Mars, Volume 14

Mars [マース] #14

by Fuyumi Soryo

Rei begins his training to become a professional racer, and Kira must come to grips with how dangerous the sport really is. There are many people who have high expectations of Rei, and he performs wonderfully. Kira is pleased that Rei is finally following his true passion in life, but her happiness turns to anxiety when she discovers that Masao has been released from the psychiatric center.

Genres: Manga, Romance, Graphic Novels, Young Adult, Shojo, Comics, Fiction

176 pages, Paperback

First published October 13, 2000

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

[Keiko, the manga enthusiast ♒︎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh no

Rei's left the business world to pursue his motorcycle dream... just when Masao left the psychiatric ward, and Kira faced the reality of the world of racing that made her worry for her boyfriend . What doom awaits the final volume of this enticing series?

[☾❀Apple✩ Blossom⋆｡˚ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sacrificing your peace of mind to let your parter pursue their dreams is one of the greatest sacrifices you can make for a loved one 💖

[Chelsea · Rating 2 out of 5]

This felt weird for a penultimate book. Like it's not wrapping things up it's adding more layers and plots? For one final volume?
Kira encourages Rei to race again but after an accident doesn't think she can support him in such a dangerous sport. Like everyone's literally been telling her from the beginning? And the main antagonist is coming back. For one more volume.

I don't know. Where I thought this was a fairly cute series in early volumes I'm feeling pretty underwhelmed by it in these later volumes. They're teens and some of the scenarios they're in is a bit far-fetched for their age. Like they're worried about Rei being a parapalegic if he gets in too bad an accident in one frame and then a few later worried if she'll pass her high school exams and get into art school. A bit jarring and unevenly paced. Kira is just so bland, her whole personality is she's nice and loves Rei. Can't wait to be done with this series.

[Pflanzis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hach, ich lieb diese Geschichte. <3 Rei träumt noch immer von einer Racing Karriere. Die Szenen, in denen er fährt, sind mitreißend. Kira hat seit dem ersten Band eine enorme Charakterentwicklung durchgemacht. Sie ist wahnsinnig stark.

[Laura A. Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

VIDEO REVIEW HERE: https://youtu.be/1L5Z0wV0UwQ

With no pun intended, the rubber meets the road in this volume where Kira will realize how much it will personally cost her to see Rei pursue his dreams.

I think this was a really good volume in seeing the "aftermath" of seeing a shojo couple together and that everything isn't necessarily all sparkles and rainbows. That sounds obvious to say since their relationship (Kira and Rei) has been anything but! Ha! But this manga really shows that life is not nearly as simple as some shojo manga make it out to be (even if unintentional since the characters are after all in high school).

While my Dad wasn't a racer in the professional sense, he died in a motorcycle accident from racing and really felt the weight of Rei's father's questions in if Kira really knows the implications of what she is asking to let Rei pursue his dreams. I think when Kira is having a conversation later on with a friend that she (Kira) really DIDN'T fully realize what she was asking. I don't mean that in bad way, but it's interesting to be able to relate to her struggles (and Rei's father) in this regard.

I think Kira's struggle was a very strong highlight of this volume and continue to admire Rei's father in how he handled things with Rei concerning being his successor.

I'm not sure how I'm feeling with the final volume ahead, but onto the final volume I go!

[Shani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reread - coming close to the end...it feels like the ending is going to be rushed since there are more than a couple of plot points that need to be resolved

[Jenny Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love seeing how far Rei is willing to go for Kira. He was also great when he out snarked the other businessman. Kira going to his dad and asking for his dream back... and them him being able to let go... this is a pretty good series.

[elif sinem · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kira hard carried this, plus it felt closer to the early volumes in tone and scope than the middle section. Best part is her wondering if she should break up with him. Even as a joke! That's the spirit my girl

[Starbubbles · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to say, motorcycles hold a special place in my heart. That being said, I believe there are smart drivers and reckless ones. I think that Kira agreed to fight for Rei's dream because she stupidly thought he gained some sense, grew up a little, and became a smarter driver. Clearly, she was wrong. To be a great racer, the driver has to be smart with a hint of reckless, not the other way around. Yeah, yeah I know. It's fiction. But I was right there with Kira in my disappointment that he was still so immature.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can't we just please kill off Masao already

Also Rei's dad is adorable

This last one better be good :/

[Sassy Sarah Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars. This was a volume all about Rei's racing and it was more of allowing these characters to have a breather and become who they truly are before the series wraps up.

