You've probably read manga where the drawing technique was better, more elaborate, unique in the end. You've possibly read manga with a much more solid, tight storyline. I find though that it doesn't really matter. A story doesn't have to be perfect to be utterly enticing. And Pet Shop of Horrors (further PSOH) is. So. Freaking. Charming.
Or maybe you are like I was: rather spooked with or uninterested in manga-style drawing (which, as it turns out at a closer look, isn't one style at all). I think PSOH can be a good place to start getting acquainted with manga. Because it's eclectic and has elements that may appeal to different kinds of readers: horror/supernatural, mystery, crime/action, humour, morality tale, and then there are animals and very attractive main characters.
I began with the PSOH anime (available on YouTube). It consists of only four episodes (Daughter (from Vol 1.3, rabbit), Delicious (Vol 2.3(7), Mermaid), Despair (Vol 1.2, Medusa), and Dual (Vol 5.1, Kiri). People say that Count D's voice in Japanese is better but I really liked his English voice (I watched the English version).
I admit that by the end of episode one I was thoroughly creeped out. It still stands out in my mind as one of the creepiest episodes in the series, but to see it first, without any idea what I was getting into? Was a shock. But I was intrigued too: how come that animals are also people? I mean, how? And what's this Count D's agenda? He didn't seem evil, but the consequences of his business transaction were quite horrible. So I watched on. And by the end of episode four was absolutely, madly in love with him. So of course I rushed to find the manga. It's not difficult to find; I think it might be sold where you live, and if not and if Amazon isn't an option for you, it can be found on the net almost in any big place that trades manga.
There are ten volumes of the original PSOH manga, and three more of Shin Pet Shop of Horrors, the sequel (only two are scanlated so far) that features different main characters. The premise is as follows. In LA Chinatown, there's a Pet Shop. Quoting from the book: "Its proprietor, an enigmatic figure known only as Count D, beckons through his doors the injured and the scarred, introducing them to creatures friendly and bizarre. [...] Detective Leon Orcot [..] has traced a series of seemingly unrelated crimes to Count D and his Pet Shop of Horrors. A steadfast sceptic, Leon dismisses as trickery the inexplicable events he witnesses."
It begins as spooky; the morals are a bit annoying and repetitive, and detective Leon Orcot seems to be little more than a hot-tempered dunderhead. But it's still intriguing. So you read on. And it becomes less creepy, or at least much more varied. The dunderhead turns out to be not that bad. You begin to see the logic (or a logic) of Count D's actions. Then, gradually, the big story becomes a focus rather than those short ones of which it consists. Leon and Count D develop a sort of friendship that is actually 3/5 flirting and 2/5 shouting at each other. Enter Chris, a six-year-old third main character. You learn more and more about Leon, his past, and his life; in the end you learn a lot about Count D too (in Vol 10 in particular). You learn to treasure the drawing: D's expressions, comic relief scenes, outfits, animals. So when it ends, you turn to fanfiction as the only painkiller available -- 'cos it ended, and the very fact is devastating.
On the way it so happens that the two main characters and antagonists have a real potential. It's easy to develop a crush on Count D. He's enigmatic, mysterious, aloof, and the further the more appealing. But whom I really love is Leon. He's an ordinary guy to umpteenth degree, but he's so good it's impossible not to fall for him. Leon hides strength of character and integrity under his rude and messy outlook. He's like Harry: often clueless but true and good. By the end of the first series, my heart was so totally his that I couldn't completely get into Shin Pet Shop. You'll see why when you get there. Chris is plain wonderful. And animals? Awesome. T-chan in particular, but you won't meet him until the middle of the series. So, love it is :)
I want to say thank you again to iibnf for the anime and to RexLuscus whose enthusiasm made me try it and who's been a wonderful guide.
