Nork22
01-01-2004, 03:31 AM
Let's start the new year with a new Manga review! /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif
Title: Marmalade Boy
Author: Wataru Yoshizumi
Volume: 5/8
Publisher: Tokyopop
Price: $9.95
Original release date: November 2002
Review date: Jan. 1, 2004
Packaging: B
Artwork: B+
Text: A
Content: A
Review (warning spoilers):
From the 'Story so far blurb': During breakfast one day, Miki's parents break it to her that they're getting divorced and swapping spouses with another couple! Now Miki has four parents and a new stepbrother, Yuu, who keeps teasing her. Yuu's sweet on the outside, but he's got a bitter streak - he's a Marmalade Boy! As Miki gets to know Yuu, she starts to form a crush on him.
OK, hands up if you are like me and went "WTF?!!!", then welcome to the great world of Marmalade Boy. And the funny thing about it, I recommended it to my brother since he started picking up on Mars, despite me knowing ziltch about Marmalade Boy. Yeah, it's this forum that's where I came up with the recommendation in the first place. Now after many months on procrastinating (and that the Borders down here in NZ didn't get my Chobits vol.8 with box (got the plain one), which I had to reorder again), I am actually glad to have finally pick this one up. Anyway on with the review.
Now that's how I assume the basic premise of how things came to be in the first volume (Borders didn't have vol.1 instore /images/graemlins/cry00000.gif ), and having read vol.2-5, I decided to skip to vol. 5 to write my review because this is the volume when Miki and Yuu **drumroll***spoiler***Confesses their love for each other!!! (w00t!!!!), despite having somewhat of an akward start of the book (which carries on from vol.4, talk about leaving you hanging in between volumes).
Seriously, now that it is clear what their feelings for each other are, everything feels much more enjoyable (I hate it when mangas take xx amount of volumes for a couple to admit their feeling for each other), even though the story so far was extremely enjoyable. From volume to volume, I was laughing out loud at some of the weirdness that goes on in the manga. Of course you know I will say that it's not all laugh out loud in this series, it has it's serious/sad moments too. Although by the end of it, somehow the story makes it reflect on itself and those 'serious/sad' moments turn into happy memories for the people around them and a realisation that things must move on.
The thing I love most about the whole reading experience is that I instantly fell in love with the characters of the series. Usually it will take me about a few volumes before I can connect with the characters from other mangas, but as soon as I started reading, it was really love at first sight. Maybe it's the overly comedic tone of the series, and maybe it's the strange feeling that despite all the weirdness everything will turn out fine, I dunno, but I know for certain, I love it. /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif
Oh almost forgot, it's quite nice to see some Japanese words in there. I cracked up when I saw the word 'Baka'. Well done Tokyopop. /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif
Title: Marmalade Boy
Author: Wataru Yoshizumi
Volume: 5/8
Publisher: Tokyopop
Price: $9.95
Original release date: November 2002
Review date: Jan. 1, 2004
Packaging: B
Artwork: B+
Text: A
Content: A
Review (warning spoilers):
From the 'Story so far blurb': During breakfast one day, Miki's parents break it to her that they're getting divorced and swapping spouses with another couple! Now Miki has four parents and a new stepbrother, Yuu, who keeps teasing her. Yuu's sweet on the outside, but he's got a bitter streak - he's a Marmalade Boy! As Miki gets to know Yuu, she starts to form a crush on him.
OK, hands up if you are like me and went "WTF?!!!", then welcome to the great world of Marmalade Boy. And the funny thing about it, I recommended it to my brother since he started picking up on Mars, despite me knowing ziltch about Marmalade Boy. Yeah, it's this forum that's where I came up with the recommendation in the first place. Now after many months on procrastinating (and that the Borders down here in NZ didn't get my Chobits vol.8 with box (got the plain one), which I had to reorder again), I am actually glad to have finally pick this one up. Anyway on with the review.
Now that's how I assume the basic premise of how things came to be in the first volume (Borders didn't have vol.1 instore /images/graemlins/cry00000.gif ), and having read vol.2-5, I decided to skip to vol. 5 to write my review because this is the volume when Miki and Yuu **drumroll***spoiler***Confesses their love for each other!!! (w00t!!!!), despite having somewhat of an akward start of the book (which carries on from vol.4, talk about leaving you hanging in between volumes).
Seriously, now that it is clear what their feelings for each other are, everything feels much more enjoyable (I hate it when mangas take xx amount of volumes for a couple to admit their feeling for each other), even though the story so far was extremely enjoyable. From volume to volume, I was laughing out loud at some of the weirdness that goes on in the manga. Of course you know I will say that it's not all laugh out loud in this series, it has it's serious/sad moments too. Although by the end of it, somehow the story makes it reflect on itself and those 'serious/sad' moments turn into happy memories for the people around them and a realisation that things must move on.
The thing I love most about the whole reading experience is that I instantly fell in love with the characters of the series. Usually it will take me about a few volumes before I can connect with the characters from other mangas, but as soon as I started reading, it was really love at first sight. Maybe it's the overly comedic tone of the series, and maybe it's the strange feeling that despite all the weirdness everything will turn out fine, I dunno, but I know for certain, I love it. /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif
Oh almost forgot, it's quite nice to see some Japanese words in there. I cracked up when I saw the word 'Baka'. Well done Tokyopop. /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif