Right in the Manga Feels

Looking for new reads, or perhaps someone else who's in the same obscure manga fandom as you? Here is where I post my manga findings, whether I like them or even finish reading them. The posting order goes: 1 series post, 2 manga page posts, and 2 fan art posts for each series.

[morningreminiscence]

進撃の幼稚園

Art by せふぁろ源三@1日目西こ32a

Translation by morningreminiscence

[morningreminiscence]

(●´□`)♡ Part 3 for Attack of the Kindergarten!!

[mangafeels]

Hi, i read some of your reviews and i thought you might like the series : Boku no hatsukoi wo kimi ni sasagu :) i really enjoyed it, and if it is perfect if its manga feels you are after. give it a shot :) some of the plot is a bit vague, and contain some clishee, but it is absolutely worth it. just get past the middle part of the manga.

Firstly, WHOA someone actually talked to me despite not having touched this blog in ages! And for that, you get a giant platter of your favorite snack!

Second, thanks for the recommendation! I haven't been reading a lot of manga lately (as evident by the severe lack of posts here) but since I just graduated my free time has increased, so I really should pick it back up again. I don't review manga though, I'm too biased for that, so this is just an opinion blog!

As for the series itself, I'm gonna nickname it the Sausage manga in my head because I misread Sasugu as Sausage and I'm stupid like that. The plot summary I just read (something about romances) seems intriguing enough, at least in what it implies.

Men always want to be a woman’s first love. That is their clumsy vanity. However, women have a more subtle instinct about things,What they like is to be a man’s last romance.

That...actually sounds pretty interesting by itself so I'll have to give this manga a shot, thanks! Also, it says it's complete, which is always a huge plus for me.

[mangafeels]

ポイズンやってるよ～☆彡 by 銀

*Ok so this isn't of the manga, but of the original drama, but I LIKE IT and it is quite awesome.

[mangafeels]

Manga: Great Teacher Onizuka

[mangafeels]

Manga: Great Teacher Onizuka

[mangafeels]

Series #17

Title: Great Teacher Onizuka Author: Tohru Fujisawa A.k.a.: GTO Baka-Updates Link Genre: School life, drama, comedy Status: Completed Anime? Yes, as well as a drama, drama TV special, movie, AND drama remake.

Series summary:

Meet Eikichi Onizuka, a 22-year-old ex-biker. He's crude, foul-mouthed, and has a split-second temper. His unlikely goal: to be the Greatest High School Teacher in the World! Of course, the only reason he wants to be a teacher is so he can try to score with the hot students...  Before he can become a full instructor, he's got to work as a student teacher to earn his credentials. Onizuka may think he's the toughest guy on campus, but when he meets his class full of bullies, blackmailers, and scheming sadists, he'll have to prove it.

My summary:

The official summary is actually spot-on and delivers what it says.

Art Comments:

Sometimes, it's as crude as it's main character, so it's fitting?? It's an older style and it's got it's quirks but with a manga this old and legendary, who cares anymore?

Story Comments:

The story is what really shines in GTO. It's outrageously ridiculous and constantly has stuff going on that could never happen (or be gotten away with) in real life, but it's fun, and it's a manga, so everyone knows it's just fiction. It's got a ton of drama of course, but with a guy like Onizuka, it just can't stay serious for too long. I'm a little overly biased on this one to give any straight opinions though.

Overall Opinion:

If you haven't heard of GTO, then you're probably a youngster, lol. It's one of those older series that's pretty well known, I think. Careful though, it's got mature content and some ecchi scenes! GTO is also the sequel to another series called Shonan Pure Love Gang! and has an off-shoot series called Shonan 14 Days that follows Onizuka during a 2 week time period that he disappeared during in the middle of GTO. I also highly recommend the original drama, which is really good despite not entirely following the manga plot to a T.

[mangafeels]

Series #16

Title: Kedamono Kareshi Author: Saki Aikawa Baka-Updates Link Genre: Romance, drama, school life Status: Ongoing Anime? No

Series summary:

after the re-marriage of her mother, Himari went to her former city. but, she'll meet again the boy who traumatized her in primary school...! But the worst thing is what she'll learn after getting back from school...

My summary:

A girl was "traumatized" in the past by a boy and now she can't stand being near them. Her mother remarries, and they move to their old hometown, which she hasn't been to in four years. Apparently this happens very suddenly because right away, Himari goes to her first day of school. There, she meets both the guy she had a crush on, and the guy who traumatized her. This doesn't go well, of course, and she goes back home feeling quite upset.

