Manga Books

I used to be a huge fan of dbz back when I was younger, but it is only now that i actually buy the manga. At first, I was unsure of buying any: most of the reviews are done by kids. So is this a kiddy manga? should I have bought this way back when I was 12 years old watching the edited tv show on cartoon network? Never fear. this volume (and all the other volumes) is well written, entertaining, and actually quite violent. I enjoy it whole heartedly.

it was all cool when goku turned super saiyan and was beating frezia pretty bad. It was all great until I got to the end of the book and frezia was still alive!! I had to read volume 12 to see the end of frezia. That cost me another 7.95.

As the Genki dama is used as a desperation maneuver, hope is almost lost in Kuririn, Gohan, and Piccolo. Vegeta's corpse lies on the surface of Namek. The Genki Dama is unleashed, and it seems that Freeza has been defeated. Unfortunately, Freeza is still alive. As Freeza lifts Kurirn into the air, a power starts awakening in Goku. Kuririn is killed by Freeza. BRMMM. GRUMMMMMM. HAAAAAAA. BOOM. Goku has become a Super Saiyan. The one thing Freeza feared has just become reality. Will his tyranny come to an end? When you have a Super Saiyan on your side, lets just say "YOU'VE GOT ODDS"

Goku hits Frieza with the Genki Dama, but he's still alive, and then he kills Kuririn. This causes Goku to lose it, transforming into a super saiyan! Frieza is dead meat now, even when he powers up he gets thrashed. It's pretty much SSJGoku beating up Frieza for most of the book, but it's still pretty cool. It ends in the next volume(which begins the Anroids/Cell saga, and introduces Trunks). It's an awesome finish to the Goku vs. Frieza fight.

This Book Is Awsome. Its so Easy to read AndI think u should buy it Its just like the show! If u read #1 its the Series. And theres Some parts Are NOt for kids... I Say not to let anybody under 10 read it.

The Dragon Ball Z manga is a piece of art and should be in every collector's hands. This DBZ #2 is actually Dragon Ball #18 of 42, but this part of the story is fine to begin with; backstory is not a problem if you have read DBZ Vol. 1, and since DBZ is a different stage of the lives of the characters. It is 190 pages of fun and wonder. Besides, for only (...) why would anyone pass up this opportunity? I guarantee this story will have you hooked. (...)

This is the best DBZ yet (although, DB is better than DBZ)!!!! The Saiyans are coming to Earth and everyone is training! You get to see some fighting too. I reccomend buying it!!!!!!!!!

Whoa!!I bought this book with #3 at a Borders in Maine and when I read it at home-WOO-HOO!!!Now I've only read volumes 1-4[which I own,they rock!],but I think this is the best DBZ volume ever!!!(At least 'til Gotenks comes out)=)BY the way,there will be 26 DBZ volumes total.

it is a very exciting book and i cant wait to read the next it is like no book i have ever read it is my best and my most liked in all my other dragon ball books

This Volume marked the completion of my Dragon Ball Magna. This Volume has many twists and i'm completely satisfied.

this is way better than dbz. just like the song by jet:hey roll over dj.

A must have for any true Dragonball Z fan. This manga includes the original artwork and continues the amazing story of Dragonball. A must have for an Akira Toriyama fan (author of Dragonball & Dr. Slump) his work continues to inspire Manga and Anime alike all over the world.

A must have for any true Dragonball Z fan. This manga includes the original artwork and continues the amazing story of Dragonball. A must have for an Akira Toriyama fan (author of Dragonball & Dr. Slump) his work continues to inspire Manga and Anime alike all over the world.

this dragonball rocks in it are some great macthes like goku vs. kuririn, goku vs. tenshinhan, and jackie chun vs. tenshinhan. im really mad at viz comics for ending it right at comic 132 the arms race. but here is whats going on goku is fighting tenshinhan for champion they are both using really cool moves and tenshinhan was a bout to use an extremely powerful move.

This book is totally awesome!!!! In it Goku and Tenshinhan fight to win the world tournament! You should buy it!!!!!!!!!!!

