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Apr 25, 2012
My imagination went for a stroll when I read the title 'Goth' of this Manga. What could I expect? A medieval setting, perhaps, with castles and lightning, witches and torture? Or would it be about gloomy guys in long dark coats?
It happened to be neither, and for that I am thankful. Goth in this title refers more to interest in the dark side of life. The sensation that gory images and horrible stories give people. It is about a girl and a boy who try to find out the motives behind certain killings in their neighbourhood, out of nothing but interest. When they start
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finding a lot of clues, they might be sucked in too deeply to return...
It is a one-shot manga, with only one volume. The downside of this approach is that neither the character nor the story has time to really evolve. Some events happen too quickly to leave an impression and the protagonists seem a bit hollow - with more time given, they might have become more real.
Despite those things, Goth still is a very entertaining manga. The story may be short, but it is an interesting story. The art is brilliant and makes up for the flaws as mentioned above. The gory details are not left out, but do not take a prominent part in the manga - which I am grateful for.
In conclusion: it is a very enjoyable manga, with a nice story but it a shame that the author did not allow himself more chapters to let the story evolve more naturally.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Apr 25, 2012
Who doesn't enjoy jerking off in the girls' toilet? Oh... nobody? Well, Kurosawa-san does. It is his one passion in his life. After waiting for an hour in the school, he sneaks off to the toilets to do his 'daily duty'. This is the information we have when we begin reading Onani Master Kurosawa. Doesn't sound so attractive, eh?
'Onani Master' or in English: 'Master of Masturbation'. That is one misleading title for this series and it might scare off a lot of potential readers. When I read the description, I did not feel like reading this manga, it was only when a friend recommended it
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to me, that I gave it a try. And damn, I'm so happy that I did read it.
Story:
The story evolves in a very natural way and goes from a comedy to a parody to a authentic drama. More than a scheme, the story feels like a river. It flows on in a very natural and beautiful way. The plot twists do not seem forced but just come in the right time to keep things interesting. Kurosawa’s view of the world changes slightly on his way and his relationships with the people around him evolve like growing flowers. They become more beautiful and more real on the way. In the beginning Kurosawa is just a sarcastic prick, but through experiences he has in this manga, everything changes for him. There is just enough humor, just enough love and just enough deepness in this manga to be enjoyable for nearly everybody. Yes, there are some gross semen-jokes (which might only be enjoyable by males) but mostly the manga is very discrete. What I liked best about the story is how the magaka makes you love the characters so quickly: in only 31 chapters I really had warm feelings for all of the people in this manga. Funny references (as to Death Note and Catcher in the Rye) keep the tone light, while on the other hand some serious matters are discussed. Such as: what are friends? How should we decide what we should do? What is 'love'? And most of all: how to encounter guilt? It is a brilliant story, with enough laughs to be entertaining and enough story to be touching.
Art:
The art is quite sketchy and fits the story well. It is not remarkably well drawn, but it is really unique, to say the least. It might be seen as a symbol for the unclear period of life that adolescence is. Just like the drawings, not everything in the life of a teenager is as clear as it seems.
Characters:
As I have said before, the characters are perhaps the best bit of this series. I do not like the typical high-school romance setting, and OMK plays with the clichés of those series – as a matter of parody. It starts off as a satire but later on, it surpasses all the clichés it is making fun of and turns into a genuine and beautiful story. The characters that seem hyperbolic in the beginning, turn out to be real and caring people. This is the true beauty of the manga: they over-friendly and kind characters find their way straight into your heart.
Therefore I would recommend this manga to everybody: those who like action-manga’s as well as to those who like romance manga’s as well as to those who like psychological manga’s. It is a unique, touching and truly beautiful manga. As is suggested in this manga itself, it is the ‘Catcher of the Rye’ of the mangas and it deserve a place in everybody’s list.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Apr 21, 2012
What does it mean to be a 'human'? Who am I? Questions like these have troubled protagonist Nakoshi-san throughout his life. He isn't a salaryman, he isn't a homeless guy, but he lives in between those two worlds, in his car. Next to the expensive hotel and the park where the homeless people live.
He is destined to try and answer these questions once more, when he accepts the offer of a weird medicine student to be a guinnea pig in the experiment of trepanation. A little hole is made in his skull, in order to test if a sixth sense really exists. Through this
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act of trepanation, Nakoshi-san is able to see Homunculi. LIttle 'monsters' which reflect the psychology of others. But what are they specifically and what can they tell Nakoshi about hisself?
Homunculus start subtle and mystic, but slowly all the mysteries are revealed. This is the strength of the manga. Everything that doesn't seem to fall in place, is explained later. The protagonist is a complicated character and by looking at others he learns to look himself. He learns how to look through the web of lies, which surround so many others - and himself too. This is the beauty of this manga. The Homunculi 'monsters' are symbols of psychologic disorders. These symbols are a strong way to show the problems with which people fight. Sometimes the series tend to get really weird, untill a few chapters later we realise what was going on, and why people acted in such a way.
