I Love Anime and Manga

Well, after finishing "Vagabond" [i](which I think is a must read... like WOW)[/i], I finished "Claymore" today. In a lot of places, and in some reviews you find the idea that Claymore is just like "Berserk". So I bought it because... well "Berserk", for as far as I know it, is incredible.

... Is Claymore just like Berserk? No it's not. But it was a nice read.
Do I think Claymore is exceptional? Not it's not. But it was a nice read.
Do I think you should read Claymore? No, it's not nescessary. But if you are going too, It's probably a nice read.

My major problems were, that they paced it to quick at times. And for some reason, some descisions didn't make sense. And then some random character explains it, and everyone that was amazed at first suddenly understands it and gets on with their business. Except for me... the reader.

Another thing is, that it kept expanding it's original story, but things made less and less sense. And of course, the Japanese Monster-thingy... Made less and less sense. BUT it does deliver a good overarching story. I think it could have done a little bit better, but the idea they are playing with are good. It just seems that they didn't know what they were going to do in the future when they made the first 10 books. Then suddenly there is a major plot twist, that makes the first 10 books feel kinda off but it's not weird. Like they deff. build on on what happened, but if they knew what they were doing the first chapters would feel more integrated I guess. I also wonder if it's my imagination, but I think the story has a lot of similarities with "Attack on Titan" on a more abstract level.

The great thing about Claymore is, the art. Like seriously, the art is good. It's all over the place, but it keeps you wondering what is on the next page. The art is also in motion a lot of the time. If you like an incredible action packed book... then this is deff. a good read.

Do I advice you to read Claymore? No... but if you do, it's going to be a good read.
You wanna see women swing huge swords around... Well, then it's a good read.
Do you want loads of action scenes... then this is a good read.
Do you like to watch pretty pictures, well, then this is a good read.
If you haven't read "Vagabond" yet... do it now!

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SW-User

Yuri scenes?

Kwek00 · 41-45, M

@SW-User I'm sorry but can you elaborate?

SW-User

Third pic ! @Kwek00

SW-User

Sorry, I like to go straight to the point. Lol @Kwek00

Kwek00 · 41-45, M

@SW-User I really don't get the term "yuri scenes"? I think it's one of those babylonian speech thingies 😅

SW-User

@Kwek00 you really need to learn the Babylonian speech, sir. It’s SW !

SW-User

@Kwek00 You speak French ? You chose a cover of a French edition.

Kwek00 · 41-45, M

@SW-User Okay... I had to look it up :|

The first 3 hits were the top 10 yuri scenes and top 5 yuri scenes. But then some site explained it to me. I'm not really that into the Manga Slang honesty, it's really not that popular where I live.

Well, there are 2 or 3 instances that has some Yuri Scenes in the entire 27 books series. But it was pretty free from those honestly. The entire series isn't that busy with those type of things. I believe btw that in the story, these two are sisters... and something horrific happened. I think if you put it in context it comes over diffrently. But I understand that without context this must look like a sensual horror picture.

Kwek00 · 41-45, M

@SW-User I was looking for a good image of cover of issue 1... And I took a french one, because of the quality. I didn't take a picture from my own editions and uploaded it.

I'm more used to read english. French takes a bit more time, but because of nescessity, I have to read french sometimes. I don't really read real books or scientific papers in french. I can understand it, and read it to a degree, but my knowledge of the french language isn't that evolved. But a comic is okay at times, it takes effort tough 😅

SW-User

@Kwek00 Well it’s just a detail that caught my eyes. The kind of detail that could make want to purchase the books though, lol ! And I love women who can swing huge swords. They don’t make enough of those.
But I only read one shots anyway. Thanks for the review I guess, the manga seems nice.

SW-User

@Kwek00 SO you do know some French. It’s the opposite for me. :)

Kwek00 · 41-45, M

@SW-User
Well, it's not the best I read. But it's really not a bad one either for as far as I know Manga. I grew up with Belgo-Franco commics. And I've read some American ones over time. I got a bit of a Batman collection 😅. But Recently I bought quite a bit of Manga Books... and I'm slowly plowing trough them.

This one gets pretty good commentary by people that read it. But not a lot of people go really WOW. I had the same impression. Sometimes it sucks you in, and sometimes you just go: "wtf???". I don't really understand this way of depicting demons, I'm not always the biggest fan of this Japanese demon thing.

Kwek00 · 41-45, M

@SW-User I don't want to make a mean comment now. So don't take this in a bad way. But if I lived where you live, I would probably not know a word of french either. And that's because English people, are pretty spoiled when it comes to language 😅

SW-User

@Kwek00 That’s cool. I don’t read comics but I thought of getting into it... The only one I own is called MAUS which I recommend.

Oh, if you lived where I live you would have no choice but to learn French properly. We don’t speak English here and we don’t like efforts either 😂

Kwek00 · 41-45, M

@SW-User I got MAUS too... But Never read it.

I'm confused now, I always tought you were living in the UK? My appologies.

Nah, my gradmom had a lot belgian commics that are for all ages (starting from around 7-8 years old). And when I turned 12, I kinda spend a lot of my free time in a commic shop that sold boardgames too. And you could play over there. I've actually been in more commic shops then in other shops probably :| , we played games there and we collected some series for the older public.

Belgo-Franco commics are a real thing. But most of them are published in French, and not a lot gets translated into English. But because Belgium is part dutch, we ussually do get some translated in dutch. It takes ages tough, sometimes a series can run coppies behind for years before they get translated. And some series are so niche that once they are sold out, you can just get them in French.

Like, I bought: "The Beatifica Blues" - Omnibus.
The first 3 issues were translated... but Issue 4 and 5 are not.
So you can only read it in French.

SW-User

@Kwek00 If you own it then READ it. It’s worth it.

Lol, I feel privileged now.
Sorry Kwek. It seems you don’t have much options.

Kwek00 · 41-45, M

@SW-User Well, Only 23+ milion dutch speakers... it's a smal market. So I either learn English, French, German... 🤷‍♂️

I read my manga in English. I even read certain french comics in english 🙇
And when I can't... I read it in French.

I prefer English > Dutch... but that's more of economical reasons, cause... well... Who am I going to sell it too when I have too? 🤷‍♂️

Kwek00 · 41-45, M

@SW-User I actually bought MAUS... And I read the first chapter. But for some reason I never pulled myself to go on.

I recentely bought "Message to Adolf"... which costed me a small fortune, but for some reason I'm more hyped up to read that one :| When I do rea MAUS it's probably going to feel like when watching "the artist" for the first time. Like: WTF?!? did I keep waiting? ... but for some strange reason, I do.