Manga Books

i heard from someone.. there is good story of love.. i want to read that the book! and also dvd too. .smile thank you so much

My favorite series besides Fake, Kizuna (released by BeBeautiful) is at the moment I would say the ultimate classic among all Yaoi Manga to date that has been released.
Enjouji has been kidnapped by the Yakuza and they find out who he really is which puts his life in danger. His lover, Ranmaru is sick with worry when his boyfriend doesn't return home, fearing that he is in trouble and finds Enjouji's half brother Kai, to help him locate and rescue Enjouji.
Ties of love are pulled to the extremes when Ranmaru comes to terms with the fact he may lose Enjouji forever and picks up his sword in an act of revenge for his fallen lover.
Kizuna is defiantly a title you should pick up! The translation is perfect and the art suits the storyline well. Anyone who is a fan of titles like FAKE and wanted more action should defiantly look up Kizuna.

Finally Book 5 is here after such a long long wait! Bebeautifulmanga.com, the publisher, just takes too long to get Kizuna translated. Book 5 continues the story arc from Book 4. No sex scenes here but the great story line, well developed characters and of course the presence of my favorite Yaoi couple, Kei and Ran, more than made up for it. Kai seems to have matured in Vol 5. About time, as I never like this bratty character whom I always feel should not be paired up with Masai. Tashiro and Jack, another couple, chip in with hints of their intriguing pasts.
Kei has disappeared and Ran is sick with worry. Ran finally finds his beloved Kei but can they escape. Ran is about to kill to revenge and protect the man he loves. Will Ran lose it..and that is how Vol 5 ends.., with a cliff hanger.
I have all 10 volumes (to-date) of the Japanese version of Kizuna though I do not know a word of Japanese. Just looking at the pictures is enough to keep me pulling my hair in frustration at the slow pace of the translation of Kizuna.
Well, I last heard that Vol 6 will be out in April and I really hope Amazon will not take too long to secure Vol 6.
Believe me from what I can gather from the pictures of my Japanese version, Kizuna just keeps on getting better and of course more hot scenes!

It's painful to wait between volumes of the English release of Kizuna.

If you're unfamiliar with the series, Kizuna is one of the most popular Yaoi titles around by the fabulous Kazuma Kodaka. It's drawn in "shonen" style, which is how men's comics are often drawn. Hard lines, shadows and angry rough looking fellas. Most Yaoi is drawn in "shojo" style, with softer, more feminine attributes. This makes Kizuna very unique among Yaoi titles, though it really shines in the quality of the writing.

The storyline of Kizuna revolves around two lovers, Ranmaru, a former kendo champion and Kei, the illegitimate son of a Yakuza boss. Kei's half brother, and legitimate heir to the clan, Kai, is also mixed up in the two men's lives and causes a lot of trouble for Kei, Ran, and his personal bodyguard and pseudo-suitor, Masa.

If you are new to the series, you should probably go back and start with volume 1; volume 5 picks up in the middle of some heavy storyline, and you'll be lost if you don't already know what's going on. In fact, I was lost because it has been so long since volume 4 (though there is a "story thus far" at the beginning to jog one's memory with).

Anyway, this volume is packed full of action. Yes, action. Not the sexual kind. Kei has been kidnapped and Ran has finally gotten worried. He enlists Masa's help and then joins up with Kai to find him. Kai, for his part, escapes the watchful eye of his bodyguard, Tashiro, who himself is distracted by a former acquaintance. Kai is really taking a role of authority in this volume. He breaks from his dependency on Masa and works to help his half-brother with the man they both love.

The volume ends in another cliffhanger, so we'll all have to wait for volume 6, whenever that will be, to find out if Ran has totally lost his mind, or if he is just really pissed off.

As with Kizuna fans, there are many people that you want to get together. Ranmaru and Kei, in this one the happy couple spend an not so privet honeymoon where Kei greww up. Kai and Masa came along (thou Masa was there casue Kai asked him to be) Kai and Masa's relationship has started to take off in the wonderful inn. And Kei and Ran get to have thier honey moon.

This book just keep getting better and better kei and ran are the two main people for me but masa and kai are interesting also. i can understand why kei is upset with his brother he is always spoiling things for him. but he doesn't want any one looking at masa he is a very selfish boy! the shower scene was very hot i like seeing ran's face when he is in the heat of passion the face turns even on and when they lay flowers on the grave of Kei's mother it's funny the way masa and ran seem to gravitate toward each other it's like it's done on purpose but it's so inocent but the brothers think otherwise. it's funny watching kai get jealous and upset with ran who is supose to be the on he is in love with. when it comes to masa no one is spared his jealousey he is like a little boy who wants all he sees no matter what! i love this vol and look forward to the rest of the series. the sex is hot and the story never lets you down it just makes you eager for the next vol.

