[Kwman]

Since there isn't a thread about Manga I thought I'd start one !

For anyone that doesn't know Manga is basically a Japanese Comic strip.

Anyway my recommendations are:

Beck - about a Japanese rock band - One of my favourites - Finished now
Hajime No Ippo - Boxing - Also one of my favorites and still ongoing
Gantz - Sci Fi - Getting Wierd now, but beginning of the story was very interesting
Initial D - Street racing

[Iccz]

Death Note
K-On
The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya
Claymore
Love Hina
Bleach
Zombie Powder
Yokomaha Kaidashi Kikou


And obviously... Akira

I could ramble on about them for ages, but i'll spare you for now!

[Decadence]

Doubt you'll be able to track them down but Battle Angel Alita is bloody awesome!

[Theydon Bois]

I forgot all about Battle Angel Alica - I have a good run of those, and if you are after old school, how about Mai the Psychic Girl?

[fizl]

I work my way through the books when they come out, so working through fruits basket right now (on book 12).

I tend to watch the anime channel when I'm working in India, then see if I can find anything that interested me in book or DVD format when i get back

shaz

[PoochJD]

Hi,

Can I add the following, as being worthy recommendations, please?

DRAGONBALL - Akira Toriyama's excellent first set of manga's about a young boy, Son Goku, who is on the search for a set of mystical balls (nope, not those kind), that will unleash a powerful dragon, that will then grant him one wish. Very funny, quite saucy and risque in places, but very, very well-written. Avoid DRAGONBALL Z though, as the teenage/young adult Goku's a total bore!

DOMINION (TANK POLICE) - Masamune Shirow created this post-apocalyptic sci-fi/action/comedy about a quirky police squad trying to keep their city free of crime, and failing spectacularly. A worthy read.

GHOST IN THE SHELL - Masamune Shirow's complex cyberpunk tale, set in a world where humans and robots work together. Quite heavy-going, but great if you can stick through it.

APPLESEED: VOLUMES 1-4 - Another Masamune Shirow title, that's a semi-precursor to GHOST IN THE SHELL. A female police officer and her male half robot/half human partner tackle terrorism in a futuristic world.

BATTLE ROYALE: VOLUMES 1-18 - Superb Manga version that expands on the acclaimed sci-fi film, about a group of students picked at random by their government to fight one another on a small island, until only one student remains. A cautionary and provocative tale about social-political commentary, the Japanese student system, and rebellion amongst modern-day youth. Brutal, bloody and explicit, but rewarding reading.

URUSEI YATSURA: THAT OBNOXIOUS ALIEN - Very funny comedy about an alien girl who lands on earth, only to fall in love with the Earth's most stupidist boy. As she does everything she can to get him to love her, he does everything he can to get away, with hilariously disappointing results.

RANMA 1/2 - Multi-volume saga from Rumiko Takahashi, about a boy who discovers he can turn into a martial-arts fighting panda. Quirky and offbeat satire about gender differences, told with flair and humour.

LONE WOLF & CUB - Adult historical, martial-arts drama series, running to over 25 volumes, about a man whose wife is murdered by some enemies, and is forced to take his young son in a cart, travelling through rural Japan, fighting those who want them both dead. Violent and sexually-explicit, but amazing reading. Was the basis for the famous Lone Wolf series of 6 films.


Pooch