Manga Books

Godai isn't having a lot of luck finding a job so he's starting to get a little desperate. After all, how can he take care of Kyoko unless he's got a good career....doing something. After pursuing various options with his family, he gets a part-time gig at a resort, not knowing that the whole Maison Ikkoku gang is coming to visit! The main part of this volume deals with Godai becoming a student teacher at Kyoko's old high school, and ironically, just like Kyoko fell in love with her teacher, Godai too picks up a female admirer among his students, a girl named Ibuki Yagami who's willing to do anything to wiggle her way into Godai's life and usurp Kyoko from his heart.

Rumiko Takahashi is not only a master of action manga like Inuyasha, she is a master of realistic romantic comedy. There were some scenes in this book that made me just outright laugh, which happens very rarely when I read. Rumiko has a expert sense of pace and storytelling and her layouts really flow. Most people can relate to this volume because everyone at some point has experienced or been the target of a crush. I don't know for sure whether Yagami really loves him or not, but I think not. I also like this series because it illustrates a lot of Japanese culture. Classic manga.

Godai is still doing the student teacher thing, and Yagami's fascination with her wishy-washy teacher escalates to new heights. She goes to Maison Ikkoku and refuses to leave, wanting to sleep in Godai's room. Of Course the ever jealous Kyoko will have none of this and has Yagami sleep in the manager's room. Yagami who is much more frank with her feelings than Kyoko confronts the lovely woman about how she feels about Godai. Of course, Kyyoko can't come clean with her feelings, and remains silent. Yagami takes this to mean that Kyoko has no interest in Godai, so this further causes things to go haywire. Yagami later corners Godai in the gym equipment storAge room wearing only her underwear, and later moves into Maison Ikkoku when she has a fight with her father over her feelings for Godai, chaos insues of course. Then we have Godai turned down for job after job poor guy. read this, enjoy this, suffer along with Godai.

Our lovesick, long-suffering hero, Godai winds up teaching at an all-girl high school where the object of his yearning desire once attended (and attached her first husband in the very first place). This heart-rending irony continues when a lovestruck young student decides to chase the handsome Godai all the way to the ends of the world. In fact, this stinking rotten little girl even denies her own self-respect and the respect from others when she cornered her victim wearing only a bra, forced her way into his room, manuipulated and abused her dear old father into giving him a job at his company, and plain just drove poor young Koyoko (and Godai as well) up the wall. The kid's dad seems like a gruffy, heavy-breathing orge who looks ready to eat up any male who would dare to go near his only daughter, - but actually, he turns out to be such a docile piece of putty in the dainty hands of that mean little creature. A real nice touch of Lolita-complex twist in the endless mating ritual between the ever-hopeful young Godai and the lovely dark-eyed Koyoko.

I liked the first in the series, but I really loved the second a lot more. The "relationship" between the two main characters is different and complicated, but it keeps you reading wanting to know more about them; I loved that it wasn't another typical lovey-dovey BL book. It's just what I've been looking for.

In this book, we start to get a deeper look into the minds of some of the characters. Yes, perfect! I love a book that delves into the darker aspects of the mind, and I certainly hope to see a lot more of it as I read more of the series. Some of the characters you thought you'd pegged from the first book are turning into entirely different people, which is fascination to watch. I love it.

I thought that, in the first book, the translation was a bit choppy, but there was a much better flow to it in the second. Sooyeon Won is not only an artist, but a writer and a storyteller, which unfortunately is often hard to find in manga.

I'm so happy with this series and am excited to get the next book. I'm definitely going to make room on my shelf just for this series; I have high hopes for it.

This volume is a little slower than the first...
But this is mainly because the focus isn't set on Dai and Jaehee(?)(forgive me, I'm horrible with korean names). They definately have their moments, but the story delves a bit more into the other characters. Though it is interesting to see what happens with Jaehee's (ex?) girlfriend later on. This is what I perceive as 'slower', because I want so badly two see what happens with the two boys.

Their interactions are like a careening rollercoaster ride... and two of the wheels have just popped off!

vol 3 is fast paced agin, giving us a lot of Dai/Jaehee coverage :)

Volume 1 was a shocking discovery.
It's made me create a new shelf space of Korean mangas
("Manhwa"). Looking forward to it.