The story was in one word 'fascinating'. I am going to study psychology next year and with my current knowledge I can already tell that the mangaka of Homunculus did a pretty neat job. The characters are so realistic and their friendships and life goals are often touching. It isn't a 'warm' story, the problems of people are the centre of the story, but it is a very interesting story.
The manga contains philosphy, psychology, love, friendship and perfect art. I would recommend this manga to everybody, it makes you think about yourself and the world around you. It is entertaining, the art is beautiful, and it has a certain epic atmosphere, which I have only experienced once before while reading Death Note.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Apr 13, 2009
20th century boys may seem as a standard manga in the beginning. Saving the world doesn't sound as the most outstanding theme for a manga. But the mangaka of this series, which wrote 'monster' too, is a genius and it seems that everything he touches turns gold.
Perhaps the manga is so good because the story is not really about saving the world, but about friendship and youth memories. Bonds with old friends and how every person has his own qualities. The many side-characters are all like real people, with real lives and etc.And what makes this maga very special are all the 'memories'. In
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these flashbacks you see the characters when they were young. This really makes you understand and love them more.
About the story: As I said it is about saving the world. Someone in Kenji's (Kenji is the main character) youth has become a psycopath. Who is it? Who is this bad guy who calls himself 'friend'? That question really keeps you reading and reading. Untill you finally'll know who it is. And after that moment, the time skips fifteen years further. I don't want to spoil anything, but after a certain moment when the story is about the future, the whole serie loses his power. There isn't any tension anymore. Some characters who were lost get found and that is really fun to read, but the stoy just loses his tension. The mystery seems solved and there isn't anything you want to know anymore. It still was a good read, but compared to rest of the manga it is just worse.
The art was really realistic and not fantasy-like. I didn't bother because this was a serious manga. There were some nice pictures and everything was drawn realistic. Not very special, the artist didn't made an own world for this manga. But it was still very nice drawn and o.k.
The Characters were outstanding and the best part of this manga. It were the characters that made this manga so fantastic. You'll love them and nearly cry when someone is about to die or whatever. After reading this, I feel like I've made new friends, no matter how lifeless that may sound.
I enjoyed reading this, altough the story in the last part of the manga is little worse than the rest. But still worth a 9, certainly!!!!!
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Feb 11, 2009
When I first saw this movie, I hadn't even heard of anime. I hadn't watched any Japanese movie before, and it was quite a culture shock. Altough it was drawn, it still was a really good story... It felt so condtradictional to the western cartoons, which are seldom for adults too. And when I first contacted the Japanese culture I have to admit I didn't really like it.
All of that changed after I watched this movie again, a couple of years later. I couldn't believe I didn't like it at first. The characters were so nicely drawn and everything was just so fantastic! The
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strange story, the japanese-art, just... everything!!!!
The story is a bit weird. Weird but very good. It is like a fariy-tale, but then... different. It is about a girl who comes to another world and loses her parents. She tries to find them there and get them back. In this world there are all sorts of gods and spirits. She gets a job there and she is making a plan on finding back her parents. In this story there are many side-characters which are really good, and not the whole story-line is about this. But if I would tell you'all the whole story, this review would be very long and spoiling.
As I said before, the art is great. Altough I have seen a lot of anime nowadays, I still like the art. The world is so fascinating and full of fantasy. Yeah, even for people who haven't seen anime before (like my Mum LOL) this world is cool.
The sounds were fine, and altough I'm not really sure, I think I can remember the music was really the right music for this movie. I really enjoyed watching this, and I will recommend this to anyone who wants to see a great movie!
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Jan 24, 2009
I rarely give tens to mangas. But this one just deserves it! Why? I'm going to tell you:
Monster isn't a tradional manga. It isn't about fighting. I even dare to say it is a 'Love it or hate it'-manga. If you are the type of Naruto and Bleach and looking for that kind of manga, this isn't the manga for you. If you are looking for an intense, well-written manga, I would recommend this certainly for you.
The story is complex and long. Altough it's long, there isn't one single filler. It is all part of the same story. The story is about several characters, whom
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all have their own background and story. All the characters, you could just find them in real-life. And that is awesome. It all feels real and the flow of the story is... perfect.
The art was fine, although it isn't traditional drawn. Sometimes I thought the art was too unrealistic for the story. Some of the guys had way too big noses and stuff, but it wasn't really bothering though.
I think it is hard to explain what is so perfect about this manga. The story is excellent, I think that is the main thing why I just like it so much. It is complex and intense, just like I said before. You will like the characters and follow their lives troughout the story. Tenma, the main character, goes from place to place and you get a peek into lives of other people. That is done so fantastic and real that you'll just start loving all those good people.
The story is so complex, it left me with quite some questions. It is a manga in which not everything will be explained. You will have to live with that and make conclusion for your own. I didn't like that first, but now I realise it perhaps is just fine. The actions of humans aren't always explained in real-life either....
My conclusion: This manga is perfect for everyone who loves thrillers and tension! The 10 it has gotten from me, well, it just deserves it!
