Manga Fans: What You Reading?

[greedostick]

Has anyone published Ushijima-kun in English yet? That's a very good comic. It's the story of a loan shark that's filled with truly awful people, and you get to watch as assorted idiots self destruct through debt.

Just a heads-up, but the comic was adapted into a couple live-action tv series and a couple live-action movies that tie into the tv series. Do NOT watch those; they're fucking terrible, although the lead actor is not bad. But they lighten the tone of the story considerably, turning it into a semi-comedy, which is not what Ushijima-kun is. The comic is often fucking bleak. But interesting.

Sounds cool. I looked and dont see an english release.

Anyone read Ubel Blatt? Saw this at Barnes but it's shrinkwrapped. Amazon reviews are saying berserk meets zelda, but also say unnecessary nudity. I don't care if a manga has some nudity, but it's not a selling point at all. Looking more for a deep story and good art. Some reviewers compared it to Game of Thrones. I'm curious about it.

 

[BlackaneseNiNjA]

I still keep up with Black Lagoon and it’s always been an awesome read imho. The manga just resumed and the collected volume 11 just came out about a month or so ago in japan. The action is non-stop and Revy and the gang are one of the few ongoing modern mangas that I still read.

 

[Arcademan]

Picked up the first five volumes of Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card Arc. Naturally in both English and Japanese

 

[evil wasabi]

Against the Gods by Peter Bernstein

 

[-SD-]

Not a manga as such, but I finally got hold of a copy of Shirow’s Intron Depot 1 after all these years... absolutely fantastic art book. Dual English/Japanese language too, which is great as it’s full of interesting information.

 

[greedostick]

Thought I would give this guy a bump, as I have kind of been on a manga obsession since my initial post. Been reading at least a few chapters a night before bed. Sometimes several hours. Currently reading like 4 different series.

Would like to hear what everyone has been reading, and turn this into a manga thread, where everyone posts anything manga related. Especially cool stuff coming out.


So.,

Taking Berserk super slow on purpose, since I'm getting up there. Nothing really compares to Berserk so far. It's just about perfect in every way.

Speaking of Berserk, these coming out soon.

https://www.rightstufanime.com/Berserk-The-Flame-Dragon-Knight-Novel
Not sure if this is actually a novel, like a traditional book, or a manga side story. Either way, I will be snagging this.


https://www.rightstufanime.com/Berserk-Deluxe-Edition-Manga-Volume-1-Hardcover
The really cool thing about this hardcover edition, is that it has all the covers for the included volumes. Which is my main gripe with Omnibus format stuff. Pretty much makes this a mandatory upgrade. Just has me wondering if Dark Horse will continue to release the paperbacks. I hope so.


Now, onto what I have been reading.

1. Read the first 3 volumes of Vagabond Vizbig. It's pretty fucking epic. Another one I am taking slow.
https://www.rightstufanime.com/Vagabond-BIG-Edition-Manga-Volume-2

2. Read the entire 1st series of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood. Never knew JoJo was so cool. Now I know who the characters were in the Dreamcast game I played back in the day. Will definitely be finishing this series. The production quality of this manga is outstanding. Very Similar to Gundam Origin.
https://www.rightstufanime.com/JoJos-Bizarre-Adventure-Part-1-Phantom-Blood-Manga-Volume-1

3. On volume 3 of Banana Fish. This one is seriously good. Takes place in Vice City, about gangs and drugs. Not your typical anime art style. A must read.
https://www.rightstufanime.com/Banana-Fish-Manga-Volume-1

4. Read the first 2 Gundam Origin Collections. Also picked up Thunderbolt one, and have been resisting not to read until I finish origin. Man... I'm really blown away by the origin collection. Not only is the story great, the quality of the book is the best I have seen ever. Not just manga, like any book ever.
https://www.rightstufanime.com/Gundam-Mobile-Suit-The-Origin-Manga-Volume-3-Hardcover

5. Delicious in Dungeon - Read the first 2, and was pleasantly surprised. I will be continuing this series for sure. Think a manga about a dungeon crawler video game, like Shining in the Darkness, but hilarious, and about cooking monsters to eat them.
https://www.rightstufanime.com/Delicious-in-Dungeon-Manga-Volume-1

