Manga Recommendations Thread

[minakichan]

I've started reading it. It's actually not bad, although I could see people calling it boring, sort of in the way Mushishi is boring. The story is interesting, as are the characters. My aunt likes it so far ^_^

And then they have reactions, and they're like Yakitate! Japan on depressants XD

[minakichan]

(oh noes double-post. I know there's an Edit button but I have something new to say.)

So my mom picked up Kami no Shizuku... actually, she picked up my copy of Boku to Kanojo no XXX volume 5 first and started to read it and I was like OH CRAP and hurriedly (but subtlely) switched it out with Kami no Shizuku so FWAHAHAHAHA I avoided a catastrophe (it's not porno despite the title, but it has implied homosexuality and that would be a mess). She read the whole thing in one sitting, I caught her chuckling aloud at several parts, and then when she finished, she put it down and said "It has too many terms."

I guess it's not an easy read.

But she read it! And she didn't burn it! And she even enjoyed it maybe-probably-possibly-I think even if she'll never ever admit it!

^_________^!!!

Now I need to see what else I can use to wean her onto anime YUUUUUS XD

(...I take my victories where I can get them.)

[mysngoeshere56]

I just read the first volume of Vampire Knight and loved it.

Are future volumes just as clean? I want to know before I purchase any.

[ich1990]

I just read the first volume of Vampire Knight and loved it.

Are future volumes just as clean? I want to know before I purchase any.

I haven't read the series, but I have browsed through a few volumes. I believe the violence increases significantly later in the series. I really can not comment any further.

[S.M.O.G.]

Can someone recommend a good manga that hasn't been licensed in english?

[Fish and Chips]

Can someone recommend a good manga that hasn't been licensed in english?

Any genre in particular?

[S.M.O.G.]

Prefereblly shonen. Good storyline and lots of action.

[ich1990]

Prefereblly shonen. Good storyline and lots of action.

Try Psyren.

The plot is pretty solid, better than Bleach and worse than Fullmetal Alchemist anyway. It doesn't have a ton of action (it is fairly plot oriented), but the fighting that it does have is strategy/intelligence based rather than power based.

[Fantasy Dreamer]

I just read the first volume of Vampire Knight and loved it.

Are future volumes just as clean? I want to know before I purchase any.

I've been looking at that one to read. Is it really good? 'Cause, you know, it has to be really good for me to spend money on it. XD (finances are very tight for me)

[mysngoeshere56]

I've been looking at that one to read. Is it really good? 'Cause, you know, it has to be really good for me to spend money on it. XD (finances are very tight for me)

The first volume was amazing. I'm not sure about the later ones though.

[MasterDias]

I second Psyren.

Double Arts is also a good, albeit unfortunately short and unfinished one.

[S.M.O.G.]

(oh noes double-post. I know there's an Edit button but I have something new to say.)

So my mom picked up Kami no Shizuku... actually, she picked up my copy of Boku to Kanojo no XXX volume 5 first and started to read it and I was like OH CRAP and hurriedly (but subtlely) switched it out with Kami no Shizuku so FWAHAHAHAHA I avoided a catastrophe (it's not porno despite the title, but it has implied homosexuality and that would be a mess). She read the whole thing in one sitting, I caught her chuckling aloud at several parts, and then when she finished, she put it down and said "It has too many terms."

I guess it's not an easy read.

But she read it! And she didn't burn it! And she even enjoyed it maybe-probably-possibly-I think even if she'll never ever admit it!

^_________^!!!

Now I need to see what else I can use to wean her onto anime YUUUUUS XD

(...I take my victories where I can get them.)

lol (Capitol "L" just looked wrong). I'm thinking of getting the Death Note movie off Netfix so my dad can watch it.

[Lilac#18]

Can someone suggest any shojo manga that's kinda simular to Sailor Moon/Tokyo Mew Mew?

[EricTheFred]

There are a lot of magical girl shojo out there. The biggest stars that come to mind for me are CLAMP's two entries into the genre, Cardcaptor Sakura and Magic Knight Rayearth. However, neither have quite the cutesy shojo character of Mew Mew or Sailor.

An older one I have not read, but I am told is very good by someone more likely to know shojo than me (a girl, in other words) is "Saint Tail".

[mysngoeshere56]

Magic Knight Rayearth is very similar to Sailor Moon. But it is true it's not quite as "cute" (though the manga Sailor Moon seems darker than the anime, and this *is* the manga thread). Magic Knight Rayearth is actually very similar to shonen. Only difference is that almost everybody fighting is a teenage girl. But yes, if you like Sailor Moon, I would definitely second Magic Knight Rayearth. One person even referred to it as CLAMP's Sailor Moon.

