Kyo Kara MAOH! Volume 1 (v. 1) (Paperback)

by Tomo Takabayashi (Author), Temari Matsumoto (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Yuri Shibuya is having a rough day. First, he had his head dunked in a toilet. Then he was transported to another world where he finds himself king of the Mazoku's, a new race that expects him to lead them to war against all of humanity! And to top it all off, he's engaged - to a man.

Product Details

• Paperback: 196 pages
• Publisher: TokyoPop (October 14, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1427810990
• ISBN-13: 978-1427810991
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #629,558 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Yay for this! , October 29, 2008

By	Harmony Lawler - See all my reviews

This review is from the point of view of someone who has not seen the anime and has no prior knowledge of this series.

Ive never seen the anime, but if the story in all is anything like the manga (which I assume it is) it's really enjoyable.

The characters are fun and lively. Funny too. Every one of them interacts so well with one another. Needless to say that the personalities are established well and development is in the near future. There's lots of comedy too which is a plus.

The story plays out well. Read the amazon review for the plot. The main character being thrust into another world is actually a common plot device, but somehow in this book, the way it's told is really nice. Again with the amazing characters.

The art is rather sketchy, yet fitting. Just the way the characters are drawn are really distinctive and nice. Its good art, just messier. The guys are sexy (good because isnt this sorta a shonen-ai?)and the women are beautiful yet not annoying.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and I admit, I thought I wouldn't but it was good.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Black hair, black eyes, January 14, 2009

By	E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

"Kyo Kara Maoh" has a beginning that might make you drop it out of disgust: the hero and protagonist, the chosen ruler of a magical race in another world... gets flushed down a toilet.

No, I am not kidding. That's pretty weird even for a manga.

Fortunately the beginning is the low point of "Kyo Kara Maoh Volume 1," a lightweight fantasy manga devoted to close-ups of gorgeous men in medieval clothing. Temari Matsumoto's adaptation of Tomo Takabayashi's light novels is a pretty typical ordinary-kid-learns-he-has-a-special-destiny story, but has enough humor and disastrous mistakes to keep things interesting.

Some bullies are in the process of giving Yuuri a swirlie when he gets flushed down the toilet -- and wakes up in a strange, medieval Germanic land. After he's met by the mysterious Adelbert, Yuuri is scooped up by a strange young prince named Conrart -- who announces that Yuuri is the reincarnated Mazoku (Demon) king known as the Maoh. And unfortunately, the Mazoku are at war with humans in this other world.

And though the exhibitionistic former Maoh is pleased to see him, her kids aren't all happy with it -- stoic warrior Gwendel and bratty prettyboy Wolfram don't think he's up to the task. Unfortunately Yuri is clueless about Mazoku customs -- and when Wolf insults his mother, he slaps him across the face (a proposal) and then grabs a fallen knife (acceptance of a duel).

Now not only is he engaged to another boy (who hates him), but the poor sap has to fight him as well -- despite knowing nothing about magic or swords. But their fight takes a nasty turn when Yuri's inner self emerges...

The first volume of "Kyo Kara Maoh" is cotton candy, as manga goes -- fluffy, sweet and fun as it lasts. The whole thing basically serves to set up Yuri's kingship over the Mazoku, and his rather varied relationships with the princes and their teacher Gunter. Cue lightweight homoeroticism, mostly due to the accidental engagement with Wolfram.

And along the way, it's got one social disaster after another, with poor Yuri bumbling around various strange customs (string bikini underwear!) and the whole idea that he's king of a land he's never even seen before. And along the way there's plenty of humour (Gunter's overwrought, infatuated rambles about Yuri, including a hilarious run from Yuri's room).

Yuri himself is a typical through-the-wardrobe hero -- a thoroughly average young boy called upon to do extraordinary things. But he provides plenty of fun through his social gaffes and woes (horseback riding, for example). And his brotherly relatonship with Conrart is rather sweet. The supporting cast hasn't been very fleshed out yet, but they're a colourful bunch -- the sexy ex-Maoh, her trio of totally unalike sons, and their mildly wacky teacher.

"Kyo Kara Maoh Volume 1" could use a less gross beginning, but fortunately this fluffy, fun fantasy story picks up after that.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars anime lovers will love this!, November 30, 2008

By	Tonya D. Peterson "||secret~keepker||" (oklahoma, OK USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

i was surprised how closely the manga has followed the anime (it came out after the anime did), but this makes it great for lovers of the anime! i have a feeling, tho, that there will be extra stuff the anime didn't have as it progresses.

the art is a little different but lovely, with really pretty men. (who still maintain their manliness, shounen ai or not) i particularly like the way they were coloured, definite strokes look nice with slightly messy art.

basically, if ur a fan of kkm the anime i suggest u get this, too. its rly good! <3