Customer Reviews

Ceres: Celestial Legend, Vol. 1: Aya

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Ayashi no Ceres' first volume promises the series to be a hit like Yu Watase's other famous work, Fushigi Yuugi. Ceres has a love triangle in the Fushigi Yuugi style, but the story is much darker. There is more blood and violence, and much less slapstick humor. The main character, Aya, is maturer than Miaka from fushigi yuugi (except she seems to fall hopelessly for one guy immediatly like Miaka did) Basically the plot is about the twins, Aya and Aki, who on their 16th birthday recieve a pretty weird present from their family that awakens strange powers in both of them. Suddenly Aya's family is trying to kill her, and she must run or be killed. Some parts of this manga actually reminded me of scream. ^_^ It's been called a horror, but I'de say it's a dark drama. Don't worry- there is some humor in it! More Mature humor though, so combined with the blood and stuff, I would say just use your own discretion. Overall, this was a great manga so buy it today!

This series, being from the same creator of Fushigi Yugi is just as well written and illustrated. The story of a girl named Aya, who is forced to run for her life from her family on her 16th birthday, because she has become a "celestial being", what is a celestial being? Supposedly some sort of angel. In this volume it isn't too detailed on why her family would want to kill her because of the fact that she is a "heavenly maiden", I'm sure that will come later in the story. Of course there is a love story, Aya who is saved by a mysterious stranger named Touya, ends up falling for him. Of course there is so much more in this volume. Aya has a twin brother, who is supposed to be the reincarnated lover of the celestial angel that she has been reincarnated as. Weird?, yes!, but still very good, I can't wait to find out the true story of the Celestial maiden, and I can't wait to see the love blossom between Aya and Touya. If your a big fan of Fushigi Yugi, you have to get this!! Of course it's not as lighthearted, but still a fantastic series, if your new to this author's work, do yourself a favor. Be a little adventurous and get yourself this book. Trust me, you won't be dissapointed!!!

This series begins the day before twins Aya and Aki Mikage's sixteenth birthday. Aya goes to an acclaimed fortune teller, only to get a seemingly ridiculous message. "In your future, Aya Mikage, you will be ruled by the star of darkness. I see blood, anger, devastation and sorrow...the destruction of all balance in the world. On the day the sixteenth star and moon align, your desiny will overtake you. Whether light or darkness triumphs is up to the great power of life you have within you."

However, that is only the beginning of the strangeness. When Aya recover's a woman's purse from a fleeing theif, she falls twenty feet from an overpass into a road. She doesn't just fall, though-she floats. Dazed, Aya stands in the street as a car rushes towards her. Enter Toya. He knocks Aya out of the car's path, saving her life. When her friends reach her, Toya disappears into the crowd.

Aya and Aki make plans with their friends to go out for karaoke for their birthday, but when the twins reach home, they are told by their parents that they have to go to their grandfather's house instead.

When they arrive at Grandfather's the next day, Aya and Aki are surprised to find all of their relatives sitting at a long table, dressed in black. Toya appears and puts a box down in front of them. Aya is surprisingly nervous, feeling her heart beat faster. Aki opens the box. Within it is a sort of shriveled up hand. The sight of it causes Aya to change for the first of what will be many times-into Ceres, a Heavenly Maiden. The mummified hand explodes. Breathing hard, Aya returns to her normal self. Confused, she turns to Aki. But something is happening to him, as well. Cuts appear all over his body and he slumps forward, unconscious and bleeding, onto the table.

Aya begs her relatives for help, but no one moves. Grandfather assures her that Aki will not die. No. She must die.

Ayashi no Ceres, known in English as Ceres: Celestial Legend is a dark, suspenseful manga, full of interesting storylines. Aya tries to conquer the celestial blood that runs through her veins, as Aki tries to recover and figure out what is going on. Suzumi-who shares a special bond with Aya-and Yuhi, Suzumi's brother in law, try to keep Aya safe from her kin. Toya is trying to find himself while forced to serve the Mikages, whose only desire is to see Aya dead and harness Aki's innate power.

