Reviews (5)

NOT a Punisher fan, but this book won me over!
I've never been a fan of the Punisher. The main reason for that is that the more modern takes on the character just don't do much for me. He's unsympathetic, and the stories are like Quentin Tarentino's acid trips. Not my thing.

But little did I know that the Punisher used to be quite a bit more grounded! Yeah, he was always a bit over the edge, but not the total nutcase of today's comics.

Here, you'll find a hero who is definitely out of step with the rest of Marvel's heroes, but it's an honest disagreement on methods between good people. He takes a tougher stance, but he's not "worse than the villians", as he is these days. (That's notwithstanding a Bill Mantlo character assassination on him that takes place in this book, before quickly being undone by Steven Grant in the very next story).

These are good, solid Spidey stories from the Conway era, a classic McKenzie-Miller Daredevil tale, a decent Captain America story, two awesome Punisher magazine stories from the seventies drawn by Tony DeZuniga (a VERY underrated great), the entire five-issue Grant-Zeck (and company) Punisher miniseries that made him "hot" in the eighties....plus three very mediocre Peter Parker, Spectactular Spider-Man stories from the eighties that try unsuccessfully to ruin the character's popularity.

All in all, a VERY nice package of material that reads very well in black and white (the magazine stories were intended for that anyway). I'll never consider myself a Punisher "fan", but I did enjoy this book and I would definitely buy a "volume 2" that continued the mid-eighties reprints.

Essential and great
Years ago, comics used good stories and just plain fun to keep readers interested. Foul language wasn't necessary, and the graphic depiction of a man's brains being splattered across the room was never considered. Those were the great days of comics, and the ones represented here.

When the Punisher first came out, he wasn't all about killing everyone and everything that moved. Yes, he killed from time to time, but he also used "mercy bullets" that would put an enemy to sleep rather than kill him. Some of the greatest moments of developing the Punisher's character are in this book. Showdowns with Spider-Man (several, with one involving Nightcrawler too), Captain America, and Daredevil are in here. Also, we see the Punisher's first great arch-villian, The Hitman (sort of an evil for-hire version of the Punisher). No, there is no foul language nor huge splatters of blood (and with it being in black-and-white, you couldn't tell anyway), but you get some great stories. From his introduction, to his eventual madness (later explained as drug-induced), this is nothing but fun. The collection ends with the Punisher's first mini-series, and it's a great one. We get to see how other prisoners feel as they see the killer walking among them.

Seldom do we get a treat like this one. Most "Essential" collections start with issue one of a character and go from there. Here we are treated to several guest shots in other mags, and it is a great picture. Yes, there are some weak stories (the one involving Cloak and Dagger could have used some touch up), but overall it's a good collection. Probably more enjoyable for the old-time comic fan rather than the ones raised on the uber-violence of today's stories, but good nonetheless. I look forward to the next volume. Highly recommended.