The manga magazine SHONEN JUMP brings a never-before-seen volume of Dragon Ball to America. This one begins in the midst of the 22nd "Tenkaichi Budokai" fighting tournament. At the start, cool bald-headed Kuririn is fighting the single-haired, doll-like Chaozu. Kuririn defeats him with an unusual method, but you'll have to read the book to find out what it is.
Later, the three-eyed Tenshinhan goes up against the impostor Jackie Chun (no relation to Jackie Chan). After Chun's stunning defeat, the half-monkey main character, Goku, must fight Tenshinhan.
The next fight is surprising. The "two best friends being forced to fight each other" theme is common in manga, but this time around, it's more interesting.
This book combines astounding battle action with a dollop of humor...Not only that, but this is probably the most clean book of the entire Dragon Ball series...DB Volume 11 is an excellent book for anyone who loves manga.

this was the first manga comic i've ever read and it's certainly the greatest. Dragon knights started off as a light, comical manga, but then it got pretty heavy and serious. the animation has evolved a lot throughout the series, but it's still very decent artwork. what i like the most about dragon knights is the use of character developement. normally, people think of demons as evil killers, but this manga proves them wrong. it's most of the demons that sets the book in action. for instance, take my favorite dragon knight, rath. rath is a demon whom, for some queer reason, likes to kill other demons. he was very funny at the beginning of the series, but when the series got serious, he became pretty evil and did a lot of bad things such as killing poor gil (who is also a demon) but later, he turned out all right. yeah, almost everybody likes rath. the other two dragon knights, thatz and rune don't develop much compared to rath, but they're enjoyable characters as well. in this book, you can't help but pick out your favorite characters (my favorite is gil).

I'd just have to say that this series gets darker & darker, but still has it's little humorous twists. It's a must have for any true Dragon Knights fan. @_@ I'm not saying anything more, just buy it. I'm not about to give out spoilers, that's what your friends are for. ^_^

Dragon Knights is a great manga with stunning artwork, and has a deep compelling story with charactors you just can't get enough of. Since the very first book to this latest one, I have really enjoyed Dragon Knights. Mineko Ohkami is a very gifted manga-ka, and I hope to someday read her other works.

In this volume, you finally find out what really happened to Rath all those years ago. Something that I've wanted to know for a VERY long time! Though the whole story of it really isn't revealed in this volume, you finally understand him a little bit better. And you also find out who is burried at the unmarked grave in the dragon castle forest... believe me, you NEVER would have guessed who! Once again, this book is totally about Rath. Thatz and Rune do not appear at all. I really miss them!! Just goes to show how good a manga this is! I hope that we see more of Rune in the near future. I NEED to find out what's up with that 'Nohiro' guy, I mean who IS he anyway? And I would like to catch up with Thatz sometime soon, and find out what he's up to. I mean it's not that I don't like Rath, it's just that he seemed SO much happier when they where all together. He's just so dramatic lately... I miss the old Rath!!

Well, this was the ninth volume. It's not getting boring yet... let's hope it stays that way!!

This is the book where you finnaly learn Rath's secret! I was way off, that's for sure.
Anyway, the story thus far has been a great manga experience! With lovable main charactors with their own problems and quirks. The artwork in this series is extremely beautiful and really gives the manga an extra edge. The story is highly complicated, and at times, highly frustrating. But it all pays off in the end as you slowly start to realize what has really been going on.
As with the last few books, this one is COMPLETELY about Rath. I don't know about you, but I think it's about time that Rune and Thatz come back! I miss them.
Anyway, as I said, this book is completely about Rath, as he fights the "one eyed demon". While all the while both Kai stern and Cestia are looking for the wind dragon. Cestia needs it to revive the dead crewger, and Kai stern seeks it to heal the dying Rath. And, as always, you're in for one big surprise after another as you learn what happened to Rath all those years ago, and then find out what has happened to the wind dragon and most importantly, the wind dragon knight! And you also find out who's burried at the unmarked grave in the forest at the dragon castle.
With all the secrets revealed in this book, it is definatly a must read. The only way it could be better is if Rune and Thatz were in it!
Well, this series has been out for about 17 mounths now, and in one years time it will be completed. I just hope I can wait that long!

