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Mars [マース] #15
Mars, Volume 15
Rei and Kira decide to get married right away after all, but what kind of damper could a newly released Masao put on the relationship? Irrational and showing a mixture of false and true emotions, he will lash out... violently... will Rei be alright? What kind of dangers await? You won't want to miss the stunning conclusion to Mars.
200 pages, Paperback
First published December 13, 2000
53 people are currently reading
348 people want to read
About the author
Fuyumi Soryo
150 books350 followersFuyumi 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 173 reviews
December 9, 2018
Series Rating- 4/5
This will be the review of the whole series. Mars is a manga series revolving around the relationship of two unlikely high school students Rei and Kira. These two people are polar opposites: Rei is a rebel, a player and has an obnoxious reputation while Kira is painfully shy and aloof and prefers to stay away from boys. Rei dreams about being a professional racer while Kira is an artist.
During a chance encounter in the park, Kira asks Rei to be a model for her and Rei surprisingly agrees. After that, they get closer and become a talk of the school due to their opposing personalities. The story depicts the struggles of the characters to understand each other and themselves while being together and enduring the grueling life of high school.
This was a fun series to read. I was expecting just a cute love story but this is much more than that. It covers the dark topics such as death, assault, trauma and much more. The characters have more depth to them so they feel real and likeable. With each volume, the story is unraveled slowly and many secrets from the past come to light. It is narrated from the perspective of both characters. The artwork is done beautifully.
Both Rei and Kira carry baggage from the past that they have to deal with and understand and support each other in the process. The development of the main characters is given attention while the side characters aren’t much explored except a few minor characters but other than that, other aspects are left untouched. Anyway, that doesn’t impact the story much.
It has some clichés that are annoying; there is angst and a lot of drama but at no point, does it get over-the-top. The cliché of a bad guy falling for a good girl is also handled well without the story coming off as shallow. I’ve seen many dramas where the story just goes so overboard that it turns unrealistic but it’s not the case here. Despite the serious topics, the story is generally light-hearted. It’s a little cheesy at times but in a good way.
The story takes place over the span of a few years and to be honest, I was a little disappointed that it ended without resolving many plot points but I’m fine with it. It’s a short read and I wasn’t expecting much from the manga but I’m pleasantly surprised that it turned out to be such an endearing story. If you’re looking for a cute romance with depth, then I recommend this manga.
This will be the review of the whole series. Mars is a manga series revolving around the relationship of two unlikely high school students Rei and Kira. These two people are polar opposites: Rei is a rebel, a player and has an obnoxious reputation while Kira is painfully shy and aloof and prefers to stay away from boys. Rei dreams about being a professional racer while Kira is an artist.
During a chance encounter in the park, Kira asks Rei to be a model for her and Rei surprisingly agrees. After that, they get closer and become a talk of the school due to their opposing personalities. The story depicts the struggles of the characters to understand each other and themselves while being together and enduring the grueling life of high school.
This was a fun series to read. I was expecting just a cute love story but this is much more than that. It covers the dark topics such as death, assault, trauma and much more. The characters have more depth to them so they feel real and likeable. With each volume, the story is unraveled slowly and many secrets from the past come to light. It is narrated from the perspective of both characters. The artwork is done beautifully.
Both Rei and Kira carry baggage from the past that they have to deal with and understand and support each other in the process. The development of the main characters is given attention while the side characters aren’t much explored except a few minor characters but other than that, other aspects are left untouched. Anyway, that doesn’t impact the story much.
It has some clichés that are annoying; there is angst and a lot of drama but at no point, does it get over-the-top. The cliché of a bad guy falling for a good girl is also handled well without the story coming off as shallow. I’ve seen many dramas where the story just goes so overboard that it turns unrealistic but it’s not the case here. Despite the serious topics, the story is generally light-hearted. It’s a little cheesy at times but in a good way.
The story takes place over the span of a few years and to be honest, I was a little disappointed that it ended without resolving many plot points but I’m fine with it. It’s a short read and I wasn’t expecting much from the manga but I’m pleasantly surprised that it turned out to be such an endearing story. If you’re looking for a cute romance with depth, then I recommend this manga.
September 15, 2020
It's one of my most favorite manga. This book has the common bad boy- good girl trope. However, it's not just an average manga where a bad boy falls in love with a good girl and changes. It's actually more than that.
Both protagonists have past that deeply scarred them. Both have a hard time dealing with these when it's revealed. It was a tough ride, but in the end, everything turns out well. The psychological issue was unique, and the author was able to merge it really well with the cute romance.'
