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Is Attack on Titan a good introduction to manga?
- Thread starter More_Badass
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More_Badass
Member
Oh wow, this is right up my alley. Looks amazing. Thanks for the recommendation
Srey Plaughtered
Member
With part 1 ideally but I can understand if anyone watches Part 1-3 anime and then starts reading from Part 4.
Tricky I Shadow
Banned
I just finished reading the first 3 chapters and so far it's quite solid. So many damn twists already. Loving the main character too!
Barajas_201
Member
Just finished reading Berserk Volume 1, I'm in, OP defiantly go with Berserk, this is my first manga and it blew me away but yeah it's definitely gory, heck the very first page is already too hardcore! I'm now ordering the 10 next Volumes and thank god manga isn't that expensive.
Tricky I Shadow
Banned
The cheapest place to get manga (outside of finding it used or on Ebay, maybe) is Instocktrades. For instance, Berserk volumes there are 42% off, or $8.69. And if you do one order, and do a subsequent order within 7 days, the next order you can get them for another 2% off.
If you want Berserk, that's your best bet. Of course, that's still expensive. But it feels less expensive when you are buying them as they come out, but once you're thirty volumes behind it can seem absurd.
If you only read one manga in your life it's a no-brainer that it has to be Berserk.
The first manga I read all the way through was Blame!, and I can definitely recommend it as well. I guess me telling people to read a Tsutomu Nihei manga is like Nintendo avatars telling people to play Mario but seriously just do it.
As for my other personal favorites from other authors, I really love Dorohedoro.
It ends up...hard to follow. Honestly kind of a mess. If you're curious about all those out of context 'bear with a gun/on motorcycle' images you've probably seen posted around the internet over the years it's worth a shot. Amazing art and cool moments but I found it weaker than his other work.
Blame! is the essential and Knights of Sidonia is great too.
The first manga I read all the way through was Blame!, and I can definitely recommend it as well. I guess me telling people to read a Tsutomu Nihei manga is like Nintendo avatars telling people to play Mario but seriously just do it.
As for my other personal favorites from other authors, I really love Dorohedoro.
It ends up...hard to follow. Honestly kind of a mess. If you're curious about all those out of context 'bear with a gun/on motorcycle' images you've probably seen posted around the internet over the years it's worth a shot. Amazing art and cool moments but I found it weaker than his other work.
Blame! is the essential and Knights of Sidonia is great too.
Barajas_201
Member
Tricky I Shadow
Banned
Berserk has officially hijacked this thread.
Just did and can't wait to get up to speed
Admiral Woofington
Member
The issue with Attack on Titan is that the manga starts out horribly with art, the pacing is shit, and right when I stopped reading the artist didn't know where the fuck to go with the story and opted to do with a boring
plot instead of moving the fuck along with the story.
The reason I would never recommend the manga, is because there are plenty of manga out there that are interesting and aren't filled with anime tropes that can be great for newbies. I already said it but Berserk is such one. It's easily one of the better mangas, isn't really filled with anime tropes and hey once they catch up they'll likely want to read more.
If you have to absolutely do something with Attack on Titan, watch the anime. Regardless of your feelings for it it's a great entry level/gateway anime. People love it and it got plenty of people that weren't interested in anime to start asking for more.
But stay the fuck away from the manga.
civil war
The reason I would never recommend the manga, is because there are plenty of manga out there that are interesting and aren't filled with anime tropes that can be great for newbies. I already said it but Berserk is such one. It's easily one of the better mangas, isn't really filled with anime tropes and hey once they catch up they'll likely want to read more.
If you have to absolutely do something with Attack on Titan, watch the anime. Regardless of your feelings for it it's a great entry level/gateway anime. People love it and it got plenty of people that weren't interested in anime to start asking for more.
But stay the fuck away from the manga.
Tricky I Shadow
Banned
Every single word in this post is accurate.
Admiral Woofington
Member
I should probably say it now, yes Berserk post-Golden Age Arc does start introducing some light hearted characters that do silly anime faces, but it basically boils down to where these two characters become the comic relief and everybody else is still very much fantasy series characters.
Woah at all the Berserk recommendations. That is the darkest stuff I've ever read and while there is a lot of dark manga out there, it isn't actually typical. While it may be the best, it isn't going to appeal to everyone cause of the gore and sexual violence. There is a lot of quality stuff that isn't as offensive.
AoT isn't the best place to start, but imo, it isn't as bad as an introduction as some of you have insisted.
I'd start with GTO, Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood, and Black Lagoon.
Bakuman and Insufficient Direction if you wanna read stuff humorous and meta.
My personal favorite is Claymore.
AoT isn't the best place to start, but imo, it isn't as bad as an introduction as some of you have insisted.
I'd start with GTO, Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood, and Black Lagoon.
Bakuman and Insufficient Direction if you wanna read stuff humorous and meta.
My personal favorite is Claymore.
Tertullian
Member
Thanks for tip.
True Savior
Member
jhmtehgamr20xx
Banned
Nah. Well....kinda. The manga is pretty good in the early parts, but then after Eren comes back as a titan it becomes more of a standard shounen style series. The politics isn't necessarily sophisticated, and there's the "chosen one" storyline in there.