^.^< HAPPY READING!!!

What a great series. I like these books much more than Casino Lily (as far stories go) I could have done with more story in this volume about our to hot guys, but the bonus story (which is most of this book) gives an interesting idea to the reader when you realize Nitta may be saying the boys are reincarnations.
The guys have a bit of a spat because of a media scandal...it does look like the end for these two...can it be fixed?
As always the scenes are hot but appropriate for the story not just random "Oh let's take our clothes off because it's Yaoi manga"
I say to the readers buy buy buy buy!

What can I say? It's one of the best drawn stories I've ever read.

Thank you Youka

Hugs Nita

I was only going to give this volume four stars, but then I reconsidered and I'll tell you why: BeBeautiful's fabulous work. Their translations are always well done (even when they do less than commendable things like laughably stating obvious child characters as adults *coughMidaresomenishi: A Legend of Samurai Lovecough*) and in this volume they even included an interview they did with Youka Nitta herself. They always include character profiles and the "story so far" page, which is very helpful when they sometimes make us wait 6 months or more between releases. This time around was not one of those long waits, though. Embracing Love 5 comes just a few months after the release of Embracing Love 4 and my hat's off to you guys for it, BB. Thank you very much!

As for the story itself there is a lot more of the same old, same old in this volume (which would have been the reason for giving it four stars). The easily predictable outcome carried over from the not-really-angst in volume 4 might have been completely boring if it were not for the well played emotional relationship Nitta has developed between the two men. And let's not forget to mention the hot love scenes as well. Considering that the main storyline only comprises half of the book, and in most of the first half of the main storyline Katou and Iwaki are separated from one another, we can forgive that we only got two of these scenes this time around. The scene I really liked, though, was the extra short story "Always Asking for the Moon," where a somewhat insecure Katou and a comically stoic Iwaki talk about hairstyles of all things.

The second half of the book is a period piece (Meiji era-1860s-samurai love story) called Winter Cicadas and, while the ending is a bit heart-wrenching, according to Nitta herself at the end of the book it has some carryover "prequel" allusions to the Embracing Love storyline (reincarnation, anyone?), so we're supposed to be more hopeful about it than upset.

If you're in love with this series, by all means pick up volume 5 as well, if you are browsing this title for the first time, you might have trouble getting into it since the characters and situation are already so well established that you don't really get that kind of backstory explanation anymore. I would recommend checking out an earlier volume instead.

Passion, emotions, angst, tragic star-crossed lovers, erotica... This volume has it all. Why tragic ? Just read the beautiful and captivating Winter Cicadas, a tale of samurai love during the Meiji period which nearly takes up half of Vol 5. The mangaka asks the question of how this period piece which she states is the prequel is linked to Iwaki and Katou. For me, Winter Cicadas tells the previous tragic lives and love of our 2 boys. And you just need to believe in reincarnation for a moment to love this. Deeply emotionaly, and hauntingly tragic, Winter Cicadas is one beautiful and heart-rending love story as I find myself tearing towards the end (oh dear...).
Fortunately I am much cheered up by the antics of our 2 lovers in the current era. We have the continuation of Vol 4 in the beginning of the book, in which Iwaki's stand-in manager, Asano, schemes and drives a wedge between the couple. Misunderstandings, angst, passion and hot make-ups ensue, which are the very reasons we love this series. The scene when Katou confronts Asano is wonderful, as readers realize just how much Katou truly understands Iwaki. And Katou and Iwaki making-up is one emotional and erotic scene. As always Youka Nitta does a marvellous job drawing out the characters of her 2 boys, the sensitive and vulnerable Iwaki and the bold and loving Katou .
We are also treated to 2 bonus stories. The first one features the boys taking a break in a hot spring resort and the sex here is just sizzling hot. Sounds like Kizuna Vol 7 but the sex is ofcourse more explicit. The second bonus story may be just 6 pages without any "action" but it is just so sweet and romantic.
Last but not least, Youka's artwork is simply gorgeous. This is one series which I will read and reread and reread...

