Train + Train 1

Train + Train #1

by Hideyuki Kurata, Hideyuki Kurata, Tomomasa Takuma (Illustrations)

On the distant planet of Deloca, teenagers are enrolled in either the standard School Train... or the Special Train, an exclusive education system that takes them across the planet to develop them into above-average adults. Shy and meek Reiichi finds himself onboard the Special Train when a run-in with a rebellious spirit, Arena, turns his life upside-down and forces him to face dangers and situations that make him learn the true meaning of living.

Genres: Manga, Science Fiction, Comics, Graphic Novels, Action

Paperback

First published September 1, 1999

About the author

Japanese Name (倉田英之)

Reviews

[Selena Pigoni · Rating 4 out of 5]

A weird yet believable world populated by even weirder but still somehow believable characters. I wouldn't expect any less from the creator of R.O.D..

In this world, high schools are on trains. There's one train in particular, the "Special Train", which seems to attract a bunch of... interesting characters. Reiichi, through a series of unfortunate events, ends up stuck on this train to crazy town thanks to Arena, a girl who seems to be just itching for a fight.

Now, other than the folks it attracts, I'm not sure what makes the Special Train so special, but it sounds like those who board have a death-wish. People are known to quit right away, and there are rumors that some are never heard from again. Nothing's said about what they teach on the special train, but I'm going to guess it's going to be something pretty dangerous.

I'm looking forward to volume two and finding out what that "something" they teach is. :)

[Gus · Rating 2 out of 5]

--- Train + Train 1-6 ---
Plot: Ok
Gambar: entah kenapa mengingatkanku dengan Motohiro sensei^^.
Penokohan: Ok

Karena tanpa sengaja terborgol dengan seorang gadis, protagonis utama kita harus terjebak dalam Special Train. Satu hal yang pasti diketahuinya adalah... akan ada sesuatu terjadi yang akan mendorong roda takdirnya.

Rating diatas masih belum pasti-- atau jika saya tidak mengeditnya lagi, itu berarti rating yang pasti dan menyatakan pendapatku.
Saya jujur saja awalnya masih menaruh harapan yang tinggi.



Premis awal menarik, tokoh-tokohnya cukup menarik-- cukup menarik. Sejujurnya, saya paling fokus dengan hubungan dua protagonis utama^^. Lalu selain itu, plotnya juga menarik dan tidak repetitif. Saat kemarin saya membaca dan membalapnya (saya ngaku: saya balap karena tiga orang sudah mengatakan endingnya bagus dan dua orang sudah mengatakan lampu hijau atas hubungan dua tokoh utama *uhuk (haha) ), saya merasa ada sesuatu yang kurang.

...Saya tidak merasa ada sebuah dorongan atau perasaan menyenangkan yang membuat saya haus untuk ceritanya. Mudahnya, komik ini rasanya terlalu... datar. Padahal skenarionya (harusnya) lagi seru-serunya, saya malah merasa *siiiiiiiinggggg . Yah. Cuma saya saja mungkin^^
Apa dorongan perasaan dari mangaka-san kurang senada gelombang otak saya?



Intinya... yaa setidaknya tokohnya berkembang. Tapi tetap saja, saya rada kecewa di satu dan banyak bagian. Di bagian kala yang lain menyukainya, saya malah tidak.
[7.3/10]

[Sinai C. · Rating 2 out of 5]

So...I don't think I'll continue this one, though for some reason, I got a real Ender's Game feel from it, which made it appealing.
One star for the art, which was...I guess it was interesting. There was nothing wrong with it, but it wasn't particularly beautiful or stand-outish.
One star for the story itself--a strong-willed girl from a rich family wanting to leave it all behind chasing after her dream on the Special Train, the most dangerous of all the trains I think, since people seem to get lost or have bad lives or something. She's paired up with a decent guy who's very plain, regular, and okay with it. He's a bit funny, but his girlfriend person...SO ANNOYING!! GAH! She was the reason I hate this book so much!!!...Not really, but geez she helped.

So overall, it was okay. It wasn't a waste of a half hour and it was enjoyable enough.

[Shawna Finnigan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m honestly speechless right now because this was freaking amazing.

