Book Description

From head to toe, the human form, in all its complexities, is visually simplified to such a degree in this remarkable workbook that even complete beginners will soon be able to draw accurate, well-proportioned faces and figures every time they try. Avoiding complex charts of muscles and bones that are more helpful to doctors than to artists, this book's refreshing approach teaches anatomy from a cartoonist/illustrator's point of view. For example, there are many large and small muscles in the neck, all rendered in great detail in most anatomy books, but here, master teacher Christopher Hart shows only the four that are visible and need to be drawn. His clear instruction helps readers to visualize and portray shifting body weight in a pose without the need of a model, and instead of showing a mass of facial muscles and bones, he translates them into the simple planes an artist needs to draw a range of expressive faces. ... Read more

Reviews (25)

Does the job admirably
First, I would like to say that this book is aimed at the non-professional, amateur artist who needs to learn correct anatomy. Otherwise, it wouldn't be a 'how to' book. As an amateur artist myself, I have looked for a book that would help me understand the basic anatomy of the human body.

With 520 muscles in the body, it seemed a little overkill to have descriptions of all of them - even the ones no one sees. Despite what some other reviewers have said, I personally have found Mr. Hart's book very useful and educational. There is nothing in the book that would cause anyone to pursue any particular style. There are no 'style' teachings in the book. Merely good depictions of musculature, skeletal structure and close-ups of problem areas for the average artist struggling with anatomy. I have reviewed quite a few anatomy books, some of them quite in-depth, and decided on this one for its ease of use and practicality.

The drawings are very useful and the order in which the material is presented is well thought out. Granted, Mr. Hart is a cartoonist by trade, but he does know his anatomy. This book is easy to understand and makes anatomy a joy.

If you want something more in-depth, buy 'Gray's Anatomy'. If you want something that will teach you the basics of anatomy without anatomical overload, do yourself a favor and buy a copy of 'Human Anatomy Made Amazingly Easy'

Amazing!!!!
I own this book for just 2 days, and after reading a first chapter I have to admit that IT IS AMAZING book! Right after reading I started to draw( I am not a proffesionall, and I do not go to art school, do not take any art classes, just started to draw about two month ago)and I CAN SEE the improvment I made. Everybody who saw what I draw said that I improveied. I suggest you buy this book before any other ones, and read it, and do not even think- yes, or no- just buy it and you will be pleased with all articles and illustration he put in this book. Very easy, and clear he explanes anatomy. Just what you need to know. Then, all you have left to do- is practising!!!!

This book stinks
The quality of the drawings is awful, anatomy weak and aesthetic is indifferent

A Good book.
I was looking for a good human anatomy book to purchase and came across this. The book is very detailed but lacks alot of detail in some areas. Such as hands and feet. But expains the anatomy of the head, arms and legs very well. Overall It has helped me to understand anatomy and it's a good buy.

Way to simple
The problem with this book is that you don't really learn anything about drawing anatomy. He just says 'This is what this looks like or 'This is looks like that w/o giving any real tips. Like all of Hart's books he just makes you "think" that you've learned something. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Director Hayao Miyazaki ranks among the most interesting and originalfigures currently working in world animation. His charming children's filmsMy Neighbor Totoro and Kiki's Delivery Service enjoy a rapidly growingaudience in the U.S., and his brilliant Princess Mononoke, which broke box-office records in Japan, was released theatrically in the U.S. in November of 1999. Although storybook adaptations and a few Japanese volumes about individual films have appeared in the U.S., a major study of his work in English is long overdue. Miyazaki's many fans will enjoy Helen McCarthy's Hiyao Miyazaki and Mark Schilling's Princess Mononoke: The Art and Making of Japan's Most Popular Film of All Time, but neither is fully satisfactory.

Schilling's Mononoke is a translated and expanded version of The Art of Princess Mononoke, published in Japan in 1997. A respected journalist based in Tokyo, Schilling is a much more polished writer than McCarthy. His summary of Miyazaki's career is concise but informative. Scores of handsomely printed backgrounds, cel setups, and frame blowups trace the story of the film, but the reproductions of Miyazaki's own pencil-and-water color drawings are even more interesting. The layouts, landscapes, inspirational sketches, and early studies of the characters reveal the mind of a great artist at work.

Like McCarthy's Hiyao Miyazaki, Schilling's Princess Mononoke would have benefited from more careful proofreading; in a discussion of the use of computer animation techniques, for example, Schilling turns "morphing" into "morfing." --Charles Solomon ... Read more

Reviews (16)

A Beautiful Movie With a Lovely Book
Well worth the $, but mostly if you want to relive the beautyof the movie. This has all the scenes and breathtaking backgrounds inone book. It makes a lovely addition to a library, movie, or anime collection. It is a joy just to feel its slight heaviness in your hands, flip through the pages, and wonder at the artwork. The artwork itself is a collection of cels, image boards, sketches, story boards, and other of the like. It is interesting to see how the main characters were designed, and what went into this film that is now so loved. Several pages of the book are also dedicated to the history of "Princess Mononoke," Studio Ghibli, and Hayao Miyazaki. For people interested in the computer graphics, there is a section in the latter part of the book that tells of the steps taken to create certain scenes. Also an added bonus, poems written by Hayao Miyazaki are included to describe the characters of the film. All in all, every aspect of this book is a treasure, and will be greatly appreciated by any fan of anime or fine art. END

Something for your library
I have been a huge fan of Hayao Miyazaki ever since I saw "My Neighbor Totoro" many years back. Since then, I've been getting my hands on any kind of merchandise, collectibles and have been going more and more into Studio Ghibli (Thankfully Disney is dubbing most Ghibli films into English for U.S. release, and too bad all of them have been delayed for countless months. Laputa, where I saw the sub and the Disney dub at a film festival, still needs a release date, and Kiki and Mononoke were both delayed).

