Revolutionary Girl Utena, Volume 1

The 3rd volume of the RGU series has turned out to be the best thusfar... For those of you who were disappointed by the 2nd volume, be prepared for the trip of your life with this one. It. Is. Fantastic. You'll read it more than once, I can guarantee it. The plot flushes away its fluffy-sweet, gaggingly-predictable overtones to reveal an underlying storyline that gets more dark, horrific, and complex with each passing page (while still keeping an innocent PG rating! Now that's talent!) You learn more about all of the character relationships (and I'm happy to say that Juri is less of a joykill in this one) including the practically unmentioned one between Anthy and her older brother, Akio (who you can't help but love.) Our favorite little Dios boy in the sky also makes a guest appearance, which always calls for extra brownie points, though most readers will get mixed signals about Touga and what his motives really are (I'm trying to avoid spoilers. Can you tell?) The whole story becomes an enigma! Prepare to be drowned in symbolism and rich imagery--and watch out for that killer cliffhanger at the end. It'll leave you BEGGING for the release of the 4th volume! The artist, Ms. Saito's drawing technique has also changed vastly AND apparently...the images have improved so much that you'll feel HONORED to own a piece of her work! You'll definitely start to appreciate how truly talented and professional she is. Even if you've already seen the series and know the ending (which is going to be interestingly warped by the 5th volume anyway) you'll still get a kick out of this book and the memorable circumstance between Wakaba and Utena as it was meant to be. And, of course, there's a funny little bit about Chuchu at the end and character profiles (of Miki, Juri, and the members of Be-papas) scattered throughout the book. It's a great buy. No regrets at all. Just mix the right amount of fantasy, romance, slapstick comedy, mystery, and plain old talent, and you'll get the miracle that is RGU 3: To Sprout. :D It's so cool. Really, it is.

I'm not sure how I heard about his story, but when I saw it in the bookstore, I decided to pick it up and see how it was. I was in for a surprise!! I never imagined how beautiful executed the story would be.Utena is different from pretty much all other "magical girl" type stories in that Utena is nothing special...she never changes into some kind of superhero, she never pitches corny attacks at absurd villains. Utena is just a girl looking for her prince and desiring to be one herself...I was drawn to this manga because here I saw a strong girl willing to battle her way through life to make her dream come true.Utena's character is very well-rounded, as are the others. Anthy's girliness is perfect to Utena's courage, Touga is mysterious and alluring, Saionji is willful and determined. Everyone flows together so perfectly. You have to get this manga if you're sick of all the Sailor Moon stuff circulating these days!!By the way, I already have the second book. Why can't I write a review for it? It's out already.

I've always been a huge Utena fan. From the moment I picked up vol. 1-3 just at the interesting cover design over at Densetsu Manga (Legendary Manga) in Yokohama, Japan I loved it. It is a seemingly simple story at the beginning which quickly develops into a beautiful masterpiece of a manga. It has a deep philosphical message that is presented a bit more in the backround so it doesn't get in the way of the enjoyment of the story (unlike some series which have to lecture you during the last two epiosdes..*COUGH* NEON GENESIS EVANGELION *COUGH*...actually I love Eva and the last two eps. were amazing, so don't get mad at me..^_^;;). The story presents to you characters who are bound by their own insecurites, unable to truly live lives, stuck in the past, obsessed with the future, bound by jealousy or arrogance. The school itself (Ohtori Academy) is the physical embodiment of greed and human selfishness, the students who go there (the main chars. at least)are metaphorically facing their own selfishness. When they talk about "cracking the shell of the world" they are discussing the idea of breaking away from their insecurites and finally being able to actually LIVE. They duel to reach that "outside world" the place where the can be human again...the power to "revolutionize the world". Utena's bonds were broken by her prince, and that is why she is different from the rest of the duelers and also so highly coveted by Kiryuu, Touga. Well...that was my interpretation of the plot at least..anyway...

I can't begin to tell you how enthusiastic I am about the UTENA manga. Having been a fan of the anime series and the wonderful movie, I have to admit to entering this reading experience with a bit of bias--but I think my expectations have been exceeded.First up, if you're also a fan of any of the animated versions, you should be aware that the comic is as different to them as the video series is to the movie. What we have here is something akin to the NEON GENESIS EVANGELION manga--an expanded version of the story from the longer video series. The first volume focuses first on Utena's life before going to the Academy, and the bizarre things she discovers when she gets to the Academy. Really, the story is just getting revved up, and we have only seen a small scratch on the surface. Utena is very much a character in development, who is exploring something new and fantastic, and the great thing about the manga is we get to discover along with her.To be honest, if you're an Utena fan, what this book (and the ones that follow) will likely do for you is give you a deeper insight into the characters you already love. And if you've never seen or read anything about this series before, in any form, well, as a newbie, you're in for a treat. No prior knowledge is necessary, this really starts on the ground floor.Chiho Saito's art in this book is exceptional. She is really unique among the manga artists--utilizing both sharp, angular lines and smooth, round surfaces at the same time. There is also a very hard to describe quality to her work--she makes things sparkle. That's the only way to say it. It's all quite lovely. There is a real sensual quality to the Utena tail, and she brings it across with flair. (The flashback to Utena meeting her "prince" is of particular note.)Storywise, the themes are familiar--self-discovery, both in terms of inner strength, gender issues, and as an individual within a society. Heavy stuff, without ever being overtly the focus, never getting in the way of a good tale.Really, one of the top manga series to come to the states in several years.