July 9, 2022
A lot happened and it caused me real stress but everything was worth it
Mars stole my heart with its adoring art style and surprising dramatic sequence. It's ironic how the plot is sometimes unbearable to me because it's a never-ending pain rooting from the heavy topics discussed throughout the series, but it's this same reason that kept me hanging around. It was just always interesting that it drew you in, just like that enthralling Mars painting of Kira for Rei.
A lot has happened in this final volume. I wasn't actually sure how it would come out, considering the cliffhanger from the previous one. But it was satisfying indeed. I love how Soryo completely captured the image that I wanted to see before the curtains finally closed forever. I love this series... with all my heart.
Mars stole my heart with its adoring art style and surprising dramatic sequence. It's ironic how the plot is sometimes unbearable to me because it's a never-ending pain rooting from the heavy topics discussed throughout the series, but it's this same reason that kept me hanging around. It was just always interesting that it drew you in, just like that enthralling Mars painting of Kira for Rei.
A lot has happened in this final volume. I wasn't actually sure how it would come out, considering the cliffhanger from the previous one. But it was satisfying indeed. I love how Soryo completely captured the image that I wanted to see before the curtains finally closed forever. I love this series... with all my heart.
October 22, 2018
Noi continueremo a correre qualunque cosa ci attenda. Non smetteremo mai di combattere.
Bramavo di leggere Mars da molto tempo in quanto dalla trama sembrava il mio genere; effettivamente lo è, solo che quando si parla di must, di manga considerati "classici" da un lato mi gaso, dall'altro resto perplessa in quanto a volte mi capita di andare controcorrente.
Intanto ci tengo a fare una piccola premessa: chi mi conosce ormai sa che le storie che di solito preferisco sono quelle mature caratterizzate da un mix di comicità/dramma oppure quelle che magari partono in modo spensierato per poi farsi sempre più di spessore: basti pensare a Fruits basket, Il giocattolo dei bambini o Le situazioni di Lui e Lei che ad oggi continuano ad essere tra i miei super preferiti ma di sicuro non furono letture facili anzi parecchio sofferte e intense.
Di conseguenza quando ho deciso di leggere Mars sapevo che non sarebbe stato un manga leggero, io stessa ne cercavo uno forte... eppure non pensavo si sarebbe presentato fin da subito come un vero e proprio mattone psicologico; ad ogni capitolo si respira un'aria tragica, non ci sono scene più leggere che ne smorzano la pesantezza come nei titoli sopracitati, e considerando il fatto che ha ben 15 volumi, all'inizio mi sono sentita abbastanza oppressa. Forse non ero ancora nel mood giusto ma questa mia sensazione credo sia dipesa anche un pò dal fatto che avevo alte aspettative dopo tutti i commenti positivi che avevo letto in giro.
Ciononostante devo dire che arrivata a metà serie mi ha coinvolto di più fino alla fine, oggettivamente ne riconosco il successo - soprattutto tenendo conto il periodo in cui è stato pubblicato - ma non mi è entrato nel cuore come speravo :(
E' uno shojo maturo, contorto e disturbante che affronta temi forti e attuali: bullismo, suicidio, omicidio, stupro, elaborazione di un lutto, accettazione, rapporto genitori-figli e quello tra fratelli, il tutto contornato da drammi famigliari alle spalle dei due personaggi principali (Rei e Kira) che sono ben caratterizzati; la loro storia d'amore è intensa, di fronte alla quale non si può restare indifferenti: lui è il bel tenebroso che ad una prima apparenza sembra sempre allegro e superficiale ma in realtà ha un grande dolore che l'ha portato a diventare aggressivo; lei è timida e introversa che invece nasconde un trauma difficile da superare... impossibile non affezionarsi e non rivedersi almeno un pò nei loro pensieri, sentimenti, nel desiderio di essere accettati e amati. Sono due poli opposti che pian piano - in un percorso di morte e rinascita - cambiano, evolvono grazie al sostegno e alla comprensione reciproci.
Tale manga è uno specchio dell'anima: scava dentro la natura umana, facendone emergere i lati più oscuri e mettendo a nudo le emozioni più negative che una persona possa provare: odio, dolore, invidia, rabbia, gelosia, disperazione, rancore. E' sicuramente uno shojo introspettivo che offre spunti di riflessione riguardo la giustizia, il sottile confine tra bene e male, la vera essenza dell'essere umano e insegna dei valori fondamentali, quindi non posso dire che non mi sia piaciuto anzi mi sento anche di consigliarlo a chiunque; semplicemente non è riuscito a entusiasmarmi ai massimi livelli. Inoltre c'è da dire che per quanto sia considerato quasi uno dei capostipiti degli shojo, ha avuto la "sfortuna" di essere letto da me solo ora dopo una serie di altri manga simili che ho apprezzato di più per stile dell'opera, sviluppo e disegni e a cui sono maggiormente affezionata... se fosse stato uno dei primi è probabile mi sarebbe piaciuto di più ma ripeto: merita di essere letto almeno una volta nella vita, non è stato per niente tempo sprecato e questo è l'importante ♥
Bramavo di leggere Mars da molto tempo in quanto dalla trama sembrava il mio genere; effettivamente lo è, solo che quando si parla di must, di manga considerati "classici" da un lato mi gaso, dall'altro resto perplessa in quanto a volte mi capita di andare controcorrente.