[Penélope Albornoz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kira intercede por Rei para que pueda cumplir su sueño y volver a correr carreras. Ahora tiene que enfrentar el miedo de perderlo en un accidente como le sucedió a su verdadero padre.

[Brianna Jo♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rei is racing again (on account of Kira's asking his father's permission) and Kira is nervous about it. Rightfully so, I think, especially after he falls off the bike, his first time back on in months. Also, Masao gets released. Cool cool cool.

I wasn't too big on the racing stuff but it's part of the story so, it can't be avoided. I also really hated that Harumi tried to push the idea of marriage so quickly on Kira like it will solve her anxiety over Rei's racing. So stupid. Otherwise, nothing else really happened.

The next volume is the last one ! Can't wait to close up the series.

[Cassandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one is okay Kira supports Rei but also freaks out a little to easily about his racing. If you are gonna do it you gotta commit to supporting him. But the worst thing was the ending with that dude who got committed. why are we even still talking about him... its annoying still cause it reminds me that he isn't even really gay in the story, it really just feels like homophobia.

Oh I love Tatsuya and his father is seriously the best adult in this story. The only one who acts like an adult to these kids.

[Harumichi Mizuki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kira memohon pada ayah Rei agar mengizinkan pemuda itu kembali ke dunia balap motor. Sang ayah pun mengabulkannya. Rei pun menjalani tes balap motor di sirkuit. Namun, meski nyaris memecahkan rekor, Rei jatuh dari motor dan kena gegar otak. Kira pun jadi sadar bahwa dunia balap motor Rei ternyata jauh lebih berbahaya daripada yang dia kira.

Sementara itu, Masao, si cowok psycho, meninggalkan RSJ. Waduh! Dia bakal bikin masalah apa lagi di volume terakhir? Gawat.

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Tokyopop paperbacks are slightly falling apart these days, so I was delighted to see new English translations of these available again. An excellent penultimate volume, it is a little bizarre Masao is suddenly being called ‘Makio’ instead as that’s definitely not his name, it is that character and it isn’t a one off typo as it’s done repeatedly.

[Vera Neves (Sinfonia dos Livros) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh.... achei esse volume mais fraquito que os anteriores... Não achei bem que o pai do Rei tivesse desistido dele assim tão depressa e também não concordo que seja sempre os outros a fazerem as vontades dele para que seja só ele a ser feliz...

[Hana Arika (tiq4far TikTok ft gram) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gosh. If I was Kira, I would have plenty of panic attacks right now because I'm seeing my love one doing his dreams but a dangerous type of dreams 😕

And also, urghhhh Masao that psycho just get out from hospital??? What??? I hope everything will be okay and fine for them 😭 hmmm

[d★ · Rating 3 out of 5]

[3.5] en este volumen kira le pide al padre de rei que lo deje volver a las carreras, y él acepta. pero igual siento que kira no está muy segura con esa decisión, sobretodo porque algo le puede pasar a rei…

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aw yay Rei is back to doing what he loves - racing. He looked good in a suit but he wasn't suited to being in the corporate world at all. And I thought we weren't going to see Masao anymore so why is he coming back to the story?

[Adrya Ribeiro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mesmo com todos os perigos, a corrida é o coração dele.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like Rei's dad. He's just a good guy.

[IneloquentAF · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[greee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok rei ya maduró un poco

[gianna z. · Rating 2 out of 5]

i'm a little bored and the kindle version had many pitch black pages, i don't why. also masao coming back feels like reusing old plots.

[Morgan Wiebelhaus · Rating 4 out of 5]

just one more…

[Leia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not sure why Masao is suddenly being called Makio but…..okay I guess.

[Erika Schoeps · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[cc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why do they keep letting this dude out of jail?

[damla · Rating 5 out of 5]

it's love, love