Then her mother introduces her to her husband's son, Himari's new step-brother, and it's the very guy who traumatized her in the past.

Art Comments:

This art style seems to be the new trend of shoujo manga art style. It's like a keyed-down version of Arina Tanemura but with more mature themes. It's not necessarily a bad thing, though; it's easy on the eyes at least.

Story Comments:

This is where the manga goes down the crapper. I'd like to remind you that I'm not a review blog, more like a, "Here's what I just read and my opinion of it" because I get too biased for my own good and I'm too lazy to research stuff to back me up. This manga is also only at chapter one, so who knows, maybe it'll change later, but for now...

Her new step-brother is the guy who "traumatized" her before. And her "trauma" was just him reading out loud her love note to the boy she liked, and then the other kids joined in and teased her, and yada yada, scarred for life, no longer likes boys. Ok, fine, bit of a wimpy character, but whatevs. Then she gets home and SURPRISE YOUR NEW OLDER BROTHER WHO YOU NEVER MET DESPITE ME GETTING MARRIED TO THIS MAN IS ALSO THE SAME GUY WHO PICKED ON YOU AS A KID.

I won't say that the situation of two people getting married and THEN introducing their kids is unrealistic. I actually had that happen to my family and I, and, well, it was definitely awkward. We had lived in two different states prior the marriage and after the marriage we moved in with my now-ex-step-father's family. Fine. I can live with that. Dysfunctional siblings are ok with me, I guess. So I kept going.

But, nope. NOPE. The artist took that further into...yup! Potential brother-sister pairing!! -Le gasp- Hey wait, doesn't this sound like another manga? Heck yeah it does. It gets even better worse: The step-brother, who's name I can't be bothered to remember, promptly pushes Himari down on, you guessed it, a bed, and threatens to have his way with her if she doesn't listen to him or some bull crap, and the chapter ends there.

Overall Opinion:

And there we have it. A jerk lead male who not only is a walking "bully the girl I like" cliche, but is ALSO a not-by-blood-but-STILL brother to the main character, which, if any other bully-the-girl-I-like manga has proven before this title, will probably get the girl regardless of his jerk attitude. If the potential incestuous relationship doesn't turn you off, the poor story line will, at least.

If it gets better after chapter one lemme know, 'cuz I'm not gonna follow it. If you happen to like this series, sorry, but I figured it was about time I posted a manga series that I DIDN'T like, and I absolutely can't stand manga series where the leads are siblings and fall for each other [or even worse, it turns out they aren't related BUT WAIT THEY ARE or other Hot Gimmick-like scenarios].

[mangafeels]

Kingyo Sou

[mangafeels]

Kingyo Sou

[mangafeels]

Kingyo Sou

[mangafeels]

Series #15

Title: Kingyo Sou Author: Yuki Fujitsuka Baka-Updates Link Genre: Romance, drama, slice-of-life Status: Completed Anime? No

Series summary:

In the spring of her second year in high school, Asuka sees Masami playing Japanese drums in a festival, and she falls in love with him. However, Masami is deaf, and he has locked his heart in a world without sound. And thus, the two’s melancholic love miracle quietly begins. This is a pure love story in the middle of summer that will make your heart ache.

My summary:

Asuka sees a guy playing taiko - Japanese drums - and falls in love at first sight. He happens to be the older brother of a friend at school, and he introduces her to him. To her surprise, Masami is deaf, and plays the taiko to feel the vibrations the booming drums make. Asuka doesn't let his disability stop her from loving him, however, and Masami's world begins to change again, but for the better as she opens him back up.

Art Comments:

It's a shoujo manga with appropriate artwork, but it isn't bad on the eyes.

Story Comments:

It's not as dramatic or angsty as it first appears to be. It has it's serious moments to be sure, but it's still a simple shoujo love story. Regardless, it was short and sweet, and nice to see a shoujo protagonist to transition from high school to college (though I don't think we were ever told what her career goals were). It was also nice to see that, even though the study abroad card is pulled, it doesn't end the series, and only lasts a year. It's taken as yet another hurdle, and I really appreciate that after seeing it pulled as a quick ending in other series! [Shiawase Kissa Sanchoume, anyone? I think Hana Yori Dango did that, too.]

Overall Opinion:

While it's not as deep as it could have been, it was short and sweet, and lacking in the usual cliches. I like that the main character does go from high school to college; we don't see that too often in a shoujo manga, they normally end it after high school. In the end, a good read.