Intanto ci tengo a fare una piccola premessa: chi mi conosce ormai sa che le storie che di solito preferisco sono quelle mature caratterizzate da un mix di comicità/dramma oppure quelle che magari partono in modo spensierato per poi farsi sempre più di spessore: basti pensare a Fruits basket, Il giocattolo dei bambini o Le situazioni di Lui e Lei che ad oggi continuano ad essere tra i miei super preferiti ma di sicuro non furono letture facili anzi parecchio sofferte e intense.
Di conseguenza quando ho deciso di leggere Mars sapevo che non sarebbe stato un manga leggero, io stessa ne cercavo uno forte... eppure non pensavo si sarebbe presentato fin da subito come un vero e proprio mattone psicologico; ad ogni capitolo si respira un'aria tragica, non ci sono scene più leggere che ne smorzano la pesantezza come nei titoli sopracitati, e considerando il fatto che ha ben 15 volumi, all'inizio mi sono sentita abbastanza oppressa. Forse non ero ancora nel mood giusto ma questa mia sensazione credo sia dipesa anche un pò dal fatto che avevo alte aspettative dopo tutti i commenti positivi che avevo letto in giro.
Ciononostante devo dire che arrivata a metà serie mi ha coinvolto di più fino alla fine, oggettivamente ne riconosco il successo - soprattutto tenendo conto il periodo in cui è stato pubblicato - ma non mi è entrato nel cuore come speravo :(
E' uno shojo maturo, contorto e disturbante che affronta temi forti e attuali: bullismo, suicidio, omicidio, stupro, elaborazione di un lutto, accettazione, rapporto genitori-figli e quello tra fratelli, il tutto contornato da drammi famigliari alle spalle dei due personaggi principali (Rei e Kira) che sono ben caratterizzati; la loro storia d'amore è intensa, di fronte alla quale non si può restare indifferenti: lui è il bel tenebroso che ad una prima apparenza sembra sempre allegro e superficiale ma in realtà ha un grande dolore che l'ha portato a diventare aggressivo; lei è timida e introversa che invece nasconde un trauma difficile da superare... impossibile non affezionarsi e non rivedersi almeno un pò nei loro pensieri, sentimenti, nel desiderio di essere accettati e amati. Sono due poli opposti che pian piano - in un percorso di morte e rinascita - cambiano, evolvono grazie al sostegno e alla comprensione reciproci.
Tale manga è uno specchio dell'anima: scava dentro la natura umana, facendone emergere i lati più oscuri e mettendo a nudo le emozioni più negative che una persona possa provare: odio, dolore, invidia, rabbia, gelosia, disperazione, rancore. E' sicuramente uno shojo introspettivo che offre spunti di riflessione riguardo la giustizia, il sottile confine tra bene e male, la vera essenza dell'essere umano e insegna dei valori fondamentali, quindi non posso dire che non mi sia piaciuto anzi mi sento anche di consigliarlo a chiunque; semplicemente non è riuscito a entusiasmarmi ai massimi livelli. Inoltre c'è da dire che per quanto sia considerato quasi uno dei capostipiti degli shojo, ha avuto la "sfortuna" di essere letto da me solo ora dopo una serie di altri manga simili che ho apprezzato di più per stile dell'opera, sviluppo e disegni e a cui sono maggiormente affezionata... se fosse stato uno dei primi è probabile mi sarebbe piaciuto di più ma ripeto: merita di essere letto almeno una volta nella vita, non è stato per niente tempo sprecato e questo è l'importante ♥
November 11, 2022
VIDEO REVIEW HERE: https://youtu.be/1L5Z0wV0UwQ
This manga hasn't followed any of the conventional shojo tropes or beats, so I don't know why I sort of expected this to be a fluffy read for the final volume. LOL! Couldn't have been more wrong! LOL!!
Well, sort of. I honestly was unprepared for the parts with Masao and absolutely LOVED seeing how Rei has changed and how he dealt with those moments.
