5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Densha Otoko... shoujo-fied..., December 14, 2006
This review is from: Train Man: A Shojo Manga (Paperback)
A while back, I reviewed both Viz and CMX's introductory volumes for their respective Densha Otoko (Train Man) series. To be honest, I knew that there was a third title coming (this one from Del Ray), but I tried to stay away from it due to an irrational fear of shoujo style comics. Then it hit me... If I can watch Honey and Clover, I can read this manga. Heh.
Anyways, here's the review for this Train Man book...
First of all, for those of you unfamiliar with the Densha Otoko phenomenon, the story revolves around a Japanese internet meme about a seriously introverted otaku who, having met a girl, had no idea what to do. In true geek fashion, he went to the message boards for advice and thus a legend was born.
Have no fear that the Del Ray license will go off into umpteen books. If you're looking for a short, but sweet, romance then this book is your best bet as it covers the ENTIRE Densha Otoko story from start to finish. You'll see their first meeting, the possible torpedo to their budding relationship, and the final resolution packed very tightly into 167 pages.
This is kinda refreshing as the CMX version barely got to the first date in their first volume, while Viz only got to the second... date, that is.
Another point on which this book differentiates from the others is that its told as a series of flashbacks. While some of that comes out in the other two series, it's particularly spotlighted here as everything is revealed after the fact to the forumites to keep in spirit with the original meme in which the story was based on.
One minor nitpick is that names are revealed... both Train and Hermes have their names revealed in the story scenes, facts that wouldn't be in spirit with the original. My guess is they were added so the heartwrenching scenes would have extra oomph. ("Marsha." "John." "MARsha!" "JOHN!" You know what I mean?) Anyway... it kinda bugs, but it's not a big deal.
One MAJOR nitpick is that you never get the feeling that Train is really an otaku in this version. Sure, he is shown going through the motions of buying Doujin (amateur, often erotic parodies of manga and anime) and being an anime fan, but it all just feels glazed over... that the manga character himself is just an actor playing an otaku. This is probably due to the fact that it's a one shot manga and there just wasn't room... but it left me a little disappointed.
The art is most certainly shoujo, where even the shy and lonely geek is a pretty boy and the "ugly drunk" is far from it (in fact, I'd almost call his features "stately"). It doesn't detract, but it might turn off some readers who favor shounen stylings.
Another art mention is for all the ASCII images that show up every other page or so. Apparently the Japanese have taken it to an entirely new level than the rest of the western world, as there is no way I could ever concieve and implement the small scenes they create using only keyboard characters (such as =/\{} and the like). They're neat and a great little addition to the work.
To sum up, this rendition is a cute little book that speeds you through the whole shebang. I'd recommend a buy, but be warned that it'll probably spoil the climax of all three series (and, at the rate that CMX and VIZ are going, they'll have at least three books apiece left to go). The book has it's faults, but they are few... and it's a nice little romance you can pick up and finish in a half-hour (or less).
Buy it, enjoy the sappy sweetness, and root for true love to blossom everywhere.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
5.0 out of 5 stars
sweet and relatable, a great story~!!, March 9, 2011
This review is from: Train Man: A Shojo Manga (Paperback)
I read this manga almost a year ago, I still love it to this day~! <3
*until today, I never knew that there was a manga series (separate from this book)...but with this book, it's the ENTIRE
story crammed into one book-perfect for a small read and saves space on the bookshelf! ^_^
supposedly, this manga (among a movie, a novel and a tv show) is based on a true story that happened in Japan.
a young man (an Otaku=geek) is riding the subway train back home from Akihabara, when a mean drunk starts to harass people
on the train-specifically harassing and frightening a young woman (the love interest of the story).
the young man (mind you, he's a geek in Japan-who are known for being socially withdrawn and mind their own business)
steps up to the drunk and protects the woman.
the woman is happy and grateful to the man, and thus begins their friendship...and more.
throughout the story, the man constantly goes onto this blog online to get helpful advice from fellow Otaku's:
what to wear on dates, where to go for nice dates, where do the man and woman stand in this 'friendship'?, Etc.
towards the end, the man accepts that he is an Otaku-but does not let it get in the way of his feelings for this woman.
the woman always accepted the man for who he was, being Otaku never mattered to her.
also, because the relationship between the two was so successful, the people on the blog start to realise that good things
can happen to Otaku's-they do not need to be withdrawn and be without love and friendship.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
key points:
*this IS a manga (comic book), which is a nice and interesting perspective that tells the story.
*if you buy this manga, you won't really have to buy the manga series. (good for a short read!)
*this story revolves around the aspect of whether or not a geek and a non-geek woman could fall in love.
this is an important message for anyone of any age to learn, anyone can find love! (no matter your differences!)
*this story is also nice in portraying the value of believing and accepting yourself.
(both for the man and the woman, and the MANY people on the blog that the man talks to-who are withdrawn otaku's themselves)
*this is a fun and romantic story that anyone can get into, it's hard to put it down!
~*~*~*~*~*
there really wasn't any low points for me when I read this book, no complaints.
this book makes the perfect gift for someone special to you, or just for yourself!
since it's a short book, it's great for car or bus rides too.
give it a try, you'll be glad you did! ^^
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
