Post by Hat_Hair on Dec 17, 2005 14:44:05 GMT
Because I didn't feel like starting a dozen threads.
Short Cuts, by Usamaru Furuya. 2 Volumes, licensed by Viz.
Not really a manga series, but a collection of short gag strips, ranging in size from one to a few pages. Mostly jokes about modern japanese culture, focusing on Kogals. For those who don't know the term, Kogals are the trendy high school girls who keep up with the latest fashions, and may even go on paid dates.
A very surreal series, featuring gags such as the ABCs of S&M, and the Little Lolita storage safe, this might not appeal to everyone. On the other hand, this may be a good series for people who aren't into manga, to show what sort of things can be written.
The art style is also quite nice, with many different styles and techniques being used throughout, giving it the feel of an alternative comic book rather than a normal manga.
Domu by Katsuhiro Otomo, 1 Volume, licensed by Dark Horse
A short series from the creator of Akira, published a few years prior. A short series about mysterious goings on in a city apartment building. This series could almost be considered a prequel to Akira, featuring psychic powers set in a near future crumbling society (with crumbling buildings).
The art, as with his other works, is incredibly detailed, although not quite as polished as Akira's.
A quite entertaining read, very action based and with great visuals. If that sounds good to you, give it a read.
Benkei in New York by Jinpachi Mori and Jiro Taniguchi, 1 Volume, licensed by Viz
A noir series about a japanese man named Benkei, who lives (not surprisingly) in New York. Benkei is a painter who also provides his services as an assassin dealing primarily in revenge. Each chapter deals with the various people he encounters and why he is sent to kill them.
Quite a thoughtful series, it would probably appeal to people who enjoyed Leon.
Artwise, very good, with a similar style to Katsuhiro Otomo, although less detailed.
Hajime no Ippo, by George Morikawa, 74 volumes (ongoing), unlicensed.
The complete antithesis of a short manga, thrown in to confuse you all.
Hajime no Ippo is a shonen boxing manga, with comedy thrown in liberally, except during most fights.
Nothing especially new or original here, but then again, it started in 1989.
What it is, however, is a very well written manga of its type, with gripping fights and great characters.
Art-wise, it has a fairly polished style, and the facial expressions of the characters add a lot to the humour.
The series is a light read, with nothing deep or meaningful, and is squarely aimed at 13-year old boys (although there is practically no fan service, which may or may not change its appeal).
So, if you want a solid Shonen sports manga, Hajime no Ippo is a very good choice. After reading 57 volumes, I'm still not bored of it, and that's no mean feat.
Short Cuts, by Usamaru Furuya. 2 Volumes, licensed by Viz.
Not really a manga series, but a collection of short gag strips, ranging in size from one to a few pages. Mostly jokes about modern japanese culture, focusing on Kogals. For those who don't know the term, Kogals are the trendy high school girls who keep up with the latest fashions, and may even go on paid dates.
A very surreal series, featuring gags such as the ABCs of S&M, and the Little Lolita storage safe, this might not appeal to everyone. On the other hand, this may be a good series for people who aren't into manga, to show what sort of things can be written.
The art style is also quite nice, with many different styles and techniques being used throughout, giving it the feel of an alternative comic book rather than a normal manga.
Domu by Katsuhiro Otomo, 1 Volume, licensed by Dark Horse
A short series from the creator of Akira, published a few years prior. A short series about mysterious goings on in a city apartment building. This series could almost be considered a prequel to Akira, featuring psychic powers set in a near future crumbling society (with crumbling buildings).
The art, as with his other works, is incredibly detailed, although not quite as polished as Akira's.
A quite entertaining read, very action based and with great visuals. If that sounds good to you, give it a read.
Benkei in New York by Jinpachi Mori and Jiro Taniguchi, 1 Volume, licensed by Viz
A noir series about a japanese man named Benkei, who lives (not surprisingly) in New York. Benkei is a painter who also provides his services as an assassin dealing primarily in revenge. Each chapter deals with the various people he encounters and why he is sent to kill them.
Quite a thoughtful series, it would probably appeal to people who enjoyed Leon.
Artwise, very good, with a similar style to Katsuhiro Otomo, although less detailed.
Hajime no Ippo, by George Morikawa, 74 volumes (ongoing), unlicensed.
The complete antithesis of a short manga, thrown in to confuse you all.
Hajime no Ippo is a shonen boxing manga, with comedy thrown in liberally, except during most fights.
Nothing especially new or original here, but then again, it started in 1989.
What it is, however, is a very well written manga of its type, with gripping fights and great characters.
Art-wise, it has a fairly polished style, and the facial expressions of the characters add a lot to the humour.
The series is a light read, with nothing deep or meaningful, and is squarely aimed at 13-year old boys (although there is practically no fan service, which may or may not change its appeal).
So, if you want a solid Shonen sports manga, Hajime no Ippo is a very good choice. After reading 57 volumes, I'm still not bored of it, and that's no mean feat.
