I have a few mangas to share that may not be similar to Yokohama but provide the sense of satisfaction that reading Yokohama every month does.
I am sure that many of you have read these mangas and that you will be able to come up with titles of your own.
Witches (Mangascreener) This a beautiful story with wonderful artwork and the first two chapters dwell deeply into history and cultures. The author has a poetic ability with words that's amazing.
Planetes - A well known Sci fi manga that's very realistic with very touching stories. The characters are highly developed and I would love to write like this author. I also recommend taking a look at Vinland Saga by the same author.
Emma - A very meticulously detailed and researched Victorian love story. All the characters are recounted with dignity leading to excellent development.
Blade of the Immortal - This story has beautiful artwork and it depicts a complex tale of revenge uncommon to most action mangas. The characters are highly developed and the story explores interesting themes.
20th Century Boys: I was thrilled when I read this fascinating sci fi story of children whose plan to rule the world backfires on them. It was the sort of story I would have written when I was young if I had had the skill of Naoki Urasawa. I also recommend Pluto by the same author.
Japan Tengu Part & G Senjou Heaven's Door - Both are by Mangascreener. They are excellent stories which suck you into their worlds and provide you with the desire to continue and finish the ride.
Of course, I follow my monthly fix of YKK. It's been a great ride reading through a most beautiful story and I know that it's a world that I would visit again and again.
Cheers!
- Kovac
Sunday, February 26, 2006
The Emma manga just got licensed hours ago. This means iitran will no longer be translating or distributing it. I do hope you'll take the recommendation, though, and buy it when it is released in print!
- WAHa.06x36 (iitran staff)
Sunday, February 26, 2006
AQUA and ARIA
Mahou Tsukai ni Taisetsuna Koto
And the not so beautiful, but suitable for YKK people:
NHK ni Youkoso
Sekai no Owari ni no Tabi
- painsama
Monday, February 27, 2006
I second Aria. Pretty girls rowing boats? Check. Utopian society? Check. East meets west? Check. Unless you have no heart, don't read Aria.
- Ladholyman (Doremi-fansubs)
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
For YKK fans, Aria might feel just a bit too derivative and weak in comparison. I know I didn't like it for those reasons, anyway. It felt like a watered-down YKK with more moe. I liked one chapter out of the two volumes I read, and then gave up on it.
- WAHa.06x36
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Howdy,
"It felt like a watered-down YKK with more moe."
Bwahahaha! Ding-ding! We have a winner!
Ahhh... I still buy Aria and keep hoping it will get better - it's sooo close.
I recommend "Emma", which apparently just got licensed by CMX.
My other hands down favorite is "O-Sen".
Best,
Dave
- dDave
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
I prefer to think of Aria as YKK with training wheels... Whilst it shares many of the same features (beautiful artwork; a sense of wonder at the world) it tends more towards using dialogue and action where YKK is eloquently silent. The anime tended to make it a little too saccharine, but the manga is very definitely worth reading.
- Adam
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
@WAHa.06x36
I agree with you about that point. But the reason I continue with ARIA up till volume 8 is that there are some brilliant sparkling gems inside that stack of dull randomly picked up gems. I can say that if Akari is alone, or only with Alicia, usually you'll get some nice story, otherwise that Akatsuki brat will spoil the story.
- painsama
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Gah! Emma got licensed? And I just found out about YKK getting cancelled... good grief what a lot of bad news today. : ( I should've stayed at work.
-k
- Kempis Curious
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Stories have both beginnings and ends. It is only on American TV that stories only ever end after being "cancelled". YKK has been ending ever since sometime soon after chapter 100. It's neither surprising nor sudden, and is definitely not a "cancellation".
- WAHa.06x36
Wednesday, March 1, 2006
Because I read ARIA before I read YKK, I think I like it a whole lot better. Sigh... YKK is lovely and serene... maybe a bit TOO serene. To me, it becomes boring. Coffee. Barley tea. Sit. Stare. Sigh. End chapter. Ta-Da!!
- Jen
Monday, May 1, 2006
Another recommended one: Aruku Hito by Taniguchi Jiro...
- painsama
Saturday, May 6, 2006
i second teh person who said ARIA. ARIA is more in sense like YKK. heck, the anime seem so good too. wah.
- terra aka terrabaka aka bakaterra
Monday, May 15, 2006
Haven't seen any of the ARIA/AQUA manga but I'm enjoyed the first season of the anime, and am enjoying the second season that showing now.
Unlike when I play video/computer games (I can't help compare games to what I consider the ultimate game "the world" Just wish someone would make it, not all those everquest clones or Online RPGs like guild Wars and the .hack// one in the works) I don't compare animes to each other beyond are they alike. That as far as I go. each anime/manga is unique and should be consider such, not compared to another by someone else.
- Miah
Thursday, May 25, 2006
I've read both Witches, planets and blade of the immortal and i i liked them all....