Incidentally I could not help but compare Winter Cicadas with Kodaka's Midaresomenishi. Both are tales of samurai love but totally different in style and tone. While I love both stories I have to say the sentimental side of me find the much more romantic Winter Cicadas more to my taste.

This manga is interesting, really long, and so beautiful. The drawings are elegent and kind of dream like. You wouldn't think they would work as well with this kind of story as they do. I highly reccommend this volume for all manga fans.

Newtype and Animage are my favorite anime mags, and now I get to read the amazing FSS manga that appeared in them! For years I stared at the pictures and tried to imagine what they were saying to each other...well, not any more. Now I get to read about the adventures of the Headliners, Fatimas, and the Emperor, all in English!

This is a must for any manga collector to have, serious or not! You won't regret it!

This is a wonderful manga series, probably the best I've ever read.

However...

*No* one issue of *anything* is worth 918 dollars...

Dream on, bookmavens...

I have been purchasing Newtype for years, and have always wanted to read The Five Star Stories. But I am just learning to read Japanese, so it was slow going (when it went at all.) But now, thanks to the wonderful people who printed this English language version, I can now read the story that I have admired for so long!

The art is superb, the story is exciting, and the characters draw you in and hold you there. I like how Mamoru Nagano has mixed the mythology of various countries and combined them with the technological driven dreams of our time. He has put an interesting spin on a cliche'd situation, and that is great! Kudos to you!

It may be hard to understand at first, but once you get into it, it's great!

I would love to be able to describe the plot to you, but I'm not sure I can remember that much of it. That's not to say that it lacks a plot--my memory is just incredibly bad.

Anyway, try it for yourself! The books are relatively cheap (at least where I bought them, so that's a plus.

Terrific art, gripping story, entrancing characters, and mythology all together in a reasonably priced package? What more encouragement do you need?

I was first hooked by the title of the book, "Flock of Angels". After reading the back, I thought it was an interesting enough story that I'd read it. I'm glad I did.

The foundation of the story is definitely a unique one. A virus that causes wings to grow on a person's back, and has been on the world for decades. And, like in today's society, there are those who fear and misunderstand those who succumb to it, treating them like less than human.

I think any individual will find some connection with the characters in the story. I did, and I love the book. I recommend it to anyone! Especially angel lovers!

Another amazing manga series that's been ignored in book stores.
I was pleasantly surprised that this series didn't cater to the typical young audience with just "pretty boys with wings" as its selling point.

Instead, this series takes on issues on discrimination, ways to overcome it, abuse, illness/extinction, and ultimately procreation.

Since this series is only 3 volumes long, you'd get to see Shea grow up & get to the point with each book. (which is pretty refreshing compared to other series that extends tention, conflict and drama by dragging their feet and keeping their characters ignorant/naive for an unrealistic amount of time).

I highly recommend this for those who are tired of the typical shoujo high school drama, love triangles, and magic power gimicks.

And have high hopes for Aurora Publishing and their choices for released titles with substance, rather than "eye candy".

Okay, so I was skeptical at first with another angel manga, but I was pleasantly surprised with this volume. I really got into the struggle of Shea having to deal with his new-found world-wide fame as being the spokesperson for bringing the news of the Angelosis virus, which is what makes the humans grow wings. It deals with different moral issues, but not so much in a cheesy, child-like way.

Are they really the supreme children of God? Do they really exist? In this story by Shoko Hamada. You get a chance to see that "Angels" are not what religion depicts them to be. They are beings that exist in our everyday society, most hidden from fear of being discovered while others use the power of the media to their advantage. Meet Shea, a young quiet boy that lives a simple but happy life. Enjoys making clothing for his friends and little sister Pearl. But that soon changes with a ache in between his shoulder-blade, a protruding bump that seems to grow with every passing minute. When the media discovers his oddity he is taken in under the protection of the public welfare and discovers that there are others just like him. He soon meets "Angelaid," the hottest band in Tokyo. They're gorgeous, sexy and have WINGS!! Everyone on the street are wearing them, it's the hottest trend, or is there more than what meets the eye? This book gives science fiction a big plus, it reminded of "Clover" by the popular girls mangaka CLAMP. A must read for all science fiction fans.