I haven't gotten around to Tokyo Mew Mew and I've only watched the Cardcaptor Sakura anime so I don't know how to help you as far as those go. :-/ Sorry! The Cardcaptor Sakura anime is very good though. Definitely one of my favorite shojo series (and for awhile the only shojo I liked).

You might like Wedding Peach. It's very similar to Sailor Moon (so similar that those who dislike the show refer to the main character as the "Usagi-wannabe"). I've only watched four episodes of the anime and haven't read the manga but there's a review for the OVA sequel of the anime in CAA's review database. That might help you a bit.

[Lilac#18]

Thanks for the suggestions. Is Fushigi Yugi: Genbu Kaiden any good?

[EricTheFred]

While I didn't finish Genbu Kaiden, I read a few volumes of it. They were good, and frankly I'm not sure why I never finished the story. Probably just had too many other series I was buying at the same time.

[Lilac#18]

Thanks. I'll check it out.

[Dr.Faust]

some thing like xxxholic or farytail would be nice

[Lilac#18]

Thanks Dr.Faust.

[Mr. Hat'n'Clogs]

So, um, anything you guys could reccomend me.

As long as it's not yaoi/yuri, I probably won't mind. I've mostly only read or watched shonen so far, but I open for anything. Except, me thinks, Magical Girl.

[mysngoeshere56]

So, um, anything you guys could reccomend me.

As long as it's not yaoi/yuri, I probably won't mind. I've mostly only read or watched shonen so far, but I open for anything. Except, me thinks, Magical Girl.

Hm... all right. What shonen have you read/watched that you liked?

[Fish and Chips]

Except, me thinks, Magical Girl.

Claymore is a possibility. Cursed women travel the world saving villages from Medieval monsters, although apparently there's more behind it than that, haven't made it that far myself so a grain of salt. I'd wait for UC Pseudonym or Master Dias to second it before really pursuing it, as they're both a lot more familiar with it than I am. Basically the Anti-Magical Girl series really.

I am also morally obligated here to say JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, but since I can only safely recommend that to myself, make a side note of it rather than an actual recommendation. Plus older volumes tend to be harder to find now for some reason.

Shounen is a tricky process actually, since there is such a proliferation of it yet different people like the widest range of different thigns. I see you've read FullMetal Alchemist, Rurouni Kenshin, Death Note, and Bleach; if you could describe what specifically you liked about them it might be easier to come up with something to suit your reading habits.

If you don't mind stepping up from Shounen to Seinen, I can list a couple other titles worthy of your time and expenses.

[Mr. Hat'n'Clogs]

Hm... all right. What shonen have you read/watched that you liked?

I've read/watched Fullmetal Alchemist, Death Note, Bleach, Rurouni Kenshin, the first season of Code Geass, and the first couple episodes of Cowboy Bebop.


[quote="Fish and Chips (post: 1306184)"]Claymore is a possibility. Cursed women travel the world saving villages from Medieval monsters, although apparently there's more behind it than that, haven't made it that far myself so a grain of salt. I'd wait for UC Pseudonym or Master Dias to second it before really pursuing it, as they're both a lot more familiar with it than I am. Basically the Anti-Magical Girl series really.

I am also morally obligated here to say JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, but since I can only safely recommend that to myself, make a side note of it rather than an actual recommendation. Plus older volumes tend to be harder to find now for some reason.

Shounen is a tricky process actually, since there is such a proliferation of it yet different people like the widest range of different thigns. I see you've read FullMetal Alchemist, Rurouni Kenshin, Death Note, and Bleach]


To be honest, I'm not quite sure what I liked about them. One of the thing I like the most is unpredictability. Good plot and fight scenes help.

Claymore was one of the titles I was considering, and Seinen sounds fine. Like I said, I'm really not picky, since I really haven't seen much of any one genre other than Shonen.

[mysngoeshere56]

Though I've only seen a few episodes, you might like Naruto. It's another popular shonen. http://www.christiananime.net/reviews_anime.php?display=112

D.N.Angel is another option, based upon your list. I think it's *technically* shojo, but only because it runs in a shojo magazine. It has romance but it also has a lot of super power/action in it to the point it's basically like shonen. http://www.christiananime.net/reviews_anime.php?display=210

If you liked Rurouni Kenshin, you might like Inu Yasha. http://www.christiananime.net/reviews_anime.php?display=78

Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle is one of my favorites. http://www.christiananime.net/manga_reviews.php?display=172

That's the best I can think of right now. If you want to branch out into shojo a little more I can think of some good series that aren't magical girl (though they don't really have action and fighting like these shonen do - stuff like Fruits Basket, etc.).

If you tell me why you aren't all that fond of magical girl I might be able to find at least one series you could like. Is it because the attacks are usually so girly, you're not into the happy and upbeat mood of the plot, no reason in particular just not so fond of it...?

