The magazine Beach Stars was running in was cancelled. The remainder of the story was finished in "The!! Beach Stars."

There are a few glaring flaws with this series. Character drama is virtually nonexistent. Good sports fiction typically relies on the issues surrounding the lives of the players to tell the story; in Beach Stars conflicts are resolved almost immediately after they are introduced.

Yet this series does succeed as a sports manga. I found myself gripped by the action and came out with a better understanding of beach volleyball.

I also really liked the art. When judging art, too many people seem to focus on nothing but how detailed the illustrations are, completely ignoring the more important aspect of "aesthetic." The artist does an excellent job capturing the energy of both the characters and the sport.

I'm kinda surprised at the so-so/negative comments this manga have. Maybe I haven't read enough sports manga, but I actually enjoyed this series.

Main reason is that I could relate to the main character and the super moves that she was doing does make sense if you sit down and analyze it. In one scene where she hits the ball with her back at the net, I've done it before and it's not impossible to do. As for the jumping part, I know someone who is as small as her and jump as high as her (well, not that high, but let's just say his ankles was almost over the net height). Well, I can go on and on about this, but I prefer for you to read it and think if it's good or not for yourself.

For a sport manga with a bit exaggerated moves, I deem this manga a good volleyball manga to read.

The art is okay (movements are well made), and the ecchi isn't too much (for the girl I am), just enough I suppose ^^. It ended too early ! The vitality of the main girl really keep you in !

Yes, sometimes it's a bit surrealistic but it's well made in the end. Even if I know nothing about volleyball nor beach volley, I enjoyed this manga !

... Last updated on December 21st, 2010, 4:48pm

Its an ok manga, not the best of it genre but still pretty fun to read.
Personally I think it was a fast read.
Sure the art isn't the best =X the plot is a lil (A LIL NOT A LOT) shitty BUT it compensates with some funny comedy and interesting characters ..kinda o.o.
The characters are lively (mostly always cherry but of course at times they have their own *lil* problem...) and are well shaped ...*awesome face* ..*cough* I are no Pervert D=!
Anyways, it has ecchi in a none disturbing way (Like: shower, bikini at times Iruka is Really close to her sensei (SHE IS 17 meaning legal in a yrs so >.<! Dun come to me with, OMG LOLI, LOLI!!!)).
But not that care since Ecchi doesn't bother me =X!

I feel like this manga was created after the author read a self-help book on "how to write a sports manga" or something. It's not exactly bad, but at the same time it doesn't really have anything to recommend it. There are dozens of similar (and better) mangas out there.

Iruka learns how to play beach volleyball like a sponge absorbs orange juice. She pretty much picks it up as she goes. How do I put it... it almost seems too easy. That's good, in a way, I guess, since it negates any need for slowdowns, but I really would have preferred something ... else.

... Last updated on July 13th, 2010, 12:34am

one could say that this manga is unrealistic, then again you could say that about almost every manga. If i wanted dull realism manga on a sport then it will become more of an informative manga rather than an entertainment manga.
what makes it interesting the unlikely things that happens. it is worth the read the characters are fun and are well put together and not just thrown in at the last minute. it a likable manga and deserves more respect than it gets. i highly recommend it.

... Last updated on September 22nd, 2009, 11:12pm

Girls in bikinis playing volleyball. You'd think there would have been more nudity but that pretty much dried up after the first half of volume 3.

Art and humor wasn't bad but really this was more about the melodrama than perversion or comedy. Matches dragged with the worst culprit being the last official match which lasted from the latter half of volume five to the beginning of volume seven. The moves they used varied from realistic to plausible to just plain silly.

As mention before, this series ended after Young Sunday bit the dust so don't expect much of an ending.



... Last updated on September 15th, 2009, 2:38pm

It's a manga that is supposed to be about beach volleyball - but it's not really beach volleyball. Another one of those sport mangas with impossible stuff going on all the time. It's just a real small girl who can jump 10x her size playing beach volleyball. Poor comedy. The art is average.

As at the time of posting, the magazine which serializes Beach Stars (Young Sunday) is unfortunately no more, and 'Beach Stars' hasn't found a home like some of the other titles in 'Big Comic Spirits', so unless the mangaka finds a new magazine, this series may well be cancelled, which is a real shame. There is a special issue due out later in September featuring some 'Beach Stars' content, though what that is I don't know.

Edit June 2010: Well, seems to be continuing just fine these days - not sure which magazine hosts it now but as long as it keeps coming I'm happy.

... Last updated on June 16th, 2010, 6:36pm