Uhm JungHyun (so the name is spelled on my copy) has created a great story with "Forest of Gray City". The style of artwork is absolutely gorgeous (although opinions might differ according to tastes), and through both the art and the dialogue (or lack thereof) the characters, their lives, and their dilemmas really come alive. From the start, the cover compelled me to open it up and read it.... And from that moment on, I was a goner. Alternately funny, serious, and tantalizing throughout, this series is to be followed.

Forest of Gray City is a great Korean manhwa. Jung-Hyun Uhm's style is unique and her story is different and refreshing. I am impatiently looking forward to more volumes of this manhwa!

This is possibly the best modern romance story I have read in years. Both of the main characters (Yun-Ook Jang and Bum-Moo Lee) are interesting and human. They each feel real, in that they each have their own interests, weaknesses, and strengths.

In the first volume of the series, the two characters slowly get to know each other through the course of living their everyday lives. The author does not stoop to dramatic cliches to move the plot along. It all feels very natural and organic. I really enjoyed the clever subtlety of the storytelling and art.

There were several points in the story that made me laugh, too, which was really refreshing.

And, last but certainly not least, the art style is quite lovely.

I love Forest of Gray City. The story starts out with an artist, who looks out of her window every morning to catch a glimpse of a man. This man stands on a street overbridge and stares at something before moving on. The artist is in debt and desperate for money, so she decides to rent out her extra room. However, everyone responding is not up to her requirements. One night, while very drunk she answers her door. It was a man answering her ad for the room. When she told him that she was the owner of the house, he turned to leave. That's when she begs him to stay and help her with her debt. Next morning, having forgotten the incident that occured the night before, the artist nearly has a heart attack when the man comes out of the extra room. So begins the land lady and tenant relationship of Yun-Ook Jang and Bum-Moo Lee. And Bum-Moo turns out to know who the man is on the bridge every morning.

What I really love is Jung-Hyun Uhm's art. Her lines are clean and so are the backgrounds. I found it very pleasing to the eye, unlike 'Kill Me, Kiss Me' that though, I love, gave me a headache trying to read it.

i actually got addicted to this manga thru the anime, which i saw first. i completely love it. the books are even better. more depth. & the story just gets more & more suprising.

The manga is waaaay better than the anime. Don't even bother watching the anime. It's only half as good. Read the books! They will make you smile all the time and you really connect with the characters. Plus the story is fantastic!

In spite of an amusing coda to the Yuki/Ayame story in which Yuki (gasp! shock!) voluntarily pays a visit to Ayame's apartment, this volume of Fruits Basket - in which Kyo's fate and Kyoko Honda's ghost loom large and one of the series most forshadowed and anticipated moments arrives - is rather somber in tone.

As it begins, we find Tohru reeling in guilt as she realizes that her beloved mother is no longer the most important person in her life. It's not an easy episode for Kakeru either, as he realizes that he can no longer put off telling Yuki about his uncomfortable connection to Tohru considering the likelihood that he'll be seeing more of her in light of her place in Yuki's life and the fact that Yuki and Machi are inching closer towards dating.

The part of the volume that will probably have the longest effect on the characters, however, is the middle. With Yuki having gracefully bowed out of the picture and Tohru having virtually confessed her feelings for Kyo as the last volume ended, it would seem that a difficult situation has been averted. But as readers who have followed the subtext of the series will have realized, Tohru has three princes - and it's now that prince number three becomes an issue.

As school begins again, the girls are gossiping about a mysterious drop-dead gorgeous boy with non-Japanese features who's caught their attention. When one girl confirms that he's a Sohma our suspicions are heightened, and when he heads for Tohru and her face lights up at the sight of him as they walk off hand in hand, we know it can only be one person.

Momiji Sohma has finally caught up with his other three cousins - and big time.

Although we've known for a long time what Momiji would eventually look like via the infamous flash forward frame of him on his first day of high school, his first official appearance as an older teen - endearingly confused by the new female attention he's getting until Tohru gives him the newsflash that he's stunningly handsome - is worth the price of the volume alone. It is also, however, a very bittersweet moment.

