Customer Reviews

Battle Vixens, Vol. 6

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

When I bought the first and second volumes, I really was very disappointed and wished I never bought them. Besides the small funny moments with Hakufu and the Three Kingdoms plot, I just wanted to get my money back. The first two volumes were terribly plotless, with hard-to-understand slang and just boobs everywhere! Plus, a lot of the characters' personalities were getting me annoyed.

BUT...I proceeded to buy the third volume. By then, the plot, the slang, and the characters were beginning to grow on me. It could hardly be called "liking" the manga. I was merely putting up with it.

And then, I bought the fourth volume.

I think that's when I began to fall in love.

Unlike the first three volumes, the fourth actually gets somewhere. I began to get more of an emotional attachment to all the characters that use to annoy the heck outta me. The plot was introduced....Explaining the Magatamas....How all the characters were trying to break free of a destiny already pre-written for them to act on.

This I found very original, since with most other mangas I've read and animes I've watched, the characters are trying to FIND their destiny. In Battle Vixens, the characters want to MAKE their destiny.

The fact that it practically counts as softcore porn is just a bonus for the pervs ;)!

so, sure. this manga can seem not worth the money, but it deserves to be checked out. borrow it from a friend or something, or the library XD! i can definitely say this is one of my favorites.

even if Shimei gets annoying time to time.

This is the first manga that I've ever read, and I have to admit I liked it. Being a comic, the art and character designs are the most important to me. So I went down to the local bookstore conglomerate and quickly flipped through a bunch of manga that they had, and this one immediately caught my eye. I really like the simple, clean lines. Hair and faces are drawn very well, and aren't all crazy (like YuGiOh). Plus I was amazed at how clear the action came across in the fight scenes. The author did a great job portraying each battle in a straightforward yet stylistic manner. This is exactly what I expect from the art and storytelling of a comic or manga.

The problems with this manga stem from poor dialogue and plot. Even though high schoolers do swear and talk about sex all the time, the dialogue in Battle Vixens was rediculously over the top, to the point where it becomes almost annoying. As for plot there is a weak mythology about ancient chinese warriors that may become more relevant in later volumes, but is pretty unimportant here. There are also hints to hegemonies, conspiracies, and hidden powers.

All in all, I gave this manga 4 stars out of 5 because I thoroughly enjoyed myself while reading it. I definitely plan on checking out the next volume (even though it isn't available on amazon.com). If you like great comic artwork, good fight scenes, unbelievably cute girls, and plenty of fan service, then you might like Battle Vixens. Check out the review in Newtype USA (June 2004) as well.

For those that are truly confused in the story line. You should probably actually research the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. It is quite interesting that a manga is actually based with fan service, as well as historical relevance. This is absolutely a great manga series to read. I still collect because of its historical relevence, and Hakafu :3. To actually understand this series you have to read into a bit more.

This series is unique to its type; a manga based with history, and fan service smothered on top of it. If you guys wanted an in depth series try Gunslinger Girl which I reccomend to anyone that enjoys espioniage stuff, and futuristic stuff. Battle Vixen, or Ikki Tousen is a wonderful series that I reccomend to those that enjoy combat babes, and comedy on the side. The story isn't met to be handled with serious thought, but rather handled in a light mood. So quit over analyzing stuff you fellow nerds and geeks, and you fan boys.

Hakafu Sonsaku is a unique character which I thouroughly enjoy, not because of her character design, but her personality. She may be a ditz, but her determination to become stronger, and fight the strongest no matter who it is absolutely beautiful. This is the greatest series to read, but an enjoyable series to just sit down and enjoy. Once again, if you guys want an in depth story line, stay far away from this. I still don't understand how people get confused over this manga. Just don't skip a book XD. I did that once... never again!

Normally I would have steered clear of this manga, but I ended up seeing the entire anime series (Ikkitousen) fansubbed, and I actually liked it quite a bit. Though I was very hesitant to check out the manga because of hearing about the awful translation. And when I found out that it was Keith Giffen I understood why. I've been reading Battle Royale since it first came out, and it's been increasing harder and harder for me to read because the translation reall bugs me. And it is no different here. He makes the characters swear for the sake of it, and his choice of words is just all wrong. I think the guys problem is that when he translates he's trying to do it like he would American comics. And with manga that just doesn't work.

Because of the horrible translation some of the story is lost. Where 2 guys would be talking about something important instead they'll be asking each if they "popped a rod". This series itself isn't that big on plot, but I actually found anime fairly interesting.
The main reason for that is because all of the major characters are actually supposed to be reincarnations of people from the whole 3 Kingdoms period in China. (Anyone who's played Dynasty Warriors or the Romance of the 3 Kingdoms games will know what I'm talking about.) The problem is that most people wont really be able to notice this because they're using their Japanese names instead of Chinese. For example Sonsaku Hakufu the main character is Sun Ce and her Friend Kouken is Zhou Yu. And these two people really were friends. Or then there's Ryofu & Toutaku which are Actually Lu Bu & Dong Zhuo. And you can definitely see similarities in their relatioship.
But not all of the characters in story want to accept their place in destiny so they try to change their fate.
Though I will agree though that I feel this volume didn't have enough story in it and that the side story in the end of the volume was just a waste of space.

