Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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26 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Star-Crossed Romance--Manga Style!, February 1, 2003
I was a little skeptical. Here I was an adult reader checking out a high school romance manga? That was when I picked up the first volume of MARS, Fuyimi Soryo's 15 volume manga series. The verdict? By the end of reading the first I couldn't wait to find the second. To date I have the first seven volumes and am eagerly awaiting the eighth.The basic storyline is pretty familiar: Kira Aso is a shy, but talented art student. Rei Kashino, a motercycle-racing, wild-living bad boy. The two are about to meet. But if you think this is a plain bad boy- good girl romance with a cast populated by light-hearted high schoolers, think again. This is no sitcom school story, and doesn't read like one. Kira's emotional intensity strikes an unfamiliar chord in Rei, one that he is drawn to. The bond between them is based on something that their peers can't begin to comprehend, leading to anger and violence. Both Rei and Kira have their personal demons to deal with, and their relationship is not an easy one. If you don't have any interest in romance or manga, MARS probably isn't for you. But for what it is, this series is exceptional. I wouldn't recommend this for very young readers, since the violence is at times intense-although not graphically so, and the sexuality of the characters is defined for a teenage maturity. The artwork is amazing --combining a compelling sense of movement and moment with beautiful imagery and simple structures. The artist moves from multiple boxed images on a page to single breath taking pictures. The smooth and consistent quality here is one of my appreciations of the series. I will admit, the eyes are overly large in this manga, but that is artistic style and I found it easy enough to accept once I fell into the story. For those unfamiliar with the traditional manga format, this series reads from right to left and can be a little disorienting for those not used to it. Check the back of the volume for the chart provided on how to read the manga page in this form. I personally prefer this format over for manga over the westernized (left to right) publications, it simply feels truer to form and style. While there is no fantasy, tech, or sf involved, the story is a complex read and the graphic quality of the manga is excellent. Readers who have encountered and enjoyed shoujo manga series such as Paradise Kiss and Peach Girl, will definitely want to give this a try! Happy Reading! ^_^ --shanshad
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14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
MARvellous!, August 14, 2003
I picked this up after reading a lot of positive reviews and overall I was pleasantly suprised. Although you wonder what good-girl Kira sees in bad-boy Rei, the first volume quickly dismisses those easy steorotypes. Even though Kira is shy and rather withdrawn, after a hazing incident she shows she has more mettle than you might think and Rei, for all his rebel ways has more going for him than he or indeed any of his friends think. Brought together by a chance meeting in a park these two very opposite yet equally wounded people recognize a strength in the other that they would like to have in themselves. Without even being aware of it, they are drawn into a friendship, supporting one another, especially as this out of the ordinary relationship causes waves in school and at home. Their budding friendship is tested as the girls harass Kira and Rei uses violence to solve his problems.Mars v.1 sets up the story and the main protagonists nicely. You know things won't be easy for these two and Soryo plants the seeds of future storylines with throw away comments that hint that both these teeneagers have plenty of past secrets yet to be revealed. Whether they can use each other's strengths to overcome their demons, or whether their pasts will drive them apart remains to be seen. I was impressed that although some of the events seemed slightly outrageous, I thought the overall level of realism was a strong foundation for what otherwise could have been a cookie cutter high school romance. Teachers who sexually harrass their students, hazing, violence, cliques, and dysfunctional family relationships sound pretty par for the course. In addtion, I found the artwork rather pleasing. I enjoyed the more realistic, sketchy quality of the artwork, i.e. the hair is flowing, the noses and chins less rigidly pointed. There isn't a lot of background clutter either which makes for easier reading. Lots of intense emotion is conveyed through the large (and large-lashed!) eyes. Still, it's easy to tell what the people are like just based on their posture and dress. Kira's shy status is easily discerned by her refusal to look anyone in the eye and her conservative wardrobe with lot's of long-sleeved shirts and long dresses. Rei is confident and slightly dangerous,wearing ripped jeans and t-shirts with his long-hair. He smiles readily, walking with confidence and riding a motorcycle. With 14 volumes yet to go you know that there is going to be some ups and downs for these two, as well as the revelation of painful past secrets. Despite their cliched exterior, discovering what makes Rei and Kira unique individuals is what makes this an above-average story. I recommend staying with this series as it's only going to get better.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
awesome manga, October 20, 2005
From the beginning to the end of this long 15 volume series and 1 gaiden (extra novel), you are completely wrapped up in the lives of the heroine and her anti-hero boyfriend. I totally recommend it for shojo addicts like myself. Not only is Rei a hot badboy, but he also has real issues that not only make him dark and dangerous, but also more identifiably human. Definitely one of the better manga out there on the shelves. Buy it today!
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