Finally, Kizuna returns its focus to the loving relationship between Kei and Ran. I am absolutely satisfied with this new volume and I look forward even more to the next volume. I'm even happy that BeBeautiful seems to have picked up the pace with their releases from last year's painfully slow schedule, and a top notch job they did. I'd have to say that this is the publisher of yaoi that I respect the most for quality of localization into English, even if they are the slowest.

Ah, fan service. It seems Kodaka took notice of its absense as of late. She gave us a small taste of it in volume 6, but that was not nearly satisfying enough. Having been denied any real graphic depictions for several volumes, Tashiro and JB in the last volume not withstanding, we finally get to see the newlyweds consummate their relationship on vacation.

Kei finally heals and we get a wonderful scene with his father and his now husband. The lovebirds get a free trip to a hotspring from the aging yakuza boss which the two men use as their honeymoon destination. Kai of course, who is still having trouble dealing with his feelings for Masa, forces himself along and the standard angst and interruptions of Kei and Ran's alone time ensue. We're in a place with that relationship that satisfied many of my expectations by the end of the volume, but there is enough left over to hold my interest into volume 8. We also get to learn a whole lot more about Kei's childhood and his mother, and Ran finally makes a decision about his prospects in kendo thanks to some goading from Kei.

A lot of people don't like Kai. I can understand where that comes from. He's completely immature. I don't understand though, why people seem to think that Masa is not a good match for him. Masa is just as messed up as Kai is. They deserve each other. One spastic spoiled brat and one stoic brooding jerk. They balance each other, and when they don't they at the very least cancel one another out. Volume 8 promises to give us the best taste of this couple's relationship.

For fans of Kizuna, I have to say this volume is wonderful. Don't waste time wondering whether or not to get it. I know I will be waiting happily for the next installment myself.

After the heavy story arc in Vol 4 to 6, the romantic Vol 7 is a great change in pace. Vol 7 finds my favorite Yaoi couple, Ran and Kei, on their honeymoon (remember Kei's proposal in Vol 6). Of course, Masa and Kai are along for the ride. Being interrupted constantly by a mercurial Kai is certainly not the couple's idea of a honeymoon.
Ran and Kei are into some pretty hot coupling here. The scenes in the hot bath and hot spring, on the tatami are darn erotic. Kei, just recovered from his ordeal, is at his most randy self and Ran...Well Ran may "seems" reluctant on the surface but certainly not shy in anyway. Meanwhile poor Kai is trying to get the moody Masa to reciprocate.

On a personal note, I never understand why Kodaka pair the intriguing Masa with the bratty Kai. Maybe I am bias as I never like Kai while I am all for Masa. I know I am the loner in this opinion.

For those of us into romance, Vol 7 is certainly worth its weight in gold. There is also a touching revelation of the 2 brothers' past when they first met.

Looking forward to Vol 8 and let's hope Bebeautiful does not dally too much.

These elegant short stories are deceptive. On the surface hardly anything seems to "happen" in each "episode" other than a sword fight or two. Actually there is a LOT going on. Koike is in touch with humanity in ways many of us never will be.

Lone Wolf & Cub artwork is anything but simple. These stories are CARRIED by the masterful drawings. I am constantly amazed.

The main storyline continues to build from volumes 1 to 3. I highly recommend ALL FOUR books, and I also suggest you read them in order.

I've been so blown away by the work Kazuo Koike & Goseki Kojima
that I decided to wait until the entire series was released to finish reading it. After the first three volumes, I didn't really believe they could keep up the same level of quality, and it turns out I was right.

Volume 4 blows the previous three away.

It's worth reading just for the heartbreaking Daigoro solo story, "Parting Frost", where the toddler sets out in search of his father and makes a very powerful enemy of his own. The other three stories are nothing to sneeze at either, and in addition to great entertainment, the creators also provide some important lessons about the history and culture of Japan in pain-free ways that don't even give you time to realize you've been learning; Perfect for Gaijin's like me!
I can't imagine how this series can possibly get any better. Stay tuned.....

