Book Description

It's not easy being beautiful.The envy, the jealousy, the vicious rumors spread by your best friend.That's life for young Momo.While everyone thinks that Momo is a wild party girl, the reality is that she is shy and honest.Can Momo confess her love to her classmate Toji, or will her best friend Sae steal him away.It's a bittersweet drama of growing up and fitting in that will charm girls everywhere. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Peach girl
In the last volume you were left off with Momo waking up in a hotel room, not knowing where she was or how she got there, and finding Goro (a super hot model that is head over heals for sae: a vicious copier of Momo that only tries to steal every happy thing in Momo's life). In this volume, Momo is scared to death at the thought that she might have been "deflowered" by Goro. With the help of Kiley, they figure out that Sae is behind it all. Kiley has thought up a clever plan to get revenge against Sae, and all works out fine until something very wrong happens. I won't give away the ending but this is a book you surely don't want to miss.

Drama, Drama...
Peach Girl #6 is one of the best books in the series. I got it before I got Book 5, and 4, and I still understood it!

It begins with Momo, waking up in a hotel room with Goro. he tells her they did the deed, and she doesn't believe him. Meaniwhile, Toji is runnning to the rescue. And MEANWHILE, Sae is there for the whole thing. I won't spoil it for you, don't worry! This volume is VERY dramatic, with a LOT of TLC from toji to Momo, and a LOT of unbelieveable things Sae has done. You will NOT BELIEVE how complex her plan was. This book may not be for everyone. It has some verbal profanity, and at the end there's something....distasteful. But the end is a super-duper cliffhanger....But it's an amazing book!

Peach Girl 6
Another good addition to the peach girl series. Though the books seem to be getting progressively less realistic, they're still fun.

Kiley's back!
When we last saw Momo, she woke up naked in supermodel Goro's room to him asking, "Are you happy Momo? I gave you what you wanted." In volume six of Peach Girl, the big question is, Did he or didn't he?, then What to do next?
As Toji runs to Momo's rescue, he luckily runs into (or rather, is run over by) Kiley and Nurse Misao. Putting aside the immediate question of why are Kiley and Nurse Misao driving together at 1AM, they rush into the hotel room where Goro is holding Momo, and the drama begins. With help from Misao's words of wisdom and comfort and Kiley's conniving brain, Momo and Toji are able to piece together what has happend during the night. Once the stories are cleared up, Kiley is at his all time best, pointing out that when dealing with Sae, head on approaches are futile; the best way to deal with her is to take revenge.
This volume of Peach Girl is full of more drama than comedy. However, the comedy made me (literally) laugh out loud. There is some verbal profanity in this volume, so some more sensitive readers may be offended. The sexual references that are common with Peach Girl are discussed frankly, including a shocking yet funny image of Sae closing the story. All in all, this is the Peach Girl you know and have come to love, only this time Miwa Ueda is not holding back. ... Read more

Reviews (18)

The best art teaching book available...
"Drawing Cutting Edge Comics" has been the best drawing book I have seen on the market by Chris Hart in a long time. Totally blows his other books away! How ever, it's more for ppl who already know how to draw human anatomy...a.k.a they don't show you how to draw the human body in motion like "How To Draw Comics The Marvel Way." This book is def. like a book for ppl who are serious about going into the Comic Book Industry. It's a must buy.

Doesn't get much better than this
Two thumbs up! This book blows Hart's previous how to books based on comic art out of the water. It shows examples of correct anatomy, facial expressions, different camera angles, foreshortening, perspective, page design, and genre types. And for those who want to draw beautiful women and massive men this book shows you how. Those basics are a must have for those of you who want to be aspiring artists, because the comic industry is very compeitive. Some of the samples of art are outstanding! This book is for more of advanced artists. It also gives you tips from top people in the industry from TopCow and Chaos comics. The styles shown is this book are how many top artists draw now so if you wanna be a perfessional comic artists I implore you this book is absolutly a must have! I use this book as an everyday reference so it's easily worth it's money and can help you develop that cutting edge you need. DO U ENJOY DRAWING COMIC ART AND READING COMICS AND LIKE TO TALK ABOUT IT, E-MAIL ME.

You want to draw better?
I'm a begining artist and I must say this book helps a lot. I would recommend you start with Hart's earlier book on human anatomy made easy to get you started. This book is for advanced artist looking for that extra something. This book will definately help with that.

Good compliment, but can't stand on its own
The good thing about this book is that most basic drawing ideas are covered: faces, basic anatomy, and perspective. One of the articles I particularly like is the drawing comparison between different top artists (from using the same reference). It gives an idea of how to develop your own unique style rather than copying someone elses. The focus in the "cutting edge" comic market today is to give a "dark" feeling. Hence inking is exaggerated and skin tones are darker (compare Witchblade to Wonder Woman and you'll know what I mean). If you're interested in these aspects of drawing, then this book will give you a taste that no current other book can offer.

Despite the uniqueness of this book, the problem is that book is NOT a stand-alone (all-in-one) guide to drawing "Top-Cow" and "Chaos" style comics. If you are a newbie in drawing, then this book is more eye-candy than an aid to help you. You will have difficulties reaching Al Rio's level of quality on this book alone. There are little step-by-step instructions or diagrams. Since there are different artists contributing to different sections of the book, it can be a distraction. No offense, but I don't really think Chris Hart's artwork is "cutting edge." It looks rather cartoony as another reviewer said. Hence, I think this book can be better streamlined and edited. In addition, there should be more about shading, more about anatomy and poses, and more about creating impact. I think Andy Smith's "Drawing Dynamic Comics" has better basics than this book. In fact, it would be good to pick up that book as well because it gives a different perspective from another author. In any event, this book tries to do too much. I would rather have this book dump all the "basic stuff" and dig deeper into the advanced stuff.

