MattC302's Manga Recommendation Thread
I'm really not good at putting my thoughts into words, but I still feel obligated to let you know some of the mangas that I think are must reads. If you aren't moved by my words of recommendation, I urge you to just take a chance and read these mangas. You will not regret it.
Planetes
Genre: Sci-Fi, drama
Demographic: Seinen
Serialized In: Morning
Number of Volumes: 4
Scanlated Chapters: 26
Status In Japan: Complete
This is one of my all time favorite series. It is a hard science fiction story with great characters. It has really good art and is very well researched. I love how short and sweet it is. Do yourself a favor and invest a few hours of your time to read the 26 chapters. This series won the 2002 Seiun award for best manga.
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Haunted by a space flight accident that claimed the life of his beloved wife, Yuri finds himself six years later as part of a team of debris cleaners on a vessel called the Toy Box charged with clearing space junk from space flight paths. The team consists of Hachimaki, a hot shot debris-man with a sailor's affinity for the orbital ocean; Fee, a chain-smoking tomboy beauty with an abrasive edge; and Pops, a veteran orbital mechanic whose avuncular presence soothes the stress of the job.
Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou
Genre: Sci-Fi, Slice of Life
Demographic: Seinen
Serialized In: Afternoon
Number of Volumes: 14
Scanlated Chapters: 141
Status In Japan: Complete
This is probably the best slice of life manga I have ever read. It was a privilege to be able to read this wonderful manga. The art is beautiful. The characters are charming. The story has a relaxing/calming affect that I really appreciated. Go read this manga now, and prepare to bump a series off your top 10 list. I think it is worth mentioning that this series won the 2007 Seiun award for best manga.
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This is the story of Alpha Hasseno, an Alpha 7 M2 series robot. Left by her owner, she appears and acts fully human while running a small coffee shop named Cafe Alpha. It is a light-hearted story about the people Alpha comes into contact with behind the backdrop of a futuristic country-side in Japan. As we meet Alpha, she makes a shopping trip to Yokohama.
---------- Post added August 02, 2011 at 07:22 AM ---------- Previous post was July 14, 2011 at 01:36 AM ----------
Eden: It's An Endless World!
Genre: Action, Psychological, Sci-Fi, Tragedy
Demographic: Seinen
Serialized In: Afternoon
Number of Volumes: 18
Scanlated Chapters: 126
Status In Japan: Complete
I don't even know where to start when recommending this series. It's got everything a sci-fi fan could want. The action is superb. Hacking battles, sniper battles, cyborg fights, etc.. It's simply incredible. Amazing characters and relationships. Great, realistic art that goes well with the story. It would be easier to list the faults, which you would have to nitpick to find IMO. There's just one thing though. This manga is incredibly disturbing. The violence is so intense and realistic that the shock never wears off like it does for series like Gantz. There is child rape, drug abuse, and graphic sex scenes. If this manga doesn't have some sort of psychological effect on you, you must not have been paying attention. I'm not joking when I say that I am emotionally drained and maybe a little scarred from reading this manga. That being said, I am so glad that I read it because it was awesome. You've been warned though. If you aren't a mentally stable adult, I would skip this one.
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In the panic surrounding a worldwide pandemic which kills 15 percent of the population and cripples many more, a secret organization, the Propater, topples the UN and seizes control of much of the world. A boy and a girl, raised in an abandoned virology research center, immune to the virus, are attacked by the Propater and escape.
Based strongly on Gnostic mythology, all major characters are named after gnostic deities, and have analogous roles.
Re: MattC302's Manga Recommendation Thread
This question might sound a bit stupid,but would you recommend Eden:It's an endless World to me?I don't really mind disturbing manga and i'm not easily shocked,but i think you were serious when saying "If you aren't a mentally stable adult, I would skip this one."
Re: MattC302's Manga Recommendation Thread
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Googlez_kun
This question might sound a bit stupid,but would you recommend Eden:It's an endless World to me?I don't really mind disturbing manga and i'm not easily shocked,but i think you were serious when saying "If you aren't a mentally stable adult, I would skip this one."