Black and white and read all over!
Hey, how in the world am I reading BAD reviews for one of the best "Essential" volumes Marvel has put out. We are talking about "The Punisher," folks. One of the reasons that this collection is so good and so "essential" is because it would cost you upwards of $500.00 to put together all of these issues in their original format. Plus you have the advantage of reading all of the first Punisher appearances in chronological order, and you don't have to track down obscure volumes from five or six different series to do it. Sure, the other "Essential" volumes are great with their twenty or so issues of continuity from one series, but this volume is cool because it pulls it all together for you. I hope Marvel does a few more character oriented books in this series (like Bullseye for instance).
And you can poo poo the art and the stories all you want, but the stories collected here are simply chock full of Bronze Age goodness. Some people have gotten a little too used to the Punisher being ripped from his Marvel Universe roots into a bizzaro "Preacher World" by a marginally talented creative team. If you like the current incarnation of the character running in comics, you may not like this book because it isn't full of exploding heads, hit men with breasts and all the other forms of shock jock stupidity that have devalued the character over the past few years. If, like me, you remember a time when the Punisher was a single-minded psychopath on a mission fit for a crusader (not to mention the baddest anti-hero on the block) rather than simply a sadistic jerk, you will probably enjoy this book as well.
The black and white reproduction in this volume is much better than some of the other "Essential" books. There aren't any pages that look like the copier was running out of toner. Some of the material is a reprint of a reprint (copied from Marvel Tales rather than the original Amazing Spider-Man story), but it still looks good. The writing ranges from standard 70's goofiness to the genius of Frank Miller, but every story is enjoyable in it own right. The art is solid in most of the volume with only a few issues looking genuinely bad (but what do you expect from Peter Parker, Spectacular Spider-Man). On the other hand, the Miller and Janson material as well as the Zeck and Beatty stuff looks great, even in a colorless format. This book is so worth the money, not only because it puts The Punisher into an historical perspective in comics, but because it is a throwback to the days when comics were still a little bit fun.
In order of appearance, this volume reprints: Amazing Spider-Man (ASM) #129 (1st appearance where he is duped by the Jackal into trying to kill Spider-Man); ASM #134 and 135 (vs. Tarantula); Giant Sized Spider-Man #4 (vs. Moses Magnum--later an X-Men villain); Marvel Preview #2 and Marvel Super Action #1 (both magazine sized soldier-of-fortune style anthology comics and some of the rarer material presented here); ASM #161 and 162 (1st appearance of the villain Jigsaw and also featuring Nightcrawler of the X-Men with a brief appearance by Wolverine); ASM #174 and 175 (vs. the Hitman); Captain America #241; ASM #201 and 202; ASM Annual #15 (by Denny O'Neil, Frank Miller and Klaus Janson; vs. Doctor Octopus and a milestone in the evolution of the Punisher character); Daredevil #182-184 (by Roger McKenzie, Frank Miller and Klaus Janson; #182 has been edited down to 8 pages, eliminating the non-Puniser part of the story; These issues were pushed back a year originally because the Comics Code Authority didn't like the strong drug issues raised in the story); Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #81-83 (vs. the Kingpin and featuring Cloak and Dagger-yippeee! The weakest material in the book); Finally the Punisher Mini-Series (sometimes referred to as "Circle of Blood") #1-5 (This is, for the most part, by Steven Grant, Mike Zeck and John Beatty and is the definitive Punisher story catapulting him into the limelight as one of Marvel's premiere characters; This is the mini-series that couldn't decide where to end as issues #1, 3 and 4 say it is a 4 issue mini-series and issues 2 and, obviously, 5 call it a 5 issue run with the last issue having a different creative team); Oh, yeah, there are a few pin-ups and a Who's Who entry as well.

Not the best candidate for an Essential collection
The Punisher is one of the more popular fan-favorite characters in the modern Marvel Universe. He has slowly worked his way from a first appearance in Amazing Spider-Man in the '70s to a well-received limited series in the '80s to an ongoing series in the '90s. Then "something weird happened". Then the weirdness was ignored and he was brought back as the Punisher we all know and love, more or less.

This Marvel Essentials collection contains the Punisher's appearances through his 1985 limited series - 25 comics in all. As these consist primarily of guest appearances in other titles, the quality of writing and art vary greatly. While there is a somewhat loose continuity (aided by his use of the "War Journal" narration), it can be seen that the Punisher was a character with great potential hampered by little creativity or skill on the parts of the various writers. It is not until his appearances in the grim-and-gritty '80s that he comes into his own, being put to good use in Daredevil #182-184 (by Frank Miller) and his limited series (by Grant and Zeck). The problem is, that's only 8 of the 25 comics collected here. You would have a better reading experience by buying the full DAREDEVIL VISIONARIES: FRANK MILLER vols. 1-3 and the still-available collected edition of the Punisher limited series.

THIS is "essential"?!?!
I've never been all that big on Marvel's "Essential Collection" trade paperbacks. And this collection of early Punisher stories (featuring his first appearance in Spider-Man #129, his first couple of deluxe one-shot books, scads of guest-star appearances in Amazing Spider-Man, Daredevil, etc., and his first solo mini-series) is no exception.

Now don't get me wrong-- it's the format I dislike, not the stories. For starters, almost all of the artwork-- which was originally printed in color-- doesn't look nearly as good in black and white. Subtle shades, contrasts, and some finer details that were apparent in the single issues are now obscured in the black and white conversion, and a few of the more vital visual elements are harder to see or can't be perceived at all. Adding to the crappiness are a few pages that look like they came off a Xerox machine with a toner balance problem! Topping things off is paper stock whose quality is not much better than newsprint! Put it all together and the only thing you'll find "essential" about this book is for use as birdcage liner paper!