Witches is great, it's almost a shame that it's only two volumes long.The second volume is even better then the first (imho)(where i live is licensed). Really worth to be red.
Planetes it's also one of my favourites manga: not only the evolutions in his characters but also the way it dealt with some aspects of the society in general are amazing.
Blade of the immortal has a really great art (the scenes made whith what it looks like chinese ink are simply beatifull) and the story is very good but very different from the first two (i prefer w. and p.)
I too want tosuggest some titles: fuguruma memories (Kotonoha), Coo's world (mangascreener), the music of marie(Kotonoha),Chikyuu Misaki.
Well i've got quite some other titles (not only mangas) but for now i'll stop here.
Sorry for the long post
- bluecrow
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Has anyone read Tezuka's Phoenix series? I'm planning on ordering the first couple of volumes when I order the next volume of Buddha, which I've also been reading. I mainly just have a hankering for more Tezuka, but I was wondering if anyone here's read it since it also has an apocalyptic theme...
I knew that concept was popular in manga, but I had no idea it's been going on since the 60's at least. XD
- Hekima
Sunday, May 28, 2006
I would definitely recommend the Phoenix series by Tezuka. But hmm, apocalyptic theme? There is a story in the series that has "the end of the world" but not all of them. I think the theme of the series is "life and death".
If you really like manga with a total destruction, I would recommend "Barefoot Gen" by Keiji Nakazawa. If you like robot people and want more Tezuka, how about "Astro boy"?
-kGo
- Kimoto Go
Sunday, May 28, 2006
Eh, it's not the destruction I'm after. Just Tezuka. XD
And I've read all the Barefoot Gen volumes that are currently available in English. Four out of ten. Ouch.
- Hekima
Sunday, May 28, 2006
You guyz gotta read ai-ren. I'm dissapointed none has suggested this yet :(
It's awesome, a lot like YKK (setting wise), but better imo. It has more kick to it :) A very beautiful message too.
- Mal
Monday, May 29, 2006
OK, I wasn't aware that Phoenix was so all over the place. What I was reading was a summary of volume two. I get it now, though. Well, just as well as anyone can since it was Tezuka's last work, that is... ;)
I like it so far.
- Hekima
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
I love Aria and may I suggest Honey and Clover
- Ruki
Saturday, September 16, 2006
---===Ai-Ren===---
author: Tanaka Yutaka
scanners and translators: Solaris-SVU
genre: sci-fi, drama, reflection
>You guyz gotta read ai-ren. I'm dissapointed none has suggested this yet :(
I second the motion/recommendation. Ai-Ren's way up there along with YKK (Well, okay. Maybe a few notches below YKK). Don't expect a YKK clone though. While the setting may be somewhat similar (both being futuristic), it's different in terms of everything else. There's more drama, more angst, a little cheesiness (in comparison to YKK which had none at all), a lot of violence, etc. It's philosophy about life is also a bit different. For YKK, it's something like, "Revere and remember the past. Enjoy the present. Look forward to the future.", something bright and positive for everyone. For Ai-Ren, it's darker and more specific: "The fact that death is everywhere makes us more aware that life is precious." It may seem ominous but it also encourages people to celebrate life for its evanescence.
---===Aruku Hito===---
author: Jiro Taniguchi
scanners and translators: Manga Sketchbook
genre: slice of life
>Another recommended one: Aruku Hito by Taniguchi Jiro...
What if Alpha had been a middle-aged male living in some Japanese suburbs in our era?
Okay, so the protagonist of this series doesn't really resemble our beloved A7-M2 very much. However, both characters share the sense of wonder that allows them to appreciate the little details of everyday life.
My only complaint about this manga is that it's only 1 volume long so we're never given the chance to know much about the protagonist.
---===Mohiro Kitoh's Short Stories===---
author: Mohiro Kitoh
scanners and translators: Kotonoha and Manga
genre: varies with each story
The compilation contains 7 short stories of different genres. My favorites would undoubtably be Papa's Song, a cute story about a young married couple, and Pochi's Place, a story that's on the same level as YKK in bringing out the feeling of nostalgia. The latter somehow reminds me of the conversations between Alpha, Ojisan, and Sensei.
- Jonathan
Saturday, September 23, 2006
Just quickly want to second the recommendation for Mohiro Kitoh's short stories. While much of his longer work (NaruTaru, and especially Bokurano) seems darkly obsessed with death, his Zansho shorts have a serenity to them that is very touching indeed.
"The Girl on the Telephone Pole at the Intersection on 3rd Street" remains one of my personal favorites.
- Speaker59
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
An anime option would be "Windy Tales".
- Wang Yiguang
Friday, September 29, 2006
Even better would be Kino no Tabi or Kino's Travels...
- Wang Yiguang
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
I 'third' ai-ren. Captivating characters, a beautiful, if dark story, and emotion that leaps off the pages to move even the bitterest heart.
The only - only - manga to ever make me shed a tear...
- milangelic
Tuesday, December 5, 2006
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