Yu-Gi-Oh!, Vol. 1: The Millennium Puzzle

Since it's 2020 and the last review is from like 2006 I figured I'd write a more modern review. Good, interesting, crazy story. Lots of games, and fun, more real then any series after it.

That's right. This is the expensive Japanese Version. Buy it in English for only $8: Yu-Gi-Oh! Vol. 1. For more info on unreleased graphic novels, see my review for tome 6. To read YuGiOh more often, read Shonen Jump magazine.

I got this graphic novel when my mom met with the head of "Viz" for her work, and he offered to send me some free stuff (yay!). A while ago, I was really into yu-gi-oh (Am I the only person who thinks that is AMAZINGLY annoying to type?), but then I got out of it and didn't really like it that much. After reading this, it totally changed my mind. This is SOOOOOOOO much better than the shows! It isn't really for kids, like other people have mentioned, but that's a GOOD thing!!! It's better when it's not for kids!! It's so much cooler!! You people who said that it's "not quite ready for kids yet," I don't think it should ever be. If it does become more for kids, I will stop reading it. So, this book is [...] SWEET!!!

When I first bought the US version of the Shonen Jump magazine in High School, I was amazed at all the stories, cept for DBZ, which I already seen like a million times on TV. Yu-Gi-Oh is one of those stories that cannot be ignored !Believe it or not, this is a manga based on the first season of the Yu-Gi-Oh series in Japan. What you saw on TV was actually the 2nd season known as Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters. The reason why the WB didn't take the original first season of the series was because Yami Yugi was an extremely violent character, and bringing it was out of the question...however, they accepted the 2nd season, which didn't appear to be violent at all.Before all those countless duel monster matchups and the seemingly fun Dungeon Dice Monsters, there were deadly shadow games. And if you ever wondered how Yugi first had the ability to transform into his darker self, all answers are right here on the first volume on this Shonen Jump graphic novel.As for the names of the characters. Longtime fans won't be very fond with the Japanese names, seeing as they were only used to the US names. Here they are:Yugi Mutou - Same nameSurugoku Mutou - Solomon Mutou (Yugi's Grandfather)Katsuya Jonouchi - Joey WheelerHiroto Honda - Tristan TaylorAnzu Mazaki - Tea GardenerI applaud Shonen Jump and Viz for staying true to the original. After all, it's what the author originally intended. Unlike the Yu-Gi-Oh you've been seeing, this shows Yami Yugi's true colors. Although kind hearted and willing to protect his friends, he would challenge his enemies to a shadow game. If his opponent loses, Yugi would set a penalty game, using his dark powers. In a penalty game, the loser would either hallucinate and go crazy, get severly injured, or worse...get killed. How cool is that ? Well I can't spoil any more surprises since this IS a manga ! You'll have to figure it out on your own.My suggestion ? Rush down to your local bookstore and pick up this one-of-a-kind graphic novel. Yu-Gi-Oh fan or not, this is worth picking up, and believe me, it'll be impossible to stop reading ! Every volume of Yu-Gi-Oh just gets exciting every time. Throw out the cards and lose the dungeon dice board...because it's time to experience Kazuki Takahashi's masterpiece, the way it was meant to be ! If not...PENALTY GAME !!!!

When I first saw this, I thought it would be just like the cartoon. I was wrong. Unlike the horrible anime, this version of Yu-Gi-Oh is for anyone but kids. Not only is Yami Yugi sadistic, but he's not afraid of taking anyone's life, including when he tricks an escaped convict into barbecuing himself! He is one person you DO NOT want to mess with. Joey is a lot different from the show, he's a pervert(funny scene: panty tank!), he trash talks, and he gets into a ton of brawls. Other characters who will later show up include Kaiba's kid brother, who instead of that annoying brat from the show, is a would-be killer(!), who threatens to cut Yugi's fingers off! Another difference: Shadi, who is a one-time character in the cartoon, but a somewhat villain in the manga, who gives a greedy museum curator a gruesome death. One of the major villains, Pegasus, is also a lot more cruel. One major difference to Pegasus is in the Bandit Keith vs. Joey story. I won't spoil it, but the original outcome shows why this series is MUCH darker than either version of the anime(the unaired series, or the current show on Kids WB and Cartoon Network). The artwork is great, some people may not like the style, but I think it fits it. Also, even better, the stories do NOT focus on cards as much, with the exception of the Kaiba Seto stories, and even when we do get to them as the main focus, there are not as many card matches as there are in the over abundance shown in the anime. I suggest that older people who are turned off by the kiddy look of the cartoon read this. It is much, MUCH better.