One becomes easily addicted to this wonderful series. Not only does one want to know once and for all what exactly is going on, but one becomes endeared to the characters and wants to stay with them. It isn't all horror and drama. There is comic relief and romance thrown into the mix, as well. The art is beautifully drawn and all of the characters are, well, attractive. Shojo readers will love this for the relationship between the ditzy, confused Aya and mysterious Toya, or the comedic one between Aya and Yuhi. Others will simply enjoy the mystery, drama, and horror that is the framework of the story. It is my personal belief that nearly anyone would enjoy this series, and I highly recommend it.

I started out thinking I might buy this series. Then I changed my mind, but thought I might buy the volumes my library was missing and donate them. Then I decided it wasn't worth the bother to do even that. If you are a sucker for Gothic horror, or for twins, or for Gothic horror about twins, well . . . run out and buy TOKYO BABYLON or LEGAL DRUG right away. But feel free to get CERES VOL. 1 from your library. You will be one seriously happy camper for a few brief shining moments. The story begins with a teenaged brother and sister, Aki and Aya, who are about to turn sixteen, and whose inexplicably nervous and jumpy parents insist on taking them to their grandfather's gigantic mansion to "celebrate". I will say no more.

The problem comes AFTER Book 1, when the utterly cool premise has been established and one has to slog through the rest of the story. First problem: EVERYTHING falls a distant second to Aya's self-absorbed quest for love. In one early scene, ten innocent people are horribly burned in a fire. A whole three panels after witnessing this, our heroine whines "There's a fire burning in my heart too" because some guy is not paying her enough attention. It's enough to make one barf up blood. The problem is not just that she's self-centered, mind you, it's that the universe really DOES revolve around her. Strangers have nothing better to do than devote themselves body and soul to her protection. Men prettier than she is fall madly in love with her despite her lack of manners, morals, or intellect. And the INTERESTING villains who are trying to murder her for SENSIBLE reasons give way to idiot villains obsessed with getting into her panties.

Another reviewer mentioned that the heroine was not a good role model for teen girls. It is true that she makes a lot of bad choices, is completely dependent on male approval, and falls flat on her back the moment any guy (except one) kisses her. But considering her traumatic situation, her behavior is understandable enough. It is a far bigger problem that almost every female character in the story, major and minor, is exactly same way, COMPLETELY emotionally dependent on some guy, and thoroughly convinced that life isn't worth living without him - no matter what a jerk he is, or how (potentially) cool she is. The author combines this obsequious over-dependence on males with an obnoxious passive-aggressive hostility towards them, with the unhappy result that no character, male or female, is permitted to become self-actualized or interesting, despite oodles of potential all around.

I have nothing against the possession/reincarnation parts of the plot, but I wish they had not been used to avoid real drama or moral conflict. Certain characters are faced with terrible moral choices, but Yuu prefers to have them turn possessed rather than think about or face them. The hook of CERES for me was this self-perpetuating cycle of evil passed down from generation to generation, and the Catch-22 of characters compelled to perpetuate this evil, or let themselves be destroyed by it. Yuu didn't find this as interesting as I did, so we get villains trying to create Master Races, panty shots, bit characters splattering themselves all over the pavement, and teenagers whining about who likes who best. The real horror and potential of Yuu's premise is avoided.

It was an okay read, the art is good, and there was one character I actually liked. It's just that it could have been so much better if it had focused on its original premise and its original villains with their original motives. When it remembers that it is supposed to be Gothic Horror, it certainly has its moments (Volume 5). But it's not nearly as good as it could have been.

A comic book for teenage girls -- what a rare thing that is today! It's wonderful that Yuu Watase's work is being translated from Japanese and brought over here where it can be appreciated by girls of all ages who are hungering for comics specifically written for them.

