Manga Mondays Meme
I've been doing Manga Mondays every week since I started my blog 3 years ago. It started out as a personal feature, but I decided to turn it into a meme last year. There are quite a few people who do Manga Mondays. I don't claim by any means that I owned or created the idea of Manga Mondays - it's an obvious choice given the alliteration. I think a meme is a great way for everyone to publicize their own Manga Mondays and get a little more publicity.
The linky will be below my review.
Rosario Vampire vol. 1 by Akihisa Ikeda
Tsukune's going to have one heck of a hickey when he gets home from Monster High!
All-around average teenager Tsukune can't get accepted to any high school save one...but on his first day he finds the rest of the student body doesn't appear average at all. Best of all, the cutest girl on campus can't wait to fling her arms around his neck! Wait a sec'--are those her teeth around his neck too...? Tsukune's going to have one heck of a hickey when he gets home from Monster High! But does he have a chance in H E double hockey sticks of raising his grades at a school where the turf war isn't between the jocks and the nerds but the vampires and the werewolves? (courtesy of Goodreads)
Review
*Warning: Potential spoilers. My manga reviews tend to be more of a summary than a review. I find it hard to review manga in the same way I do regular books.
Lately I've been reading manga aimed at teen boys. Which has turned out to equal two things: (1) Relateable and likable characters; and (2) Lots of close-ups on female underwear and the body parts they cover.
Tsukene, our leading man, clicked with me immediately. He's an ordinary boy who ends at a school for monsters by accident. He has to hide the fact that he's not a monster himself or all the monsters would kill him. Tsukene is pretty bland. When Moka throws herself at him, he's surprisingly okay with getting his blood sucked. After all, she's pretty and nice. He mostly seems to bumble through life.
The first person he meets at this school is a vampire named Moka. She's very Manic Pixie Dream Girlish. Giggles, sweetness, and smiles. Plus, sinking her teeth into Tsukene at every opportunity. Until she goes all vampirey and turns into a female version of the Hulk.
The plot of Rosario Vampire appears to involve various classmates turning into monsters and attacking Tsukene or Moka in turn. When one is attacked, the other rescues him or her. It's nothing I haven't read before, but still fun. And I like that it's an equal opportunity rescue scenario.
As you might guess, I'd happily skip the focus on the female body parts. I understand that its thrown in there to appeal to high school boys, so I'm willing to roll my eyes and move on. I don't see what would be so appealing about a blank and white drawing of a fake girl's underwear...but I suppose it doesn't take much for a teenage boy.
Rosario Vampire is pretty silly, but has that intangible it factor that makes me want to keep reading. On to the next volume!
You are so right about the way females are portrayed in teenage boy manga xD This does sound pretty interesting if you can get past all that other... stuff.
ReplyDeleteManga Mondays? That's a great idea!! Next monday I'll start !! By the way I'm your new follower!! Your blog is awesome!! I loved your ideas!!!
ReplyDeleteHere's my blog; http://bookerlikeahooker.blogspot.com/
I tried getting into this series, both the manga and the anime, but I had a hard time getting into it. I still have some of the manga, so perhaps I'll give it another try. Sometimes, I find that there is a right time for a book and it's not always when you first sit down and try to read it.
ReplyDeleteTammy @ Bo's Book Nook