Hayao Miyazaki is a master storyteller and visionary, which is why this book is the perfect companion to the biggest Japanese moneymaker (until Titanic came along) of all time, Princess Mononoke. The film is a masterpiece. The art is so extradoniary that nothing so vivid or detailed can be produced in a live action movie. The story really gets you thinking, about how man and nature must work together in order for both to survive.

This hardcover book is tremendous. It has a Studio Ghibli history, plus, it's broken down scene by scene with storyboards, pictures and a lot more. There's even a section on computer images, and how and when they were put into the film.

If you have seen the movie and enjoyed it, or at least enjoyed the visionary style, you truly need to pick yourself up a copy of this book. If you're a Miyazaki, anime or art fan, this quite a good book for you too. It'll capture your imagination for hours and hours on end.

Nice Hardcover Edition...
A nice hardcover edition of this book with lots of explanations about the making and good full color illustrations. I liked the section on the CG. It's definately worth the price and could be used as a good coffee table book or such.

Lovely and Informative
This book is a wonderful little look into the world of not only Mononoke Hime, but Hayao Miyazaki's world as well. It contains high quality screen captures, pencil boards, original movie posters, and original character designs. It is a hardbound keepsake for all those who loved the movie and/or any of Hayao Miyazaki's other works. The book is also highly informative about the storyline and the creators views about the story and characters. It is a good thing to have in your collection.

A coffee table book that isn't trite?
I've given this a high rating, not because it is flawless but because it is an awesome companion to the film and a wonderful keepsake for that time in your life when you get a coffee table to put it on. If you own the film, you probably won't need this--and honestly, I purchased it as a way to show my support of the US distribution of this film. The book is a US translation of the Japanese edition, and as you can expect was lovingly put together. The last section does seem to perhaps be filler, but with such wonderful reproductions from the film along with in-depth background information, what more could you want out of it. On the other hand, it isn't really cheap either, but given it is probably one of the 10 best animated films ever, it makes a very nice addition to your over-sized film book collections.

Lastly, if you can recall the boring titles your grandparents kept on their coffee table, I think you can start to seel the appeal of things like this. Why settle for pretty national geographic titles (or whatever) when you can have this or big godzilla coffee table books (as do I)? Let your future grand-kids know that you were plenty weird in your former years. ... Read more

Book Description

Shun works very hard to live up to the memory of his older brother, even at the cost of his personal life. Suddenly, a beautiful stranger comes into his life and takes Shun on a ride down a dangerous road of love, loss, lust, guilt, passion, and taboo! Shun craves excitement, and the stranger gives it to him...but at what cost?Will come shrink-wrapped and carries an 18+ age advisory. ... Read more

Book Description

Deep into the 21st century, the line between man and machine has been inexorably blurred as humans rely on the enhancement of mechanical implants and robots are upgraded with human tissue. In this rapidly converging landscape, cyborg super-agent Major Motoko Kusanagi is charged to track down the craftiest and most dangerous terrorists and cybercriminals, including "ghost hackers," capable of exploiting the human/machine interface by re-programming human minds to become puppets to carry out their criminal ends. When Major Kusanagi tracks the cybertrail of one such master hacker, the Puppeteer, her quest leads her into a world beyond information and technology where the very nature of consciousness and the human soul are turned upside-down and inside-out. ... Read more

Reviews (42)

An intelligent story with beautiful artwork
The story in Ghost in the Shell is very complex with many ways of interpeting what has happened. I liked the way the story takes you to another place where morals are different but the human spirit remains even if it is in an android. The questions that come up are not always answered and I enjoyed coming up with my own answers. The art enhances the effect. Shirow draws with so much detail the average person could go insane trying to find all the little details. Most of the book is black and white but the colored parts are rich with energy and reminded me of another manga story, Akira. While the story does slow down at times the ideas more than make up for it.

influenced
hey ,it inspired mamoru oshii to make ghost in the shell, the cult classic anime film,which also inspired the wachowski brothers-the dropping green digits at the begining and the landing and breaking roof scene,may ring your bell- to make the hit movie the matrix,reloaded and the up coming revolutions.and it's all thanks to this man masamune shirow.
the book is an action comedy,a lot of comedy,unlike it's film,with the same theme of the film though,should we consider an A.I. and cyborgs a life form,plus more detailed stories of the cyborg cops routine life.there are even some cameo from other shirow's characters from his other books,like the appleseed characters in page 21 and the cat sisters ,from dominion:tank police,page 161.
influential,fun ,informative and enjoyable book.and it's all illustrated and written by one person.nice
p.s. check out the fifth panel in page 161,a small box,written on it"masamune shirow's original artwork,all you can carry 100 yen"funny.