6. Wolfsmund - Read the first one and liked it, but not sure if I want to continue the series anytime soon. It does seem solid though for sure. First edition is out of print, and $60.00 on eBay. Thanks to the guy that recommended it last year.
https://www.rightstufanime.com/Wolfsmund-Manga-Volume-2


7. Eden: It's an Endless World by Hiroki Endo... this has got to be one of the greatest Manga ever. Unfortunately I am stuck trying to locate volume 6, 7, 8, and 9.
https://www.rightstufanime.com/Eden-Its-an-Endless-World-Manga-Volume-1


Stuff I picked up that I will be working on soon:

1. Nausicaa: Of the Valley of the Wind. - Beautiful hardcover edition, and super cheap on Rightstuf, especially if you are a member.
https://www.rightstufanime.com/Nausicaa-of-the-Valley-of-the-Wind-Manga-Box-Set-Hardcover

2. Tekkon Kinkreet
https://www.rightstufanime.com/Tekkon-Kinkreet-Manga-Black-White

3. 20th Century Boys
https://www.rightstufanime.com/20th-Century-Boys-The-Perfect-Edition-Manga-Volume-1

4. Golden Kamuy
https://www.rightstufanime.com/Golden-Kamuy-Manga-Volume-1

5. Planetes Omnibus 1 & 2 - I recommend picking up vol 2 now. It's out of print. I had to get it on Barnes & Noble website, becasue it's being peddled on eBay for $60.00-$100.00. Better try and get it ASAP if it looks interesting!
https://www.rightstufanime.com/Planetes-Manga-Volume-2


On my radar: (if you all read it, LMK what you think)

1. Akira box set... (I know this is a must own)
2. A Drifting Classroom
3. Dorohedoro
4. Gyo
5. Uzumaki
6. Monster
7. Lone Wolf & Cub
8. Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service
9. Blame!
10. All you need is kill
11. Vinland Saga ( I know it's good, just haven't got there)

 

[greedostick]

Gonna necro bump this thread instead of creating a new one. Much has changed since the last post.

1. Vagabond is still in hiatus.

2. Kentaru Miura passed from an aortic dissection. Supposedly his best friend knows how the story will end, and will be finishing it.

3. RightStuf is dead. Crunchyroll owns it now, and their shipping times are horrid.

I started reading Wolfsmund again. This time I am going to finish it. I'm really just surprised how good this manga is. On volume 3 now.

Read Goodnight Punpun in it's entirely. Has turned into one of my top 10 manga I think.

Read Summit of the Gods. It's a really good manga, and only a few volumes.

I finally pieced together a full set of Eden: It's an Endless World. Which I will be reading after Wolfsmund. Just in time too. The set has reached an astronomical value.

Slowly piecing together JoJos and Fist of the North Star when they go on sale. Have read the first few volumes of both, and they seem great.

Almost pieced together a complete set of single volume Monster's by Naoki Urasawa. Need the last 4 volumes before I can read it.

Dorohedoro seems cool. I picked up the first volume to try it out. Demon Slayer Kimetsu is actually decent, as is Chainsaw Man. Have yet to finish either though.

Picked up the TekkonKinkreet Black and White reprint. It's the definitive version of the manga now. Everyone should pick it up before it goes out of print. It easily in my top 3 manga. Taiyo Matsumoto has another series out now called No. 5, that is still in print.

Always interested in what you all are reading so I can pick it up if it sounds good. I've picked up a ton of stuff recommended here, and it's all been solid.

 

[Average Joe]

Been re-reading Bleach again, which I was initially kind of tepid on, but find it mindlessly enjoyable this time around. This Fullbringer Arc is kind of meh though, even if the psychlogical mind-fuckery is kind of interesting after the non-stop fight fest of the Arrancar Arc.

I tried doing One Piece again to try to get what the fuss is all about it, but right around the Water 7 Arc I lost all steam and just can't keep going. I skim through the newest chapters weekly on SJ, but I'm just not into it. Not crazy about the art style and the paneling always seems too annoyingly busy and too wordy for what it is.

Also just started The Summer Hikaru Died after seeing it was getting animated, but I'm only a couple chapters in.

 

[yagamikun]

I've been enjoying the new Dark Horse Trigun oversized hardback editions that just came out. I never did finish Trigun Maximum, so those stories are blowing me away right now!