Also keep in mind that this is a fighting manga so there is a whole lot of it in this one volume. Surprisingly though the fights are done pretty well and I enjoyed most them. But it can be very hard to enjoy them because practically every comment someone makes ( male of female.) is filled with sexual innuendo.
For example, while Ryomou(Lu Meng.) fighting Gakushu she says she's working on multiple orgasms. Then after beating him, comments that maybe a little girl on girl action with Sonsaku is what she needs. And that got me very angry cause she's my favorite character.
I will warn you though if you are interested in checking this out there is one other thing you should worry about. And that is the insane amount of Fanservice. Any chance they to have to show something, they take it. Every kick will be a panty shot and blows to the chest almost always result in their shirts getting torn open.
So if you actaully want to check this series out you have to worry about fanservice, excessive swearing, and LOTS of sexual innuendo. And if it wasn't for the latter 2, I would have given this 4 stars instead of 2.
As a final comment I am going to agree with a fellow reviewer and say that Keith Giffen must be stopped before he ruins any more series. Because if it wasn't for his awful translation I would have actually been able to enjoy this more. But because of this, I am most likely never going to buy any more of it.
And if this review has made you at all interested in the series, then I suggest you check out the anime instead.

Oh, what's a parent to do when your high school daughter likes to go out and beat the crap out of anybody and everyone because she simply likes to beat up people? Plus the fact that it gives her sexual satisfaction. Hakufu Sonsaku isn't interested in being a prim and proper Japanese woman. After her mother throws her out, giving her a Magatama Jewel (said to hold the spirit of an ancient warrior who imbibes its owner with great power), Hakufu enrolls in Nanyo Academy in Tokyo. The Academy is one in which students constantly fight each other in a Highlanderish bid to become Ikki Tosen: One Warrior with the Power of One Thousand. Or is this Real About High School?

This first volume was very weak. There's really no story here, oh yeah, there's some mystical mumbo jumbo that the spirits in the Stones were heroes attempting to unite China etc., etc., but it's all rather dull. It's just fight after fight after fight. The whole manga seems just to be for fan service. Adding to this weakness is the fact that the last chapter is a side story about a previously unknown character at the Academy who has...can you believe it?....a fight? It wouldn't be so bad but why couldn't you give another chapter of the real story without digeressing? I had a hard time even trying to find enough story to write about in this review.

Okay, this would get lower than one star if I could rate it that way.

I can deal with fanservice, but this is just disgusting. SEX. That's all they talk about, all they think about. It's dumbfoundedly sexist and has no plot.

Honestly, if I wanted to hear so much sex talk and sexual situations I would've bought hentai.

I knew the fanservice would be bad, but I thought it would be funny. It's not.

On a story level, as I already stated, it's pathetic. No character development, and the characters who deserve death (a dude who raped a girl and another who said all women should be his sexual servents) didn't die. The first one was beat, but not killed. And the other one wasn't even reprimanded at all.

All in all, not only was this manga a waste of money, but it makes me think all men are pigs (since the majority of them in this manga are)...

A friend suggested I read this series. I had not read much Manga and did not know if I would like it. LOVED IT. If you are a DC Comics reader you may know Keith Giffen. He wrote the English Dialogue for this series. I did not know that at the time I read it, but found that out when I read 'Manga : The Complete Guide' a massive compilation of about 700 reviews of various types of Manga.
The writeing style is rather self aware and makes fun of the 'fan service' in a fun way. The story is very much a 'Buffy the Vampire' - type of storyline about a Girl who finds out that she is something much more powerful than she thought and must learn to deal with that and deal with the people that would do her harm.
It's a fun series, with interesting characters and is a great starting point for americans to make that jump to a new format. There are also 2 anime series based on this called Ikkitousen and Ikkitousen : Dragon's Destiny.

I've seen some of the anime and the gashapon/figurines but the art style looks alot different in the manga. Lots and lots of boob jokes and panty shots. But no actual nudity. I think it's rated M for the language, like something you'd hear on an NC-17 movie. It is a little hard to follow, somethings seem to go too fast and dialouge can be weird. All in all I will probably get the next volume. Oh and there is an alternate cover that looks like a bad photoshop job and not as enticing as the one pictured in the description.

During the era of the Three Kingdoms in China many heroes tried to unite the land and failed. Their spirits came to rest in jewels, called Magatamas, which fills their owners with the lust for battle. They fight to become Ikki Tousen : One Warrior with the Power of one Thousand.
Hakufu Sonsaku, a busty, beautiful girl is one such student and this manga follows her as she enters a new school and the new world of wild combat and weird rules.
After seeing the anime I had to see the manga. Pretty much covers the first few episodes of the anime (or the anime is based on the first volume of the manga). DOES have a nice sidestory and comments from the author. So if you have the anime, you don't need this unless you get it used or really are a fan of the artwork. Hubba-hubba!

OK, admittedly not the best Manga I've read and I agree about the cussing, but still an interesting read and worth taking a look at the second volmue