[Ya Boi Be Reading · Rating 2 out of 5]

While it improved over the course of the volume I can't give it any higher as I still found it uninteresting and with awkward art. On the story end there is some interesting stuff. The world itself is neat but the events that our characters do feel bland or uninteresting. There is some 90's anime-ness stuff to the story as this was based on a 90's light novel even if the manga itself is more of a early aughts series. I was not expecting as much action as there was. I was expecting a more softer, travel around and look at pretty environments sort of vibe.
On the artwork end its poor. It starts out very bad especially for a monthly series but by the end of the first volume the art improves. My issue with it is that Takuma uses a BUNCH of weird art mistakes and shortcuts that impact the overall quality. She also seems to struggle with fight scenes as they were hard to follow which is an issue for such an action-heavy read.
I got the first three volumes from the library but after reading this I don't think there worth reading even if they continue to improve.

[Dana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review will be for the whole series; read at your own risk.

Read 1 volume

Strong start. It’s an interesting premise that blends sci-fi and western sorta. I could see this taking place in the world of Firefly tbh. I’m interested in reading more. So far what I don’t like is just the weak background to the world and the art during the action scenes got confusing.

[Reggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book that has adventure, action, and mystery. This is a book about a young girl named Arena that runs away from he grandfather on a mission to find herself. She gets help on the journey from friends that she makes on the way.

[David Doel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good start; some sci-fi mixed with coming of age. I'm not certain I like where it's headed but the story is interesting and well-told.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting take on the future (evidently we make planets!) in which children are schooled on trains that stop in cities along their route for hands-on application. So far, by the end of the first volume we really only know one thing: there's a "special" train. There hasn't even been a snippet about what they teach!

The characters have charisma, the plot moves along at a good pace, overall the series looks to be one worth following. Not much happens in the first volume, but it does lay good foundations for character & story development.


EDIT: I've finished the series (six volumes) and it is well worth your time to read. The capers & scrapes the kids get into are Cowboy Bebop-esque, but the ending is a breath of fresh air.

[Kogiopsis · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of those random manga volumes I picked up because it looked interesting on the library shelf, this paid off quite nicely. The ideas behind it are intriguing- the Special Train showed up in my dreams, it was that interesting to me. The characters are interesting and, as I start the fifth volume, absolutely dynamic; their experiences make them grow and change in ways they hadn't expected, and they're a pleasure to read about. While the art is sometimes confusing, it's generally fairly easy to get the gist, and the sharp lines and bright colors of the covers are appropriately eye-catching.
This bizarre amalgamation of ideas makes for a very pleasant read, and I'd reccomend it for anyone who explores manga for the storytelling.

[Nfnt-robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I admit, I really love the strength in Arena. There are a lot of magical girls and girl heroes in manga, but there are rarely such kick-butt fighters and snide attitudes coming from a teen female character (especially one who's the lead.) She's not winning through purity and loyalty, she's winning because she fights, and fights hard, for what she believes in. The train idea is also an engaging one, and allows for an intriguing step by step look at a new world.

[Kristen Harvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A boy named Rei is about to go on a general education school train with his friend, when a girl with a katana shows up and ends up taking over Rei's choice and they end up on a "Special" train. Like all manga, it's taking a while to understanding, but so far it is an entertaining series.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

On the distant (and artificial) planet of Deloca, students enroll on either the School Train or the Special Train to complete their education. Reiichi plans to attend the School Train, to receive a regular education, and have a normal life--until he meets Arena Pendleton.

[Jenni Noordhoek · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm really enjoying this actually. The premise is fun and the characters are colourful. And I'm hoping the author will follow through with the suggestion on one of the back pages that a romantic relationship will not be in store for our leads...

[Steph · Rating 2 out of 5]

Arena seems like an interesting character, but I'm not sure I buy the idea of school trains at all.

[Dorcas · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit of sci-fi and swordfighting and boarding schools.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for my class, recommended by my teacher. I liked this one a lot, especially the kick-ass heroine and the lack of fan service.

[scarlettraces · Rating 4 out of 5]

good execution of the concept so far, but please tell me the annoying wanna-be girlfriend is *not* going to be a character. Arena is much more interesting.

[Audry]

I love this series. It's paced like an anime -- fast, rip-roaring, and loaded with action. Also, I want to go to school on a train.

[Marianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars.