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Mar 31, 2024
Yuuki Bakuhatsu Bang Bravern is the kind of show that tries to be too many things at the same time.
It takes real talent to be able to write a story that can balance the drama of war with (often situational) comedy and gaudy mechs, talent that you won't find here, where all of these elements are thrown in together without much regard as to how they interact, leading to some serious tonal whiplash, usually to the detriment of the drama, and sometimes the fighting and humor. The humor, by the way, relies mostly on homoerotic jokes, so if you don't think gay men = funny,
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there might not be much in there for you. Personally, I did laugh at some of the double entendres (lots of uses of the word "ride"), although, now that the shows is over, I feel mostly foolish and disappointed in what amounts to lots of queerbaiting.
In terms of story and characters, there's some good to be found in the relationships of the main trio (no one else matters at all, if we're being honest) and how they interact and care for each other. Other than that, the narrative is pretty bare bones.
As for the animation, it's slick and pleasing to the eye. The fights are colorful, which gives you some level of distraction from the fact that you don't really care about what happens to the people in it. The character design feels fresh and modern, but with a retro, late 90s/early 00s, vibe.
All in all, I do not recommend you watch Yuuki Bakuhatsu Bang Bravern. In my opinion, the few laughs and above average visuals do not make up for the banal, below average writing. Were I not a completist, I wouldn't have kept up with it until the end.
Reviewer’s Rating: 4
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May 20, 2023
Toward the middle of the manga, there is a joke about overworked artists being pressured to produce an impossible amount of pages in a ridiculously short amount of time; that one-off gag feels particularly relevant here, considering that the main issue with 'Babylon made wa Nankounen?' is how rushed and unpolished it is.
Let's start with the writing. First, the story begins as a crude comedy, with humor befitting of a thirteen year-old's horny webcomic, and the pacing and dialogue of 2008/10 YouTube sketches. Quickly, however, the tone and plot do a 180, leaving us with more of a 2012/14 Nostalgia Critic kinda vibe. These tonal
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shifts would've been enough to give one whiplash, but then, the whole thing gets messy and convoluted, to say the least, with twists so telegraphed, they'll resonate in your head in Morse code as you read through them. Finally, the conclusion is a letdown of epic proportions, as you realize that the events that set the whole story in motion never needed to happen, because, had the antagonist simply thought out a better (very obvious) plan, they could have achieved their goals easily and without going out of their way so much.
Next, the characters. None of them really jump out as either awful or great. Bub is alright as an every man protagonist, if a little bland. I literally don't have anything else to say about anyone else. I think there are close to ten named characters in this single volume manga that I just finished reading and I really just remember the main guy.
Finally, the art. There's just not much to look at. Most of it is empty black backgrounds, some circles and dots (for planets and stars)... The character design is cool, but the lines are so unrefined. Also, nothing is ever done to visually communicate any sense of importance or grandiosity, outside of one place, the library planet, which was admittedly pretty cool; but I which space had been made to seem like a more interesting place to explore.
Overall, I do not recommend. I thought this would be a cool little space story that not many people knew about, but now I know from first-hand experience why it's not popular, and I think that's a good thing...
Reviewer’s Rating: 3
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Mar 17, 2022
Princess Knight is a tedious read.
The characters are paper-thin, all copied and pasted (as is the story) from various European fairy tails and mythologies; the events follow each other without setup and with no thought given to pacing or structure; and important moments aren't given any weight or significance, all lost in a narrative that only runs forward (with its eyes firmly closed).
Something that made me laugh was the appearance of a certain Greek deity, a few chapters before the end, despite the overbearing presence and many, many mentions of the Christian God.
The only redeming qualities in Princess Knight are the humor (both written and
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visual), as well as the charming art, which stays mostly very simple (and is reminiscent of French-Belgian comics), but is often lovely.
