Customer Reviews

Strawberry Panic: The Manga, Vol. 1

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

 

 

I'm sort of reviewing both the manga and anime in this review. I've seen the entire run of Strawberry Panic anime episodes and have only read this one manga title so keep that in mind as you read ahead.

General comments: This is a good manga if you're a big fan of yuri/shojuo-ai titles. It is not hentai but does contain plenty of lesbian love/makeout scenes to support the romantic story-line involving characters in an all girls Catholic school. In other words, I don't think it's gratuitous; there's a purpose for it. Strawberry Panic is an interesting title because of the strong reactions it elicits. Usually it's a love-hate thing for most people. There are absolutely no male characters in this title, not even the teachers or background characters. Also, it seems a bit stereotypical to assume that all girls schools teem with lesbians, maybe they do (I didn't go to one so I wouldn't know) but I guess this is part of the fantasy. If you want to immerse yourself in a fantasy world filled with Catholic schoolgirls and their romances with each other, this is the one for you. Again, while this may sound sordid to some, it is presented with a matter of factness that actually seems to normalize lesbianism - in fact it's mainstream and main text here instead of being subverted subtext merely hinted at. This is really what makes it refreshing for those seeking yuri titles. I think yuri as a whole can be: 1) hard to find, and 2) very subtextual with the lesbian content deeply buried or practically non-existent, despite being tagged as yuri. I think this really is a true yuri title and the fact that there are no males and the world seems to accept and encourage female pairings is just the reality of Strawberry Panic.

Differences between manga and anime: A lot of manga differs from the anime. This is no exception. Aside from some slight plot differences (e.g. how Shizuma and Nagisa first meet),the main difference as I see it is in the characterization of Shizuma, one of the main protagonists. In the anime she is melancholic and brooding. The manga presents her much more happily. Also, in the anime she seems to be monogamous whereas the manga shows her to be more of a playgirl who has casual hookups. In the manga, even one of the nuns alludes to Shizuma's being a the playgirl all the girls want.

Anime also seems to have a different artistic style than manga and frankly, for this series, I prefer the anime depiction of Shizuma. While she's a rather sad and depressive character (with good reason) in most of the anime episodes, she's also characterized as more physically attractive and more charismatic there than in the manga in my opinion. Perhaps this is the difference in the medium (dramatic music, facial expressions, etc.) but suffice it to say the manga Shizuma was not quite as compelling physically to me as the anime Shizuma. The manga Shizuma is physically a bit more feminized than the anime Shizuma and perhaps that is what I missed about it compared with the anime Shizuma who is presented physically as stronger and more masculine (even while wearing a frilly uniform).

Bottom Line: If you're a big fan of yuri/shoujo-ai and are seeking more overt depictions of lesbian love/romance, you will appreciate this manga. It really does take you to a totally different world/reality and that's what I like about it. If you like Strawberry Panic, I'm sure you'll be awaiting the release of vol. 2 with a lot of anticipation. There's a lot of entertainment to be had here for $9.99.

I am thrilled to see Seven Seas Entertainment has released this manga. For fans of yuri it truly has a lot without going overboard which I believe also makes it a title for those new or unsure about this genre. Unlike some others out there this one teases just enough and hints at much deeper actions occuring that you can tell there is romance going on that is deep on some levels but also very innoncent love on others, almost along the lines of an older sister protecting her younger one.

Strawberry Panic is full of beautiful artwork and loveable characters. Once I opened this book the artwork drew me in and the story kept hooked. I was eagerly turning the pages and am now eagerly awaiting the next volume. The beautiful artwork also helps to give each character their own personality in expressions and responses to what is happening around them as much as the text and their manner of speech does; simply seeing characters in situations gives an idea of who they are because of such beautiful artwork.

The plot very much is that of innocent love tettering on the edge of being a bit more, and perhaps if it was male/female it would be considered very sorid but being female/female there is still a youthful innocence to the whole story. One of girls seeking themselves and seeking to understand the feelings that come naturally to all people, but in this case just happen to be occurring to them within an all girls school.

As the other reviewer mentioned and as hinted above there are no male characters Strawberry Panic, however for this type of title that is a benefit and I feel if any where in there it would feel forced, as if they were added merely to have a male character there to add "tension" to the sometimes innocent sometimes deep love between the female characters.

I highly recommend Strawberry Panic both this manga and the upcoming novel if it is anything like the manga. Congratulations to Seven Seas for bringing us such a wonderful title, I look forward to many more like this in their Strawberry yuri line to come.

