Post by SilvaShado on Jul 10, 2005 2:46:18 GMT
So you wanna know what Shojo Beat is about and whether you should get it. Well, I hope to answer both questions here as well as further a discussion about shojo manga in general.
First, let me talk about Shojo Beat. Warning! Long post ahead! ^_^
Shojo, for those who don’t know, means girl in Japanese. So any shojo manga is manga for girls.
Shojo Beat is rated Older Teens. And from the first issue (that’s all that’s out right now), I agree with the rating. It does show mature situations - like a couple in bed, naked and under the covers. No body parts show, but you can tell they’re naked and pressed against each other. Also some strong language.
It is a monthly anthology magazine with 6 different titles and lots of girly articles and ads. I get this for the manga, obviously, as the rest just makes me remember why I hated teen magazines so much - fake, pretentious and a money-sinkhole.
So my focus will be on the manga to help you better figure out if you want to subscribe to the magazine or just get one or two titles in GN when they come out. The following reviews are in the order that the manga appeared in issue 1 of the magazine. These are all first chapters.
Nana synopsis: This girl Nana falls in love so easily, always with older men. And every time, it never goes anywhere. And every time, she falls in love with a new guy… except this last time when it looked like the love had been returned, but she just got her heart broken in the end… After graduating high school, she goes to a local art school with her best friend Jun. There she meets another cut guy named Shoji, but this time she’s determined to just be friends with him. Which is completely wrong because he likes her and she likes him, but she’s just gotten her heart broken so she’s afraid.
Nana review: While I like the story – it’s cute, engaging and angsty – I do not like the art. This art style has always bugged me. I’ve read one other done in this style and it just irritates me because it looks so gaudy, fake and pretentious. But then it fits the story (both mangas I’ve read) in that the characters are fake and pretentious. They’re hiding their true selves on the inside, but showing this certain face to the world. If I can get used to the art, then I think I’ll like this quite a bit. Right now, out of all of the titles, this is 5 out of 6.
Absolute Boyfriend synopsis: Riiko is your average high school student – clumsy, bad luck with boys and a little violent… Maybe not so typical, but someone we can somewhat sympathize with. Her life is spiraling down as she is turn down by yet another boy she likes. Her life is about to change with the simple act of finding a lost cell phone and answering it. She returns it to its owner – a very bizarrely dressed man (looks futuristic, yet 1940-ish). He wants to thank her for returning his cell phone, which is necessary for his job. He asks her what she wants (and goes through a list of products). She doesn’t want anything, but finally blurts out that she wants a boyfriend. So he gives her a CD that will take her to their website, Kronos Heaven… and when she does, “Lover Shop” appears on the screen. Not believing any of it, they look like dolls, she goes through the process of ordering one for a 3 day trial… And a package arrives the very next day!
Absolute Boyfriend review: This one I like quite a lot. I really do sympathize with the girl. I also have seen the basic story here done elsewhere, both in Chobits and in a different anime (but I’ve forgotten the name). The thing about those two is that it’s about a young man finding a female humanoid. This, of course, is from a female perspective and looks like it’ll be a lot of fun! Lots of awkward and sexy predicaments are in store for Riiki. ^_~ Out of all the titles, this rank 1 out of 6!
Godchild synopsis: Set in late nineteenth-century England of gaslight, smoke, iron, steam, hypnosis, opium and spontaneous combustion – not to mention the recent release of Alice in Wonderland. The industrial growth was creating a division between the new businessmen and the old aristocrats – new money versus old money. And this title focuses on the dark side of things – a mix of suspense, a little bit horror, and sexy goth appeal. This first story is about mysterious murders in London – a man in a rabbit mask is cutting off the heads of young girls. Who is this man and why is he doing this? And will the hero of our story, Lord Cain, figure it out before more girls are killed?
Godchild review: I can’t deny it – the sexy gothic feel of this is quite alluring. Add to that the mystery and suspense and I’m on the edge of my seat throughout the whole first chapter. But it left me with mixed feelings. I have a suspicion that this will be a series of short stories, much like Sherlock Holmes, and what looked to be a budding romance between Cain and one of the girls will not come to fruition. Mostly because he will move onto the next case. He’s very cold and calculating, though quite charming and sexy when he wants to be. ^_~ This one ranks 4 out of 5. There are just others that I like more than this.
Kaze Hikaru synopsis: I call this a mix between Rurouni Kenshin and Mulan.