Excelent manga makes excelent anime.
The manga of GITS is as good as the anime, and it was the groundwork for it. There was more stuff in the manga you didn't see in the anime like how the Soviet Union was competing against Japan in the production of humanesque robots with human brains. Though I could have done without the goofy faces when the characters got mad or overly happy. If you love the GITS anime, you'll love the manga.

A massive work
Ghost in the Shell is peak era Shirow material. Without doubt the culmination of his science fiction work. The story takes place in the classic "near future" cyber-punk setting [much like that of William Gibson's Neuromancer with a dash of Appleseed] and focuses on Section 9 a kind of domestic Rainbow 6. The art is mind-blowing. Shirow's ability to capture movement is superior among comic artists anywhere. His action sequences are breath taking. Good enough to keep you starring at the page long after you've read the content. Most of the characters are classic military/para-military types. Batou is my favorite. He is bold, reckless and overly aggressive but never particularly serious. Kusanagi works well as the main character, calculating and insightful. The story itself is difficult to summarize. The cases [and/or case?] move at a phrenetic pace -- it may take two or three times reading a section to understand what happens. The shear complexity and scale of this work is truly impressive. So much so you will still find additional plot details re-reading it. Even with the TV series and two movies based on the story there is still plenty of material in the graphic novel to tell more. The plot however is more intelligent than deep. Exploring the intricacies of technology and shooting people isn't deep thinking no matter what people tell you. Cyber-punk as a whole just isn't deep stuff and Ghost in the Shell is no exception. If you want "deep" read the Bible this story isn't deep -- it is intelligent. Ghost in the Shell rarely touches on morality or true philosophy. Questions are asked but conclusions aren't often drawn and if so the answers are not clear. Shirow himself seems to take for granted the reader understands the technology of the story and rarely takes time out to explain things outside the scope of the story itself. There is an Index of sorts in the back and you are best off reading it first. All in all this is a seriously good piece of work and will survive as such long after the genre itself is dead.

Japan's Neuromancer
Ghost in the Shell is a written and artistic masterpiece - wonderfully written, beautifully drawn, and very deeply researched (read the Author's notes and see what I mean @_@). It seriously is not far away from the same realm that the likes of Neuromancer had treaded several years before it.

Several decades into the future (2030, to be exact), medical, computer and robotic advancements have placed humans completely dependent on technology to survive. Humans are often augmented with robotic/cybernetic parts, or even completely converted into robots, retaining only their brain (the main character, Motoko Kusanagi, is all robotic except for her spinal cord and parts of her brain). Because of this, the meaning of a human soul is even more skewered than before, now called a "ghost" for ethical reasons and just being politically correct. If necessary, the person can still look just like a normal human being - the only thing distinguishing them from a regular human is their weight (aside from tearing them apart and peeking at their insides). What's ironic, though, is that the highly-trained technicians building and maintaining these robots are mostly sexy nurses in very... "revealing" outfits. This may be Shirow's style after all, but I find it really funny in the end XD

Since the world is still far from perfect, there is still law enforcement and military forces around to keep the civil from the uncivil. This is where Section Nine of Shinhama's Public Security comes in - the highly secretive and covert team which most of the characters are employed and involved with. They deal with the usual terrorists and cybercriminals (hackers and such), but when they start to get on the track of the Puppeteer (one of the worlds' most notorious hackers), things start to really get dicey, and not just with the people inside the book. You'll really get a thorough mind-bending when you're done with this (I'm wondering how many times Shirow had to re-write the ending because of how deep it really is).

Which is where I come to it's only bad part: the orderlyness. Shirow throws out these new plotlines and story figures at whim, confusing the reader to no end. Let's not even forget the explanations to everything, especially at the very end. I HIGHLY recommend reading this a few times to get the gist of everything - you are DEFINITLY going to need it.

But that is only a minor scratch to the finely crafted diamond that is the final product. I would recommend this manga to any person who even has a REMOTE interest in science fiction, and even if they haven't read or watched anything from Japan. I wouldn't be suprised if this would become required reading for a highly-esteemed University class. ... Read more

Book Description

Created by Kenturo Miura, Berserk is manga mayhem to the extreme - violent, horrifying, and mercilessly funny - and the wellspring for the internationally popular anime series. Not for the squeamish or the easily offended, Berserk asks for no quarter - and offers none! His name is Guts, the Black Swordsman, a feared warrior spoken of only in whispers. Bearer of a gigantic sword, an iron hand, and the scars of countless battles and tortures, his flesh is also indelibly marked with The Brand, an unholy symbol that draws the forces of darkness to him and dooms him as their sacrifice. But Guts won't take his fate lying down; he'll cut a crimson swath of carnage through the ranks of the damned - and anyone else foolish enough to oppose him! Accompanied by Puck the Elf, more an annoyance than a companion, Guts relentlessly follows a dark, bloodstained path that leads only to death...or vengeance. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Best Manga series EVER!
After recently finishing the anime series I went and baught the manga. And man does the manga kick ass. It's ten times better then the anime. PLus it's more violent too. This manga is slightly different then the series such as the Fairy Puck who never showed up in the anime.

Over all this is one of those mangas were you'll be like "aww man what next what next!!". I personaly love the manga...alot.S

Sadly When I asked the person at the comic/manga store about when volumes 13-ect ect would come out in the US...I asked him this cause I really wanted to know what happend after episode 25 of the anime. Sadly he told me it would be about 4 to 5 years by the time volumes 14 through on and on would come out here. Sadly There are only Volumes 1-3 out.
But luckily I got to go to AnimeExpo 2004 and they had all the volumes and they were only 5 BUCKS!! So I baught a few of em' even though they were in japanes but hey I know japanes so I don't need to worry about it. And from going to Volume 13 I can def tell you this manga is for MATURE AUDIENCES especcially how Caskas rape is much more graphic in the manga then the anime.

