Please don't hurt me.

Let me start out this story by saying - please don't hurt me. I'll now proceed...

I was at the library yesterday and I was talking to the librarian, just shootin' the breeze. I confided in her that I was bored with the teen section. I also told her that I've also got books out for my college bound reading list from the adult section and want (need) something else for recreation. She points out the manga section, says shes never seen me over there, then suggests that I pick some up on my way out. But...

I'm very, very sorry if I offend anyone; but, everyone that I've known that has read manga has always been really, really weird. That is not just a judgmental outward view, I had a really close friend that got into manga. She was weird anyway before she started reading manga, thats why we were friends (I'm not so "normal" myself), but she just got a little too weird for me. She'd laugh at her book and talk to the characters. I'd be like, "Hey, did you say something?" She'd say that she did but not to me. I was the only person in the room with her. I understand emotions while reading, I've done that too. I laughed when I figured out why Ron was afraid of spiders in Harry Potter and stuff like that! But not like....talking to it! I understand that its a object, pictures (awesome pictures I might add) with words (awesome dialog too).

Then....theres....the cat people, and they scare me. Theres this girl up the street, who has crazily-rich parents that buy her all the manga she wants and the apparel to go with it, and she walks around with cat ears and a tail. I still haven't figured that one out yet...

But, I've gotta' hand it to ya, I did pick one up - I love it! It only took me an hour and a half to finish it because I loved it so much! I just hope that once I finish this series (PHD: Phantasy Degree) that there are more like it that I'll be able to kick back and relax with in between some hardcore college bound bookiage. The art is amazing, the dialog is hilarious, and the whole thing is just so artistic and new to me.

So, you crazy people that I'm talking about, you're alright =). You still scare me, but you're cool, no discrimination whatsoever. I'm really, REALLY sorry for judging. I'm actually asking that you'll recommend me some reading! Also, if someone could fill me in on all that cat stuff, that'd be totally awesome. I....I don't get it yet...Maybe I wouldn't be so frightened to enter the manga section if I understood that a little better.

Signed,

Manga Newb

LOL! Thanks for sharing. It is always fun to discover something new! Up until a couple years ago I didn't even know what manga was, nonetheless develop a theory on exactly what type of person reads it.

I often feel I don't fit the stereotype either being older (I'm afraid to even say how old) and generally a boring sort of person. You never really know what someone or something is like until you get to know them for yourself.

Yeah, I guess I just paid attention to the stereotype.
But, stereotypes help when your deciding whether or not to spend time on something. You can't get time back - and I'm kind of a slow reader, so I make sure its worth my while. Plus, if I got too into it, like the people I know, I'd be sucked into it. Not like thats bad, but I have to have priorities. I admire the people that can read an entire series of something in a week or something, I'm just not that way. I love to read, don't get me wrong, but if I really want to read something thats enjoyable and for my benefit I have to pay attention to my surroundings a bit.
Though, I love manga for that very fact! It took me an hour and a half to finish one book! Ahhh! =D It let me unwind from all my schoolwork and college bound reading, while looking at a bunch of artwork at the same time, its awesome! =)
And - I didn't talk to the book, not even once :). I didn't catch crazy person-itis! XD I laughed, but I consider that quite normal.
So, what kind of manga do you like and what would you suggest to a manga newb that likes fantasy-ish kind'a stuff?

I'd suggest Bizenghast, Demon Diary, Vampire Game, Pet Shop of Horrors for starters. The last three are complete, so you don't have to wait impatiently for the next installment. Tsubasa would be another good one, but it's not complete yet. xxxholic is also good, though it's more urban fantasy than classic fantasy, and is also not complete yet.

The cat thing ... it's cosplay - costume play. It's not all that different from people who are big fans of other things, like Trekkies, SCA folks, or people who run around bedecked in HSM products all the time? It's just that ears and a tail are more visually arresting. The people I know do it mostly for fun and as a creative outlet.

Helcura - Thank you! I'll check into them =). Awesome, I'm excited! Sorry if I'm rude and stereotypical. I just...didn't get it, and still don't get some of it. I appreciate your recommendations!

Mvrdrk - Ah, I can understand that. What manga series is if from, if it is from a series? Or do they just randomly dress up as cats? There has to be a book like that or something, right? Why cats???

I've no idea where the idea of cats started from, but it's in a lot of places. I think the idea is it's cute, so even in serious manga, you'll see "out takes" of characters in things like cat or dog ears. You'll also come across absurdities like characters with flowers springing out of their heads. It's just a drawing, so it can be as silly as the artist wants to make it.

I like manga cat people because they were the easiest Halloween costumes I ever had to make for my kids.

For recommendations, there's a lot of fantasy in manga, so it's hard to make recommendations based on only one series. I'd suggest you take a quick look at The Young Magician, Suikoden III, or Basara which are darker, more action oriented, but perhaps not quite as funny than PHD.