The Trigun anime is good (my all time favorite next to Macross Plus), and even the modern Stampede is quite enjoyable (especially that banger of an OP), but Maximum is on another level. Nightow's art is incredible and you learn so much more about what "plants" are.

 

[Taiso]

Gonna necro bump this thread instead of creating a new one. Much has changed since the last post.

1. Vagabond is still in hiatus.

Who knows if it's ever coming back. I hope so.

2. Kentaru Miura passed from an aortic dissection. Supposedly his best friend knows how the story will end, and will be finishing it.

There have been post Miura chapters. They aren't up to his standard (understandably) but I wouldn't call them 'bad' the same way that the idjits over at Skullcuck keep going on about.

3. RightStuf is dead. Crunchyroll owns it now, and their shipping times are horrid.

Probably because some aspects of their company weren't prepared for the extra volume.

I started reading Wolfsmund again. This time I am going to finish it. I'm really just surprised how good this manga is. On volume 3 now.

Probably start to finish, the best manga I've ever read. It's thoroughly gripping. I've been singing its praises for years. Motherfuckers must read it.

Read Goodnight Punpun in it's entirely. Has turned into one of my top 10 manga I think.

Read Summit of the Gods. It's a really good manga, and only a few volumes.

I finally pieced together a full set of Eden: It's an Endless World. Which I will be reading after Wolfsmund. Just in time too. The set has reached an astronomical value.

Slowly piecing together JoJos and Fist of the North Star when they go on sale. Have read the first few volumes of both, and they seem great.

Almost pieced together a complete set of single volume Monster's by Naoki Urasawa. Need the last 4 volumes before I can read it.

Dorohedoro seems cool. I picked up the first volume to try it out. Demon Slayer Kimetsu is actually decent, as is Chainsaw Man. Have yet to finish either though.

Picked up the TekkonKinkreet Black and White reprint. It's the definitive version of the manga now. Everyone should pick it up before it goes out of print. It easily in my top 3 manga. Taiyo Matsumoto has another series out now called No. 5, that is still in print.

Always interested in what you all are reading so I can pick it up if it sounds good. I've picked up a ton of stuff recommended here, and it's all been solid.

Currently I'm reading:

Goblin Slayer: Year One (solid prequel that asks questions about how survivors adapt to the world after their harrowing experiences)
Peter Grill and the Philosopher's Time (sheer degeneracy and not very good, I'll probalby drop it)
Mobile Suit Gundam: Thunderbolt (masterpiece)
Frieren: Beyond Journey's End (masterpiece)
Orb: On the Movement of Planets (masterpiece)
Delicious in Dungeon (near masterpiece, but it only really evolves beyond the gonzo fantasy cooking premise once the elves show up to regulate)
Witch Hat Atelier (masterpiece...think if Harry Potter were done by Ghibli)
Heroic Legend of Arislan (the Hiromu Arakawa adaptation...slow burn but extremely rewarding)

And obviously Berserk when scans of the new chapters become available.

 

[Dr Shroom]

After 25 years I am re-reading the original Dragonball. Right now Goku is about to manhandle King Piccolo's wrinkly ass.

 

[herb]

Been grabbing the Initial D 2 in 1 books as they release. Also reading dandadan, spy x family, and chainsaw man as they release.

Read through all of db and dbz a few months ago and it still holds up extremely well.

 

[greedostick]

Been grabbing the Initial D 2 in 1 books as they release. Also reading dandadan, spy x family, and chainsaw man as they release.

Read through all of db and dbz a few months ago and it still holds up extremely well.

My brother tried to get me to pick up Dandadan a few weeks ago but I wasn't sure. I don't think he explained it very well. Something about a girl on some guys nuts. I wasn't sure what he was talking about about. What do you think of it?

I ended picking up the Dark Souls manga instead. Loosely related to Dark Souls, and actually decent.

 

[LoneSage]

How about that muscley cockroaches on Mars manga. Terra Formars. Apparently on hiatus a few years but the guy is back? Takashi Miike did a movie some years ago.