But thats Not the point here. Overall Volume 1 of berserk is (excuse me for this) F-d up big time and awesome too. This series is just Brilliant and very very cool especially the plot with a new Behiret. The manga is a def must buy for Berserk fans.

I am on voume 14 of the manga right now and alot of things have happend.

For one I can tell you is that Caska is now insain (literally)
Caska gives birth to a demon child! If you see something grotesque on the floor in volume 1 when Guts is in that prison thats Caska's child if You Didn't know. And that's all I can tell you. And in volumes 13 you finally see how Guts and Caska escaped that "Hell" they were in.

So far this is shaping up to be the BestManga series ever.
Once you finish volume 1 go and immediatly buy voulme 2. 2 is sooooo much more better and more action too. And Guts fights that giant worm that rickert saw in the anime and that Pipin got cut in half with in the Manga.

Put simply this series ROCKS

GET IT! NOW!!!

Later

Unaltered Perfection
Berserk finally comes to America and it is almost completely unaltered (except for the English translation of course). I was fearing that the Berserk manga would have its sound effects translated but, thankfully, that is not the case. I, personally, hate the sound effects being translated. Unfortunately, from reading the other reviews, I am not in the majority. The biggest problem with translating sound effects is that you have to erase part of the picture. Just flip through a copy of GTO by TOKYOPOP to see what I am talking about. In order to erase the Japanese characters, they erase huge chunks of the picture. This is my biggest gripe with the GTO manga and I feel as if I am not getting the most orignal form of the manga as possible. Not translating the dialogue also cuts costs, as another reviewer noted. I am also waiting for anime companies to realize fans want the most unaltered forms of their favorite anime and stop wasting time and money creating English dubbed language tracks that inflate the price of anime videos. I think the perfect solution is for readers of manga to learn the measley 46 Katakana characters that make up the majority of Japanese sound effects. Another solution is to write the English translation for the soundeffects within the Japanese sound effects when they are big, which is also found in GTO. For smaller sound effects, put them around the Japanese sound effects or outside the panel. Whatever the solution, keep the original artwork and sound effects untouched!

Berserk kick @$$ series
Ordered this book last week, after hearing about it. I own the box set of the first 6 dvds and had to have more. I have yet to read this book, and will post an update when I do so. The one thing I do want to comment on is the condition I got the book in. I am still tempted to send it back, it arrived today with a huge bend right down the middle. I for one like my collections in mint condition.

On a side not, the box set is a must own. I know I won't be let down by the books.

Just about the best manga series I've ever read...
The detail of the drawings is magnificient. The story is well thought out and fascinating. The characters are complex and thoroughly developed. And, there's true suspense--bad things happen to good people and good things happen too--in this extra dark story you never really know where it's going till after it gets there.

Most mangas I read for 'fun'--the story is predictable & the characters are 2-D but it's cute or pretty, entertainment popcorn if you will. This one, I'm on the edge of my seat waiting for the next chapter in the story and I truly care about the characters. In a vast manga collection, this one is a standout.

Berserk isn't for everyone. The violence quotient is off the scale and all of it is depicted in full detail--the squeamish should avoid this title like the plague. It's also not a manga for the impatient. It's nearly three volumes in before the story proper starts to unfold. It is all eventually tied together so that the plot and character decisions make sense--but readers have to spend a good long time wandering about in the dark before that happens.

If you're tired of boyscout heroes and you're always looking for something new and different, Berserk is a must read. Words can not describe the brilliance that is this manga. Best just read it yourself, or watch the anime, which is very similar--it just moves along a lot faster at the expense of some of the details found in the comic.

FYI: Berserk is up to 25 volumes in Japanese and the story is still on going. Many of the major plotlines are still unresolved, so the series could still go off track in the later chapters--but through volume 25 it's very good.

Dark Horse's edition had perfectly decent translations. Not translating the sound effects was a little cheap, but I don't think it made much difference. Most of the sounds you could guess from context anyway.

Great comic, but some problems with the production
Like most of the previous reviewers, I picked this book up after having seen the anime, so my overall positive impression was of course pre-shaped to some degree. On other sites I've read a few semi-negative reviews by people who HAVEN'T seen the anime--these reviewers complained that the main character Guts is never fleshed out as a character sufficiently for the reader to feel like rooting for him, but rather is presented as little more than a self-centered thug who hunts the monstrous "apostles" for reasons which remain impenetrable. Based solely on this first volume, I can see what they mean--in fact, this was very much my own response to the first episode of the anime. However, I would strongly recommend that readers entirely new to the material stick with it for at least another volume or two before passing judgement, as the story becomes infinitely more complex and nuanced as the backstory is filled in and you get why things are the way they are (and Guts is the way he is) as the book begins.