I'm not easily shocked or disturbed either. I have read the graphic and gorey Gantz and Berserk, as well as the twisted works of Furuya Usamaru, Matsumoto Jiro, and Kago Shintaro. Eden isn't necessarily more violent or graphic than any of these, but it's the way that violence and such is delivered. It has a realism to it that is kind of scary and some of the issues this manga deals with are very human and can hit close to home even if you haven't necessarily dealt with that exact situation. It's hard to explain why I found this manga so disturbing. You may have a different experience and find it tame. I was dead serious in my warning though. That being said, this manga is absolutely incredible and in my opinion, it is worth the risk of any psychological trauma it might cause you. Give it a shot. If you come across something that bothers you, you can always stop.
Maybe I am being overly dramatic, but there are many scenes in this manga that will stick with me for the rest of my life. I will never forget it. I do not regret for one second reading this manga though. It is incredible.
I consider myself to have very good taste in manga. I do realize how diverse the manga reading community's tastes and opinions are, and I am very open to different opinions, but I cannot fathom how anyone wouldn't like this manga.
tl;dr version: Yes, I highly recommend this manga to you. More people should read this manga so I am willing to risk damaging your psyche to gain another fan :p Besides, you are probably not as mentally fragile as me. You can handle it. Go read and then come back and tell me how much you love Eden :D
Re: MattC302's Manga Recommendation Thread
A seinen which actually knows how to use violence...i'd be eager to read this. Only one question, is the scanlation completed?
---------- Post added at 09:05 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:48 AM ----------
Btw, i've read jiro's freesia and loved it...but haven't read anything of shintaro or usamaru. Any suggestions about those two?
Re: MattC302's Manga Recommendation Thread
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ashher
A seinen which actually knows how to use violence...i'd be eager to read this. Only one question, is the scanlation completed?
If you are talking about Eden: It's An Endless World!, then yes, the scanlations are complete and high quality.
---------- Post added at 09:05 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:48 AM ----------
Quote:
Btw, i've read jiro's freesia and loved it...but haven't read anything of shintaro or usamaru. Any suggestions about those two?
From Furuya Usamara, try Palepoli or Plastic Girl.
From Kago Shintaro, try Abstraction.
A little heads up though: These aren't normal manga. They are so disgusting and twisted and bizarre, that you will probably hate me for mentioning them. I read these purely out of sheer curiosity for their weirdness, not because they are "good". I only mentioned them in my post about Eden in the context of not being easily shocked/disturbed because of reading manga like the 3 mentioned.
Re: MattC302's Manga Recommendation Thread
Quote:
Originally Posted by
MattC302
From Furuya Usamara, try
Palepoli or
Plastic Girl.
From Kago Shintaro, try
Abstraction.
A little heads up though: These aren't normal manga. They are so disgusting and twisted and bizarre, that you will probably hate me for mentioning them. I read these purely out of sheer curiosity for their weirdness, not because they are "good". I only mentioned them in my post about Eden in the context of not being easily shocked/disturbed because of reading manga like the 3 mentioned.
Funny how you actually mentioned those manga i already read.I can only agree with you,they are bizarre and weird,but also very interesting and intriguing in a way.I love how he used that 3D effect in Abstraction.Palepoli was fascinating as well.It had some of my favourite manga pages.Plastic Girl on the other hand is only disturbing....
In my eyes,Abstraction and Palepoli are almost must-reads.If you can endure this abnormality that is.:lmao
Re: MattC302's Manga Recommendation Thread
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Googlez_kun
This question might sound a bit stupid,but would you recommend Eden:It's an endless World to me?I don't really mind disturbing manga and i'm not easily shocked,but i think you were serious when saying "If you aren't a mentally stable adult, I would skip this one."
It's not as disturbing IMO...but the realism of it is really deep and well presented...I think it's more like the plot twists are a bit shocking actually...and the end message is just brilliant...I recommend it to everyone who likes engaging manga, both intellectually and emotionally...