Reviewer’s Rating: 4
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Oct 31, 2021
Pluto is a story of pain, hatred, and what it means to be human; as science fiction goes, it isn't exactly groundbreaking, but it is very good at what it does.
The story is deliciously mysterious, with great ploting, taking us from one twist to the next, and one turn to another; it never gives the reader whiplash, though, since the pacing stays consistent (and good) throughout. The themes are nicely explored, with sometimes heavy happenings, always grave but never melodramatic. This heaviness can get somewhat overbearing, though, as there isn't any moment of respite: no humor, no lightness, no narrative glimmer of hope.
The characters are
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great. I have never read or watched Tetsuwan Atom, yet I feel like I've know them all my life; they're deep and well rounded. I do regret that we never got to see any side of them outside of the series' conflict, I wish we could've had a few "slice of lice" moments interspersed with the plot, just so these great characters would've felt like real people.
The art is very good. The character designs are beautiful, with a lifelike quality, very different from their iconic, disney-esque predecessors. The action scenes are nicely done, although they're nothing to write home about; the contemplative tableaux are much more entrancing.
In summation, I'd recommend Pluto to just about anyone, if nothing else, because it is one of the most beloved mangas of the 21st century.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Oct 29, 2021
I just finished reading Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou earlier this week and my, what a joyful affair it was!
The story, focusing mainly on a robot in a world that's rapidly being submerged, doesn't seem like it'd be a restful one at first, and yet, YKK is the most breezy reading experience I've had in a good while. The tone is wistful, filled with melancholy and wanderlust. The writing is self-assured and doesn't feel the need to constantly be throwing stuff at the reader; a lot of the chapters are completely dialogue-free and many aspects of the story remain a mystery to the very end. The characters
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are great, all lovable, with a patent interiority and a lot of personnality.
The art is very good, with charming character designs and somptuous compositions.
My only gripe with Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou is that the mystery sometimes feels overbearing. By the end, a lot of important questions remain unanswered and some plots are left hanging so far from a conclusion that you have to wonder if the author didn't forget about them. Of course, some stories just aren't the kind that end neatly with everything tide up, but YKK has to many obscured facets to become more than a good memory.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Oct 25, 2021
Katsu! is a good manga all-around. "Jack of all trades, master of none" is how the saying goes and it applies here: the story, the art, the characters; everything in Katsu! is satisfactory, but nothing really stands out.
First, the story: good. There are some nice unexpected twists and turns, the pacing is good, and there's also a good amount of humor in the writing. The only problem I have is the ending; the last two volumes or so wrap the story in a hasty, messy fashion. My rating for the title was actually an 8 until this disappointing end.
Then, the characters. They're really good. Every
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named character gets their moment (big or little, depending on their importance to the story). They're all enjoyable and memorable. My only gripe is that I wish some of them had been more utilized; there's a sense of wasted potential with a lot of the supporting cast.
Finally, the art. I liked it. I thought the character designs were good (though they aren't exactly original) and nice to look at. The author likes himself some cute girls and muscly dudes and so do I. I particularly enjoyed the fact that the boxers aren't manly and jacked to the point of parody like so many shonen fighting series. The action is clean and engaging and there's some pretty, almost melancholic composition.
In short, I recommend Katsu! It is enjoyable, easy to follow, and sometimes surprising. I can't really see this being someone's favorite manga ever, but it might join your top 20.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Oct 23, 2021
Gunnm is a succession of interesting concepts, none of which are original in sci-fi, but all of which are treated attentively and with obvious passion. The problem is that concepts alone don't make for a good story, you also need a strong plot and, arguably, even stronger characters. Gunnm has a strong protagonist, but every supporting player, much like the ideas explored, comes in and out of the story at a moment's notice. The plot, despite a few moments of brilliance, is repetitive and scattershot, never offering much to the reader in the way of constancy.
