Forum - View topicAbout Seinen mangas..
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Jackmace Ryo
 Posts: 65 Location: Southeast Asia |
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Recently, my interests have changed from the mass-marketed shonen stuff (I ONCE believed that everything from shonen Jump is the best stuff out there) into seinen (and josei). However, I've found that it is rather hard to find references or even opinions about these mangas (excluding the best stuffs such as Naoki Urusawa's). That makes me kinda confused, since there are rather many titles to select with limited budget while there are barely enough opinions to convince me for buying it, or at least which one deserves to be bought first. So maybe I can ask for some recommendations here...?
For the record, these are the titles that I've bought so far and my opinions about them: Also, I live in Southeast Asia so titles licensed here are different from the one in USA. Maison Ikkoku. Though starts like romance-comedy thingy, it hooked me when the story goes to a more serious side. Too bad I don't really appreciate Takahashi Rumiko's art though 20th Century Boys. As expected from Naoki Urusawa, the suspense is really good. Definitely my best purchase so far. Emma. A surprisingly interesting historical romance. My only complaint is that sometimes I cannot distinguish the characters. Yokohama Kaidashi Kikō. This one gives me a soothing feeling... I think that's all about it Gunslinger Girl. Interesting characters developed through interpersonal relationship. Though the political conflict itself is rather underdeveloped.. Say Hello to Black Jack. A story about a young doctor. This is rather interesting to me since I'm also studying to be a doctor. Nodame Cantabile. This manga made me know so much more about classical music.. I think that's what interests me.. Vagabond. Too bad, but I haven't had time to read it yet... This is the titles that I would really like to read but remains unlicensed here : Monster, Pluto, Black Lagoon, SaiKano, Berserk, Blade of the Immortal, and maybe a few more that slips my mind currently.. Sorry to be kinda selfish here, but these are the titles that I am rather reluctant to buy now so it is rather preferred if anybody has opinions on these...... : X. Hmmm... I could say that I am rather biased in a negative way to CLAMP's artwork. Hajime no Ippo. It;s way too long and it sports. Others that look interesting but I know almost nothing about : Rainbow Yugo the Negotiator RED BLAME! Homunculus Hataraki Man Noise[/b] |
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P€|\||§_|\/|ast@
 Posts: 3498 Location: IN your nightmares |
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<-- big CLAMP fan but anyway I won't recommend any CLAMP works. I suppose you are trying to get away from Shonen Jump titles but if you haven't already checked it out, read Hunter X Hunter. It is fantastic and has more seinen elements in it than you usual martial arts, "must get stronger" genre of manga. Also since you liked Black Jack (which I've always been a fan of) you might like a very not well known horror-sci fi manga called Parasyte. I've only read a little of it from some anthologies that were published by Viz way back in the day, but I really enjoyed it. Also since it appears you are not fond of either CLAMP or Rumiko works and apparently like a much more refined imagery style in addition to storytelling, check out any Manga by artist Masakazu Katsura. Some examples would be DNA^2, Shadow Lady or I''s. In the world of manga art, I consider Masakazu Katsura's art style as one of the most perfectionistic in the industry. |
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fighterholic
Posts: 9193 |
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I can tell you right now Vagabond is a very good read if you're looking at seinen titles. The story takes place in the warring era of Japan, but it sticks to being something original and not having to implement too much of anything that may be modern. The artwork I consider to be something not easily surpassed as well.
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RoseWhip
 Posts: 58 Location: Los Angeles |
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Well, both Berserk and Blade of the Immortal have been licensed in America, by Dark Horse Comics. I'd definitely recommend both of them, though be warned they're not for the squeamish. Blade of the Immortal is perhaps the less violent, more character driven of the two, so judging by your mentioned preferences you might enjoy it a bit more. The art in both these series is out of this world, nothing I've read comes close to matching them.
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roujin
 Posts: 139 |
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Please check out the works of Taiyo Matsumoto and Naoki Yamamoto
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dormcat
Encyclopedia Editor
 Posts: 9902 Location: New Taipei City, Taiwan, ROC |
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While some titles you listed are debatable to be seinen or not, I can guarantee that
is not seinen. It has been serialized in Shonen Magazine for years. |
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Highway Star
 Posts: 227 Location: Ireland |
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Seconded, alongside Jiro Taniguchi, Daisuke Igarashi, Katsuhiro Otomo, Yoshihiro Tatsumi... |
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Jackmace Ryo
Posts: 65 Location: Southeast Asia |
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Oh, sorry. I know that it's shonen but it somehow skipped my mind while writing that. It's because in here Hajime no Ippo is published under a publisher that most of their titles are seinen or josei. |
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dormcat
Encyclopedia Editor
Posts: 9902 Location: New Taipei City, Taiwan, ROC |
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Kodansha, you mean? Indeed it has more and better seinen and josei manga than Shueisha and Shogakukan, but its Weekly Shonen Magazine has always been very popular, notably being more comedic and ecchi than Weekly Shonen Jump. At least I'm reading it every week, and I've already forgot when was my last time reading Weekly Shonen Jump. 
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G. Zeus
 Posts: 26 |
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If you're looking for suggestions/more options, Wikipedia has a fairly long list of seinen titles and most articles are a bit longer than the general descriptions available in most databases. You could also try asking in this online club at MAL but it's not the most active group around.
Among those mentioned in Jackmace Ryo's list of tentative titles, the ones I'm most familiar with and most fond of are BLAME! and NOiSE, both works of cyberpunk legend Tsutomu Nihei. I had praised the series to the skies before but I must admit that it's not meant for all readers. If you haven't read all of Yokohama Kaidashi Kikō yet, I suggest that you stick with it to the end. IMO, it's one of the most rewarding pieces of illustrated literature ever written and drawn. |
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Madhaxorsbaby
Posts: 13 |
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I just started reading Tekkon Kinkreet not to long ago. The entire compilation is like 25 bucks at roberts anime cornerstore.
I'm actually pretty suprised that this is considered seinen since it seems like something a 13 or 14 year old boy would love. But so far (and I'm only at chapter 4) it'sa pretty interesting story and it really seems like it's goin somewhere good. It's also pretty innovative I think...Iv'e never read anything like it. |
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