 

[greedostick]

Currently I'm reading:

Goblin Slayer: Year One (solid prequel that asks questions about how survivors adapt to the world after their harrowing experiences)
Peter Grill and the Philosopher's Time (sheer degeneracy and not very good, I'll probalby drop it)
Mobile Suit Gundam: Thunderbolt (masterpiece)
Frieren: Beyond Journey's End (masterpiece)
Orb: On the Movement of Planets (masterpiece)
Delicious in Dungeon (near masterpiece, but it only really evolves beyond the gonzo fantasy cooking premise once the elves show up to regulate)
Witch Hat Atelier (masterpiece...think if Harry Potter were done by Ghibli)
Heroic Legend of Arislan (the Hiromu Arakawa adaptation...slow burn but extremely rewarding)

I will have to check some of these out. Especially Orb. Never heard of that one. Read the description on the Crunchy website. Is it about Galileo?

I still have MSG Thunderbolt Vol. 1 from when you mentioned it a few years back. I decided not to read it cause I wanted to read MSG Origin Collection first. Which I finally did recently.

I have almost picked up Arslan many times, but opted to get caught up on my Berserk volumes and picked up Frieren 1+2 on Black Friday. Gives me a little more confidence that I made a good choice cause I picked them up on instinct. Did not look like what I normally like, but I researched and the story sounded unique.

Have you read Asadora! by Naoki Urasawa? I've read through Vol. 6 and I think it's pretty good. Follows a girl from an early age who has natural piloting skills, and there's some Godzilla type creature in the ocean she has to deal with. I'm curious where its going. She ages just about every volume. My hunch is that the manga will continue until she's elderly and dies. I just pick up anything Urasawa I can find.

 

[greedostick]

How about that muscley cockroaches on Mars manga. Terra Formars. Apparently on hiatus a few years but the guy is back? Takashi Miike did a movie some years ago.

Looked over the wiki page. Sounds like something I would like. Looks like it may be OOP though. I'm going to add it to my list of manga to check out.

 

[Taiso]

I will have to check some of these out. Especially Orb. Never heard of that one. Read the description on the Crunchy website. Is it about Galileo?

It's about the study of heliocentrism itself. The research is the main character in a sense. Essentially, the story follows casts generationally as they struggle to understand the movement of celestial bodies against the backdrop of the inquisition, which considers it heresy and punishable by torture (first offense) and then death (second offense). So basically some characters will study it and then have to hide their conclusions, only to be discovered a decade or so later and then picked up by new people. It's a manga more about the 'idea' of studying heliocentrism so I'd put it in the realm of historical fiction than a dramatized account of actual events. But it is grounded in our world, Poland I believe, around the 15th century.

I still have MSG Thunderbolt Vol. 1 from when you mentioned it a few years back. I decided not to read it cause I wanted to read MSG Origin Collection first. Which I finally did recently.

They're both equally great but if you were to ask me to pick one of these manga over the other, I'd choose Thunderbolt because as much as I love the original story, I know it very well. Thunderbolt takes the basic premise of Gundam and goes in places that wouldn't have been possible 50 years ago. But if I were asked to pick one version of Gundam to take over the other, as an existing IP, I'd opt for the original. If that makes any sense.

I have almost picked up Arslan many times, but opted to get caught up on my Berserk volumes and picked up Frieren 1+2 on Black Friday. Gives me a little more confidence that I made a good choice cause I picked them up on instinct. Did not look like what I normally like, but I researched and the story sounded unique.

Frieren is magnificent. It will feel like a 'slice of life fantasy manga' but there are strong themes of mortality and remembrance all throughout. It is putting a very intricate puzzle together about what it means to 'exist', in a sense. Does anything we do matter if we or our actions are forgotten? Is our existence an inherently intrinsic experienced or extrinsic?

The most amazing thing the story does is, somehow, make characters from Frieren's past and make them feel like they are still in the present, affecting the people and the world even though they're long gone. It isn't always broad, sweeping heroic deeds that have become legend. Many times, their influence is more subtle. This is a remarkable, once in a lifetime manga.

Oh and read Arislan when you can. It's not 'the greatest thing ever' but it is really good if you read it in bulk. Like many manga, it's a slow starter but once you get familiar with the characters, politics and history of the world, it becomes very engrossing.

Both Arislan and Frieren are great at the lighter moments as well. They're not comedies but they understand their characters and when it's time to be a little frivolous without breaking immersion.

Have you read Asadora! by Naoki Urasawa? I've read through Vol. 6 and I think it's pretty good. Follows a girl from an early age who has natural piloting skills, and there's some Godzilla type creature in the ocean she has to deal with. I'm curious where its going. She ages just about every volume. My hunch is that the manga will continue until she's elderly and dies. I just pick up anything Urasawa I can find.