Needless to say, I strongly recommend you hunt down the original color versions of the stories contained within this collection. You'll pay a fair sight more for them than you would this load o' lameness, but at least you'll have 'em in the format they were meant to be seen and enjoyed!

'Late ... Read more

Book Description

Kuririn, Goku, Tenshinhan, and Yamcha face mighty enemies at the Strongest Under the Heavens martial arts tournament. Taopaipai is now a cyborg, Goku's facing a mysterious young woman with a grudge, and Piccolo is treating the championship as the next step toward taking over the world. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament!
Okay, this volume continues from the last one, the finalists for the Tenkaichi Budokai have been selected. Our characters, now adults like at the beginning of DBZ, going to face each other in some tough battles. There's some great fights--- Piccolo, er, Ma Jr. vs. Kuririn, Goku vs. Tenshinhan, and Yamcha vs. Shen, and thankfully, unlike the DB anime there's no stalling. It gets right down to business first thing, so it's not a 3-episode wait between each battle. This is where things heat up, and the events that directly lead into Dragonball Z will begin here. If you're a fan like me who wants to check out what happened before Goku knew he was an alien, I especially suggest checking out this edition. ... Read more

Book Description

The legend returns! In a post-apocalyptic nightmare, one man named Kenshiro protects the innocent from evil with the ultimate assassin's fighting style, Hokuot Shinken. ... Read more

Book Description

Shuji and Chise are high school seniors in a small town who have just started dating, when Shuji discovers that Chise has been engineered by the SDF so that she can transform herself into a powerful weapon. While Shuji and Chise keep trying to nurture their relationship, Chise continues to grow even more powerful as the Ultimate Weapon, and becomes increasingly torn between being a destructive fighting force and remaining an ordinary teenager. What do you do when the girl you love becomes a weapon of mass destruction? ... Read more

Reviews (4)

The Cream of the Crop
Saikano is, hands down, an amazing manga... it's beautiful in many aspects. The art, the sad love story, and even the dialogue... everything is written and drawn flawlessly. It's easy for anyone to understand, yet it really pulls at your emotions. I don't find it "depressing," but it is a serious series. You'll probably, like me, be hooked by the first volume. It's all just such a GOOD read and so... sincere!
Note... If you like more of a cheerful manga, then Saikano is not for you. Also, be warned that it contains death, war, sex, violence, language and etc.

Amazing story! And... A warning for parents.
If you ever have reached that point where you think that there really isn't anything innovative left in today's anime and manga then you must not have read Saikano (Saishuu-heiki Kanojo). This is one story that manages to juggle various genre, and successfully reach the hearts of both guys and girls alike. It's a modern day love story, it has mecca-driven sci-fi style, it's a story of war and of friendship, of loss and of pain... It's a little bit of everything for everybody. It's a story destined not to let you down.

I say all this with a small warning for parents. The story begins where the two main characters are innocents, so nothing happens, but the thought of sex is ever present. There is not much physically... in the beginning... But be warned that by the seventh volume our protagonist's story will definitely be NC17 worthy.

Wow
The story is very powerful and moving, I almost cried several times. The art I didn't notice very much, nothing special but not bad either.

I'd rate it 13+. There is some sexuality (not much, just talking about it and one time where the girl has her shirt off) and violence.

A beautiful story...
Some people say they'd do anything for the person they love. You'll see lots of that (and MORE, MUCH MORE) in Saishuu Heiki Kanojo, the story of Chise and Shuji, two highschool sweethearts that have an unusual relationship because of the communication problems they have, not mentioning that Chise is a weapon...
The plot of the story isd just fantastic and what's most important it makes you THINK. You won't just eat the argument up whan you read the comic book.
I'd qualify it for 16+ ages due to the explicital sexual content in some of the books and the extreme violence. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

It is the best Manga I've ever read!
Although it can be quite crude, or innapropiate for younger teens and children, it is very interesting and comical! You will love it! I personally promise your happiness. :-) ... Read more

