My friend introduced GM to me when I was in second grade and I was in loved, so for birthday I asked for the series (it was being introduced in my country in 2003) and they could only buy 16 volumes since the rest werent out yet ( cam out every week). So every week I would visit a local bookstore n bought a new volume. It was my first shoujo manga and my first collection too. The art cracked me up since it was so melodramatic. And the love plot made me smiled (I remembered when the the main guy kiss maya for the first time I was like omg omg omg) this manga has such an influence over my life that I didnt even realized it (I felt in love with acting n join a local theater group a few years after I kind of forgot about this series). All said, this manga has flaw though.. like lots: cheesy, over the top emotion, kind of cheesy love triangle, her mom, etc. So if you cant stand old art with sparkly eyes that has thunder in the back ground or a really really melodrama, than this is definitely not for you (though read the middle part first if you are on the edge)..

I do not know why but I just love it! I've read a lot of shoujo manga and I have to say that this is one(if not) is the best manga I have ever read. I stated with the 1984 anime and started reading the manga on manga fox when I had to wait to watch more on megavideo. At first I was like this might be as good as Ouran or Skip Beat but no way would I say that now. This is better by far!
When I find out what I love about this I will update my comment. It has been so long seen I have found a long manga witch I don't want to put down till then end. And I am only on v2.

updates:
I'm on chapter 186 and I still love this. I won't claim that this is the bast shoujo manga anymore it is in my top three favorite shoujo manga. I love the art! I had not read any manga form the 70s before and I was worried that I would not like the art but after starting this I have fallen in love with the art stile of that time.
maya ticks me off a one or two time this the first couple of volumes but her character develops. and I love to watch Masumi suffer because of his feeling (what can I say I'm a bit of a sadist when it come to guys digging their one grave like that). I really like how they include the plays in the manga, I only get bored on one play... I just throw all my random thoughts glass mask out there. but really glass mask is a classic and it surprises me that is does not have a bigger following.
even if you chose not to read the manga keep the frays "purple rose" in mind, you are likely to see references in both manga and anime.

... Last updated on July 23rd, 2011, 9:41pm

I am a guy too, I like shounen and seinen manga and read almost no shoujo nowadays... but I do love Glass Mask. No Nana, nor Hana yori Dango, nor any other "big" shoujo is nearly as good as this masterpiece by Miuchi-sensei. Don't let the oldish artwork turn you down, this is one of the best manga you will ever read.

What makes GM a true classic? For me, it is the variety of emotions it brings, it makes you laugh, it makes you cry, and you can't simply stop reading it. The characters, from Tsukikage to Masumi and of course Maya are so well crafted, you actually care what happens to them. I think that's the main reason why it is the second most successful shoujo manga ever.

Eleven out of ten.

I can't believe how such a old manga still can get new people involved! I'm way younger than the fist fans of Sailor Moon, and yet I find myself totally amazed at the characters of this manga, so real-like, so dreamy. And the art, though old-fashioned, grew on me page after page, it is lovely. I can't wait to read what happen next and I hope Miuchi sensei will draw and end to it. But even so, even unfinished, it's not incomplete. Believe me, if you like shojo, don't miss this classic, whose modernity is stunning. I don't really feel like I'm getting in love with a manga started in 1975! It's a great story of love, passion and frienship. Without flashy tricks but simply real. You won't miss to fall in love with Maya and Masumi over the time relationship.

This story is well developed. There are multiple arcs and it's engaging. This story really goes through multiple arcs. It doesn't skip on detail--this a strong point for this manga. I love the story, but we were all so close to finally wrapping the story or towards that direction at volume 49. It's unfortunate, that volume 50 won't be released. This story is a classic for the shoujo genre.

It's one of those manga in which you can see and feel the shortcomings but you love it anyway. The art style is old and far from being the greatest, the story is full of cliches, melodrama, and exaggeration, but you will love it anyway. I think because those shortcomings are executed in such a way that it's still appealing somehow.

And finally, what makes it distinguished compare to other manga is the way the author portray such an intense and pure rivalry between Maya and Ayumi. I've never witnessed such rivalry in other manga.



... Last updated on April 2nd, 2020, 10:44pm

When I was a kid I didn't like the old-shoujo artstyle, that's why i never tried to read it. Even when the book was right in front of me. I'm glad i decided to read it decades later.
Not just because i'm more acceptable to many different drawing artstyle now, or that i have better understanding of how the story is, but also because this series is not even finished yet!
Glass Mask is very special. Eventhough some parts can be exaggerating, the story as a whole is very entertaining. What i like the most is the rivalry between maya and ayumi. Maya is the main character, but ayumi is a great character as well.

... Last updated on May 26th, 2015, 7:56pm

The manga is amazing! READ IT ... or at least try.

And, if you are going to watch the anime of it READ THE MANGA FIRST. Also, if you are going to watch the anime, watch the on on Hulu.com and NOT THE OVA one ... that one is horrible. The OVA one does not follow the manga exactly and it jumps around. However, the one on Hulu.com follows the manga almost exactly.

Have to say -- a good story will be always popular no matter how old it is. I'm happy to see that Miuchi sensei decided to continue this series after over 15-year hiatus. (Haven't seen any new volumn published after Vol.41 in the late 80's or early 90's.)

If Miuchi sensei's reason to pause the series was the story establishment, I agree with her. Roughly remember after Helen Keller part (oops, sorry, a little bit spoiler) the story became disoriented. I believe she regretted that she chose the wrong direction to continue. However, since it's ongoing again, probably she had found a way out to lead the story to the ending she wants.

Now I just sit and wait for the story ending to come. How many volumns total the series would be, I couldn't guess. After so many year's waiting, I don't really care that much anymore, as long as it's a good ending.

really enjoyed this manga up till vol 42, good story with lovable main character, my only compliant... this series have some very very very... slow relationship development... 32yrs and 42vols later... there' still no... kiss scene.... u can guess how slow the romance in this manga is... other than that, the manga is really great~ if you dont give much care for romance.. but love stories about acting, than give this a try...