Though I won't lie that as a result, I was really emotional reading this volume. I won't go into details because of spoilers, but I absolutely loved the ending. Those last few pages were my favorite, especially the conversation with Rei and his father (though that special moment Kira has with her friends was beautiful and loved that)! I also was glad that Kira finally shared something with Rei. <3
This was a really moving and powerful series! Both of these characters have grown SO much and so proud of them in how far they've come! I enjoyed so much of their adventure and thankful that we had such a beautiful ending.
I'm not sure if I'll reread Mars anytime soon, but its one I am SO thankful I did come back to read. It was the first manga series I ever read (at least to volume 10) and will always be a memorable series that sticks with me, but even more so then back than after reading the ending. <3
This manga hasn't followed any of the conventional shojo tropes or beats, so I don't know why I sort of expected this to be a fluffy read for the final volume. LOL! Couldn't have been more wrong! LOL!!
Well, sort of. I honestly was unprepared for the parts with Masao and absolutely LOVED seeing how Rei has changed and how he dealt with those moments.
Though I won't lie that as a result, I was really emotional reading this volume. I won't go into details because of spoilers, but I absolutely loved the ending. Those last few pages were my favorite, especially the conversation with Rei and his father (though that special moment Kira has with her friends was beautiful and loved that)! I also was glad that Kira finally shared something with Rei. <3
This was a really moving and powerful series! Both of these characters have grown SO much and so proud of them in how far they've come! I enjoyed so much of their adventure and thankful that we had such a beautiful ending.
I'm not sure if I'll reread Mars anytime soon, but its one I am SO thankful I did come back to read. It was the first manga series I ever read (at least to volume 10) and will always be a memorable series that sticks with me, but even more so then back than after reading the ending. <3
January 17, 2024
The twists and turns reminded me of a daytime soap opera, but I was still invested in where these characters would go. I also still found their emotions and choices relatable enough that the soap opera plot was palatable.
July 11, 2014
To get a good idea of what to expect from MARS you can check out my review of the complete series on my blog Reading Robyn It's spoiler free, has images from the manga for those interested in a preview of the art, and gives a good overview of the roller coaster that is this series.
SERIES OVERALL RATING: 4 STARS
When I first started MARS it was way back in 2010, now that I've finally finished (January 2012) I feel it's only right to write some sort of review.
I'll be honest, there's a really good reason for the huge time period it took for me to complete this series. The reason being that I completely stopped reading and told myself that I would never continue with MARS ever again. You see, my first time around I got to about Volume 8 when I checked out. My initial reasoning was simple, gradually as the story evolved and we got to know the characters better, the story went from a sweet (if not slightly strange) romance to what I can only call a tragedy. The levels of tension were forever rising and like that pressure gauge on the soon to explode pressure cooker I just couldn't stand to continue on the roller-coaster that was Kira and Rei's relationship. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed reading the first 8 Volumes of MARS, they were addicting, but with every twist and turn I just couldn't continue.
But MARS has staying power. With the strength of its plot it's not a manga easily forgotten. So, much to my surprise MARS managed to pull me back in and in a single night I picked up where I left off and finished the series. It brought me back in with its astounding overall story-telling, romance, and characters. I was worried I would regret it, but in the end, I'm glad I finished it. This turned out to be a truly remarkable series, even with my reluctance to go on reading.
To make things clear, Kira and Rei is a recipe for disaster. They are perfect for each other, but it's like the universe has decided to give them the toughest time possible.
Right after finishing Volume 9 I wrote in my Goodreads Review:
"This is the most emotastic manga I have ever read. It's like wow, Rei and Kira are messed up people individually and when you put them together all you want is their relationship to work out for the both of them... And then the next volume happens and things somehow manage to only get worse and more messed up!" ... "Can someone give me a hug?"
I feel like that sums up the series for me on an emotional level. But despite all the negativity, MARS really is a beautiful romance about finding courage and love in the last place you would expect. The story itself is pretty basic at its core. After good, introverted girl meets troubled bad boy, the two manage to find what they were missing in themselves in each other.
My thoughts after Volume 10:
"It's depressing as hell, but the moments that Rei and Kira share make the whole thing worth it in spades. I'm getting pulled along by their romance. It's like gravity."
All the elements that this story has come together perfectly, the characters are well rounded and feel like real living people. They have interests and dreams but are unfortunately always in a battle with themselves to overcome their own history.
The art is a perfect reflection of each character, from the overall design to the details. Something I found particularly impressive with the art was through Rei and his passion of professional motorcycle racing. The way that the scenes of him riding his bike are drawn, as well as the racing the track, are just so amazing that I felt like I got it. I understood what it looked like, the motions, and how he felt while he was riding. I think that takes a lot of skill to create motion and feeling in a vehicle.