I just love these mangas of Itto Ogami and his son. I use to collect the old comics that First Comic published, then I heard that Dark horse was republishing them So I just had to get it. These books are suggested for mature readers only because they have some sex, lots of violence, and bad language. But it perfectly shows feudal Japan in the Edo state.

This fourth volume in the manga epic "Lone Wolf & Cub" manages to transcend the previous volumes. Kazuo Koike's stories not only continues to mine the history of Edo-period Japan for fascinating narrative settings and details, but Goseki Kojima continues to try different art styles dependent on the story being told. This volume offers up the next four stories of Ogami Itto's journey along the Assassin's Road:

(20) "The Bell Warden" gives its title to the volume, but it is the third best story in the volume. The current bell warden of the capital's nine bells wants the assassin to cut off the right arm of his three successors as a test. Each of the three is an expert with a different weapon, but also weapons that are different from anything we have seen to date. (This volume's "Ronin Report" essay by Tim Ervin-Gore in the back is "Weapons Glossary: Part One," which helps to explain more about these weapons). This story becomes a series of three fights, albeit unlike what we are used to it the series.

(21) "Unfaithful Retainers" sets the tone for the other three stories in this volume in which Ogami Itto becomes something of a secondary character for most of the story. This tale involves the new class of Orisuke that arose during this period to serve samurai families without sharing the values of samurai society. The assassin has a mission regarding the Orisuke, but when he encounters two young girls about to kill themselves. Curious about what they would do so, he listens to their story and then comes up with a startling suggestion. The climax involves another one of Lone Wolf's complex strategems to put his prey where he wants him.

(22) "Parting Frost" is the most unforgettable story in this volume. Left to wait patiently for the return of his father, Daigoro has run out of food and decides to search for Lone Wolf. Going to a Buddhist temple because his father often meditates at such place, Daigoro finds a samurai who is stunned to see "Shishogan," the eyes of a swordman alive in the moment between life and death (i.e., Ogami's eyes). Seeking to solve the mystery of how such eyes could belong to a child, the samurai observe Daigoro's actions. A stunning story, totally unforgettable. But this is only Volume 4 and the thought that there are stories down the road that might be better than this one is mind-blowing. But every time I think I have read the best "Lone Wolf and Cub" story, there is one even better in the next volume. Daigoro says little, but Koike shares with us the child's thoughts and we discover what he has learned from watching his father. A fascinating character study made all the more poignant by Daigoro's ability to remain in some ways a child, despite all he has seen and endured.

(23) "Perfomer" offers an intriguing mystery regarding a woman whose body is tatooed in a most eye-catching way. The woman also happens to be an expert sword fighting and apparently the next target of Assassin Lone Wolf and Cub. But once again, there is more to meet the eye regarding this situation. These stories started off with a key element being the brilliant strategems by which the Assassin gained access to his victim. But by this point in the epic the situations are becoming equally complex as Koike and Kojima take their stories to the next level. This is the second best story in this volume, which continues the amazing progression that each is superior to its predecessor.

I continue to read these stories, one a night before going to sleep. These stories live up to their well deserved reputation as one of the great efforts in the history of comics.

It's hard to pick out the best of a series such as this one which is filled with quality but this issue is clearly near the top. Penal Code Article 79, Dragnet, Night Stalker & Cloud Dragon Wind Tiger are all killer stories and the rest are almost as good.

This are some of the best of the first section before the discovery of the Yagyu letter, if you don't own it buy it.

As most reviews of this series will contend, this is a story that cannot be put down once you start. Volume 7 has two particularly good stories. This is not to say that the other three are mediocre. Far from it.

"Dragnet" - awesome story of how the Yagyu clan manipulates the shogunate into rounding up all criminals just to catch the one ronin they want. The world of Edo politics is really the heart of this story.

"Cloud Dragon, Wind Tiger" is another great story depicting the world of the samurai, more than that of our hero. In this case, the loyalty of a samurai is examined -- seen from many points of view -- Ogami Itto's inevitable winning duel becomes less important about the survival of our hero than for the metaphor of the death of the virtuous retainer and the code he embodies. The moral at the end of the story explaining "Cloud Dragon, Wind Tiger" is perfectly rendered.

Vol. 7 seemed to represent a shift in the storytelling. We still care about Itto and Daigoro -- but what really appeals to the reader is their world: a thriving decadence and a disintegrating ethos. When Itto has to use his trick gun, you know it's the samurai who have really lost. 4/5 stars here just to reserve my right to rave about the perfect 5 stories out of 5 later.