Before I get to the synopsis, I must provide some history. This is from the intro to Kaze Hikaru in Shojo Beat:
“In the 1860’s, Japan was divided into two warring political factions. One group supported the Tokugawa Shogunate, an alliance of lords that had ruled Japan since the sixteenth century. The other group wanted to overthrow the Shogunate and return the Emperor of Japan to power. Samurai choose to fight for one side or the other. The Shinsengumi formed to defend the Shogunate in the city of Kyoto. The Shinsengumi became famous for their swordsmanship and espionage skills, but their often brutal methods upset people. Today, they’re remembered as a doomed army, fighting for a government that was destined to fall to revolution. But their bravery and stoic dedication are widely admired. The Shinsengumi are quintessential Japanese heroes: strengthened by brotherhood, tested by suffering, and willing to sacrifice their lives for a cause.”
For those who have read/seen Rurouni Kenshin, some of that will sound familiar. Here’s where elements of Mulan come in. Kamiya Seizaburo wants to join the Shinsengumi to avenge the deaths of her father and brother. Of course, she’s trying to keep her gender a secret, but it’s hard with all the guys still hitting on her even though they think he’s a boy (they think he’s a really cute-looking boy and there’s a first time for everything. ^_~). Oh, of course this means that she gets into the group, but whether she wants to stay….
Kaze Hikaru review: This is just too funny! I’m sure there’s gonna be a lot of serious moments, there are already have been a few. But overall, the humor has me rolling. I’m also very interested in the characters. A little confused at this point though, but mostly because all the names are kept in traditional Japanese with last name first and first name last. Then there are the suffixes of chan or san, etc. Three different people can all say different names, but be referring to the same person. Anyway, I just can’t believe how the first chapter ends! I didn’t expect that! I highly recommend this to anyone – get it in trades if you don’t get this magazine. Even though I recommend this highly, it still ranks lower than Absolute Boyfriend. But that’s just my opinion. This gets a 2 out of 6 with a general recommendation to everyone.
Baby & Me synopsis: Takuya is a kid who has to take care of his baby brother Minoru. His mother was killed in a car accident and his father has to work a lot to support them all. This is quite a mix of serious and comedic moments. It’s all about Takuya learning how to handle Minoru and what his life has become…
Baby & Me review: If I don’t sound excited in my synopsis there, it’s because I just can’t feel much of anything for this manga. I have no frame of reference. I can feel sympathy for the character, but I can’t feel for what he’s going through. This gets a 6 out of 6 for me. Maybe it’ll surprise me, like Sandland did in Shonen Jump – I can only hope it does.
[Crimson Hero synopsis: Nobara wants to play volleyball. Her mother wants her to be ladylike and become a hostess in the family business. Nobara is not ladylike (and is even mistaken for a guy when she goes into the girls’ bathroom). It’s a constant battle between her and her mother. When Nobara goes to a new high school to join the women’s volleyball team – she finds that it has been disbanded and they won’t let her on the boys’ team. Finally having enough of her mother, she leaves home and asks her aunt Momoko for help. Momoko is a sexy wild woman – completely the opposite of her sister (Nobara’s mother). Anyway, staying with Momoko has its price – Nobara is gonna have to tolerate Momoko’s “friends” (and she hates guys) and get a job, but I’ll leave the where as a surprise.
Crimson Hero: For a long time, I thought I wouldn’t like sports manga, but then I read Hikaru No Go. Even though I have no clue about the game of Go, the characters, the relationships and the drama all sucked me in a kept me wanting more. Then I remembered how many sports movies I like (Major League and Necessary Roughness are two that come to mind) and realized that sports manga wasn’t that much different. I may not have cared about the sports in the movies, but I liked the characters, their relationships and the drama – the story. So I was actually geared up for this one, even though I hadn’t liked any of the shonen sports titles. I gotta say I’m pretty pleased with how this one is turning out. I definitely like the characters and the relationships are already complex and the tension is very thick. This rates 3 out of 6.
Misc. There were only two other things that I found interesting. 1) DVD with the first episode of Ultra Maniac and the sneak peak of the manga, but I haven’t looked at either yet. 2) Article about blood types - personality, compatibility and horoscope.
In Japan, your blood type says as much about you as what astrological sign you are. So if you don’t know what your blood type is, go ask your doctor! (Something I need to do soon.)
Type A: Introverted, meticulous, and mild-mannered, type A tend to follow structure and be perfectionists. They can also be indecisive and full of angst.
Type B: People with type O blood are expressive, outgoing, and social. They are also very strong-willed and self-confident, with an aversion to authority.
Type B: Type B’s are talkative, cheerful, and enthusiastic. They also can be free-thinking, yet somewhat self-centered and unambitious.
Type AB:Although type Abs appear to be Bs on the outside, they’re As on the inside. Sensitive and analytical, type Abs can also be moody and distant.