Spoiler: Don't click until you've read the entire manga........seriously
show
I think one of the most shocking events for me was Mana's death...it was played out beautifully, even that hacker, the guy who pressed the button was removed for a while from the event and considered missing...and it was the climax of the manga regarding Elijah, and yet...:scry
And the end I was talking about...even though Sophia was portrayed as caring after her operation, in the end her image was still more like...She doesn't love, she keeps pets...so the fact that she likes keeping pets and that she was the God of the New Universe just tells a lot about the thoughts of the author on the matter IMO:p
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The discussion thread is here btw...I can't believe such a classic evaded me for this long...I would certainly like to talk about this manga
Re: MattC302's Manga Recommendation Thread
I actually saw eden on spectrum nexus quite a long time ago, but they labeled it as of ongoing status, which is why i didn't start. But they often mess up the status, and now that mat has assured us that scanlations are completed, i can finally read it :)
Re: MattC302's Manga Recommendation Thread
I love Sci-Fi and they all sound very interesting, but I'm a bit hesitant as they're Seinen with more hardcore violence/etc in them, which I don't personally enjoy much. But, maybe I'll take a look at them, if/when I can find time to do so.
Re: MattC302's Manga Recommendation Thread
Quote:
Originally Posted by
HegemonKhan
I love Sci-Fi and they all sound very interesting, but I'm a bit hesitant as they're Seinen with more hardcore violence/etc in them, which I don't personally enjoy much. But, maybe I'll take a look at them, if/when I can find time to do so.
The only one of my recommendations that are violent is Eden:It's An Endless World!. Planetes has one or two scenes with minor violence, but it isn't graphic. YKK is the exact opposite of violence. In fact, I used to read it in between chapters of Berserk to cleanse my mind of the violent/graphic scenes.
---------- Post added August 24, 2011 at 02:44 AM ---------- Previous post was August 16, 2011 at 05:23 PM ----------
Emma/Emma Further Tales
Genre: Drama, Romance, Slice-of-life
Demographic: Seinen
Serialized In: Comic Beam
Number of Volumes: 10
Scanlated Chapters: 72
Status In Japan: Complete
This is a great slice-of-life story with a very satisfying romance element and anyone familiar with Mori Kaoru's other work, Otoyomegatari(A Bride's Story), knows that she is an amazing artist. I just love the characters in this manga. Even the side characters are amazing. Characters that don't even have any lines stand out with their expressions alone. Also, the relationships and character interactions are very well done. All I can really say is that if you like slice-of-life, romance, or maids, you will like Emma. Be sure to read Emma Further Tales for proper closure.
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In Victorian-era England, a young girl is rescued from a life of destitution and raised to become a proper British maid. Emma meets William, the eldest son of a wealthy family, and immediately falls in love with him. William shares her feelings, but the strict rules of their society prevent their relationship from ever coming out in the open. Traditional class distinctions and rich, historical details provide the backdrop for this appealing romance.
Note: Volumes 8-10 are "Emma: Further Tales". They fill in details from the Emma manga, both before and after the events in that storyline.
Each chapter explores the motivations or simply shows a day in the life of a particular character from the story.
Find out about the romance between Doug and Kelly in their early days, or follow the adventures of Eleanor as she overcomes her heartache and begins to live again, or visit with Tasha and her family on her day off.
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Hourou Musuko(Wandering Son)
Genre: Drama, gender bender, romance, school life
Demographic: Seinen
Serialized In: Comic Beam
Number of Volumes: 12
Scanlated Chapters: 100
Status In Japan: Ongoing
Normally, I wouldn't recommend an ongoing manga here in fear that it would turn to crap and ruin my recommendation credibility lol. This manga is an exception though. Even if the story does turn to crap, what has been published so far has been so rewarding to read, that I don't hesitate for a second to write this recommendation.
At first, I didn't think the gender identity subject matter would be my thing, though I quickly found it to be fascinating. This manga is is a very relatable and realistic take on school life. I'm sure that even if you didn't go through the exact situations, that you can still relate to the awkward teenage years.