Momiji wears his heart on his sleeve and has always been completely open regarding how he feels about Tohru. Although those feelings undoubtedly started out having alot to do with her filling the void of his unrequieted love for his mother and sister, Tohru has also clearly been his first crush. Had Kyo made a move at any earlier point, that would have been the end of that. But Kyo has finally waited too long, the flood dam finally breaks, and Momiji can no longer deny what's been written all over his face, actions and body language for a long time now.

Ever the child of an unlucky star, Momiji Sohma has fallen in love with his best friend - a girl who everyone, including himself, knows is meant for his ostracized cousin.

While this is going on, a dark cloud forms over all the younger Zodiac members as Kyo's impending confinement begins to loom close enough that it can no longer be ignored; and they become increasingly anxious as they realize they will all be complicit in a terrible crime if the unthinkable happens. It is ultimately Momiji who kindles the flame and goes to Kyo to try to shock him into offering resistance. It is Momiji as well who becomes the first Zodiac member in the history of the curse to commit the grand heresy of openly declaring for the Cat and stating outright that he doesn't intend to let his cousin be taken without a fight.

All of which makes what must inevitably happen all the more painful, as we realize with saddened spirits that for Tohru and Kyo to end up together Tohru will have to break the heart of a boy she adores who has been with her through thick and thin and deserves much better; and in a cruel case of irony Kyo will have to trample not his lifelong rival, but the saintly cousin who is his greatest ally and source of strength among the Zodiac.

After this volume, a completely happy ending all around no longer seems possible.

Recently Natsuki Takaya has dealt with the relationships of some of the supporting characters... and now it's back to the main trio.

And the nineteenth volume of "Fruits Basket" focuses on Tohru's growing feelings for Kyo, even as she struggles to free him from his curse -- and the scorn of the other zodiac members. Though there are some funny moments (mostly from the wonderfully wacky Ayame) growing romantic feelings and past regrets are littered all through these chapters.

Heartfelt talks take up a lot of space -- when Shigure tells Tohru about the approaching "last banquet" and the cat's place, she is left struggling with her torn feelings. Kyo has a chat with her kindly grandfather about Tohru, and remembers his own talk with her dead mother. And Shigure has a soul-baring talk with Hatori about the increasingly reclusive Akito, and just what he wants from her.

But the romantic tension growing between Kyo and Tohru are stifling Yuki, so he goes shopping out on the town, and eventually ends up visiting his brother. While the brothers talk, Yuki stirs up memories of the first time Ayame realized that his careless words could hurt people. But he isn't the only one -- amid the usual school council hijinks, Yuki finds out about a past conflict between Kakeru and Tohru...

In the grand scheme of things, not much actually happens in this volume -- it's mostly about the characters and their feelings.

Don't worry. It's not boring, especially since Takaya continues to weave in some darker threads about Kyo's bleak past and future, and his half-hidden regrets about Kyoko. And she lets readers have a look at how the characters are changing as they approach adulthood (Momiji has become the new "prince"). There's a bittersweet flavour even to the lighter chapters, since everything around them is changing so quickly.

But don't worry -- despite the darker moments, we still get lots of comic relief like Kyo bashing his head against the wall in exaggerated shame. And there are some deeply romantic moments, like a beautiful flashback to the start of Ayame's relationship with Mine. These moments are exquisitely beautiful without having to be too obvious, and Takaya's delicate artwork only adds to the feeling.

But the biggest romantic moments come for Tohru and Kyo. Tohru's inner struggles are further revealed, since she turns out to have some conflicting feelings about her parents and Kyo. And Kyo shows that he's grown out of the angry, self-loathing cat-boy he used to be, while Yuki has become more patient with his brother, and very sweet and loving toward his new girlfriend.

And Takaya doesn't neglect the other characters -- Kakeru turns out to be a romantic, Ayame definitely isn't gay, and Momiji has some secret romantic feelings. And Shigure's darker side casts a shadow over the first half of this manga.

The nineteenth volume of "Fruits Basket" explores the changing feelings of the characters, even as it inches toward the end. A really stellar, polished little manga.