Mars

At first glance, Mars appears to be your typical shoujo story - a shy girl somehow wins the heart of the Most Popular Boy At School. But don't let appearances deceive you. This manga is a full-blown soap opera through and through. If you're looking for standard shoujo fare - a bunch of high schoolers hanging out with Valentine's Day arcs, Christmas arcs, White Day arcs, and "we're graduating" arcs - you won't find it here. This manga is far more serious than the usual lighthearted slice-of-life romcom.

The peculiar thing about this work is that it feels dated, and not just because of the art style. Kira, the female protagonist, embodies the ultimate ingenue; she's so demure and innocent that she almost seems unreal, speaking and acting in ways reminiscent of characters from old teen movies. This isn't unique to her, though; Rei also seems like he stepped out of an 80s movie. The most striking aspect of these characters is that despite being well-developed, they never feel truly organic. However, this flaw is less significant than it might seem at first.

Kira initially threw me off because she's inexplicably detached, similar to a character from Hirunaka no Ryuusei. You don't really get the sense that she's a real person, and for a long time, you don't understand why she behaves the way she does. But the manga addresses this effectively, providing a very valid explanation and allowing us to see her transform into something more real. Even if this transformation is somewhat delayed, it only makes the twist sweeter.

Besides Kira's great development, Rei is the true star of the story. Initially, he seems like the refreshing type, and while he remains kind to Kira throughout, as the story progresses, it becomes clear that he's much more complex. Because his character and backstory are central to the manga, there's uncommon care put into their development, which is done mostly effectively and objectively well. Although I can't say I was completely enthralled by him, I believe it's simply a matter of personal preference, and I certainly didn't dislike him. He's a well-crafted character.

The romance takes some time to develop naturally. At first, it feels somewhat forced; within a week or so of meeting Rei, Kira admits to herself that she's in love with him, and Rei is fascinated with her for seemingly no reason. In hindsight, the reasons for their quick connection become clear, but while it's happening, you feel detached, thinking, "Alright, I guess this is a thing now." As their relationship deepens, however, you start to feel how much they care for each other, and their love is pure and sweet, constantly supporting each other and openly sharing their feelings.

Honestly, this manga isn't as good as people say it is, and it's definitely not realistic (though the relationship development is generally normal to good), but it's not bad either. It's a soap opera, and while it's not handled as masterfully as, say, Fruits Basket, it's still a good soap opera. There will be times when you think, "Holy shit, why is she doing that?" or encounter small arcs or plot points that you just can't get behind (I couldn't care less about motorcycle racing). Additionally, the story needed a bit more direction (the climax arc felt shoehorned in and didn't mesh well with the rest of the series). However, when it's good, it's genuinely good. My mind was blown a couple of times, and the nuance in characters, backstories, and inter-character relationships was, on the whole, really well executed. Moreover, Kira and Rei's character growth throughout the series deserves recognition.

So it's a soap opera; a good one, but take it at face value. While this probably won't become your all-time favorite romance, it's engaging and well done for what it is. Give it a try with this mindset, and I bet you'll enjoy it.

I stumbled upon this series after watching a video where someone showcased their entire collection, so I added it to my to-read list. I began reading it a few days ago and just finished it. Holy cow, what a roller coaster! I think I need therapy now.

I initially thought it was just going to be a romance manga, and there was romance, but oh my goodness, I could never have anticipated what this series entailed. I was worried it would pull a Banana Fish on me and leave me sobbing for three days, but thankfully it didn't. Still, I'm not okay—LOL.

This story is absolutely fantastic and kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. The characters are amazing and have excellent development.

Highly recommended, BUT be warned—it can be triggering as it touches on some dark topics.

Maybe you'd think, "She didn't even finish it, why on earth is she writing this?" And I'd say, you're absolutely right. But I believe that ten chapters are enough to review this magnificent manga.

Mars, the goddess on Earth for both characters and readers alike. I've read many mangas with similar stories: the bad guy falling for the sweet girl, and so forth. That's your first impression when starting this manga, but it's not as simple as it seems. It's not an ordinary story, and these characters are unlike any you've encountered before. You'll find yourself wondering why such boys don't exist in real life. Rei is an angel with some devilish actions, aggressive behaviors, and murderous intentions. Yet, you'll easily fall for the charm of my lovely Rei. At first glance, he's the handsome guy girls go crazy for, but he's only after the one who ignores him. It's a very strange relationship and goal to achieve; he likes challenges, but for him, it's worth it. The story is well-crafted, always engaging, though sometimes you might feel it loses its way momentarily. Fuyumi Soryo is one of my favorite manga artists. Her drawings are beautiful, making you feel comfortable while reading. She created handsome characters like Rei.

The story then shifts to the theme of painful love, where, as a reader, I enjoyed feeling the chemistry and electricity between Kira and Rei. It was full of life: their kisses, the looks they exchanged, the love they expressed, even during intimate moments. Fuyumi Soryo did a fantastic job making her manga believable. It feels almost real and tangible. Anyone who reads this manga will be fascinated by how alive it feels. I felt Kira's pain and Rei's sadness, living through their emotions, laughing and crying with them.

The theme of motorcycles and races is just amazing. Fuyumi Soryo did an incredible job adding all these details, as she does with every manga she writes. If there's a manga to be THE MANGA for Shoujo lovers, this is it.