A couple of other things to be aware of if ordering this book sight-unseen: Dark Horse has printed Berserk in the original Japanese format, with the pages reading right-to-left and back-to-front. While some readers do find this annoying, I had no problem adjusting to it, and ultimately I found I actually preferred it for various reasons. What I DID find annoying, however, was that they translated the text but not the sound effects. I understand this is a cost-cutting measure--normally the sound effects must be laboriously redrawn in English, and this costs $$ in production. However, in many cases the sound effects are an integral part of the storytelling--some sequences don't entirely make sense without them (such as the opening sequence of Berserk). So while I'm happy this is a cheaper-than-average graphic novel as it is, I'd personally be willing to pay a few extra dollars per volume if it meant having a more complete translation. A high-quality book like this really deserves the full treatment. ... Read more

Book Description

Student and teacher. Man and... man. Taboo upon taboo is what Hikaru and Shima have to overcome if they want to pursue their feelings for one another. In this final installment of the two-part "Passion" series, Hikaru and Shima's relationship takes on a more serious tone when the pair begins to see each other regularly every weekend. They agree to have this arrangement until Hikaru graduates. However, Shima eventually seems to tire of it. As Hikaru's graduation draws near, will his relationship with Shima, his teacher, end as well? ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Cuteness abounds with this series
As with the first two books, the sweet and cute factor is off the charts with this book. But what can you expect of a shojo series where the characters are named after food and their base is a pastry cafe shaped like a giant wedding cake?

This is a wonderful series, but it is not for boys or those that like violence, gore, and karate-style action. It is for fans of shows like Sailor Moon.

KAWAII KAWAII KAWAII SHOUJO MANGA!
I loved the first two Tokyo Mew Mews(even though those darn cliffhangers got on my nerves...) and this one only increased my love for the manga!

very kawaii
This installment of Tokyo mew mew, is very cute and well done. Things start making a little more sense (kish, mew aquas etc,) has more suspense (will Ichigo turn into a cat permenently?) and what a cliff hanger! To sum up... if you like really cute, if not slightly fluffy, shojo manga this is for you! ... Read more

Book Description

Hellsing continues with more blood, guts, ghouls, and gothic murder. Created by Kohta Hirano, and making its way into an incredibly popular anime, Hellsing pushes the boundary of horror, yet looks so visually stunning and graphically cool that instead of being scary, it's super fun. Certainly not intended for younger readers, this series follows the Hellsing Organization, an old institution created by English royalty to squash the ghoulish undead of the world, as they face an insurgence of murderous monsters running rampant across the isles, fueled by...could it be...Nazi's? Watch the dark story unravel as Dark Horse Manga presents Hellsing volume 2. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Beautiful Art with an Original Storyline!
I first came along Hellsing in the anime series, and I absolutely loved it. It was interesting and original, with wonderful animation and drawings. So, naturally, when I heard that the anime was once first a manga, I went out and bought it. The money was well spent. The manga goes a little differently than the anime, but if you've never seen the anime, then there's no problem. Basically, if you like vampires, guns, and cold-hard fighting with no romance, this is definitely for you. It's fast-paced with an interesting storyline, so get comfy and enjoy.

If you liked the anime...
I saw the anime series recently,and liked it.BESIDES THE FACT I ORDERED A ---NEW--- BOX SET FROM THIS SITE AND THE DISKS CAME SCRATCHED UP,LOOSE,AND OBVIOUSLY USED.Thanks alot, Amazon. -_-0 Anyway,I decided to get the manga after listening to some of the interviews on a DVD.quite frankly,I like the manga as much as the anime.It lacks the character development of the anime,but it never takes itself too seriously.It has some details that the anime never goes into,such as what determines who's turned into a ghoul or vampire.
There's a neat bonus comic that's amusing in its own right.And the note from the author's kinda funny too.(cosmo guns that hold a billion rounds...)Nice job,Dark Horse.

Hellsing - a winner
HEllsing was the first anime video that I saw, it was the gateway to my anime viewing experience. Once I finished the series on DVD I was looking around for a "season 2" when I found out that there series was based on comic books. I went to a store and bought vol 1 and read through it really fast. It draws you in and entertains you, and keeps you in suspence with its great illustrations and dialog. The irish and germans in the story are noticed as their accents just jump of the page at you. COnsequently I bought vol 2 + 3 and I am eagerly waiting for volumes 4, 5,6 and however more there might be in the works

If you are new to manga comics this might be a bit of a learning curve (as it was for me) but I did not mind as I was quite entertained.

Kudos to the author and the team that brought it to us in english!

This series is great
When I first saw the Hellsing Anime I just had to get the Manga.
Boy was I right. The Manga is 100 times better then the anime and more violent too I might add.

I'm in love with this series. It's got action with style and of course, VAMPIRES! Alucard Rules!

This is one of those mangas that I'll probably read more then 3 times. This series is awesome.

Check it out.....

But first, the manga!
At first, I saw the Hellsing series on DVD. But when I heard it had originated from a mamga, I knew I'd be in for something good. And here's the first volume. It is a combination of funny, witty, bloody and definitely cool. I could stop talkin about it for weeks. Definetly one to buy. ... Read more

Reviews (24)

A great shoujo manga for all ages!
I have always wanted to watch the anime "Tokyo Mew Mew" I was more than happy when I bought the first volume of the manga. It may not be the anime, but it's just as good. The artwork is beautiful, and the English translation is very good. The story is about an 11-year-old girl named Ichigo, who is on a date with her crush at the exhibition,and then something like an earthquake happens. Ichigio soon finds weird things happening to her like-when she falls she lands on her feet, cat ears and a tail popping up out of no where, and she suddenly starts having an appetite for fish.