[Mr. Hat'n'Clogs]

Though I've only seen a few episodes, you might like Naruto. It's another popular shonen. http://www.christiananime.net/reviews_anime.php?display=112

D.N.Angel is another option, based upon your list. I think it's *technically* shojo, but only because it runs in a shojo magazine. It has romance but it also has a lot of super power/action in it to the point it's basically like shonen. http://www.christiananime.net/reviews_anime.php?display=210

If you liked Rurouni Kenshin, you might like Inu Yasha. http://www.christiananime.net/reviews_anime.php?display=78

Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle is one of my favorites. There was a bit of a language problem in the series, but though I haven't seen the dub in full, what I have seen seems to be considerably better than the sub (and it isn't butchered and everything). Here's a review for the manga, but the anime is mostly the same. http://www.christiananime.net/manga_reviews.php?display=172

That's the best I can think of right now. If you want to branch out into shojo a little more I can think of some good series that aren't magical girl (though they don't really have action and fighting like these shonen do - stuff like Fruits Basket, etc.).

If you tell me why you aren't all that fond of magical girl I might be able to find at least one series you could like. Is it because the attacks are usually so girly, you're not into the happy and upbeat mood of the plot, no reason in particular just not so fond of it...?

Oops, silly me, I forgot to list Naruto. In fact, that was my first anime.

What is D.N. Angel about? That's one of those ones I keep hearing about, but I have no clue what it's about.

Tsubasa was another one I was interested in. I might just have to watch the anime.

I really don't mind branching out into Shojo. I just haven't read/watched any.

I really don't know why, but I have to go now, so I'll explain my feelings more in-depth later.

[mysngoeshere56]

D.N.Angel is similar to magical girl, but it's darker. It also has male characters, so it's really magical boy. I'll copy and paste the summary of the plot from CAA's review....

"Daisuke Niwa was a boy in love. Smitten with the pretty but clueless Risa Harada, he attempts to confess his love to her but fails when she says she thinks of him as 'a friend' (and ONLY a friend). On that same day, his 14th birthday, while thinking about Risa, Daisuke suddenly undergoes a transformation and turns into the legendary Phantom Theif Dark, who hasn't appeared in 40 years. A confused and now purple haired Daisuke confronts his mother on the matter, and she tells him that it's part of the 'Niwa curse'. Every male of the family, on their 14th birthday, undergoes a transformation and becomes Dark, spending the next few of years of their lives stealing works of art from the Hikari family. The Hikari line, which now only has one living relative, Daisuke's classmate Satoshi Hiwatari (his last name after adoption), also carries a curse-- the other side of Dark, Krad. It's is the Niwa and Hikari destiny to forever be battling: the Hikaris creating works of art, and the Niwas stealing them. That is, until now... "

It sounds complicated, but it makes a lot more sense and is a lot better when you actually watch/read it.

[blkmage]

Soul Eater: Shounen, and very Bleach-esque in its world and premise. Features some interesting characters and quirks, like the weapons actually being other people, and the writing isn't as bad as Bleach.

Mirai Nikki: Similar to Death Note in that it's heavy in the mindgames. It's a lot less serious than Death Note. Premise is that there are 12 diary holders, with each diary given some prediction power. The last diary holder that survives wins.

Hayate the Combat Butler!: Not exactly an action manga, although it contains quite a bit of it. It's more of a comedy with a lot of references to other anime and manga. A guy has a 150 million yen debt that he has to clear and works as a butler for this rich girl he saves

Bakuman: No action at all in this one, but it's really good. By the duo who brought us Death Note, Bakuman follows two high school kids as they try to become mangaka and get serialized.

[MasterDias]

Claymore: Yeah, I think I can second Claymore. It has a lot of things going for it. Do note that it has occasional (non-sexual) nudity, if this is a big issue.

I'll also second Soul Eater and Bakuman.

Otherwise:

One Piece: Sort of the third series in a current Shonen Jump "trinity" of popular series that also includes Bleach and Naruto. Has a fairly epic (albeit, slow-moving) storyline with some fun characters and creative powers.

Psyren: A new series that has quite a bit of potential, I think. Has a fairly interesting plot.

Kekkaishi: Not as flashy as most of the others, but is well-written and has some interesting monsters and abilities.

Yu Yu Hakusho: One of the shonen "classics." A great portion of it is a large fighting tournament, so it isn't for everyone, but it's worth a look if you like the style.
You can also check out Hunter X Hunter by the same author.

D.Gray-Man: Not my favorite, but it has a decent cast, and the gothic/Victorian/steampunk world is fairly neat.

[Mr. Hat'n'Clogs]

Thanks a lot guys. That really helped. I'm thinking D.N.Angel and Claymore, and Bakuman sounds pretty cool. To be honest, I used to make fun of Yu Yu Hakusho when I was in about 4th Grade, so I probably won't ever read/watch it.