Manga bulk order: What to get?

[Flameswordsman86]

I'm thinking about ordering some manga in bulk to get some cheaper prices, but I need some recommendations and opinions to know what to get.

I'm already collecting Death Note and Hellsing, so they are a lock. I think I'll also finish up my run on Rurouni Kenshin.


Berserk v.16 onwards, Vampire Hunter D manga, Hunter x Hunter, Eyeshield 21, and Bleach v.18 onwards are what I need opinions on
[Loved the Berserk anime, but read the manga starts to become like filler with no mention of Griffith/Femto.
Loved the Vamp. D movie, but know nothing about the manga.
Have heard Hunter-x-Hunter praise, but don't even know if its a comedy, adventure, action, or mystery thing.
Eyeshield 21 sounds perky and interesting, but its nothing like what I'd usually collect.
I'm thinking about collecting Bleach where the 2nd season of the dubbed anime left off, but am not sure. I like Bleach, but I read that the final battle of the saga is a bit of a cop-out, and I know nothing about the next saga with the mixed Hollow/Reaper species]

I don't have enough money to buy everything, so it will need to be narrowed



If you can recommend me anything, I would be grateful.
I don't like all-action in manga, because it feels like I haven't got my money's worth when I read it. Death Note is the perfect example IMO of an engaging and worth-your-money read. I also don't like things with an abundance of little girls.

[RuneLouie]

I can't tell about the ones you ask... but I can tell you about several others I do have:

Rune Soldier Louie (6 volumes); fantasy comedy.... really good.


Togari; GREAT manga... however, it didn't have an ending. There are 8 volumes available.

There's also the LODOSS WAR manga:

Lady of Pharis: 2 volumes
The Gray Witch: 3 volumes
Deedlit: 2 volumes


Hope I could help.


PS

Angel Sanctuary is also a great manga; not taking in consideration the lame ending. But it is 20 volumes long.

[Andrew Cunningham]

Berserk is pretty much all good, all the way. Griffith remains an important presence; we might not see him for a few volumes every now and then, but he always shows up again.
Eyeshield 21 is absolutely fantastic, and you should definitely give it a shot.

[ShieldAnvil]

Originally Posted by Andrew Cunningham

Berserk is pretty much all good, all the way. Griffith remains an important presence; we might not see him for a few volumes every now and then, but he always shows up again.
Eyeshield 21 is absolutely fantastic, and you should definitely give it a shot.

I second that, Berserk is one of my alltime favorites and Eyeshield 21 isn't far behind. And I'd recommend adding Eden by Hiroki Endo to your list.


(Heh, I just noticed that RuneLouie and I both seem to have made our 100th post here and that we're both 26, you're only one week older than me)

[darkhunter]

Originally Posted by Flameswordsman86

I'm thinking about ordering some manga in bulk to get some cheaper prices, but I need some recommendations and opinions to know what to get.

I'm already collecting Death Note and Hellsing, so they are a lock. I think I'll also finish up my run on Rurouni Kenshin.


Berserk v.16 onwards, Vampire Hunter D manga, Hunter x Hunter, Eyeshield 21, and Bleach v.18 onwards are what I need opinions on
[Loved the Berserk anime, but read the manga starts to become like filler with no mention of Griffith/Femto.
Loved the Vamp. D movie, but know nothing about the manga.
Have heard Hunter-x-Hunter praise, but don't even know if its a comedy, adventure, action, or mystery thing.
Eyeshield 21 sounds perky and interesting, but its nothing like what I'd usually collect.
I'm thinking about collecting Bleach where the 2nd season of the dubbed anime left off, but am not sure. I like Bleach, but I read that the final battle of the saga is a bit of a cop-out, and I know nothing about the next saga with the mixed Hollow/Reaper species]

I don't have enough money to buy everything, so it will need to be narrowed



If you can recommend me anything, I would be grateful.
I don't like all-action in manga, because it feels like I haven't got my money's worth when I read it. Death Note is the perfect example IMO of an engaging and worth-your-money read. I also don't like things with an abundance of little girls.

Hunter X Hunter is your classic example of a typical no-nonsense shonen series. It's basically an action/adventure story involving a young boy on a quest to be the best, and along the way he makes friends that will help him out. Nothing new, I would skip unless you haven't read Naruto, or better shonen title like One Piece.

Berserk and Bleach is good, but it seem like everybody and their momma have read or watch this series.

Why don't you try something new like Eye shield. You mention that ES21 was something that doesn't seem like you collect but once you enjoy it, you will expand your taste to more than typical mainstream shonen titles and the usual Berserk/Hellsing hype.

