Wild Things: YA Grown-Up discussion

I think we've pretty much decided that graphic novels are pretty much the same as comics/manga except that they tell one story and stop instead of continuously adding more. (mot even all manga does that WaqWaq & Fruits Basket for example)

So here's a place for us comic/manga people to discuss the series we've enjoyed (and maybe discuss if they're YA or children's as well)

Lately I've been reading a lot of manga. I'm reading some InuYasha manga right now. One of my favorite manga series is CardCaptors. I love Card Captor Sakura, the mangas are so good and the cartoon show was awesome too.

More recently I've discovered Revolutionary Girl Utena and +Anima which I think are both amazing mangas.

Love love love Dragon Ball! I read the whole series (including Dragon Ball Z) in two-three weeks I think, I was absolutely mezmerised. I also love One Piece, but beyond those two series I don't have a lot of experience with manga.

One Piece is my absolute favorite Eirin! and I've never much liked Dragon Ball because I don't like the drawings. It is on my maybe pile though. I've got several other series I want to ginish first (Bleach, Black Cat, WaqWaq, Card Captor Sakura, & Full Metal Alchimist. + there's a list of to-read manga too)

@ Eden: I've read the whole series of Inuyasha. There's another series that Rumiko-san wrote before Inuyasha called Ranma 1/2 it's pretty good too if you want to look it up. Inuyasha is a better romance in the end though.

I'm not so sure that manga and graphic novels are pretty much the same actually. Aside from the basic use of pictures and text/speech to create the story, there are a large amount of differences, from art styles, to recognition and reception by readers.

That said, my favourites are probably the Saiyuki series, and Fruits Basket, though I'm pretty much open to anything, as long as it has an engaging storyline and is well-drawn.

DragonEyes wants everyone to read her blog! wrote: "One Piece is my absolute favorite Eirin! and I've never much liked Dragon Ball because I don't like the drawings. It is on my maybe pile though. I've got several other series I want to ginish first..."

I haven't read all the Inuyasha manga yet and I've been thinking of reading Ranma 1/2. Also Card Captor Sakura is great. One of my favorite mangas.

Right now I only follow certain series - Cross Game, xxxHolic, Alice Academy, Ouran High School Host Club and Kobato.

Series that I have enjoyed a lot are:
ARIA - It soothes me whenever I pick it up to read it over again.
Azumanga Diaoh and Lucky Star - Both series are similar in a way. The school girls day-to-day life are so funny.
Pet Shop of Horrors - I love the elegance of the drawing.
Hoshin Engi - Reading the Chinese version of novel and then read the manga provides different perspectives.
Kare Kano - I think the storyline is well plotted out.
Slam Dunk - This must be the first one of the sport series that I followed and loved it since.
Nodame Cantabile - Someone suggested the series to me as an music related manga, and it is a great recommendation.

@ Caroline: I like the drawings in Vampire Knight, and it's a pretty complicated story once you get past the romanc angle that most people see it as. My problem with that one is that a bunch of the characters look a lot alike and I keep getting them confused. It's been hard for me to follow the politics between the different families and orginazations in the story, because a new chapter only comes out every so often. If you like a good plot, maybe try that one then.

Eden, after you finish reading Inuyasha the Ranma art will not seem as good. It didn't to me anyway. I think Ranma was written before Inuyasha, and although Ranma was good, it was a little more monotonus than Inuyasha. (I know I got tired of the monotony of some of both of those stories in some places.)

The one manga that I really enjoy is Fruits Basket, although I haven't read all of them.

I finished Fruits Basket last summer. I really liked the last few chapters it ended really well!

I have seen a bit of Ranma1/2 on TV, isn't the guy a girl secretly?

Anyway, I don't get the anime channel anymore, life's a bore, I don't get a lot of cable even...:(

I have a manga link (which DE posted on this group we are on ) and have been trying to find something I like onit, I started Cage of Eden, then gave it up for Lost. I really want to try Inuyasha and maybe fruits basket.

*i think i go for bright lurid stuff, page after page of colourful graphics, whisper, whisper *

*Nausheen the StarPr!nce$s* wrote: "I have seen a bit of Ranma1/2 on TV, isn't the guy a girl secretly?