I haven't ever heard of it. I'll check it out some time.

 

[greedostick]

It's about the study of heliocentrism itself. The research is the main character in a sense. Essentially, the story follows casts generationally as they struggle to understand the movement of celestial bodies against the backdrop of the inquisition, which considers it heresy and punishable by torture (first offense) and then death (second offense). So basically some characters will study it and then have to hide their conclusions, only to be discovered a decade or so later and then picked up by new people. It's a manga more about the 'idea' of studying heliocentrism so I'd put it in the realm of historical fiction than a dramatized account of actual events. But it is grounded in our world, Poland I believe, around the 15th century.

They're both equally great but if you were to ask me to pick one of these manga over the other, I'd choose Thunderbolt because as much as I love the original story, I know it very well. Thunderbolt takes the basic premise of Gundam and goes in places that wouldn't have been possible 50 years ago. But if I were asked to pick one version of Gundam to take over the other, as an existing IP, I'd opt for the original. If that makes any sense.

Frieren is magnificent. It will feel like a 'slice of life fantasy manga' but there are strong themes of mortality and remembrance all throughout. It is putting a very intricate puzzle together about what it means to 'exist', in a sense. Does anything we do matter if we or our actions are forgotten? Is our existence an inherently intrinsic experienced or extrinsic?

The most amazing thing the story does is, somehow, make characters from Frieren's past and make them feel like they are still in the present, affecting the people and the world even though they're long gone. It isn't always broad, sweeping heroic deeds that have become legend. Many times, their influence is more subtle. This is a remarkable, once in a lifetime manga.

Oh and read Arislan when you can. It's not 'the greatest thing ever' but it is really good if you read it in bulk. Like many manga, it's a slow starter but once you get familiar with the characters, politics and history of the world, it becomes very engrossing.

Both Arislan and Frieren are great at the lighter moments as well. They're not comedies but they understand their characters and when it's time to be a little frivolous without breaking immersion.

I'm going to have to pick up Orb for sure. It sounds exactly like something I would like. Thanks for the recommendation.

I'll probably read Frieren as soon as I get it, if it ever ships. My order has been processing about 2 weeks now.

 

[greedostick]

Going to give this a bump again. I took a manga break for awhile to try to complete out some sets. Things were getting a bit out of hand as far as incomplete sets go. Had to finish obtaining the remaining volumes for a few series before looking into new stuff.

I've been out of the loop for about 2 years now.

What have you all been reading, and what are the must have pickups?

After finishing up reading 20th Century Boys, I finally pieced together the last few remaining volumes I needed for Monster a few months back. Which I plan on reading soon.
The only new series I have been picking up is Asadora. Not something that would generally catch my eye, but I like Naoki Urasawa, so I thought I would give it a shot. I have been really enjoying it, but I'm all caught up and looking for something a little more serious.

I read Dark Souls Redemption Vol. 1. It seems OK. I've been eyeing Elden Ring, but I'm not sure. I hear it's more of a comedy.

I just read Gamma Draconis and I thought it was really good. It's sort of a detective story involving the occult and black magic.

That's here: https://www.amazon.com/Gamma-Draconis-Benoist-Simmat/dp/1787736067#averageCustomerReviewsAnchor

 

[joe8]

Thought I would give this guy a bump, as I have kind of been on a manga obsession since my initial post. Been reading at least a few chapters a night before bed. Sometimes several hours. Currently reading like 4 different series.

Would like to hear what everyone has been reading, and turn this into a manga thread, where everyone posts anything manga related. Especially cool stuff coming out.


So.,

Taking Berserk super slow on purpose, since I'm getting up there. Nothing really compares to Berserk so far. It's just about perfect in every way.

Speaking of Berserk, these coming out soon.

https://www.rightstufanime.com/Berserk-The-Flame-Dragon-Knight-Novel
Not sure if this is actually a novel, like a traditional book, or a manga side story. Either way, I will be snagging this.


https://www.rightstufanime.com/Berserk-Deluxe-Edition-Manga-Volume-1-Hardcover
The really cool thing about this hardcover edition, is that it has all the covers for the included volumes. Which is my main gripe with Omnibus format stuff. Pretty much makes this a mandatory upgrade. Just has me wondering if Dark Horse will continue to release the paperbacks. I hope so.


