This is a truly intelligent, entertaining and engrossing manga about the human mind, and about what makes it function the way it does. The plot of the ES gene is brilliant in and of itself, but what really makes this manga memorable is that it explores the depths of human consciousness. Even the minor characters are explored fully and in amazingly unique ways. The poetic imagination of Souryo... 5i5769

It was a case of instant love for me. Being a dyke, I obviously love reading yuri, but I haven't found another yuri manga as sexually explicit as this one -- and in full color, too! The sheer quantity of eye candy overwhelms my brain cells -- but so does the hint of these girls' lives beyond the sex. The way they act with each other, and how close they are to each other, really adds a whole lot of...

I mostly prefer reading seinen, but occasionally I'll pick up a josei manga. In this case, I'm really glad I gave Mars a try. It's got such a light touch, and surprising depth... It really is a fantastic romance, and I do mean a REAL romance, deep and thoughtful and moving, not just a childish crush sort of scenario. (I feel almost embarrassed saying all this, because usually I'm about the blood...

I've read Monster so many times that I've practically memorized every chapter. This is truly a stunning masterpiece -- there's never a dull moment, never a time when you think you could even consider looking away. I actually think of this as a story of "redemption" -- not religious redemption, but moral and spiritual redemption nonetheless. Even the apparent "villain" is a victim in his own right,...

If you're looking for high tragedy, it doesn't get much better than this. Not Love traces the beginning, the end and the painful revival of a doomed relationship -- between Daisuke, an ex-cop turned detective, and Bun, a disowned son turned prostitute. What's absolutely amazing about this manga is the pacing -- each chapter chronicles a different stage in their relationship, which is one that...

Overflow is incredibly dark, and deals with themes of rape, multiple personalities and child abuse. As a result, it's a highly disturbing manga -- but if you like being disturbed, as I do, then this is the thing for you. What makes Overflow unusual is that while it's rape-based hentai, rape itself isn't dealt with lightly. What I mean to say is... The manga is narrated from the victim's point of...

Okay, I can't read a word of Japanese, but I've pored over the raws and I can more or less make sense of what's happening. Even if one tosses "sense" out the window, this is one goddamn hawt manga with luscious women and beautiful boys. The way the nurse totally dominates her favorite student (a.k.a. sex toy) is absolutely brilliant. It's good to see hentai in which a woman takes charge without...

Takaguchi Satosumi is well-known for her complex and unusual plots, but Shout Out Loud isn't just unusual -- it's a jewel. Family dramas and personal romances are all beautifully portrayed, and the subtlety with which the characters' desires are explored is simply amazing.

Shino is a baby-faced father who manages to look even more innocent than his son. Grappling with his teenaged son's problems...

Yamamoto Naoki is an accomplished brain-breaker, and he doesn't disappoint with this story. I interpret this manga as a sort of "deconstruction" of the image of a typical Japanese family -- Yamamoto sensei doesn't shy away from dealing with the cracks that develop beneath the surface, until they come full-blown fissures that threaten the coherence and sanity of his characters' lives. There's a...

There are plenty of post-apocalyptic stories out there, but this one's edgy enough and sardonic enough to hold my attention. Plus, the art is beautiful and the character designs are absolutely stunning.

It's a must to read the sequel and the side-story as well, in order to get a proper feel for this universe... But whoa, what a universe it is! A bunch of rag-tag misfits, ranging from orphaned...

And I don't say that lightly. The truth is, I've never before encountered a manga that so beautifully and effectively examined the workings of sadomasochism -- and I'm almost romantically overwhelmed by the beauty of Yamamoto Hideo's insight. There's also the fact that you have to travel far and wide in the manga universe to come across gore that's so gloriously unapologetic, but that doesn't fall...

Like most of Maruo-sensei's work, Paranoia Star is strange enough and intense enough to make the average person delusional. Beautiful art combined with brain-breaking mind-trips make this a sheer delight. Each story is centered around a different concept. For example, in one story, a young man starts seeing visions, and has to grapple with the very fabric of reality...