For shounen stuff, I'd say DBZ, Yu Yu Hakusho, Rurouni Kenshin, Naruto, Hunter x Hunter etc. are better manga to start with. And for seinen, works like Battle Angel Alita (particularly the ZOTT part if you're looking for intense fighting non-stop, though fans have their issues about that part of Last Order....and it's Last Order; kind of helps to read the original series first in any case) and Zetman are pretty solid.
Then if you want some of the more brutal stuff, or not-easily-comprehensible stories, try works like Berserk, BLAME!, Blade of the Immortal, Eden: It's a Wonderful World etc.
This is all just the tip of the iceberg, tho in mine and many other's opinions they're part of the pinnacle of their respective genres (if not THE pinnacle of their respective genres). They're all favorites of mine in one way or another, and I figure they're somewhat mainstream enough to throw out there.
I mean, if you like Attack on Titan, by all means read it. Definitely a fun little series if you're into post-apoctalyptic, sci-fi horror (well, less sci-fi and more "horror" in the sense the Titans just look creepy), but it has some obvious flaws the longer you read it. Still though, it's current, updates regularly (unlike Berserk; be prepared for some LONG waits with that one), and handles most of its characters and plot points adequately.
. That was Berserk at it's peak, for me personally.
Plus...dem backgrounds. Best backgrounds in a manga, no question. The sense of scale, composition, framing.....it's up there as the best overall.
For shounen stuff, I'd say DBZ, Yu Yu Hakusho, Rurouni Kenshin, Naruto, Hunter x Hunter etc. are better manga to start with. And for seinen, works like Battle Angel Alita (particularly the ZOTT part if you're looking for intense fighting non-stop, though fans have their issues about that part of Last Order....and it's Last Order; kind of helps to read the original series first in any case) and Zetman are pretty solid.
Then if you want some of the more brutal stuff, or not-easily-comprehensible stories, try works like Berserk, BLAME!, Blade of the Immortal, Eden: It's a Wonderful World etc.
This is all just the tip of the iceberg, tho in mine and many other's opinions they're part of the pinnacle of their respective genres (if not THE pinnacle of their respective genres). They're all favorites of mine in one way or another, and I figure they're somewhat mainstream enough to throw out there.
I mean, if you like Attack on Titan, by all means read it. Definitely a fun little series if you're into post-apoctalyptic, sci-fi horror (well, less sci-fi and more "horror" in the sense the Titans just look creepy), but it has some obvious flaws the longer you read it. Still though, it's current, updates regularly (unlike Berserk; be prepared for some LONG waits with that one), and handles most of its characters and plot points adequately.
Yeah. Berserk is damn violent, although I'd say for the past couple of volumes it's toned down the violence considerably. Definitely not as bleak and depressingly violent as
the Black Swordsman & Conviction arcs
You're not wrong, tho. BLAME! is just bliss, even if it's confusing and frustratingly obfuscating with parts of its story. Which makes me appreciate how Biomega and later works have been more normalized, even though I think BLAME! is better than them.
Plus...dem backgrounds. Best backgrounds in a manga, no question. The sense of scale, composition, framing.....it's up there as the best overall.
Sibersk Esto
Banned
Dragon ball is still the perfect gateway manga. It's timeless.
Coriolanus
Banned
In no small part because Nihei really learned to find his way around during that title. Massive difference in art and storytelling from the first volume to the last. Nowadays his work is much more uniform.
Was actually surprised during a recent reread when i went back and saw what a *huge* dick killy was early on.
GIANKRATOS
Member
Watch the aot anime and read Berserk.
striferser
Huge Nickleback Fan
Asano inio manga is great. Read solanin or nijihara holograph.
For something adventure shonen, full metal alchemist.
For something historical, bride's story, vinland saga, and emma is a good choice
I'd also throw in some onani master kurosawa and molester man. Both of them are legit.
For something adventure shonen, full metal alchemist.
For something historical, bride's story, vinland saga, and emma is a good choice
I'd also throw in some onani master kurosawa and molester man. Both of them are legit.
SoldierIce64
Member
I read two mangas: Berserk and One Piece.
I read Berserk if I'm in the mood for gore, depression and horror.
I read One Piece to bring my mood back up after reading Berserk.
I read Berserk if I'm in the mood for gore, depression and horror.
I read One Piece to bring my mood back up after reading Berserk.
Vanillalite
Ask me about the GAF Notebook
This! Good blend of serious and comedy while having a well done story that isn't 50+ volumes.
Rafa=FedKilla
Banned
You got me! Congrats on posting pirated material by the way.
Elfforkusu
Member
It's fine. It's not even close to as good as Berserk.
Very much a second-tier series. I would group it with Claymore as things that wish they were Berserk, do a pretty good job of trying to be Berserk, but definitely aren't Berserk.
Actual recommendations:
* Berserk (though... the first 3 volumes are pretty grotesque. so watch out for that!)
* Fullmetal Alchemist
* Mushishi
* Nausicaa
* Planetes
Admiral Woofington
Member
GTO is likely to scare people away if they aren't used to anime and the pervert jokes with high school students. I love the manga and anime but you need to get past this and somebody not in the know of anime might be turned off.