Following in the footsteps of the earlier editions, Ogami Itto continues in his slow but unfaltering quest to reveal the crimes of the Yagyu. And the Yagyu are aware... In this issue Itto and his son Diagoro face a Yagyu dragnet, a lone samaurai from an execution past, a young woman willing to give her life to avenge her family, and Diagoro witnesses the murder of a princess. Amid the varying side plots the intensity continues to build - how should a lone man and a young child with no material resources continue against the odds of a clan, luck and life pitted against them ? This is again, a fabulous book....

The striking cover art by Frank Miller and Lynn Varley for Volume 7 of the Lone Wolf and Cub manga epic is one of his best, but I have to think it would have been more appropriate for Daigoro to be on the cover because in "Cloud Dragon, Wind Tiger," two of the five stories focus on the Cub rather than Lone Wolf. Kazuo Koike continues to provide a few additional details about the quest Ogamii Itto has taken along the assassin's road, but the emphasis has become a bit more about character than violence at this point in the tale. Furthermore, those characters being studied are now, more often than not, others besides the title characters. "Cloud Dragon, Wind Tiger" offers up five more episodes:

(34) "Dragnet" has the Yagyu clan trying to find a way to kill Ogamii Itto without seeming to break their promise not to do so as long as the ronin stays out of the Edo Funai. Their plan is to have the police round up the Lone Wolf as a common criminal. But, of course, Ogamii rises to the challenge, seeing it as the perfect die to die.

(35) "Night Stalker" is the first of the volume's two Daigoro stories, in which the youngster becomes enthralled by a lumber center while waiting for his father to return. In his explorations Daigoro stumbles up the handiwork of another assassin. This story relies primarily on Goseki Kojima's artwork as the dialogue, as you would expect, is rather minimal.

(36) "Cloud Dragon, Wind Tiger" provides us another glimpse into the past life of Lone Wolf as the assassin encounters a man he had met in his former life. The title story is about a duel that has been a long time coming and serves as a fitting reminder that Lone Wolf is not the only former samurai of honor. Certainly a worthy story for providing the title of this volume.

(37) "Inn of the Last Chrysanthemum" is another classic story in which Lone Wolf and Cub are essentially minor characters. This is really the story of Oi-Chan, one of the "Put-Out Girls" at the Inn. She persuades father and son to spend the night at the Inn, although she has been promised to another that night. Eventually we learn the story of her family's disgrace that has forced her to this position (which involves several scenes of sexual violence), and how Oi-Chan now has an opportunity to exact her revenge. (The cover art is for this story.)

(38) "Penal Code Article Seventy-Nine" basically says that age is no excuse for breaking the law. This Daigoro story has the three year old once again waiting for his father to return and going off to investigate something of interest: this time a festival. Also there is "Quick Change" O-Cho, the famous pickpocket and her bag man. Pursued by the police, she gives a wallet to Daigoro and "If you keep this for me, I'll give you a Mon, okay? Promise...?" Of course, neither the thief nor the police can understand the importance of those words to a son who has observed that once hired, you did what your client orders to the last. We will also learn that Daigoro knows another word besides "Papa." Another extremely moving story from Koike and Kojima.

The three "guest stars" of the last three stories are all extremely well drawn characters and you become so captivated reading about their lives that you forget they are but incidental characters, never to be seen again after the tale is done. You know, I am going to stop counting how many times I think that I have just finished reading the best volume in this series. I am just going to continue reading one episode a night and savoring them. Just do not explain why I have waited this long to start enjoying one of the classic "comic book" stories of the 20th century.

The stories of lone wolf and cub are masterfully crafted . I would recommend them to anyone . The stories are easily related to modern times and creat a great historical depiction of the japanese time period . Even if you know nothing of japanese culter it is very easy to pick up on the details . BUY THESE BOOKS !! =)

This is a pivotal volume in the tale of 'Lone wolf and Cub'. Previous volumes have given sketchy details as to Ogami Itto's history, how he was drawn into conflict with the Yagyu - but in this episode the nature of his rise to the position of Executioner for the Shogun is described. This key element to the tale makes clear why the Yagyu harbor against him a burning fury. Itto and Diagoro will face the Yagyu again, as they fling more resuorces against him - the tension is eased as several other small vignettes tell tales of others with whom he comes into contact with. Critical to the series, this is again, the continuation of a fabulous tale...