When I first heard that Watase was writing a comic where a girl's family tries to kill her on her 16th birthday because she inherits mysterious and dangerous powers, I just had to read it. Ceres is darker and more dramatic than Mysterious Play (Watase's other work that has been translated) and has a more adult flavor to it. Her parents do, indeed, try to kill her within the first few pages of issue #1. Why they do is a mystery she is left to sort out from amongst the shattered pieces of her life after she escapes them. I have seen the animated version of Ceres (which is available on DVD) from beginning to end, so I know how it works out. The story builds over time, with more and more questions gripping the reader as the lead character, Aya, is torn between several mighty organizations fighting to either kill, control, or protect her. Even her family is divided about what to do with her. And it's all because of this mysterious power she bears, a power that can both save lives, and destroy cities.

This is a complex story that has several astonishing twists and turns before it reaches its grand finale, where *all* of the audience's questions are answered. It doesn't feel, as you get closer and closer to the end, and the tale gets stranger and stranger, that all of it can possibly be explained in a satisfactory way, but miraculously it is. Ceres, it turns out, is an excellent piece of writing -- especially for a comic book artist.

Even though I do have one or two quibbles with the plotting (and with that major hottie Tooya, I'm sorry to say), I'm giving this five stars because **the artwork** is worth five stars alone. Watase's work is *gorgeous*. It flows, it feels, it lives. It's full of color, darkness, beauty. Because of the grace of her line, I prefer the comic to the animated version. There are moments in the comic where I have to stop reading and just stare at the artwork.

One scene to look for, that appears in the comic book but not in the animated version, is in the bathroom. The results of a sudden and unexpected encounter there are both hilarious and sweet.

I recommend this for young women ages 12-up. Though I am 25, I wish I had read it as a teenager. I would have devoured it then, even more than I devour it now. There is darkness, drama, humor, violence, romance, and sexuality (at about a PG-13 level). It is well worth a peek, even if you decide not to commit to the whole series (which I think is 10-14 issues). Keep in mind that only some of the issues have been translated, and it will be many months before the entire series is translated and brought over. If you absolutely have to know what happens now, I recommend trying the completed DVD version instead. FYI, the animated version is low-budget, and minimalizes special effects. It also has a slightly different plot. But it's still fascinating.

This series is so creepy! It's not scream your head off scary (more of a spine-tingler), but I mean, just the prospect of your family wanting to kill you is a given heart-pounder.I like Yu Watase's manga because no matter how sewrious the atmosphere is, you can laugh at the hilairious expressions of the characters. Plus, the boys in Yu Watase's manga are always super hot...like Yuhi and Toya, for example. I may be crazy, but I think that Yuhi is a bit cuter than Toya...I like his hair.(shut up brain, shut up.) Anyway, this is a good series. I like it better than FUshigi Yugi or Alice 19th. i highly reccomend it.

(Note: I lied about my age for this review, I am definitely not under 13)

This is truly some of Yu Watase's best work. The artwork is flawless- which is what we've come to expect. English edition is still in the process of being published, however what I've read thus far I've loved.

Aya Mikage is a spunky sixteen year old. For her birthday, she and twin brother Aki receive a mummified hand. The hand triggers Aya's "Celestial Maiden" powers, and part of her family gets hurt in the cross-fire. Now she's on the run and her family wants her dead. Worse still, she's fighting herself, against the Celestial maiden aspect of her personality, so the maiden doesn't get lose and kill someone.

Beyond this basic story, there's Toya, the man who saved Aya's life and now haunts her thoughts, and a very nice dash of humor at odd moments. The 2nd editions, read right to left, have the original Japanese cultural references left in, with an explanation in the front of the book, for those of us who aren't so J Pop savvy.

This manga title is rated for older teens, with good reason. Don't give it to your ten year old! That warning given, I can't say enough good things about Ceres.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!