This book is a great resource for how to draw action in a manga style.

It goes step-by-step into the dynamics of speed lines, structurin the body to show movement without speed lines, Body mass differences, and how to add the quirky manga attitude to your characters.

A simple line drawing can become an action-pact drawing with the use of this book.

-Dash C. B!AM

This book is wonderful! Like all the other let's draw manga books, "All About Fighting" covers everything within its topic and much more. This book has every fighting style from fistfights to virtual reality battles. My favorite part of this book is the character design part, which shows tricks to designing characters, and also shows different kinds of characters and their traits.

Some things included in this book are, costumes and uniforms involved in fighting, various poses involved in different fighting styles, a mini weapons encyclopedia, and short mangas (comics) with almost every fighting style to help interpret the use(s) of the style. Overall, "Let's Draw Manga: All About Fighting" is an excellent source of reference and inspiration.

I think this book is a must buy for artists who want to pursue a job in manga making or if you just want to learn to draw a totally awesome fight scene. It substitutes having to take lessons from a teacher (even though I highly doubt you'll find one), and when it comes to what you can to do with this book, the possibilities are practically limitless! I would recommend this book to anyone who would be willing to listen.

This is an excellent book that has a wealth of detail, drawings, and information related to various kinds of combat in manga. There are sections on unarmed combat, armed combat, uniforms and costume design (as it relates to combat), supernatural (ala DBZ) combat, monster combat, robot combat, and even animal combat!

There are a number of short 2-6 page manga that illustrate various points, and are decent examples of composition. Where this book really shines, though, is in the "Weaponless Fighting" and "Weapon Fighting" sections. There are a wide variety of techniques from various styles of fighting presented, and each section also includes a brief guide to designing characters for action manga.

The book's only shortcoming is that it rarely shows more than one or two views of a particular attack type, but given the scope of the book, that's understandable.

I highly recommend that beginning to advanced artists interested in the manga style acquire this book. For beginners it gives good information on techniques and tricks, and for advanced artists it provides a wealth of reference material.

Now, this was my first Let's Draw Manga book, and I wondered what I would get out of it, but as soon as I opened it, I was amazed. The art is amazing, it shows you things you would not even consider, and it's not even just about Fantasy, though it goes into a great deal about it. It doesn't just throw you into the world of Fantasy. It makes sure you know the basics b4 you drown in all the knowledge that may be ahead of you. It's really great for beginners. I, personally, am not one, but needed a reference for different fantasy worlds (Feudal Japan and Medieval Europe, for example which this book includes), so this book is an amazing reference book for those who are intermediates and experts as well. With that said, it's for anyone and is well worth your money.

This book is wonderful in so many ways. I was a bit skeptical when I was about to buy this book. Not because of the cover, which is cute by the way, but because I have at least 2 books from let's draw manga, and the books are ok, but nothing to fascinating. I was totally wrong about this book! I love everything in this book. This book is a good foundation for those growing imaginations, as well as expanding imaginations to help feed your ideas and make you manga even better. This books contents includes:

Chapter one: Let's create some characters!...

1. Drawing human bodies
practice corner
planning page

2. Illustrating human sized characters
Western style-medival characters
planning page/ let's draw western-style
medival characters
sci-fi style
science fantasy character illustration
asain-style characters
Planning page/let's draw asian-style characters

Chapter 2: Let's establish our world!

1. Creating a western medival world
Let's illustrate our western
medieval world in color

2. The world of science fantasy
Let's draw a picture board

3. Creating an asian-style world
Let's illustrate our asian-style world in color

Chapter 3: Enemy and supporting characters!