"Chains of Death," Volume 8 in the Lone Wolf and Cub manga epic by Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima, offers something of a change of pace as Ogami Itto's walk on the Assassin's Road has several diversions:

(39) "Tidings of the Geese" is a short tale in which one of the Shogun's inspectors informs Ogami Itto that the Yagyu have sent assassins to kill Lord Hotta. The fight sequence involves a desperate ploy by the Yagyu. Lone Wolf is not an assassin in this one, for, as he observes: "So long as the Yagyu scheme in the shadows of the shogunate, there can be no return to enlightened rule. Nor any end to our quest."

(40) "The Frozen Crane" has Lone Wolf and Cub coming upon a woman and her dead husband's younger brother who have finally avenge his death. Ogami Itto refuses to bear witness to what has happened and has to teach the woman a lesson about the true quest for vengeance.

(41) "Chains of Death" has the Yagyu using the Kurokuwa clan to try and kill Lone Wolf and Cub. This episode becomes a series of battles in the snow with Kojima's artwork carrying pretty much the entire story. The fact that Kurokuwa have finally submitted to the Yagyu is not lost on Ogami Itto. Visually the best story in this volume, the tale that gives the volume its title is not one of the more significant stories.

(42) "The Infinite Path" tells the complete story of the duel that earned Ogami Itto the position of Kogi Kaishakunin. We knew the basics of the tale, but this telling involves a duel between Lone Wolf and Restsudo Yagyu. The flashback makes it clear that the reason why the Yagyu were so desperate to be Kogi Kaishakunin could offer Lone Wolf an end to his quest.

(43) "Thread of Tears" finds Ogami Itto meditating at a temple while Daigoro meets a young widow. However, this is no chance meeting for Lone Wolf had killed her husband and she has been waiting to cross his path to ask for a duel. While watching the duel Daigoro has his own, rather chilling test.

(44) "Beku-no-ji" is the only tale in this volume where the story deals with Lone Wolf being hired as an assassin. The job offer is as much of a focal point of the story as the assassination at the end. Again, Ogami Itto's sense of honor provides insight into his walk on the assassin's road.

One other thing that most of these stories have in common is that most of them take place in winter. I am not sure at this point how much we are supposed to pay attention to the turning of the seasons; then again, perhaps I am wrong to assume that these stories are being told in chronological order. I will have to contemplate this in the silence of my room after I read tonight's episode. The ability of Koike and Kojima to maintain this high quality of graphic narrative is most impressive. This manga deserves every accolade it has received.

The saga of Lone Wolf and Cub should be in the collection of anybody with an interest in Bushido, the Japanese warrior philosophy. Goseki Kojima's powerful storytelling and the late Kazuo Koike's brutal visuals have captured the essence of the quest of an honourable man in the cruel world of Shogun-era Japan. There are many manga series, but none better than Lone Wolf and Cub.

Ken Akamatsu, Love Hina vol. 3 (Tokyopop, 2002)

And here we are-- it's time for the big test to get into Tokyo U. And is Naru the girl Kitaro made his promise to fifteen years earlier? He can't quite recall, but when she lets slip she's trying because of a promise she made as well, Kitaro's feelings get to falling all over each other as much as his feet do. Series remains strong and witty. ****

Love Hina book three was great. Definetly NOT an upset to a Love Hina avid reader. The book entrances you Keitaro and Naru's long sought journey of finding tranquillity after their disappointing fail of their Tokyo University entrance exams. I'm not going to dish on ALL the details, though. If you want to know so bad, just buy the book! I guarentee you won't regret it!

This is a great book, but you really should start with the first book in the series. If you like that one, then you can read the rest of them. This is a very funny series. I don't want to give away the plot, but suffice to say that things continue to go wrong for our "hero". This chapter also introduces a girl who may play an important role later in the series. That is just speculation on my part, I haven't read past this book yet.

The story so far: Keitaro remembers making a promise to a girl about attending Tokyo University so they could live happily ever after together. Unfortunately he doesn't know who this girl is but he thinks it may be the most abusive resident at Hinata House! It turns out that she isn't as bad as she seems when she offers to help him study for the entranace exams since that is her goal too.
In this volume, Naru becomes upset after failing her entrance exams and finding herself a ronin. She trys to runaway but Keitaro follows. As she trys to get away from him they end up running into eachother everywhere! They end up at the same hotel (turns out they're both using the smae travel guide) and the woman there is a room short and puts them in the same room! A Honeymoon Room! Meanwhile back at Hinata House, the residents frantically try to find the two fearing that they may have tied the knot! This thought causes panic in the residents because although they don't want to admit, they have a crush on Keitaro! My favorite of the first three is this one! by far the funniest!