Is there a specific manga where the cat thing was introduced?
But I know what you mean! It is adorable, like Lukan in PHD - SO adorable! I know hes a werewolf, but he looks more like a puppy in the first one =). I'm sure the cat-ish people things in other mangas are even more cute!
Still though...its kind'a weird.
But, I don't know.
Thank you for the recommendations! =D
I kind'a get lost in the action oriented parts, like in PHD, theres barely any real action (but when there was I'd get a bit lost). But, I'm sure those are awesome! :D Thanks!
Thank you everyone for not making death threats, very much appreciated XD.

Fruits Basket has a very popular cat based character named Kyo. I think a lot of people probably cos-play as him but that's just a guess.

My first manga which is now a complete series you may enjoy is Her Majesty's Dog. It is an urban fantasy with lots of humor and drama.

Ha, seriously, most manga readers don't act or dress like that at all. Or we even despise those that do. We can be well-adjusted members of society that you'd never guess have 3000+ volumes of manga hidden upstairs. ;) And like Jenson_AKA_DL mentioned, we can be older than you think..

I like fantasy a lot and there's a lot to choose from. Maybe try Good Witch of the West, Fushigi Yuugi: Genbu Kaiden (there's an older, classic series too), Alichino for some nice art, and try Clover, even though it's more sci-fi.

And for cat people, Loveless really popularized them among female audiences. Loveless is a decent read as well. Perhaps a little advanced in terms of character relationships..

Okay, so all the non-creepy (I don't want to say "normal" because I don't even know how I'd define being "normal") manga readers are all online! lol Awesome, thank you for the suggestions! Some of the stuff you guys have recommended I looked at online and my library doesn't own them =/. But, once I talk with my librarian again she'll be able to order 'em for me. I'm sure the freaky, book-talking kids at the library will be pleased! XD

THANK YOU!

For some really odd reason my library also only owns one, three, and four of PHD: Phantasy Degree. How disturbingly evil of them? I want to keep going with the series, but for some reason they have no book two in any of the branches of libraries we're connected to! =( Its sad...lol

(Belovedkindred is my second account by the way, I am moonstruckeuphoria lol. I didn't realize I was logged into this account!) =D

Ha! I know sooooo many of those people that dress and act like the manga they read. Somehow I escaped that fate :P
I think it's more the degree you get into it. I was more for concerts, so I got into that scene. They were more for manga and drama(theatre) type deals. If you ever see a con (AKA convention) you'll get answers.... and probably a lot more questions :)

I second the Demon Diary recommendation.
I also really enjoyed Princess Ai, which is just a trilogy, but I think they're coming out with a second trilogy, not sure tho.
A standby favorite of a lot of people I know is Inuyasha. It's a really really long series. They made a tv show for it and its around 200 episodes.

I rather doubt that there is a specific manga (or anime) where the "cat thing" was introduced, since I have a feeling it is derived in large part from Japanese folklore and mythology, which is rather replete with shapeshifting animals and demon creatures. It's also something of an artistic shorthand--since many animals have certain traits or characteristics associated with them an artist can quickly associate those traits with a character by giving that character features (ears, tail, expressions) commonly found on a particular animal.

Then there's the cute factor. Cats are cute, girls are cute, combine them together and you get something that is ultra cute! Or something.

On the manga recommendations front, one of my favorite fantasy series is From Far Away. This series is 14 volumes long, and all the volumes are available in English at this point. Inuyasha is a fun series, but as has been mentioned it is quite long. However, due to its popularity you're probably more likely to find it in the library than some other series. Black Cat is another fun series, and the 20th and final volume was just released this month. This one is more action/adventure than strict fantasy, but it contains plenty of fantastic elements.

Saiyuki and Saiyuki RELOAD, both by Kazuya Minekura, are two more fantasy/action/adventure series, but definitely targeted at older audiences than the other series I've mentioned as they tend to be rather graphically violent.

And, while this is not manga, I also highly recommend the Twelve Kingdoms novels by Fuyumi Ono. Depending on the bookstore you visit they may be shelved with the manga, since they are published by Tokyopop and are Japanese light novels.

I think that there is a way people act, dress, etc with whatever they are interested in. Heavy metal fans wear band shirts and maybe their hair a certain way or their make-up a certain way just like, say, Horror fanatics will have a Pinhead costume for cons and so on. I dont think this is specifically a manga-fan deal, weirdness is everywhere with any hobby.

MANGA IS AWESOME, Oh the cat ears and the tail have to do with anime or manga also fox ears have to do with it too making them part animal happening alot in manga and anime to see what i mean search Anime Fox or kitsune on google images

-Bluefire113

Also the cat thing is kinda cute have u seen anime girls with fox ears and a tail....CUTE!!!! one of my freinds draws a character name Aiya and part fox part human teen who's married to another character named senyo.....THEY HAVE KIDS!!!!

You're not alone! I' ve been into manga for 12 years, and anime/manga fans STILL freak me out. I like to think that on the varying levels of crazy I'm on the slightly saner side.

