A couple of titles..

Post about anime's sister, manga in here. Manga reviews accepted in here as well.

A couple of titles..

Postby KBMaster » Wed May 31, 2006 6:14 am

Okay, there are a couple of titles that I want to check out. The first is xxxHolic; I searched for this title in the forums, but found nothing on content. Only guesses and discussions on the first volume. And could someone PLEASE tell me what's up with the name?! My mom is already wary of manga, I don't want her to think I'm reading a hentai title!
The second is Aria- I've heard that the only objectionable content was some light swearing, but this was a while ago and things sometime take a turn for the worse. My library actually has this one(yay for me!), so any help would be appreciated regarding the content of these mangas. Also can someone give me a plot synopsis? All I've basically seen are the covers. :sweat:
User avatar
KBMaster
 
Posts: 755
Joined: Sun Jun 27, 2004 11:48 am
Location: With the penguins

Postby Technomancer » Wed May 31, 2006 7:56 am

I've read some volumes of XXXHolic. While I still haven't figured out the reason for the name, I can definately tell you that it isn't hentai. The general plotline is as follows: A high school student who can both see and (unwillingly) attract spirits stumbles upon the home of a witch (the space-time witch to be exact). He ends up making a deal with her that she will remove his spirit problem, and in exchange he will do the cooking and cleaning in order to save up enough to purchase her services. Various adventures ensue.

You should also note that this series is meant to run parallel with 'Tsubasa', and there is some (fairly minimal) interaction between the series.
The scientific method," Thomas Henry Huxley once wrote, "is nothing but the normal working of the human mind." That is to say, when the mind is working; that is to say further, when it is engaged in corrrecting its mistakes. Taking this point of view, we may conclude that science is not physics, biology, or chemistry—is not even a "subject"—but a moral imperative drawn from a larger narrative whose purpose is to give perspective, balance, and humility to learning.

Neil Postman
(The End of Education)

Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge

Isaac Aasimov
User avatar
Technomancer
 
Posts: 2379
Joined: Fri Jun 13, 2003 11:47 am
Location: Tralfamadore

Postby mechana2015 » Wed May 31, 2006 9:24 am

I own this series through the first 6 books, still don't know why it has that name, but havn't seen anything objectionable in it, except for alcahol consumption. It has very stylized pretty art and a fun storyline. If it helps most people just call it "holic".

Clamp seems to like the letter X for the names of their manga...
Image

My Deviantart
"MOES. I can has Sane Sig now?"
User avatar
mechana2015
 
Posts: 5025
Joined: Wed Oct 22, 2003 12:33 am
Location: Orange County

Postby Ashley » Wed May 31, 2006 11:45 am

I gave up on Aria after volume 2. The art was gorgeous, to be sure, but I actually fell asleep reading volume 1. It was just so...quiet....I think the most exciting chapter was a day trip to some island. I would save the cash for smething that's got good art AND story (cough Full Moon cough *wink wink*)
Image
User avatar
Ashley
 
Posts: 7364
Joined: Mon May 26, 2003 10:00 am
Location: Fort Worth, Texas

Postby Tenshi no Ai » Wed May 31, 2006 11:53 am

Just to clear the "xxx" thing up, well for those who've read the manga/watched the anime, most of Yuuko's clients have addictions (holic), so the "xxx" just stands for a ___ (blank) to sort of fill in. Yeah I'm bad at explaining things, but hope you understand what I mean^^
User avatar
Tenshi no Ai
 
Posts: 4789
Joined: Fri Jul 02, 2004 11:01 am
Location: l

Postby Aka-chan » Wed May 31, 2006 2:15 pm

I prefer Tsubasa over xXxholic, though the art is gorgeous and the story isn't badly done. Some people are bothered by the witchcraft element, though, and it does get increasingly dark and serious as the series goes on. Others treat it as simply fantasy, so most of it seems to depend on what affects you. I liked it at the beginning but was rather turned off by the witchcraft and such, but I have other (Christian) friends who still read it avidly.
User avatar
Aka-chan
 
Posts: 1546
Joined: Mon Feb 02, 2004 12:30 am
Location: ...here...

Postby Tenshi no Ai » Wed May 31, 2006 2:18 pm

Aka-chan wrote: I liked it at the beginning but was rather turned off by the witchcraft and such, but I have other (Christian) friends who still read it avidly.


I follow along by the anime and it's very true that there are tons of spiritual elements in it. But I really enjoy the plots and sort of morals that they put out on some of the stories. Plus I really like Yuuko's character^^
User avatar
Tenshi no Ai
 
Posts: 4789
Joined: Fri Jul 02, 2004 11:01 am
Location: l

Postby Shao Feng-Li » Wed May 31, 2006 2:58 pm

I have three volumes of Aria... haven't found numbver four yet though... nothing more than light swearing in volume three. ADV gave it there "all ages" rating. It has good and and an AWSOME story, thank you very much XD. Okay, a good story, but... whatever.
User avatar
Shao Feng-Li
 