Love Hina volume three, by Ken Amatsu, may be the best of the three volumes released at this date.
Keitaro and Naru have both failed the exams, and independently decide to take a little vacation to relax after all that hard work (studying, racing to the U, etc).
Well, as you may have quessed, they run into each other, quite literally, on the train.
They continually run into each other (not so literally this time) over the next chapter or so, and turns out, they were both using the same travel brochure ((-_-;)).
They begrudgingly decide to travel together.
Along the way, they aquire a waif-like girl named Mutsumi, who might be considered the female Keitaro ^ ^.
Unbeknownst to them, everyone from Hinata House is searching for them, from Suu to Shinobu. Well.... much craziness ensues.
To find out exactly what happens, I guess you're just gonna have to read the book.

This excellent series continues in it's seventh volume. It's still as funny as ever. The love triangle deepens in this issue. Which girl is Keitaro's true love? If that's not enough to worry about, the Tokyo U entrance exam comes up again. I you enjoyed previous volumes of this series, you will enjoy this one, too.

i love this comic book it, is a great buy for kids and anyone else who likes comics

The seventh volume of the Love Hina series contains the 52nd to 60th installments of the manga. The story takes place from the cliffhanger ending of the 6th book and provides an entertaining story line to the end even with the plot twist. The book provides hours of entertainment if read in installments as intended. I enjoyed it so much, I can't wait to read the next volume.

Contrary to what Keitaro originally thought, Naru may not be the girl he made the promise to at all! In fact it is more likely that he made the promise to Mutsumi! But he already has feelings for Naru but he might have made the promise to Mutsumi. Should he break the promise to Mutsumi or break naru's heart? Is there another way out? Keitaro's brilliant idea is to go on a date with both of them at the same time but things don't exactly go his way when Naru gives him a deadline of only a few hours to decide. Which way will he turn? Find out in this exciting volume of Love Hina!

Just the most hilarious manga, ever!

The artwork is unique; I didn't like it at first, but don't hesitate! The characters are wild, good natured, and just plain silly. Plenty of laugh out loud gags, over the top situation comedy, and a story line running through it. Plenty of Tsukkomi/Boke. Nandeyano?!

I want more!!!

If you don't believe me, believe CLAMP. They are telling all their friends to "read this manga!"

For a while I've been getting tired of anime and manga. Repetitive storylines, the same hackneyed characters, and lame gags ad nauseam have started to turn me off of most new stuff. I happened to run across this manga in the bookstore. Reading through it, I was pleasantly surprised to find something different! What I like the most is the unique art style which will definitely (perhaps thankfully) mean that this manga will not have an anime version.

Negishi thinks of herself as a rather average and plain-looking high schooler until a boy named Hoshino declares his love and asks her to go out as her stunned classmates look on. While put off at first by his open heart, Negishi submits to his attentions because of peer pressure and her own secret desire to fall in love. Volume 1 of Love Roma is mainly about the couple's first bumbling attempts to get to know each other and to carve out their own space in the realationship. It is filled with light-hearted and innocent comedy and some occasional deeper insights into the human heart that alternately craves solitude and company. Adding to the comedy are the friends of the couple, Tsukahara and Yoko, whose deadpan attitudes about life offer constant counterpoints to Negishi's excitibility and Hoshino's one track mind. The story is slow-paced and comfortable and feels like a window into a naive but warm world. The art is a bit more cartoony and American-seeming than most manga, but it suits the story. The author has really drawn and plotted a winner here.

I would also recommend the manga Aria, which also has a laid-back plot and mood. Also, the Azumanga Daioh anime and manga. His and Her Circumstances is a good anime that delves into a little more seriousness than is seen in Love Roma.

I enjoyed this volume because it takes an otherwise common formula--boy declares love for girl, girl stumped--and makes light of all of the usual emotional and shoujo-esque aspects of relationships in manga. It's very much like Kare Kano (Kareshi Kanojo no Jijou/His & Her Circumstances) without the emotional baggage, heavy storylines, and occasional complete changes of story focus on what should be minor characters. Granted, this is only the first volume, but it's certainly well-grounded in what it's trying to express, and the upbeat and almost comic-strip-like art keep the series from collapsing on itself with too much drama. Totally recommended, especially if you've just gotten through a far more serious manga series.

A beautifully drawn graphic novel with original and captivating stories.

