I am very guilty of this. If I don't like the art pictured on the manga's information page, I usually won't even read the description before moving on. Here is what I am looking for... manga that are worth looking at beyond the cover art. Obviously everyone has their own judgment when it comes to what art they like or dislike. I'm not specifically talking about the art style. Rather, I am asking for your opinion of manga that is poorly represented by what is on its cover.

I am specifically talking about the cover art shown on Manga updates, since this is what I'm judging from.

Here is an example that I came across. I am particularly drawn to historical romances with fantasy elements. For quite awhile I did not read Tenma no Ketsuzoku because of the cover. The weird line pattern threw me and the close up on the character didn't give me a good impression. Despite that, I eventually gave it a try because the description sounded like something I would like and it kept on coming up in searches. Turns out I really liked it and I almost completely dismissed it because of my dislike of the cover.

Thank you

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How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard." -Winnie The Pooh

"As through this world you travel, you'll meet some funny men; Some will rob you with a six-gun, and some with a fountain pen." - Woody Guthrie

No man chooses evil because it is evil; he only mistakes it for happiness. - Mary Shelly

Everything happens for a reason and that reason is usually Physics. - Anonymous

this is not an "i'm looking for" post right?

anyway, i think judging a book by its cover is fine. i mean it supposed to be the representation of what inside it right? i'm studying graphic design... so yeah. cover is a serious matter when designing something. it's what people see first before they look what inside it. (you can say it's the designer fault if they can't represent it)

but then again just like people, sometimes their appearance don't match with what inside them. you won't know their personality unless you interact with them. STILL, you'll attracted to the one who has a better appearance.

so yea. it's okay. totally normal.

i understand what you mean, i mean the current Skip Beat! cover is unapealing to me, same with Arifureta Shokugyou de Sekai Saikyou (Novel)'s cover, but the stories are pretty good, but it's kinda hard to recommend anything since what covers put me off, and what put you off could be completely different things

also the opposite can apply, a cover can look really appealing, but the story can be pretty bad, for example Dendrobates. personally the cover looks pretty cool to me, but the story wasn't to my liking, so yeah, it's hard to make recommendations

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stupid photobucket, wanting $400/yr just to display your images

I understand that going in. This is a more open ended "I'm Looking for..." because it is completely subject to others judgment. That is alright. I use my judgement on books (and their cover art) all the time to select new reading material. I am hoping to find a new manga through a less specific definition. Because of that, this is not a search that I can put through the normal search methods.

Try thinking of it like this, not so much as like or dislike, but can you think of a manga where you felt like the story and the art shown on the cover didn't match?

I appreciate any and all who want to give a reply. I know this is not an easy or typical question.

Skip Beat! - This is exactly what I was looking for. I have been told for awhile about Skip Beat!, but have not given it a chance. I think I will give it a shot today.

Arifureta Shokugyou de Sekai Saikyou (Novel) - I haven't read a whole lot of light novels, but I've seen this one come up on my searches before. I will add it to my wishlist to look at in the future.

Dendrobates - I completely agree. I also gave it a try because of the cover, but did not get into the story.

Perhaps this should be under the general manga forum? I am sorry if that is the case. I saw this as a search for manga for myself, rather then a discussion. Though if it generates discussion, so much the better.

Last edited by sithkazar at 9:42 am, Jan 21 2015

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How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard." -Winnie The Pooh

"As through this world you travel, you'll meet some funny men; Some will rob you with a six-gun, and some with a fountain pen." - Woody Guthrie

No man chooses evil because it is evil; he only mistakes it for happiness. - Mary Shelly

Everything happens for a reason and that reason is usually Physics. - Anonymous

The topic is on the right place. I believe aliceeeee hasn`t actually read your whole post.
So some title with unlikable covers that I found entertaining:
20 Seiki Shounen
Homunculus
Bokurano
Ares
Apollo no Uta
Red Eyes
Gyo
Hajime no Ippo
Mostly retro`s manga covers are hard to decide for the quality of the story. Modern shojo, shounen have very genetic cover art - not bad but hard to divide the usual crap from the promising ones. When deciding on a new manga I usually read the comments before deciding. If there is no comments - skip.