The art is very good, both in its gripping action
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scenes and in its quiet pictures of melancholy. The character design is always neat and interesting, with memorable faces and sometimes surprising bodies. The main heroine is particularly well done, with a recognisable silouhette that even the non-initiated manga readers will know.
In summation, I would recommend Gunnm to sci-fi afficionados and manga lovers alike; in terms of its impact and importance, this title is mandatory reading for both; and who knows, they might like it more than me.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Oct 21, 2021
Gunslinger Girl is not a title you pick up offhandedly; it is a hard read. The characters go through unspeakable trauma, the political machinations (of which there are many) are complicated, and the action is brutal. Still, if you do find yourself reading it, you'll be in for a good ride.
First, because Gunslinger Girl has very strong writing. The characters are its greatest strengh, with each protagonist coming across as a complete and true person. Their inner worlds are never absent, making each interactions fascinating. The story is also more than good, with a smart plot and gripping pacing. The only problem exists in the
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political intrigue behind the scenes, with long, dialogue-heavy scenes of often nameless bureaucrats discussing the events of the past, present, and possible future. These people don't feel real, they're stilted and aloof, which may be realistic for political animals, but doesn't make for particularly interesting characters.
Then, there's the art. The grain is realistic, with subdued character design and beautiful, often melancholic composition. The action packs a punch in more ways than one, with its vivid movements that jump off the page.
In short, there's a lot of good to be found in Gunslinger Girl, but you should only pick it up if you're willing to put in the effort.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Sep 16, 2021
I was conned. The synopsis and cover art for Cosmo na Bokura! led me to expect a cute, sentimental witch story, something in the same vein as "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch." What I got, however, was a wonky, mediocre high school drama in which there was no magic to be found.
The story in Cosmo na Bokura! is uninteresting to an almost bizarre degree, with stakes so low, you can't help but wonder why it's even been put on paper and published by professionals. The dialogue and character motivations are aggressively dumb and often very childish.
Haruko, the main character (AKA Cynthia) is repeatedly referred to as
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a witch despite the fact that she never does any magic whatsoever and doesn't seem to possess any powers beyond... luck; in fact, she doesn't do much of anything at all besides playing rock paper scissors. Rarely have I seen such a passive protagonist (she doesn't even do much in the way of reacting!). Everyone else is a carbon copy of archetypes that have been done and redone much better elswhere thousands of times. The only interesting one is Chika, and she's an only slightly alluring outline of a potentialy better character.
The art goes from mediocre to actively ugly with nary a symmetrical face. The best pieces are by far the cover art for the volumes.
I would only recommend Cosmo na Bokura! to aspiring writers and mangakas as an example of what not to do. Anyone else can move along without giving it a second thought.
Reviewer’s Rating: 1
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Sep 12, 2021
Versailles no Bara is a masterclass in how to write historical fiction.
The story stays mostly true to what we know of history, but the author takes a few liberties in the way she introduces certain characters and how they interact. She also decides what rumors she'll make fact or fiction (in her story), which is the right thing to do in my opinion: if you had to leave every doubt unanswered, the series would quickly become pointless and unsatisfying. Ikeda also introduces a couple of completely new characters to spice things up, Oscar and André, both of which fit perfectly in Versailles' world of romance
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and intrigue.
The characters are Versailles no Bara's shining star. Every last one of them is complex, interesting, and even lovable (to different extents, of course). The women and girls are especially brilliant; I'll never forget poor Charlotte.
The drawings are truly beautiful, although the seventies influence is strong and sometimes distracting (particularly the bell-bottom pants and flowy, luscious hair on just about anyone who isn't meant to be seen as old or ugly). The composition of each page is gorgeous and the emotions are always sumptuously depicted. Sometimes, the drama does turn into melodrama, but the reader's investment in the story and characters helps keeps it tolerable.
I would recommend Versaille no Bara to everyone who cares about manga; this œuvre forever changed the medium (especially shojo manga) and is a must-read. CW: there is one rape scene (not directly shown).
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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