http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bubblegum_Crisis

1. Tinsel City – The Knight Sabers are hired to rescue a little girl from a group of kidnappers, but the girl is far more than she seems…
2. Born To Kill – A friend of Linna’s threatens to expose Genom secrets that led to the death of her fiancé, but Genom plans to silence her, first.
3. Blow Up – The Knight Sabers attack Genom Tower to put an end to the machinations of Genom executive Brian J. Mason.
4. Revenge Road – A racer modifies his car into a weapon of vengeance against the biker gangs of Megatokyo, but the car soon develops a mind of its own.
5. Moonlight Rambler – A killer is draining victims of their blood, but this is no vampire. And what do a pair of escaped love-doll androids and the D.D. super-weapon have to do with it?
6. Red Eyes – A group of fake Knight Sabers are ruining the group’s reputation, leading to a fight against a returning foe.
7. Double Vision – A singer with a vendetta comes to Megatokyo, and brings some heavy firepower with her.
8. Scoop Chase – An ambitious technical scientist and an aspiring reporter both plan to make their names at the expense of the Knight Sabers, and Nene is caught right in the middle.

This might explain a lot.

I’ll go dig out Mars…

I heard about Aurora, but only looked into the BL they’re releasing. Got any specific recommendations for their josei titles?

I read pretty much everything, manga wise, except for little kids’ stuff. Although there are a couple of little kids anime series that are just too darned cute to pass up. *grin* But most of what I read is BL and shounen, mainly Jump titles of the latter. Shoujo and josei are great if I can find something that interests me. CMX carries some good titles. I really like Cipher, Seimaden and Emma. And of course Eroica. I’ll be reviewing Cipher sometime soon.

If you ever feel like recommending anything though, feel free. I’m always looking for good titles to read. I love old school and new.

I’ve gotten kind of used to it since in shoujo pushing someone down, to use their term, is a way of expressing uncontrolled love. But it’s not for us English readers, and I too felt disappointed that it had been used.

It is indeed a convention of the shoujo romance genre and is one of the traits that bothers me the most. I will admit that shoujo, as a whole, and shoujo romance, as a whole, is typically not for me though. I’m more of a older shounen/seinen manga girl but there are a few josei titles coming out later this year from new publisher Aurora that look interesting. That said, I absolutely adored Fuyumi Soryo’s Mars.

I remember thinking it felt rushed. I didn’t expect it to be a long series like some of my friends did (a bunch of us were reading the manga at the same time and had a kinda-discussion group about it).

Ah, you know, I was thinking maybe that’s why I find it easier to enjoy NANA than, say, Keishon, because for a while I’ve been following it chapter by chapter as it comes out in the monthlies. It’s easier to absorb in small pieces, and every page is dwelled on and enjoyed. It is a different reading experience than reading the tankoubon.

I was uncomfortable when I read about the start of Arashi and Miwako’s relationship. I was wondering if that was what you meant. I’ve gotten kind of used to it since in shoujo pushing someone down, to use their term, is a way of expressing uncontrolled love. But it’s not for us English readers, and I too felt disappointed that it had been used. It’s the primary reason I haven’t read the prequel to the series yet that concerns their relationship and probably that scene, even though it’s been sitting on my shelf.

Note for anyone reading this: This incident is just referred to in Paradise Kiss. It happens before the start to this series, and occurs between two secondary characters.

The appeal might be a little broader now since the anime started its release with some fanfare a couple months ago.

I do agree with that. I remember when Tokyopop re-released them with the new covers. I’m still of two minds about that, because I’ve never cared for their habit of coloring interior illustrations and making them the actual cover. But the newer ones are definitely catchier than the original.

Re: the fifth volume’s pacing, it’s been a few years since I read the series but I remember thinking it felt rushed. I didn’t expect it to be a long series like some of my friends did (a bunch of us were reading the manga at the same time and had a kinda-discussion group about it). I might feel differently about it now though, if I went back to reread it.

As for Arashi and Miwako’s relationship… My main quibble with it — and this is no fault of the story, just my own knee-jerk reaction — is how they got together. I admit it kind of horrified me and at the time I’d read it, I recall being very frustrated that it’d passed through the readership without comment while everyone had fixated on the resolution of Yukari and George’s relationship. In my eyes, Arashi forced Miwako to make a choice and the manner in which he did it really didn’t sit well with me at all.

I hope that’s not too spoilery. I’m conscious that a lot of people here haven’t read it so I don’t want to taint their reading experience, if they choose to pick it up.

Thanks guys!

Enjoy!

At that time, it was marketed towards the shoujo audience since there wasn’t (and arguably, there still isn’t) a Western josei audience. Overall it is a good series and definitely worth reading, though I did have some issues with the fifth volume — the overall pacing and in particular, Arashi and Miwako’s relationship.

The appeal might be a little broader now since the anime started its release with some fanfare a couple months ago. And NANA’s English run may cause people to search out her other titles. I actually found it through NANA.

What issues did you have? If you can talk about them without too many spoilers. I guess that might be tough.

I bought it – started it and put it down – very busy manga for me. So is NANA meaning that it’s dialogue rich

Sorry to hear that Keishon. I’ll keep that in mind the next time I recommend something to you. Er, if I recommended Ouran High Host Club you’ll want to avoid that.

And if not, there’s always Amazon.

I originally read this manga when it first came out in English (with the old covers) and the art does take some getting used to. At that time, it was marketed towards the shoujo audience since there wasn’t (and arguably, there still isn’t) a Western josei audience. Overall it is a good series and definitely worth reading, though I did have some issues with the fifth volume — the overall pacing and in particular, Arashi and Miwako’s relationship.