This manga will be an automatic favourite with girls as it contains both romantic stories and stunning tales of adventure.

and this book is amazing! The first story "Love Song" is a twist on most abusive relationships, this time the woman being the abuser. It was mind boogling at how the man just took her abuse like that, instead of fighting back verbally or physically. "Jewels of the Seaside" was a bit confusing toward the beginning, and very mind blowing at the end. "The Signal Goes Blink-Blink" is an extrememly touching story in my opinion, and it shows that some people have a change of view after a life threating experience. "The Skin of Her Heart" was too short for my taste, but it was enjoyable, and I think most people can relate to the main character. This book is really worth buying, and though I am a person who reads a book once, I will be reading this agian.

Love Song is a collection of four short stories by shoujo artist Keiko Nishi. The first story, "Love Song", is about a girl who knows only physical violence as a way of expressing her love. The second story, "Jewels of the Seaside", is about three sisters who fall for the same guy. The third story, "The Signal Goes Blink Blink", is about a young man who is often ostracized and bullied by his peers. Later, it is discovered that he possesses wondrous healing powers. The last story, ""The Skin of Her Heart", is about a girl who seems to be trapped in the perpetual routine which is her life.

I don't regret buying this book. I found it to be refreshingly different and relaxing, the kind of reading I'd want to do while lounging on a lazy afternoon. Love Song doesn't have swords or sorcery, it's basically good story-telling coupled with lovely and uncluttered art. These stories make you think and feel, with characters who are as real as the next person. The treatment is quite mature, but not in the sense that it'd contain sexual or other explicit stuff. Rather, the maturity pertains to the emotional level these stories convey. There's also a nice sprinkling of light moments and comical situations. It's truly a unique manga experience, which can be likened to reading a novel. I wouldn't recommend it for those who are looking for action and excitement though... this just isn't that kind of manga.

I'll come clean. I'm the translator of this volume, so I couldn't give it a lower rating. (On the other hand, there are manga I've translated which I *wouldn't* give good reviews, but in such a case I'd review anonymously. ^_^ ) While translating for Viz (I only stopped because I became too busy with teaching and had trouble meeting deadlines), I was fortunate to be able introduce several "shoujo manga" (Japanese girls' and women's comics) to the English-speaking world. The first compilation of these, "Four Shojo Stories" is unfortunately out of print (though you may be able to find it on BookFinder.com). Hagio Moto's "A-A'" is a wonderful series of interconnected short stories by the great Hagio Moto, but, being science fiction, it's almost too easy to import. What I had always wanted to do was to translate "real" shoujo manga, which is to say stories of human relationships that don't rely on the trappings of science fiction or fantasy in order to be accepted by English-reading audiences. The title story of this volume is just such a story, and then some. "Love Story" is the crystallization of the white-hot intensity of Nishi's early work. Ths story illustrates, with frightening (yet compelling) realism, the old song lyric: "You always hurt the one you love." "Jewels of the Seaside" and "The Signal Goes Blink Blink" are tongue-in-cheek fun (and you'll be glad of that, after "Love Song"), but the finale, "The Skin of Her Heart," is a quiet, moving vignette that is only incidentally science fiction (in a Bradbury-Tiptree-LeGuin vein). I'm quite proud of this translation, and I hope you'll like it.

A couple of months ago, quite by accident, I ran across a mention on the internet of the Japanese manga, "Love*Com" (AKA "Lovely*Complex") by Aya Nakahara. I'm fascinated by anything, that has to do Japanese youth culture and the premise of this teenage comedy/drama/soap opera for some reason left me quite intrigued. I gave it a try and absolutely loved it!

In the first book we meet 15 year old Risa Koizumi, who at 5'7" is rather tall for a Japanese, female, high school student. She is constantly at odds with her school mate, Atsushi Otani, who is a small guy standing only 5'1". The two are constantly (and hilariously) at each other's throats using insults like "Jumbo-Gal" and "Little Shrimp". The two argue so much, that the whole school refers to them as "All Hanshin-Kyojin", a popular, two person stand-up comedy act with a height difference. The two are constantly getting stuck together. So much so, that many people at school just assume they are a bickering romantic couple. Eventually an epithany occurs to Risa. What if she really is in love with the diminutive, Otani? Risa, wrestles with her feelings and over the next seventeen volumes tries to make the oblivious Otani understand how she feels about him.

