MARS 30th Anniversary Edition 1

by Fuyumi Soryo

Genres: Manga, Romance, Graphic Novels, Young Adult

384 pages, Hardcover

Published June 16, 2026

About the author

Fuyumi Soryo (惣領冬実) is a Japanese manga artist from Beppu, Oita, Japan. She is a graduate of the Oita prefectural Geijutsu Midorigaoka High School.

She was born into the home of a master of the Kanze school of Noh. In her childhood she liked to draw pictures of horses and things but had no special interest in manga. While enrolled in fashion college, she happened across Shogakukan's Rookie of the Year Contest and applied to raise money for the Sōen fashion contest. There she received an honorable mention, and debuted with "Sunspot Visitor" (Hidamari no hōmonsha) published in the April 1982 edition of Bessatsu Shōjo Comic (now Bestucomi).

Her works translated abroad include Mars and Eternal Sabbath. In 1988, she was awarded the Shogakukan Manga Award for shōjo manga for Boyfriend. Currently her last manga series is Cesare which centers around the infamous Borgia family of the Italian Renaissance and Cesare Borgia himself.

Reviews

[~MasterDaoistQuqu~ (iconic by mistake)]

♡₊˚🍓₊✧ pre-read
⤿ omg i got the arc!! i’m literally gonna cry tears of happiness 🥹 i love classic shoujo mangas so i’m so happy netgalley and kodansha approved my request! I feel like older shoujos always have that “old but gold” vibe, which i adore (especially cuz of the nostalgia!) 💗 now time to get reading!!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

MARS is the series that got me hooked on manga, and I'm so excited to be reading it again after all these years. The emotional journey these kids take is right up there with stories like Nana and Fruits Basket. So much depth to these kids. It's going to be interesting to read the series again with more adult eyes.

[Halina]

MARS follows the high school romance tale of a motorcycle riding bad boy called Rei, and a reserved artist called Kira.

I read this manga growing up, and I really went in thinking that it wouldn't age well (a lot of shoujo manga doesn't) but actually, it was still fantastic. It captures the fantasy of that first love, but maintains a thread of seriousness throughout. Their love is fun, in that bad boy vs. good girl way, but it doesn't shy away from difficult topics, and Fuyumi isn't dismissive about them either. This is wonderfully expressed through the translation, and the art. Fuyumi's art style is really a cut above, and I'm glad she takes some frames every now and then to really show that off. You can also tell she understands the importance of a visual pause to let the moment land. This is not a frenetic read, but rather melancholic and sad read (but still very romantic!)

[Dustin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most intense manga I've read in a while and it's a ROMANCE manga.

The romance between Rei and Kira is wonderful, with them growing and learning from each other, learning about themselves, and learning about love. It's really great and put a dumb smile on my face every time they were together. HOWEVER, the people in this high school are absolutely unhinged, constantly threatening bodily harm on each other, threatening to kill each other, etc. Also, our two main characters have a lot going on in their own lives and have a lot of mental and emotional baggage to unpack. It's a pretty dark manga in a lot of ways and deals with some very heavy subject matter, so be warned.

The contrast between the romance plotline and those darker elements and how they intertwine is absolutely enthralling. I absolutely devoured this book and if the rest of the story is this well written, I'm gonna devour that as well. Really highly recommend this one if you're okay with darker, heavier themes in your manga. Honestly, even if you're not normally into manga, I'd say give it a try.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for the ARC!

[Cassandra]

This series has some real highs and horrible lows but I saw this on NetGalley and I could not say no. I love the art. It has the most beautiful and romantic feel. The start of this series (first two volumes are in this) area the strongest. You are immediately drawn into this two imperfect but perfect for each other people. Their lives become more interwoven and increase in their importance. Kira is clearly afraid from past events. It causes her to freeze up and fade into the background. Rei is so broken, he deals with it by living life on the edge seeking thrills. The ups and downs, the trials, the toxic characters and events, are all worth it.

The impact this series has on other manga artist is still seen current series (love, that’s an understatement has art influences for example). My fav part, these two are older than me. Barely, but still.

5/6 stars

[Becky (romantic_pursuing_feels) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hadn't heard of this manga before (I'm just getting into them so that's not surprising!) but I was curious by the cover on the art and wanted to try.

And I LOVED this one. Totally ate it up!!! I really loved the mains, loved the plot and the bad boy / quiet girl pairing. It just never gets old for me. I loved the art style and found myself lingering over so many scenes. Definitely going to be looking for more of it.

Give this a try if you want:
- high school setting
- motorcyle riding bad boy hero
- quiet artist heroine
- he's protective

(Content warning for some scenes of bullying and sexual harassment)

[Ebony · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was funny at times and super sad. A lot of emotion is packed in this one volume. I can only imagine what the rest of the story is like. Although the characters are teens, it felt very mature at certain points with their experiences. Overall a really good read and I’m excited to continue reading!