Wandering Son has a great cast of (mostly)likeable characters, a simple yet pleasant and distinctive art style, and an engaging, leisurely paced storyline covering fascinating topics like gender identity. Give this manga a try if you like school life, but are looking for something a little different from the norm.
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Fifth grade. The threshold of puberty, and the beginning of the end of childhood innocence. Nitori Shuichi and his new friend Takatsuki Yoshino enjoy happy homes and loving families, and are well-liked by their classmates. But they share a secret that further complicates a time of life that is awkward for anyone: Shuichi is a boy who wants to be a girl, and Yoshino is a girl who wants to be a boy...
Written and illustrated by Shimura Takako, acclaimed for her sensitive take on LGBT topics, Wandering Son portrays Shuichi and Yoshino's very private journey with affection, sensitivity and gentle humor.
Re: MattC302's Manga Recommendation Thread
Sakuranbo Syndrome
Genre: Drama, Romance, Comedy
Demographic: Seinen
Serialized In: Young Sunday
Number of Volumes: 11
Scanlated Chapters: 48
Status In Japan: Complete
Wow. Just wow. What we have here is a romantic comedy for the adult manga reader. We are talking about some seriously well developed relationships here. The "love triangle" is nothing new to manga or any medium, but I guarantee this manga has the most fascinating love triangle you will read in any manga. It's just great. Also, the art style is extremely visually appealing IMO. Definitely go check this out.
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"Progressive Rejuvenation Syndrome." This is an extremely rare disease causing the inflicted person to gradually become younger. The main character of this story, Munenori Agawa, is the only person that could save Rena Amami from this odd disease. Agawa's saliva is the only thing that can halt the disease from making Rena younger, so they must kiss everyday in order for her to survive. This causes an immense amount of conflict and drama between Agawa and his new girlfriend, Sayako Asou. This triangle relationship story tests the capabilities and limitations of human love.
Re: MattC302's Manga Recommendation Thread
Cross Game
Genre: Drama, Romance, Comedy, Sports
Demographic: Shonen
Serialized In: Shonen Sunday
Number of Volumes: 17
Scanlated Chapters: 170
Status In Japan: Complete
Mitsuru Adachi. That is all.....Just kidding. I have a little more to say, though that should be enough to get you to read this manga. Anyway, Cross Game is an amazing manga. It's got good comedy, entertaining baseball games, and most importantly, an incredibly written relationship. Aoba and Ko's interactions are just perfect. It's fantastic.
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Kitamura Koh has known the Tsukishima family for years. One of the Tsukishima daughters was even born on the exact same date as Koh! What will become of Koh when his best friend is no longer around?
Cross Game received the 54th Shogakukan Manga Award for shōnen manga in 2009.
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Biomega
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-fi
Demographic: Seinen
Serialized In: Ultra Jump
Number of Volumes: 6
Scanlated Chapters: 42
Status In Japan: Complete
This manga was a pleasant surprise for me. I borrowed it from the library not expecting to be wowed by it. The art is great. It creates a great atmosphere and vibe and has wonderfully creative and scary character designs. The plot, I admit, was a bit hard to follow in a few place, though I suspect that would be different if I took Kaiten's advice and read Nihei's works in the order he suggested. I think I would know his "mind' and style better and would be able to make sense of the things I didn't get. But the things I didn't get is also oddly a positive aspect to this manga. There is a sense of "openness" that I think would normally be a bad thing, but for some reason it is not here. It just makes me more curious and want to read more of Nihei's work. Anyway, this series is kind of like Nausicaa mixed with Akira and maybe a little Resident Evil and Hellraiser. If that sounds interesting to you, check out this manga.
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Tsutomu Nihei returns with another addictive manga (see BLAME!), set in the not-so-distant future (3005 A.D.). It follows a character by the name of Kanoe Zouichi and the mysterious Kanoe Fuyu whose luminous form is integrated into the system of his bike. They are agents sent by a powerful organization to retrieve the human with the ability to resist and transmute the NS5 infection that is spreading across the world, named Yion/Ion Green.
However, their mission is delayed by the reckless actions of the Public Health Department's taskforce and the kidnapping of Yion/Ion Green. Will they complete their mission? Where has Yion/Ion Green been taken?
