FLCL, Volume 1

FLCL #1

by Gainax, Hajime Ueda (Illustrator)

Naota is a lonely boy in a lonely town living a quiet life amidst utter chaos. His father's a perv and his grandfather a nut. His brother left to seek riches playing baseball in America, and now the brother's ex-girlfriend won't leave Naota alone. Then, from beyond the stars drops an impish defender sent forth to stop alien robots from destroying the Earth. Where do the alien robots come from? Well, from Naota's forehead for starters. From the twisted mind that brought us End of Evangelion comes this bizarre tale of adolescence in a futuristic, fantastical world.

Genres: Manga, Comics, Graphic Novels, Fiction, Seinen, Science Fiction, Fantasy

172 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

GAINAX Co., Ltd. is a Japanese anime studio famous for productions such as Neon Genesis Evangelion, Royal Space Force, Gunbuster, Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water, Kare Kano, FLCL, Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi, and Gurren Lagann, which have garnered critical acclaim and commercial success.

Reviews

[Taylor · Rating 1 out of 5]

FLCL the manga isn't bad but you should really watch the anime first. The anime is fantastic [but really warrants several viewings in order to really understand what's happening]. The anime is hard to follow but not in a frustrating way. However, the manga is almost impossible to understand. Also the entire story is crammed into two volumes which doesn't help [just so you know the anime came first]. However, Hajime Ueda's artwork is fantastic. So, seriously, the anime is really great so take a look at that first and just enjoy the artwork in the manga.

[Logan Freedom · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is an amazing series not for the easily confused or weak of mind, i think. it is without a doubt strange and fast paced as is the anime series. some people just can not seem to grasp what is going on or what meaning there is behind this. most of these of whom i have met or spoke with seem to be younger viewers so it is understandable. i was at first caught off guard by it all when i first came across this book. but i was also hooked as soon as i started. unique artistic style illustration. it varies slightly throughout the book and just about everything i say about it also carries over to the anime. ive met people who really dislike the style of the illustration but i see that as a bit closed minded. it is clear that the illustrator was very capable and the style accentuates the ridiculousness of the story. he captured the story so well in this and i admire Hajime Ueda's quirky style as one of my favorite manga illustrators. it really brings something extra to a story. all together i have watched the anime somewhere around 8 times and i read the 3 volume novel series and 2 volume manga. i really connected with the characters and this story and i have to say that i am very biased when it comes to coming of age stories about insane girls and strange events turning some innocent seemingly introverted boy's life upside down. this has so far in my life been my favorite anime and manga. as far as the story and meaning being confusing i do agree some parts simply do not make since but it seemed clear to me that was just a tool that made it so out of this world and mind blowing. it was part of the crazy ridiculous exaggeration of things.

[furious · Rating 5 out of 5]

medical mechanica has advised that i not review this material.

[JoAnne · Rating 2 out of 5]

The anime's manic speed, sound directing, soundtrack, and voice acting really is over the top and amazing to watch. So much so that I was hearing their voices (dub, in case anyone wanted to know) while reading the manga. Unfortunately, the manga feels disjointed rather than manic. I sometimes don't know what I'm looking at? And I don't feel the themes shine as well. Still, very weird and very unique. Maybe the second volume will bring everything together.

[Gavin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even harder to follow than the difficult tv show, and lacking its crazed garish starburst tricks and that aching soundtrack. The show is the best depiction of my adolescence, better than Dazed and Confused, deeper than Catcher in the Rye, rawer than Infinite Jest, less Jesuitical and specific than Portrait of the Artist. Teen age is an alien smashing your head with a bass at 40 mph, and weird things climbing out of the crater. A blur, a pastiche of childhood and adulthood, a parody that thinks it’s a tragedy. Naota is exploited repeatedly, and is either indifferent or passionately glad of it. Mamimi is flat here, less pathetic and less perverse. Atomsk, the only adult in the universe, is constantly on the way and never arrives.