to be honest you will probably find more manga if this is a discussion than you would as an "i'm looking for..."

as for manga/cover art not matching, there is quite a few, especially shoujo where the cover is usually a "pretty boy" or a "plain girl" that have next to nothing to do with the actual story, same with quite a few shounen/seinin works (with them its usually a big breasted fanservice girl)

some examples: (note: i like all these)
Piano no Mori - none of the characters on the cover are even in the manga as far as i've seen
Doupo Cangqiong - what about this cover shows this manga has anything to do with magic, "potion making" and martial arts?
IS (YUUKI Homura) - how does this show its a mecha fighting manga?
Ahiru no Sora - if you can't read japanese this cover just makes me think of the board game Go, not bball

and many more that i am honestly to lazy to look through my lists for the names of

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stupid photobucket, wanting $400/yr just to display your images

Thank you for the suggestions. I will definitely be giving these a closer look.

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How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard." -Winnie The Pooh

"As through this world you travel, you'll meet some funny men; Some will rob you with a six-gun, and some with a fountain pen." - Woody Guthrie

No man chooses evil because it is evil; he only mistakes it for happiness. - Mary Shelly

Everything happens for a reason and that reason is usually Physics. - Anonymous

This happens to me all the time. Usually I expect the best art to be on the cover, so I can never understand why so often the cover is not representative of the art inside.

Hot Gimmick - the vol. 1 cover is hideous, but I love the manga. Though there are many who will disagree, but likely not because of the art inside or out.
Sakamichi no Apollon - vol 8 cover is so weird and unappealing, thank goodness I finally listened to all the recommendations, it's become a favorite.
Kimi wa Pet, featured in your signature, for the longest time I wouldn't read it because of the cover. Also by same mangaka, Candy Life
Hunter x Hunter - though I'm familiar with this more from the anime than the manga, I have read some of it. The cover art of vol. 1, while not bad, gives you no clue as to what this apparently standard shounen will put you through.

Yaoi:
Kozure Ookami (INOUE Satou) - the interior art is beautiful, the story is funny and sexy and touching
Ubawareru Koto Marugoto Zenbu - the seme is much better-looking than the cover would lead you to believe

I think this topic is OK here.

I am so glad I finally read Kimi wa Pet. It is so well done, plus that line about the pet pig had me in stitches! It wass made all the more funny by the fact that I've always told my family that I will get a pet pig someday.

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How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard." -Winnie The Pooh

"As through this world you travel, you'll meet some funny men; Some will rob you with a six-gun, and some with a fountain pen." - Woody Guthrie

No man chooses evil because it is evil; he only mistakes it for happiness. - Mary Shelly

Everything happens for a reason and that reason is usually Physics. - Anonymous

I would never judge a book by the cover as hundreds go throuh my hands at work every day or more importantly what anons like me put up as representative pictures on MU.
For example: Jungle Taitei. I gave it this cover last week as it had none and the scanlation started. The cover is the last one of the original release and this is how i do it mostly but how the hell does the cover represent the manga ? It look like a christmas story now !
Judge by the first chapter, the author in question and maybe the publication/genres in question if what you see is worth your time or not.
A lot of Miura fans think that the Gigantomakhia cover(it´s ok in my book) is a no go especially if yo compare it to this promo piece http://fandompost.com/2013/11/22/kentaro-miura-launches-shor t-manga-series-gigantomaxia/gigantomaxia-full/
What about the latest cover to Jisatsutou. It is a good one that fits the volume 100% but what will newcommers think ? It hardly looks like porn but does it come through that it is a violet and nihilistic survival manga ? I don´t know.
The new one for Billy Bat is just amazing but what will people think of it going in.
This may be the "real" main character as of now but this is a tiny bit of a spoiler too.
People were judging the Parasyte anime last year by this nice promo art http://fandompost.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Parasyte-Im age-1.jpg and said that Madhouse(!) would turn it into moe/harem crap. Of coure !
Body horror the harem anime .
Edit: The final cover to Ja Ja Uma Grooming UP! is now replaced. Ok. It did spoil the ending after all.

Last edited by residentgrigo at 8:16 pm, Jan 21 2015

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