The tutorial for comic artists
I ordered several comic drawing books, and being an artist for many years, this book adds punch to your drawing arsenal. While this book does not teach you the bare basics of drawing or drawing comics (I highly recommend "Drawing Comics The Marvel Way" If you need the basics) it teaches you how to make your drawings better.

While this comic style may be a "fad" and some critcs say the modern style of comics is overdone and cliched, this book goes beyond the cliches and the fads... it teaches you how to think out of the box, which is what comic fans want.

Recommended! ... Read more

Book Description

The wildly popular web comic that spawned a best selling trade paperback has found a new home! Fans and friends of the Megatokyo web comic have come to love the characters and their offbeat adventures. Whether they are entangled in a fantasy gaming scenario, saving Tokyo from devastation by rampaging zombies, or taking awkward and disaster-filled steps towards a meaningful relationship, we get to experience Tokyo through their many unique and drastically different points of view. Rife with references to video game and anime culture both here and in Japan, it is a story that contrasts the cultures, the characters, and their own perceptions of what is around them. Those new to the series may find familiar emotions and a dialogue that is eerily similar to their own. Volume 2 contains Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 of the Megatokyo webcomic, complete with miscellaneous comics, sketches and other material. Extra material exclusive to the print edition includes editorial comments by the author and a short story with illustrations from the Endgames gaming universe. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

L33T
This installment of Megatokyo is a big improvement from volume one. The most noticeable change is the lack of notes at the bottom of each page. Those really slowed down the first book. The other improvements are character development and story complexity.

There is good news for Chobits fans. The PS2 accessory, Ping, takes on a bigger roll this time. Also Erika and Hayasaka are drawn so you can tell them apart.

Unfortunately, the stick figures from the first book are present in volume two, but it's only for two pages.

Volume two definitely has a high school feel to it, opposed to the PS2 feel of the first. I enjoyed seeing Largo teach English. It's good to have him doing something constructive. Although in the end, I was rooting for Piro.

Highly Recommended
MegaTokyo takes American comic strips and blends them with Japanese comic art styles and stories. These comics are dangerously funny and feature high quality drawings.

Enjoy the lighter side of comics and don't take yourself too seriously with these comics. Full of great laughs and good storytelling. I recommend you read this book and share it with your game-loving, anime/manga-fan, or just plain geek friends.

Enjoyable and accessible
Ever since my introduction to this webcomic two years ago, I have thoroughly enjoyed my weekly adventures into the world of Megatokyo and the misadventures of Piro and Largo, two American gamers stranded in Japan. (A circumstance that is entirely their own fault, I might add.)
Fred Gallagher and Dark Horse Comics combined to produce this wonderful print copy of Chapters 1 and 2 of the Megatokyo story, adding the highly amusing, if painful to see, SGD strips and a new section collecting the drawings of Piro and Largo's gameworld and an excellent short story based on that world. I hope to see more print editions of Megatokyo and maybe even a continuation of the Endgames story. Highly, highly recommended.

l33tI\I3$$
Can @nyone sp3ak l33t? L3t @lon3 underst@nd i7? I c@n kind@. I @bsolutely luv thi$ b00k. I s@y u @ll should read it at least 0nce!

Singing the praises
I must say, congrats to Fred for getting picked up by Dark Horse!

This is an amazing comic, been reading it now for... 2 years or so I think.. Keeps you coming back for more all the time.

As for book 2.. A much better quality than book one was by IronCat.. I have the IronCat book 1, but as soon as Dark Horse relases it, I'm getting that one as well.

This is a must read for everyone, this WILL become the staple must read for all manga fans, as much as Akira and Ghost In The Shell is for anime fans. ... Read more

Book Description

This book shows the techniques for drawing charming feminine characters and fully explains a woman's range of poses and the expression of the bodyline.Also, clothes, accessories, make-up, and various other materials and how they rest on the body are thoroughly explained. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

The Firefly Review
As the cover suggests, this book has a very mature theme. This book does not show you how to draw pretty girls; rather it is a book for those who already know how to draw them. There is a very useful series on a comparison between the adult and girlish figure, a page at the end of each chapter. However, there is nudity (you will see nipples) and many shots from underneath a short skirt so that you can get a good view of the underwear. Like the other titles in the how to draw manga series, this is a high quality book, with an excellent translation job and great pictures. This is not a step by step book.
This book has five chapters:

1. Roundness and Curves: A short chapter on presenting a female character in an alluring way.

2. See-through Garments and Suggesting the Body Under Clothing: Pretty much what the title suggests, this long chapter covers all sorts of materials and how they appear on the body. This section covers a detailed section on how to express transparent clothing with screen tones, or wet clothes clinging to the body. It also has some odd things like wrapping the body in ribbon, and oiled or metallic skin. The fetish and bondage fashions aren't so bad, just weird. The best part is that they show you materials like leather, rubber and stretch, and how to draw them on the body.

3. Accentuating Particular Body Parts: Starting with a sexy picture of a gorgeous manga girl titled: women are beauty incarnate; this section goes through all the parts of the body and how to express them with their own particular accessories.( Hands, arms, the nape, the back, feet etc..) This is my favorite part!

4. Attention-getting Poses and Situations: Goes through all sorts of poses and ideas for drawing characters in striking ways. This part covers jumping over fences, kissing or biting things, putting on make-up, etc. There is, of course, a part on the ever popular sailor suit, and its styles. Also, a not so useful part on what to wear under a bathing suit is also included.