FMA isn't called Brotherhood in manga form. But yeah it isn't a bad choice I guess. But at this point you might as well watch brotherhood since it's the same story as the manga.
Black Lagoon is better in anime form.
Tricky I Shadow
Banned
jhmtehgamr20xx
Banned
Yeah Killy does some pretty asshole-y things in the early parts.
Thank goodness for Cibo.
Pretty decent. I think it kind of peters out some near its final third, but it's a fun ride. Also it kind of
acts as a prequel to BLAME!. Not in a literal sense of explaining everything that happens there, but in terms of showing you the origins of the Megastructure.
I ordered the first volumes of vagabond and monster, and have purchased the first vol of both biomega and vinland saga on comixology. I'm sure one of the them, if not two or three of them will scratch that manga itch that miura left on my soul!
Oh, and while we're posting berserk stuff, this is one of my favorite non spoilerish panels from berserk:
I know people like to say the series goes downhill after GA, but honestly I like the enhanced scope of the series. The longevity helps guts' arc because it helps build his character from the hollow shell we see in vol 1 to what he is now. The contrast with Griffith's arc in the most recent volumes really drives home the determinism vs free will theme the series has going for it, and the long trek guts has to make to build himself up to challenge a literal god makes sense in the context of the universe.
Oh, and while we're posting berserk stuff, this is one of my favorite non spoilerish panels from berserk:
I know people like to say the series goes downhill after GA, but honestly I like the enhanced scope of the series. The longevity helps guts' arc because it helps build his character from the hollow shell we see in vol 1 to what he is now. The contrast with Griffith's arc in the most recent volumes really drives home the determinism vs free will theme the series has going for it, and the long trek guts has to make to build himself up to challenge a literal god makes sense in the context of the universe.
ChosenPredator
Banned
beserk will ruin everything for you. You won't be able to read another manga after that, lol. (in a good way it's hard to compare anything with it..maybe vagabond)
maybe one punchman cause that shit is entertaining as hell.
maybe one punchman cause that shit is entertaining as hell.
Arondight
Member
FMA, Pluto and Yotsuba are probably the best introductory mangas in my opinion. Well drawn, great stories and nothing on the extreme end.
Berserk is really extreme content wise and wouldn't really recommened it initially. I probably haven't seen a movie/tv show/comic that's as violent as this manga.
Shingeki is something that would be better if you're also more familiarized with manga due to the art, story being a little mixed.
Berserk is really extreme content wise and wouldn't really recommened it initially. I probably haven't seen a movie/tv show/comic that's as violent as this manga.
Shingeki is something that would be better if you're also more familiarized with manga due to the art, story being a little mixed.
You need to read Blade of the Immortal, if you haven't already.
8 X 11 Printer Paper
Member
Ebay is a godsend for getting bulk amount of mangas for sane prices (that's how I got 26 volumes of Hunter X Hunter for $100ish). I've seen a handful of Berserk bundles (English since Japanese bundles are easy to find and much cheaper) that included 20-30 volumes that had a cost of about $5.50 per volume with shipping included into that. Though at the moment there are no good large bundles for it.
Secret Fawful
Member
Read Pluto. Read Monster. Read Fullmetal Alchemist. Read Berserk. Read Uzumaki. Attack on Titan manga looked like Edward Gorey early on which was neat but the story is ass so skip it. Fullmetal Alchemist is a much better shounen title. I'd also recommend Detective Conan if you like mystery of the week stuff. Just don't expect its overarching plot to resolve itself. Biomega is great. Blame! is great. Alabaster, Black Jack, and Phoenix are great. Homunculus is great. Yotsuba is hilarious. Fourteen is incredible and bananas.
Nappuccino
Member
[edit]
Some more Berserk art just cus.
While I still love Berserk, these two images get at the one thing that bums me out the most regarding the new issues. Early on, every monster was different and unique--horrifying in their own way. The past two arcs or so have had a lot of dupilicate creatures. I'm guessing the author is either feeling less creative or lazy. It must be easier to give one design to his artist team and ask them to pose it in several ways than create several. Oh well. The series is still good, and there's plenty of time for him to turn that flaw around.
Professor Renegade
Banned
The art is bound to drive you away. I would recommend Jojo's Bizarre Adventure because it has a less anime-ish art style, but it can be, for lack of a better term, bizarre for newcomers. One Punch Man is pretty good though.
Turin Turambar
Member
Funny, I would say the problem for some people is that isn't shounen enough.
Tricky I Shadow
Banned
I just finished The Conviction arc today and thought it was fantastic. Better than The Golden Age arc? Probably not (is it even possible for anything to be better than The Golden Age arc?) but it was far from what I would consider 'downhill'. The lowest point - whist still being great was probably The Lost Children mini arc. It felt slightly filler-ish.
Can't wait to get into the next arc, which I've seen some people say is noticeably not as good as the previous arcs. Personally I'm confident I'll still love it.
jhmtehgamr20xx
Banned
Can't believe I forgot to mention Jojo's Bizarre Adventure xD
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