1. New relationships
Planning page

2. Let's create enemy monsters
Sample drawing/ color process

3. let's create friendly monsters
planning page
drawing process: digital color illustration

Fantasy variations
drawing process: black and white illustration

Chapter four: Magic and eguipment

1. Weapons and armor

costumes
weapons
accessories
2. Magic and magical equpiment
medival
science fantasy
asian
let's digitally illustrate a magical scene

Chapter five: Let's draw fantsy manga!

steps:
1. Ideas
2.Ecstablishing the plot
3. story boarding
4. drawing and inking a draft

Manga " the spring seekers"

Chapter six: Author illustrations

All in all, I think this is a fun and interesting book. It is a good foundation to start you off in your manga processes. I difintely recommend this book! It is a total steal. Plus there is no nudity at all in this book, so those of you who are offended by nudity, this book is right up your alley!

I have a collection of How to Draw Manga books, but this was my first Let's Draw Manga and I love it. Simply put: The book is extremely well done - no skimping on the art quality (what you see on the cover resembles the inside art, if not better) and excellent color graphics. It is probably for upper-level beginners and up as far as details in how to draw.
There are six chapters, each with about two subsections. The chapters are:
Let's create some characters
Let's establish our world
Enemy and Supporting characters
Magic and equipment
Let's draw fantasy manga
Author illustrations.

There are body shapes that you can photocopy (intelligent move by the authors), very detailed descriptions, CG instructions(which are great), background development and explanations, character designs and costumes, and finally a book with a good proportion of male character information (which I find hard to get out of the How to Draw Manga book series). It is almost like a compilation of the many of the How to Draw Manga books. Well worth the purchase. Useful. Great addition to collection.

This is not your typical ninja fighting, blowing things up manga. Nor is it one about sweet innocent pretty girls having sleep overs. This manga is real and do not be shocked if you shed a couple of tears reading it. As we all know life is hard and that seems to be the phrase that follows 10th grade Ayumu around. Each time she thinks it's getting easier or better there goes another obstacle in her way. She tries to deal with it the best way she knows how which, is truly unhealthy, and in the mist of her despair she learns that one person really cares for the real person she is. In this book Hatori gives Ayumu new light and helps her see her self for the strong beautiful person she really is. I wish I had a friend like Hatori. ;)

Life is a Shojo Manga with a big set of balls! If you are looking for a manga about an energetic high school girl with lots of friends who gets the guy, this series isnt for you.

Life deals with some seriously heavy issues, depression, isolation, self-mutilation, rape, and bullying.

I highly recommend this manga, the art is moderate, but the writing is superb and always leaves me on the edge of my seat. I cant wait to get the next volume!

Finally! The fifth volume!

Life is a hard series to put down. It's impossible to walk away from a story that hits you as hard as Life does.

Finally Ayumu shows some other emotion besides fear, pain, and sadness. For some reason, Miki has embraced her and made a fast friend. Miki is the light in Ayumu's dark world and it has given her a new resolve: "Don't lose".

With Ayumu's new resolve, I'm slavering for the next volume!

I own all of the original japanese press runs, as well as the comic book/graphic novel style of the USA versions of this series. I now own the almost complete set of the smaller manga tpb style series. For anyone interested in historical Japan, this series is a great look into it. I've been a long time collecter or almost everything that Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima have ever done, and I even own some books and novels that were never released in the USA or translated into English by them. Their creative story lines and tradtional style of graphics are just outstanding! I can highly recommend this series!

The fact that I know there are 28 volumes in the Lone Wolf & Cub epic certainly enters into how I read the stories collected in Volume 25, "Perhaps in Death." If I was reading Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima's epic manga as a regular comic book then the way the final confrontation between Ogami Itto and Retsudo Yagyu is being drawn out may very well have driven me crazy. But given the perspective of the long view there can be a greater appreciation for how these final impediments only add to the grandeur of the conflict. Although poisoning the blades of the two samurai failed to kill either one of the foes, Abe-No-Kaii has revealed the Yagyu letter to the Shogun and Retsudo is now under house arrest:

(122) "Perhaps in Death" focuses on Okan as she obeys Retsudo Yagyu's orders and uses the Wolf Fire to call forth the grass to Edo to aid their master. Meanwhile, Abe-No-Kaii watches over Retsudo while trying to come up with a new poison plot and Ogami Itto learns that his foe may be delayed in returning to the place where their two swords are standing in the ground.