5. Learn From the Pros: This last chapter has four complete artworks with a commentary and the rough sketch included. They are not cutesy pictures, but I like them al the same. The FETISH FRIENDS picture is beautifully drawn despite its controversial theme. It is a picture of two girls, one girl with her hand on the other girl's nude breast both of them with veeeery happy expressions on their faces, if you know what I mean.

This book is for advanced artists. If you don't get any use from it immediately, it will come in handy in the future as your skill improves.

More good than it is bad..
I bought this book in October and when I'm having difficulty drawing some body part or another I can always refer to this book. It covers ways to make the hands, feet, back, neck, breasts, and waist look good. i've always found hands and feet to be two of my trouble spots when it comes to drawing manga, so this was helpful. I do have to say that there is quite a bit of nudity in the book and a few things that would not be appropriate for someone under age 13 (bondage fashions, see through clothing...) So if you're thinking to buy this as a gift, be sure the recipient is at least 13.

Very helpful book
I found this book very useful for shading and drawing various parts of the body. I also liked the section on hands, because I'm not very good at drawing them. The section on drawing backs was also helpful. by the way, I AM a girl, and yes I found every aspect of this book helpful in some way or another. I don't believe that the other female reviewers I noticed had a very good idea of how much you can learn from this book...

Excellent Resource Book For Those Experienced In Art Basics
First off, do not, I repeat, DO NOT let the nudity turn you off to this book; most of it is in the vein of Playboy rather than hardcore skin flicks. Let's be realistic, when a book's main focus is the female form, seeing a girl's birthday suit is expected. All of the naked bodies are not gratuitous, but necessary for learning the subject. But, to each his/her own.

For the mature, knowledgable artist, this book has many wonderful sections dedicated to drawing such difficult clothing materials as leather, rubber, jeans, and others. Hayashi also goes over the subtle, sexy things about drawing a pretty gal: the nape of the neck, the back, etc. Works from well known artists are displayed in the back of the book (including "Fetish Friends") which show the genesis of the drawing all the way to the finished product.

In short, I would not recommend buying this book for a young teenager, but for the grown up artist who has the desire to improve their skills for creating sexy women (even it involves looking at a set of breasts or two.)

Not a good buy
If you actually want to draw pretty females, then find some other book: this one is just an excuse to leer at the naked girls printed, not a real handbook to actually learn to draw. ... Read more

Book Description

Author Masashi Kishimoto made his debut in Weekly Shonen Jump in 1999 with Naruto, which won the Hop Step Award. Naruto must pass the difficult test to enter the Ninja Academy; deal with his rival, Konohamaru; and learn to get along with his new classmates, Sasuke and Sakura. Assigned to a three-person team, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura must survive a brutal test against their upper-level ninja instructor, Kakashi. Only two can pass — will Naruto be one of them? ... Read more

Reviews (41)

Excellent - Surprising on many levels!
I normally don't read shonen (boys) manga, because it just isn't my thing. BUT...after a friend loaned me this first volume, I couldn't get enough! There's a lot of character development and back story packed into this manga. The students grow and change, becoming more mature as the volumes progress.

There's a good mix of action scenes and plot movement, so I think it's safe to say that there's something for just about everyone in the Naruto manga (it even has a lot of female fans!). The battles are interesting in that your favorite character (or the one who seems most likely to win) may not win. The use of extreme force is often balanced by the fact that it's a severe drain on the user. The characters need to think quickly and choose which fighting form is appropriate to the given situation, rather than just rush in haphazardly.

But all that is, in my mind, secondary to the interesting characters present in the manga. Many of them have elaborate backstories which serve to bring this story to life.

The only downside is that one of the main females is rather...well...useless. But I have a feeling that will change as she learns and grows from the trials presented her.

I can't recommend this manga highly enough!

Naruto no jutsu!
Wow! Naruto is here in the U.S!! I would recommend Naruto to everyone!

At first i didn't take naruto very serious, hearing thats it's a shounen anime/manga (meaning it mainly captures male viewers/readers), but once i gave it a chance, i fell in love!

Naruto is truly a great series, one of the best in fact. Both the anime and Manga are simply too great! The anime follows the manga so much, your actually reading the manga as u watch the anime. Although the manga is way ahead of the anime, i still watch it. I can watch and read naruto so many times and it will never bore me.

I'm usually the type of person who likes to read mangas that have good plots. Not some long running plot that won't go anywhere for the longest time. Naruto; however, is long but the story keeps getting better. Thats the glory of it! :D

So what are you waiting for?! go buy/watch/read Naruto! Do anything as long as u get naruto in ur system!

oh by the way, i agree with nathan, if Masashi kishimoto approved the translation, it's ok with me! i actually think it's not that bad. :)

I've watched the Anime and read the Manga...
And I'm telling you, it's worth every penny! The fansubs are still out there, and I'm up-to-date with episode 90, and I've read the first and second Mangas. This series is an amazing feat of work and creativity!

Naruto, a boy with the spirit of a Kitsune inside him, struggles to become the greatest Ninja ever! Action-packed, humorous, you'll laugh... you'll cry...you'll be very glad you bought this!

