I think I'm turning to the dark side...

[orangerful]

We just got a brand new copy of volume 1 of 'Full Metal Alchemist' in today.

I've never read a manga before but I've been itching to finally take the step and explore the world of manga. Which is a very large world. A big world, and like the world of english comics, full of just as much crap as goodness.

So I'm doing it - I'm asking my flist - what should I read first? What series are the quality series? Should I bother checking out 'Full Metal Alchemist'? I just took home 'MegaTokyo' on a whim, but I haven't opened it up yet, how is that one? (I recall destertale reading it at some point? yes?)

oh, and a question about reading manga - I know the books open the opposite way, but do I read the text on the page the opposite way, as in starting at the bubble on the far right?

*hides behind desk and prepares for onslaught of replies*

Comments

[blu-harvest.livejournal.com]

Yes, it's right to left inside too. I'm so happy! Manga!
So, in my opinion Full Metal Alchemist is uber cool. The anime also kicks ass. I really recommend Kare Kano ( His and her circumstances). That's a high school romance/drama. I've heard really good things about Fruits Basket. Um, X 1999 rocks my socks off. It is that good. Also, if you are ever ready for the yaoi goodness I can lend you Legal Drug. That book is so good. Oh, and Mega Tokyo is pretty good. It's full of video game jokes, and pop culture goodness.

[jimithingy.livejournal.com]

I don't know you anymore... you are going down a path I can't follow.

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

you have done that yourself 0_o

[demonqueen666.livejournal.com]

MegaTokyo isn't really a manga, FYI...it's a webcomic by an American that is collected and published in graphic novel format.

Yes, if the book opens the opposite way (some don't; some have the art flipped for fear of alienating American readers) you read the bubbles in the opposite way too. If it gets confusing, most manga volumes have a little page at the back of the book with a handy diagram.

As for what series do I reccomend...oh boy. It depends on what you're looking for, really.

If you want romantic comedy, I recommend Ranma 1/2 or Love Hina.
If you want something darker, Pet Shop of Horrors is a good gothic fantasy, and Confidential Confessions is a nice dark but realistic series.
I love the No Need For Tenchi series myself, but it starts up where the tv show ended so you'd probably be lost.
The Mermaid Trilogy by Rumiko Takahashi is also very good if you like dark fantasy (Mermaid's Scar, Mermaid Forest, and...I forget the third one).
Magic Knights Rayearth is a short fantasy with a bittersweet ending, and Neon Genesis Evangelion is a mind-blowing apocolypic sci-fi series.

Also, bear in mind that if you're reading a series that was made into an anime at some point, the anime and manga seldom follow the same plotlines; I know for a fact that Fullmetal Alchemist, for example, has completely different events depending on whether you're following the anime or the manga.

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

I'm not doing anime yet...I just...I just can't right now. haha. baby steps when it comes to japanese culture. But thank you for the list! I know we have Ranma 1/2 at the library and I just saw that Evangelion too.

I like my stories mature and smart with bits of humor.

[demonqueen666.livejournal.com]

Heh, most of my recs are actually some of the older series...there are just SO MANY new series now that it's so damn hard to keep track. But Ranma and Evangelion are almost always crowd pleasers, so I'd say you're in good hands there :P

[jimithingy.livejournal.com]

[destertale.livejournal.com]

Demonqueen beat me to the "it's not technically manga" comment about Megatokyo. ^_^ It is still an awesome comic though!

Another recomendation, I've been truly addicted to Fruits Basket lately. Although I don't know if that recommendation is entirely rational, cause I'm like OMGWTFBBQCHEESEWIZ about it. o_O;; Then again, I also own every Sailor Moon. I may need help.