Book Description

Legend has it that if a human eats a mermaid's flesh, they will be granted eternal life. But is that a blessing or a curse? Immortal lovers Yuta and Mana travel through Japan and the centuries longing for a normal life. On their journey, they meet others who have consumed the flesh of a mermaid in hope of becoming immortal. But the powerful substance affects each person differently. Yuta and Mana are two of the lucky ones. Others are fated to die or transform into a savage monster, a "lost soul." ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Get lost in the "Forest"
Life is tough if you're immortal. That seems to be the general message of Rumiko Takahashi's Mermaid Saga, starting off with "Mermaid Saga: Forest." It's creepy, dramatic, and after reading it, you may never look at a mermaid picture the same way again.

In the first story, a strange young man named Yuta is travelling through Japan. He's one of the few human beings who has eaten the flesh of a mermaid and become immortal -- most of them die or turn into monstrous "lost souls." He finds a mysterious village made up of vicious old women -- and a young girl named Mana, who has been made into an immortal without her knowledge.

Then it's flashback time, to Yuta's encounter with a young pirate girl named Rin several centuries in the past -- and a strange woman who wants the mermaid flesh for a mysterious reason. In the present, Mana and Yuta are taken captive by a white-haired young woman, who has been fed mermaid's blood -- and now she wants to switch bodies with Mana.

Takahashi clamps down on her humorous style in "Mermaid Saga: Forest." There's no pratfall humor, cute characters, or funny scenarios involving alcohol, nudity or magic spells. There's blood, amphibious "lost souls," some very nasty revenge plotting -- oh yes, and mermaids who make barracudas look cuddly.

And Takahashi weaves in some rather melancholy material about immortality. Sure, most people think it would be fun to live forever, but Yuta reveals that his wife aged and died while he stayed the same, and he tells Mana not to adopt a kitten because it will only die on her. And the romantic involvement with Rin is clearly doomed from the start, since Yuta would outlive her as well.

Mana and Yuta are a lot like Takahashi's other lead couples -- they start off on shaky ground, since Mana is basically a spoiled teenage brat, and Yuta is much older, with a lifetime of sorrow behind him. And her supporting characters are astoundingly vivid, like the ruthless land mermaid, or the old/young woman who was fed mermaid's blood.

Rumiko Takahashi strays into darker waters with "Mermaid Saga: Forest," an imaginative and suspenseful dark fantasy collection. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Book Description

As Rey's training nears completion and the PaSa sword undergoes repairs, a new enemy emerges, one who wields the PaChun sword with a ferocious might. With the blood of demons and men overflowing, Jaryoon and Rey find their destinies converging, and the fate of the world hangs in the balance! ... Read more

Book Description

The legendary exorcist Genkai is about to pass on her explosive demon-smiting techniques to just one student. Trouble is, one of the people battling for the honor is a demon in disguise: the sadistic Rando. Can Yusuke defeat him? Complicating matters is the quartet of demonic criminals plotting a monstrous attack on the mortal world. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Yu Yu Hakusho
Yu Yu Hakusho was a very well-planned, well-drawn, and well-figured manga. It was my second manga I've read, and got me really interested in the artwork of Japan. Reading Yu Yu Hakusho caused me to become interested in other mangas, such as Rurouni Kenshin (READ IT), Naruto, and others...the author did very well with it. Read it! Honestly, I'm not joking. You'll like it. Yusuke, the main character, is a work of art and someone you can't help but laugh at...his misfortune and stupid bad luck make the book worth the while reading!

Yu Yu Hakusho, Vol. 3-The Greatest Manga I've Ever Read
What I enjoyed about this volume was the fact that it was Yusuke's very first case, as well as introducting characters that would return (Kurama & Hiei). The characters were well drawn, the action never dropped and there's comedy by-the-barrel-full (Yusuke defeating Bat Master when Genkai said he was the strongest beast in the forest). Overall, if you can only get 1 volume, get this without consideration.