Good Book, translation frustrated.
I've read the home translated comics and they are far better than these ones. The books are great but i really wished they had have used the same names for the techniques that they did in the japanese ones.

good transalation of a great manga
first of all this manga is great.ive already read up to vol 23 in jappaneese. anyway i decided to check out the transaltions for the us version and they (shonen jump)transalated it pretty good.except they did change the jutus names a little(kage bushin no jutsu now dopplegangers)but other than that they did an alright job. ... Read more

Book Description

Marlo has a problem. On the night of the full moon, this half-werewolf, half-vampire undergoes a mysterious and terrifying transformation: He turns into a girl. Desperate for a cure, his parents call on Doctor Vincent, a long time family friend. But Marlo wants to keep his condition secret from Vincent's son, the vampire playboy David.Unfortunately, the secret gets out, and a new problem surfaces: David is interested in Marlo's female form! If a remedy can't be found, their parents believe the next best solution is marriage - a marriage between Marlo and David! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A PYTHON-ESQUE MANGA ADVENTURE
Mix a little Monty Python with a splash of Van Helsing and do it all in Manga style and you get an uproariously funny new book from TokyoPop.It was some 10,000 years ago...or maybe it was just three, that the Kingdom of Dikay was overrun by the demonic forces of evil until a champion arose to vanquish them and bring peace to the land.Now, the great champion, the hunter of evil, Van Von Hunter is ready to do battle again against the "evil one" and recruits an old comrade, his next door neighbor... "what's her name?"Well, no matter, fighting evil is her birthright even if she can't remember who she is.

Evil is afoot as the Dark Prince returns to the Land of Dikay, intent on retrieving an evil artifact and reclaiming his throne...if he can only remember where to find it.He's joined by what looks like Elsie the Cow on steroids and a decayed little jester who promises the Prince he can show him how to unleash darkness on the world.Van and...what is her name...are off on their quest as well because it says to do in the "Manual of Exposition."But before Van can retrieve the artifact he has to face the "trials of the sandwich" and that is one nasty piece of deli fare that he has to eat and has been putrefying since it was forged a thousand years ago.Van cleverly diverts the priests who guard the sandwich and hides it behind his back and the Priests now deem him worthy.Of course they neglected to tell him the artifact had been stolen centuries ago.And so Van and his comrade, ummm, well her, continue their journey onward, on a collision course with the Prince of Dikay and his forces which include a only a small band of peasants but hey...they're disgruntled peasants.

Van Von Hunter was one of the funniest, most entertaining books I've read in a long time.Filled with bad jokes, worse puns, and riotous slapstick, not everything always works but there's so much that you can't help but laugh out loud over and over again.It's not easy to do great comedy in a graphic format and this one succeeds on all countsMike Schwark and Ron Kaulfersch, winners of TokyoPops Rising Stars of Manga, have fashioned a Mel Brooks-style Manga adventure with a great script and outstanding artwork.The note pages on each character in the back of the book are amusing as well.What a fun book this was to read.I'm anxiously awaiting the second volume.


Reviewed by Tim Janson

IT ROCKED!!!
Van Von Hunter is one of the best comics I've ever read!
(P.S go to vanvonhunter.com to read the firt Van Von Hunter comic strip.) ... Read more

Reviews (17)

He still hasn't lost his touch
One thing Ken Akamatsu is best at, is giving every character in his stories a fun and deep personality. In his earlier manga Love Hina, he had 5 girls to give a different face to each. Now he's splitting his ability between 31 female characters, a 10 year old wizard, and an whole staff of unique teachers, and he still hasn't lost his incredible ability. Like his manga's before, Negima is original, funny, displays beautiful artwork, and is fun to read. Unfortunately, he hasn't dropped his perverted side, so this manga isn't exactly for the younger generation, but this is still a great manga that I have high hopes won't sit in the shadow of Love Hina for much longer. Definetly a must-have for manga fans.

Harry Potter? NOWAY!
I have read Love Hina and A.I. Love you, included the Isattude No Santa which is a special of the same Ken Akamatsu, I started downloading this manga from the web, but finally as I made with Love Hina I decided to start buying the paper... The first sensation I got after a second rereading was that I got into Hogwarts... Harry Potter, but nep! They kinda make the same joke I did... with Quidditch... wow!
The story is fun, just like the Love Hina series, you will find the similarities on the characters, been Negi = Keitaro, Seta-san = Takahata-sensei, Naru = Asuna, and keep on going.
The story is different, the main character is a little brainy so dont worry about doing dummy stuff, eventhough he does... duh!
This is a very funny and hilarious series, I am sure we all will spend a lot of time laughing at this... I wanna see the end of it... wanna know what will happen if we go with the same kinda story of Love Hina... anyways, its one of the bests!

Not for some...But fun for others
Let's get one thing straight, Love Hina was awsome, and if your looking for another series like it...look some where else. On the other hand if you like Mr. Akamatsu's art, and are looking for some magic and off beat humor...then here is your match. Good character development, and quick pace are Akamatsu's freinds, which he uses with skill. Truly above average manga for those who arn't into much perverson or vilolence.

reply to alexander from bonnie england
If you are an insensitive creep don't get this manga, May 31, 2004
Reviewer: Alexander from Bonnie old England
Reviewer: tweedldum65 (see more about me) from Chardon, Ohio United States
This is one of the worst mangas I have ever read it is so boring. Its about kids at school want to know something amazing I go to school everyday and they dont make that into a manga. So dont read this manga it is absolutely horrible.

Ok then, this guy deserves to die.
Love hina was the best manga... ever.

And now that he's released his new work don't you think it might be... how do I put this... better?

Oh yes I have read up to book three in Japanese and I can say that if you dont like this book you have to like those to come.

For the love of god just buy the damn book or you will be missing out on something great.

I read the retarded manga and it was so horrible how can you like it, and sorry I'm not missing out on anything but a waste of my time. If you actually like this their is something terribly wrong with you. I do not deserve to die what does though is this manga.

The viewpoint from a Japanese
A lot of women's naked body is drawn on these comics.
It is describing, even if it is a scene without the necessity of exposing the female skin.
This comic price is about 4 dollars(390yen) in Japan. ... Read more

Book Description

The Hinata house is about to get some new tenants.Naru’s old tutor and secret crush, Seita Noriyasu, stops by with his adopted daughter Sarah, a spunky 7-year-old American.With Naru’s affections drifting to the charismatic older Seita, Keitaro is in danger of losing his one true love.As if things aren’t crazy enough, there’s a new pet in the Hinata House as well -- a flying sea turtle named Tama-chan, who loves to chase the girls around. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

A Romance with no Drama
This series is grate. Naru realizes(kinda)that she likes Keitaro and before that makes him cry. READ THIS!!!!

