Forum - View topicYotsuba&!
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murph76
 Posts: 3291 Location: Akron, OH |
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I just finished the second volume of Yotsuba&!, and I'm really enjoying the series so far.
Yotsuba, the main character, reminds me a lot of my neices. She's a bundle of energy who's always on the go and totally focused on whatever she's doing at that moment. The joy she gets from playing the rain, or catching frog and cicadas always makes me smile. Watching her run, play and flit from one activity to the next is a lot like watching the younger children in my family. I am a little confused about what she knows and what she doesn't know. She's spoiler[confused by swings and doorbells. And in volume 2, she's trying to teach the others how to swim by having them think of or imitate a pike. I wonder if that's how she learned to swim, watching and thinking about pike?] But I guess it all works into the "she's a strange little girl" theme. Yotsuba's dad seems like a good guy. He's patient with her, tolerates her high energy and constant wonder, but still scolds her when needed. He spoiler[must have a pretty big heart to choose to adopt and rear Yotsuba by himself. It helps that he's just as goofy as her most of the time. The silliness between them had me laughing.] So far, Jumbo is my favorite adult character. He's willing to drop almost anything to go play with the children. His reaction, and sometime his lack of reaction, to comments about his height make me laugh, and he's given some of the funniest lines. The Ayase's make good straight men to Yotsuba, her father, and Jumbo's oddity. To me, many scenes wouldn't be half as funny without Fuka there, making a face and reacting with shock or amazement Yotsuba's actions. It's from the same author as Azumanga Diaoh, Kiyohiko Azuma, and it has the same slice-of-life feel to it. Some of the character designs seem to be borrowed from Azumanga, though. Maybe it's just me, but Fuka reminds me a lot of Chihiro. Miura seems like a younger version of Kurasowa-sensei, and both Miura and Ena seem modeled after Chiyo's friends from elementary school. I'm probably just nit-picking because they're from the same manga-ka. I'm glad ADV decided to continue releasing this series. I'm looking forward to picking up vol. 3 soon, and Vol. 4 is supposed to hit shelves soon. What are your thoughts on the series? -Murph |
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Truered
 Posts: 515 Location: Uni |
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I can't believe at one time I thought about not buying the series.
I've been reading the first volume the past two nights before going to sleep. I intend to read for ten minutes to relax...forty minutes later I decide it'll probably be a good idea to stop, being an exam period 
I've almost finished the first volume now. I'm really enjoying it now. It is the first manga I have read that has actually brought a genuine smile to my face. From Yotsuba's fascination with everything to Jumbo's interactions with the Ayase's I'm definately enjoying it. It was odd, but there was one point early on that made me know I'd like it- when asked what grade she was in, Yotsuba paused and then just blurted out "I love my dad!" Having read a small percentage of the manga I own, volume one is currently the one I have enjoyed most reading. And Yotsuba is very quickly making me think I should place her as my most adorable character 
As I said before I'm really a big softie. |
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murph76
Posts: 3291 Location: Akron, OH |
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That entire section of the manga was too funny! From Yotsuba spoiler[pretending to be a cicada on the telephone poll to Yotsuba remembering her father's warning about strangers, and therefore trying to run away from the "bad person" Fuka,] I was laughing the whole time. Though I think the best section was Yotsuba at the department store. It had a lot of laugh out loud and "aww..." moments between Yotsuba spoiler[riding the bike into her father, hiding in the clear plastic storage contaners and trying out that bed]. I'm not sure why, but I was especially touched by Yotsuba and her father spoiler[sitting on the steps, quietly enjoying the city view. Maybe it's because that is one of the few scenes where Yotsuba is quietly enjoying something].
Nothing wrong with that. So am I, especially when it comes to my nieces. Do you have the second volume, or have you started it yet? -Murph |
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Truered
Posts: 515 Location: Uni |
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I have volume 2 and 3 as well. But I have six exams next week so I don't have much time to read...
I agree with spoiler[sitting on the steps section. And getting the wrong house. Also boxerman!!!] |
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murph76
Posts: 3291 Location: Akron, OH |
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Good luck with exams! I think you'll enjoy vol. 2 when you have the chance to read it. I did.
I'm still hunting for Vol. 3. None of the local bookstores have it, so I'll order it online. -Murph |
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Brand
 Posts: 1029 |
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Just wanted to say that volume 4 is coming out this week. I can't freaking wait!
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murph76
Posts: 3291 Location: Akron, OH |
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Oh? That's good news.  I guess I never noticed the release date. I thought it was still a few weeks away. Great, I'll order vol. 3 and 4 together.
Have you read through vol. 3? What are your thoughts on the series so far? -Murph |
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kyokazahaya
 Posts: 37 |
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the series is brillanty funny. i liked the first 2 the most, the 3rd isnt as great, but its still awsome. i love boxerman too:P but i haven't read the series in forever so i couldnt tell you what happens in the 3rd.