Now, onto what I have been reading.

1. Read the first 3 volumes of Vagabond Vizbig. It's pretty fucking epic. Another one I am taking slow.
https://www.rightstufanime.com/Vagabond-BIG-Edition-Manga-Volume-2

2. Read the entire 1st series of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood. Never knew JoJo was so cool. Now I know who the characters were in the Dreamcast game I played back in the day. Will definitely be finishing this series. The production quality of this manga is outstanding. Very Similar to Gundam Origin.
https://www.rightstufanime.com/JoJos-Bizarre-Adventure-Part-1-Phantom-Blood-Manga-Volume-1

3. On volume 3 of Banana Fish. This one is seriously good. Takes place in Vice City, about gangs and drugs. Not your typical anime art style. A must read.
https://www.rightstufanime.com/Banana-Fish-Manga-Volume-1

4. Read the first 2 Gundam Origin Collections. Also picked up Thunderbolt one, and have been resisting not to read until I finish origin. Man... I'm really blown away by the origin collection. Not only is the story great, the quality of the book is the best I have seen ever. Not just manga, like any book ever.
https://www.rightstufanime.com/Gundam-Mobile-Suit-The-Origin-Manga-Volume-3-Hardcover

5. Delicious in Dungeon - Read the first 2, and was pleasantly surprised. I will be continuing this series for sure. Think a manga about a dungeon crawler video game, like Shining in the Darkness, but hilarious, and about cooking monsters to eat them.
https://www.rightstufanime.com/Delicious-in-Dungeon-Manga-Volume-1

6. Wolfsmund - Read the first one and liked it, but not sure if I want to continue the series anytime soon. It does seem solid though for sure. First edition is out of print, and $60.00 on eBay. Thanks to the guy that recommended it last year.
https://www.rightstufanime.com/Wolfsmund-Manga-Volume-2


7. Eden: It's an Endless World by Hiroki Endo... this has got to be one of the greatest Manga ever. Unfortunately I am stuck trying to locate volume 6, 7, 8, and 9.
https://www.rightstufanime.com/Eden-Its-an-Endless-World-Manga-Volume-1


Stuff I picked up that I will be working on soon:

1. Nausicaa: Of the Valley of the Wind. - Beautiful hardcover edition, and super cheap on Rightstuf, especially if you are a member.
https://www.rightstufanime.com/Nausicaa-of-the-Valley-of-the-Wind-Manga-Box-Set-Hardcover

2. Tekkon Kinkreet
https://www.rightstufanime.com/Tekkon-Kinkreet-Manga-Black-White

3. 20th Century Boys
https://www.rightstufanime.com/20th-Century-Boys-The-Perfect-Edition-Manga-Volume-1

4. Golden Kamuy
https://www.rightstufanime.com/Golden-Kamuy-Manga-Volume-1

5. Planetes Omnibus 1 & 2 - I recommend picking up vol 2 now. It's out of print. I had to get it on Barnes & Noble website, becasue it's being peddled on eBay for $60.00-$100.00. Better try and get it ASAP if it looks interesting!
https://www.rightstufanime.com/Planetes-Manga-Volume-2


On my radar: (if you all read it, LMK what you think)

1. Akira box set... (I know this is a must own)
2. A Drifting Classroom
3. Dorohedoro
4. Gyo
5. Uzumaki
6. Monster
7. Lone Wolf & Cub
8. Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service
9. Blame!
10. All you need is kill
11. Vinland Saga ( I know it's good, just haven't got there)

Which would you say is the better version of Akira.. the 35th anniversary box set, or the Kodansha paperbacks?

 

[Taiso]

I read Dark Souls Redemption Vol. 1. It seems OK. I've been eyeing Elden Ring, but I'm not sure. I hear it's more of a comedy.

Julian Blondell has a pretty decent handle on the dark fantasy genre and is a rare foreigner writing manga (although From Software media are no stranger to westerners working on their IP in a substantive way). His bande desinee adaptations of the various Elric short stories are really great, but the art has a lot to do with that as well. I've read the first two volumes of Redemption (a rather bland subtitle but whatevs). I had to read it twice (goes pretty fast) to determine whether or not I was enjoying it. Turns out I liked it a lot more the second time around but it's never going to be a 'top of the pile' read for me.