Anyway, I don't get the anime channel anymore, life's a bore, I don't get a lot of cable even...:(

I have a manga link (whi..."

InuYasha is good. I really like it.

HI Nausheen! I didn't realize you were in this group too! Yes Ranma is cursed and turns into a girl whenever he gets splashed with cold water. It's funnier than Inuyasha, which has a more serious story line. I encourage you to read/watch (whichever you prefer) both. It's amazing what you can find when you want to watch something specific online

I just started watching Wolf's Rain, It's REally good! but come to find out... It's not a manga, only anime.

I was into manga for a couple of years. (But don't think I'll be picking them up much anymore). Love Fruits Basket, but it seems hard for most long-running manga to uphold the quality for so many years, you know? There comes to the forefront eventually a incredible status-quo meandering and general lack of planning which can lead to some terrible resolutions.

What do you guys think? (And what'd you think of the end of Fruits Basket?)

My absolute favorite is Ouran High School Host Club. I am completely obsessed!! And I also love Shugo Chara.

:D

I still have yet to finish Fruits Basket. I read like the first 3 books. I learned a new cuss word from that <3

Ha, I made it through the first... 2 volumes of Host Club? It was getting a little repetitive for me and I'm not really into shoujo enough to invest in all the in-jokes.

Oh boy, 3rd volume of FB- then you have not witnessed yet its incredible tone-shift somewhere in between the 6/7th volumes (and I think it shifts again somewhere around 14). From fluffy too downright maudlin sometimes, I must admit. :) (But it works for the most part.)

Hey guys I read manga a lot but my favourites are
1. The blank slate
2. Skip a beat
3. Naruto
4. Bleach
and that's it, the rest are uncompleted or just helpless

I'm currently doing a reread and then catching up on Vampire Knight, Volume 1, which is a fantastic manga - especially for those of us that love our vampires and boarding schools. Has anyone else read this series?

Another one of my favorite mangas is Faeries' Landing, Volume 1, which I've just started to re-read and catch up on. It follows the old fairy tale of stealing a fairies gown ties them to the earth. Only this is little more fun and youthful and less about trying to steal a wife.

I'm reading a new series called After School Nightmare, Volume 1 that is really good so far. It's for Older Teens so it's a little more - graphic than normal. What are you guys reading?

Ha, I finished After School Nightmare last year Kristen. (Started out strong for me, but then the gender stuff started not being well-addressed for me and fell apart around the middle.)

Are there any other good manga books you guys can recommend?

I really also love:

Vampire Game, Vol. 1
Bleach, Vol. 1: Strawberry and the Soul Reapers
Bride of the Water God, Vol.1
Miki Falls: Spring
The Gentlemen's Alliance †, Vol. 1
Train+Train Volume 1
Hana-Kimi, Volume 1
Beauty Pop, Vol. 1
Land of the Blindfolded, Volume 1
The Wallflower 1: Yamatonadeshiko Shichihenge
The Queen's Knight 1

Thank you. I found a couple that sound interesting.

I have one called Aqua that I'm planning on reading. Hopefully I'll like it.

I am new to Manga and I have read a couple and understand the back to front and the right to left style. But was wondering if there are some that are better developed than others and which to start with.

Thanks.

I read the one and I'm not a fan. If there are better ones, I'd totally give them a chance but the one I read just didn't make any sense to me.

I highly suggest The Queen's Knight 1, which is one of my favorites and reads like American graphic novels.. so it may be an easier intro to manga. It's also a great fantasy plot for those of us that love fantasy.

I've also just started Black Bird, Volume 1, which is pretty interesting as well, but has a lot more elements so I wouldn't recommend it for first time manga readers - and it's a bit naughty - rated for Older Teens.

Black Bird, is definitely upper teen.

I can't remmeber the last time I had time to watch a anime. I am kind of "old school" when it comes to magna. Most of the animes I like are no longer around.

Sailor Moon
Variable Geo
High Kick
Gun Smith Cats
Burn Up Excess
Battle Skippers
Slayers
Please Teacher
Please Twins
Socerer Hunters
And Recently....
The Weathering Continent

I love reading Ranma 1/2, Black Cat, Case Closed and Death Note! I love Ranma 1/2 the most and I almost have the whole series! It's such a hilarious series and I also loved it because it was from the creator of Inuyasha.