man comes in and takes her to the police station. It turns out that the police man is her brother, Yamoto Ran. We find out that her entire family are police officers... HARD CORE officers. In fact, one time Ran mentioned something to herself about stealing, and her parents bust into her room looking around for a criminal. They are THAT obsessive. She, however, doesnt want to follow her family's profession, and wishes to be a normal girl. Anyways, she soon befriends a girl, Hoshino Aya, who is supposedly doing Enjyo Kousai, or Enkou for short. This means Dating with Compensation, or basically, Prostitution... She confronts her while she is waiting around for an Oyaji, or what I belive is a Pimp. She convinces her to stop resorting to that for money, and join her and her group of friends to have fun and talk. That is where the first chapter leaves off.
Series: Happy Pharmacy
Author: Unknown
Length: 1 Chapter
Summary by: Ryo Misaki
This was an interesting Short Manga... Only 39 pages total... Yet it was still rather enjoyable. Im not sure what kind of Genre this would be. Time for summary!
Somewhere in the town of Toaru, in the world of Toaru... There was a slightly strange Pharmacist. Her name is Sapuri. She along with her sister run a pharmacy. However, this is no ordinary pharmacy. Thanks to Sapuri and her sister's ingenious idea, they started making the normal bitter medicine, into sweets. Cake, candy, muffins, you name it, its medicine! They run a very good business and many people really enjoy getting medicine. However, the rival company, Bitter Pharmacy, doesnt like Sapuri's Happy Pharmacy. Obviously, Happy Pharmacy attracts alot of customers that would be Bitter Pharmacy's. The sadistic manager comes up with an evil plot to make Happy Pharmacy lose their standing in the public's eyes. I cannot tell you more than this because of the shortness of this manga. Yet it is still quite enjoyable!
Series: Ichigo
Author: Unknown
Length: Unknown, Possession of 1 Chapter.
Summary by: Ryo Misaki
This Manga is a little Ecchi... But then again, so was I"s, and that was a great Manga. I believe this would fall into the Romance Genre. It has some humor, but not enough to be Romance Comedy... But then again, I only have one chapter of this, so it may be different...
Junpei Manaka followed directions from a friend to get to the roof of the school to see one of the best views of town. However, as soon as he steps out the door, he sees a girl fall. Of course, not just any girl, but an extremely beautiful girl. He never actually got to see the girl's face, and the only identifing factor he has, is the fact that she wears Strawberry Panties. He tells his friends about the incident in hopes that they know who the girl was. He also shows them the notebook that he found left on the roof. It belongs to a girl named Aya Toujo, who turns out to be a girl who wears pigtails and glasses. (Think Naru at school) Of course, he rules her out due to the fact that he doesnt think she is capable of being the beauty he saw. His friends think that the girl may be Tsukasa Nishino, one of the cutest, most popular girls at school. Later that night, he reads Aya's notebook even though she told him not to. He asks her to come up to the roof and he tells her that he read her notebook. Turns out that she is a really good writer. Junpei also has a dream to be a filmmaker. And he believes that he could do great things with Aya's storyline.
Of course there is more to the story, but as always, I dont want to spoil anything! I believe that this may be another great manga that I could fall for... I need to find more.
Series: Kare First Love
Author: Unknown
Length: Unknown, Possession of 1 Chapter
Summary by: Ryo Misaki
Karino is an unfortunate girl. Everyone tends to pick on her because of the glasses she wears. Everyone usually addresses her as the Four Eyed Girl rather than learning her name. Durning the morning bus ride to school, she meets a guy who is a complete ass to her. Getting to school doesnt help things much because her so called friend, Yuka, uses her to do math homework for her. Later, Yuka invites Karino to a Goukon. A Goukon is a situation where a guy and a girl go out and they each bring some of their friends for a group blind date. Karino doesnt want to go, but they manage to drag her into it anyways. It turns out that the guy that was an ass (his name is Kiriya) is there as well. However, he is actually nice to her and supports her while the other people make fun of her.
This would be another Romance Manga... I tend to like this Genre! Anyways, I only managed to wind up with one chapter of this one as well... Really great story though!
Series: Nurse Angel Ririka SOS
Author: Ikeno Koi Story: Akimoto Yasushi
Length: Unknown, Possession of 2 Chapters.
Summary by: Ryo Misaki
This Manga is DEFINATELY of the Magical Girl Genre. You know, the same kind as Sailor Moon. I only had 2 chapters of it. Its not the best Manga, but it is interesting nonetheless.
This Manga is about Ririka Moriya, a 4th grader in Elementary School. She is about to turn 10 years soon. She has a great intrest in being a Nurse and has even treated a couple of kids minor wounds when the school nurse was out. Anyways, on her 10th birthday, a boy she likes, Kanou, a 6th grader, gives her a birthday present. He tells her to only open it at Midnight when nobody else is around. When the time comes, she opens it and sees a very nice Jewlery box. Inside it is a strange, Nurses hat. Upon putting it on, she transforms! (Who saw that one coming?) Soon after, Kanou appears in her room, (dont get any weird thoughts...) and tells her that his name is really Kanon, and he comes from another world called Mother Earth, or Queen Earth. The ruler of the star, Queen Helena, tells Ririka that the star is in big trouble and will soon die. But it is up to Ririka to find the Green Vaccine on Earth to save the star. She accepts and becomes Nurse Angel Ririka!
I know, it sounds a bit cheesy, and if youve seen Sailor Moon, you have a good idea about most of what goes on, but It isnt bad. I am now searching for more chapters.
Other Mangas to be reviewed soon... Hopefully:
Ranma 1/2, Great Teacher Onizuka, Angelic Layer, Cowboy Bebop, Ragnorak, Real Bout High School, Thats all for now! ^_^