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I was introduced to and bought this manga at the Yuricon booth at Anime Boston, and had it described to me as "A manga where a lesbian actually is happy to be a lesbian", and I must say that's a pretty good summary. Being semi-autobiographical on the part of the author, she says that she wrote it specifically to not be a depressing, forbidden love story, and it manages to deliver on that promise while not being too over the top in its message.

The art is simple but manages to convey adult concepts at the same time and is consistent throughout the story. There are a few scenes showing sexual stuff, but none of it comes off as pornographic. Rica and Miho talk about this a few times, but it's usually matter of fact and the story doesn't dwell on it for too long. The two have a very sweet relationship that develops realistically and plays out like a real love story, while still managing to make you laugh out loud a few times.

There's also a colorful cast of characters besides the two female leads, and the explanations of lesbian culture are both informative and easy to understand. For those who are tired of the usual schoolgirl angsting this series is a breath of fresh air, and hopefully just one of many of this type to get to the States thanks to Erica Friedman and her people at ALC Publishing. Purchasers of the ALC manga will also be treated to a few extras after the story, but I'll keep those secret for now. read more

Most people are probably familiar with this series because of Chiho Saito's association with Revolutionary Girl Utena, and though some characters have obviously similarities to Utena this manga manages to be something else and have an overall different message.

The art can be a joy to look at in the dancing scenes, and though character designs tend not to deviate too much from one base a few like Sajit genuinely stand out from the Japanese. Men tend to look similar (resulting in occasional situations of being unsure of who is who) but the women manage to remain distinctive. Another area that shines is the detail to clothing, and a few of Koto's dresses clearly show the attention to detail that went into their design. The panels are laid out clearly and logically, so the manga reads smoothly with relatively little backtracking.

In terms of plot, this is the classic Star Crossed Lovers who are kept apart by time. However, without giving away too much, they manage to subvert the usual formula of the two people from different worlds. The series takes an unexpected turn twice, but both times it manages to resolve the hanging threads without feeling too forced or rushed. There is also some potent political commentary on interracial relations, though Chiho Saito is known for pushing the limits of what is considered orthodox, and this series is no different.

Building off of that, the characters are another strong point. Koto, the main heroine, is simultaneously strong and human, and despite being torn between love and her obligation to her family she spends relatively little time angsting over it. She's like Utena in some ways, but is undoubtedly a woman who likes being a woman, and this almost makes some of her accomplishments mean more. I wish we'd seen a bit more of Sajit's motivations, but what we do so manages to make him endearing and give him flaws at the same time. The main love rival is initially built up as villainous and callous, but near the end he gets some genuinely touching development. We even end up feeling sorry for the stock bitchy sister in the end.

Overall, this is an enjoyable shojo manga that manages to stay true to the genre and yet try something different. Fans of Utena will likely get a kick out of seeing some prototype characters in a different setting and enjoy more of Saito's understated but beautiful art. read more

For those of you expecting a manga version of the anime series, I'd suggest you throw that idea out right now. Other than a shared setting and some similar elements (the Escaflowne, the main character's names), this is an entirely different story.

While the TV series of Escaflowne combined both shonen and shojo elements, this manga is decidedly shonen. The mecha are bigger (Escaflowne itself is about 10 stories tall), female fanservice is everywhere (Hitomi ends up naked no less than three times in the first volume alone) and the story and protagonists are more like the characters in InuYasha than the TV series, and Hitomi in particular resembles Kagome with glasses. Dilandau is almost unrecognizable in this incarnation, and it's best to think of this story as an alternate universe not unlike the Escaflowne movie. Van also manages to top the TV series Van in terms of rudeness and can be downright stupid from time to time. Being a shonen manga, the character interactions also lack any sort of subtlety and usually end in yelling.

My main complaint is that the pacing seems odd, with certain scenes taking far too long and relatively little focus on the characters and their development. The fanservice can also be distracting, in particular when Hitomi has to power the Escaflowne and turns into a blond bombshell. This fact can also rub people the wrong way if you're used to the strong, independent girl from the TV series. It's best to remember the intended audience when stuff like this happens, but even knowing that it still seems gratuitous and a bit cheap.

Nonetheless, if you had no foreknowledge of the TV series this is a perfectly fine manga, though at times the art seems slapdash and character designs fluctuate in terms of detail and proportions. It has the mecha battles, blood, and growing relationship between Van and Hitomi from the TV series, but this is an entirely different creature that lacks the gradual buildup and real emotional depth, and at times seems like a slap to the face in terms of developing that they'll be together.

Nonetheless, as far as enjoyment goes, it still manages to deliver at least something of the original. If people want the distilled Escaflowne in the sense of the battles and bloodshed, then by all means check out this series, but if it was the deeper, quieter parts that won your heart, this series is likely to be a disappointment. read more

I once heard this manga described as having a cruel premise, and it does indeed tend to rip your heart out at every opportunity. Unlike many stories in this genre the focus is not so much on fanservice but on the condition of the girls themselves. This is not a nice story. Adults and children are shot up, dismembered, turned into killing machines and go through every imaginable horror, and Yu Aida pulls no punches in portraying the violence and psychological damage inflicted on the girls and their handlers. But nonetheless, I find myself on the edge of my seat waiting for each new volume, and it's precisely because it pulls no punches that I find myself drawn to it. The characters as soul crushingly human, and can go from pulling at your heart strings to making you want to slap them within the course of a few pages. If you're ready for this type of reading experience I would highly recommend this series, but if you're anything less than able to deal with this type of violence I would advise caution. read more