[Cas ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what an unexpectedly bittersweet trip down memory lane. 🥹 I like many others in my age group read this as a young teen; and it was a book that I had to get special privileges to read at the library, so its one that I remember fondly. I remember checking it out more than once too, but it’s been so long that I didn’t remember really anything about it aside from the art style. So getting an ARC of it was pretty special to me! I was able to kind of go back and see what younger me was into and see if it held up all these years later. And of course, as an adult reading this nearly 20 years later it hits differently, but it did hold up.

The art style is stunning & nostalgic, and the story, while extremely heavy, has this beautiful melancholy loveliness to it. I can see why (very depressed) teen me was enamored with it. I’m going to include at the bottom a note about the content warnings because there were quite a few serious trigger warnings, but I feel like the manga handles them much better than most. They’re not there for shock value, they’re there to illustrate the depth of hurt and emotion the characters feel. As an adult I can see why this manga was on the special permissions only mature readers shelf in my school library lol (and I think in our current political climate, some Karen somewhere would have an absolute fit about the content). I think there’s a lot of value in art (writing included) that makes you feel things, including making you feel a little less alone in your feelings. MARS has a lot of heavy themes that I know I was thinking about and grappling with as a teen… and quite honestly still think about and struggle with as an adult. I know that how I feel now and how I felt then are completely different though, and isn’t that the beauty of art and reading, to experience the same thing twice but to have two very different reactions/thoughts/feelings to it depending on where you are in life?

I think that re-readers will be really happy with the quality and the feeling of revisiting an old favorite, as MARS has long been considered a gold-standard shojo. And I think new readers will appreciate it because its a truly well-written and well-illustrated manga. I’m that this edition exists and that I was able to be an early reader! Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for the ARC copy — all thoughts and opinions here are my own, and are not in any way influenced by the receiving of an advanced copy.

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Content notes (contains spoilers):
-Suicide and suicide attempts (multiple on page events, not graphically shown but occur in real time and have major consequences to the story/characters)
-Violence (threatened and acted upon, serious and non-serious)
-Bullying (physical and verbal)
-Sexual Harassment (from a teacher)
-PTSD & panic attacks
-Medical Emergencies (CPR administered)
-Vehicle accidents (wreckage shown, severe injury/limb loss as a result, death as a result not shown but alluded to in a flashback)
-Attempted murder (threats of murder/bodily harm too)
-Death of a parent (past incidents)
-Death of a sibling

[Clarissa Labue-Pham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mars is a fabulous shojo manga about two opposites who fall for each other.

In Mars the shy and withdrawn Kira asks the sexy bad boy Rei to model for her. Both have complicated backgrounds which affects how they handle their budding romance.

I love the art, the panels are done so well. The story movies at a brisk pace thanks do well done page layouts and clean and crisp art. The characters are drawn beautifully and vehicles and buildings are rendered with a technical precision that is unbeatable.

I first read this almost 30 years ago. Reading it again was pure nostalgia and joy. I loved the melodrama and aesthetics. This edition is a beautiful hardcover that features colored pages and new art on the front and back. If you love romance and melodrama this is worth picking up, even if comics aren't your thing.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a compelling story in a clean and well-defined style following the relationship between a shy artistic girl and a wild biker boy, and yet it’s so much more than that. There is the connection between two people who are so different on the surface yet they connect on a deeper level, and the ever present reminder that people don’t show the entirety of themselves. There’s also something deeply nostalgic about this manga, this is my first time reading it but it felt like a longing to be a teenager again and feeling things so intensely for the first time.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!

[QuirkyTofurkey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I tore through Mars as a teenager and jumped at the chance to revisit it for the 30th anniversary. I genuinely cannot believe it has been that long.

While I have certainly changed over the years, my love for this series has not. This was one of my very first introductions to manga and remains one of the few series I own in its entirety. There’s a reason it’s considered a classic. The story still feels relevant today, and it remains a fantastic entry point into the shojo manga genre for readers looking to dabble.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kodansha Comics, and Fuyumi Soryo for the advance reader copy. This review is voluntary, and all opinions are my own.

[Anna Makowska · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a blast from the past! I've read Mars over 20 years ago in Polish translation by the publisher Waneko, so I have great nostalgia for the title. I couldn't even remember the title, even though I remembered specific scenes like the art museum jokes. But when I saw it posted on Netgalley, I immediately recognized it.

On the surface level, it's your standard YA high school romance between an artsy shy girl and a "bad boy" who rides fast motorcycles, sleeps around, smokes and gets into brawls. There's bullying, friendships, problems at school and with parents, uncertain future, the typical teenage worries. But the story tackles also some darker themes like sexual assault, suicide and survivor's guilt, parental death, and how some people get away with everything while the system fails to protect and help the victims, time and time again.

Rei seems to be a "troubled kid": rude, violent, skipping school, dabbling in illegal activities like gambling, but in the end most of his violence seems to have a "vigilante" tone to it, it's aimed at bullies and abusers, especially since they seem to get away with everything because they're people with "good reputation" while poor or unpopular kids get no credibility.

Overall, there's quite a few common YA romance tropes here like popular boy x wallflower girl, opposites attract, he softens only for her, he was a playboy before but with her decides to give her space, touch her and I'll mess you up, maybe not insta-love but fairly quick falling for each other, worry parents won't approve of the relationship, etc.

