Customer Reviews

FLCL, Vol. 1 Special Edition

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

For anyone unfamiliar to the FLCL anime, after flipping through the first few pages of this book you'd most likely end up slamming it back down on the display rack and grab some of the more beautifully animated manga, like Naruta, InuYasha, or an Ani-Manga of some sort. But for fans of FLCL, the chaos of art that hits you from start to finish will make you smile, as it is very reminiscent of the anime in some ways. The FLCL anime had chaotic storytelling and action, while the manga has chaotic art. Both, however, are beautifully made.

The differences this volume of the manga has from the series are very few. The story has been expanded somewhat in the first volume. A couple more mysterious characters were added, like Naota's grandfather, whose role in the series was minute at best. Plus, Mamimi, Naota's brother, and Naota's relationship are explained just a little better here, and we know the main reasons why Naota's family dislikes the mysterious fire-starter. Beyond that, though, the story is pretty much the same. Naoto is hit by a strange Vespa Girl. A horn grows from his head, and soon a robot crawls from that horn to defend him and his friends from intergalactic (maybe) threats.

My main problem with this anime is that it's artistic style alienates people easily. I've told many that FLCL is one of the best animes ever, and whenever I recommend anime I always try to recommend the manga, because it's cheaper and if a person likes the manga, the anime is sure to follow (oddly enough, I'm not a big manga reader). FLCL, while beautifully chaotic, doesn't translate well for outsiders of this wonderful series. It's very difficult to recommend this to anyone who hasn't seen the anime. I would strongly recommend this volume for anyone who loved the anime, however, because the back-story of the characters can be found here, shedding some light on the FLCL.

I think Kazuya Tsurumaki, the director of the anime FLCL (which came out first) said somewhere that they purposely chose someone with a distinctive, different drawing style to do the manga. Mission accomplished: Hajime Ueda's style is so bold, rough and sketchy that you may not initially realize how good it really is. Page after page are masterpieces of beautiful layout, done in the most subtle and minimalist style, a great example of the kind of offbeat manga that we almost never see translated, even by Tokyopop. On the down side: some of his panels are so crazy and experimental that they go over the top and don't work. Narrative continuity is admittedly somewhat fractured, worse in the second volume where characters appear and disappear without explanation, and the story -- such as it is -- doesn't really follow the anime (This is common in manga adaptations, though since the book jackets say "story by GAINAX" one wonders if perhaps the story hadn't been finalized when Ueda started work). In fact, I think the anime story is a little better than the one in the manga, but don't worry about it; this is a wild and unique manga, so check it out and give it time to grow on you.

This was kind of a random find while cruising a store one day that I put off buying for a while, but now that I have, I really don't regret it in the least. The manga does an excellent job retaining the charming idiosyncrasies of the show, while being much more than a simple shot-for-shot rehash (as some comics based on shows or movies can be). It develops the story in original directions, while maintaining the interesting characters an situations of the original. Also, I really enjoyed the art style. If you're a fan of the series, I highly recommend this as an addition to your collection.

When I first saw this manga hit shelves, I expected more of a "follow-up" to the infamous anime series. Instead, it was more of a recap of what happened.... drawn differently. I expected drawings similar to that chaotic manga scene (from eps. 1 and 6), but the book was done in a very sketchy type of way, almost like a surreal graphic novel unlike any I've ever seen. It's definetly an interesting read for fans of FLCL, and I do recommend it. Just don't expect anything incredibly detailed though.

I went in to reading this manga knowing it was confusing but even though I tried to be aware and pay attention closley... certain parts of this manga baffled me to the point of utter frustration but more on that later. First and Foremost for me is the art. It caught my eye like no other manga artwork before had. It's crude almost scribble-esque look is like nothing else and really fits with the chaotic nature of the manga. Second is the creativity of the plot. While the creativity sometimes borders on insanity, I could find no manga cliches here and that is a rare feat. Like I've said before the plot is confusing. I read this volume multiple times along with volume two and I was still pretty confused. I know it's too deep or whatever but it's just plain incoherent at somne parts which really frustrated me thus I give it a four rather than a five.

