Customer Reviews

Basara, Vol. 1

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In this post-apocalyptic view of the future, Japan is ruled by an oppressive king and his four sons. The people have been reduced back to a medieval-like society, and wait in hope for the child of Destiny to come-the one who will make the desert bloom again and bring about a revolution. When twins are born, the soothsayer announces that "this is the child of destiny". Everyone believes that the boy twin is the chosen one. Sarasa, his twin sister is overshadowed and all but forgotten. She wonders what her own role is to be, whether she is simply the scraps left over. But when tragedy strikes the village, Sarasa is forced into a role she never expected to be hers-and must become a leader to her people.

Basara is Yumi Tamura's 27 volume action-adventure shojo series, following the adventures of Sarasa on her quest. Tam-Tam defines "basara" as "a free but noble spirit who disavows established authority and rejects the restrictions of convention". If, as a graphic novel reader, you're tired of school-uniformed heroines that need rescuing and overly cutesy artistry, this may be for you. While clearly a shojo, or "girl-focused" manga series, Tamura's heroine is a strong and capable young woman facing believable dilemmas, and challenges. Of course, there are plenty of cute men around to keep the romance factor in the story, but there's also plenty of violence and action that keep the story moving forward.

Tam-Tam's gritty saga is well drawn, although she opts for a less highly detailed style that leaves an almost impressionistic feel, and allows the reader to fill in the back ground for themselves. The style is not "pretty" as it may be in some manga, but this meshes with the story themes, which are not pretty either. Admittedly, there are plenty of big eyes and wild hair-so if the reader prefers a more sedate and realistic look, this may not appeal. Like most authentic manga, this book reads right to left. Scattered through the story are little notes called "Tam-Tam time" from the author herself, these allow for a chance to lighten the mood as well see the story from the mind of Tamura herself.

If you like this first volume, good news! There are twenty-six more volumes to come. Also check out Tamura's 2-book manga series, CHICAGO. While not as detailed and epic as BASARA, it still features Tam-Tam's trademark action-adventure style with a strong heroine as the main character.

Happy Reading! Shanshad ^_^

Sometime far, far in the future, the land of Japan as we know it is gone. For a young girl named Sarasa, her land is a brutal sun shining over a vast desert, divided into the control of the Emperor and his sons. For Sarasa's land, the tyrant that controls her desert is the Red King, who has been a constant malevolent presence in her simple village.

Sarasa's twin brother, Tatara, has an incredible destiny before him, as he was predicted to be a child of light that would lead their people to revolution. However, Sarasa is ignored in favor of the one who holds the hopes of the people. However, the brilliant and cruel Red King - a teenage boy only a few years older than herself - is well aware of the prophecy, and has Tatara brutally killed. Sarasa thus momentously declares that *she* is Tatara, and that now is the time to rebel against the Red King.

Here, the story begins: Sarasa must unite the people of Japan under the name "Tatara", and rebel against the Emperor and his sons. Her own particular demon is the Red King, the personal cause of her tragedy. At the same time, she is a fifteen year old girl, after all, and she comes to love a handsome and capricious young man named Shuri. Sarasa is, unfortunately, ignorant of the fact that the name of the Red King is Shuri, just as he is ignorant of the fact that the intriguing young woman he loves is the wearer of the robes of Tatara. The emotional seesaw here is enough to shred my heart into small pieces.

The epic (for this is can only be called epic) series begins with the definition of Basara: "a free but noble spirit who disavows established authority and rejects the restrictions of convention." Derived from a word meaning diamond, this series surely is that - a diamond that is unconventional, beautiful, and true. The story runs through 25 volumes, and is finished up with two volumes of side stories that detail character moments and such.

I can't say how wonderful this manga is. In romance, adventure, human emotion, fighting, politics, art, humor - in every category I can think of, it's brilliant. There is something about Basara and its timelessly elegant story, its fresh comedy and painful romance that strikes me every time I read it. Some complain that the art is rough and unusual - and it is, but it's beautiful. Whether it is in SD-form or reminescent of old Japanese paintings and scrolls, it is unsurpassable.