What makes it all work is that Fuyumi Soryo's writing is top-notch. Even with all these different things going on, all those heartbreaking moments, her story never jumps the shark.
My thoughts after Volume 11:
"I don't know why I love this story so much. It's a weird roller-coaster of happy relief and crushing sympathy. Waiting for the next heartbreaking moment to happen, then smiling when it all comes to past."
I think the reason her writing is so fantastic is that every event that happens has a lasting effect on the characters. So often, in manga especially, events will come and go without any real consequences or call-backs. In MARS every little moment plays a part in Kira and Rei's fates.
I enjoyed every heart pounding second of my return to MARS. The way that this story takes you on such a personal and unforgettable journey is incredible. From Kira and Rei's first meeting to the very last page, I fell in love with MARS.
Highly recommended for anyone looking for a manga with a love story that takes itself seriously, while still making you smile.
SERIES OVERALL RATING: 4 STARS
When I first started MARS it was way back in 2010, now that I've finally finished (January 2012) I feel it's only right to write some sort of review.
I'll be honest, there's a really good reason for the huge time period it took for me to complete this series. The reason being that I completely stopped reading and told myself that I would never continue with MARS ever again. You see, my first time around I got to about Volume 8 when I checked out. My initial reasoning was simple, gradually as the story evolved and we got to know the characters better, the story went from a sweet (if not slightly strange) romance to what I can only call a tragedy. The levels of tension were forever rising and like that pressure gauge on the soon to explode pressure cooker I just couldn't stand to continue on the roller-coaster that was Kira and Rei's relationship. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed reading the first 8 Volumes of MARS, they were addicting, but with every twist and turn I just couldn't continue.
But MARS has staying power. With the strength of its plot it's not a manga easily forgotten. So, much to my surprise MARS managed to pull me back in and in a single night I picked up where I left off and finished the series. It brought me back in with its astounding overall story-telling, romance, and characters. I was worried I would regret it, but in the end, I'm glad I finished it. This turned out to be a truly remarkable series, even with my reluctance to go on reading.
To make things clear, Kira and Rei is a recipe for disaster. They are perfect for each other, but it's like the universe has decided to give them the toughest time possible.
Right after finishing Volume 9 I wrote in my Goodreads Review:
"This is the most emotastic manga I have ever read. It's like wow, Rei and Kira are messed up people individually and when you put them together all you want is their relationship to work out for the both of them... And then the next volume happens and things somehow manage to only get worse and more messed up!" ... "Can someone give me a hug?"
I feel like that sums up the series for me on an emotional level. But despite all the negativity, MARS really is a beautiful romance about finding courage and love in the last place you would expect. The story itself is pretty basic at its core. After good, introverted girl meets troubled bad boy, the two manage to find what they were missing in themselves in each other.
My thoughts after Volume 10:
"It's depressing as hell, but the moments that Rei and Kira share make the whole thing worth it in spades. I'm getting pulled along by their romance. It's like gravity."
All the elements that this story has come together perfectly, the characters are well rounded and feel like real living people. They have interests and dreams but are unfortunately always in a battle with themselves to overcome their own history.
The art is a perfect reflection of each character, from the overall design to the details. Something I found particularly impressive with the art was through Rei and his passion of professional motorcycle racing. The way that the scenes of him riding his bike are drawn, as well as the racing the track, are just so amazing that I felt like I got it. I understood what it looked like, the motions, and how he felt while he was riding. I think that takes a lot of skill to create motion and feeling in a vehicle.
What makes it all work is that Fuyumi Soryo's writing is top-notch. Even with all these different things going on, all those heartbreaking moments, her story never jumps the shark.
My thoughts after Volume 11:
"I don't know why I love this story so much. It's a weird roller-coaster of happy relief and crushing sympathy. Waiting for the next heartbreaking moment to happen, then smiling when it all comes to past."
I think the reason her writing is so fantastic is that every event that happens has a lasting effect on the characters. So often, in manga especially, events will come and go without any real consequences or call-backs. In MARS every little moment plays a part in Kira and Rei's fates.
I enjoyed every heart pounding second of my return to MARS. The way that this story takes you on such a personal and unforgettable journey is incredible. From Kira and Rei's first meeting to the very last page, I fell in love with MARS.
Highly recommended for anyone looking for a manga with a love story that takes itself seriously, while still making you smile.