Excellent!
The story so far: Keitaro remembers making a promise to a girl about attending Tokyo University so they could live happily ever after together. Unfortunately he doesn't know who this girl is but he thinks it may be the most abusive resident at Hinata House! It turns out that she isn't as bad as she seems when she offers to help him study for the entranace exams since that is her goal too. Naru becomes upset after failing her entrance exams and finding herself a ronin. She trys to runaway but Keitaro follows. As she trys to get away from him they end up running into eachother everywhere! They end up at the same hotel (turns out they're both using the smae travel guide) and the woman there is a room short and puts them in the same room! A Honeymoon Room! Meanwhile back at Hinata House, the residents frantically try to find the two fearing that they may have tied the knot! This thought causes panic in the residents because although they don't want to admit, they have a crush on Keitaro! My favorite of the first three is this one! by far the funniest!
In this volume: Naru's blues about failing the entrance exam catch up to her. Keitaro and Naru's friend Mutsumi turns out to be a major harzard to herself and others. Keitaro now must deal with the turtle that Mutsumi gave them. Keitaro and and Naru go on a hunt to track down Tama-chan because she has left with a watch that belongs to Naru. As they try to follow her it turns out that Hinata House has many secret passages and that the watch is so important to Naru because Keitaro gave it to her last Christmas! So does she really like him? Not even she wants to come to terms with her feelings!

Great manga, definetly a must read
Love Hina is definetely a great manga for everyone. It follows the antics of 19 year old ronin (student who fails his college exams) as caretaker of a womans dorm. I own both the Tokyopop version and the existing Kodansha bilinguals, but I think that the Tokyopop version is a bit more of an ejoyable read than the bilingual. For one, the Japanese cultural references are made easier for a Western reader to comprehend, and the dialogue comes across as being much more fluid. However, the bilinguals tend to translate some things that the tokyopop version skips, like sound effects and dramatic asides from characters. If you're looking for an exact translation at the expense of the plot, stick with the bilinguals. But the bilinguals are much shorter than the Tokopop version, so really, #6,7,8 of the bilinguals are just #4-5 on the tokyopop, so don't think you can buy the bilingual to get a jump on Tokyopops stupid release schedule. (One book a month!? don't they know how long that is to wait??) I haven't seen the anime yet, but I hear it compresses a lot of the plot and downplays the character depth, which is by far the best part of the series. No matter who you are, you'll love the eccentric cast of characters and the way the interact with each other. I've read some of the as yet un-published manga online, and it just keeps getting better (and weirder.) Hope this review helped you a lot. All that said, this is the coolest manga ever, and is a great buy for anyone who likes manga or just Japanese culture in general.

Good Story, but the Bilingual is Better
I have greatly enjoyed this anime series. The antics of Keitaro keep getting him into trouble with the girls in his house. Eventually they grow to love him, and you will too. On the other hand, I have read both this version of the Love Hina series and the Bilingual version. While the text is almost identical, the bilingual version translates the in frame descriptions off to the side. Things like "chop chop", "ashamed", etc are only translated in the bilingual. Beyond that, the bilingual version is printed on higher quality materials and features the outer cover common to manga, which the english version does not. Also, all of the volumes are available in the bilingual form, so you dont have to wait until december to get 6, 7, and 8. So, my final summary is that the story is very amusing, but you should get it in the bilingual form, which can be found online for only [$$] more. ... Read more

Book Description

While they recover from their injuries, Kakashi puts Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura on a strict training regimen to protect Tazuna's family against Zabuza's next attack. But Zabuza has a dangerous new apprentice in Haku.And as the bridge comes closer to completion, our heroes must be willing to kill - or die. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

More a review for the series
My brother introduced me to Naruto, and at first it seemed to be just another silly action/adventure. But as I continued reading, I realized that the story is much like Naruto himself; it hid a gentle heart under a seemingly rough exterior. There are some basic themes to Naruto, and one of the more important ones is the strength of friendship and family. The concept of protecting those who are precious to you is introduced here, but will carry on throughout the series. True, I love the fights, but I enjoy it more because both sides have a reason to fight. And whichever side loses, they have lost something tangible.
As annoying and incompetent Naruto can be, one can't help but cheer for him, because he doesn't give up. The chips are stacked against him, but he finds the courage to continue. There's a lot more I could say, but the characters (many of which haven't really been introduced at this point) are so interesting and each has so much back history, that I can't really do them justice. All I can do is recommend this series. The world of Naruto is complex, but operates within oddly logical confines. So, enjoy the story and let Naruto show you how to show some empathy and understand for even your adversaries.

