by Mashima Hiro Chapters/Episodes: 296/54
Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Romance, Mystery, Shounen
What's so good about Rave Master? For many, this manga is somewhat boring. Well, sometimes it's dumb, but definitely not boring.
Another classic, first published in 1999, by the very much admired Mashima Hiro. If you have read his work (Fairy Tail, Mashima-en, Monster Hunter Orage, etc.) you how it usually is: funny, action-filled, romantic (and sexy), stupid and... weird, at times. I mean, I love Rave Master, it is my 10th favourite manga, but I have to admit it can get too weird at times.
Manga / Anime
Art: 4.5 stars / Quality: 4 stars
Plot: 4.8 stars / Story: 3.7 stars
Characters: 4.8 stars / Characters: 4.8 stars
Violence: High / Violence: Medium-high
Sex: medium-high / Sex: medium
The art is as usual: bad at the beggining, really good later. It's incredibly graphic, specially with the violence scenes. Kids under 12 shouldn't read it (I was 16 when I first read it, and it still shocked me at times).
The story is kinda cliche, but good nonetheless. A boy, Haru Glory (the "choosen" one) discovers he is the succesor to the current Rave Master, Shiva. And he has to embark on a journey to collect all Rave and defeat evil. This way he meets multiple allies and enemies, bla, bla, bla...
All this we are used to, so you're probably wondering... why the hell are you reviewing it then?!
Two reasons: despite this cliche-type story it is good on these two things: mystery and weirdness.
Like I said, some characters in this manga (Plue, Griff, etc.) are just so weird, that must writers would never dare to create them, because they can be a hindrance for readers. But not Mashima. He took the risk and it turned out just fine. Rave Master's story can get pretty dark and dramatic at times, so these weird characters relieve the 'seriousness' big deal; 80% of the comedy in this manga it's due to them, so don't understimate these guys, they are hilarious.
Now, about the mystery. I must say it, the main reason I decided to read RM until the end was thanks to Elie's mystery. Elie, the main female character, is the first character to come across our hero, Haru, While Haru's mission is to find Rave and master it, Elie's quest is to find her lost memory: she has amnesia. Yes, I know, I know, this is somewhat cliche as well, but seriously, this mystery is really well developed, it drove me nuts back then,
Characters. Hmmm... there isn't much to mention about them, they are okay, but there isn't much character development with the exceptions of Haru and Let. My personal favorite, nonetheless, it's Julia, she is so cool.
Concerning sex and violence... there is a lot of the later as i've mentioned, and a fair amount of the first, but not too much and not too indecent, so it's still enjoyable.
About the anime, there isn't much to say.... it has less violence and less sex cont. The manga and the anime have different starts, the quality of the anime isn't outstanding and the voice actors ain't half bad.
My recommendation: If you don't mind some weird stupidity and lack of character development, read RM. You'll like it, because, it is a good manga.
Oyasami,
M. Rose
All this we are used to, so you're probably wondering... why the hell are you reviewing it then?!
Two reasons: despite this cliche-type story it is good on these two things: mystery and weirdness.
Like I said, some characters in this manga (Plue, Griff, etc.) are just so weird, that must writers would never dare to create them, because they can be a hindrance for readers. But not Mashima. He took the risk and it turned out just fine. Rave Master's story can get pretty dark and dramatic at times, so these weird characters relieve the 'seriousness' big deal; 80% of the comedy in this manga it's due to them, so don't understimate these guys, they are hilarious.
Now, about the mystery. I must say it, the main reason I decided to read RM until the end was thanks to Elie's mystery. Elie, the main female character, is the first character to come across our hero, Haru, While Haru's mission is to find Rave and master it, Elie's quest is to find her lost memory: she has amnesia. Yes, I know, I know, this is somewhat cliche as well, but seriously, this mystery is really well developed, it drove me nuts back then,
Characters. Hmmm... there isn't much to mention about them, they are okay, but there isn't much character development with the exceptions of Haru and Let. My personal favorite, nonetheless, it's Julia, she is so cool.
Concerning sex and violence... there is a lot of the later as i've mentioned, and a fair amount of the first, but not too much and not too indecent, so it's still enjoyable.
About the anime, there isn't much to say.... it has less violence and less sex cont. The manga and the anime have different starts, the quality of the anime isn't outstanding and the voice actors ain't half bad.
My recommendation: If you don't mind some weird stupidity and lack of character development, read RM. You'll like it, because, it is a good manga.
Oyasami,
M. Rose
