Comments on: Manga Before Flowers — Recommendation Post #6

By: Markus @ Florist supplies

Markus @ Florist supplies — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 03:54:26 +0000

Only more to add to my ever expanding collection of great Manga books! The second book is a little samey as a few of the other greats though, but it is still a good read.

By: Eric Rupe

Eric Rupe — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 23:34:24 +0000

My library system actually has a pretty great selection of comics and manga and I’ve usually been able to find everything that I’ve looked for. They have all of the popular stuff and decent selection of less popular stuff as well.

By: Michelle Smith

Michelle Smith — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 15:33:59 +0000

@Eric: Oh, you’re so lucky your library has BLAME!. My library has a good manga collection, but I think that series came out before they earnestly began building their holdings.

By: New comics and a gift guide for grownups « MangaBlog

New comics and a gift guide for grownups « MangaBlog — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 13:47:50 +0000

[...] Leigh has more recommendations in her Manga Before Flowers [...]

By: Danielle Leigh

Danielle Leigh — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 01:50:57 +0000

Eric — I’m so glad your library has Blame! I didn’t realize some of the later volumes might be out-of-print / hard to find.

By: Eric Rupe

Eric Rupe — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:58:08 +0000

Thanks for the recommendations. I actually got the Clove omnibus from the library last week and I’m still making my way through it. I think I like it, for the most part, but I’m not quite sure just yet. My library also has all 10 volumes of Blame! so I’ll definitely check them out. I also heard about Biomega and was already planning on picking that up and I’ve had Battle Angel Alita recommended to me before so I’ll have to see if I can work it into my budget somehow.

By: Michelle Smith

Michelle Smith — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 23:34:47 +0000

I didn’t actually notice them.

And yes, I love interlibrary loans!

By: Danielle Leigh

Danielle Leigh — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:55:15 +0000

oh dear lord. Could I have any more typos in that last comment? Jeez….

By: Danielle Leigh

Danielle Leigh — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:51:28 +0000

Michelle — Crap! All the volumes I happened to glance out on Amazon.com seemed to be affordable when purchases used. I didn’t realize that there were some at such ridiculous prices.

I would certainly encourage folks to make use of Interlibrary loan, though, for something like this. It certainly seems to be worth it….

By: Michelle Smith

Michelle Smith — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:30:49 +0000

@Ken H.: Yeah, I had to buy the first volume used, Amazon had volume 2, but then the next few would be used purchases again and one is, like, $59 or something insane. They did have NOiSE in stock at Amazon, though.

By: Michelle Smith

Michelle Smith — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:29:04 +0000

Btw, as an example of my building geek feelings, this is the phrase that sold me on BLAME!:
“labyrinth of cyberdungeons filled with concrete and steel”

Me: Ooooooooh! Concrete!

By: Ken H.

Ken H. — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:28:28 +0000

I really, really wish Blame! was easier to come by in my area. It’s something I’ve been fascinated by for a while now. I love what little artwork I’ve seen from it though. NOiSE wasn’t shabby either and there are a few momnets which gives you a nice sense of the scale of Nihei’s artwork. But yeah.. man I wish I could find it around here.

By: Michelle Smith

Michelle Smith — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:27:27 +0000

Yeah, I didn't realize they were by the same person until today. I've been looking forward to Biomega, and while I had at least heard of BLAME!, I didn't know anything about it except that it had a protagonist named Killy.

By: Danielle Leigh

Danielle Leigh — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:20:39 +0000

Michelle — heh. Also, it looks as though the creator of BLAME! has a title that will be released by Viz in the Spring (Biomega). I’ll be curious very curious to check that title out….

By: Michelle Smith

Michelle Smith — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:59:56 +0000

I just read up on Blame! and holy crap, it sounds awesome. Every review I’ve seen mentions “architectural spaces,” which appeals to me no end. I swear the perfect manga would be Jiro Taniguchi’s Guided Tour Through Everything Frank Lloyd Wright Ever Built.

And since Amazon has some of Blame! and its oneshot prequel, NOiSE, under the 4-for-3 deal, I’ll go ahead and get the first two volumes of Battle Angel Alita that’ve been on my wishlist, too!

By: Joe H

Joe H — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:31:15 +0000

The quality of the story is excellent. I’m only 3 volumes into it and I’m a bit ashamed of myself for not trying harder to get up to speed with it.

By: CriticalFel

CriticalFel — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:25:38 +0000

Wow, Clover does feel eerily similar to what I imagine Grant Morrison would write if he was shojo/josei author. Clamp has some things they do really good, but when they experiment instead of doing blatant fanservice (ie Tsubasa) and crossovers (ie same) they are at their best.

Blame I haven’t read much beyond the start, the characters just wouldn’t shut up (hehe). One day maybe.

I third the recommendation for Alita, both the original and Gunnm Last Order.

By: Tekende

Tekende — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:50:43 +0000

Definitely second the Battle Angel Alita recommendation, Joe. One of my favorite manga ever!

By: Danielle Leigh

Danielle Leigh — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:04:18 +0000

Joe — I think you’re probably right! That is a title I’m not very familiar with, though, so I wasn’t sure about the quality….

By: Joe

Joe — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:01:07 +0000

I think another great title that would fit is Battle Angle Alita.