Naruto is the best anime ever
Hey guys, listen up...
I'm up to date on with the fansubs from japan, episode 87 of the 220+ mangas already produced and still in the making. The quality of Naruto exponentially rises throughout the entire series, and has the best character development of all time. so good that the viewers even get an understanding to each villain. There is soo much to discover in the mysterious world of shinobis, and it....left me smacking myself waiting for next weeks fansub. Its the hottest thing in japan right now, and soon the US. And make sure to get the Ps2 game, Naruto: Narutimate hero. It is the best fighting game, like smash bros. but new and unique, best of all bandai is making it (co. that releases the series, and most anime) so fans made it, meaning everything is correct to the series. My advice is ... GET EVERYTHING RELATED TO NARUTO, YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED.

awsome yet more cool... then the second?
still haven't got this manga but i think the naruto series is better yet different then 0ne PiECe yet ive seen most of the begining

Masashi Kishimoto kicks ass
Naruto is consistant. It is consistant in its artwork, and it is consistant with the way the author is developing the characters. With each issue the Masashi Kishimoto is revealing more about the heroes and the villians. He is good.
Volume 3 ended with a cliff hanger, and that's the only reason why I give it a 4 stars instead of 5 (which Volume 1 and 2 deserved). ... Read more

Book Description

A Diva torn from Chaos; a Savior doomed to Love Take an amazing journey with a mysterious young woman who is searching for identity and salvation in this world and beyond. Ai finds herself lost, alone and penniless on the cold, hard streets of Tokyo. With flickers of memory, she must piece together clues about who she is, how she ended up on Earth and the secret of the ornate heart-shaped box she carries with her. Sparks fly when Kent, a complicated young college student, offers his help...and possibly more. But time is running out, as the clashing forces of love and chaos close in around her... ... Read more

Reviews (3)

I went into this hopeful.
I wanted to check it out since Courtney Love is a good musician in my eyes, despite the fact that a lot of people dislike her. I purchased this yesterday (July 15th, 2004), and I'll be returning it within the next few days. I could not finish this title, that's something I've never done with a manga title before.

Mostly, I kind of chuckled in the beginning, since the dialogue was kind of choppy, but it kept getting worse. I could deal with the almost constant 'heart-shaped box' whenever she mentioned her locket-box. It was annoying, because it made it flow strangely. But then you meet Kent, Ai's love interest, who suspiciously looks, acts, and has a name similiar to Kurt Cobain.

I realize Princess Ai is supposed to be Love's self-insertion manga, she's mentioned it before. But the more I read, a few things became very, very apparent to me. It reads like a second grade storybook, because the dialogue phrases things in awkward ways, and not only once either; they keep repeating themselves. Secondly, Ai's supposed inability to recall memories seems to be defeated very easily, but she has to mention that's she's receiving a memory each time she does. And lastly, I feel, although personally this is my opinion, she's trying to make money off her deceased husband. Because Kent is similar to Cobain, and the number of times 'heart-shaped box' awkwardly is mentioned is uncountable. I don't know if this is due to a bad translation. Was it published in Japan before now or was it an English release first?

Another thing that bothered me was that the manga's bad guys seem very see-through. Their logic makes little sense to me, and I'm pretty intelligent, and I read parts of this manga to different people I know and none of them could get it, either. Maybe it's because I didn't finish it, I don't know if there's more. I'll admit that.

About 2/3rds into the manga, I just gave up. I couldn't read after her 'heart-shaped box' turned into a 'heart-shaped necklace' that 'beared the same crest as the book' she had found at Kent's library job on campus. The dialogue and everything completely overtook me and I couldn't read it anymore. The plot is very shallow and I'm surprised this was released, it seems more for children than adults.

On the plus side, the art is absolutely gorgeous. It's the best thing about Princess Ai, and it's a shame that it had to go to waste as it was. This however, is a good example of how pretty art does not always mean there's a good story, but rather covers or a lack of thereof.

My review is probably a frustration to people who enjoyed the story. But to me, Princess Ai is all glamour with no calories of intelligence. I had my choice between the second volume of Eerie Queerie and this title, and I took a chance because I was feeling bold. I regret my decision and will be returning this title for the other instead.

A manga with a new twist
A great new twist on the genre. Usually It's the girl from "now" gets thrown into the mystical world, here the mystical get thrown into the "now". Aspects of Courtney Love are easily seen in Ai. From having to survive in Tokyo to a Heart-Shaped Box to falling in love with a blue-eyed singer/songwriter/guitar player. I'll be honest with you, I don't like Love, she a great artist, but she does piss me off; but this is a must have for any manga fan.

Great New Manga!
The new manga created by Courtney Love is a must for Shojo fans! The story of the lost Princess Ai searching for her past while following her passion to be a singer fits perfectly in with other fantasy/romance Shojo titles. Most of all, the artwork is beautiful! The artwork has the same feel as my favorite American manga series: "Shutterbox" by Rikki Simmons & Tavisha; so, if you are also a fan of "Shutterbox" you should definitely check out "Princess Ai." ... Read more

Book Description

In this volume, Yahiko tries to save a waitress from a yakuza gang, the incredible fighter Raijunta Isurugi defeats the school's master, and Kenshin must use his antiquated swordsmanship to battle Raijunta. ... Read more

Reviews (53)

Rurouni Kenshin Rocks!!!!
Rurouni Kenshin is the best if not one of the best manga/anime ever! Its graphics, story, plot, characters are excellent. I recommend it for children, teenagers, and adults alike. The thing I like most is that it gives a glimpse of japanese history and most of all it gives a statement on good morals and non-violence. Rurouni Kenshin deserves more than 5 stars. Hail to the Nobuhiro Watsuki!!!

Action packed book
I love this book!I want all of them I just wish I hadn't lost this one!It's funny really because I thaught they didn't have volume two here in parkersburg and so I waited until I went to charleston with my friends. Well they had volume 1-13 their. Well a month later I lose the book and they canceled Rurouni Kenshin on Toonami sniff sniff waaaah!So I go to the Waldenbooks here and they had all the Rurouni Kenshin books but couldn't see them!So I got volume3 and now I need $10.00 more dollars so I can buy volume2 again!
Your Friend,
New Rurouni Kenshin Fan

kenshin is a pimp!
rurrouni kenshin is my favorite manga! even my teacher reads it it is about a wandering samurai that used to kill and earned his name hitokairi battosai his name comes from the fact hes mastered everything that battojutsu has to offer num.1 introduces it and if you watch the show you know his favorite word is oro the graphic novel is the best cus it is uneddited unlike the show on cartoonnetworkso buy this trust you can sue me if you dont like it.