She finds out that she was chosen to be part of the "Mew Project", along with four other girls-Mint, Lettuce, Pudding, and Zakuro. (Pudding and Zakuro will be introduced in volume 2)

I find this manga to be quite sweet, and cute. If you like cute and sweet shoujos, then you should definitely give "Tokyo Mew Mew" a look!

Catgirl saves the day! Meow!
Tokyo Mew Mew is a very cute manga for all ages. When I first got this book, I saw the cute catgirl on the cover and bought it. It's a MUST READ manga that has an anime in Japan and is purr-fect for cat-lovers!

The story is about a 12 year old girl named Ichigo who is at the museum with her crush, Masaya. Suddenly, her DNA is merged with the DNA of a wildcat. Four other girls have also had their DNA merged too. She is suddenly an acrobat, loves fish and is very sleepy. On the next day she is attacked by a huge rat and a guy saves her. His name is Ryou and he says she(Ichigo) has to beat the monster. He pushes her out of the tree and Ichigo suddenly grows cat ears and a tail and is wearing a pink battlesuit. She also has pink eyes and hair. After she defeats the monster, Ryou explains that she is a superhero and has to fight aliens who are using animals to attack humans. Ichigo then is set off to find her partners and form Tokyo Mew Mew.

If you love magical girls and love catgirls, this book is for you.

Meeow!
Tokyo Mew Mew (TMM) is a great girls manga. I suggest this book only to girls, for it is insanely cute and charming, and I have met only ONE guy who likes it -_- It is a cute manga, with strawberries, adorable cafe and five super heros. I have read the whole series and have enjoyed it very much. Although I think its rating is a little too low and I think it should be a Teen book, but thats me.

Its about a young girl who is out on a date with her boy friend and she gets turned into a super hero with the genes of a cat. She has four other partners like her and they are trying to save the world from evil alians who are trying to pollute the world. By finding Mew Aquas the mews mews may be able to purify the world from the evil alians. But it is harder than the Mew mews may think...

Wow!
I've read the whole series and I still want more! This is one of the best series I've ever read. It's short (7 vol. long),one of the shortest I've seen, but I prefer it to some of longer series I've read, because some times if the series is too long, the vol. are hard to find. I expected this to be a little kids thing, but it surprised me. I recommend this to every one, except those I-hate-everything people.

A fun mahou shoujo series!
Since I like Mahou Shoujo series, I decided to give this series a try. I thought it would be horrible, since the only reason I was buying it was because the cover was cute.
Boy, was I wrong! This is a cute and fun magical girl series.
Now, here's a summary.
11-year-old Ichigo Momomiya is on a date with her crush, Masaya, until suddenly there's an earthquake. Nobody else sees the earthquake, only five girls. As it turns out, Ichigo has been infused with the genes of an almost extinct wildcat! The other four girls have also been infused with the genes of four other almost extinct animals!
Ichigo is now Tokyo Mew Mew, a crimefighting cat girl who must defeat evil aliens from using animals to take over the world! Ichigo must find the four remaining girls...
If you like cute and fun shoujo series, I highly recommend this! Suitable for all ages. ... Read more

Book Description

The next volume in Masamune Shirow's best-selling art book series is orbiting cyberspace and preparing to touch down onto bookstore shelves in late Summer. This volume concentrates primarily on Shirow's character, robot and vehicle designs for interactive games.Shirow is world famous for being equally skilled and creative in the realms of computer-generated graphics and traditional drawing and painting. It is logical then that his unique and imaginative studies are among the most interesting being done in the high-tech game field.With commentary in both English and Japanese, this new collection provides a fascinating insight into the creative process of one of Japan's premiere talents. ... Read more

Book Description

The hippest bounty hunters in the galaxy are back! Spike Spiegel, Jet Black and Faye Valentine are on the hunt for new targets, inspired by the hit anime series. Cowboy Bebop blends science fiction, spaghetti westerns, film noir, and jazz music into a new genre that's all about style. As each volume features four stand-alone adventures, this is the perfect time to find out what all the excitement is about. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Bebop novels don't disappoint
... but you may want to see the series first. I bought the manga before I owned the TV series, having heard all about Cowboy Bebop, but I'll warn you, it can get a little confusing if you're not already familiar with the characters. The first three books read like a typical episode of Cowboy Bebop, and they don't waste time on introductions and character development. If you've finished the series, these books are a good way to see your fave characters reunited again in more origianl and wacky plots to get cash. The manga is exquisitely drawn, and is presented in "100% Authentic Manga style" ((it reads right to left.))
One of the cutest stories is about Ed's past, when she meets an old firend under unusual circumstances.. but I won't spoil it for you!! *wink*
For die-hard Bebop fans, this is a must have. If you want an introduction to the series... well, it worked for me, it was just a little confusing at first. I think you'd enjoy it none the less...

