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Description
From Viz: There is a world of myth and magic that intersects ours, and only a special few can see it. Misao Harada is one such person, and she wants nothing to do with magical realms. She just wants to have a normal high school life and maybe get a boyfriend.
But she is the bride of demon prophecy, and her blood grants incredible powers, her flesh immortality. Now the demon realm is fighting over the right to her hand...or her life!
Black Bird received the 2009 Shogakukan Manga Award for shoujo manga.
I really like this manga. The characters are pretty good and the story is nice. I like Misao because, even if she's weak (can't help it, every shoujo female protagonist are super weak ¬¬) she isn't a crybaby who can't do anything, I mean, she's protected by Kyo, yes, but she wants to help him too, she wants to be useful, and that's not very common in shoujo mangas. The artwork is really wonderful too. I won't say that is the best manga neither that's the worst. There are a lot of different opinions and I recommend you to read it, that way you'll know if you like it or not.
I usually read the opinions because I like to know what others thinks, and I always respect that opinions, but this time I read one that shocked me. One of the things said in this opinion is this "I don't mind stories with super possessive/abusive boyfriends and weak submissive girlfriends, what I mind is when this sort of relationship is viewed as romantic. And in this case it is." Well, first of all I will say is that in my opinion this romance isn't creepy, and I don't think that I'm a creeper too ¬¬ (this goes for a comment made in this opinion too). Well, the thing is that in this manga the sex is rather 'important', Kyo wants to have sex (HE'S A MAN, YOU KNOW?) but, like in a lot of shoujo mangas, the female is 'scared' (she's the typical innocent protagonist). Throught the chapters we can see situations where he tries to do it but this doesn't mean that he treates her like an object (or so I think, or what, when you have a boyfriend you don't want to do it with him? I think that sex is a very normal thing in a relationship, and wanting to do it with the person you love is NORMAL too) But what shocked me the most is that don't minding "stories with super possessive/abusive boyfriends and weak submissive girlfriends" you criticize this romance, Kyo isn't abusive (possesive yes, like almost very male shoujo protagonist XD) and I don't thinks that Misao is submissive, if the guy you like touches you is normal to feel excited, even if you're scared.
I don't say all of this to argue with anyone, but sometimes when you read the opinions you are influenced by them (that's the purpose, ne?) and I wanted to give my thoughts to everyone. I highly recommend everyone who wants to read it to do so, maybe you don't like it, but maybe you do
I love how the romance is complicated by the question of motive. Kyo interesting - he goes after her persistently and she in turn considers the situation. She does not mindlessly falls in love and go with the flow because they are childhood friends or because he is handsome. I think what really draws me is her reactions to situations and trying to understand the mystery of who kyo is. The politics of his world should be interesting - i am looking forward to understanding that as well.
I remembered I picked up this manga because it was rated so high on the list but later dropped it for various reasons. This manga is like a "Japanese Twilight" with a completely weak and dependent heroine, a dominant male, guys fighting over the heroine's blood, etc. Blood is like this captivating substance that both tengus and vampires die for.
Spoiler (mouse over to view)
Misao later drops out of high school because she unexpectedly became pregnant. Very reminiscent of Twilight. What a great example Misao is setting for teenage girls who are reading this manga. Why didn't they use condoms and protection in this manga? Also, Misao always depends on others to save her while wishing that she would not be a burden to others. If she really wants to help and protect others around her, why didn't she learn martial arts or learn spells on how to ward off demons and bad spirits?
I just can't read the manga any further after this. The smutty scenes didn't help much either.
I wasn't a super huge fan of this manga at first but it's progressing much better. Misao is becoming a lot stronger and is not as much the "weak girl" figure she used to be, which makes me happy. She reminds me a bit of Xander in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. While she's never going to be as strong as the other protagonists she's beginning to figure herself out a bit more and figure out the areas where she can be useful to herself and the others around her. The story is also becoming a lot stronger. Not perfect but a good manga once you get into it.
Right only read the first volume, bought it today. But for god's sake woman! STOP CRYING! But it is good xD I love it, at first it was like "He has a beak!" but I quickly warmed up to it :] I do reccommend it :3
This manga is bogged down with cliches..... but in a way that works! Yes, there is the whole teacher-student thing, and the lead seems to make everyone fall in love with her, but somehow it's not so bad! I like all of the characters so far. I have only read to chapter five, but from what I can see, Black Bird seems pretty promising. I just wish scans would come out sooner !
Okay, rape is defined as being forced to have sex against your will and without your consent. Therefore, if Misao, however stupidly, offered to have sex with Kyou then it is not rape. Secondly, characters - and that includes women - have done much, much worse things in (shoujo) manga than have sex with someone they love to save said person from death. I'm not advocating it, I'm just saying that there are worse things shoujo heroines have done in order to "save the person they love"...like having sex with the person they don't love, but that's a different matter. A lot of people describe Misao as weak and relying on Kyou. This is true; but how else is a perfectly normal girl supposed to survive demon attacks etc. if she has no powers? Isn't it kind of impossible for her to do anything but rely on Kyou and his bodyguard people in order to survive? The plot is okay - it's there, there is an end point which the mangaka is getting to in a roundabout convoluted, way (nevertheless, though, she's getting there). I, for one, am quite curious about the prophecy and what could be so terrible about it.
In short, I feel like a lot of these negative reviews are a bit harsh. Most shoujo is, unfortunately, like this. The fact that Misao is not a super innocent, super naive heroine, and that she doesn't freak out when her boyfriend kisses her, is kind of a plus.
I tried to read this manga until chapter 17 but I dropped it because I hate the main character's personality. She's a weak character who always cry and she rely on the main guy to rescue her.
For one thing this is a fictional Manga, if you wanna read a fantasy/romance this ones for you. Yes Misao cries a lot but I mean come 9 out of 10 mangas in this catagory are like this. If you wanna read a story about super women where they are thrown into a world of demons and sex and are 100% fine with it, then this is not for you.
because girlfriend cannot go 2 pages without crying. In the beginning I noticed it but thought it had more to do with her new situation, but as I read Volume 13 it's become apparent that no, she's just a really weak female character. Like other reviewers, I also agree that I only read each new volume because of the time I've already invested in it.
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