Aa! Megami-sama!
Oh! My Goddess

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I've come to love this manga! One true reason I enjoy this series are the characters. The character designs are just fantastic! Fujishima's art is definitely one of my favorites. This manga also a unique use of racing and motorcycles as a plot device. That's a plus for me since I am a big racing and motorcycle fan. The comedy is also one of the strong points of this anime. Since it is a seinen manga aimed for an older audience, it dishes out plenty of dirty jokes.

One drawback is the fact that the manga has a slow start. The story and Fujishima's art ... isn't as well evolved as it is now. So you might have to read a couple of volumes until you get addicted. But trust me, it is well worth it.

This manga has evolved from a simple magical girlfriend story to one that involves more action, racing, and plenty or comedy and fan-service to go around. If you're looking for a manga to enjoy, you can't go wrong with Ah! My Goddess.

Before I start to describe my thoughts, I want to point out that this manga is 25 years of one author work. So regardless of what I write, give this comic a try if you have some interest in genre.
This is one of those Harem-Comedy style comic books. There is one boring protagonist and lot of beauties that want to get his attention. Someone may say that, there are thousand mangas with same plot and some of them might have better story or more interesting art style. This all true, this manga have nothing unique or special but i still think this one ... is the best one in genre. Author have really big attention to small details in everything including art, story, character design. Characters are the most strongest part of this manga, they all have very vibrant visual style, and also deep personalities. Later on, from comedy-romance story with a little bit fantasy, manga will evolve into fantasy-adventure story with a little bit of romance. Art style also will be improved. But Belldandy still be the most gorgeous and kindest goddess.(Also i think her name sounds very stupid)

tl;dr: A manga that has an interesting world, interesting stories, and a likable cast, but that doesn’t have enough narrative oomph.

This manga has many aspects, but none really felt like they were enough to hold up the manga, especially considering how long it is at 48 volumes. There’s the aspect with the goddesses and demons, which has a decent amount of good world building, but the stories related to it mostly just amount to small episodes. Similarly, a good amount of the manga also has to do with motorcycles and the motor club, but that too just comes and goes as small episodes without any major ... arcs. While these episodes are decent enough, there generally isn’t any sort of larger narrative to them. More so this is just the story of the cast of characters living their lives and due to their circumstances getting involved with various things. Things that happen do have a long-lasting impact on the manga, but its more in that they effect the flow of how they’ll continue living their normal everyday lives rather than pushing any sort of plot thread forward.

Manga that are simply about people living their lives can be great, but they have to rely on things other than the plot, such as character and relationship development. However, I didn’t think the character and relationship development was that strong either. Keiichi and Belldandy are shown as starting their relationship just because of a wish, but quickly they’re suddenly treated as an incredibly tight knit couple. Now them as a couple isn’t a problem, as how strong of a couple they are is actually pretty amazing, but it didn’t really show how they got there. The plot also doesn’t really throw much in the way of trials to their love either. Hence, while the relationship is great, it didn’t really feel like there was relationship development. In terms of character development, both of them felt minimal. Urd and Skuld were also shown to have a pretty strong bond as sisters, but that too focused more so on showing the bond itself and not it’s development. Both of them did however have decent character arcs. However, due to the length of the manga and how spread out they were, while reading they felt pretty sparse. The rest of the side characters had things here and there, but nothing too substantial.

In addition to the plot or characters, a manga may also rely on comedy. There was some decent comedy here and there in this manga, but it isn’t a gag manga, so that wasn’t the focus and overall the comedy was just decent, and not really enough to hold up the manga. All in all for the most part, it felt like there were a lot of good aspects but with none of them working well enough to serve as a solid core for the manga, and hence for the vast majority of the manga it simply felt like it was going too slowly or not going anywhere at all. This changes during the last fifth or so that has a singular long story arc that ultimately focuses heavily on relationship and character development and does a pretty solid job of it, ultimately bringing things to a pretty satisfying ending. However, it feels like it took far too long to get there. The art started out not that great but ultimately became pretty solid.

One advantage that my goddes has its that it offers long legged, sexy, smooth skinned , and genius chicks. yes Urd is genius at biology, skuld with machines so they are not just stupid brainless bimbo. The author tried her best to provide scientific grounds to everything, but of course you don't have to be a genius to know that the grounds are false.
Keichi's friends who are also his seniors Toraichi Tamiya and Otaki Aoyama are not your typical harem manga' weak , cool supporting characters. They are rude, , very big and strong and more ... like criminals than university students. They are very good with machines, but behave like idiots and are actually nice persons. They are gentle giants that will evoke your symphaty. If you like Kurita Ryokan from the manga Eyeshield 21 , you will like these two.
The reason i dropped this manga is because, while enjoying reading about Urd, Skuld and Peorth antics and ogging on their long legs and flat abs, after 24 volumes the story was going nowhere, there is no twist or effort to break the mold. i was kinda hoping that Peorth would leave Keichi for Toraichi Tamiya. Hey even those two gentle giants deserve to be happy.
If you have time to spare, i highly recommend this manga, After reading this one, you won't read other harem mangas.