(123) "Tales of the Grass: Oyamada Shume" is the first of a trilogy of stories on how the grass, members of the Yagyu clan hidding in secret by living as ordinary folk throughout Japan, respond to the call, of the Wolf Fire. Not only must they pass along the signal, they are also required to fake their deaths.

(124) "Tales of the Grass: Nakodera Busho" finds the call of the Wolf Fire coming next to a priest while ringing his temple bell.

(125) "Tales of the Grass: A Day Like Any Other" is the final story of this trio about the grass being called to Edo, and one of the most upsetting tales in the Lone Wolf & Cub saga. I have been reading one episode an evening before going to sleep, and it was difficult to sleep after this one.

(126) "Breakfast, Lunch, Snack, and Brunch" finds Abe-No-Kaii deciding to use Retsudo Yagyu's pride against him since the old man refuses to eat or drink anything set before him by the servants of the master poisoner. But Kaii's spies also report that Retsudo is just sitting there, not even lying down to sleep. The story continues the developing effort to make Retsudo a nobler figure, both in contrast to Kaii and even in comparison to Ogami Itto.

(127) "By His Own Hand" finally returns us to Ogami Itto and Daigoro, who are being watched by the Shogun's bugyo. In a shack by the shore the young boy practices repeatedly with a long stick, suddenly rushing at his father and whacking him. Those watching have figured out the meaning of the two swords stuck in the ground and the hundred mounds each covered with a stone, but they cannot understand the lesson that is being taught by father to son.

I sure hope the final volume of Lone Wolf & Cub is published soon (it has already been delayed almost a month) so that I do not have a gap in my reading experience, but certainly I could appreciate the lesson if that turns out to be the case. I have not bothered to find out the original schedule these comics were published, but assuming a montly schedule this volume would mark ten years worth of stories and I would be hard pressed to name another comic book that maintained this high of a standard for so long a period of time. When you step back and look at the epic in its totality you can appreciate the way Koike and Kojima are putting the pieces into place, slowly but surely.

Yagyu Retsudo, the mortal enemy of Lone Wolf and Cub is finally brought up on charges of treason against the Shogun for the infamous Yagyu letters. Awaiting trial under the care of the poisoner Abe who plots to kill him still, Retsudo summons the 'Grass' in a final attempt to change his fate - ninja infiltrators hidden for generations among the Samurai families all over Japan. Duty, the main tenet of Bushido is evident in the way the ninja obediently destroy all traces of their former lives (and in some cases, their offspring as well) as farmers, soldiers, and priests, to answer Retsudo's call to arms. Elsewhere, Ogami Itto patiently awaits his promised duel with Retsudo while teaching son Diagoro what it means to wield the sword of the Samurai.

Having followed the saga of Ogami Itto and his son Diagoro since book #1, I must say the stories keep getting better and better. While there is less of the violent physical encounters that characterized Itto's earlier adventures, the tales depicted in the book are no less gripping. I particularly liked the focus on the other major character of the series, Itto's nemesis Yagyu Retsudo. One could almost admire the man for his tenacity, honour, and Bushido spirit, despite his ruthlessness.

The epic series is drawing to an end, but it seems it's going to be good to the last drop. Daigoro doesn't figure much in Vol 26, but the continuation of the story is still deft and engaging. Those vehemently opposed to the evil scheming ways of poisoner Kaii will welcome this volume and its especially excrutiating, gory details surrounding his slow, torturous demise. And the message at the end of course, is yet another eye-opening lesson of the cycle of life.

It has been fairly clear that before Ogami Itto and Retsudo Yagyu can pick up their swords and finish their duel to the death that the question and person of Abe-No-Kaii has to be removed from the equation. The master poisoner's luck finally runs out in "Struggle in the Dark," Volume 28 in the epic Lone Wolf & Cub saga from Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima. Of course, before the final stroke of Ogami Itto's blade there will be a final series of twists and turns:

(128) "Tales of the Grass: Nindo Ukon" offers the fourth story in the last pair of volumes telling of one of the Yagyu grass seeing the sign of the wolf fire and heeding the call to come to Edo. Unlike the characters of the previous tales, Nindo Ukon has some other business to take care of first before he heeds his master's call.

