There were a lot of choices, but I chose "Availability". Though sometimes I choose by genre [usually smutty shoujo - haha], scanlators, or by manga-ka. I'd like to get more manga, but it's hard sometimes. In IRC I'm not certain who has the release, then on websites, it's not a garentee[sp] that it'll be there.

________________
In The Water<3

Mostly the genre - but if I don't like the artwork, then it's rather hard for me to continue reading the manga. Therefore it HAS to be both acceptable artwork and a fine genre. Humor and shounen is what I prefer.

I choose by genre and if the drawing looks nice.
Mostly I read Shoujo mangas.

________________
~BEST Manga + BEST Anime = Naruto~

i choose by genre, i usually go for shounen, romance, action and ecchi. i also look at the mangaka, and the artist. also i look at the ratings and length. and for last i look at the people scanalating them, if its a group that has good scans i usually check it out

Well it only sounds like you've read Del Rey's titles, so isn't that a bias? ;)

Edit: Correction, I ovelooked Inuyasha and Maison Ikkoku. Oh well, personally I still don't think much of how Del Rey releases their manga, but to each their own.

Also, what's special about the Full Metal Panic original (Japanese released?) manga novels? I've only watch the anime but just want to know anyhow.

Last edited by Takiko at 11:58 am, Oct 15 2006

________________
My avatar was Yves Saint Laurent's The Black Evening Dress (with big bow) first shown in 1983, photographed from his 2002 retrospective and final show. [color=#CC0066]Check out some of his collections for free (pre-2008) HERE[/color] courtesy of FirstView.

Personally, for me, I pick my titles pretty randomly since I end up finding out about the manga from different sources--scanslation group, someone talking about it online (and I don't really know the person, but something they mentioned probably sparked my interest. Guess that cover description), or that I just see the title somewhere. Popularity would help in the last part. And of course if I like a mangaka, I will go and check out their other works (if it's good art that helps too). I'm a sucker for Watase Yuu, or at least some of her storylines. I wasn't too pleased with Zettai Kareshi's end... I must like going back to mangaka that won't give me what I want. XD

Availability would make a difference in whether I want to read that manga, or actually do get around to reading it (if it's not scanslated or licensed and not available at the library, it gets a slimmer chance because I'd probably have to look for it and buy it--but I haven't bought anything except magazine subscriptions in terms of books. But of course that's another matter). It probably ends up shoujo or shoujo-related in the end because of my bias towards it, but I still keep an open mind if the story seems good enough. I might get a break from the teenage girls being idiots for boys when there isn't any real good reason why. And the anime might draw my attention to the manga, since anime is easier to hear about for the most part. Frequency of releases can hurt a title, as since I end up with a bunch of manga I end up intersted in I might forgot about a title if the release is slow (but I just wait it out, as usually the thought of bugging the scanslators to hurry up with the title wears off. Plus it's mean to bug someone for something they provide for free, when it really comes down to it ).

For art, sometimes I can tolerate a title even if the art isn't 'pretty,' if it the story interests me enough. I haven't read anything that's been more than a few volumes, so I'd think it'd be harder for me to want to read it if it was like 20+ volumes but crappy art. But I suppose it depends on what the mangaka is doing for 20+ volumes--it had better not be stalling with bad art.

I guess that covers everything.

Last edited by Takiko at 2:33 pm, Oct 15 2006

________________
My avatar was Yves Saint Laurent's The Black Evening Dress (with big bow) first shown in 1983, photographed from his 2002 retrospective and final show. [color=#CC0066]Check out some of his collections for free (pre-2008) HERE[/color] courtesy of FirstView.

Mm..

both mangaka and genre.

im kinda into romance..
so romance manga FTW!
^^

and i like the works of adachi,Ken Akamatsu, and SEO Kouji. ^^

I always check out new shoujo/Josei manga and read the descriptions and based on that I read them. With shonen/seinen I go with recommendations only and only decide to read/buy them if I am genuinely interested in them. I don't care much about art, as long as it's not too messy it's fine. Having said that my two top favorite mangas of all time are shonen! so my friends recommendations are always considered!
I do have mangakas that I stay away from in the shoujo world tho, like Yuu Watase and Shinjo Mayu (spelling? sorry if thats spelt wrong) Because I find that their lead female characters are completly bland and weak (And I have tried to like them...seriously tried..but its just too damn irritating)
So I guess if someone recommends a shoujo to me, the hook would be "strong female lead, sexy guy"



oh and shounen romance rocks!

________________
Too Weird to Live. Too Rare to Die. - HST.

I normally take a quick look at the art, and that normally makes me read it or not. Of course there are series i have snubbed first and then read later and liked.
When i can't take a quick peek at the art i use genre and mangaka searches on www.mangaupdates.com, the forum has been a big help lately!

You're kidding right

Hellsing? Great story? What story? Read anything by Urasawa Naoki for a story.

And the art isn't mediocre, it's great. One of the better mangakas around (Doesn't come close to Oogure Ito, Miura Kentaro, Obata Takeshi, or Inoue Takehiko, but he the art is still very good)

On topic: I don't read much manga outside of what my group scanlates. So, if I do read something, it's by recommendation or I download something by a mangaka that I liked before.

________________
-GGpX

I run Illuminati-Manga. You're welcome.

I agree with you there
I start out with art then story, and finally track record
Take "Angel Densetsu" it started out with Bad artwork but the artist improved alot. Storyline was good so I kept up with it
Now it's one of my favorites


________________
If you're old enough....

Support single moms

takahashi rumiko making anything other than crap (i.e. inuyasha)? LOL

For me, I can stand a mediocre story, maybe even a bad story if the art is good enough but when the art is piss poor, take Zan for example, no matter how popular or good it is supposed to be i wont even touch it. (even though Zan wasnt any of those things)

I was about to write something as long as that, to say almost the same thing...
So if you want my opinion just take what he/she said and replace shoujo with shonen/seinen!
Perfect! And thanks Takiko for writing in my place... it's so much easier to quote...

I download everything in the genres that I like and then I sort through the crap. BL and Josei, mostly--and no, I don't want to hear your opinions about BL. I would consider it the utmost civility if I'm spared from those prejudices, so I humbly beg you.

I read some shoujo and shounen, depending on the description of the story or the mangaka. Sometimes, nothing beats a sappy shoujo manga about a girl who can't get her crap together.

Okay this is not an opinion or sarcasm but WTH is BL??

I Might be interested if the series is good

________________
If you're old enough....

Support single moms