And that’s where I’ll conclude this post. This is just the beginning of what I hope will be a longer discussion on Shojo manga.
First, let me talk about Shojo Beat. Warning! Long post ahead! ^_^
Shojo, for those who don’t know, means girl in Japanese. So any shojo manga is manga for girls.
Shojo Beat is rated Older Teens. And from the first issue (that’s all that’s out right now), I agree with the rating. It does show mature situations - like a couple in bed, naked and under the covers. No body parts show, but you can tell they’re naked and pressed against each other. Also some strong language.
It is a monthly anthology magazine with 6 different titles and lots of girly articles and ads. I get this for the manga, obviously, as the rest just makes me remember why I hated teen magazines so much - fake, pretentious and a money-sinkhole.
So my focus will be on the manga to help you better figure out if you want to subscribe to the magazine or just get one or two titles in GN when they come out. The following reviews are in the order that the manga appeared in issue 1 of the magazine. These are all first chapters.
Nana synopsis: This girl Nana falls in love so easily, always with older men. And every time, it never goes anywhere. And every time, she falls in love with a new guy… except this last time when it looked like the love had been returned, but she just got her heart broken in the end… After graduating high school, she goes to a local art school with her best friend Jun. There she meets another cut guy named Shoji, but this time she’s determined to just be friends with him. Which is completely wrong because he likes her and she likes him, but she’s just gotten her heart broken so she’s afraid.
Nana review: While I like the story – it’s cute, engaging and angsty – I do not like the art. This art style has always bugged me. I’ve read one other done in this style and it just irritates me because it looks so gaudy, fake and pretentious. But then it fits the story (both mangas I’ve read) in that the characters are fake and pretentious. They’re hiding their true selves on the inside, but showing this certain face to the world. If I can get used to the art, then I think I’ll like this quite a bit. Right now, out of all of the titles, this is 5 out of 6.
Absolute Boyfriend synopsis: Riiko is your average high school student – clumsy, bad luck with boys and a little violent… Maybe not so typical, but someone we can somewhat sympathize with. Her life is spiraling down as she is turn down by yet another boy she likes. Her life is about to change with the simple act of finding a lost cell phone and answering it. She returns it to its owner – a very bizarrely dressed man (looks futuristic, yet 1940-ish). He wants to thank her for returning his cell phone, which is necessary for his job. He asks her what she wants (and goes through a list of products). She doesn’t want anything, but finally blurts out that she wants a boyfriend. So he gives her a CD that will take her to their website, Kronos Heaven… and when she does, “Lover Shop” appears on the screen. Not believing any of it, they look like dolls, she goes through the process of ordering one for a 3 day trial… And a package arrives the very next day!
Absolute Boyfriend review: This one I like quite a lot. I really do sympathize with the girl. I also have seen the basic story here done elsewhere, both in Chobits and in a different anime (but I’ve forgotten the name). The thing about those two is that it’s about a young man finding a female humanoid. This, of course, is from a female perspective and looks like it’ll be a lot of fun! Lots of awkward and sexy predicaments are in store for Riiki. ^_~ Out of all the titles, this rank 1 out of 6!
Godchild synopsis: Set in late nineteenth-century England of gaslight, smoke, iron, steam, hypnosis, opium and spontaneous combustion – not to mention the recent release of Alice in Wonderland. The industrial growth was creating a division between the new businessmen and the old aristocrats – new money versus old money. And this title focuses on the dark side of things – a mix of suspense, a little bit horror, and sexy goth appeal. This first story is about mysterious murders in London – a man in a rabbit mask is cutting off the heads of young girls. Who is this man and why is he doing this? And will the hero of our story, Lord Cain, figure it out before more girls are killed?
Godchild review: I can’t deny it – the sexy gothic feel of this is quite alluring. Add to that the mystery and suspense and I’m on the edge of my seat throughout the whole first chapter. But it left me with mixed feelings. I have a suspicion that this will be a series of short stories, much like Sherlock Holmes, and what looked to be a budding romance between Cain and one of the girls will not come to fruition. Mostly because he will move onto the next case. He’s very cold and calculating, though quite charming and sexy when he wants to be. ^_~ This one ranks 4 out of 5. There are just others that I like more than this.
Kaze Hikaru synopsis: I call this a mix between Rurouni Kenshin and Mulan.