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Brand
Posts: 1029 |
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[quote="murph76"]
I adore this series, it's just fun to read. It's cute, and has silly hi-jinks but doesn't manage to stray to far from the realm of reality. You could really see people you really know doing a lot of these things that happen in the manga. I can't wait to read more of it. |
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Jedi General
 Posts: 2485 Location: Tucson, AZ |
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I love Yotsuba. Not only is the title character adorable, the series is really quite hilarious. Gets a smile out of me when I read a volume. The oldest of neighboring sisters are quite attractive also. I'm rooting for Jumbo.
I've read 2 volumes and I'm so happy that ADV is going to continue releasing it. There was an adorable ad in Newtype (I think) that had her laying on the floor sleeping. It said "Wake up Yotsuba!" and other stuff about her return. |
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Chrno2
 Posts: 6172 Location: USA |
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I finally got the chance to read the first 3 volumes and I'm happy to hear that ADV resumed publishing the rest. As there is more 'Yotsuba&' madness.
As much as I enjoyed watching 'Azumanga Daioh' and then reading it, 'Yotsuba&' had me in stiches as well. I have to put the creator on my top list of people that can dig deep into my ribs and tickle them. I love how he can take the most normal situations and turn them upside down. The 'cicada' deal was funny as hell. As well as gangster 'Yotsuba'. And the funny thing is that everyone just plays along when she appears. I could not help finding myself laughing even in public at the situations when they arise. Here's a little story of how much I liked the book. I requested them for our library. I would now have the chance now to read them. While I didn't know if I was ever going to read them I processed them and put them on our new book display. I finally decided I needed something to read and decided to take them. Since they were still sitting since the previous day I had a chance. Of course assuming that they would still be there because it might be a lower interest was foolish. Someone else wanted to try. I managed to find vol. 1 but 2 and 3 were out. I put a hold on both and had hoped that I would be able to get them before my vacation. I didn't. I got 3 all but barely when I got back, but vol. 2 was no where to be found. It was checked out but not "checked out " by the system. Then finally it shows up. Mind you it had been weeks and I had already gone crazy that I couldn't finish. That and the fact that if you put a hold on something it goes on hold for you not back out in circ again. So of course I was even more punchy when ADV put the rest of the series on hold. It's a really great story. I hope that one day that when Azuma-sensei finally finishes the series that they turn this into anime. Hell, already fans in Japan have been doing their own flash animations and parodies of what the series would be like. Especially, the one done to the OP of 'Azumanga Daioh' except that it's 'Yotsuba&' characters. That should tell you something. |
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murph76
Posts: 3291 Location: Akron, OH |
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Boxerman was great, but the moment just before that gave me a good laugh as well. When spoiler[Koiwai asked Fuka if she needed his boxer shorts for something, I was rolling. Her reaction was classic, but it was more that Koiwai could ask it with a straight face. I mean, what kind of answer was he expecting, asking a teenage girl if she needed his underwear for something?]
The fact that ADV picked up the series again is main reason I started it. It always interested me, but if it wasn't going to continue I wasn't going to waste my time. As I mentioned above, my oldest niece is about Yotsuba's age. I see a lot of her behavior reflected in Yotsuba, and that only increases my enjoyment of the series. It makes me wonder if Azuma-sensei has children. He captures their energy and inquisitive nature so well. And in my family, we play along with my nieces' silliness as well, unless they get totally out of line. I see a lot of that in Koiwai. He seems to know when to play along and when to draw the line with Yotsuba. -Murph |
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Truered
Posts: 515 Location: Uni |
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Why thank you I was involved with exams from 10:00 to 3:35 today  However now the worst is out of the way. Going to order Yotsuba& 4 Friday/Saturday.
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Manji13
 Posts: 43 |
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I was thinking about if I wanted to try this series because people were saying good things about it... well anyways, it seems like Yotsuba&! is kind of like a toned down Crayon Shin-Chan? Both of the characters are young, and they learn new things all the time. Am I correct???
 
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murph76
Posts: 3291 Location: Akron, OH |
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I have never seen Shin-chan, but if what I read on Wiki about Shin-chan is accurate, I'd say they're very different. A better comparasion might be to Azumanga Daioh. Both Azumanga and Yotsuba are from the same author, and both have similar type of humor. If you can find Yotsuba at a bookstore, I'd suggest reading the first few chapters.
Ugh! That's an ugly test schedule! How many finals did that cover? I left college behind years ago, but I don't think I had more than two finals on the same day. BTW, Amazon shows Yotsuba vol. 4 being released June 27. Just an FYI for everyone. -Murph |
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