Four Anime Mangas Worthy of 5 Stars Rating
Reviewed by Teresita Blanco
"The Heart of Thomas" by Moto Hagio
This graphic novel starts pretty depressing. It maintains a gloomy attitude throughout the story. In the first chapter, a boy named Thomas sends a love letter his fellow classmate, Juli. The letter carried his suicide love confession. Thomas killed himself because Juli would not return his affection. Thomas killed himself by jumping in the rails of the train.
Ever since Thomas' death, Juli has not known a moment of peace. Since only Juli had the suicide letter, the entire campus believed Thomas had suffered an accidental death. Being one of the few who knew the truth, Juli felt himself haunted by Thomas. He felt angry that Thomas tormented. After all, why should he be forced to return the feelings of someone he did not love?
To find some sort of closure, Juli decided to visit a graveyard. He tore Thomas' letter over his grave. While walking home, he thought he saw Thomas. It turns out the new transfer student, Erich, looks identical to Thomas. His looks causes him a lot of problems in the new school. Erich does not care since he eagerly awaits a letter from his mother, asking him to return home.
This yaoi novel takes place in a boy's boarding school. Then again, the time period required that only boys go to school. All the male characters look very pretty. Like any yaoi drama, the book gets kinda weird around the end. Frankly, I did not like the end very much. Then again, I rarely saw an ending that I liked. In any case, this lovely manga deserves 5 stars rating.
Sakuran by Moyoco Anno
"Sakuran" reminds me of "Memoirs of a Geisha". The only difference between both works lies in validity. If you seek realism, you must read Sakuran. Sakuran paints in all its ugly, glamorous colors the life of a courtesan. The story features a beautiful girl named Kiyoka who lived in the Edo Period. Her stepfather sold her to the brothel, Yoshiwara.
Those who bought Kiyoha wished to groom her into an Oiran. Their previous Oiran got bought out of the brothel. The only problem with their plan lies in Kiyoha. Kiyoha has a rebellious attitude. They may beat her, torture her, humiliate her; however, nothing they do can crush Kiyoha's rebellious spirit.
The book begins with Kiyoka, after she finished her training. She currently holds the number 3 spot in the brothel. She lies very close to completing her goals. From seeing the finished product, the anime artist takes you back in time. You see Kiyoka's progression from a ill manner little girl to an ill manner courtesan.
This graphic novel shows you the tragedies of courtesan life. The kimonos look very fancy. Even the front cover looks glamorous. The main character truly looks beautiful with those big, round black eyes. I learned much from this graphic novel. For example, the hairstyles of the Japanese ladies have a meaning. The one that Kiyoka sports means, "A Lonely Night Without a Man". Her hairdo has a certain irony about it, considering Kiyoka's line of work.
Another interesting detail pertains to the rules of this high class brothel. For example, costumers can only sleep with the first courtesan they chose. If they catch him with a different courtesan, he gets tied up and paraded throughout the brothel. He only gets released when he agrees to pay for all courtesans. In any case, Sakuran deserves 5 stars rating. Before I forget, this anime can only be read by readers 18 years or older.
Berserk by Kentaro Miura
A few years ago, I watched the first 5 minutes of the "Berserk" anime show. Frankly, I did not like the anime show. It seemed really, really yaoi, like a pink mushroom dream. Sometime passed and I felt really bored in my university. I got into the habit of reading the graphic novels they had at school. While browsing through the few mangas they had, I ran into Berserk.
I do not know what made me check out the graphic novel. I did not even look at the front cover, nor the info behind the book. When I brought it to the front desk, to check it out, the librarian said," Berserk! When did we get this?"
His coworker added, "Dude, we had that manga for years!"
Glancing at me he said, "You have got to lend this to me, when you finish reading it!"
With that positive endorsement, I read the "Berserk" manga. The first scene seemed to be taken from Conan the Barbarian. I saw Guts screwing this cute chick who turned into a demon. When she changed her form, Guts used his automail arm to shoot explosive arrows to her face. From then on, the manga got bloodier and weirder. It marked the general mood of this anime graphic novel.
In chapter one, Guts saves a puny elf boy named Puck. As it happens with cute doggies, Puck started following Guts around. He wanted to witness all of Guts' adventures. Guts has a cursemark on his neck. The mark draws demons toward him. He has been fighting ever since he got the mark.
Because of the mark, Guts keeps people at a distance. He knows they will get hurt if they get too close to him. It has happen far too many times. The way that Guts walks around with the fairy boy, Puck, reminds me a bit of Zelda... A very messed up, angrier version of Zelda. In the anime show, I did not see Puck. They seemed to have edited him out.
Fighting wise, Guts cannot go 5 pages without slicing someone in half. His fighting panels always look epic. Like any guy, Guts has a soft part for cute girls. He always feels guilty when one gets killed in the crossfire. Indeed, Guts deep down has a kind heart. He only goes Berserk to survive. Truly, the "Berserk" manga deserves 5 stars rating.
Black Jack by Osamu Tezuka
My friend Tzukiyo recommended me this graphic novel. Black Jack practiced his medicine without a license. Time and time again, he has rejected the licenses they have offered him. He simply wants to be judged, not by a title, but for his skills. Despite his talents, many people despise the doctor because he charges too much. He serves as a critique to modern medicine.
He charged much because of his skills. After all, you pay for what you get. When all else fails, they call Black Jack. He may appear greedy, however, he charges people based on their needs. The rich pay more than the poor. The poor pay him with a bowl of ramen. From all the characters I have seen, I like Pinoko the best.
She started life as a twin who lived inside her sister's belly. When Black Jack operated her sister, he gave Pinoko, age 18, her own body using synthetic skin. Since her sister did not want her, Black Jack adopted her. Pinoko loves Black Jack. However, Black Jack only sees her as a little girl. I find it cute whenever Pinoko calls herself Black Jack's wife.
From the four volumes I read, I wish to mention an interesting story. In one of them, I saw a parody of Obama Care, 30 years before it came to being. Basically, the hospital had made an assembly line system that allowed for cheap patient care. One day the main doctor's daughter got ran over. He needed to get her operated, however, all surgeons had patients to attend. In the end, he had to call Black Jack to save her. In any case, the Medical Drama: Black Jack deserves 5 stars rating.
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