I'll be direct here. I haven't laughed as long, as hard, as often, or as out loud as I did for Strawberry Panic for anything other than Ninin ga Shinobuden. Basically, take the classic yuri manga set-up of the new transfer student at the all-girls' school...and then crank the yuri meter to 100% and let 'er rip! Subtext? We don't need no stinkin' subtext! Between parodying Maria-sama ga Miteru and any number of yuri tropes and turning absolutely anything and everything in the story into a source of angst, crushes, general confusion and scarcely concealed desire, what we have here is the Melrose Place of yuri manga: a not-so-guilty pleasure that's delicious fun from beginning to end. Don't come looking for depth and layers of meaningful significance and you'll love it. Seven Seas does its usual excellent job of translation and adaptation here, and as an extra bonus since StoPani was published at a smaller size in Japan than the other Strawberry-line manga were, they're giving us our dose of yuri for a dollar cheaper!

Rating an issue #1, especially of a story that has near legendary status, is at best tricky. One always has to keep in mind that you may be jumping the gun, and that you don't know how the tale will develop ultimately. That said, when one comes up short, I feel I have the right to say so.
"Strawberry Panic" principally revolves around Aoi Nagisa, a young perky (and fairly naive) transfer student to a Catholic girls school. Once there, even before she gets settled, she meets Hanazono Shizuma, the beguiling queen of the campus, with whom she develops an increasing attachment that may or may not prove to be a good thing as she deals with her fellow classmates; including a very much smitten roommate, as well as her new friends many rivals.
Looking at this from a first timer's perspective, I found this story very hard to follow. The "Catholic" school didn't resemble any that I could remotely relate to; the upcoming "competition" seemed at best inappropriate to the casual observer; and the politics involved in these students everyday life, either between students or between schools, is like my worst memories of high school times twelve. The copy of this story that I had did include a listing in the back to explain who was who, and it was definitely needed, as there were far more characters and relationships to keep track of than any sane person would expect in a first issue.
I did appreciate the moments of genuine emotional connection, but they stand in stark contrast to other moments where certain characters appear cold blooded and crude. Shizuma especially comes off as a player of legendary proportions (in spite of her professed "longings"), which became a major turnoff as the story progressed. She may in the end prove to be a real heroine, but when I saw her manipulating Nagisa emotionally the way she was, I found myself wishing the younger girl had the temper needed to haul off and slap her "big sister" silly.
In the time since I initially wrote this review, I have taken the time to watch some of the anime. I've pretty much come to the conclusion that the manga's biggest problem is that its trying to put too much story into too small a package. In doing so, it lost a lot of its emotional depth. There may be hope that they'll get this version right (eventually), but to do so, they're going to have to show me a lot more than I've seen so far.

Strawberry Panic(!) is a yuri-theamed manga which takes place in a Catholic school with adorably drawn girls...with not a single man in existance.

As mentioned, these characters are drawn in a cute manner...especially the main character Nagisa.

This has a pretty cliche touch to it, since this seems to be called a "parody" as well.

The plot is interesting, but may be dull for some who are waiting for some sort of action to happen.

Did I mention that the designs for the characters are adorable?

What I really like is the design of the school buildings, the background, and the three different types of school uniform.

The manga version of Strawberry Panic! will never be completed, sadly, even though the novel ended.
There are only two volumes, and then a collection that includes two extra chapters that were never published in volume 2.

If there was a yuri manga that you'd like to read that wasn't mere fanservice or explicit, Strawberry Panic! may be the one for you.

First off if you haven't already watched the anime, i highly suggest checking it out.
Story varies between manga and anime, but you will be so caught up in whats happening you won't care about it.
The setting is the beatiful Astrea Hill. Location of the three main schools: St. Miator, St. Spica, and St. LeRim
It starts with Nagsia Aoi, running to get to her new transfer school of St. Miator. She finds herself quickly lost trying to get to the school when out of nowhere Shizuma Hanazono appears offering her a helping hand.
Shizuma is strangly attracted to Nagisa straight away, while Nagisa is paralyzed in her presence. Continuing on the Etoile selection ceremony is starting, with the student council presidents wanting their school representatives to win the title of Etoile.

I personally loved the anime, not because it is a yuri/shojo-ai, because it showed a real relationship happening between people. It showed two people who just met and go through their school year, come to realize their feelings for each other, as not just a hook up, but a real loving caring relationship. And after reading this first volume I can't wait for the second one to see what happens next. and what plot twists might appear

My friend really loved it. She had seen the anime before hand and said that the book goes into more detail. She read the whole thing and loved it. I recomend it to anybody who loves yuri.