Mars

This manga has been on my "plan to read" list for such a long time. After rereading one of my favorite manga for the fifth time, I decided it was time to finally dive into Mars. Unfortunately, I must admit that I was quite disappointed.

Perhaps my expectations were unrealistically high due to all the glowing reviews, but ultimately, it did not live up to the hype. The story begins intriguingly enough with the quiet artist and the rebellious bad boy, yet by the third volume, my interest began to wane. Yes, this tale is darker than most shoujo manga, but at times it felt overly dramatic and even implausible. Throughout the 90 chapters, I felt the entire narrative could have been condensed into just 30 without losing much.

Regarding the main characters:

- Kira: Initially, I thought Kira would be the standout character in the series; she's an artist who seemed poised to have a unique personality. However, as I continued reading, she turned out to be the typical shoujo heroine. One thing I particularly dislike about this genre is how often the female lead becomes a victim and cries frequently. Additionally, given that the story revolves around a painter, it was frustrating that by the end, she had only completed one painting.

- Rei: Rei was the saving grace of this manga for me. I kept reading to learn more about him and his past. He embodies a free spirit and passion that sometimes made me envious. Moreover, he reminded me of my racing idol, which stirred some emotions when I noticed their similarities.

I believe I would have rated this manga higher if it weren't primarily a romance. If it had been a drama centered around Rei, I might have overlooked many of its flaws. But as a love story, by the end, I was still searching for the love that was supposed to be at the heart of the narrative.

Okay, when I initially started reading this manga, I was anticipating the usual: a predictable storyline. And honestly, I enjoy those types of stories, so it wasn't an issue for me. At first, it seemed to follow that pattern. However, I couldn't have been more mistaken.

This is one of the finest shoujo mangas I've ever come across. To be honest, there were moments where I questioned why it was even categorized as a shoujo manga anymore. It managed to incorporate numerous genres, ensuring there's something for everyone out there who reads it.

The character development here was some of the best I've ever witnessed, and I must commend it. The story is packed with unexpected plot twists! The depth of this narrative is truly remarkable. It genuinely surprised me, but then again, I am easily shocked. Regardless, this manga is incredibly unpredictable. It wasn't what I was used to, yet I still thoroughly enjoyed it. No matter how intense things got, there was always just enough romance to keep me, a shoujo enthusiast, engaged, even if it was only a subtle undertone at times.

I have to admit, the artwork wasn't particularly impressive. Sure, I've seen worse, and it wasn't terrible by any means—it just wasn't quite my style. But I did appreciate the way the eyes were drawn.

The only reason I wouldn't give this a perfect score is due to a few sections in the story where I felt less inclined to turn the page. There were some dull parts here and there, but they were brief, so don't let that deter you. Besides, these slower segments provide a welcome break from the high intensity of the rest of the story.

In summary, if you're looking for your typical shoujo romance, this might not be your cup of tea. But if you're ready for a slice-of-life shoujo manga that will compel you to read it all in one sitting, filled with intense, extreme, and emotional moments, and delves into much more than just love and relationship drama, then this manga is for you. It was simply amazing—there's no other way to put it.

Okay, so actually I already knew the entire story before I even started reading because I've seen the Taiwanese drama remake of this... twice. Obviously, I knew I would like it (and if you enjoy this, then go watch the drama -- it's seriously the best thing ever!).
STORY: 10
Yes, it's a "masterpiece". That term is often overused when referring to shoujo, as it's challenging to find good shoujo manga, and when something is even slightly decent, you might be tempted to call it a masterpiece even if it's not entirely deserving. But in this case, I'm serious—the story was remarkable. Essentially, it revolves around two teenagers—Kira and Rei—who, despite their different backgrounds, both carry deep emotional scars from their pasts. They are drawn to each other, and together they embark on a journey to try and survive and find happiness in this world.
I know it sounds cliché, the whole "girl and boy with dark lives meet and everything turns out fine," but it isn't like that at all. The story, as many have noted, is realistic. Yet, it manages to tell an overdone plot flawlessly and refreshingly.
ART: 8
Maybe it's because this was produced over a decade ago, but the art seemed somewhat dated. NOT TO SAY IT TOOK ANYTHING AWAY. It didn't. The art WAS well done; it just reflects a different era, I suppose. Overall, most of it was very appealing, and I particularly loved the scenery art because the illustrator excelled at creating landscapes.
CHARACTER: 9
The character development here was outstanding. Honestly, I've never encountered such depth in character growth. You start reading about completely different people than those you finish with. They transform so much. I genuinely adored Kira and Rei. Both had incredible depth, making it easy to imagine them as real individuals who could exist beyond this manga. And the supporting cast? Wow. They were all excellent, even the annoying, evil ones. Perhaps it's a nine because there were too many tears shed, but then again, given all these characters' problems, I can't really criticize.
ENJOYMENT: 10
I thoroughly enjoyed myself, as expected, since the live-action version was fantastic and remains one of my favorite dramas to date. It had a bit of everything. Romance, mystery, betrayal, lies, comedy, sadness—all perfectly balanced.
OVERALL: 10
I recommend this to everyone. Seriously, I cannot praise this manga enough. There's truly nothing more I can say to convey how much I loved it.