It's very difficult to find a modern fantasy that isn't stereotypical or boring. Pet Shop of Horrors is anything but stereotypical, and it's certainly far from boring. The ideas that drive it are refreshing and unique, and the art is exquisite. The interconnected stories that make up the plot are like moral fables, showing how human foibles can make the most beautiful things ugly. There's plenty...

Environmentalism isn't a common theme in manga, but this one handles environmental issues very subtly and beautifully. Mythical characters embody different facets of nature, and their interaction with human beings (especially children) is wonderful to read about.

If you're worried about the shounen ai element, you shouldn't be. It's so light that it's practically non-existent. I love my shounen ai...

The art is gorgeous enough to induce cardiac arrest, and the concepts are fascinating enough to keep you reading. People looking for "traditional" plot structures will probably be disappointed, but if you're willing to free your mind and enjoy the artistic thrills this manga has to offer, then you'll have discovered a gem.

All right, I it it. I have a priest fetish. (Who doesn't?) And an angel fetish, and a demon fetish. That alone would would make Innocent Bird attractive to me, since there are many priests and angels and demons populating its pages. But what really made this story enjoyable for me was the art, because it's gorgeous -- and the characterization, because it's awesome.

I'm especially fond of the...

If you're a food-lover or a lover of shounen ai, this manga's for you. Beautifully illustrated desserts and beautifully drawn men are both plentiful in this story. But it isn't just a superficial charm -- there are depths to these men that are explored with each consecutive volume. Secrets, failed romances and hidden hopes are all brought to light as our patissiers bumble their way through life.

T...

A very unique manga, very subtle in the way it handles a controversial issue. I absolutely love the way the mangaka doesn't gloss things over or take the easy way out -- the brother's agony and shame and stifled desire aren't romanticized.

I frankly don't understand why people are so freaked out and sickened by the incest factor. I mean, Jesus, we read manga about murders and rapes, don't we? So...

A refreshingly original and realistic take on queer life. Not the usual, painfully predictable yaoi. Watching the characters mature -- even the minor ones -- is what really makes this manga wonderful.

I actually prefer the second half, which focuses on the puppy named Tongu... But Caesar the lion is also incredibly cute, not to mention funny! There's quite a bit of crack in this manga, but there's also a lot of genuine emotion and love. Unlikely as the idea of having a lion as a pet may be, I found Caesar's relationship with her master to be very sweet. This manga's a must for animal lovers!

Okay, I'll be honest -- I started reading this because the main character could change sexes. I've always been interested in anything that addresses gender issues. But I found that while this was a fun action manga with some nice yuri at the end (yay!), it still didn't resolve the issues behind the White Dragon's psychology. I ended up feeling disappointed.

[color=red][edit by mod, Warning...

At first, this manga promises to be a fascinating look at one man's unconventional and self-made morality, as well as a study of how an intelligent law student ended up as part of the mafia. I was hooked right from the start, but was ultimately disappointed by the abrupt (and, in my opinion, unnecessarily romantic) ending. Kawaguchi Kaiji could've respected his story enough to give it a fitting...

The mangaka really could have gone a long way with this theme. She could have handled it deftly and with depth, but instead she glosses over the difficulties of a stepcestuous relationship. It's all a little too pat and a little too easy. The art is wonderful, as expected of Takanashi-sensei, but the plot and the characterization is dilute and uninteresting. It's too stereotypical to absorb a...

Wow, what a disappointment! A story that started off in the rip-roaring tradition of rock 'n' roll ended up becoming a bizarre science fiction conpsiracy theory. What the hell?

If it weren't for the ending, I would've given this manga as much as an 8. If only the artist hadn't tried to take a short-cut and end the story prematurely, it really could've been as good as Beck. Instead, the mangaka...