The shojo world of the 1990s belongs to Yuu Watase. When I started reading "Ceres Celestial Legend", I was struck by how well she can tell a story. I am very happy to see shojo artists like Yu Watase tell coherent, meaningful stories that are well-paced and involves character development. Manga, in spite of the visuals, is just like a novel. The medium is visual rather than verbal language, but a story is a story whether it is a novel or a movie. As the plot unfolds, we learn more about the mystery inside Aya and Aki, and--the real interest-clencher(!)--we watch how the characters change and develop. In her book, "Steering the Craft" the fantasy fiction writer Ursula K. LeGuin states that in a good story, the characters must CHANGE. Without change, a story is empty. Simple conflict is not enough. I think that because there is conflict AND change amongst the characters of the story, Watase's characters have the ability to draw you in and make you care.

Too much thesedays, from reality TV shows, to sitcoms, and even movies, screenwriters, directors, novelists, and more don't seem to grasp the concept that in order for a story to engage its readers, the characters of the story must change. Changing characters is a dangerous gamble for popular manga, however, since if audiences don't like the changes in the character, they might stop buying the book. But without change a manga's fanbase tends to diminish anyway in my opinion.

Also wanted to add that in shonen manga, it is common to see girls fight over the male protagonist. So, it is particularly nice in Ceres to see Aya's two hunky romantic interests fret and fuss over the female protagonist. This is indeed the kind of fantasy female readers want to see! The only thing that I dislike is the way in which female characters are sexually exploited even in shojo manga. I'd expect exploitative behavior towards women depicted in shonen manga, but I can't imagine that most female readers REALLY want their privates to be stared at without their consent!

Although Ceres Celestial Legend is a shoujo manga, it has enough sex, murder, betrayal, revenge, and blood to be a horror manga. There is some humor, but overall, the story is kind of depressing. Aya, the main character, is not very sympathetic. She is promiscuous, wild, rough, and really only cares about her twin brother, Aki. That sounds nice, but they are way too close; and as the story develops, there is an incestuous twist. I really enjoy the art of Yuu Watase, but I cannot bring myself to care about Aya. She seems to suck everyone in around her, but really lacks any sweetness or morals.

Yuu Watase has a great imagination. The plot is clever: what if the legends of celestial maidens who had their robes stolen as they were bathing were not just a fairy tale? What if goddesses really did marry mortal men? And what if their descendants carried the "celestial gene?"

The story is about sixteen year-old Aya and Aki, who are betrayed in a terrible way by their family on their sixteenth birthday because they are connected with the Celestial Legend Ceres. In a short time, Aya has lost everything, and is fleeing for her life. She convienently finds a mysterious woman and her brother-in-law who are willing to help her. There is another mysterious man who is employed by her family (who is trying to kill her) but who - predictably - falls in lust with Aya. Like I said, Aya is quite a little ho for age sixteen. Not a great example for girls. For teens, I instead recommend Alice 19th, also by Watase.

Watase Yuu has grown as an artist in a delightful way. While 'FY' is the best known of her works, 'Ayashi No Ceres' is bound to become a classic. The storyline is darker, the characters deeper, more mature, and more vibrant for their emotional quandries.

The plot revolves around Mikage Aya, a sixteen year old girl who love karaoke. When she and her brother arive at their grandfather's house to celebrate their sixteenth birthday, their lives are changed forever when an unimaginable secret is revealed to them. Inside her conciousness, Aya is harboring the essence of a celestial maiden, one who fell from heaven. And her brother harbors the spirit of the maidens scorned lover. So Aki is a treasure, while Aya is the worst kind of threat...

Reading 'Ceres' is a unique experience, with humor thrown in at interesting moments and stunning atwork that many have come to expect from the creator of 'Fushigi Yuugi'. The plot is intricate, the characters very real and the layer of mysticism and fantasy does not block the emotional heart of the story. A must read!