The romantic story between man and goddess.
Throughout the entirety of this manga, it has lots of mini story arcs which helps progress the main plot in the background. It's mainly seinen and slice of life with some tidbits of romcom and action thus kinda giving you an "episodic" feel.
One thing to note of, this started in 1988 and so the art and character designs have that old look. Also, the story started slow. It may take more chapters to read to get used to it but I assure you, character designs, art, and plot will get gradually better as you read through. I also ... actually like the motorcycles and racing being used as plot devices. Heck, every motorcycle, automobile, and engine part you see here was drawn precisely, down to the minute details.
This may not be my cup of tea but I came to love this series as I read from start to finish. Art and character designs, especially in the half and later parts of this series were a good contribution.

(just for the record, this is a slight alteration of my anime review)

This is the title that initiated the Magical Girlfriend subgenre of harems and ecchies and it’s also amongst the oldest harems yet still published manga series (it’s been around since 1988).

STORY SECTION: 5/10 [Feels almost like a hentai]
Analysis: General Scenario 1/2, Pacing 1/2, Side Stories/Extra Spices 2/2, Plausibility 1/2, Conclusion 0/2

The story is about a teenage dork dialing the wrong number and ends up living with a beautiful goddess, ready to fulfill his wishes, of which his is to stay with him forever (wish fulfillment). Soon afterwards her also godly sisters pop up ... (harem creation) and his life becomes complicating as he is constantly surrounded by supernatural hot chicks and had to keep using his talents to save the world from cosmic horrors (action) without messing his tiny personal life (comedy). The story is one big pile of comedy, romance, drama, that also blends mythology with science fiction. The core premise is always about Keichi and Belldandy being in love and staying true to each other, even when the cosmic forces conspire against them.

The whole “Sudden Girlfriend Appearance” never made much sense and a “Magical Girlfriend” one makes even less. The whole deal is quite unrealistic. Beautiful goddesses, living in your apartment and helping you solve your problems with epic-level magic? That is something that happens only in anime as cheap means of escapism. Plus, only living with them but never go beyond peeking and hugging is something that all men should loathe worldwide.

But let’s not forget it was amongst the first to set the stage as such and it was everybody else that copied this now tired formula. I hold nothing against its premise as it was quite original and interesting back then. Also, judging it as a fictional story it is far-far better than most similar series as it leaves room for infinite possibilities. Unlike most harems that are hardly trying to flesh out their characters or provide internal logic to all the madness in the story, AMG is actually trying its best to make everything seem logical and excused. The girls are all there for a reason, react somewhat logical with the restrictions of the premise, have powers that are somewhat excused through science and every event has technology and mythology to back it up.

Also, the story never forgets to still be easy-going and funny, where nothing major or deadly ever happens; so all “fake-looking” or “nerdy” situations in it are easily ignored. Realism aside, it is good and cheery, without being great. Some parts are definitely more exciting or funny than others and most of the duration may feel as dead time but it is still overall quite enjoyable.

A big flaw for some is that there is no actual scenario development, other than introducing more secondary characters and ephemeral threats every now and then. But if stand-alone episodes and stale stories don’t bother you, this is not a problem anymore. Other than that, there is no actual objective or even a conclusion, no matter how many mangas come out. It just goes on and on indefinitely.

CHARACTER SECTION: 6/10 [Sultan’s favorite place]
Analysis: Presence 2/2, Personality 2/2, Backdrop 2/2, Development 0/2, Catharsis 0/2

I admit that Belldandy is amongst my favorite anime girls. Too gentle and good to be true, but then again she is a goddess and that is enough of an excuse. Her sisters Urd and Skuld are also very interesting. Few series manage to present so many diverse and yet likable characters. I can say it is the combination of great visuals, ethereal music and unearthly nature that makes them feel far better than the average harem bimbo out there.

But Keichi is was and still is a typical male dork that is swarmed by beautiful girls without being anything special. Oh, sure, he is gentle, kind, good-hearted and the like; but let’s face it, girls don’t really notice such things. We can always justify it with the fact that Belldandy is a goddess that can see people for what they really are. But since I am not a god, I say he is a sissy for feeling embarrassed every time he has the chance to make some lovey-dovey. He and all other males like him in most harem anime are despicable! They give the male gender a bad name, he is the driest and worst character amongst the cast. But if I am to give him a few redeeming qualities, I can say he is actually using his brain from time to time to solve some problems and even finds the courage to fight for his harem. Too bad he isn’t bold enough to do anything other than that.

