I loved to bits (see what I did there?) the titular "Smashed." But I also detest Soichi's character, so the two stories with him in it brought it all I loved to bits (see what I did there?) the titular "Smashed." But I also detest Soichi's character, so the two stories with him in it brought it all down a little for me....more
"The Enigma of Amigara Fault" is another gem, and "Billions Alone" is simply bloodcurdling. The rest of the entries don't shine much, however. "The Enigma of Amigara Fault" is another gem, and "Billions Alone" is simply bloodcurdling. The rest of the entries don't shine much, however. ...more
The five stars are for Mustang and Hawkeye. And yeah, okay. For all the rest, too.
[Just for the record: I don't actually own this box set edition thatThe five stars are for Mustang and Hawkeye. And yeah, okay. For all the rest, too.
[Just for the record: I don't actually own this box set edition that I shelved, but I didn't want to add all 27 volumes of the manga singularly, so I thought I'd just cut to the chase and review this omnibus.]
Sadly I'm not a great reader of manga (or comics more in general--I much prefer traditional novels), but I've been feeling increasingly fascinated by this world lately. Plus, I wanted to make a conscious effort to get out of my comfort zone and explore alternative modes of storytelling. And oh my goodness, did this experiment pay off.
I have neither the expertise nor the experience as a reader to make an informed judgement about Arakawa's drawings, but I loved them and I never had any sort of difficulty in following the action. On the other hand, I am somewhat qualified to make an informed judgement about elements of story construction, and let me tell you that Arakawa knows every trick in the book. There are a few minor flaws that I could point out, but honestly, I've already forgotten half of them and they never hindered my enjoyment, so I won't waste my time on that. What struck me the most is the extreme care and skill with which Arakawa manages her characters: the cast of Fullmetal Alchemist is anything but small, but each character is delightfully unique and fleshed-out, and they all get their moment to shine without it ever feeling forced or fanservice-y. This is the mark of a truly accomplished narrator, if you ask me.
The plot itself is, like any good plot, pretty simple if you reconstruct what exactly happened once you have all the information, but Arakawa, like any good storyteller, was able to stage it as an exciting, riveting, thought-provoking and complicated story, doling out information in the right places and at a perfect pace, and never missing an occasion to drop an unexpected twist. I had actual trouble putting these volumes down, which accounts for the speed with which I finished the series even though I'm not accustomed to reading comics.
What else can I say? This was an unexpectedly fantastic experience, and I'm in the process of reliving this story by watching the anime (Brotherhood), which I'm also loving. I'm glad I pushed myself to try something new and I'm glad I chose this series specifically. If like me you're new to comics and manga and would like to try it out, Fullmetal Alchemist is a perfect place to start. ...more
*I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
I absolutely LOVE this. Some scenes you find in the book are a*I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
I absolutely LOVE this. Some scenes you find in the book are absent from this for reasons of length, I guess, but never mind, this is spectacular all the same. It gave me the best kind of chills....more
*I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
Emma is only my second Manga Classic rewriting (the first one *I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
Emma is only my second Manga Classic rewriting (the first one was Pride and Prejudice) and I must say that I liked Pride and Prejudice better. I think, however, that this slight preference of mine is due to the fact that the story and the tone of the original Pride and Prejudice are better suited for a comic adaptation. Adapting Emma in this form was no easy task at all, and truth be told, once again I am really impressed with Po Tse's and Crystal S. Chan's work. ...more
*I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
These illustrations are absolutely lovely. I love how they man*I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
These illustrations are absolutely lovely. I love how they manage to convey at the same time both an idea of refinement and a delicious, smart humour. If Austen's chiselled, brisk, lively writing style could be turned into drawings, it would be impossible to do a better job than Po Tse's. And Mr Collins is simply priceless, his looks made me laugh so much my eyes watered. Super recommended (from a huge fan of the novel)....more
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