Rating: 
Summary: Reluctant at first, but Manga fever strikes again!
Review: Again, got this from my best friend and am so glad that I did. I actually really didn't want to take it from her, she kinda pushed it on me. The artwork on the cover was what finally got me to agree to read it. I can't believe I almost passed it up! So far I've only read the first book, but I'm totally hooked.
My favorite thing about the book is that it has four stories of pets that have been moulded into a bigger story concerning Count D and the Detective whose name I can't remember right now. The pets are beautiful and exotic and they sometimes come with devestating morals. Although, sometimes they turn out happily. I guess what I really appreciate about this manga is that the stories have points, and the endings aren't always happy. Too much happy just isn't believeable.
Rating:
Summary: Yay!!!
Review: All I can say is I was so excited when I got this manga. I looked everywhere for it!! Ever since I saw the OAV awhile ago, I've been wanting to read the manga and it did not disappoint me. The story hooks you within pages. I even told myself I'd only read one chapter because I was exhausted that night and wanted to sleep. However, as soon as I started I couldn't stop and ended up reading the whole thing. Now I simply can't wait till the next volume. The story (if you're unfamiliar with it) is about a petshop that sells "love and dreams". Actually they sell strange exotic animals that look like humans. They must be cared for a very specific way and should the owner not follow the rules exactly, then they have a signed contract saying the petshop is not responsible for what may happen. Its a good thing too because people tend to not follow directions and my oh my do things go wrong then. This is one eerie kind of manga. Not terrifying but quite grotesque and disturbing at times. The art is very pretty although the side views of people's faces are a little off (but then again, I can't draw sideviews either.) The guys are drawn in the shojo tradition of looking like females but are quite goodlooking. The story is a bit better than the OAVs which cut a lot out. It has more of a beginning and the chapters link together more. The overall feel of the manga is also more lighthearted (despite being disturbing) and the petshop owner isn't as sadistic and scary as he seemed in the anime. Actually, he's a pretty nice and funny guy who's extremely addicted to sweets. I was surprised at how much humor was thrown in alongside with the sudden grossout scenes. I really love this manga!!!
Rating:
Summary: One of the best manga series ever.
Review: At first I was a little worried about buying this manga in English from Tokyo Pop because they've had problems with translation in the past. But with the exception of Count D calling Leon officer instead of Detecive, this is one of the most accurately translated manga's I've seen. The stories are very original and have a haunting moral at the end of some (e.g. Daughter, Dream). But it can also be very funny at times (Count D and his sugar addicition). The art work is very unique and beautiful. Mari Akino puts so much detail into every pannel. This book is definately worth purchasing if you can find it.
Rating:
Summary: A wonderfully diverse manga
Review: I can say that I'm biased from the get-go because PSoH is my second-favorite manga of all time. BUT, this is not without foundation. PSoH is the *only* manga that I've found that can suck in anybody of all ages (not that manga isn't appealing to all ages), including the most difficult subject of all: my mother.
That said, there is something about the characters, the emotions, and the mysterious storyline that makes PSoH one of those manga you simply must buy. Each story, while possible to stand on its own, is also part of a much larger plotline and all have little hidden clues within that merit multiple reads. This particular volume I have read about four times, and it doesn't get old. The art, in my opinion, is exquisite, and as said in one of the other reviews, it only gets better as the series progresses. This is true in any manga you find (Oh My Goddess! comes to mind). If only they would print the forepages in color as they were originally in the digest run! This issue in particular is very very well-written and entertaining. Worth the cover price and more. ^_^
Rating:
Summary: Suspenseful and Makes you think...
Review: I saw the short 4 episode anime series a few years ago and was fascinated. And was very disappointed after seeing the short series that I couldn't get my hands on any of the Manga in English, and have sense been hoping they would translate it. And here it is! And they've done a pretty good job to, which from Tokyopop (the publisher) 2 years ago would have been a shock but they have cleaned up almost all of their act and have been doing a lot of really great unedited uncut translations (they used to edit out stuff really badly).
Petshop of Horrors is really interesting to say the least, you see a little more about the main 2 characters each chapter. At first they more guide you through the animals individual stories then really have a big affect in the plot, all the owners of the pets really make their own problems even if it doesn't look like it in the beginning. But as I said they become more interrogated into the plot as it goes alone so don't think this is just a string of horror animal stories with mysterious unknown characters telling the stories. Its much more then that.
Check out the Anime on DVD or VHS to see what I mean, its based off of 4 chapters from various volumes of the Manga.
