The Bullpen

[Farrell]

In general I tend to like horror, investigative stories, believable sci-fi, slice-of-life literary stuff, and black comedy.

Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service is also one of my favorites, and from what I can tell, we like the same kind of manga in general.  So I have a couple of suggestions.

First of all I'd second (or third, or whatever) Mail.  Written and drawn by the artist for KCDS, it's creepy and effective, if a bit repetitive.

For horror, I highly recommend the various Mermaid series by Rumiko Takahashi.  



She's more well known for the kind of manga you avoid, but trust me, this is as truly horrific as any manga I've read.  A lot of the horror manga I've sampled is full of histrionics and isn't actually scary at all, and isn't to my personal taste because of it.  Drifting Classroom, for example, is 200 pages of people shouting hysterically at each other.  Mermaid is a great deal more subtle.

For realistic science fiction I'd recommend taking a look for 2001 Nights:



It's a very non-exaggerated look at what might happen if humanity develops the ability to travel long distances through space.  

Lastly, I'd recommend checking out some of Taiyo's Matsumoto's work.  



Harder to characterize (and that's part of the appeal), Matsumoto has done a few things published in English: No. 5, Black and White (also called Tekkon Kinkreet) and GoGo Monster, all different and all fantastic.

Lots of other great recommendations here.  I would like to check out Saturn Apartments myself.  

[Kyle Latino]

The problem with manga is sooooooo many volumes.  

I'll never understand why people complain about too much of a good thing.  If you like the story, and you like the art, what's the problem? Haha

I'd be like me saying that there's too much Kirby out there, so I'll never start.

[Jordan]

If comics = manga and manga = comics then Scott Pilgrim is manga.  Especially since the word 'manga' is literally translated to 'whimsical drawings'.

Scott Pilgrim brings the whimsy.

Technically, manga is only comics that come out of Japan, like champagne can only be called champagne if it comes from a certian part of Italy.

Whatever, I think it's dumb; comics is comics.  Scott Pilgrim is obviously hugely inspired by manga.  And video games. 

[Doug!]

Technically, manga is only comics that come out of Japan, like champagne can only be called champagne if it comes from a certian part of Italy.

Whatever, I think it's dumb; comics is comics.  Scott Pilgrim is obviously hugely inspired by manga.  And video games. 

I'm just:

[whirlwindx]

  Drifting Classroom, for example, is 200 pages of people shouting hysterically at each other.

 I agree but that's what makes it so great. I find that hilarious that all the kids are shouting ALL THE TIME. Then they are running around, paranoid, and freaking out while shouting trying to figure out what is happening to them while one of their teachers is running them over with their car.   Ok maybe I'm weird. You can definitely see that its older like other older comics but there echoes of it's stories in modern stuff. kids killing kids is always creepy on some level but it's not the most horrifying manga I've read, Gyo and Uzamaki would be up there.

[NiceAndBlue]

If you like Kurosagi try MPD Psycho. I'd recommend 20th Century Boys and Monster over Pluto. Pluto's good, but not amazing, especially compared to Urasawa's other works. For good comedy try Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei, Yotsuba&!, or Cromartie High School (just don't watch the anime for this one because its awful and the humor doesn't translate.)

Other recommendations:
Saturn Apartments, Cross Game, Detroit Metal City, Black Lagoon, BECK, GTO, Nodame Cantabile, Video Girl Ai, Planetes, Chi's Sweet Home, Bakuman.

[Jeppe]

Thanks again for all the awesome suggestions, I really appreciate it, and please keep 'em coming if you have more 

To get started, I have just ordered the first volumes of Mail, 20th Century Boys, Gyo, and Saturn Apartments - they all look really great! I also wanted to check out Mushishi, but it wasn't at Midtown or InStockTrades, so I'll probably pick it up from Amazon sometime soon.

[Farrell]

I agree but that's what makes it so great. I find that hilarious that all the kids are shouting ALL THE TIME. Then they are running around, paranoid, and freaking out while shouting trying to figure out what is happening to them while one of their teachers is running them over with their car.   Ok maybe I'm weird. You can definitely see that its older like other older comics but there echoes of it's stories in modern stuff. kids killing kids is always creepy on some level but it's not the most horrifying manga I've read, Gyo and Uzamaki would be up there.

  While reading it I couldn't help but imagine what it would be like as a live action television show or something and it drove me nuts.  I can't read shouting WITHOUT SHOUTING IN MY HEAD!

Mostly, though, it wasn't scary in the least.  I agree that kids killing kids (or kids killing anybody, really) is always kinda creepy.  My suggestion, Mermaid, has a lot of creepy, killer kids in it.  

How would you compare Dragonhead to Drifting Classroom?  I have some interest in it, but a flip test worried me that it might be another shout-fest.  

[whirlwindx]

 While reading it I couldn't help but imagine what it would be like as a live action television show or something and it drove me nuts.  I can't read shouting WITHOUT SHOUTING IN MY HEAD!

Mostly, though, it wasn't scary in the least.  I agree that kids killing kids (or kids killing anybody, really) is always kinda creepy.  My suggestion, Mermaid, has a lot of creepy, killer kids in it.  

How would you compare Dragonhead to Drifting Classroom?  I have some interest in it, but a flip test worried me that it might be another shout-fest.  

It's a much more modern take on a post-apocalyptic world than Drifting Classroom. I'd say it's more in line with something like Y:The Last Man where people are trying to survive and what situations this new world creates.

I wouldn't call it another shout-fest. It's more natural and appropriate since people are shouting when they should be. I think it helps that the characters are older too and there are not a lot of little kids running around. The series deals with fear a lot and things change after a few volumes to keep things fresh.

[Farrell]

It's a much more modern take on a post-apocalyptic world than Drifting Classroom. I'd say it's more in line with something like Y:The Last Man where people are trying to survive and what situations this new world creates.

I wouldn't call it another shout-fest. It's more natural and appropriate since people are shouting when they should be. I think it helps that the characters are older too and there are not a lot of little kids running around. The series deals with fear a lot and things change after a few volumes to keep things fresh.

Thanks!  That sounds like something I would like to read.  Doesn't hurt with me to bring up Y, either.   

[nilcam]

The problem with manga is sooooooo many volumes.   


DAMN!!!

This always cracks me up! I loved the episode in which Chris complains about the number of volumes in manga and then comments that none of them have been around as long as Superman. Doh!

[Dave Faust]

Mai the Psychic Girl (nice Witch Mountain/Firestarter vibe to it)
Battle Angel Alita
Fullmetal Alchemist

[Swany]

ME AND THE DEVIL BLUES

Battle Angel Alita

MPD Psycho

There ya go!!! 

karma for those choices fellas

[Lukeh]

The one thing I hate about these threads is half of the books recommended, and generally the ones that catch my fancy, are out of print.

I swear Tokyo pop only does print runs of 10.