Great collection of quality manga
I'm fairly new to reading manga, so I figured my first encounter would be with a series I'm familiar with from my anime collection. This series as an anime is great and the manga is just as wonderful. The first 3 books of this collection go around the crew of the Bebop as they take on the most dangerous and sometimes wacky bounties in the solar system. Plenty of action and comedy for all. The second 2 books, stardust memory, is basically what the anime series was loosely based on. Even if you have the anime, its worth reading this collection. Overall I give this set a great score not only because of its high quality writing and artwork, but also because this set has inspired me to keep increasing my manga collection. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Vol. 1 = get on with it. Vol. 2 = much, much better.
Fantastic Four Visionaries: John Byrne Vol. 1 left me with the feeling that Byrne was really keeping his good stuff in his back pocket until he had established himself on the FF. In Volume 2, you get a much better sense of the kind of Fantastic Four Byrne was trying to create. His art is its usual outstanding self, but the "just get on with it" feeling you got from most of the short vignettes of Vol. 1 is nowhere to be found.

You can't talk about FF Visionaries: John Byrne Vol. 2 without talking about the Galactus epic. Galactus' rebellious herald Terrax comes to Earth, battles the Fantastic Four, and then holds the entire island of Manhattan hostage unless the FF kills Galactus. It's pretty much everyone versus Galactus in a melee that most of comicdom wanted to see happen for years. The panels with Spiderman and Daredevil deciding to sit this one out ("We'd just be in the way.") are priceless. One note, though: I should call it a half-epic, as the Trial of Reed Richards, and the fate of Terrax that happened after issue #250 are not included in this volume (hopefully there will be a Vol. 3). A bit disappointing, but only mildly so.

There are other good tales here as well - the fate of Frankie Raye, Dr. Doom enlisting the FF's help to reclaim the throne of Latveria, the revelation of Franklin Richards, etc. However, the other jewel in this volume is the finale - issues #249 and #250 - which features Gladiator (of X-men and Imperial Guard fame), as well as guest appearances by Spiderman, Captain America, and the aforementioned X-men (sort of).

All in all, I'd have to say that if you're trying to gather the best graphic novelizations of Byrne's work, this title is a must-have. ... Read more

Book Description

Tokyo Babylon is a modern-day fantasy that follows Subaru Sumeragi, a young onmyouji (spiritual medium) on his quest to protect Tokyo from the evil spirits that have secretly taken residence in the city. Subaru is the 13th head of the Sumeragi clan, and together with his twin sister Hokuto and the mysterious veterinarian Seishirou, they risk life and limb as they hunt down the ghosts that threaten to destroy the city. Combining CLAMP's legendary storytelling and artwork, this introspective, character-driven series is a perfect dose of imaginative intrigue and mind-blowing adventure. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A Pleasant and Interesting Book
I've read and enjoyed Clamps works before, but this is one of
their best works. It follows the story of Shubaru and his twin
sister in their adventures in excerising ghosts from Tokyo. I was surprised to find out that this book was a kind of prequel
to the manga series X-1999. After I learned this it made me yearn to read the rest of the Tokyo Babylon series. In this book you there are three parts. The first follows the story of Subaru helping a ghost who has a deep grudge against Toyko find peace with herself and Tokyo. The second on is very amusing and you will have to read the book to find out why! The third part tells about subaru's past and a mysterious man he met there. This is an excellent series. The only Clamp series that rivals it would be their first RG Veda. I highly recommend this series!

Tokyopop doesn't dissapoint
I was thrilled to purchase this book. I have been a big fan of X(/1999) for about a year now, and I've heard from many people that Tokyo Babylon is a very good series. I researched a little on the series, and was intrigued by the plot and relationship between Subaru and Seishirou. I was really looking forward to reading this book, and I even counted down the days to it's release.
I had my worries, however. As with Gravitation and especially Fake, Tokyopop nearly destroyed the manga with it's inserts of slang words, such as "dude". Also, what if the translation was off or the word placing was simply horrible?
I am very pleased to say that neither of those problems are present in this book. A few color pages/poster are included in the book, as well as an introduction to the series (as there was in Saiyuki's manga). Honorifics are kept (which makes a big fan like me really happy), and sound effect translations are listed in the back of the book. I strongly believe this to be a smart move for Tokyopop and definitely a pleasing one for fans.
As far as the work done by Clamp, it's another great manga from this manga-ka quartet. The artwork, though it was from their early days (1991), is still very impressive. For those who have read X, I need to tell you that the art in this book is better than the first few volumes of it, which is saying something since X was started in 1993. Also, Seishirou and Subaru's interactions are downright hillarious and are made even more so by Hokuto's comments and urgings of Seishirou to try harder to seduce Subaru.
All around, this book is a classic for any Clamp fan or newbie to Clamp's work. I highly recommend it!

For those of you who've read it before....
Be prepared to be stunned.

Tokyopop actually did a wonderful job with the translation of this thing. I am one exceptionally happy camper! They've FAR outdone Viz; the horrible butchering of CLAMP manga that's occuring with poor, abused X is not repeating itself here.

That's right! All the perversion that makes Seishiro Seishiro is here. All the blushing, stammering, sweatdropping of Subaru in his 16-year-old wussiness and the horribly loud laughter, mile-long speeches and 'Sei-chan's of Hokuto are properly done, in their full and untarnished glory.

Those've you who've read the scantalations will be tremendously pleased.

Those've you reading this for the first time, I pray you enjoy it - this series is CLAMP at it's best. Angst, cuteness, 8 million different hats, a terribly deep trio of original characters and terrific plotline underlaying the insanity! Tokyo Babylon's a fabulous series. I'm trying my damnedest right now not to spoil it...

