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: 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: Pretty good manga Review: I have now read both books. It wasn't so clear in the first book thought, but this series main theme is certainly the nature. I think it's rather strange that every comment and review I have read classifies this title as a horror manga. Art wasn't my favorite and stories would have been little bit deeper, but this manga is still very enjoyable to read. Characters are very loveable and it's good to see a manga with a theme like this sometimes. ^^
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: 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: Very Obsessive!!! Review: The art in this Manga is beautiful...It's very detailed and helps deliver the moods of each character. Of course, a Manga isn't complete without humor, and Pet Shop of Horrors doesn't exclude and funny scenes! It's quite entertaining to see Count D and Leon Orcot bicker. :) But, this Manga is also very serious. The chapter "Delicious" was rather bloody. I recommend Pet Shop of Horrors to people who enjoy things out of the ordinary.
Rating: Summary: Beautiful & weird Review: The stories in Pet Shop of Horrors follow the business of a surreal petshop, commented on by a detective whose assignments sometimes intersect with the pet shop.
These are not stories merely intended to startle or sicken, they are all very human dramas, rich with metaphor, like most good horror stories.
A strong presence in these books is the mysterious effeminate proprietor of the shop, who has an intense taste for sweets, and is known only as "D".
Ragged on constantly by the detective, D is never the one out of his league (and never out of tea & delicacies, for that matter). Unshakeable and practically ineffable, he is never taken by surprise and alone seems to care for and understand all of the creatures in his shop.
Posessed of similar quirky charm as the proprietor of the shop and sharing a love of sweetness, many of the tales are tastefully touching, in all their strangeness, beyond and through the nightmarish ocurrences that take place.
This is a serial with several stories in each book (I think there are a total of eight books availible in English, but I may be wrong).
The first four books of this series are wonderful, excellent, while five through eight are amusing and likeable, but a little more silly and superficial.
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