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Princess Knight
Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Gender Bender
Demographic: Shoujo
Serialized In: Shoujo Club
Number of Volumes: 3
Scanlated Chapters: 27
Status In Japan: Complete
Princess Knight was surprisingly good. This being a shoujo manga from the 1950's, I didn't think myself, a 26 year old man, would like it. I am really glad I took a chance on it though because it was thoroughly enjoyable. The story is in the same spirit as the old Disney princess movies like Cinderella, Snow White, and Sleeping Beauty, but with Tezuka's own twist, distinct art style and brand of humor. The humor is an especially strong point. I never really thought I would like Tezuka's art style, but it grew on me with this manga. It invokes my love for old Tex Avery cartoons. Anyway, I would recommend this manga as a great intro to the shoujo demographic. Especially for men who normally wouldn't read shoujo manga.
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Set in a medieval fairy-tale backdrop, Princess Knight is the tale of a young princess named Sapphire who must pretend to be a male prince so she can inherit the throne. Women have long been prevented from taking the throne, but Sapphire is not discouraged and instead she fully accepts the role, becoming a dashing hero(ine) that the populous is proud of.
---------- Post added March 13, 2012 at 05:25 AM ---------- Previous post was February 18, 2012 at 09:27 AM ----------
Hikaru no Go
Genre: Sports, Slice of Life, Drama
Demographic: Shonen
Serialized In: Weekly Shonen Jump
Number of Volumes: 23
Scanlated Chapters: 197
Status In Japan: Complete
I can't recommend this series enough. I never though I would like a series about a board game as much as I did. It was so good. The world of professional Go is just a backdrop for the characters. Though the Go matches were just about as exciting as reading about a Go match can be, the well developed characters are what makes this manga shine. There is a fairly large cast of characters and not just the main character gets attention. Yumi Hotta did a good job of exploring them all and showing us bits of the Go world through them. Then there's the art. I've read Bakuman. I've browsed Death Note. But never until now have I noticed Takeshi Obata's masterful art skills. I always see people say that Tite Kubo's Bleach has the best weekly shonen manga art, but they must not have read Hikaru no Go. Obata did an incredible job with this manga and while maybe not as creative a style as Bakuman, the technical level of art is on a much higher level. One of my favorite things about the art in this manga is that pretty much every character has very distinct facial features. Even some of the best artists from my favorite manga fall victim of their style and end up having some characters with "samey" faces. Obata did not have this problem. Even side characters and background characters have a unique look. This is something you probably don't notice when you are caught up in the story, but it impressed me. Also worth noting, this manga won the Shogakukan Manga Award and the Osamu Tezuka Cultural Prize. Anyway, do you like Takeshi Obata's art work? Do you like the board game Go? Do you like sports manga? If you answered yes to any of those questions, you will like this manga.
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A regular school boy, Hikaru Shindo stumbles upon an old GO board while looking through his grandpa's old storage room for something worth money. From inside the board came an old spirit named Sai who once dedicated his life to GO. Together, Sai continues to search for the move people call "The god's hand" while Hikaru slowly began interest in this ancient game and walks down the road of GO.
Re: MattC302's Manga Recommendation Thread
I don't know anything about go and don't really like sport manga but I loved Hikaru no Go anyway :-)
Re: MattC302's Manga Recommendation Thread
I'm actually tempted to read it now.As the hype was immense,I thought of checking it out,but it never really seemed like a must-read for me.But the way you described it caught my interest.
Re: MattC302's Manga Recommendation Thread
Quote:
Originally Posted by
k-dom
I don't know anything about go and don't really like sport manga but I loved Hikaru no Go anyway :-)
There is a lot to like about it. Particularly the characters.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Googlez_kun
I'm actually tempted to read it now.As the hype was immense,I thought of checking it out,but it never really seemed like a must-read for me.But the way you described it caught my interest.
It was never a must read for me either. I've known about it for a long time, but I never really gave it a second thought until I saw that my library had all the volumes. I'm glad I gave it a shot though, because it is a very rewarding read.
