Customer Reviews

Dazzle Volume 1

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

You know what this manga is about (now, anyway) from the Amazon-provided synopsis, so I won't rehash. I will let you know what it doesn't cover. This manga is actually well, though unusually, drawn, the characters all sport Lolita-complex looks for the most part (guys are just cute and street-creepy: yay!), and the charcters sort of evolve over the entire volume as to their age and expressions.

The main protagonists are both sorcerers, though the guy, Alzeid, rarely relies on his powers. Through a lot of enjoyable bickering, he and Rahzel begin a very sweet, yet very messy relationship/partnership that I, against that society-grown better judgement (circa. America- ugh!), find myself rooting for turning truly romantic (by the way, he's 24. She's... 14 -_-").

Anyway, she's actually NOT a ditz, she's VERY strong, and he's the kind of guy that feels better when she's threatening to kill/beat/maime him (*NOT* in a pathetic way. He just knows that she's feeling okay when she's being her usual 'evil-eye-with-a-soft-spot' self). Throughout the volume they have about three strange adventures involving a ghost, a thief, and a kid whose protectors are old army 'buddies' of Alzeid's (he's 24, remember?). Each tell you alittle more about the backgrounds and general mindsets of the characters, individual or together, and you come to realize from picture #1 that any semblance to Yuki of Fruits Baskets fame (i.e. silver hair, a *lot* touch-me-not, and powerful... + watching out for homeless dark-haired girl) are taken up to a much more approachable (ifyoudon'tmindaguninyourface) and rebellious level. Makes it much more worth the money if you want a new slant, believe me, and older guys are incredibly under-rated. ...Just a few reasons: Actual chest definition and real (albeit unlawful) jobs!

It's so nice to see a heroine that can take care of herself. This book isn't some teenage love story either, though its only the first book, I have a feeling this story might actually have depth. You'll love the Manga's odd humor, and even odder outlook on life. Hope you are as entertained as I.

I have to say this is one of my favorite manga series. It's a lot of fun, I enjoy the humor to it, it's got drama and a touch of romance going on. Adventures, tragedy, character growth and a slow-building, yet complex plot. I highly recommend it!

The only problem is the first volume is a little rough. The mangaka (author) hasn't quite gotten her drawing style for the seires quite figured out in the first volume, so some of the drawings aren't quiet up to scratch - but they really improve as it goes along. I love the gothic/lolita fashion of the main character, and she has a really quirky personality, that seems heartless in the beginning, but then you find out what really runs beneath her surface, which isn't heartless so much as practical, brave, and caring. But she doesn't like to show it, because her past is pretty dark. Most of all she believes in people sticking up for themselves and being self-sufficent, so she tries to make everyone stand on their own two feet and be responsible for themselves.

The first volume doesn't show much of the plotline yet - it's more a character introduction filled with some fun adventures. As the series continues you find out that even the small side characters all have their own story the define their character. And her father kicking her out in the first volume? Let's just say that it's not entirely what it seems like.

A small warning though - don't take this series to be realistic. It's got magic in it, characters that aren't always entirely... human? There are quirky moments that aren't realistic, but provide a lot of humor. But it's the sort of stuff I've come to expect from fantasy shojo manga, so it's not a surprise to me, and in truth I enjoy it quiet a bit.

I would give this a five star rating, except as I said - the first book is a little rougher than the rest of the series. It's still a good book, but don't judge the series purely by the first book. Sometimes for authors it can be a little rough during the first book or two when starting a new series - but that doesn't mean the series aren't great. It just means the author was still finding their stride in the beginning. Dazzle is one of those series. Some of my most favorite series are like that. Skip Beat is my all-time favorite manga so far, and I really didn't like the first book of that series either - I just kept reading out or boredom because my local library had the series and it slowly started growing on me until I just realized I'd read several books of the series and couldn't stop! I'm so addicted to that series. But I really wasn't into it in the beginning. Some series are just like that for me. Dazzle I enjoyed from the get-go, but I just got into it more and more as it's progressed.

You could say that Rahzel's dad isn't very caring towards his daughter when he throws her out on the street in the first two pages of this manga but in his mind he's the "perfect father"! Supposedly, he is doing it for her own good so she can have a growing experience! Rahzel doesn't take it too hard, only sorry that she didn't eat one last meal before she was kicked out. She's not totally helpless. She does have magical powers, which very few people in her world can claim. Rahzel soon stumbles into a strange young man named Alzeid who is hunting for the person that killed his father. Whether she just wants to get on his nerves, or is attracted to him, or most likely, is just lonely, Rahzel forces a partnership upon him.

Dazzle failed to impress me in the first two pages as Rahzel's father kicked her out for the flimsiest of reasons and then her lack of reaction just sealed my dislike for this title. I knew from that point that nothing about this manga would be realistic. I mean, what kind of emotional connection can you make to a heroine that has no feelings about being abandoned by her father? It made her seem less than human. The relationship between Rahzel and Alzeid is also empty and is sorely in need of a more mature take on interactions between boys and girls. It falls into the old "You're an idiot!" "No, YOU'RE an idiot!" arguments which lead to Alzeid saying he doesn't want anything to do with her, but of course he rescues her when she gets into trouble. And who cares about her anyway, being that she has the personality of a dead groundhog! The story is pure awful. The art is passable, displaying Endoh's desire, however talent challenged, to draw pretty characters. The results are average, but the barrenness of the character's hearts is reinforced with the lack of background art. Another title put out by Tokyopop to throw manga at a wall to see what sticks.