One word: great
I'll tell you, no matter if it sounds harsh: at first, the artwork is quite questionable.
I've said at first, and I mean at the very first, only the first act.
Besides that, I gave it 5 stars because, all in all, it's a great manga, with an original storyline, GREAT character design, and wonderful artwork (besides the fact I've mentioned before).

ah, Timeless Yu Yu Hakusho
Yu Yu Hakusho comes to life again. Yu Yu Hakusho was my very first manga EVER I'm soo glad that I bought it to! it started a chain reaction with it. I began reading shonen jump. but point be told art awesome, storyline, awesome, char. variation Astronomical!! everyone loves yu yu hakusho everywhere from my little brother, me, my friends, it's an awesome manga two thumbs up! and remember never forget to ask: "do you think he knows it's a circle?" -Yu Yu Hakusho-

that was my take on it anyways ^_^ the manga really is better then the dubbed anime... in some ways but the anime is worth watching to...

The real story begins.
Okay, Yusuke has spent 2 volumes trying to come back to life.Now that he's finally done so, we must ask ourselves:Okay, he's done that, so now what?Koenma comes in with the answer.It seems he's seen potential in our newly reborn Jr. High School student, and as a result, is now the official underworld detective, solving problems associated with the other world.His first assignment?Finding 3 stolen artifacts that could spell doom for mankind in 1 week, before Koenma's dad gets returns and raises heck!Continuing the trend of the previous volumes, the 3rd book's primary goal is introduce us to the major players in the storyline, something I consider it does so well.Here, the 3 major new characters introduced are pretty boy kitsune in disguise, Shuichi Minamino, or Kurama as he's truly known, 3-eyed swordsman Hiei, and the aging yet powerful psychic Genkai.Thankfully the series takes time bringing them all in and not rushing their welcome.Although it's the same excellent storyline the anime follows, there are a few differences, for example we go a bit deeper into Kurama's decision to stay by his human mother's side.And also, the artwork continues to excel.I actually prefer the "cutesy" design of the characters as opposed to the more serious designs used for the anime(although those are pretty cool too.).In the end we have another excellent volume of Yu Yu Hakusho, and I definitely suggest fans of the anime check it out. ... Read more

Book Description

This volume richly illustrates the heroic "battle of the skyfurnaces" in the race for Archangel, the soul prison in the Spiritrealm. Maya, Makita, Kyuzo and Urik test their strength and skill against their former comrades on the decks of the huge ships, in the depths of the fiery Konstantinov hull and in the vast skies above. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Transported by the book The Universe of the Four Gods, Miaka, aJapanese schoolgirl more interested in snacks than studies, continues heradventures in a mythical ancient China. Her budding romance with the dashing Tamahome is played against the threat of an attack from the rival kingdom of Kutuo. It's imperative that Miaka, in her role as Priestess of Suzaku, find the remaining four supernatural warriors and summon the protector-deity ofthe realm of Konan, where she's taken refuge. She's also tested by Tai Yi-Jun, a crotchety old woman who controls the fictional universe. Miaka is sent back to her own world for a brief stay, but the bond with Tamahomeproves too strong: she turns shuns her old life to venture back to Konan.

In addition to the unfolding narrative, the end of each chapter includes Watase's rambling letters to her readers that discuss everything from her thoughts about manga to her shoe size. --Charles Solomon ... Read more

Reviews (134)

Romantic
This book was very romantic and entertaining!I really liked the action parts, since there was usually a lot of romance mixed in with them.I do think that some parts were unnessecary and simply used to add some inappropriate content to the book.Being that I love romance, this was one of the best Japanese comics I've ever read!For me to truly enjoy romance manga (and I know I've said this before) the main boy has to be someone that I would like if I was a manga character.Tamahome reminded me of Darien from "Sailor Moon", risking his life to save the main girl!It was those parts that I enjoyed most.

Overall, if you love romance and Japanese comics, I recommend this to you!It is very absorbing and enjoyable!But keep in mind that there IS unnessecary content such as Tamahome walking in on Miaka when she's shirtless.

Amazingly Good!
I got it for christmas and boy is it good! I like it just as much as Ceres! It's beautifully drawn, like anything by Yu Watase it's full of romance too-God I Love it.