To anyone that liked it even a little I think that most likely it will grow on you and surprise you.
Sinceres all
Rating:
Summary: Creepy!
Review: If you like weird stories, or saw the short OAV series, try the comic. I think it is much better planned than the anime was, and the drawing style is very traditional older shojo manga like would be found in Hana to Yume... (I think that's where it was published originally...) Definately worth a read.
Rating:
Summary: Terribly exciting!
Review: My little sis kept bribing me to read some trigun and that sort, but I read about one small manga and thought, 'this has no real story plot'... i am known to be a biased person, and yesterday i was in florida with my friend on spring break and we went to the mall. well, it was quite early because we had to catch a flight that afternoon and wed never been there before. nothing was open but the bookstore. well, we went in and i was looking through the graphic novels for my little sister and i found these PSoH books that grabbed my attention. being an old good charlotte fan, i thought that the instant that i picked up this books that the man on the cover, soon discovered to be the notorious 'count d' looked alot like good charlotte bass player billy martin, who i have been nuts over for as long as i can remember... so beautiful, but off topic. so, i read the back and bought it out of sheer curiosity to read on the plane and give to my little sister later. so we went to the airport and got to our terminal a lot earlier than expected and i decided to pull out the book, ten minutes till flight. well, i finished PSoH before my flight and was so excited about telling my little sister to get more! instead of ever giving my little sis a chance to read it, i read it over and over and over, all day yesterday and tonight, i went to the local Borders and bought all the ones i could find to read! so these books are A++++ and i reccomend them to anyone, fun-filled, gory, and beautiful artwork. keep up the good work!
Rating:
Summary: It has captured me and refuses to let go...
Review: Not that I want to be let go of course :) This manga drew me in from the very start of the first volume and has only continued to do so in this one as well. Covering the fascinating stories of Dragon, Dice, Delicious, and Destruction, this manga is one you'll have a hard time putting it down till you read it from cover to cover and even then it will pull you back for more (I've already read it at least twice).
I'll admit this manga does have some bloody portions as well as creepy parts (it does have the word horror in its title for a reason), but even if you are the overly sensitive type you should have no problem overlooking these. The story and the art are the main focus here, and Matsuri Akino has a wonderfully beautiful, yet mysterious way, of portraying both. You can't help but tingle in dreaded excitement as some of the more unlucky owners' fates unfold. The tales are sometimes heartwarming (such as in Dice), and yet sometimes there is a illfated case where you feel as if some type of justice has been served (such as in Delicious). It's hard to boil the stories down like this, as they are all such a wonderful mix. There's even some comedy thrown in (such as the conversations between Leon and Count D).
Plus where else can you see so many mythical creatures being interwoven into a story so smoothly? :) All in all it's a must read.
Rating:
Summary: my favorite of all the volumes so far.
Review: Okay, first a disclaimer: I'm not a die-hard manga or anime fan. I own a few volumes of CLAMP stuff, but I've never really gotten into the whole genre. So I'm no expert. Having said that, I am absolutely crazy about this series. It's true that the art isn't the best -- yet. It improves drastically as the series goes on, and by volume 10 (not yet released in English) it just blows me away. But as of volume 2 it's still pretty darn good, so don't let that deter you. The real reason to buy this manga, as far as I'm concerned, is the characters. Where else are you going to run across a character like Count D? Where else are you going to find such a great foil for him as Leon Orcot? The chemistry between them is beautiful, and this particular volume contains two of my very favorite episodes in the whole manga: "Dragon," at the beginning, and the eco-conscious "Destruction" at the end. Wonderful stuff. My highest recommendation. I can't wait until volume 5's release!
Rating:
Summary: danger, despair, and death
Review: Petshop of Horrors is a must read! It has beautiful art and it's strange and unusual stories suck you in. It is about the beautiful Count D who sells strange and magnificent pets. His is a business that deals love and dreams. The buyer must sign a contract before he/she may purchase their pet. There are three rules in the contract that the buyer must adhere to else the pet shop is not responsible for the consequences. If broken the dream pet becomes one of danger, despair, or death to its owner and possibly to everyone. My favorite chapter is Dreizehn. It's about a girl who lost her sight due to a tragic incident and goes to Count D for a pet. Count D gives her a Doberman seeing-eye dog that can also protect her in case the murderer comes back. To her surprise the Doberman feels just like a human. Her fierce and handsome bodyguard protects her throughout this story. It also has many amusing parts due to how she sees her pet.
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