I'm here to feed my unapologetic hunger, yet again...

This time, for snarky romance! (Or friendship!)

For those not yet in the know, as it were, snark = snide + remark.

An example of a snarky character? Dr. House.

An example of a snarky friendship? House and Wilson.

An example of a snarky romance? Beatrice and Benedick, or Darcy and Elizabeth.

A person who snarks a lot is considered snarky.

A relationship defined by snark (the characters making snide remarks, either playful or barbed, to each other) is considered snarky.

I am looking for a manga where the two main characters have a snarky relationship. Even if they're not normally snarky with other people, they are always (or often) snarky with each other. It's one of the defining qualities of their relationship. Oh, and the snark is two-way, not just one-way. One might be slightly snarkier than the other, but generally speaking, they're both capable of giving as good as they get. I don't want a duo where one is snarky to the point of being abusive and the other is a doormat - yuck! No, what I want is a battle of wits, a sincere and often mutually enjoyable snarkathon. Yeah, that's right. They like it. (Or learn to like it. Ha.)

For the purposes of my request, the relationship must be either a romance OR a very close friendship. No enemies, please! (I mean, it's damned obvious that enemies would snark at each other anyway, right? Where's the fun in that?) The only exception to the no-enemies rule is enmity that turns into romance - but even then, some element of snark must remain after the relationship becomes romantic.

Additionally, this relationship must be the CENTERPIECE of the manga. Not just something that plays for a while between two side-characters, please! It must be the two main characters who are snarky with each other, and who are, whether they admit it or not, fond of each other, too.

In manga, I can think of a snarky friendship in Burning Hell. Um. Well, at least I think they're friends. They say they're enemies and everyone else says they're soulmates, so it's quite likely that the truth is actually somewhere in the middle. Perhaps "uncomfortable allies" is closer to the truth in the beginning, but it's obvious that a stubborn friendship has also taken root, in-between all that equally stubborn snark. And they're both crazy, bloodthirsty bastards. So that kind of puts them on the same wavelength, at least...?

Arguably, Jin and Mugen from Samurai Champloo have the karmic-chi-love-thing - uh, I mean the snarky friendship thing - happening as well.

As for romance, Conversational English School Wars is a prime example. They find it almost impossible to stop snarking with each other, even after they've fallen in love with each other. It's hilarious.

So. Any more like these?

Thanks in advance!

Wow! What a fun request!
But I dunno whether I've ever read anything which fits your description.

Maybe Taimashin turns out like that? But I don't really think Dr. Taima and that other needle-wielder will ever be 'friends'...and the 2nd protagonist is probably Taima's nurse, not the other guy. I've only read the first volume, though, so I can't be sure.

And...Replica might fit. Sort of.

And well, this is a very obvious one, but Pet Shop of Horrors - Leon and D are always sarcastic to each other, but they're also friends...in a weird way.

Junjou Karen na Oretachi da! - This will be just right. Well, at least up to what's been scanned, it is.

Supersonic Angel Engine? I haven't read anything except the description, but it sounds that way...I think.

I could only think of stuff from the friends department 'cause I'm not really into romance.
I also get the feeling I wasn't much help. And I'm pretty sure you already know of these suggestions. But your lists aren't public, so I couldn't check.

Last edited by calstine at 9:37 am, May 7 2010

@calstine: Au contraire, mon amigo, you were of IMMENSE help! All your recs were awesome! I actually happen to have read all of them except one (Junjou Karen na Oretachi da!), but you've reminded me of titles to re-read as well, so that's great! Plus I've got a new one to get into...

I really enjoy friendship manga as well, so don't worry if you can't find any romances to rec. The main thing is the snark... I love me some snark! Especially affectionate or grudgingly affectionate snark - like "friendly fire," but of the good kind, if you know what I mean. <3

try Gintama
Gin the main snarks at nearly everyone in the manga/anime and some of the other maincharacter that snark back like Hijikata

Oh, another topic that makes me sure that I've read plenty of such mangas, but for some reason I can't remember any title...

I think xxxholic and Gohou Drug are like this... but obviously you've read these, as well as Hyakki Yakoushou and Natsume Yuujinchou. Parasyte may fit your description if Migi's remarks are snarky...