Ehhh....
I LOVE Fushigi Yugi, but this book wasn't my favorite... It was really dramatic, lots of action, and every page left you with a cliff hanger, but it was borderline cliche... I hope the next book gets back to the storyline, as this one was a big drawn out arguement over who ways gonna de-virginize (thats not even a WORD) Miaka. I would recomend this book to any FY fan, though. But don't let your parents read it... o.O; mine were like, "Er......soap opera?"

love it!
I own all the anime and am currently working my way through the manga.I just love this series, even though Miaka can be annoying.All the other characters make up for that!In this volume, Miaka is helped by someone she thought had died, and she is found by a Seiryu Celestial Warrior.Miaka ran away from Tamahome in the previous book (it seems like she's always running off - she really should learn better communication skills), because she thinks she is no longer a virgin, capable of being Priestess of Suzaku.Watase's artwork is beautiful, and I love the comments sections that she occaisionally adds on the side.There are even a few (only a few, so don't get your hopes up) extras in the book, such as a "What's so fushigi about Fushigi Yuugi?" comic strip.This volume is fairly late in the series, so I would recommend reading some of the earlier volumes first, but this series is really very good.

THE BEST
Ceres and Fushigi Yugi are the best mangas of all time!I am totally hooked!The drawing is so good, and so is the plot.It takes a lot of imagination and detail, and a lot of effort, and it shows. ... Read more

Book Description

Rex Mundi is a quest for the Holy Grail told as a murder mystery. It is a tale of sin, murder and redemption in an alternate-history Paris where magic is real and the Catholic Church never lost its grip on power. This critically acclaimed volume follows Doctor Julien Sauniere as he investigates the theft of a medieval scroll from a Paris church. He stumbles onto a series of horrific ritual murders and an ancient secret society somehow connected to the mysterious scroll. They must not slip back into the shadows, or they will kill again... ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Great for fans of alternative history
Rex Mundi combines alternative history, modern sorcery, religious conspiracies, a murder mystery, and the beautiful architecture of Paris. The more of these elements you enjoy, the more you'll appreciate this book.

The creators do a terrific job of fleshing out the setting, and all the incidental mysteries, without losing the thread of the main plot. There are dozens of intriguing little details that leave you wanting to know more about the world they've created.

The protagonist, Dr Julien Sauniere, is a persistent investigator, but like many a hero in such a story, is clearly about to get in way over his head.

I would compare Rex Mundi to Tim Powers' novel "The Stress of Her Regard." They are very similar in tone, flavor and even setting (although the Powers book is set in Italy and has less "alternative" to its history). If you enjoy one, you'll enjoy the other.

A dark, engaging, extremely well-thought-out story.
It's worth mentioning that the cover Amazon is currently showing isn't the actual cover.

Not that the cover really matters. It's what's inside that counts and this is particularly true for Rex Mundi (Latin for "King of the World"). I was told by my comic seller that I absolutely must try this trade paperback out, which collects issues #0-5 together. He said it's about a Europe, France in particular, that might have been. There's no separation of Church and State, America is known as the Confederate States of America (after the Civil War ended in a stalemate) and "feudalism and colonialism are the only modes of political power in the world." Sounds interesting, no?

The back of the trade paperback says that this is a quest for the Holy Grail as told as a murder/mystery. The comic itself is very noir in its design and story-telling. Faces are in shadows, all the important stuff happens in the nighttime and everyone seems to have a sinister undertone. It is a very exciting mystery.

An added bonus is that the faux-newspaper articles that were inserted into the original comics were *not* left out of this trade. The writer created made-up news stories from this time-that-could-have-been. It's fun to read, gives you a better understanding of the Rex Mundi world and it makes the graphic novel last a little longer.

This is one of those comics where I tried the trade paperback out and enjoyed it to much that I'm going to have to start collecting the individual comic books as they come out. If you don't like comic books (because of all the advertisements or whatever), you'll want the next trade paperback.

Note: I gave this 4 stars as opposed to 5 because I'm still not too sure what's going on in the story yet. I'm a little confused but that's because I don't quite understand all the nuances of the invented time period yet.

Buy this. Now.
Rex Mundi is one of the best things to come along in comics in a while. The concept is great, the art is fantastic, the story keeps getting better, and it leaves you with plenty to think about. I've been reading since the beginning, and I'm excited that there's finally a trade! ... Read more