Okay I'm also a guy. My favorite genre is Seinen and my favorite manga is one piece a Shounen. I also read a few Shoujo manga. And out of all the Shoujo manga I read glass mask is definitely the best. Its in my top 3 favorite mangas. I think what I like most about glass mask is that it focuses more on making your passion and dream come true. Rather then which one out of several guys am I going to end up with like your more common shoujo mangas. It also has great, truly deep and raw emotions like between Maya and her mother. Its almost made me cry a couple times. As a macho guy I can't admit it did but it was close , I also love the rivalry between Maya and Ayumi. In my opinion it has the best rivalry out of any manga not just shoujo but all genres. In a sense Ayumi is the second protagonist. I'm starting to rant because I really love this series so I'll just say Glass Mask is one of the most beautifully written, emotionally deep, always exciting manga and story of my generation.

I am a guy too, I like shounen and seinen manga and read almost no shoujo nowadays... but I do love Glass Mask. No Nana, nor Hana yori Dango, nor any other "big" shoujo is nearly as good as this masterpiece by Miuchi-sensei. Don't let the oldish artwork turn you down, this is one of the best manga you will ever read.

What makes GM a true classic? For me, it is the variety of emotions it brings, it makes you laugh, it makes you cry, and you can't simply stop reading it. The characters, from Tsukikage to Masumi and of course Maya are so well crafted, you actually care what happens to them. I think that's the main reason why it is the second most successful shoujo manga ever.

Eleven out of ten.

Make it right, i am a boy, love mecha, action, shounnen, and practically hate all the shoujo nowadays. But this is different, just like shirauro said "i was addicted, end of story", yeah, i addicted, and now still i am.

The art is very old shoujo style with character look like having flash in their eyes, its annoying at first but if you think about it, not very much mangaka nowadays can draw such style thus make the art become a rare treat today. Although i gotta admit, it so shoujo-ish that i really plan to drop it when i just started to read it, i glad i didn't though

The story, yes, that the one make me so hooked to this series, a girl love drama more than anything, an admirer always hid himself in shadow... argh, i like all the characters in there, even support character also got enough appearance so that reader not forget them. Focus more about drama play than mere romance is an excellent move against anti-shoujo like most of guys do. It boarder the range of readers to both sex. I just dont find enough word to describe the story and its aura, just "Read it !"

Now i only has two wish for the series:
- Miuchi sensei please do NOT follow Fujiko F Fujio-sensei, dying before complete your masterpiece is almost same as not creating it from the first place.
- Please dont do an Anna Kareina's ending, that just too sad.

1st editted: i dont quite agree with Jhax about Masumi (and Akari is just exaggeration the matter) , i dont see any taboo in his feeling toward Maya, true, he older than her 11 years, but it not like she can't grow anymore. And Maya already finish high school, mean that she already past 18, there are nothing wrong with in love with a mature girl.
Also Masumi didn't do just a little to help her, its more like he goes all-out for Maya's sake, when advertising for "werewolf", do you think that act just "a little help" ?
At first, it probably just an attraction toward her honest feeling, but time goes by, Masumi's feeling gradually changing, its his guilt and his fear for this new sentiment that make him run away from Maya's feeling:
"Between us is a road and the signal always red...Forever red..."
That just him break the green light and get paranoid keeping the distance all by himself. If he doesn't honest to his feeling, the one hurt the most will end up be Maya herself, are you fine with that, Masumi ?

... Last updated on July 10th, 2009, 8:37pm

I've only just starting reading this. Honestly, the art is atrocious. I'm not picky at all when it comes to drawing. I don't mind simplicity or plainness if the story is worth it. But seriously this manga is drawn so weird, it makes me wanna stop reading. The faces are drawn strangely. It's gonna take time to get use to it. But, all these people here say the story is really great... and so I'm going to keep reading, despite the off-putting art.

Will update this comment when I get a lil further into the story.
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Ok, I can pinpoint the exact moment I started liking this manga. It's right at page 90 of volume 1. By volume 2, I have already fallen in love with it. Yep, all these people below me were right. This one's a keeper. Even the art is looking prettier to me now.
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I agree with Akari's comment about Masumi's feelings for Maya. It seems kinda taboo, since she's only 13. But then, it's only feelings. It's not as if he's pursuing her or thinking dirty things about her. He's just attracted to her passion for acting. Her spirit is inspiring to him, so he does little things to support her in secret. It's not anything bad. And, in case anyone is wondering, he's 10-11 years older than her.
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If you've read Skip Beat and liked it, you will like this 100 times more. You know how Skip Beat is really good, but has a bunch of those long stupid scenes that has nothing to do with anything (like that birthday party that lasted 8 chapters). Well, this is Skip Beat, but without all the useless subplots to bore you. In fact, the execution is 10 times better in this manga. Every volume contain scenes relevant to the plot development. I read 15 volumes of it in one night.

... Last updated on May 25th, 2009, 1:25pm

When I read this manga I often wishto tell the artist to please finish the dang story so that I can go on with my life. The story is that consuming, if you can get past the bad artwork you will enjoy it immensly. As well you can tell the artist's artwork gets much better partway through the series. It is a classic in manga, that grips you and won't let you go.

... Last updated on February 4th, 2009, 3:36pm

One of the greatest shoujo mangas ever written. A masterpiece in the same category as Red River. One of those stories that you never want to end, but at the same time, you can't wait for the ending!

This is one of those timeless manga like Jojo's Bizarre Adventure. The writing really does credit to the classic plays that are featured in it. This isn't one of countless shoujo manga where the story is merely a vehicle for the romantic relationship the author wants to push.

This manga is my favorite manga of all time but the author discontinued this I think. I've been reading this since I was in elementary school and now, when I'm in college, I still waiting for the new one but... there' none so far. *sigh

The story focuses more on acting than romance but there are some parts which are totally cute which make you say: "aw..."

The characters are also lovable. Very interesting and unique compared to other shoujo mangas.

... Last updated on March 17th, 2009, 5:55pm

really enjoyed this manga up till vol 42, good story with lovable main character, my only compliant... this series have some very very very... slow relationship development... 32yrs and 42vols later... there' still no... kiss scene.... u can guess how slow the romance in this manga is... other than that, the manga is really great~ if you dont give much care for romance.. but love stories about acting, than give this a try...

The story is hetting soooooooo interesting, why does the author stop It's one of my most favorite manga ever!