The image style is pretty common for shojo manga, but it's very good at expressing both humorous and tense scenes. The humour adds much needed levity to a narrative full of dark subjects, mental health issues, crime and abuse.

I must say, I'm usually not into "bad boy romances" because in those usually mmc bullies the fmc, but here he mostly directs his ire at other people, a lot of them not really innocent. There are some moments where mmc acts rashly towards the fmc and doesn't exactly consider her boundaries, but it's not portrayed as deliberately trying to bully or unsettle her. Also while fmc seems to excuse mmc's antisocial behaviour, the narrative paints him as a "problem kid", his behaviour is a result of his trauma, but isn't fully excused by it.

In the end, it's a story of two broken birds in a cruel world. It's very angsty and emotional and I still got engrossed in it as much as I did back when I was a uni student reading lots of manga that was just becoming a phenomenon in my country.

Eastern romance also hits differently than western romance, no matter if it's Japanese, Korean, Chinese or from other Asian countries (even though I don't know many media imported from other East Asian countries sadly). Yes, there is drama, strong attraction, angst, etc. but there's also a lot of emphasis on emotional connection and sharing burdens, a lot of yearning and denying, but somehow it all comes out believable and natural. Western romance and YA could learn a lot from manga. Too often in western works yearning and denial comes out as too manufactured than rooted in the circumstances and characters' personalities, too often a result of a stupid miscommunication or some other contrived trope. But part of it is also culture, in the Japanese culture there are much stronger reasons someone would be considered unworthy or disreputable and for those reasons might want to conceal the truth or avoid committing to a relationship out of worry their bad reputation will affect the other person. It's sad, but sad realities underpin more dramatic and interesting stories, after all why do we have such a popularity of dystopian, fantasy, mafia, etc. backgrounds in the western romance genre.

In the end, when I read a romance, I want the following: the reason they should be together, the reason they can't immediately achieve their HEA, and a conviction these characters are better together than apart to make me root for them. And this one fulfills all the criteria perfectly.

It's also very nostalgic from the perspective of a world before smartphones, social media and all that.

I highly recommend it for readers of shojo / YA as long as content warnings aren't a dealbreaker: SA, suicide, parental death, abuse, bullying, violence, mental health issues like anxiety and ptsd. Most depictions are brief, but there are lingering consequences. I found the title overall cathartic, but everyone has different reception when it comes to darker themes.

Thank you Netgalley and Kodansha Comics for the ARC!

[Lanie Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kashino is your typical bad boy; he rides a motorcycle, he ditches school, he smokes, and he sleeps around. Kira is his exact opposite; she's shy, has no patience for delinquents, and spends her free time creating art. One afternoon they run into each other at the park, Kashino asks her for directions and she is so put off by him she simply writes them on a scrap of paper and hands it to him, not uttering a word. On the back of that paper is a drawing she made though of a mother holding their child, Kashino is so moved by this drawing when he finds out they attend they same high school he asks her if he can keep it and in return he'll protect her. Kira is baffled by this, but also intrigued, there seems to be more to this bad guy than meets the eye, and she finds herself surprised to want to get to know him better. As the days go by and the drama ramps up around them she finds she must admit that she has fallen absolutely head over heels for him.

I rarely, if ever, regret not reading something. I mean, there are millions of books out there, there's no way I'll ever get to them all; however, this series has existed for thirty years, I've known it's existed for thirty years and somehow never read it until now. OMG, do I regret that! Absolutely loved this from the very first page until the last!

Far from shy, Kira just seems to not have a ton of tolerance for BS. She kinda makes it seem like meeting Kashino gave her the confidence to have this attitude, but honestly, I don't think so. From the moment we meet her, she expresses her extreme disinterest in Kashino, and whether or not that was a bad call for me is neither here nor there; she asserts herself immediately, and that, for me, shows that the confidence has always been there; she just maybe doesn't recognize it as such. Kashino, on the other hand, simply doesn't really come across as a bad boy, like ever. Yes, he smokes, yes, he sleeps around, but I mean people like him. Sure, there may be some that are scared of him, but I genuinely did not get that vibe at all. Together, they just complement each other, like two puzzle pieces fitting together perfectly. It was really wonderful to read.

The drama at this school, though, is absolutely wild. Like omigoodness, I don't think I've ever seen so many teenagers threaten to kill each other in my life. Kira is bullied by a group of girls whose ringleader has a crush on Kashino, someone steals a drawing of hers and passes it off as their own, Kashino gets jumped by a group of older students, like kinda wondering where the heck the teachers are in all of this. But it did add a ton of drama to everything, and hey, maybe high school was like that in JP back in the day. That being said, I do like that at the end of the day all groups made at least an attempt to reconcile their differences and I like Harumi (Kira's bully), so I hope that she and Kira become friends going forward.

I will definitely be continuing this series and highly recommend it!

As always thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha for the eArc!