August 12, 2020
Sotto lo sguardo di Marte:
Una storia stupenda che mi ha totalmente appassionato a suo tempo e che continuo tutt'ora a rileggere con molto piacere per la dolcezza e tenera intensità che traspare.
E' qualcosa che gli amanti della lettura di manga e dello shojo non possono non leggere perché si priverebbero di una piccola perla di contemporaneità ed attualità...dove ciò che dapprima sembra banale può diventare l'intero centro del proprio universo senza nemmeno rendersene conto.
Marte da spunto e protegge i protagonisti di questa bellissima storia e pur non essendo qualcosa di favolistico e incantato, la magia dei veri sentimenti rimane immutata!
Una storia stupenda che mi ha totalmente appassionato a suo tempo e che continuo tutt'ora a rileggere con molto piacere per la dolcezza e tenera intensità che traspare.
E' qualcosa che gli amanti della lettura di manga e dello shojo non possono non leggere perché si priverebbero di una piccola perla di contemporaneità ed attualità...dove ciò che dapprima sembra banale può diventare l'intero centro del proprio universo senza nemmeno rendersene conto.
Marte da spunto e protegge i protagonisti di questa bellissima storia e pur non essendo qualcosa di favolistico e incantato, la magia dei veri sentimenti rimane immutata!
December 5, 2020
Reread - Yep the ending was rushed...overall I still enjoyed it and it will remain in my top 10 but I didn't quite enjoy it as much as I did as a kid. A lot of illogical things I didn't notice before happened and the characters made such stupid decisions at times. However, I still loved all of them in the same way I did before.
March 28, 2022
Gelungener Abschluss der Reihe! ❤️ Ich lieb sie und werde sie bestimmt noch oft lesen.
October 28, 2024
først var det <åååå kunst og motorsykkel3 weeee!!! også plutselig ble hjertet mitt en trampoline alle barna på lekeland kunne hoppe på gjennom serien? det var voldsomt og intenst uten like?!!!
July 20, 2012
It did take me three days to finish this series... I was pretty confused at the beginning because the narration went slow at times and some things were left unexplained. I was finding some things quite surperficial, but as I read the volumes, I was surprised to see that I was wrong. This work had dept and I love the psychology in it that links the various characters. Overall, I'd give it 3.5 stars. It was what I needed to read right now, yet I feel as if it lacked of what I usually love and find interesting about a manga.
March 13, 2017
Foi bom! Adorei ele conseguir manter uma relação com o Pai.
E o final, eles juntos, valeu todo o sofrimento.
E o final, eles juntos, valeu todo o sofrimento.
January 26, 2024
I've never read smth so suffocating and addicting before. This series has really altered my brain chemistry and I shall now begin to physically encapsulate this into my daily life
August 28, 2023
This series has been a great read! At first I didn't think I'd like it so much because I was put off by the art style and the general vintage feel, but I was caught up in the plot from the first volume, and in the end it was a very satisfying story.
Saying it was unpredictable might be a stretch, but it did have some small plot twists and in general, even though it had its fair share of tropes and clichés, it wasn't so bad, especially for the time in which it was written. I feel like not enough people know about this manga, so I wish to recommend it to as many people as possible. A solid 4 stars read, with some 5 stars along the way!
Saying it was unpredictable might be a stretch, but it did have some small plot twists and in general, even though it had its fair share of tropes and clichés, it wasn't so bad, especially for the time in which it was written. I feel like not enough people know about this manga, so I wish to recommend it to as many people as possible. A solid 4 stars read, with some 5 stars along the way!
October 13, 2021
Mir hat die Reihe sehr gut gefallen! Sie ist spannend und hat mich oft mit unerwarteten Wendungen überrascht. Die Beziehung von Rei und Kira ist toll - beide sind aufeinander eingegangen und reagierten (meistens) verständnisvoll, ihr Umgang miteinander war durchweg liebevoll. 💝 Die übrigen Inhalte sind streckenweise eher als schwierige/potentiell traumabehaftete Themen einzuordnen, was ich für mich aber nicht schlimm/problematisch fand. Mir hat vielmehr gefallen, was für einen Tiefgang die Reihe insgesamt durch die Komplexität der aufgegriffenen Themen und Beziehungen aufweist. Ich würde sie definitiv erneut lesen. 😊👍🏼
September 8, 2022
This series had some heavy moments and beautiful art... Though I must admit, that I expected to love it rather than just like it.
