First things first, this isn't for me, or I'd just snoop around the releases section. That and I don't stick to stuff that's been licensed in English.

Anyway, back to the point. I have a friend who, after MUCH prodding, has finally agreed to let me lend her some manga. Her only specifications are that it's a good series, preferably a romance. When asked what kinds of stories she likes, her reply was "Stuff like Archie comics, but doesn't have to be as focused on humour."

Since she'll probably only read one or two volumes before either deciding to love/hate all manga forever - that's the type of person she is - I want to give her something really good so she won't hate it.

I own a lot of stuff published by Shojo Beat (Tail of the Moon, Beauty Pop, Crimson Hero, Wild Ones, Backstage Prince, Skip Beat!, Honey and Clover, Kaze Hikaru, Fall in Love Like a Comic, Special A, Monkey High, etc.) but next to nothing from any other company, except for Instant Teen. So I'm mainly looking for suggestions about stuff published by other companies that someone who's never read manga before could easily get hooked on.

Any ideas?

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*poof* "SHOUJOMAN IS HERE!"
~Just Lynz, drop the -ajw~

EDIT:

Nevermind. EVERYTHING in shojo I have ever found decent was published by Viz/shojo beat. Oh well..

I still suggest you let her read Hana-Kimi / Vampire Knight though.

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Dah, I was thinking about VK, but since neither I nor any of my friends can make sense of where the author's going with it right now, I'm trying not to get anyone else addicted to it.

Hana-kimi's good though. It's been a while since I last read it, so I'd forgotten about it. That being said, I'm now going to have to read it again now that I've remembered.

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*poof* "SHOUJOMAN IS HERE!"
~Just Lynz, drop the -ajw~

Kare Kano is a great shoujo manga, regarded highly by male and female readers alike. It was one of my first shoujo manga (after Sailormoon, haha) and I still love it: lots of interesting characters, development of friendships and romance.

I also really love everything by HIDAKA Banri. Her work has a lot of fun humour and interesting exploration of relationships between friends and siblings, as well as romance. I really love her artwork too. She's got three titles being released currently:
I Hate You More Than Anyone - the oldest of the three, from mid-late-90s, but my absolute favourite. 3 volumes released so far.
Tears of a Lamb - slightly more serious, but still a lot of fun. 2 volumes released so far.
V.B.Rose - adorable and funny and really pretty (the main character sews purses and wedding dresses, so frills abound). Just 1 volume out so far....

Hope this helps! Good luck bringing your friend into the wonderful world of manga-reading!

If she's into Archie, then go for the love triangles, 'specially the really zany stuff-but not so mushy.

Even though it's viz, I think Love Com's a good bet, so is Koukou Debut. Maybe Ouran or Beauty Pop.

scans are around for most of these, so really I'd vote for double checking before you go out and get 'em
Nousatsu Junkie is adorable and has a decent first two volumes (tokyopop)
Heavenly Hockey Club is cute but slightly offbeat harem (del ray)
The Wallflower is another offbeat harem, but the art's not the greatest (del ray)
Nodame Cantabile may be a bit on the heavy side-it's josei, but Nodame's nice and zany (Del Ray)

Also, don't know which companies license, but FUKUSHIMA Haruka's stuff tends to be fun and cute and light reads.

Fruits Basket
Gakuen Alice
Onii-chan to Issho

(All published by Tokyopop)

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I'd go with the Wallflower. I don't see how anyone can resist that. =)

After School Nightmare- It will either get her hooked or scare her away. It's definitely not for everyone.

It's rated OT because of some of the issues it deals with.I know it's not exactly what your looking for but it may be worth a try.

Love Com is cool. Here is Greenwood is also good. Good art for something that came from the early 90's. Despite that style not aging well. Ironically enough the main cast is all guys and it takes place inside an all guys school, yet it is possibly the straightest shoujo I've ever read. And that is why it is so good.

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Sarcasm just doesn't work over the internet.

Licensed huh?

Try these:
1) Paradise Kiss
2) NANA
3) The Wallflower (perfect girl evolution in jap)
4) Ultra Cute
5) MeruPuri (same author as VK, less confusing)
6) Shinshi Doumei Cross
7) Full Moon Wo Sagashite
8) Pixie Pop
9) Shugo Chara
10)Crescent Moon
11) Zodiac P.I. by Natsumi Andou

try those~

I didn't know 'good' and 'licensed' could be used in the same sentence without any negatives.

Bravo.

I'm guessing you're of the mind that believes scanlators are the end all in terms of translation quality. Listen, go behind your computer and then pull out the wire that's flashing. the internet doesn't like you.

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Sarcasm just doesn't work over the internet.

Hmm well i feel like i can help you out there, as I tend to read alot of licensed shoujo manga. So I'm just list some shoujo and josei manga that i like and love.

-Mars. One of my favorites. But I dont know if it would be the best to start with :/ .