[Tiffany Seward · Rating 2 out of 5]

Manga | Suicidal | “Bad Boy” Romance

Thank you to Kodansha Comics for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

•Plot:
Mars 30th Anniversary Edition Vol. 1 begins with a 16-year-old boy with a bad reputation approaching a quiet female art student to ask for directions to a hospital, where his friend has been injured in an accident. From the start, she finds him off-putting, he smokes, has a reputation as a ladies’ man, and carries a reckless attitude toward life and death. Despite this, he becomes intrigued by her art and personality, while she is slowly pulled into his chaotic world.

•What I Liked:
I liked the inclusion of mythology. The title Mars and the sculpture referenced in the story connect to the Roman god of war, which adds symbolic depth to the characters and their emotions.
I also found it interesting that he offers to “protect” her in exchange for her art, it creates a unique dynamic between them, even if it’s flawed.

•What Didn’t Work for Me:
A lot of the character behavior was frustrating. The male lead is reckless and often insensitive. At one point, he grabs the female main character by her hair to get her attention, which felt aggressive and uncomfortable. The female lead is constantly targeted, bullied by classmates and even mistreated by authority figures. There’s a scene where a teacher behaves inappropriately toward her, and she’s too scared to respond, which made it difficult to read.
Their relationship also develops too quickly. It doesn’t take much for her to soften toward him.
The dynamic leans heavily into the “bad boy” trope, but not always in a way that feels healthy or balanced.

•Themes / Ideas:
* Suicide and self-destructive behavior
* Attempted sexual assault
* Bullying and social isolation
* Death and grief
* Recklessness and lack of self-worth

•Who I’d Recommend It To:
Readers who enjoy darker romance stories, especially those centered around troubled teens and “bad boy” characters.

•Overall Thoughts:
This is a story about a quiet, reserved girl and a reckless “bad boy” with a softer side, set in a harsh environment filled with bullying and emotional instability. The female main character is often passive and frequently manhandled by those around her, including, at times, the male lead. While he is positioned as her protector, he doesn’t always make her situation better and can sometimes draw more attention to her.

The story also casually includes heavy topics like violence, death, and suicidal thoughts/acts, which can make it feel intense and uncomfortable. I was hoping to like this more, but suicidal behavior happens a little way too often in this among different characters.

This first volume felt a bit slow-paced and difficult to get through at times due to the heavy themes and character dynamics.

[Alessia · Rating 5 out of 5]

[Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for the advanced ebook copy in exchange for a fair and honest review]

I have wanted to read "Mars" by Fuyumi Soryo for years, so I was incredibly happy to finally have the chance to experience it through NetGalley and this beautiful 30th Anniversary Edition. After finishing the first volume, I can already understand why this series remains such a beloved classic among manga readers.

At first glance, "Mars" seems to follow a familiar formula: the popular bad boy and the shy, artistic girl. Rei is the school's heartthrob, a professional motorcycle racer known for his rebellious attitude and reputation with girls, while Kira is quiet, reserved, and prefers expressing herself through her art. While these archetypes may sound familiar, the story quickly reveals that there is much more beneath the surface.

One of the first things I fell in love with was the nostalgic 90s aesthetic. Fuyumi Soryo's art is beautiful and expressive, perfectly capturing both the lighter, humorous moments and the more emotionally intense scenes. The way feelings are conveyed through facial expressions and panel composition adds so much depth to the story.

What surprised me most was how much darker and more mature the narrative is than I expected. While the story includes many classic romance tropes: popular boy x wallflower girl, opposites attract, the troubled boy who softens for one special person.
It also tackles difficult subjects such as bullying, sexual assault, suicide, survivor's guilt, grief, abuse, and the ways institutions often fail to protect victims. These themes add a level of emotional weight that sets "Mars" apart from many other high school romances.

Rei initially comes across as the stereotypical troubled teenager: he skips school, gets into fights, smokes, and constantly pushes boundaries. However, as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that there is much more to him than his bad-boy image. Much of his anger seems directed toward bullies and abusers who hide behind good reputations while vulnerable people are ignored or dismissed. This complexity made him a far more interesting character than I expected.

I also appreciated how layered both protagonists feel even from the very beginning. Their struggles, insecurities, and emotional wounds make them feel real, and I am eager to learn more about their pasts and see how their relationship develops.

Despite being nearly thirty years old, "Mars" feels surprisingly relevant. Its exploration of trauma, healing, and human connection gives it a depth that goes far beyond a typical shoujo romance. This first volume completely hooked me, and I am very excited to continue the series.

A strong start to what already feels like a memorable and emotionally powerful story.

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Over the years, I’ve seen MARS hyped as some of the best drama shoujo has to offer. Diving into it for the first time in 2026, I can see why it has had a lasting appeal. There’s just so many classic elements of shoujo here: bad boys with hearts of gold, bullying, questioning authority, learning self confidence, and so, so much immaculate fashion.

While this series definitely feels sometimes conventional, that doesn’t mean it feels by any means stale. All these elements are executed with depth and nuance. Take Rei, our resident bad boy and love interest. He’s definitely careless and has a violent streak, but most of his behavior is explored rather than outright condemned or excused. Does he confront bullies and creeps when he finds them? Absolutely. But he’s also reckless to the point of endangering others and himself regularly, and both are shown as two sides of the same coin.