Before I get to the synopsis, I must provide some history. This is from the intro to Kaze Hikaru in Shojo Beat:
“In the 1860’s, Japan was divided into two warring political factions. One group supported the Tokugawa Shogunate, an alliance of lords that had ruled Japan since the sixteenth century. The other group wanted to overthrow the Shogunate and return the Emperor of Japan to power. Samurai choose to fight for one side or the other. The Shinsengumi formed to defend the Shogunate in the city of Kyoto. The Shinsengumi became famous for their swordsmanship and espionage skills, but their often brutal methods upset people. Today, they’re remembered as a doomed army, fighting for a government that was destined to fall to revolution. But their bravery and stoic dedication are widely admired. The Shinsengumi are quintessential Japanese heroes: strengthened by brotherhood, tested by suffering, and willing to sacrifice their lives for a cause.”
For those who have read/seen Rurouni Kenshin, some of that will sound familiar. Here’s where elements of Mulan come in. Kamiya Seizaburo wants to join the Shinsengumi to avenge the deaths of her father and brother. Of course, she’s trying to keep her gender a secret, but it’s hard with all the guys still hitting on her even though they think he’s a boy (they think he’s a really cute-looking boy and there’s a first time for everything. ^_~). Oh, of course this means that she gets into the group, but whether she wants to stay….
Kaze Hikaru review: This is just too funny! I’m sure there’s gonna be a lot of serious moments, there are already have been a few. But overall, the humor has me rolling. I’m also very interested in the characters. A little confused at this point though, but mostly because all the names are kept in traditional Japanese with last name first and first name last. Then there are the suffixes of chan or san, etc. Three different people can all say different names, but be referring to the same person. Anyway, I just can’t believe how the first chapter ends! I didn’t expect that! I highly recommend this to anyone – get it in trades if you don’t get this magazine. Even though I recommend this highly, it still ranks lower than Absolute Boyfriend. But that’s just my opinion. This gets a 2 out of 6 with a general recommendation to everyone.
Baby & Me synopsis: Takuya is a kid who has to take care of his baby brother Minoru. His mother was killed in a car accident and his father has to work a lot to support them all. This is quite a mix of serious and comedic moments. It’s all about Takuya learning how to handle Minoru and what his life has become…
Baby & Me review: If I don’t sound excited in my synopsis there, it’s because I just can’t feel much of anything for this manga. I have no frame of reference. I can feel sympathy for the character, but I can’t feel for what he’s going through. This gets a 6 out of 6 for me. Maybe it’ll surprise me, like Sandland did in Shonen Jump – I can only hope it does.
[Crimson Hero synopsis: Nobara wants to play volleyball. Her mother wants her to be ladylike and become a hostess in the family business. Nobara is not ladylike (and is even mistaken for a guy when she goes into the girls’ bathroom). It’s a constant battle between her and her mother. When Nobara goes to a new high school to join the women’s volleyball team – she finds that it has been disbanded and they won’t let her on the boys’ team. Finally having enough of her mother, she leaves home and asks her aunt Momoko for help. Momoko is a sexy wild woman – completely the opposite of her sister (Nobara’s mother). Anyway, staying with Momoko has its price – Nobara is gonna have to tolerate Momoko’s “friends” (and she hates guys) and get a job, but I’ll leave the where as a surprise.
Crimson Hero: For a long time, I thought I wouldn’t like sports manga, but then I read Hikaru No Go. Even though I have no clue about the game of Go, the characters, the relationships and the drama all sucked me in a kept me wanting more. Then I remembered how many sports movies I like (Major League and Necessary Roughness are two that come to mind) and realized that sports manga wasn’t that much different. I may not have cared about the sports in the movies, but I liked the characters, their relationships and the drama – the story. So I was actually geared up for this one, even though I hadn’t liked any of the shonen sports titles. I gotta say I’m pretty pleased with how this one is turning out. I definitely like the characters and the relationships are already complex and the tension is very thick. This rates 3 out of 6.
Misc. There were only two other things that I found interesting. 1) DVD with the first episode of Ultra Maniac and the sneak peak of the manga, but I haven’t looked at either yet. 2) Article about blood types - personality, compatibility and horoscope.
In Japan, your blood type says as much about you as what astrological sign you are. So if you don’t know what your blood type is, go ask your doctor! (Something I need to do soon.)
Type A: Introverted, meticulous, and mild-mannered, type A tend to follow structure and be perfectionists. They can also be indecisive and full of angst.
Type B: People with type O blood are expressive, outgoing, and social. They are also very strong-willed and self-confident, with an aversion to authority.
Type B: Type B’s are talkative, cheerful, and enthusiastic. They also can be free-thinking, yet somewhat self-centered and unambitious.
Type AB:Although type Abs appear to be Bs on the outside, they’re As on the inside. Sensitive and analytical, type Abs can also be moody and distant.
And that’s where I’ll conclude this post. This is just the beginning of what I hope will be a longer discussion on Shojo manga.