Well, this really applies to ALL manga I read. For me, it's really a balance between the two.

Plot is important, of course, because I generally won't read something that I don't find interesting. There have surely been several exceptions to that, titles I've read for cheap entertainment, but generally, the plot has to be at least decent for me to read it.

The art, however, is also very important. As a rule, the art has to be reasonably well done, and the style has to appeal to me. It doesn't need to be spectacular, but it does have to be appealing, at least. In fact, if I didn't enjoy the art at all, even a top-notch plot couldn't keep me interested. I mean, this manga. If all I was worried about was plot, I pick up a novel. The wordy-kind.

This is probably the largest reason as to why I read so few shoujo/josei titles. While there are certainly exceptions, most shoujo art, or should I say, standard shoujo style, isn't very appealing to me. I may miss out on some good stories, but again, if plot was all I... well, you know.


So, overall, both are important. Generally, the art's biggest job is to capture my interest. Then it's up to the plot to keep it. Or, if the art does its work, but the plot fails...

Well, someone had better be seriously hot. Or maybe a spectacular gimmick. Or maybe if the art was godly.


But, on the flipside of an earlier statement, if the art was all I cared about, then I'd just... um. Artbooks? Adult stuff?

...Museums?

Well, the art is very similar in most shoujos (at least the ones I have seen) so the art instantly puts me done, so if the story´s bad then I just walk away

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Gizdiću, ne čitaj mi postove, degenu jedan!!

Art is extremely important, otherwise I wouldn't read manga at all.
Only if the plot is stellar and can grab me from the first pages will I continue to read a manga with bad artwork. But if a manga is pretty retarded/cliche but has stunning artwork then I'd probably read it, even if only for improving my own syle.

so art is better, and I second that, the story can be marvelous but if the art stinks who would want to read it

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Gizdiću, ne čitaj mi postove, degenu jedan!!

I would say the art matters, because for me at least, it's what first really brings me in the story.

Also, since it's manga, the level of art also involves the story like, expressions, composition, etc. So would the story really be great if the main character was saying everything with a face? Because that takes artskill, too.

Whether you want to admit it or not, it's impossible to read a manga without the art style affecting you, so it's obviously important. I'll freely admit that I've read a couple of very boring series (short ones, I can't torture myself for too long!!) just because the art was pretty. However, I think that the plot is the most important. Otherwise, I wouldn't read Skip Beat!, much less buy it. The art hooks you in, but the storyline does too, and sooner or later you reach the point where the art just can't keep your interest anymore. Or at least, I do. And while it's true that tons of shoujo series look identical, there are some awesome exceptions, which is what makes the genre worth reading. For every Ultra Maniac lookalike, there's also a Special A or Wild Ones that tries something new. Not that I'm saying those two are the best series in terms of content or anything...though I do love and buy them both...it's just that they have more original art styles, which simply enhances the storyline, and proves that not all shoujo attempts to emulate Marmalade Boy's success.

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

Don't forget that if you think plot > art, you're probably better off reading books. :]

I don't think so. Manga stories are told in such a different manner than normal books that it's hard to compare them. But the point is that the art adds to the plot, not the other way around. At least that's what I think, because you really can't sustain a series with just good art if it has no plot whatsoever, or one that sucks. People won't read it, even with awesome art.

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

On the point, If the plot is better than the art, its better to forget the art completely and write a book about it, since manga is more art than story

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Gizdiću, ne čitaj mi postove, degenu jedan!!

I never said manga is ALL art, but if you think art doesn't matter one bit, then... Why read manga? True it is different than a book, but who said
I was speaking novel wise? 8]

LET'S ALL READ PICTURE BOOKS!!!

The art does not matter as much as the plot. The latter must be good enough otherwise, I would not consider anything worth reading. Simply because I am not looking for anything pleasing my eyes but satisfying my mind instead. Moreover the quality or kind or drawing has never stopped me from reading a book/graphic novel/manga and this is not true regarding the plot.

Both.
But I can't stand crappy art..
I can say it bluntly- If the art sucks, I drop it.

Horrible, I know...



But as I once said to a friend "you're reading a book with pictures, it's a story that moves by pictures... Don't you care what you look at than?"
I've read many books (of course,in a book, all that matters is the plot).
But isn't in manga the art is kind of a major deal?...

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Hrodulf and Bjornolfr, you will not be forgotten.

And if the world were black and white,
you would be my rainbow in shades of grey.

Click 'n Play!

If I had a fantasy self, it'd be a tentacle monster.

yes, the story can be given to us by God himself, but if the artist is crappy, well its a book

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Gizdiću, ne čitaj mi postove, degenu jedan!!

True. True..
I mean, look at blame. The manga-ka said himself that he cared more about the atr than the plot

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Hrodulf and Bjornolfr, you will not be forgotten.

And if the world were black and white,
you would be my rainbow in shades of grey.

Click 'n Play!

If I had a fantasy self, it'd be a tentacle monster.

i look at the art first to see if the guy is good looking then i read it but if the story sucks like crap or doesnt catch my intrest what so ever then i quit reading it no matter how good the art is. for example hot gimmick...OMG the guys are good looking but ugh the girl AND the guys are sooo dumb. it's such a dumb love triangle. and vampire knight, i just cant seem to get into it.

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