Orororororo
I first got into RK by watching the first OVA epdisode, I was like amazed how well the animation was.And then I started to watching and reading the anime/manga.I'm 23, and I haven't read/watch anime/manga for a looong time... this book made me laughed.I mean it's a very well designed character that helps kids understand you don't have to be bad to be cool.And I just love the fact they make Kenshin somewhat serious and then suddenly "oro" and gets whack by Karou is just too cute not to laugh.I feel this is very fun and educational to read for both kids and adults.

Kenshin volume 1.
I loved this book it got me hooked and now i have volumes 1-12 of them.Most volume 1 of books are boring but not this one.You'll be hooked after this one i guarente it.It is about Himura Kenshin better know as Hitokiri Battosai.Kenshin is a wanderer repenting for the lives he killed in the revolution turning away from his past. As he is traveling in Tokyo he runs into a girl named Karou who acuses him of being the Battosaiwhen she sees him carrying a sword.She draws his sword to find out its a reverse blade.Just then there is a big comomtion. The fake battosai has struck! Karou tries to stop him but is injured.Shes about to about to die when Kenshin saves her. Later on Kenshin reveals himself to be the real Battosai. Beating (not killing) his oppents.The fake battosai returns hiring Sano to beat Kenshin.The battle begins.It leaves u on a cliffhanger so u have to buy vol. 2 wich is even better! ... Read more

Book Description

You know that couple that was obviously meant for each other, and everybody knew it, except them? That`s Yukino and Soichiro, the two top students in school, who are capable of anything other than a normal relationship. Still, despite all they`ve been through, it seems they could finally be getting together.But now, the school`s token pretty boy, Hideaki, is intent on wedging himself in between them, for reasons they can`t begin to imagine. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Where Do We Go From Here?
Yukino and Soichiro have sparred, coming to a mutual understanding of each other. They have both seen the cracks in each others' facade of effortless perfection, but still face a long road ahead on their journey together.

Masami Tsuda has crafted the first volume of a series that could redefine shoujo manga. That said, the sudden jump to another unrelated short tale in volume 1 hints at creative discord that could unravel Kare Kano.

Where do we go from here?

In both cases, the right direction. Kare Kano volume 2 naturally progresses the relationship between Yukino and Soichiro at a pace that allows for real relationships to form. Bringing in the character of Hideaki as their foil is a classic but effective plot development that really adds to the Kare Kano universe.

Tsuba recovers from her temporary creative block and delivers another great volume. Her creativity has settled into a groove, and this edition feels a lot more natural than volume 1. The artwork has also relaxed nicely, and flows smoothly from panel to panel.

If you've read this far, chances are you own the first Kare Kano book. You've experienced the engrossing story, engaging characters and perfect blend of wit and wariness in the dialogue.

Why are you still reading this?

Kare Kano: unique, interesting, and fun
Yukino always wanted to be the top student at her school, but then Soiichiro shows up and tops her score without even wanting to be the top student or so she thinks. She has tried too hard too be the best student just to get all of her class mates attention that she is not about to let someone come in and screw it up for her, there is only one problem she didn't expect that wile trying to get him back for besting her in exams she falls in love with him and soon loses the will to be the bast in class.

I love this manga Tsuda is very unique. The manga is drawn in both realistic and chibi form which helps discribe the emotions of the characters very well. In every manga so far there has been one short extra story that is just a quick little story that is fun to read. The last thing that is unique about this manga is the little things that Tsuda puts in her manga that talk a little about what she likes and how she feels when she wrote the manga, this makes the book cute and funny. The bottom line is that the book has a strong story line, realistic characters, a unique style and a couple of extras along the way. If you are a romance book fan I would recomend this book to you, if not you might as well pic up the first on to see what you think because it is still a good book.

Settling into teen romance mode
Our heroes think about why they love each other--not a lot of action, more reflection--Arima has to be one of the prettiest boys in manga. Minor conflict as we meet Hideaki, Miyazawa's rival for maybe 10 pages(he wants Arima to help him score a bunch of girls), but then he becomes a regular feature as each lover runs into him, observe the same thing about him, commenting on it in their own way(Arima's usually involves reprimands for not studying) & leaves before the other arrives. The artist's comics of her trials making the book are cute, as are all the chibi versions. ... Read more

Book Description

*A TOKYOPOP Top 10 title on BookScan!*English Version by Sarah Dyer, creator of Action Girl Newsletter*The hit shojo series that started the anime favorite*One of Kadokawa's Top Ten Best-Selling titles!

Daisuke has the hots for Riku but doesn't have the guts to tell her. His whole family follows him into the forests where they watch Daisuke and Riku on their little date. Everyone is tired of waiting for this young man to make his move. Will he finally tell her? ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Its good.
Ok this manga is for those who like a good thriller. I myself loved the images the artist put into this book. The characters are a mystery that keeps you guessing and behind every corner theirs something you'd never have expected. If you're the battle scenes action type you might not like this as much as the suspence people would. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Wonderful!
The story so far: Keitaro remembers making a promise to a girl about attending Tokyo University so they could live happily ever after together. Unfortunately he doesn't know who this girl is but he thinks it may be the most abusive resident at Hinata House! It turns out that she isn't as bad as she seems when she offers to help him study for the entranace exams since that is her goal too.
In this volume, Naru becomes upset after failing her entrance exams and finding herself a ronin. She trys to runaway but Keitaro follows. As she trys to get away from him they end up running into eachother everywhere! They end up at the same hotel (turns out they're both using the smae travel guide) and the woman there is a room short and puts them in the same room! A Honeymoon Room! Meanwhile back at Hinata House, the residents frantically try to find the two fearing that they may have tied the knot! This thought causes panic in the residents because although they don't want to admit, they have a crush on Keitaro! My favorite of the first three is this one! by far the funniest!