(129) "Struggle in the Dark" resumes the conflict of wills between the master poisoner Abe-No-Kaii and his captive guest, Retsudo Yagyu. By now we know that the grass have started to arrive in Edo and Retsudo uses them to great advantage to force the deadly little game between him and Kaii into its final stage. Throughout these books Koike and Kojima have done their best to replicate the customs and beliefs of this period, and in this story something we learned long ago becomes Retsudo's trump card. In a scene with great meaning for what is to come in this volume, the head of the depleted Yagyu clan offers Kaii some strange advice.

(130) "Song of the Spirit" finally returns us to Ogami Itto, who leaves Daigoro to watch over the two swords standing in the ground and boldly enters Edo to ask a favor of Taruya Toemon, the Machi-Doshiyori who runs the city's greatest festival. Lone Wolf wants permission to use the festival to enter the great castle of Edo. But why?

(131) "Great Reversals" finds Ogami Itto walking the floors of Edo castle in search of Retsudo Yaygu while Kaii tries to face death on his own terms and proves himself to be the great coward we have always known him to be.

(132) "Scarlet Summer, Silver Fall" tells the tale of how Abe-No-Kaii met his fate having been ordered by the Shogun to commit seppuku. This is the right to kill oneself with honor to atone for failure, a right allowed only to the samurai class. Kaii is not really a samurai, but he is expected to act like one. But the poisoner has some surprises left.

Thus ends the largest sub-plot in this manga epic. Now the only impediment remaining to the final act of the death struggle between Ogami Itto and Retsudo Yagyu are the Yagyu grass. I start Volume 27 tonight knowing that the publication of the 28th and final volume in the Lone Wolf & Cub saga has been delayed (a month so far); and I thought I had lucked into perfect timing on when to begin the epic by reading one story a night before bed. Oh, well: Time flows. Seasons turn. But the wheel of Karma cannot be broken."

The long awaited duel with Ogami Itto will have to wait as the imprisoned Retsudo has to first deal with the master poisoner Abe. Retsudo with the aid of his ninja infiltrators, cunningly traps Abe in a strategem that results in the master poisoner being ordered to commit seppuku (ritual belly cutting) by the enraged Shogun. Meanwhile, Ogami Itto, goes to find Retsudo by simply walking into Edo Castle in the midst of a festival, depending on his bearing and charisma instead of his sword. The best of the tales is probably the sad end of Abe Tanoshi. The master poisoner disgraces his own seppuku ceremony by his refusal to accept his fate until Ogami Itto intervenes. At the end of his life, Abe finally learns a little of what it means to be bushi.

Great stuff - Powerful storytelling and stark visuals with few restraints, but you would expect no less of the Lone Wolf and Cub series.

This is a great, classic series. Each volume keeps you wanting more and #5 is no exception. The relationship between Aoe and Naoya just keeps getting better. If you're a yaoi fan then you will adore this series. Yuki Shimizu has a wonderful sense of emotion and characters.

I haven't read or even looked at Love Mode volume 5 in almost two years. Now that I've picked up the American copy, I remember why this is one of my favorite novels.

One thing I like is how much Naoya has changed. He really seems to have grown mature over time and his new attitude is a welcoming change from the brooding teenager that cursed the world in volume 2. What I like even more is the progression of his feelings for Reiji. Even though this is the volume where he admits his love, you can see the build-up over the previous volumes.

And Reiji...there's a bit of a departure from the hot-tempered impatient owner that we've all come to know. But as with Naoya, the progression of his feelings amounts here, with some tidbits as to why he's so hesitant to approach Naoya. Scenes like this have been lost in tranlations I read in the past, so I was glad to enjoy them.

And the translation...as usual absolutely amazing!! I was so happy when one of my favorite Kiichi quotes was translated over!!

Now I'm bracing myself for volume 6. I'm a little worried about how Blu will handle this volume, considering the subject matter of some of the stories in it is extremely controversial. I guess I'll have to wait and see.

Definitely go out and buy this volume!!