Rei is established as a character that is perfectly aware of possible negative outcomes for his actions, but disregards himself so much that he goes ahead and does all the dangerous, reckless things anyway, consequences be damned. If it’s what he wants to do, he’s doing it.

The opening scene with his friend in the hospital talking about his near-death experience and Rei’s nonchalance reveals immediately that he is borderline suicidal in how he approaches his life. This sort of depth to his actions take them from wish fulfillment to a genuine character study. The answers of why Rei is the way he is are already teased in this first omnibus, and I definitely feel invested in his character arc after this first volume.

This strong character writing extends even to side characters who are nominally antagonists, which is what really sets MARS apart from the vast majority of stories covering similar themes.

Tragically, the biggest disappointment I had in this first volume was with its protagonist, Kira. Her character writing falls a little too neatly into shoujo lead stereotypes for my liking, in that she lacks any faults and gets damseled a fair amount. Even when she ultimately starts standing up for herself more as the story goes on, I found it a little lackluster. Ultimately, though, I found myself very invested in the story and characters throughout, even ones that fell more into stereotypes like Kira, which I think is a mark of excellent storytelling.

Absolutely make MARS a priority if you’re into dramatic romances, it holds up well with its character-writing and flowing, gorgeous art.

Thank you to Kodansha Comics for my ARC provided through Netgalley.

[Sara G · Rating 5 out of 5]

***ARC received from Kodansha Comics and NetGalley, opinions are all my own. Thank you!***

I’m going to start this by saying I am extremely biased with this manga, MARS is my favorite manga. I first read it during its original US release in the early 2000s. I also own the original release, except volume 13 so if you see it let me know.

MARS 30th Anniversary volume 1 combines the first and second volume of the series with a completely new translation.

MARS is a much deeper story dealing with heavy themes and should include warnings of abuse, sexual abuse, suicide, suicide ideation and drug use. Its not a light hearted shouju manga and somethings the characters don’t handle things in the most delicate ways but it feels like they handle it the best they can.

Kira and Rei are two deeply damaged individuals and that is what I find so fascinating about them as characters. They have very different approaches to the world, Kira has mostly withdrawn, finding joy in her art but she usually just lets people push her around. Rei is the opposite, boisterous, the appearance of a young man full of life. Their choices in how they go about their lives are different but the driver, the motivation for the two is similar and that is how they find a connection between the two. Rei and Kira are both instantly drawn to each other despite the fact that everyone sees it at first but them. I wouldn’t classify this as a slow burn romance but its a relationship they are going to be slow to build over the series of the manga.

Harumi and Tatsuya don’t really do much in the first two volumes but they do grow into their characters and despite her actions in the beginning I do come to love Harumi.

I pulled out my copy of the first two to compare the translations and they are worlds better. The dialogue while mostly the same is more fleshed out, creating dialogue that feels more natural. Some of the words that dated it to the early 2000s have been changed but yet still keeping the references that dated it to the time frame it was written. There are also sections that finally do get translated that you can tell had something written that never got translated.

I am so happy that MARS is back out for publication and a new generation gets the fall in love with this manga as I did in my youth. I can’t wait to get the rest of the series.

[Poesydesy · Rating 5 out of 5]

🇬🇧 Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for giving me the opportunity to reread the first volume of one of my favorite manga series.

I've always loved psychologically complex characters, and Rei is one of them. Kira sees Rei through the eyes of an artist, like the god Mars (which is where the manga gets its title): fascinating, invincible, and free. But is he really?

What I loved most was the way their relationship develops in such a light and incredibly natural way, and how Rei seems to find something familiar in Kira's art.

This manga is absolutely character-driven and stands out for its strong and complex themes, which is why I recommend checking trigger warnings before starting the story.

I recommend it to anyone who, like me, enjoys characters dealing with trauma and psychological depth.

The first volume is introductory: it shows us a Rei who seems careless about his own life and passionate about motorcycle racing, and a frightened Kira who can only communicate through her art. We only see the surface of who they truly are.

So my advice is this: let yourself be drawn into Rei's darker side, until you meet Kira, his light.

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🇮🇹 Ringrazio NetGalley e Kodansha Comics per avermi dato la possibilità di rileggere il primo volume di uno dei miei manga preferiti.

Ho sempre amato i personaggi psicologicamente complessi e Rei è uno di questi. Kira vede Rei attraverso i suoi occhi da artista come il dio Marte (da qui il nome del manga): affascinante, invincibile e libero. Ma sarà davvero così?

La cosa che mi è piaciuta di più è il modo in cui la loro relazione cresce in modo leggero ed estremamente naturale e come Rei sembri trovare nell'arte di Kira qualcosa di familiare.

Il manga è assolutamente un character driven che colpisce con i suoi temi forti e complessi, per questo vi consiglio di leggere i trigger warning prima di iniziare la storia.

Lo consiglio a chi, come me, ama i personaggi con situazioni traumatiche e una psicologia complessa.

Il primo volume è introduttivo: ci mostra un Rei non curante della sua vita e appassionato di corse in moto, e una Kira impaurita che riesce a comunicare solo attraverso la sua arte. Ci mostra solo la superficie di quello che sono davvero.