All the same I might have understood the show on the first watch if I’d had this. As it is I got the presentiment of awe, the IOU of a justification of an entire dumb medium.

4 stars for me, probably not for you

[Stikarto · Rating 3 out of 5]

okay so I really enjoyed this and its a very high 3 stars but god is the pacing fucked in this. im praying that the second part manages to pull its self together with how fucking fast it is because it gets too a point where each scene is about a page and 5 words long and it just becomes a blur. really cool art and the ideas presented here are sick. im excited for the anime

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fucked up.

[Justin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Generally I prefer manga over anime (just because I can get into the story faster). But this is the exception for me. It was very difficult to follow even though I knew as much of the story that was told via the anime. I really can't believe they made the anime so well out of this. I really wanted to enjoy reading this as much as I enjoy watching the anime, but sadly I did not.

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ugh. What a horrible, no good, confusing, visually appalling, poorly told adaptation of what is considered an anime classic. I could have just rewatched the series! But no! I'm honestly debating if I should put myself through book 2, even though that would finish the series. I wonder if the light novel is better?

[Cat · Rating 1 out of 5]

I... have no idea what I just read.

[Avery Taryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
Definitely glad I watched the anime BEFORE reading the manga

[kuristina- tabreez · Rating 3 out of 5]

"School protects our everyday life from the perverts." That's honestly my favorite quote from this entire volume. But on to the subject at hand,
I have given the original FLCL anime so many chances over the last seven or six-ish years, but never once was I ever able to give it my full attention. So, it never made sense to me, even though I had watched it over and over again so many times, it was never with hardly any attention given at all. It never made sense to me because of this, but considering its large cult following, I knew it deserved a chance, and it's so short, that shouldn't be a problem, right? I thought that maybe if I read the manga adaption, I'd be forced to pay attention. Well, I was right about that, but there's a few things that seem different from the anime. However, I could be mistaken. But, the manga does seem a bit darker... but just as if not more so confusing. I still stand by my opinion that FLCL is nothing spectacular, but I must admit it does have an undeniable charm to it. Perhaps it's the fact that it's actually about as deep as any average anime is except it deals with more realistically common issues for the age group in the story but it's all under a deceptive shroud of "poor/bad quality art work" and utter silliness and over the top jokes mainly based in perversion. Or maybe its charm is found somewhere else, I don't know.
Although, I do feel that everything we see is an element in the story that should be remembered. Unlike most shows which have key factors within them, FLCL is purely key factors with a little honey coating on top made from jokes or good music in the case of the anime. It's so fast paced too but somehow done well while being deceptively bad? It's so strange.
I feel like the Mayor's daughter is a love interest of Naota's (along with Mamimi is who fucking or all but fucking Naota, as well as Vespa Girl who is more than likely fucking Naota's dad). But even if she's not (which I doubt she wouldn't be), there's definitely something up with her and did she just...encourage one of her father's secretaries to have an affair with him? Oh my, this can't be good. Surely there must be repercussions later on. But I guess we'll see when that time comes. Oh, and also, their homeroom teacher? I am pretty certain that she's a lesbian, through and through, looks, fashion, everything she said holy shit. But she sure is a cutie, even though she's a raging lesbian.
I feel for Mamimi. I can relate to her now more than I ever could before. You know, except the being 14 or so years old and fucking a 12 year old who is the brother of my ex who was like 15-17... I don't do that shit, I don't dabble in pedophilia. But I can understand her loneliness caused by the rift Naota's brother left behind. Then again, in HER case (not mine), I don't think it was Naota's brother that left that rift, I think that it was more like he removed himself as a square from a rectangular hole that he never actually filled entirely nor created.
Lastly, I can't make any sense at all of the last ten or so pages... What??? Why's it seem like everything is out of order yet not?? Who are all these people???