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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Jan 22, 2009
Man, I think I'm going to be hated for this one. Berserk is a favourite of nearly everyone. But shamefully, I don't agree on this. It was the second anime I decided to watch, after Naruto. And I really liked the whole enviroment. The old cities and the knights, just the whole... mood.
But as soon as I started watching more episodes I realised, every episode has its own story and they are connected, but not really that much. I really like when an anime is just one storyline and that isn't the case with Berserk.
Some of the fights were pretty cool, but the
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graphics and the animations were unwatchable. Sometimes you just saw one picture and you heard some noise. That was supposed to be a freaking fight! Perhaps when the anime was released it was good, but now this just sucks. I am used to Naruto, Death Note, Soul Eater and more of the newer animes. Their animations are way freaking better than this.
The sounds are fake and the episodes got boring. I stopped halfway. I just couldn't do it anymore. There was no sensation for me at all in this series. And I don't regret my choise. Perhaps I didn't get the clue in the end, but I don't feel any need for that clue.
I'm planning on reading the manga, because the story is brilliant. The idea behind the manga is fantastic. The characters are genius and it just... rocks! So I would recommend everyone who is interested in this to read the manga and don't watch this. You could like it, because the whole story is brilliant, but the development of this anime is crappy when you judge it nowadays.
Please don't hate me for doing this :$
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Jan 22, 2009
Horror and manga. I never knew that combination excisted. And I have to say: I'm glad it does excists. I was looking aroudn for some manga and I found this. Only ten chapters, why not read it?
I finished it in about half an hour. The story kept me reading and guessing what would happen untill the very end. Why did I give the story a six then? It was fine, but there was no moral or whatever behind it. The maincharacter is a son of a bitch and I just wanted him to die. Perhaps not everyone agrees with me on that, but that's my
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opinion.
It is quite a typical horror story. Two fellows in a room, they can have something they want if they kill eachother. I was suprised when I found out there was a whole lot more behind it. Without spoiling: there is a form of evil wich can consume people. And it can jump onto whoever wants to kill. The one with the biggest intention of killing, will be consumed by it.
The graphics were fine. Although it pissed me off when I mentioned that almost everyone has drops of water on their faces. Always. Sometimes it is sweat, then it is rain water. But what the fuck? It was unnecessary and just fucked up. I mean, someone can sweat if he feels fear, but he doesn't get wet by just sweating.
Well, that was a minor thing I didn't like. The story wasn't very sadistic, I got that impression at first, it's quite good. Not fantasic, because there isn't any bonding with the main character. It's a bit short, but that's not a real issue for me. This story shouldn't be long. It was a typical horror. Not really good, not really scary, but worth your time!
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Jan 10, 2009
Naruto was the first anime I ever watched. And I'm glad it was. Because if I had watched for example Death Note, I think I wouldn't still be watching anime. Why is that? Naruto isn't a 'hardcore' anime. It is just plain fun and everyone can understand the storyline. While some other animes may be confusing when you first watch them, Naruto is just clear.
Very soon I realised what the power of Naruto was. It isn't the story, which is quite cool too, but it are the characters! Everyone has their own story and their own way of thinking. Their own powers and their
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own weaknesses. This isn't something new in an anime, but Naruto does it in such a great way! It is really touching when someone is about to die, and you feel really glad if one of the main characters won a battle.
What too is a great thing, is the whole world. The town feels realistic, although it is in a fantasy world. What I mean is that everything just feels natural and right. All the ninja ranks and how people treat eachother, it feels like a real but different world. The enviroment is beautiful too and is perfect for the battles which will take place there.
I have been very, very positive untill now. The negative aspect of Naruto is that there are a lot of fillers. Sometimes they are just plain fun, but I really got annoyed when I found out that the episodes 120 untill about 200 are all just fillers! I quit watching and started Naruto Shippuden without missing anything of the plot.
I would recommend this to anyone one who loves action-based animes. It is fun and probably one of the most ass-kicking animes!
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Jan 9, 2009
When I first heard of death note, It really didn't interest me. An anime about someone with a note book which can kill people. What's the fun about that? Nothing. But I just had to give it a chance. Because all my friends were watching the anime. And so I watched the first episode.
The story got me! It isn't about someone with a notebook just killing people, no, the whole essence of the story is about morality. When is someone good and when is some a bad person? If you get divine power, would you use it to clean up the world by people you
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judge to be bad? And is killing bad people a bad thing to do? At first I thought it was a good thing to do. In the begin you follow the deathnote-owner and you totally understand his thoughts and i kind of agreed with them. But when the policeman simply called 'L' came in the picture I began doubting the ways of Light (the name of the guy with the deathnote).
Death Note makes you think about morality and just keeps getting better. Altough some people don't think the ending is cool, I did. I can't spoil too much so I'll just say: the ending might be dissapointing, but for me it wasn't.
So what's so oustanding about the characters? Everyone who plays his part in the serie is just so freaking smart. Light and L try to outsmart eachother with exciting plans. There's not much action in this anime, more ratio. But I wouldn't call that a bad thing, since the ratio just left me with a happy grin on my face!
I would recommend this to every anime or manga lover who doesn't necessarily needs a lot of action in his anime.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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