As for plot, it's already intriguing - but the diamond of Basara lies in the characters. Sarasa is passionate, honest, and determined, with a nearly unbreakable will to succeed. And she is normal, as we see in her caring for her loved ones, her love and confusion for Shuri, and the undiluted rage she has against the Red King. The supporting characters are wonderful as well, in a myriad of personalities, goals, and desires.

The cast, the plot, the art, the dialogue, all culminating in a beautiful ending that made me weep: there is no manga series that I can recommend more.

Basara is NOT your typical Shoujo manga. No..it's not about your magical girl power with a team of other girls as sidekicks. Nor is it about a girl who got trapped into a different world. This manga defies your typical Shoujo.

This Shoujo is a tale about a girl named Sasara who must disguise herself as a boy ( Basara) to lead a revolution, help her people build a new world after her village and her loved ones were killed by the Red King. To give her people hope, Sasara disguised herself as her dead brother, Tatara who was supposed to be the child of destiny. This is how Sasara's journey & adventure began with her people.

Each volume depicts how Sasara develop relationship with people, how she gains the love & respect from her followers. Sasara's passion and determination is so inspiring and unforgettable.

Witness Sasara's struggle, she constantly battles with her emotions and her will to lead. Sasara leads battle after battle, outwit her enemies like a capable general. Yet her heart remains to be a woman's heart that needs to be fulfilled, loved.

In Basara there is the star crossed romance factor between Sasara & The Red King ( Shuri).They remain as lovers not knowing each other's identity, and when that truth is reveald.... in the future they must fight each other for the cause of their people & their ambition.

Basara is a brilliant manga, with unforgettable characters, a beautiful epic story, filled with tragedy, love, battles within the heart & the field. A Must Read!

Basara is not your typical shoujo manga, and Sarasa is a very atypical shoujo heroine. I was initially attracted to this series through the anime. I had read a review in which someone mentioned that it was a shame that not all of the manga volumes were animated. Having seen the anime, and now having started on the manga, I find that I am in agreement. When Sarasa and her twin brother Tatara were born in their village, the prophet Nagi declared "here is the child of destiny". Of course, everyone assumed they meant Tatara. Sarasa grew up in his shadow, with nobody expecting very much from her, and everyone expecting Tatara to lead them to salvation.

When Tatara is killed and Byakko village decimated by the forces of the Red King, Sarasa takes up Tatara's name and guise to exact revenge. This volume chronicles her attempt to reclaim the sword of Byakko, which had belonged to Tatara and which her female hand was previously never allowed to "defile", as well as a couple more attempts to strike at the Red King's forces.

The supporting cast, particularly Ageha and Shuri, is interesting, and the secrets concerning their histories are doled out very sparingly. The art is sometimes a little odd (I find the blurry eyes rather distracting), but I completely adore how Tamura-sensei draws little kids. This series (and the anime if you can find it) is highly recommended.

For my tastes, this is the best shoujo manga out there. I am sure some lovers of romance manga will disagree, so let me restate it this way "this is the best non-romance shoujo manga out there". Not that there is no romance there - on the contrary, there is plenty of romance in the story, it is just secondary to the story itself. It appals me to see the low byrates for this book on Amazon, whereas manga that I would consider "trash" (no, i'm not naming any names) sells much better. Maybe it's because there is no Basara anime to raise the profile of the manga. Either way, I urge everyone to check it out. This is the second best fantasy manga on the market after Naussicaa. It is vividly imagined and populated with characters that you will remember for a long time. From glittering palaces to howling winds in the desert, full of primal emotions of love and revenge, villains with a tender side and conflicted heroes. It is a story of prophesy, a messianic story, and as such has a primal, direct impact - a feeling that the characters and events are part of a larger tapestry of history, that they are caught up in a flow beyond their control. I will not describe the plot -I am not very good at describing plots, and previous reviewers have done a better job than I can. If you are a fan of fantasy authors like Mercedes Lackey or Andre Norton or Anne McCafrey, if you are a fan of epic fantasy, or if you are just a fan of manga, please give this series a try.