If you want your money's worth. Instead of Kenshin, try Vagabond or Blade of the Immortal. I like Hellsing with it's all action and little stories, but it's overrated and Priest is better.
And if you like Deathnote, time to step up to the masterful Monster.

[Flameswordsman86]

Originally Posted by darkhunter

Berserk and Bleach is good, but it seem like everybody and their momma have read or watch this series.

Why don't you try something new like Eye shield. You mention that ES21 was something that doesn't seem like you collect but once you enjoy it, you will expand your taste to more than typical mainstream shonen titles and the usual Berserk/Hellsing hype.

I see what you're saying. Helling #8 dissapointed me a lot, but I had already bought it by dissapointment-time, I have the previous 7 volumes, and its not exactly punctual, so I figure I'll stick with it for atleast some answers.

Bleach I just like. I buy for decent stories, not because its popular, and season 2 of the anime was very good IMO. I know season 3 will come to TV in a few months, though, so I'm still not sure whether to buy volumes 18+

Berserk is one of my favourite anime's, I'm following the manga because I wan't the continuation, and hopefully an end to things someday

If you want your money's worth. Instead of Kenshin, try Vagabond or Blade of the Immortal. I like Hellsing with it's all action and little stories, but it's overrated and Priest is better.
And if you like Deathnote, time to step up to the masterful Monster.

You have my interest here. I've heard of Monster, but its lack of a dub hurt my interest, and I never thought about the prospect of manga. I'll be getting this.

Vagabond I couldn't find much about at Wikipedia without having every character and detail explained, so I skipped it. If you can give me the low-down on it I am all ears.

Is Blade of the Immortal anygood? It sounds moderately interesting, but nothing particularly special. I heard of the main character years ago in an 'East vs West' comic [he fought and got beheaded by Wolverine from the X-men].
Likewise with Vagabond, throw me some more info if you get the time and I will make it a real candidate.



I'm glad to rule HxH out. I didn't know much about it, but it didn't seem to my tastes much. With a bulk order I need to order a lot, and thats the main reason it was in there.


What about 'Battle Royale'? It sounds a little gratuitous simply for the sake of it, but its popular for a reason.... right?

[Andrew Cunningham]

With Battle Royale, I'd heartily recommend the original novel. The manga art was just too ugly for me.

Vagabond is a reimagining of the life of Miyamoto Musashi, one of the most famous men ever to wield a katana. Art to rival Berserk's, and the story is fantastic as well.

Monster and Blade of the Immortal are also fantastic.

[Noodle]

Originally Posted by Flameswordsman86

Vagabond I couldn't find much about at Wikipedia without having every character and detail explained, so I skipped it. If you can give me the low-down on it I am all ears.

Is Blade of the Immortal anygood? It sounds moderately interesting, but nothing particularly special.

Given the other things you're interested in based on this thread, you owe it to yourself to pick up Blade of the Immortal. It always seems to me people know about this series but never get interested in it, which is just a damned shame. Vagabond is a good choice as well, but I haven't read enough of it to really push a recommendation. At least not over BotI anyway.

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by Noodle

Given the other things you're interested in based on this thread, you owe it to yourself to pick up Blade of the Immortal. It always seems to me people know about this series but never get interested in it, which is just a damned shame. Vagabond is a good choice as well, but I haven't read enough of it to really push a recommendation. At least not over BotI anyway.

I like Vagabond more than Blade of the Immortal, but both titles are very good. Vagabond is more about the battles between swordsmen and their efforts to improve themselves in their craft. It has excellent art and a very cool story.

Blade of the Immortal has numerous battles as well, but I think the focus is a different. There is more development in the personal relationships between the characters. That whole prison sequence with the doctor is kind of sick, but fascinating too. I'm glad they are switching to trades only, though, so we can get a larger chunk of story at one time.

Both titles seem to be pretty much caught up with their Japanese counterparts, though, so the release schedule won't be that fast.

[Jarred]

Man, now that would make a helluva poll question. If stranded on an island and you could only take one, which would it be? Vagabond or Blade of the Immortal?

For me, Vagabond is really good at creating very complex, multi-dimensional characters for a smaller cast. BotI has a much more varied cast with complex relationships and better drama, but they aren't as deep. Vagabond has very gorgeous, clean and finely detailed artwork; BotI's style is much more expressive and dynamic, although the action sequences in both are fantastic.

Gah! I don't think I could make that decision. I'd take one and sneak the other on the island. :D