My first review, so here I go: I just happened to stumble upon Mars, and I'm so glad I decided to read it. Story: Really well done. I love the addition of psychological aspects into the story, and the whole love story had a lot going on. Throughout the entire time, I was rooting for Kira and Rei; I truly felt they were meant for each other. Although it's a bit darker than most shoujo manga, it really had a great balance of tragic and happy moments in their relationship. Plus, I loved how they incorporated various factors like parents, money, future, etc., making it much more realistic. Art: Mars is obviously an older series with older art. The art kind of reminded me of Hana Yori Dango, but slightly better. While I'm not a fan of the style, I would say, bias aside, the art is pretty good. Personally, I don't like the art style, but it is well-drawn enough for me to read. Character: The twists and depth of the characters were really nice. Kira's character seemed a bit flat at times, like the typical heroine, but her relationship with Rei had such chemistry that it really saved it for me. I also loved Rei's character; I saw him just the way Kira did, starting off with a bad impression, then gradually changing into an impression of a really great guy. Enjoyment: Hell yeah, I read the entire series in about three days; really engaging throughout. Overall: 9 Great! Totally met my expectations. If this is on your waitlist, you should definitely give it a try!

It's unfortunate that I can't rate it higher than a 10. This is the ultimate shojo manga of all time. I could read it endlessly. The main character, Rei, struggles with his past, making him somewhat unstable. However, Kira, the other central character, falls in love with him after some playful teasing. Hehe. From there, the story unfolds and we discover that Rei isn’t the only one with a troubled mind. Drama ensues, and I’m certain you'll shed a few tears while reading. I did. The first four volumes start off a bit slow, but that’s hardly an issue given how amazing this series is. Starting from volume five, it’s nothing but continuous awe-inspiring and jaw-dropping drama. Every manga enthusiast should give this a read.

This was among the first Shoujo manga I ever read. Back then, I was captivated by it as one of my initial forays into manga. Now, with more experience and better series to compare it to, it feels underwhelming. The premise was quite basic, and the main female character was irritating, fitting a stereotypical heroine mold. The sole redeeming feature was Rei. His story and character development were exceptional. The guilt he carried with his brother, his aspirations to become a racer – it truly impressed me. I concur with another user that this work would be better suited as a drama rather than a romance.

There are several TV drama adaptations of this series for those interested: "Mars: Tada Kimi wo Aishiteru (MARS～ただ、君を愛してる～)" has both a film and a Taiwanese TV show adaptation of the same name. (I’m genuinely curious why there are so many Taiwanese TV show adaptations of various Japanese manga, like "Boys Over Flowers" and "Prince of Tennis.")

Anyway, sorry for getting sidetracked. Had this been a drama, I might have rated it an 8.2. Rei was so compelling that I forgot about all the other characters except him, which speaks volumes considering Kira is supposed to be our protagonist. Despite everything, I would still recommend this to others.

A major letdown. The initial two volumes were fantastic, but as I continued reading, it deteriorated. I believed volumes 8-9 reached their dramatic peak. However, from then on, it became increasingly implausible, essentially turning into a Kdrama.

I read it expecting something akin to Fruits Basket. That couldn't be further from the truth. I was wary about it becoming a soap opera.

It began quite grounded in the first two volumes, but soon it morphed into something straight out of a Kdrama. Highly disappointing. A warning: the drama is very triggering for those sensitive to such themes. It tries to delve deeper than it actually does; in reality, this is the quintessential Kdrama plot.

Kira suddenly overcomes her trauma through the power of love.

All their issues are resolved thanks to a Kdrama plot where money fixes everything.

From the outset, the mangaka seemed clueless about how to introduce Rei's father and his family. It dragged on in an unbelievable way.

I can't say I enjoyed it. Sorry, but Rei remains somewhat of a terrible ikkemen. Maybe he was appealing in the '90s with his sexually aggressive tsundere persona, but Rei just doesn't cut it. The plot forces Kira to become entirely dependent on Rei. He's honestly outdated as an ikemen. Rei was like the Domyouji of the '90s - you know, someone who doesn't grasp the concept of "consent."

Kira loses every bit of her independence. But hey, money solves everything.

I've always had a soft spot for romance. Maybe it's simply because I enjoy seeing fictional relationships evolve throughout a series. This time, I wanted to dive into a longer, classic manga, and it turned out to be a pretty good choice. Mars was an intense read, and it's been a while since I was so engrossed in a manga that I couldn't put it down. However, there were also several aspects I didn't appreciate.

Art:
I really loved the artwork. It has a distinct 90s shoujo manga feel. The characters were beautifully drawn, and I have little to criticize. That said, there was one minor issue. Sometimes it was difficult to discern the characters' emotions. Their expressions were somewhat hard to interpret. Still, this wasn't a major problem.

Story:
The story was decent. It isn't your typical high school romance tale. There are plenty of ups and downs, turning points, and heavy topics. The author makes it clear that anything bad can happen at any moment. Despite the drama and uncomfortable themes, it's not the most harrowing content you'll encounter. Trust me, the anime/manga world is full of messed-up stuff.

Characters:
My compliments here will be minimal. Unfortunately, the characters were my biggest gripe with this story. My goodness, how messed up can they get? I don't have the patience to go through every character I found lacking. Even though some characters did truly awful things, Rei, our male lead, stood out as the worst. Most of the time, his actions infuriated me. He exhibited relatable traits like jealousy, anger, trust issues, and possessiveness, but he misused these feelings. Instead of wanting to protect and help his partner, he ended up hurting her more. Some of Rei's actions were unforgivable, and I couldn't believe other characters still accepted him. They were too forgiving, which felt unrealistic and silly.

All in all, Mars is definitely a shoujo manga that even guys could enjoy. I know I did, as I've always liked shoujo and josei romances just as much as shounen and seinen. Mars has plenty of enjoyable elements for everyone—biking, sports, cuteness, drama, and much more. As many have said, it's quite the rollercoaster, but genuinely a very good read!