Posts: 5187
Joined: Sun Oct 12, 2003 12:00 pm
Location: Idaho

Postby KBMaster » Thu Jun 01, 2006 5:55 am

Ashley wrote:I gave up on Aria after volume 2. The art was gorgeous, to be sure, but I actually fell asleep reading volume 1. It was just so...quiet....I think the most exciting chapter was a day trip to some island. I would save the cash for smething that's got good art AND story (cough Full Moon cough *wink wink*)

Heehee, but I AM saving up for Full Moon! And I don't have any money, so I can't buy it anyway; but I can get it from my library. I'll have to order it after I get by other 5 books.
Ohh, thanks Tenshi no Ai! That does make sense. Maybe I'll spend the day at B&N someday and see if I like it. Thanks for all your replies!
User avatar
KBMaster
 
Posts: 755
Joined: Sun Jun 27, 2004 11:48 am
Location: With the penguins

Postby Technomancer » Thu Jun 01, 2006 1:58 pm

mechana2015 wrote: but havn't seen anything objectionable in it, except for alcahol consumption. It has very stylized pretty art and a fun storyline. If it helps most people just call it "holic".


Hey, you gotta love it how the lady slings the booze. ;)
The scientific method," Thomas Henry Huxley once wrote, "is nothing but the normal working of the human mind." That is to say, when the mind is working; that is to say further, when it is engaged in corrrecting its mistakes. Taking this point of view, we may conclude that science is not physics, biology, or chemistry—is not even a "subject"—but a moral imperative drawn from a larger narrative whose purpose is to give perspective, balance, and humility to learning.

Neil Postman
(The End of Education)

Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge

Isaac Aasimov
User avatar
Technomancer
 
Posts: 2379
Joined: Fri Jun 13, 2003 11:47 am
Location: Tralfamadore

Postby MyrrhLynn » Thu Jun 01, 2006 2:08 pm

Tenshi no Ai wrote:Just to clear the "xxx" thing up, well for those who've read the manga/watched the anime, most of Yuuko's clients have addictions (holic), so the "xxx" just stands for a ___ (blank) to sort of fill in. Yeah I'm bad at explaining things, but hope you understand what I mean^^

I thought you explained it well. :) The title makes more sense if you've seen the movie since it's all about people being obsessed about collecting things (and these people are "holics" according to one of the characters in the movie).

Plus you have to remember that if it's a title in English it probably has to do with how the letters look to Japanese people (if they think the letters look cool). Personally I can't decide how to pronounce xxxHolic. It's feels dumb saying x-x-x Holic. ThreeXHolic? :lol:

Anyway, I've been watching the anime for xxxHolic and I'd agree with what everyone else has said so far. :thumb:
Image

:x:Anti Yaoi Fans :x: Daystar Design :x: MyrrhLynn.NET :x: Need an avatar? Then Click here!

"Another Sane Sig brought to you by MOES."
User avatar
MyrrhLynn
 
Posts: 777
Joined: Sun Jun 29, 2003 12:00 pm
Location: USA

Postby Ashley » Thu Jun 01, 2006 7:34 pm

I'm lazy and tend to only say "ex-ex-holic" XD
Image
User avatar
Ashley
 
Posts: 7364
Joined: Mon May 26, 2003 10:00 am
Location: Fort Worth, Texas

Postby PrincessZelda » Thu Jun 01, 2006 10:44 pm

Well, I've read the first two volumes of XXXholic. I kind of liked it. It wasn't at all hentai or anything. >_> The only problem I had with it was that one of the main characters is a witch, which normally doesn't bother me, and she summoned spirits and such. Which, is kind of creepy, and the kind of magic I usually stay away from. *Shrugs*

Other than that, I don't think there was much else that would be questional in it... There might have been some swearing, but probably not much if there was since I don't really remember O_O
"If you are allergic to a thing, it is best not to put that thing in your mouth, particularly if the thing is cats."

Image
User avatar
PrincessZelda
 
Posts: 1855
Joined: Sat Jul 10, 2004 10:00 am
Location: New Mexico

Postby Tenshi no Ai » Thu Jun 01, 2006 10:49 pm

PrincessZelda wrote:Other than that, I don't think there was much else that would be questional in it... There might have been some swearing, but probably not much if there was since I don't really remember O_O


Yeah, there's not too much of the other stuff. Light swearing, sure. Violence? A little, but not really the one where you'd see much blood (or even any really!) With sexuality, at least on the anime I think a comment or so was made, but that's about it (and Yuuko can be suggestive to, with her clothing and all). Also Yuuko likes to drink... quite a bit and smokes from her pipe every now and then (why else would their be trancy wave images on the front cover on the manga?)
User avatar
Tenshi no Ai
 
Posts: 4789
Joined: Fri Jul 02, 2004 11:01 am
Location: l

Postby PrincessZelda » Thu Jun 01, 2006 10:56 pm

Oh yeah, I gorget about stuff like that sometimes because it doesn't bother me that much... >_<

But yeah, there's that stuff, too.
"If you are allergic to a thing, it is best not to put that thing in your mouth, particularly if the thing is cats."

Image
User avatar
PrincessZelda
 
Posts: 1855
Joined: Sat Jul 10, 2004 10:00 am
Location: New Mexico


Return to Manga and Manga Reviews

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 141 guests