[mangafeels]

Series #14

Title: Can't See Can't Hear But Love Author: Nasty Cat Baka-Updates Link Genre: Drama, romance Status: Completed [but not entirely scanlated] Anime? No

Series summary:

He is blind. He was blinded in his 20s while working as a manhwa artist. She is deaf. She has been deaf ever since birth. This is the story of how they meet each other, how they seemingly get along with each other with virtually no verbal communication, and how they eventually fall in love.

My summary:

He's a poor manhwa artist just starting to grab the edge of success when he suddenly goes blind.

She's been deaf since birth, but is spunky and always smiling.

Now married, they have some ups and downs that normal married couples don't have, along with some crazy side characters! But watch your laughter, it'll turn to tears soon enough. A young dastardly company president tries to break them apart to get the girl's love, and blindness was only the beginning of the young artist's problems.

Art Comments:

Well...it's definitely a little sub-par sometimes...but the composition of some of the dramatic scenes is good, and I liked how the artist showed the feeling of being blind. The exaggerated expressions are hilarious and the chibi forms are adorable.

Story Comments:

It's funny, it's dramatic, and in some instances, definitely a touch unrealistic and/or over the top. But unfortunately, I'm a wimp for a couple of the back story types in here, so I'm afraid I can't give an unbiased opinion.

I cried. More than once.

Overall Opinion:

I don't typically read manhwa because I find the art a bit stiff despite the tendency to be full of pretty details, but web toons like these are different. I've only tried reading one or two others (Noblesse being the last), but I really like this one. It's simple, and hits the emotions (or at least mine anyway). More importantly, I like the themes in it. One such theme deals with taking care of your aged parents, particularly ones who are no longer in full control of their minds. As I've said before, I'm an adult, and as I grow up, my parents are getting older. I'm fortunate to have two siblings to share the care with when that time comes, but the main character didn't, and on top of that, he was too poor to afford any other way.

But I digress. It's a good read, so give it a try, and if you're weak like me to stuff like this, bring a box of tissues. Even the dog has a back story!

*Due to the long, vertical format of this comic, pages will not be posted. Also, no fan art was found on Pixiv. :(

[mangafeels]

最終回記念 by 二宮

[mangafeels]

新妻...好難畫 by JC*hea

[mangafeels]

Bakuman

[mangafeels]

Bakuman

[mangafeels]

Series #13

Title: Bakuman Author: Tsugumi Ohba Art: Takeshi Obata Baka-Updates Link Genre: Slice of life, drama, romance Status: Completed Anime? Yes

Series summary:

It's not easy to become and live as a mangaka, as Moritaka Mashiro knows from his late uncle, the mangaka Taro Kawaguchi. At 9th grade, while trying to keep up with reality, school and then a normal job, he left his notebook with a sketch of Miho Azuki, a girl he likes. Akito Takagi, a first-rate student found it and tries to convince Mashiro to draw a manga with his story. Mashiro doesn't like the idea and declines. Takagi, however, sticks to his dream and found out that Azuki wants to be a voice actress and has already gotten a good reply from a production company. Takagi then brought Mashiro to her house and told her his dream... Mashiro then tells her that he will write a manga with Takagi and will ask Azuki to voice their anime. Under the pen-name, Muto Ashirogi, Moritaka sets out to become the world's best shonen manga artist!

My summary:

A manga about manga! Mashiro and Takagi set out to be mangaka, in order to get an anime for Azuki, Mashiro's long-time crush, to star in. After that, she'll marry Mashiro. But drawing manga isn't easy!

Art Comments:

Obata has penned a couple of hit manga already, with Hikaru no Go and Death Note under his belt. His realistic art style suits slice-of-life series such as this one, but he doesn't hesitate to let loose on some wild expressions you only see in manga.

Story Comments:

Here is where I'll probably hit some controversy. While I think the plot overall is interesting, I feel that there are some lacking areas. My main beef is with the last arc, which I feel was predictable, stretching it a little, and could have used some work. But it finished the series well enough, so I'll live. I do wish there had been a epilogue scene or something, to show what the characters were up to later. I was also a little meh about the overall treatment of some of the girls and women in it (I know it's a shounen manga, but "only men would understand!" is a little old-fashioned these days, isn't it...?), but I don't care for debates so I'll ignore it.

Overall Opinion:

It never fails to make me excited about my own aspirations (though none of them involve marrying someone I've never really spoken to). Now that I'm in a partnership as an art studio, I feel like I'm the Takagi to a Mashiro. It's definitely good and worth a read, though I wonder just how realistic the settings are when it comes to how Jump is run.