I got this idea when reading Miriam, and just felt like it was such a refreshing change. She's someone who isn't completely blinded by love, very able by herself, accepting of her own feelings, and those of Douglas (the love interest) as well.

I'm not only looking for her type of heroine, capable and strong. The lead can be weak, so long as she still tries to do her best. Also, not crying isn't a specific rule, I just mean that the heroine shouldn't fancy herself in a tragic play.

Neither does she have to be cheerful and opimistic. Revy in Black Lagoon is anything but cheerful, but she's one of the best I know of, so far.

I guess you would consider Hikari from Special A or Misaki from [m]Kaichou wa Maid-sama[/m] to be strong heroines. But I don't like them. They're smart, but completely daft. Especially Hikari. It really annoys me how... obtuse she is.

Shoujo, josei, and seinen, please. No, no shounen.

Romance doesn't have to be center-stage, just a hint of it is fine, though bishies are welcome. (If there's action, murder, and romance, even better)

No yaoi/shounen ai, yuri/shoujo ai, mecha, ecchi, mystery, oneshot, or harem. Hentai, gore, big bulldozers and machines guns are ok.

I don't have public lists, b/c when I found mangaupdates I'd already read a ridiculous amount of manga (hundreds). So I'll try to think of a list of all the manga I've read that is like it.... >.<

x = didn't like <3 = ... well it's self-explanatory.

Blade of the Immortal <3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3
Red River
Cynical Orange
Othello At least, her alter-ego
Until Death Do Us Part<3<3<3
Any series by the mangaka of Miriam and From Far Away <3<3<3<3
Kare Kano
Mars She wasn't that strong, but I really loved this manga.
YKK <3
Eden
The Prince's Cactus xx Guy was a jerk -,-
[m]Skip Beat[m/] x
Nodame Cantabile <3
Kimi Wa Pet <3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3
Claymore <3
Battle Angel Alita
Beauty Pop
Chrono Crusade
I loved all the series by Mori Kaoru. LOVED v.v.v much.
Fruits Basket Though... she was inhumanly nice. :S
Please save my Earth <3<3<3
Loved any and all series by Suzuki Julietta
Gakuen Alice x Too nice.
Arakure
Grand Sun <3
Ayashi no Ceres (Don't like this mangaka)
Backstage Prince
Beast Master
Hanatsuki Hime <3
Beauty is the Beast
Sailor Moon Who's stronger than a pretty Sailor Warrior?
Skyhigh
Gokinjo Monogatari
[m]So you want to change the world, vampire girl[/m] <3
Land of the Blindfolded And any manga by the same mangaka.
Nana xx Too much drama.
The One (though she sucks, in the latest chapters)
Oresama Teacher
Mademoiselle Butterfly
[m]Mirrai Nikki[/m]
The Scarlet Chair <3<3
Superior

And..... I can probably think of more, if you'd just give me 5 more hours, but I think that's a fair list to start with....
I like all of them except for the ones I "x"ed, which I added only b/c they might have seemed to fit in the category, and it gives a better sense of what I like, anyways.

Last edited by wenbo at 7:25 am, Aug 28 2009

I think this will help: Romance with Capable Women/Heroines

Nishino Tsukasa (icihgo100%)
Clare(Claymore)

Base_coat:

I read it, and it was helpful, but as a result all the manga suggested I have read.....

I should've added that I lurked here for quite a while, b4 actually posting a request.

Then I will suggest some of my favorites:
xxxHolic - well-known though
Undercurrent
Standard Blue
Lament of the Lamb - not the usual types you are familar with but still strong-willed
Franken Furan - shounen but I still recommend it. The heroine is an unbelievably skillful mad scientist/surgeon, and mystery doesn't play a major part.
Tactics - if I count Youko as the heroine. It's shoujo, but not the usual romance one. Damn, it's a mystery again. Skip it if you like.
Dogs - Naoto should be one
Ristorante Paradiso - maybe

And I think you might like: Jormungand

Last edited by base_coat at 12:44 pm, Aug 27 2009

Thank you for the suggestions! There are some that I didn't read, and I'll check them out!

Also, about the thread base-coat recommended, it was about capable women, I'm not only looking for that, I'm also looking for someone whom even though is weak accepts her limitation and strives to achieve her best, just getting that cleared up

Maybe one of these:

Hot blooded woman
Can't lose you
yakuza girl
Tokyo crazy paradise
Tenshi ja Nai!!
[m]Tende freeze[/m]
Show me the money
strain
shinshi doumei cross
monster collection
mai-hime
kimagure orange road
kilico
Double arts






________________
Words to live by: "Let sleeping dogs lie"
[CENTER][/CENTER]

Yay! Everyone of you guys listed at least one or two that I didn't read! I really have read too much.... -.-

Thank you so much! Please add them if you think of anymore!

This is all the heroine I can think of who sort of fits in what you asked:

Vampire Game There is no shounen ai even if there is the tag (unless you consider shounen ai stuff like Fruits Basket).
Vampire Juujikai I'm listing it even if it's a shounen, because it doesn't look like one (you listed Claymore which is a shounen so you should be fine with this)
Ookami to Koushinryou
Gunslinger Girl
World Embryo there is the mistery tag, anyway it's the same mangaka of Chrno Crusade.
Kodomo no Omocha
Shin Angyo Onshi there is a bit of ecchi though, but Sango really fits.
Elfen Lied
Angel Densetsu


________________
What I like in Trivial Pursuit style. Pick your category:

Just wanted to point out that Kei is the male lead of Special A. You're referring to Hikaru, the female protagonist right? Haha.

Dear My Girls
Dazzle
Hakushaku To Yousei
Lovey Dovey
Saver
Kiss/Hug
Warau Kanoko-sama
Aoi Kiseki
Nabi

And I second Vampire Game~

Edit: And since you liked Land of the Blindfolded, I'll recommend Penguin Revolution. (:

Last edited by Rainy Days at 4:00 pm, Aug 27 2009

I should add Hoshi no Koe. This certainly fits. No, it's not about mecha (or not the type you were thinking of).

And Paradise Kiss too? But I thought you read it. If not, please try it. It's wonderful.

Rainy Days: Oops. Yea.... that's what I meant >.< It's been so long since I've read it....

base_coat: Yes, I have read ParaKiss, but Hoshi no Koe looks great! By Mecha all I meant was that I don't like transformers and evil giant robots

reid1: Haha, Fruits Basket is definitely not shounen-ai

Sakuran is... amazing. Just amazing. I read a few chapters of it before, but for some reason I left it. Just like Memories of a Geisha except no happy ending. (The happy ending turned me off so much >.<)

Then you'll be definitely fine with Vampire Game too.


________________
What I like in Trivial Pursuit style. Pick your category:

Otokomae! Beads Kurabu
Dengeki Daisy
Akagami no Shirayukihime
Vanilla Ice
Magical JxR?

Not so sure, but check:
Hoshi wa Utau?
Shounen Dolls?
Bird Kiss
Sweet and Sensitive
Forest of Gray City