*jumping around* I want volume 5!!!! My favorite! And volume 7! *bawls like the angst-freak she is*

Anyway, this volume's a great intro to the fun to come.

'Bout time this work got it's due and got translated! And THANK GOD it's Tokyopop pulling all the stops and doing it justice instead of Viz.

Won't ruin the storyline. Will just say that while this one's good, it gets MUCH better. Stick with Tokyo Babylon, and you won't be disappointed. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

A Definite Must For Any Artist's Library!
Christopher Hart has truly done an excellent job with this book. Filled to the rim with illustrations, techniques, explanations and inside information, if you've ever wanted to learn about humorous illustration or cartooning, put this on your list. You'll be glad you did. :o)

For any type of artist
Great book. He displays how to cartoon men, women, children, elderly and many types of animals. He does it in an extremely visual way that even a child could follow along. This book is packed with 95% illustrations and 5% text. To me, that's a winner. The 5% text that is in there is invaluable. The print is nice and large and easy to read. I am very happy I bought this book. It is a keeper.

From the Beginning
From the beginning of this book to the end, it is filled with (finally) basic, step-by-step instructions on drawing cartoon people, body parts, the "action line", body language and style. And then it starts all over again with animals! Mostly dogs, cats, and different fowl, it also includes less common animals, like beaver, porcupine, raccoon and many sea animals. Can't forget the great alligators and dragon. Finally, the book spends time on placing the characters, reference lines and specialty shots and the all-important "balloon". Another great one by C. Hart. I think I own most of his books and they are all worth great merit, better than the other books I've seen out there by far.

My Drawing Bible
A few years ago, on a whim, I decided to start drawing. I didn't know where to begin so I bought this book. I really believed I couldn't draw. The techniques in this book were so easy to learn that soon I went from drawing stick figures to expressive cartoon characters. My confidence went up and I took on more complicated projects. Now, I work part-time doing illustrations and it all started here!

First-rate!
This is an excellent book for any beginning artist or anyone else wanting to learn cartooning. Chris Hart publishes some of the best books on art that I've ever seen. This book gives good details on drawing that is easy to follow and understand. All in all, this is one book that should be in every artist's library. ... Read more

Book Description

While one would think undergarments are standard fixtures on manga characters, they can be unexpectedly tricky for artists to draw. This book includes more than 4,000 illustrations showing details of these garments worn on a figure in addition to a detailed history of intimate apparel. Moreover, it enables the reader to make practical use of the illustrations provided to create easily their own fantasy costume designs. This volume is chock full of ideas ready for use! ... Read more

Book Description

This re-issue of this highly successfulMegatokyo Volume 1 brings fans a new and revisedversion of the book with improved print quality and a larger trim size. This book will contain all the comics from Chapter 0 as well as the running editorial comments featured in the original release. Exclusive to the Dark Horse reissue will be additional drawings, historical notes, and selected rants from this first developmental year of the Megatokyo webcomic. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Best webcomic ever.
This is my absolute favorite web comic ever created. And I've read a lot of web comics. Of course you can read this for free online, but buying the book really helps support the creators (all hail Fred!). Plus in the book you get Fred's comments about each page, plus sketches that weren't seen before in print or on the web.

All of the characters in this book are easy to relate to, and each have a distinct look and personality to them. The story itself is mostly funny at first, with a few dramatic moments along the way. This book covers everything that preceeds the first chapter in the comic, including setting up the characters and their motives behind them.

If you love the online gaming lifestyle, or are just mildly interested in it, this book is fun to read.

very good
Before I picked this book up, I had no idea what Megatokyo was, or even that it was possible to read it for free online. However, I'm still happy I got this book. For one thing, the price really isn't all that bad, and for another, it's nice not to have to read anything off a screen. I had a hideous headache from trying to read all of Sluggy Freelance in one weekend, lol (and, by the way, there are references to Sluggy Freelance in this comic, so Sluggy fans may want to take a look at it). Also, Fred Gallagher (Piro) adds some commentary to many of the comics, which would probably be enjoyable for people who've already read the comics online.

Basically, this comic is about two gamers who end up flying to Tokyo, where they spend all their money and can't afford to fly back home. Largo enjoys RPGs, first person shooters, and other games, while Piro enjoys dating sims. The games they enjoy tend to color their views of the world, which can be pretty amusing. The comic is a lot of fun to read, and I'm looking forward to reading more. Also, I really like the artwork, which is pencil drawings without any inking or coloring.

Interesting
You can of course read it for free straight from the website, but this is very cool. I had no idea that this was sold now, this and Venus Envy are must buys (though I'm not sure if the comic Venus Envy is sold on amazon)

T3h Aw3s0m3ness!
Megatokyo has to be one of the funniest things I've ever read. It has everything. Fred is a genius with irony and character placement (when he wants to be XD). And many people will be surprised to find that they're very much like at least one of the characters in the story in so many ways that you can't help but like them. The only problem *others* might have with this is Largo's L33T-ness and speech, but most of the time it's very comical.

If you've NEVER read Megatokyo, you REALLY should, at least once. Pick up a copy of the books and just read through them, and you won't be sorry, I promise.

c00l book for the 1337 r34d3r
For anyone interesting in both anime and video games, Megatokyo ish teh b35t. ^____^ I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one more than once. Lots of funny things!! -huggles Piro- ^^" Everyone.. Must.. Read!!! ... Read more