Still, had a great time reading it ✌
Oh and, Rei kissing the Mars statue is going to live inside my head forever rent free 💕
Still, had a great time reading it ✌
Oh and, Rei kissing the Mars statue is going to live inside my head forever rent free 💕
December 24, 2022
Eh this series was a mixed bag of ridiculous overall. I don't think I'd recommend it to anyone. Like it started off easy enough, a high school romantic drama and I have no idea what sort of soap opera mess it descended into. Plots shoe-horned in for a final volume and then convenient "amnesia" to explain it away in the end. I definitely would have ate this up as a teen however.
April 12, 2024
Espectacular final para una serie muy buena ✨
Este tomo lo tiene todo; romance, partes oscuras, emocionantes, adrenalina y un final cerrado con moño.
Kira y Rei hacen una hermosa pareja que se acompaña en todo.
Este tomo lo tiene todo; romance, partes oscuras, emocionantes, adrenalina y un final cerrado con moño.
Kira y Rei hacen una hermosa pareja que se acompaña en todo.
July 30, 2024
I wish there were some more cute couple scenes in this one (I would’ve loved a kiss LOL) but this was a satisfying ending. Rei and Kira transformed over the course of the series and it was fun to watch that happen. I love this manga and it’s definitely one of my tops!
June 23, 2017
Pense que el final iba a ser diferente--!!
November 9, 2017
What a great ending. The characters have grown so much. Masao is an enigma to me, mostly cause I missed volume 6. I love the little monologue at the end.
July 21, 2022
Great series overall. Lots of darkness but happiness too.
February 26, 2024
Overall score 4/5. Sooo much drama but soo good
July 3, 2024
3.5 / 5 • Review for entire series
I normally don't review things I'm revisiting that I first read and loved when I was a lot younger ��� it's just too hard to really evaluate them outside the fondness I feel and the impact they had on me. But I have a lot of feelings about Mars and I need to put them somewhere, so, in no particular order:
Things I like:
1. It's a long series and there are ups and downs, but overall, I like the writing of the main teen characters. They have a lot of internal consistency and you can see that the decisions they make are in line with what we've been shown about their personalities, not just arbitrary to move the plot along. It's refreshing to see a gentler, more reasonable version of teen drama – I mean things like immediately trying to work through a miscommunication, apologizing for a mistake, being able to quickly move on from mildly hurt feelings, etc. There's plenty of drama in this story and I appreciate that the interpersonal relationships are sometimes a break from that, not always the source.
2. Related, I like that you get to see what the characters who like each other, like about each other! We're not just expected to take it for granted when what we see is mostly them making each other miserable. I also really enjoy that space is made for the friendships between both Kira and Harumi and Rei and Tatsuya.
3. This series makes some big swings with escalating drama and some of them are so fun. For an overwhelmingly hetero romance series, it's very queer-coded in the sense of like....camp melodrama vibes that queers love.
4. The art is breathtakingly beautiful. It's hard to feel like I can do an adequate job talking about it with visuals, but it's just so lovely.
5. I can't deny the nostalgia factor. I love the characters, I was rooting for Kira and Rei the entire time, and there are a bunch of side characters I adore too. It meant so much to me when I was a baby that Kira was an artist, and Rei informed so more of my dream boy type than I remembered. This was just, for better AND worse, a very formative manga for me – but my memories were faint so I got to relive the experience in a fun way. I got so invested all over again and had so many delightfully cringe moments of 'oh, THAT'S why I like this/I am like this.'
6. HOT! MOTORCYCLE! BOY!
Things I don't like:
1. Kira starts as the protagonist of the story, and by the end, Rei is firmly the main character. She gets what she wants at the end, but she is steadily relegated to the sidelines of reacting to things that happen to Rei over the course of the series.
2. The story gets so far from where it starts that by the time the ending brings everything full circle, it feels less satisfying than I would have expected. I was desperate for Rei and Kira to catch a break but everything wraps up so neatly...I don't know. I don't know what would have felt better, just that it landed a little weirdly for me.
3. The drama escalates in a way that actually sort of undercuts the potential for exploring themes in an interesting way? I honestly gave up trying to work out what I thought the overarching themes of the story were because where the characters have an impressive amount of internal consistency, the storylines felt like they could be literally anything that could one-up the last thing to make the story more shocking and dramatic.
4. And on that note, it's a series from the '90s and it's hard to read in 2024, in various ways. There are the obvious things like homophobic slurs (the queer villain is......a mess, but I also really enjoy some of that plot for the melodrama, so, idk) but also subtler and pervasive retrograde attitudes that aren't critiqued in the text. Special shout out to the absolutely wild depictions of mental illness and mental health care. Not a series I could recommend to someone now without a lot of up front discussion around triggers and what to expect.