The only series I can think of that hasn't already been recommend is Faeries' Landing. It's cute. :3

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catbus
from
My Neighbor Totoro
:o)

The person who got me into manga is a die-hard fan and she goes to conventions. I've never been brave enough but we've set up a trip for next year to one of the conventions. I'm going to brave it. Like somebody else mentioned Loveless and Inuyasha are the only things that I can think of that have cat people. As for reading Immortal Rain is really good although I don't think it's very popular. And if Totoro is being recommended then all of Miyazaki's stuff needs to be suggested. Everything by him is awesome but it's all anime, except for Nausicaa and then they're is a book for of Howl's Moving Castle but it's not manga. I think that's all I have.

If you go to a convention with friends and can get in the spirit of things, you will have a lot of fun. It's a big party, Halloween, and random silliness all rolled into one.

i love reading Saiyuki and Saiyuki RELOAD

If you want to read more manga and understand the fandom at the same time you should check out Genshiken. If you want to laugh about crazy and creepy fans its a great choice. You might understand them a little better. There's even a part in the second volume when the "crazy" fans are trying to get the normal girl to put on cat ears because "it has the amazing effect of being able to deliver the sensation of cosplay even if the player remains dressed in normal clothes."

Hold up... Where can I buy some Neko gear in RL?! I wanna be a Neko! LOL

Year of the Cat Fan Club, yup.

Well it seems as though people have already answered your questions so I'll simply post some recommendations:
Tail of the moon, Fusigi Yugi, Mars (my favorite anime series), Paradise Kiss, Forbidden dance, Girl got game, Land of the Blindfolded, Millennium snow, Fruits basket (#1 selling girls manga in America), D.N.Angel, Emma, Platnum Garden, Kenshin , Crimson Hero, Crescent moon, The tarot café, Demon diary, Ghost Hunt, Nana

Good for you for not running away screaming when your librarian recommended manga. I know people who have. I recommend Inuyasha, Full Metal Alchemist, Fruits Basket, and Bleach. As for cat ear manga, I don't know of many. Loveless is one of my favorites but I don't recommend that one for beginners. Get into the manga world a little more before trying that one. It's weird.

And when you start talking to your books just remember that I've been talking to mine for years... and years... and years.

None offense taken. I always have those moments where I'm laughing at the book or commenting on whats going on. my friends are always "Are you ok?" and i am (hopefully) Just really into it. My sister just ignores me now which makes me laugh. I haven't read any mangas out doors yet and sorry to say i might not anytime soon. Even though i love manga. It's just i've seen people go way overboard worse then me and that's scary.

Tip: if you want to try out some manga, I would recommend that you choose a series that isn't too long (InuYasha has 56 books in the series, so maybe not that one), as well as a series that has been completely published. It can be frustrating when you start a series and it's not completely published (like having to wait to read the end of a novel). People who have been reading manga for a while generally have more then one series on the go and are more used to having to wait between volumes.

ya i talk 2 my books... i can't help it, habit

I was always told I was a bit off. I think i finally understand!!

I have to agree with Helcura, Tsubasa a wonderful manga. I am on something like vol. 28 or 29. I have also been reading its sister seires, xxxholic, and I have to say, it's fairly exciting.

>19 JFDR: I LOVE THE CATBUS!!!

:) I used to be the same way. My sister has been reading manga for years and I always said I could never see myself reading it. Then a few months ago my sister finally got me to try Bleach and I fell in love. Amazingly fast too. I went through all fifty volumes in a two or three weeks and then I couldn't stop, I needed to find soemthing that was just as good. It's definetly a different kind of reading, with different expextations, but just as entertaining in it's own right.

I prefer fantasy manga myself, and the ones I've come to love are Bleach, Berserk!!, Vampire Knight, Claymore, and Cantarella.

I think it is a kind-of disease, Manga is. It infects the most unsuspecting victims.

one of the few good Mangas is DR.STONE and Stiens Gate(only an Anime and game but still good also scientific)but only the first couple of books I like it because it is scientific and not weird like the rest.

This group is extremely dead

>36 Yuuki_TheMarshmallow: yeah thats true

kinda wanna revive it but all the original users probably left

yeah its over 12 years old

ye, i think all the members left lol

maybe we could revive?

maybe we could

yeah, that might be fun

so what is your favorite book

Like manga? Probably Demon Slayer or Toradora, You?

if going off of manga then love chunibio and other delusions but normal books I would say ashfall.

oh, yeah, ive been meaning to read it.

yeah its a pretty good manga

fancy

happy Monday Let's hope it is a good week.

Yeah, lol

its been a good week for me i made 70$ at school from sodas and candy.

Really? I’m not allowed to sell stuff at my school (I still do)

I got a job at my mothers work, so I got paid $116

dang that's more than I make I'm assuming your in high school if you have a job?If you are then what is something that will help me in high school I'm going to one next school year?