Otaku Magazine ISSUE #9 November 2014

◄What To Read◄

◄What To Read◄

Hello everyone. It's the time to be thankful seeing that Thanksgiving is nearby. I'm thankful for so many things and with recent events in my personal life. I'm most thankful for family and it's important you don't take anything for granted. Another thing I'm thankful for is love, just in general in love seeing that I've never been in relationship yet. So two mangas I've chosen for these two specific intangible things that I'm thankful for I choose the listed. Just so you know, I'm thankful for more than just family and love, but I just chose these two known items.

Name: Fullmetal Alchemist

Status: Completed - 27 volumes

Genre: Shounen, adventure, science fiction

Age rating: Teens (13+)

Summary: "In an alchemical ritual gone wrong, Edward Elric lost his arm and his leg, and his brother Alphonse became nothing but a soul in a suit of armor. Equipped with mechanical "auto-mail" limbs, Edward becomes a state alchemist, seeking the one thing that can restore his brother and himself...the legendary Philosopher's Stone."

Notes: Graphic images of violence including blood and gore and especially missing limbs due to the plot line. It is rated teens for a reason, so you have been warned. I usually can't stomach graphic violent scenes, but these aren't that bad, you can always fast read through those scenes, which are a lot. Death is featured a lot of times especially some characters that do have a part.

Rating: At times the violence and gore would be unsettling for me because I tend to freak out easily; however, I was able to stomach it. This is one shounen series that I have completed I believe and enjoyed. The adventure they go on shows the development in the brothers' character and depicts the close bond they hold. I enjoyed the humor that Edward provides with his short height and swearing; however, he is a genuine character who cares dearly for his brother and the same goes for Al. The underlying messages and meanings that there are in the story are deep. The things that Edward especially says when talking about death is important for us to realize the importance of living. Whenever I read a manga and enjoy it is when the manga is the kind that is funny and makes me smile but in addition provides messages and lovely words of advice. I would consider Fullmetal Alchemist to be a classic as well in my opinion. And recommend this manga for anyone who is looking for laughs, action, mystery, and a little bit of tears.

Thanksgiving value: Family because the Elric brothers are very close with each other and in addition, they value their friends and will risk my things to help others out.

Anime Adaption: There are two anime series, one was created before the manga series was over so the plot line is not the same and then there was the actual anime following the manga plot line. The two series are Fullmetal Alchemist and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. Personally haven't watched much of either anime shows.

Name: Missile Happy

Status: Completed - 5 volumes

Genre: Romance, shoujo, slice of life, comedy

Age rating: Teen (13+)

Summary: "Mikako has a sister-complex so strong she won't let just any man wed her sister. On an undercover investigation to learn more about the newest bachelor, she ends up moving in with him! And thus begins Miki Kiritani's angsty, hilarious story full of misunderstandings, wackiness, and best of all, love!"

Notes: The main guy characters like to tease the main girl character in a little bit of sexual way, ie talking about her bras. If this makes you uncomfortable well the younger main characters are living together and are not married and high school age.

Rating: This manga is recommended for those who want to laugh and giggle at the cuteness and how funny the main characters are and their relationship. There is some drama and I find this manga to be nice in that it focuses on two families and the love and relationships between the two. To clarify, Mikako and her sister as one family and Rou and his family. In addition though, their friends adds more laughs to the manga. In reality I'm somewhat okay with two people not married living together, somewhat in this situation seeing that both of them are in high school or college. But anyway, for their situation it's funny. The relationship between the two main characters is cute and strong and some of us would want to have this kind of relationship that is full of fun. In addition, most of the volumes have extra short stories at the end that you can read that are cute as well relating to love.

Thanksgiving Value: Love specifically because the relationship between the two main characters is so cute, but not all relationships are smooth sailing and there will be obstacles in the way. That is why we should treasure love so much because of the risk that we can take. In addition, this manga as well really touches upon family as well due to Mikako and her sister losing their parents at a young age.

Anime Adaption: None