Vol 5 is finally here after over 6 months! And the wait is worth it as Vol 5 is devoted entirely to Reiji and Naoya. This couple is faced with their biggest obstacle as they are forced apart. Shimizu's story telling skill is a marvel as she deeply explored this couple's love and need for each other. Their story started off so sweetly as we are given glimpses of Reiji and Naoya everyday life together and their growing love. Then just as the reader is feeling warm and fuzzy, the mangaka hits us with a "bang" and forced them apart. From thereon all I could do is keep on turning the pages hoping for a happy end to Vol 5 and finally staring in disbelief at the last page. It is fine but sappy me would have preferred one more panel! Shimizu is a teaser in her Vol 5 ending as she is in the scenes when the lovers "partially" consummate their love. Vol 5 is indeed a treasure as far as emotions, passion and angst go. There are some pretty funny moments too when Naoya takes Wataru under his wings, reminding us of just how deeply Reiji has left his imprint on Naoya.
And now to wait until Aug for Vol 6, for the final "love scene" for our favorite couple of course.

The cover artwork kept me away from this series for a very long time...I'm glad I finally gave them a chance. Although there's less smut than I usually prefer, the story lines more than make up for it.

The characters are fully fleshed out and very evolved. Each story draws you in like a good romance should.

Volume 2 tells the story of Aoe-San and Naoya. Aoe reluctantly rescues poor Naoya from an incredibly tragic life and the romance begins.

Don't be like me and miss out on a wonderfully entertaining story just because you "judged a book by it's cover"!

If u have read book 1 then trust me. Book 2 is MUCH MUCH better. It introduct the 2 main character and the best couple in the book.

I enjoy Reiji's and Naoya's story immensely, which is much more than just a "man-meet-boy" love story. Surprisingly Reiji and Naoya is a compatible couple, and to have Reiji, the tough guy, treating Naoya so "sweetly" does provide touching yet comical moments. Reiji was introduced in Vol 1 and for me, this interesting character outshone the 2 protagonists in Vol 1. Vol 2 featuring Reiji finding his love is simply a delightful read. Shimizu is amazing, expressing Reiji's and Naoya's feelings for each other so well that I do not mind the missing explicit sex scenes between the couple. Hopefully these will happen soon in this series. I have to admit I was not too impressed with Vol 1 but Vol 2 changes my mind completely. I now understand why Love Mode is a popular long running Yaoi series in Japan. Looking forward to Vol 3 which should be just as good as it concentrates on another interesting character who seems to have a tormented past.

The entire Love Mode series is beyond sweet, and Love Mode Vol. 3 is no exception. Plus, the short story in the end is to die for. I highly recommend it!

This is one of my favorite series ever! This latest volume, three, didn't let me down. It just keeps getting better and better. I can hardly wait to get the next one!

This Yaoi series is a gem.
Vol 3 focuses on Izumi (B&B no. 1 host, not the younger school kid Izumi) finding love and happiness and is fittingly titled Sanctuary. Izumi's story is heart wrenching and laced with angst and emotions, certain scenes bringing lumps to my throat. We are told of this beautiful host's tragic and tormented past and the rape scenes which left scars on Izumi are painful to read. It is nice to have Kiichi (Reiji's elder quirky doctor brother) plays a significant role here, helping the vulnerable Izumi finds his way. Izumi is paired with a younger student, Arashi. Arashi is an immensely likable seme, with a maturity and understanding beyond his age. His family and background could not have been more different from Izumi's. As I do not favor sad stories, Vol 3 is not an easy read. Fortunately it ends on a happy note and I hope there is happier times for Izumi in future volumes, like the ready acceptance of Arashi's family?.
This mangaka's artwork may not be the best out there but her deeply emotional stories and individually appealing characters simply make this series shine.
There is a bonus story on Reiji and Naoya spending the new year in Reiji's family home with a surprisingly nice revelation of Kiichi's lover (Hope this couple has their own story). Here the aloof Reiji continues to show his affection for Naoya and one feels the mangaka is teasing her readers with their still innocent love. Yup, Reiji has not made Naoya his yet! This short bonus story is a delightful contrast to the heavier and deeply emotional "Sanctuary".
Definitely looking forward to Vol 4 which switches back to Reiji and Naoya, the most likable couple in this series.