Uhh......Where was she hiding that?
Love Hina volume three, by Ken Amatsu, may be the best of the three volumes released at this date.
Keitaro and Naru have both failed the exams, and independently decide to take a little vacation to relax after all that hard work (studying, racing to the U, etc).
Well, as you may have quessed, they run into each other, quite literally, on the train.
They continually run into each other (not so literally this time) over the next chapter or so, and turns out, they were both using the same travel brochure ((-_-;)).
They begrudgingly decide to travel together.
Along the way, they aquire a waif-like girl named Mutsumi, who might be considered the female Keitaro ^ ^.
Unbeknownst to them, everyone from Hinata House is searching for them, from Suu to Shinobu. Well.... much craziness ensues.
To find out exactly what happens, I guess you're just gonna have to read the book. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Manga Secrets
Good book, but in response to "A Reader" above, about MangaSecrets. The site DOES in fact deliver. If you did not get your product for some reason it simply a case of writing to the support email address? If you know anything about email, you'd know that a large bulk of it is begin deleted by your ISPs before it gets anywhere near you and the product is delivered via email... So *perhaps* that is what happened?.. Anyway just my two cents.

Pretty Good
This is an overall good book for learning perspective except unless you happen to be a professional some of the tools they suggest to create various effects and your supplies consist of a paper and a pencil it doesn't do you a lot of good. One example is when they tell you how to clouds which requires scratching away at your tones. It was greatly helpful in one way in that there was more than I expected on the various point persepectives. For example, when drawing characters of different height, it shows you how to make people not "float" or "sink" on the perspective plane when drawing them. It was also very specific on the relative height of someone to the door or rail, etc. giving exact heights in cm. It's one of those that's very specific for several things so more than likely there'll be a section that's just what you needed: forked roads, bushes..
Most of it wasn't overall wasn't real useful but would have some specific section what was greatly so. I particularly liked the section on where they talk about dividing all people according to a specific head length and "then" dividing it by six or seven head lengths you wanted which is something I would have never thought of.Well, you'd have to see it probably to understand what I'm talking about. The book tells you how to draw peerspectives outside, of stairs, classroom desks inside furniture, streets, below and above buildings etc.
(...)

Awesome!
Anyone who is interested in the world of Manga will LOVE this series of How to Draw books. They have one for everything!

Great for creating outstanding scenery
Having trouble with that woodland scenery? Is your metropolis going crooked with the horizon? Then this book shows the easy tricks of the Manga world to get you going on the right track and in no time you'll be amazed at how easy it is to create those effects that manga fans drool over on the screen! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Better then average....
I guess its a very typical premise. Bad Boy/Good Girl get together and have turbulent relationship.

I've only read to volume 9(And that's only because I can't buy them all at once!). As of today that's what I've read to. And I've loved Mars, its not only addictive, but its worth being addicted to!!

A lot of the characters do start out stereotypically, but I think they really break from those stereotypes with a lot of character development. I really understand where Kira is coming from. Maybe that person thinks she's damsle-distressy. And maybe she is, but some people are like that. Or wish they were(Despite all the feminime crap that we shouldn't be like that and are'nt like that stuff.). I mean I've been through some stuff similar to Kira. And well I guess unless you've been through it you may not think her actions are realistic or whatever. But I really saw a lot me in her.

Whether or not its a pretty overused story-line, I think Mars is a *great* Manga. The characters(Like Harumi, I thought she seemed all B**** at first, and she'd be the typical girl you love to hate, but she ends up being really nice and one of my fav characters. :D) to me are quite intrueging(And no, I'm not a sheltered little kid, I, in fact make studying people my hobby. :D). And I'm always wondering what will happen next, I figure they'll probrably end up together in the end, but maybe they wont. Either way I'm more concerned with what happens along the way.

So I say you should give Mars a shot, if you've never read manga before its great place to start!! Its made me think a lot about myself, and make me try to get over some things in the past. So it can't be all bad. :D

Well, also, its not for everyone because there is quite a bit of vulgarity, violence, and sexuality. So beware, but *enjoy*.! :)

God Bless ~Amy

Mediocre
I agree that Mars is pretty addicting...I read the first ten books one after another. Rei and Kira's relationship is sweet, and their devotion to one another makes you all warm and fuzzy...

BUT..

The plot is very loosely generic...it's some sort of shallow Romeo and Juliet, opposites-attrack generalization. The characters are rather stereotypical--the quiet, dorky artist girl meets the rebel. I find Rei arrogant at times, and Kira is one of my least liked characters in any form of manga or anime--she's so damsel-in-distress all the time. There is no real depth in there, though golden opportunities arise (when they move in together, obstacles they go through--i.e. Sei and the mother) they are wasted. Perhaps the author doesn't want to deviate from the light-hearted, teenage angst as to drive away young fans. But more serious readers, beware: this is really just a guilty pleasure.

The only thing that makes this series worth reading are the cliffhangers. They're good at leaving you hanging. The art is beautiful, too. But overall, it's just like potato chips--you can't eat just one, but after the whole bag, you feel like a bloated junkie. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

MARS, not for everyone
Mars is in my opinion the best manga yet created (cine-manga not included) how ever, parents who buy this for young kids should be wary, there is alot of violence, curse words, sexual senes and references and some may find some of the past stories disturbing, however, one ur into it u cant get out, it has all the coponents of a A+ manga ... Read more