How can i convince you: the purchaser of manga, the one with a credit card to begin colleting this manga? What if i just said...OMG THIS MANGA IS FREAKIN AWESOME YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT!!!

Maybe you need more convincing than that. i mean it is atleast 26 volumes. and there are so many options these days it's hard to know what to buy, i've made mistakes lately too based on the exuberant exclamations of reviewers on this site. but i can honestly tell you who will love this book and who wont.

If you;re an older audience you will appreciate this manga.
If you like fantasy adventure you wil like this manga.
If you like complicated romances you will like this manga.
If you like strong, intelligent female leads who fight their own battles you will like this manga.
If you don't mind older works you will certainly not mind this one.
If you like manga that pulls you in, grabs your heart and never lets go...you will like this manga.
One of the most popular manga's of 90s and for a reason.

I HIGHLY RECCOMEND THIS BOOK.

At first I thought "Basara" was just another story about a girl saving a kingdom and blah, blah, blah, but after reading the first few pages I realized I was wrong. The characters are very well thought out, and I haven't found an entirley dislikable one yet! Readers will be saved from cliches and predictability

This is my all time favorite manga series, and one of the few I would recommend equally to boys and girls. There is a good deal of violence, so I would recommend this series for teens or older readers.

The setting is in the far-future after some unnamed catastrophe has reshaped the Earth, geographically, but most importantly, socially and politically. Japan, along with the rest of the world, is coming out a dark age, and new ideas abound but in a society that is still fairly primitive and brutal.

Into this setting, a pair of twins are born. At their birth, a seer announces that the child of destiny has been born, the one who will reshape Japan and bring about social change for the better. Everyone assumes it is the boy, Tatara, leaving his sister Sarasa in shadow. But the nobility fear the rebellion that is building behind this young man, and the Red King and his men raid the village, killing Tatara and many of the other villagers. In desperation to save who she can, Sarasa takes up her brother's name and rallies the remaining villagers behind her. Still as her brother, Sarasa takes up the cause her brother stood for, and the world slowly begins to realize what the seer always knew - the child of destiny is the girl twin.

This series has much to recommend it. There is a lot of action - individual sword fights and epic battles are everywhere. There is a lot of character development - Sarasa's balancing of her own needs and wants with the duties and expectations laid on her as "Tatara" is especially compelling, along with the evolution of Shuri, the Red King, as he begins to understand more and more what his people are going through. All the characters are interesting and complex. There is a fabulously tragic romance plot, but it is supported by a wealth of other interconnecting relationships. There is never a dull moment in this delightful series.

A series has to be something special for me to invest in buying the manga... particularly when, at cover price, the cost will ultimately be over $250. O_o
Basara is that special. It is an epic story with believeable characters that you really become attached to. It moves quickly, but not so fast that it sacrafices the details and moments that flesh out the feeling of a scene. With a healthy mix of action, intrigue, and romance, one is easily caught up what is an amazing and beautiful story.

Although the art isn't your typical fluffy art, it is by no means ugly or unattractive. I think the people reviewing this comic have spent too much time eating sugar-coated candy and reading over-decorated comics. Calling Tamura's art anything short of "amazing" is insulting and inaccurate.

Also keep in mind that this comic was made several years ago, meaning there's a generational gap in artistic trends. The art style is raw, skillful, and radiates the epic tone of this series. I hope to see the rest come out here in the US. The story is great and not a single volume falls flat, not even up to volume 27.

If you want a story that hits you deep in the heart, BASARA is for you. There is deep social, romantic, political, and even spiritual commentary and meaning in this comic. It is a masterpiece and truly exceeds the medium it is written in.