Other than that, all characters have quirks, backdrop stories and goals that go beyond their stereotypes as sex-bombs, edgy lolitas and shy male virgins. The secondary characters are all very likable and give enough coloring to main ones. None of them were bad or unneeded in the story. I can’t say the same about Keichi (and to think he is supposed to be the protagonist!).

None develops or finds any sort of catharsis because of the short-arced type of series, which may become tiresome after awhile. Meaning, the characters are colored but are not developing at all. Keichi and Belldandy come a bit closer in the end but it’s nothing much.

ART SECTION: 9/10 [Magical technology]
Analysis: General Artwork 2/2, Character Figures 2/2, Backgrounds 2/2, Readability 1/2, Visual Effects 2/2

The art starts of very weak but slowly improves to the point it looks great if you compare it with other similar series.

-All Slice-Of-Life series don’t use flashy visual effects (they don’t fit there). So, the graphics here are catchier, by default.
-Most romances hardly have so heart-warming atmosphere and adorable character figures.
-Most Magical Girl series don’t have so well made (or serious looking, if you prefer) visual effects.
-Almost all comedies don’t have so detailed character figures. They are usually simplistic and go chibi all the time.
-Most Harem/Ecchi series turn their female characters into obnoxious, panties-revealing sluts. The girls here retain an air of purity and gentleness. The naughty scenes are few but worthwhile, as the focus in the series is not waiting to see boobs every 10 seconds (like it happens in most).

VALUE SECTION: 8/10 [A light that shines your heart]
Analysis: Historical Value 3/3, Rereadability 2/3, Memorability 3/4

Ah! My Goddess helped to mainstream Harem and Magical Girlfriend stereotypes and thus deserves a good mark just for that. Rewatchability is high. It is comical and heart-warming enough to deserve a second watch. But you will most likely skip some not-so great part. Although not original or unique anymore, it is still amongst the best of its genre.

ENJOYMENT SECTION: 5/10 [Like a sunny day, it is enjoyable but also rather passable]
Some problems ruined a portion of the enjoyment.

-The relationship between Keichi and Beldandy never goes beyond hugging, making the whole deal stale and without further development. The story itself has no development, other than introducing more secondary characters every now and then.
-There is a lot of character coloring as the series progress but very little character development. You get to know more about them but don’t see them change at all.
-There are lots of uninteresting chapters, where the goddesses and/or demons rival each other, just for laughs.
-There is no conclusion.

The rest of it was quite decent and a worthy read.

VERDICT: 7/10
A great piece of work in its kind that is bogged down by its stale and aimless storytelling.

Oh My Goddess! Has been my favorite manga for a while. It's a sweet and super funny collection that evolved so much from the initial chapters, both in terms of art and character development, that it's almost unrecognizable after a few volumes.
The kind and shy main character finds himself living with a beautiful (and KIND in a godly way) goddess, who never ever harbors a negative thought. They start developing feelings for each other, and they shy guy will eventually come a long way, proving to be a great mechanic, bike rider, faithful lover and, all in all, an acceptable match for the otherworldly Belldandy.
It's ... not a harem manga in any way, since there are zero other characters romantically involved with the MC, other than Belldandy. Her sisters will eventually start to care for him, but more like a little brother that is the perfect target for their pranks, than anything else. The story evolves very slowly. It's not far in the series that Belldandy will confess she loves Keiichi, and the situation kinda stabilizes at that, until an abrupt change towards the end.
That's not a huge issue, since this is not a story-driven manga. To me, it works best when it's a pure gag manga. There are two sadly underutilized characters that I simply love (the two golden-hearted, brotherly-love-forever dummy hulks, Tamiya and Otaki) but there's a great number of supporting characters and episodes that shine with unadulterated fun. One involves a recovered WWII fighter plane, with Keiichi "volunteered" by T&O as the pilot, another one involves the Mother Of All Rubber Band Wars, but really, there's a lot, and that's where the manga shines.
Unfortunately, there's also a lot of episodes that move into battle manga territory, and since I hate the genre (come on, every effing time it's obvious from the start that the Good Guys will eventually win, thanks to some stratagem, after an initial setback) I can't help but find them boooring. Also, the "perfect love" angle is sadly overdone, with Keiichi moving from the standard lackluster nerd to perfect gentleman, most helpful hero and fearless superchampion, in everything motorbike-related. Belldandy too, towards the end, becomes an overachiever, essentially the best goddess in every single area, which diminishes the character.
When the manga works, it makes me roll with laughter. Also, if Belldandy really existed, with her infinite grace unmatched by any other divinity, I'd honestly be a believer. She'd never flood the world or turn someone's wife into salt, right? The art is clean and magnificent. Every panel is a painting, there is infinite care in every little detail, I consider it one of the best-looking manga I have ever read.

All in all, it's a very nice manga that deserves reading. The problem is that about 50% of the material is subpar and, given the high cost of the entire series, it becomes hard to recommend indiscriminately.