P.S. Fucking damn, puberty is ROUGH for boys, huh? Gotta deal with boners both in your pants and in/on your head/forehead. Gotta deal with your head being empty and not knowing where your thoughts are actually coming from. Can't control yourself when an attractive female forcefully throws herself on you. Gotta love them porn mags tho. Oh, and you don't even know where your enjoyment or feeling of fun comes from anymore but you certainly feel it, alas it seems there's always someone who is calling you naughty for it. Boy, oh boy, puberty sure does suck for boys.

[Clayton VanLeeuwen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before reading this manga, I had to know how it fit in with the amazing FLCL anime. I was surprised to find that this manga, along with a series of FLCL novels, was created during the anime’s production. And like the anime, this manga is as fun as it is confusing. The art is scratchy and erratic, creating amazing energy at times and being completely ineligible at others. It has the feel of a first draft, which isn’t entirely a bad thing. As for the story- yeah, it’s confusing. That just comes with the territory but extra confusion is added due to some weird scene changes and indecipherable conversations.

[Eckohns · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've seen the first two episodes of the TV show, and while that show is a strange show, it's still decent and I didn't get completely lost with those episodes. This manga on the other hand is such an all over the place clusterfuck that while reading it I had absolutely no idea of what is happening. The art isn't anything special, I'll give it points for creativity, but it's not really something I'd like to look at.

[Marlon Deason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unlike most Manga this story is adapted from the anime as opposed to the other way around. Even though the plot is abbreviated it really lags compared to the frenetic pace of the anime. The story also isn’t well served by the art although the illustration style is charming and conveys emotion well. Much of the deep pop culture references and visual gags are absent. Despite all of the above it’s an essential for the complete FLCL fan.

[Claire Binkley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I glanced through this, since I honestly wanted to broaden my horizons as an otaku. I liked some of Haruko's outfits, but I am unsure about whether I will pursue this series past the beginning. I know that so many others love it, and I really do like the cosplay, but I don't know whether I'll read the rest; it was just kind of... okay.

[Louie Smit · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the anime so much that I had to get my hands on the manga, and I wasn't disappointed. The fast pace and the existential crisis the characters go through while growing up were as present in the manga, if not more so. I will admit that I am glad I watched the anime, as it was hard to follow the book in some parts.

[Lukas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seemed more like a story board for the anime than a manga. Should watch this one not watch it if you're intrigued it's alot of fun.

[Arielle · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have absolutely no idea what was going on in this.

[Sasifras · Rating 5 out of 5]

Weird, off the wall, and a great ride. If you like stories where you might not understand what is going on the entire time at the same time you realise you don't care, this is for you.

[Kyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read at the recommendation of a friend. Doesn’t seem too special. Story is ok but the art styles shifting between 3 or 4 different styles is not to my liking. Doubt I’ll read more into this series.

[Pascual Gudini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesante pero confuso jaja

[Kurtis Burkhardt · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not that great of a manga, it’s extremely fast paced and didn’t care for the art style 👌😁❤️

[tori · Rating 1 out of 5]

yeah, i had no idea what was happening but i guess the art style won me.

[Shae Weir]

I can't rate this in good conscience yet. I've seen reviews that have said to watch the anime first because it makes more sense and this manga is kinda divergent from the anime story.

[big man awesome i am so awesome guys · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just watch the anime its way better.

[Cae Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of my favorites when I was younger, rereading it now I find it to be less impactful. The art is still interesting. Doesn't make a whole lot of sense but it's a fun ride. Wtf is up with these font choices tho?

Edit: I'm glad I kept going, it gets better in the second part imo

[Femke · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have absolutely no idea what I just read.
Maybe watching the anime would clarify some stuff, but for now it's just pure chaos.

[Levi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Will never compare to the anime, but it's a keeper.

[thyni · Rating 2 out of 5]

keine ahnung was hier abging. story ist schwer zu verfolgen, die art meistens auch..sonst ist character design undso crazy, aber bitte was soll der manga???