As for the Elden Ring manga, I find it pretty hilarious but in that 'Japanese manga one note gag' kind of way. It's probably the only way I can enjoy the 'litrpg' genre: when the story makes fun of the idea of stats, equipment, items, etc. I always hate when a story unironically uses elements like a character checking a monster for its elemental weaknesses and other gay shit. You've seen this sort of thing in Sword Art Online and Rising of the Shield Hero, for example. Low effort slop. Just read Goblin Slayer, Frieren: Beyond Journey's End or Delicious in Dungeon. They all knowingly wink at the material that inspired them (Wizardry, Dragon Quest, etc.) without resorting to faggy light novel lazy narrative shortcuts.

And speaking of fantasy that has strong roots in video game RPGs, this is the best new thing I'm currently reading. It's a brisk read, effortlessly world building with baseline characters that are allowed to grow into compelling drivers of the plot and a hell of a lot of fun to read despite the dark fantasy and horror themes. It's not a comedy but for all its sturm und drang, it's surprisingly whimsical. The art is a bit on the 'grotesque' side but I think that the visual horror really helps establish the unique tone and feel of the setting in a way that something more polished, perhaps, wouldn't be able to.

 

[greedostick]

Which would you say is the better version of Akira.. the 35th anniversary box set, or the Kodansha paperbacks?

I owned a few Kodansha paperbacks a few years ago, but I never read them. For that reason I can't really compare them. I did read the box set, and I can tell you that it's well worth it if you can appreciate a well put together set. Especially if you pick up a nice used one on eBay. From my understanding they cleaned up the translation, and put the original sound effects back in (glossary in back). The books themselves are not the nicest I have ever seen. That would go to the Mobile Suit Gundam Origin Collection. They are really nice though.

Was the original Kodansha PB's in English left to right format? I think they were. The new box set is in traditional Japanese format.

Just read Goblin Slayer, Frieren: Beyond Journey's End or Delicious in Dungeon. They all knowingly wink at the material that inspired them (Wizardry, Dragon Quest, etc.) without resorting to faggy light novel lazy narrative shortcuts.

And speaking of fantasy that has strong roots in video game RPGs, this is the best new thing I'm currently reading. It's a brisk read, effortlessly world building with baseline characters that are allowed to grow into compelling drivers of the plot and a hell of a lot of fun to read despite the dark fantasy and horror themes. It's not a comedy but for all its sturm und drang, it's surprisingly whimsical. The art is a bit on the 'grotesque' side but I think that the visual horror really helps establish the unique tone and feel of the setting in a way that something more polished, perhaps, wouldn't be able to.

I'm going to pick up a few issues of Goblin Slayer and Tower Dungeon tonight. Tower dungeon looks like something I would like. Goblin Slayer not so much, but you recommended me Wolfsmund so I'll give it a go.

I already started reading Frieren, and it's surprisingly really good.

Have you checked out the new Gunsmith Cats release? It's definitely on my radar.

Gunsmith Cats: https://www.amazon.com/Gunsmith-Cat...517&sprefix=gunsmith+cats+mang,aps,153&sr=8-1

 

[Taiso]

I'm going to pick up a few issues of Goblin Slayer and Tower Dungeon tonight. Tower dungeon looks like something I would like. Goblin Slayer not so much, but you recommended me Wolfsmund so I'll give it a go.

I'm glad you enjoyed Wolfsmund. Still the best manga I ever read. Intense page turner the whole way.

Anybody that likes sequential storytelling that hasn't read Wolfsmund after I sang its praises is a faggit and not my friend.

As for Goblin Slayer, I wouldn't call it high art. The early volumes of the manga have some brutally honest depictions of what monsters are like in that world, and it's a theme that continues to run in the background throughout the series as a whole, but I'd be lying if I said it was anything more than a manga variant of the Wizardry video game series. It explores some interesting concepts about how glory seeking adventurers tend to ignore the 'lesser threats' in the world, which allow those threats to prey on the weak while the 'great heroes' are off slaying dragons or whatever (the little guy always gets pinched).