Ah, this is an imaginative book, to be certain.

Though I've not yet been honored with the chance to watch the anime, I've heard that the manga greatly differs from it. So if you're looking for a follow-up or the manga-version of the original shows, you'd best stay away.

Listen, if you're the type to love by-the-book mangas and that type of art style, you'd better prepare yourself for this. The storyline is incredibly, there's no other way to say this, WHACKY. The art can also, at major points of action in the story, be scrawly and hard to follow. VERY hard to follow. Well, you were warned.

I personally find the art style cute, especially Mamimi (she's a dear ^^). Being totally new to this, this manga was my first experience with Fooly Cooly, I was wholly bamboozled and pleased with this purchase (well, gift, really). All in all, this book, in it's onesome, has greatly diversified my 63-book collection. Thanks, FlCl ^^!

Alot of people are disappointed about this, but I find it to be fine. A twist in the art style is good. The art has a very sketchy, distinct look to it. The style changes alot, and that fits FLCL perectly. There are also some interesting moments in it that weren't in the anime, that are pretty amusing. I recommend this to any fan, strictly to those who've seen the anime. If you haven't, you won't understand a word of it. ;)

Im a die hard manga fan, and Ive read many manga, some good, and others bad. This fits into something entirley diffrent! Its unique art style and comedic characters, definitely make it worth buying, especially since theres only 2 books. Dont let that discourage you though! If your looking for a manga thats spans many many books, one you can keep collecting for time to come, this isnt what your looking for, try again. If you want somethig new and fun to read, this is perfect and like I said before, only 2 books... nice and affordable. Not as good as the anime so on par with that, its roughly 4 stars, but on its own, I give it my highest recommendation. Can be hard to understand if your just casually looking for something to read, but buy the anime, read the books, it all comes together, and your left with a series that truely fills 'short but sweet'.

FLCL, I saw first in anime form. Then I noticed the title peeking out in the manga section of a local book store. Fearing for my sanity, yet totally sold on the manga I started reading. Basic plot: Naota is an average kid, who likes his life average. His brother moved to America and is getting along well. But his brother's girlfriend is obsessed with him and follows Naota around treating him like his brother. Then along comes this crazy chick on a Vespa, Haruko, who brains Naota on the head with a guitar, then runs him over. The insuing head trauma opens a kid of portal in his head, through which robots come through and fight each other. The one robot, Canti, lives at Naota's home with his perveted father and crazy grandfather. Haruko starts hanging around at his home. She wants something, but itsn't telling. Yet.
For those who pick up this manga, I swear all this happens. This book is kind of hard to follow. The plot seems to be kind of jumbled up in a series of flashbacks and cut scenes involving dialogue that doesn't seem to pertain to the story. But it all fits. This such a well done manga. True the art is not as beautiful as in Battle Royale or Rurouni Kenshin, but it fits very well with the mood of the story. It's chaotic and confusing. You will probably have to read it through several times to figure out what's actually going on. Don't worry if you don't understand it quickly. The second part fills up lots of holes. Its a cool little manga GAINAX has on its hands with a adistic streak a mile wide. Check it for good times or some thinking time. Or non-thinking moments. Whatever you want.

I think Kazuya Tsurumaki, the director of the anime FLCL (which came out first) said somewhere that they purposely chose someone with a distinctive, different drawing style to do the manga. Mission accomplished: Hajime Ueda's style is so bold, rough and sketchy that you may not initially realize how good it really is. Page after page are masterpieces of beautiful layout, done in the most subtle and minimalist style, a great example of the kind of offbeat manga that we almost never see translated, even by Tokyopop. On the down side: some of his panels are so crazy and experimental that they go over the top and don't work. Narrative continuity is admittedly somewhat fractured, worse in the second volume where characters appear and disappear without explanation, and the story -- such as it is -- doesn't really follow the anime (which is common in manga adaptations). In fact, I think the anime story is a little better than the one Ueda chose to tell, but don't worry about it; this is a wild and unique manga, so check it out and give it time to grow on you.