Per questo vi dico: lasciatevi trasportare dal lato oscuro di Rei, fino a incontrare Kira, la sua luce.

[Susanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kira is a timid high school girl who is constantly drawing and shutting everyone out. Then one day, the class delinquent compliments her drawing and she finds herself opening up to him. But it doesn’t go easily on any front. Rei is very popular with girls so they go against her, and he has deep psychological problems that make him violent. But little by little, the two fall in love. At least, she does. It’s difficult to tell how he truly feels.

This was a tad different from what the description gave to understand—or it didn’t get to Kira’s tragic backstory yet. The copy says her father died in gang violence, but the volume shows he died in a car accident, and there’s no step-father. There are some triggers. Suicide is warned about already on the front matter, and there’s sexual and other harrassment. Likely Kira’s backstory includes harrassment too, which will be revealed later.

I wasn’t fan of either character, which hampered my enjoyment a little. Kira was too timid and Rei too volatile. But he’s the veritable cool bad boy, and she’s made out to be the love that saves him. And there was some good character development already in this volume that contains the first two original vols.

This was a solid start to a series that was originally published in the mid-90s. Unlike modern school romance manga that revolves around the same school year events and very formal interaction between genders, the characters here are more free to express themselves. There are no school uniforms or rota events. Rei smokes and drives a motorbike and talks about having sex. Despite it, the narrative felt very stiff and distancing, and it took a while to get in the story.

Art is typical for the era. It doesn’t appeal to me anymore, but it’s very well done. I had an e-ARC, so I don’t know if the anniversary edition has new art or other interesting extras.

I received a free copy fom NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

“MARS 30th Anniversary Edition 1” by Fuyumi Soryo

5⭐/5⭐

When I saw Kodansha Comics was releasing a deluxe 30th anniversary edition of MARS, I immediately downloaded a digital galley. MARS was such an important and formative series when I was a young adult. I can’t remember how I found it, but when I did I was obsessed. I read each volume countless times, I was enthralled with Kira and Rei’s romance. I also absolutely loved Fuyumi Soryo’s art styles, and would often try to imitate it via doodling and sketching. I even started wearing my hair in braided pigtails, just like Kira!

MARS is an emotionally complex story about opposites attracting. Kira is a quiet and shy student with artistic talent. Rei is a delinquent bad boy who races motorcycles professionally. Although they’ve gone to the same school for years, it took a chance meeting in a park for them to gain interest in one another. There’s a sadness in both of their hearts that is so complimentary; they’re exactly what the other person needs.

As the story progresses we learn more about the source of Rei’s misbehavior, and how so many of his actions are a cry for help. He experienced intense and unresolved childhood trauma, but that’s not to say Kira and their relationship will solve this. However, she’s the catalyst for him to finally confront so many tormented feelings and memories. He needs to take action, but Kira is definitely an inspiration.

Meanwhile, Kira is so meek and shy, hiding behind her artwork. Meeting Rei is HER catalyst to speaking out, standing up for herself, and opening her heart to love. Kira is pushed out of her comfort zone several times, something she really needed. See? Complimentary.

The dramatics are high, the action intense, and the romance every bit as swoon-worthy as I remember from my youth.

[Visionary Druid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rei Kashino lives a fast-paced, reckless life. He skips school, gets into fights, womanizes, and races his motorcycle. Rei happens upon Kira at a park when he asks her for directions. He later recognizes her at school the following day. Rei cannot help but be drawn to the timid girl, thus starting their unorthodox friendship.

Kira Aso is a withdrawn, unassuming girl - who spends most of her time drawing. She encounters Rei in the park. He is the epitome of everything Kira distrusts. Instead of answering him, she draws him a map on the back of an old drawing. Kira’s opinions of Rei change as they slowly get to know one another. She even dares to ask him to model for her.

Kira and Rei are complete opposites, especially in personality. Rei is popular and recalcitrant. He likes to do things his own way and on his own terms. Kira is introverted and timid. Her timidity often leads people to take advantage of her. For all their differences, Kira and Rei are both wounded souls, damaged emotionally and mentally. I like how they seem to help each other confront their demons. Kira finds confidence while Rei decides to come to terms with his past.

The art style is clearly old school – which I found refreshing. The manga was first released, in English, in 2002. And it has been out of print for decades. I never heard of it until I saw it available on Netalley. I wanted to try something a little different than what I generally read.

The story’s plot is easy to follow. Yes, there are some trigger warnings, such as bullying, suicide, sexual assault and harassment, and violence. I found Kira and Rei easy to like and connect with (but then I am a sucker for the wounded/tortured types. I would love to continue with the manga… Enough to buy the hardback version once it releases? Now that is a stretch. I would if it came into omnibus format.

[Scarlett · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 🌟
A dramatic shoujo manga with tons of romance!

Illustrations
I loved the illustrations and the variety of panels we get - there was not one second where I Was bored. I loved how each page was laid.

