[Artbook] Oh My Goddess! Colors

[Chris Beveridge]

http://www.mania.com/content_pics/000004/92/49/0685eea7ed358d26_thumb.jpgReview by Matthew Alexander (http://www.mania.com/oh-my-goddess-colors_article_114013.html)

Mania Grade: A-
* Art Rating: A
* Packaging Rating: A+
* Text/Translation Rating: A
* Age Rating: 13 and Up
* Released By: Dark Horse
* MSRP: 19.95
* Pages: 184
* ISBN: 978-1595822550
* Size: 8x10
* Orientation: Right to Left
* Series: Oh My Goddess!


This ‘Colors’ release is a great book, especially for a long running series. The inclusion of a series encyclopedia containing descriptions of all the characters and items is just plain awesome. For readers just getting started with the series or long time fans that leave the series for awhile before returning, this is a useful tool. I often find myself reading one of the volumes where an old character pops up and I can’t remember who they are or what volume they were in. I certainly don’t feel like flipping through 30 volumes to find that character and refresh my memory. But if I did, this ‘Colors’ release also has a ‘Chapters Summary’ section that makes it easy to find when a particular story arc took place.

[JustThisGuy]

All right, awkward confession time. I enjoyed the OMG! OAV, really liked the movie (more for the A/V feast of the senses than the story), mostly liked both seasons of the TV show, and got a kick out of the novel. But I've only ever read excerpts of the source manga. I mean, I've wanted to get started with the series before, but I just don't think I have the time or the money right now to start at zero from a series that's thirty-something volumes long.

Anyway, the point of this rant is that I'm glad Matthew talked about the Colors encyclopedia -- it sounds like it would be a really handy way to ease myself into the series, since I could cherry-pick volumes that don't overlap with the OAV or TV series and then use the encyclopedia to fill in any story gaps. Looks like this is now at the top of my list for the next Right Stuf sale or good Borders coupon.

[Hayate Kurogane]

Wow, so it actually, finally, got released. I guess I can finally buy it to show my support (I already own the original Japanese release).

...I've only ever read excerpts of the source manga. I mean, I've wanted to get started with the series before, but I just don't think I have the time or the money right now to start at zero from a series that's thirty-something volumes long.

Since Dark Horse is proceeding slowly (though consistently) with their continuing release of "new" volumes alternating with unflipped versions of the "old" volumes, right now is actually as good a time as any to get started. I think they're up to about volume 10 with the "old" re-releases starting from the first, which, due to the alternating release schedule, means one "old" volume every four months. So, you could always just start with the first and get yourself slowly caught up, until the "old" re-releases top out at volume 20 in a few years, at which point you then start on the "new" volumes with volume 21+ that should still be out floating around at that point, and continuing onwards.

Anyway, the point of this rant is that I'm glad Matthew talked about the Colors encyclopedia -- it sounds like it would be a really handy way to ease myself into the series, since I could cherry-pick volumes that don't overlap with the OAV or TV series and then use the encyclopedia to fill in any story gaps. Looks like this is now at the top of my list for the next Right Stuf sale or good Borders coupon.

As you may or may not know, the various anime adaptations all choose to adapt the original manga in ways that vary wildly in terms of accuracy (and none of the anime versions are reconcilable with one another anyway). This is not really a bad thing, but it does potentially make a plan like yours kind of troublesome, depending on how concerned you might be with properly filling in any gaps.

Anyway, for what it's worth, I'd recommend starting with volumes 24-26, which cover the Tenshigui/Angel Eater story arc and the manga's introduction of Lind (the arc starts at the end of 24, continues through all of 25, and ends in the first part of 26). It's this story arc that was most recently adapted into anime form as the two-episode Aa! Megami-sama: Tatakau Tsubasa/Fighting Wings OVA (which is as of yet unlicensed for an R1 release), so if nothing else you're getting to the source material ahead of the adaptation in this case, though the arc itself is quite good (and not just because of Belldandy in her tasty evil outfit).

[Hakaisha]

...I've only ever read excerpts of the source manga. I mean, I've wanted to get started with the series before, but I just don't think I have the time or the money right now to start at zero from a series that's thirty-something volumes long.

Since Dark Horse is proceeding slowly (though consistently) with their continuing release of "new" volumes alternating with unflipped versions of the "old" volumes, right now is actually as good a time as any to get started. I think they're up to about volume 10 with the "old" re-releases starting from the first, which, due to the alternating release schedule, means one "old" volume every four months. So, you could always just start with the first and get yourself slowly caught up, until the "old" re-releases top out at volume 20 in a few years, at which point you then start on the "new" volumes with volume 21+ that should still be out floating around at that point, and continuing onwards.


I agree with Hayate wholeheartedly. For years I looked longingly across the manga aisle at this series and the fact there were already so many volumes (much like the Berserk bullet I bit about a year ago). So when DH started the colors re-releases I jumped at the chance to review the series. Which makes it weird for me as I review the "new" releases and then turn around and review one of the volumes in the 30-somethings. Eventually I'll have a gap between the ending of the colors editions and the older volumes, but it is worth if for Urd-goodness ;)