@VnManga: Good call! I started on Gintama and thought it was LOLariously brilliant, but then I got side-tracked by its melodramatic and gorgeously sexy yaoi doujinshi (sorry, original mangaka!). I think I'll return to reading the actual series now, lol. Because nothing matches the snark of the original. (And nothing can quite convince me that Gintoki and Hijikata aren't in some kind of painfully convoluted, Beatrice/Benedick type of courtship.)

@Hanae: Yeah, I have read all of those! But I'd LOVE to re-read Parasyte through the snark-filter! Lol... You're right, I never noticed, but that is a snarky friendship!

I just realized that Dengeki Daisy, despite it's overwhelming sweetness, is actually a snarky romance - in the sense that as their "real selves," they always end up snarking with each other, even if it's just as a cover for their feelings (a very ineffective one, since they already know how they feel about each other!).

FAKE is kind of a snarky romance, as well - initially, Ryo doesn't snark much (or at all), and Dee's too smitten to snark (much), but their dynamic kind of develops into this comfortable, companionable snarkiness - probably to sublimate all that unresolved sexual tension. Lol.

From Eroica With Love is an incredibly snarky romance/friendship as well, although Klaus would hang himself before even calling it a friendship! Still, it's there and it's undeniable, and while Klaus's snark remains uber-serious and sarcastic, Dorian's evolves from combative snark to playful snark to downright flirtatious snark-with-frills. Their back-and-forth is what actually forms the entire basis for this manga, as far as I'm concerned, and I can't believe I forgot to mention it before. Klaus wouldn't openly call their, uh, "thing" a friendship, but it's obvious in The Emperor Waltz, when Dorian gets beaten up by the bad guys and Klaus races to his rescue. Well, okay, Klaus would race to anyone's rescue ('cause he's just that kind of guy), but there was a tinge of uncharacteristically personal panic to Klaus's usual heroics. The kind of thing that made me go <3...

Earl and Fairy seems to be developing into a snarky romance, too, but somewhat unusual in the sense that the earl's sugar-coated flirtations are actually snark in disguise (but occasionally they're genuine, so hey, who knows). The female lead is openly snarky. Lol.

Nanaco Robin is a great snarky romance in the making! I don't want to give away the plot, but suffice it to say that they snark on a near-constant basis - even after they start fancying each other!

Keep going with the recs, everyone; I really appreciate your kind efforts!

Spice and Wolf should fit, espeically the anime which is just awesome
Men's School--i think after chapter 4..lol this manga seems to fit most of the requests that peopl have.


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Angel Beats--best anime of the 2010 spring season

This topic was bugging me because I felt like I was forgetting something--then I finally remembered it, so here I am. For snarky romance, have you read Lovely Complex?

Maybe something like Sekai de Ichiban Daikirai? It has been quite a long time since i last read it, but it kind of had the constant feeling a charakters were constantly teasing each other.

And maybe Masca?

Girl in Heels might fit too. But it seems they just despise each other. And the comments arent really witty or anything. Just mean.

and again maybe Steel Rose? no. probably not. as the guy isnt really a guy and doesnt really talk back.

Mhh, thought there might be more....
What about Watashi ni xx Shinasai!

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Give a man fire, and he will be warm for a day, set a man on fire, and he will be warm for the rest of his life.

Kirai -- they have their moments, so it's not always Matsumoto beating up on Hanada.
Hunter x Hunter -- sorry, it's the best manga ever, so I have to make a token recc whenever it's vaguely relevant XD
Soul Eater
Toradora! -- prehaps, I haven't been keeping up with it
Doubt!! -- and basically anything else by this mangaka XD she loves some snarky romance (Perhaps Sonan Jyanaiyo would be better, though?)
Hoshi no Samidare -- not exactly the center-piece of the manga, but practically all the characters have great banter with one another XD
Love @ First Sight -- and its sequel
Witch Hunter

(And btw, Junjou Karen na Oretachi da! is a great manga! It's too bad it's not very long)

Oh, Saiyuki might also fit the bill, if you don't mind that there are four main characters rather than three.

THANK YOU ALL, there are actually titles in there I haven't read before! Keep going!

Well- this thread is pretty much defunct now, but I just had to recommend the newest snarky friendship manga I found; Game x Rush. It's full of sarcasm + comedy, but is also incredibly sweet. The ending was kind of sad, though.

Maybe kekkaishi