-Boys Over Flowers (Hana Yori Dango). A series that i really like (only got to read around 11 volumes of it over 2 years ago though). Could make for a good starting point.

-Tramps Like Us (Kimiwa Pet). Easly one of my top favorites for shoujo/josei manga. Hmm I would love to say that it would make for a starting point (because of the comedy and great characters), but because its josei, it might be best to read that series after getting a few other shoujo ones under ones belt.

-Lovely Complex (Love Com). Im quite liking this series so far, and would have to say that it would be a pretty good place to start (with its good amount of comedy and charcters).

-Oyayubihime Infinity. I've only read the first volume of this one so far, but its pretty good and its also from somebody else then Viz (as you seem to be looking for some good non Viz tittles). Could make for a good place to start.

-Tail of the Moon. I have really grown to love this series, but it took awhile to get to that point, so it probably isnt the best place to start (but if she does get into shoujo manga, it is one of the first other series you should show her...well only if you think she would be into the whole japaness hystory thing that is).

-Sugar Sugar Rune. Quite the cute series, that is also quite good. Would make for a good start, if you think she would be more into a cute soft type series about little whitches steal boys hearts (by that, making them fall for them, and then taking their feelings that is in a jewl shape hart, which is their form of money so to speak).

-Hot Gimmick. A damn good series that will have you wanting to read the next volume to see what happnes next. But might not be the best starting place due to it being mature and also a fustrating series (because of the main girl likes to be abit stupid and jsut some other things).

-Red River. Easly one of my top favorite shoujo/josei mangas . But it is mature and lacks comedy, so its probably not best to start off with right away.

-Bring it On! (Blooming). Quite the funny series (koreans seem to have abit of a refresing sense of humor, then the jaoanese ). If its a fun and zanny type shoujo series you're looking for, then this would be a god place to start. And even if she doesnt like it, you could just point out that its actually a korean manwha and that its not actually a "manga", might be abile hook her back in for one more try at manga, lol.

-Kare First Love. A good middle ground shoujo, if you ask me (I have to say that i really liked it in the end). Starts off rather clichie, but after a few volumes its gets rather good and more into trying to actually hold down a relationship, rather then trying to have one (like a majority of shoujos).

-Peach Girl. I only read a volume or two of this series along time ago...so i dont remmber much on it other then that it was pretty good. Would it be a good one to start with...maybe, but it is from a differnt publisher then Viz, so thats why its here.

-Hana-Kimi. Its a pretty damn good series, i have to say. I would say it would be a good one to start with...but at the same time its hard to say, because maybe starting off with a gender bender series, could turn out giving the person a bad look on manga... Hopefuly shes not that nerrow minded though :/ .

-Land of the Blindfolded. Also one not from Viz, and quite the intresting one from what i can remmber (its been awhile).

-Nodame Cantabile. A damn great series, that is one of my top favorites. I can see it being a great series to start with, due to its great comedy and great charcters...but if she looking for romance, well you wont really find much if it here (other then abit of a creepy onesided on that is, lol ).

-Paradise Kiss. One of my favoriets and a goodshort read (thats not from Viz). Could be a good one to start with... but it is a josei, so thats hard to say.

Well out of those and just some other series, heres what you should see about going for (if you ask me):

Try giving her the first (or more if you can) volume to two or three (or more if you can) series. Try making them differnt types of shoujo/josei series, just so you have more of a better chance of her finding something she might like.

Here are some segestions on three series you shoud go for as the...say three series:

-Fruits Basket. (I dont really like it. But alot of girls seem to love it. and it does seem to be one of the series that girls start with aswell)
-Nodame Cantabile
-Lovely Complex
-Boys Over Flowers
-Honey & Clover (I have yet to read it, but it looks like a great series, and seems to be one. I know i have been wanting to read it for sometime now)
-Paradise Kiss
-Hana-Kimi
-Tramps Like Us
-Sugar Sugar Rune

And maybe Backstage Prince, sense you have it and its only two volumes long (I thought it was a nice little read).

Hope that helps you at all

Direct me to a licensed scanlation that is better than the fan-scanlated equivalent.

kthxbye.

Also, I'd like to second Lezard's vote on Nodame Cantabile. Though I can't quite agree with the label of it being shoujo. I'd see it as more of a Seinen manga in all honesty.

Last edited by lambchopsil at 10:50 pm, Apr 15 2008

Depending on how much of a weaboo you are, opinions may differ as to what's a good translation and what isn't. Me personally, I don't mind giving leeway for words with no direct translation and honorifics. I don't mid a joke translation so long as it fits with the content of the manga. Honestly, I don't think I could tell you a licensed manga that is better than a fan-scanlation, because if a translation is done right, it'll be the same no matter how you read it. I'll save the list for some other time since this isn't your thread.

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Sarcasm just doesn't work over the internet.