To be honest, I'm pretty much a novice, when it comes to Japanese manga. But I know a good story when I see one. From the start, I was instantly hooked on this teenage soap opera, which is both equal parts comedy and drama. The story line keeps you constantly interested in finding out the next plot developement and the characters are endearing and fun to spend time with. Aya Nakahara's fine line artwork is simply beautful and I can't get enough of it.

One thing I love is that throughout the book, Nakahara writes in the margins and gives the reader various short asides about her personal life. It almost reads like an internet blog. Also helpful are explanations to the reader about Japanese cultural references, that are found throughout the story. They talk about everything from Japanese music to school traditions to holidays. It's fun and my interest in Japanese youth culture makes me a total sucker for this sort of thing!

As of this writing, I'm up to just starting book 6 (out of 17). I've had such a good time reading about Risa, Otani and their friends. Their story is almost addictive and I can't wait for more! Highly recommended!

As an opening confession: I don't like anime/manga very much. Most of what I've watched, I didn't enjoy, with the exception of Black Lagoon - but I think that's about as opposite to Love*Com as you can get.

But I live with a guy whose true love is Japanese romance comedies, and he got me started on fan translations of the Lovely Complex anime. From there, he bought the books - and yes, I sort of stole them.

I don't have much experience with manga, but I thought the artwork was great and really suited the feel of the series. I've heard it compared to Ally McBeal, in that the down-to-earth storyline is interspersed with occasional brief fantasy sequences (usually when a character is shocked or upset). But I hated that TV show and love this series, so I can't really comment. The characterization here is marvellous, and the two protagonists are both unusual and very sympathetic. Risa is gangly, awkward and humorous, but her feelings are given weight - and Otani, even with his bravado and forced over-confidence, is engaging and good-natured. They spend most of the overall storyline antagonizing each other, but it's a love-hate thing that develops realistically and rather sweetly into a deeper relationship. The supporting characters are also well-developed, and a few of them might be even more engaging than Risa and Otani.

Not sure if the anime is ever going to be officially translated, but these books are well worth picking up. If you have seen the anime, you won't be disappointed with this. As for the live-action TV drama...well, can't win them all.

Love*Com, also known as Lovely Complex is one of the most hilarious manga series you'll ever pick up. Many shoujo series out there that are labled as comedies are really not funny. Love*Com is an exception with each chapter filled with those laugh-out-loud moments.

The manga starts out with Risa and Otani as friends. However their teacher and classmates see them as a comedy duo since they are always arguing with each other and for stupid reasons. They decide to help each other out in their love lives and make a bet on who can find a boyfriend/girlfriend first. However as time goes by, Risa sees that she begins to like Otani. How will their realtionship become in the future?

The charatcers in the manga are lovable and you will find that you will love Risa's best friend Nobu for her silly remarks and ideas. The story is a standard shoujo story set at a high-school. The charcter interactions and the art is what truly makes the story hilarious. I've never seen a series with so many funny facial expressions! XD

The manga was extremely popular in Japan that it was made into a live-action movie and anime series that is being shown in Japan right now. Both adaptions are also very funny and enjoyable.

So go ahead and give volume 1 a go. I'm sure you will be laughing all the way till the end (volume 16).

"Love Com" (aka "Lovely Complex") is a cute, funny manga with an unlikely pair. Risa Koizumi is unusually tall for a girl, and Atsushi Otani is unusually short for a boy. Because their heights are accentuated when they stand together, they hate each other and end up arguing a lot. However, their classmates think their fighting is hilarious, so they end up getting compared to famous Japanese comedic duo All Hanshin Kyojin. The story begins when both Risa and Otani get crushes on other people, and they team up despite their differences to help each other attain the objects of their affection. The story is fun, if not a bit predictable. It's standard shojo as far as that goes.

But the characters make the story interesting and funny. The chemistry between Risa and Otani is good. They argue throughout the manga, but still have some sort of strange friendship. They're both interesting characters by themselves too. The supporting characters have personality too.

The art fits the story well. This is a pretty casual story. There's not too much drama, and the art conveys that. The drawings are detailed and pretty, but the characters are a little more realistic than the sparkly eyed heroes of most shojo manga.

The translation is ok. "Love Com" was origially written in Kansai, the dialect of a region of Japan including Osaka, Nagoya, and Kyoto. The translator tried to give the feeling of this dialect by using words like "totally" and "like" a lot. It's not terrible, but it makes the characters seem a little shallow. But their personalities shine through anyway.

"Love Com" is an excellent manga, one of the best Shojo Beat has to offer. Definitely worth picking up.