Characters
Kira has been through it emotionally. Her world is filled with violence and she seems to be very emotionally guarded and estranged. Rather than speaking through words, it seems that she produces art as a means of escapism and expression. Artistic language was used in such a meaningful way! I also liked that we got to see her internal thoughts.

Rei is the conventional guy with a bad rep and rides motorcycle. He is angsty, hot headed, emotionally damaged and extremely/obsessively protective (but not in a posessive way). I loved this character because there was suprisingly more depth, and not just the the conventional bad boy who is secretly sweet.

Although there were heavy topics in the manga, there were instances where Rei made me laugh, and his awkward interactions with Kira made me giggle. There is a balance of both.

Tropes:
🏫 High school setting
🏍️ Motorcycle bad boy MMC
🎨 Artist FMC
☠️ Touch her and 💀
🔥 He falls first
😭 Emotional damage
💬 banter

Recommendation:
If you grew up on Nana or Fruits Basket or Ao Haru Ride you'll want to read this 30th anniversary edition!

Thank you to Kodansha Comics, Fuyumi Soryo, and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many people know that Mars is the god of war and a planet in our solar system. Many people have also likely read this manga because we are celebrating the 30th anniversary of it's initial release; however, it is entirely new for me! This story follows Kira Aso and Rei Kashino and their unconventional friendship/relationship. Aso is the shy, weird girl who spends her days sitting alone and drawing. Kashino is the popular kid who races motorcycles and lives alone. The two are a very unlikely pairing, but after they pass each other in the park one day, their relationship takes off from there. This story is not only full of your typical rom com back and forth, but there's also something strange going on especially related to the mysterious deaths that keep occurring. Is Kashino in danger or is Aso in over her head?

What an intriguing story. As I mentioned above, this is my first read of this manga, and I loved it. I spent the entire book trying to guess what was going on to no avail. I felt a lot of emotions following Aso through being alone, her feelings for Kashino, and the threats she receives for essentially being the wrong person in the wrong place at the wrong time. I thought the illustrations were absolutely gorgeous along with the art that Aso drew throughout the story. I ended up reading this book in one sitting because I needed to know what was going on and couldn't put it down. It was one of the longer mangas I've read, but it still flew by like nothing. I can't wait to deep dive more into this series and learn the secrets behind both of their mysterious happenings. #NetGalley

[Maria Dar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Source: NetGalley
Pages: 384 pages
Format: NetGalley Reader
Trigger Warnings: Bullying, Suicide, Suicidal Thoughts, Depression, Anxiety, Panic Attacks, Sexual Assault, Sexual Harassment, Physical Abuse, Violence
★★★★★ | 5 / 5

Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics.

MARS was a manga series my sister introduced me to back in high school, when we were both deeply influenced by the stories we were reading at the time. It was also one of the few series we owned physical copies of before I eventually sold them during a move over 15 years ago to free up space. We had up to Volume 8.

Since then, MARS has stayed in the back of my mind, and I've often wanted to revisit it for the nostalgia alone.

So thank you to NetGalley for bringing it back with its 30th Anniversary Edition.

Revisiting MARS felt like stepping back into the early 2000s era of shoujo storytelling that I grew up loving. That said, I hadn't fully remembered just how dark some of the themes are. I really appreciate that this edition includes a trigger warning at the beginning, preparing readers before they dive in.

There are definitely some dated references, but the volume does a nice job of addressing them toward the end with simple explanations. The artwork isn't overly extravagant, but it's clean and easy to follow. While a few panels can feel a bit confusing at times, the overall narrative flows well and keeps you engaged.

What stood out most for me was how quickly I fell back in love with the characters. As I read, pieces of the story started coming back to me, along with hints of what's still to come.

Revisiting MARS has been both nostalgic and eye-opening. It's a reminder of how impactful and relevant these stories were, and still are.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me tell you, reading MARS as an adult hits differently than reading it as a teenager. It's still very good, and I still think Kira is a very relateable protagonist; she was one of the first I identified with, particularly in volume one. (This omnibus contains volumes one and two.) But the melodrama is off the charts, and as an adult, all I could think was that no one was looking out for Rei, who desperately needs an adult in his corner. I sort of knew that as a teen, but it takes on a different tone now.

When I mentioned to my youngest sister that this series was getting a reprint with a new translation - which is good and corrects a few things I recall from the old Tokyopop books, particularly about the spelling of Kira's name - she said, "Isn't that the one where everyone's yeeting themselves out of windows?" It's off roofs in this volume, but yes, yes it is, which means that this comes with a hefty content warning for suicide and suicide ideation; Rei is severely depressed and there are three suicides/attempts in this book. (Plus attempted murder.) It's painted as bad, but it could make this a very difficult read.

Long story short, I did still enjoy this. I'll keep reading these new editions, full to the brim with Gen X slang that Elder Millennial me barely remembers hearing. But proceed with caution: MARS is from the days when shoujo had teeth.