But ultimately, Goblin Slayer's stories are simple tales culled from your average Friday night D&D session or late night Wizardry grind, which makes sense since so many of these fantasy series draw their inspiration from that video game. Also, since Kumo Kagyu is the official author of the Blade and Bastard Wizardry manga and light novel series, his inspirations and focus are quite evident. I really like Goblin Slayer and Blade and Bastard for how close they hew to video game and tabletop RPGs, but that's because I like video game and tabletop RPGs lol. Neither is anywhere near the top of my 'recommended' suggestions.

I already started reading Frieren, and it's surprisingly really good.

Another highly recommended title I push as often as possible. It is the new millennium's best anime/manga and until Witch Hat Atelier, there was nothing even close. Delicious in Dungeon was a moderately distant second (although a series I very much love as well). I should probably give Delicious in Dungeon another read since I still look back on it fondly and have great memories of it. The anime is pretty tight, too (although I prefer the manga more).

Have you checked out the new Gunsmith Cats release? It's definitely on my radar.

I have them all. There is no new material in here as far as I know so if you were reading the Dark Horse monthlies when they were coming out, you've been there and done that. But the omnibuses are a nice collection and way more convenient than a stack of floppies.

Sorry for the weirdly dark hues on this photo. The den doesn't have the best lightting but this is every volume and is the whole series. A litt;e overpriced but if you're a fan, there is value here.

 

[HellioN]

I'm glad you enjoyed Wolfsmund. Still the best manga I ever read. Intense page turner the whole way.

Anybody that likes sequential storytelling that hasn't read Wolfsmund after I sang its praises is a faggit and not my friend.

As for Goblin Slayer, I wouldn't call it high art. The early volumes of the manga have some brutally honest depictions of what monsters are like in that world, and it's a theme that continues to run in the background throughout the series as a whole, but I'd be lying if I said it was anything more than a manga variant of the Wizardry video game series. It explores some interesting concepts about how glory seeking adventurers tend to ignore the 'lesser threats' in the world, which allow those threats to prey on the weak while the 'great heroes' are off slaying dragons or whatever (the little guy always gets pinched).

But ultimately, Goblin Slayer's stories are simple tales culled from your average Friday night D&D session or late night Wizardry grind, which makes sense since so many of these fantasy series draw their inspiration from that video game. Also, since Kumo Kagyu is the official author of the Blade and Bastard Wizardry manga and light novel series, his inspirations and focus are quite evident. I really like Goblin Slayer and Blade and Bastard for how close they hew to video game and tabletop RPGs, but that's because I like video game and tabletop RPGs lol. Neither is anywhere near the top of my 'recommended' suggestions.

Another highly recommended title I push as often as possible. It is the new millennium's best anime/manga and until Witch Hat Atelier, there was nothing even close. Delicious in Dungeon was a moderately distant second (although a series I very much love as well). I should probably give Delicious in Dungeon another read since I still look back on it fondly and have great memories of it. The anime is pretty tight, too (although I prefer the manga more).

I have them all. There is no new material in here as far as I know so if you were reading the Dark Horse monthlies when they were coming out, you've been there and done that. But the omnibuses are a nice collection and way more convenient than a stack of floppies.

Sorry for the weirdly dark hues on this photo. The den doesn't have the best lightting but this is every volume and is the whole series. A litt;e overpriced but if you're a fan, there is value here.View attachment 96379

Looks familiar...

I've been on an Akira Toriyama kick.
Read Sand Land and Jaco.

 

[joe8]

I owned a few Kodansha paperbacks a few years ago, but I never read them. For that reason I can't really compare them. I did read the box set, and I can tell you that it's well worth it if you can appreciate a well put together set. Especially if you pick up a nice used one on eBay. From my understanding they cleaned up the translation, and put the original sound effects back in (glossary in back). The books themselves are not the nicest I have ever seen. That would go to the Mobile Suit Gundam Origin Collection. They are really nice though.

Was the original Kodansha PB's in English left to right format? I think they were. The new box set is in traditional Japanese format.

Is it distracting to have to flip to the glossary every time you want to know the meaning of a particular sound effect? Or do you get used to it (you learn what they mean, fairly quickly)? Or, the context is enough (in most cases) to work out what they mean?
Some of the sound effects are actual Japanese words, but some are words made up by the author.

Some manga books have the English translation of the sound effect below each panel, and some have both Japanese and English sound effects drawn in the panel itself.