I normally don't review things I'm revisiting that I first read and loved when I was a lot younger ��� it's just too hard to really evaluate them outside the fondness I feel and the impact they had on me. But I have a lot of feelings about Mars and I need to put them somewhere, so, in no particular order:
Things I like:
1. It's a long series and there are ups and downs, but overall, I like the writing of the main teen characters. They have a lot of internal consistency and you can see that the decisions they make are in line with what we've been shown about their personalities, not just arbitrary to move the plot along. It's refreshing to see a gentler, more reasonable version of teen drama – I mean things like immediately trying to work through a miscommunication, apologizing for a mistake, being able to quickly move on from mildly hurt feelings, etc. There's plenty of drama in this story and I appreciate that the interpersonal relationships are sometimes a break from that, not always the source.
2. Related, I like that you get to see what the characters who like each other, like about each other! We're not just expected to take it for granted when what we see is mostly them making each other miserable. I also really enjoy that space is made for the friendships between both Kira and Harumi and Rei and Tatsuya.
3. This series makes some big swings with escalating drama and some of them are so fun. For an overwhelmingly hetero romance series, it's very queer-coded in the sense of like....camp melodrama vibes that queers love.
4. The art is breathtakingly beautiful. It's hard to feel like I can do an adequate job talking about it with visuals, but it's just so lovely.
5. I can't deny the nostalgia factor. I love the characters, I was rooting for Kira and Rei the entire time, and there are a bunch of side characters I adore too. It meant so much to me when I was a baby that Kira was an artist, and Rei informed so more of my dream boy type than I remembered. This was just, for better AND worse, a very formative manga for me – but my memories were faint so I got to relive the experience in a fun way. I got so invested all over again and had so many delightfully cringe moments of 'oh, THAT'S why I like this/I am like this.'
6. HOT! MOTORCYCLE! BOY!
Things I don't like:
1. Kira starts as the protagonist of the story, and by the end, Rei is firmly the main character. She gets what she wants at the end, but she is steadily relegated to the sidelines of reacting to things that happen to Rei over the course of the series.
2. The story gets so far from where it starts that by the time the ending brings everything full circle, it feels less satisfying than I would have expected. I was desperate for Rei and Kira to catch a break but everything wraps up so neatly...I don't know. I don't know what would have felt better, just that it landed a little weirdly for me.
3. The drama escalates in a way that actually sort of undercuts the potential for exploring themes in an interesting way? I honestly gave up trying to work out what I thought the overarching themes of the story were because where the characters have an impressive amount of internal consistency, the storylines felt like they could be literally anything that could one-up the last thing to make the story more shocking and dramatic.
4. And on that note, it's a series from the '90s and it's hard to read in 2024, in various ways. There are the obvious things like homophobic slurs (the queer villain is......a mess, but I also really enjoy some of that plot for the melodrama, so, idk) but also subtler and pervasive retrograde attitudes that aren't critiqued in the text. Special shout out to the absolutely wild depictions of mental illness and mental health care. Not a series I could recommend to someone now without a lot of up front discussion around triggers and what to expect.
August 31, 2014
The Taiwanese drama adaptation was the reason why I fell in love with this story but the manga has just taken that love and made it multiply. Ren and Kira are one of those timeless couples to me and their bond throughout the series just made me truly believe in the power of love. In the manga I also found that I enjoyed the manga version of Masao's story. MARS is highly readable and deals with darker issues and shows how people can overcome anything. The story and the characters felt real to me.
March 30, 2020
Revisiting the series after not touching it since its initial 2003(?) tokyopop run:
The series as a whole held up surprisingly well! Much crying happened when appropriate.
I was pleased with how much I enjoyed it the second time around! The art was even prettier and the story far darker than I remember.
Admittedly there were bits that haven't aged well AT ALL (like there's a trans character that uhhhh isn't handled the best) but I honestly expected it to be worse.
All in all I really enjoyed the re-read!
The series as a whole held up surprisingly well! Much crying happened when appropriate.
I was pleased with how much I enjoyed it the second time around! The art was even prettier and the story far darker than I remember.
Admittedly there were bits that haven't aged well AT ALL (like there's a trans character that uhhhh isn't handled the best) but I honestly expected it to be worse.
All in all I really enjoyed the re-read!
January 23, 2014
I can remember how exciting it was to wait for each volume back in the day, but Rei getting knifed on their wedding day really took the melodrama a step too far. It ends up being more about Rei and Sei and Masao than it is about Rei and Kira.
October 9, 2021
One of the best shojo manga series to ever be written. I just wish it wasn’t out of print, I’d literally sell one of my kidneys just to own the physical copies of this series.
June 23, 2022
This had a strange non-ending to it. It feels like there was still so much more to wrap up. And yet...
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