CW: suicide, suicide ideation, sexual assault, bullying

[TheRedBookBox · Rating 5 out of 5]

MARS 30th Anniversary Edition 1 by Fuyumi Soryo - I still remember the row of light grey spines on the library book shelf for this series. It was the first introduction to shojo for many folks and still has a gripping story line, even if none of the characters have cell phones :P Both the FMC and the MMC are high schoolers with tragic and violent family backstories, which causes the FMC to pull into her shell and take all kinds of abuse from everyone around her, while the MMC is reckless to the point where he finds himself in situations where he may actually die. She offers him a painting, and in return he offers to protect her. Everything that happens to them is pretty over the top; school bullies, gang fights, IP theft, attempted suicide, and sexual assault all in the space of a couple of months. But it was that dishy, rapid paced, adult themed series of events that kept everyone turning pages until late in the night. Of course it helped that the art is seriously easy on the eyes ;)

This book was amazing as a blast from the past, but the fast-paced story telling and beautiful illustrations make it a wonderful new treasure for first time readers as well.

Thank you to Fuyumi Soryo and Kodansha Comics for the Advanced Reader’s copy!

Notes:
-F/M couple
-Fighting
-Bullying
-Theft
-Sexual assault
-Suicide
-Blood

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shojo manga fans have been rejoicing ever since this omnibus re-release was announced and now it is OUT! I haven't read MARS in like eight thousand years so it was fun to come back to it literally 20+ years later (for me) as a fully grown adult and not someone only a few years older than the characters as I was when the English edition originally came out.

This really is classic shojo in a way that occasionally feels very Of Its Time but on the other hand, there are parts that are still kinda timeless? You have your super timid soft girl that nobody understands and gets bullied who gets to know The Most Popular Hot Boy and they fall for each other pretty quickly, but there's a lot going on underneath the surface for him than just being a promiscuous hottie. It's kinda tropey, which is to be expected of the genre/demographic especially in its time, but that's not even a bad thing - you know and expect certain checks so watching the layers get peeled away (Kira standing up for herself, Rei chilling out some and coming to terms with some things) is the best part.

This omnibus collects volumes 1 and 2 of the original publication and flows together pretty well. You can tell where the volume break is, but it doesn't really take you out of the story or anything.

Thank you to Kodansha for the eARC for review!

[K · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of MARS 30th Anniversary Edition 1 from Kodansha via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

MARS is among the pantheon of good girl meets bad boy "I can fix him!" stories. Soryo's art is amazing and such clean delicate line work holds up to modern manga art very well. Volume 1 of the 30th Anniversary Edition (first two volumes in one hardcover) covers enough ground to go past the "this is a cute little story of how the bad boy notices the good girl" introduction arc and starts hinting at the underlying character background and motivations that will run the story. In this case, our lovely couple unintentionally bonds over shared trauma, and suddenly it's not just a cutesy teen love story anymore.

Kodansha knows that a bunch of folks who maybe didn't have the means to buy the initial English releases of MARS way back must now be in a better financial state and/or a mid-life crisis, and I can't be mad at how they're digging into that demographic by offering a deluxe reprint. I'm pretty sure I read this before by borrowing a friend's copies. I very much look forward to the following volumes.

Content warning: This volume has bullying, sexual harassment, implied sexual abuse, off-camera depictions of suicide, mentions of suicide, and violence (perhaps others I missed).

[Jada · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Kodansha Comics and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review.

Kira is a quiet, shy girl who doesn't have friends. She spends most of her time drawing and keeping to herself. One day, Rei, the handsome bad boy of the school, asks her for directions to a local hospital. She draws him a map and goes about her day. Little does she know, the drawing on the back of the map will captivate Rei. When their second year of high school starts and the two end up seated next to each other, they slowly get to know and rely on each other.

I got into anime/manga around 2012 and didn't end up ever picking up MARS, even though I did read some other shoujo staples like Nana and Fruits Basket. I'm SO thankful that the 30th Anniversary Edition has brought this classic back and caught my attention. Kira and Rei's story is so tender, romantic, and intense. It brings all of the quintessential shoujo feelings along with complex characters in Fuyumi Soryo's distinctive art style.

Whether you're a long time fan or new to the MARS manga, you won't want to miss this glittering metallic hardcover with all-new cover illustrations and translation. The 30th anniversary editions will have a total of 8 volumes!

[Alyssa]

MARS was one of the first manga that I read in high school, so seeing the 30th anniversary edition come out brings a lot of different feelings. I feel nostalgic for the young inexperienced romantic that read this for the first time, but I'm also enjoying rereading it as an adult having had my heart broken, gotten married, etc. And of course, I'm excited that a whole new generation of readers will get the chance to follow Kira and Rei's story from the beginning.

It looks like some of the translations from the original editions were updated slightly; the dialogue flowed a little bit more, and had a little more emotional impact behind it. Small word choices and phrasing, even a few little punctuation changes just punched things up a bit. They also added English translations to the onomatopoeia which was a nice touch.

The art is exactly as I remember, this dreamy style that mixed 90's shojo with these heavy-lidded eyes that remind me of 1960s mod fashion illustrations. Fuyumi Soryo has a way of letting these characters come alive with perfectly timed moments of comedy, hurt, vulnerability, and catharsis. You can't help but fall in love with Rei and Kira as they fall in love with each other, because you're watching both of them from the eyes of the person that loves them.