Rave Master was a series I discovered during my middle school years. It was one of the first manga I ever read, and I was captivated by how different it was from American comics. The series exuded style; it integrated musical themes into various story elements and naming conventions, character designs were spot-on, and the initial cast was likable enough that I quickly became attached. At that time, I was too young to afford buying the volumes, and my lack of resources made me lose track of the series.
Years later, with Hiro Mashima currently writing several ongoing titles (as of the beginning of 2020), I decided to finally reread Rave Master to completion. My manga knowledge had significantly increased since my last read, and I was curious to revisit it. Watching an artist's work evolve over time is fascinating, and Mashima is no exception. The first few volumes of Rave Master can be a bit rough, but near the end, my attachment to the characters and the artwork kept me engaged enough to finish the story.
The story includes many typical shonen tropes: the power of friendship overcoming any obstacle, the main character winning fights simply because he is the protagonist, coming-of-age story elements, and so on. Unfortunately, this also becomes the manga’s biggest flaw. Characters often survive their battles out of plot convenience (Let and Haru being prime examples). Despite suffering lethal damage or sacrificing themselves for their friends, they all miraculously survive. Moments with emotional weight are sadly negated later because the author was hesitant to kill off fan favorites, while other characters are killed off almost casually.
Another significant issue I have with the story is its inconsistent pacing after the King/Demon Card arc. Pumpkin Doryu, a major side villain, has a multi-volume storyline (which I found the least interesting) yet the final enemies' battles only take a few chapters. I’m unsure if this was due to publication issues or if the story was intended to end this way, but the last storyline felt rushed, introducing several incredibly powerful characters who are defeated within 2-3 chapters.
Despite these gripes, Rave Master is a great shonen read. You’ll quickly become attached to the colorful, diverse cast and the world of Rave. Plus, the length of the series doesn’t require too much of a time commitment.
Groove Adventure Rave: An epic adventure filled with emotional events.
This is probably the only manga I've completely read, so I think I should write a review about it.
Note: I watched the 51-episode anime ten years ago. I recently finished reading the manga. I am also currently watching Fairy Tail, another story by Mashima Hiro, so this review will be based on that context.
If you have read or watched Fairy Tail, you should definitely read this manga. There was a 51-episode anime adaptation of Groove Adventure Rave, but it didn't cover the entire story. Therefore, reading the manga is the only way to understand the whole narrative. This story might even be the origin of Fairy Tail (or so I thought).
This manga follows the typical shonen genre pattern. A hero battles evil, travels through various places, and meets many comrades along the journey. Like other shonen stories, the hero is powerful and becomes even more so as the journey progresses. The hero also possesses a very powerful item that can only be used by him to defeat evil. In the end, the hero and his companions defeat evil and save the world, but the cost is high, which is what makes Groove Adventure Rave truly stand out. Several important characters die, and these events are deeply touching.
Enough about the story. The plot is amazing, so I give it a 10. The art is unique but inconsistent, changing several times, so I'll give it an 8. Character development is great. For enjoyment, I really enjoyed it due to the masterful story, so overall, I give it a score of 9.
For those who want to experience a different kind of shonen manga, Rave is the best choice. For those who have read or watched Fairy Tail, this manga might be its origin, so you should definitely read it.
Great beginning! Likeable characters, exciting story, funny dialog, and very well-drawn fights. Volume 1 was absolutely fantastic—extremely well-written with good character introductions and dramatic moments. Volume 2 was a bit weaker; it could get a bit messy at times and had more fights than storytelling. But it was still good! There was great character development, and it was cool that a new, funny, and cool character (Elie) joined the adventure.
PS: If you've already read the comic, DON'T watch the TV series. It leaves out Volume 1 and is just absurd. You will get frustrated!!
Story: 4 Character: 4 The story and characters are quite cliché. It follows a warrior who is the only one capable of saving the world from an evil organization. Along his journey, he encounters individuals who join him because he has changed their hearts. He manages to turn a few villains to his side, refuses to kill, and embodies the typical naive good guy. The overall plot direction was fairly predictable.
Art: 6 The art style is reminiscent of One Piece, which I personally enjoy, so it was tolerable for me. The artwork improved significantly after about seven volumes. There are many well-drawn fight scenes, but the mangaka reuses several character designs from Fairy Tail, which I love. This repetition made me somewhat annoyed seeing similar characters again.
Enjoyment: 10 Overall: 8 Despite my lower scores in other areas, I unexpectedly loved this manga. It had a lighthearted tone with plenty of comedy, yet it also tackled serious themes. While it could be cheesy and a bit lame, the emotional highs and lows, along with minor plot twists, were fantastic.
I recommend this manga to readers who seek an emotional experience and can overlook clichéd storylines and characters. They should also be able to tolerate the art style.
Forget about Fairy Tail, Rave Master is where it's at for battle shonen. Having read both manga multiple times, I can confidently say that Mashima really missed the mark with Fairy Tail, while Rave Master stands out as a superior story, ranking higher than almost every other shonen I've read.
While I love to hype up Rave Master, I can't deny that it follows many generic and clichéd elements typical of shonen series. It has stereotypical characters and tropes. However, what sets Rave Master apart is how it executes these clichés in a way that surpasses most other shonen series.
Many of you may have watched the watered-down anime with its lackluster dub several years ago, but don't let that fool you into thinking Rave Master isn't excellent. The manga is far superior, especially considering the anime stopped before the best parts began. If you think characters like the Jiggle Butt Gang are silly, know that they only appear in two chapters and are later written off completely.
What makes Rave Master so great is that compared to other shonen manga, its characters feel more human and have well-developed personalities. They're not as deep as those in Neon Genesis Evangelion, but compared to characters from One Piece or Naruto, they feel more realistic and less contrived. This often leads to great emotional scenes and genuine tension between characters.
The story is also quite good for a shonen series. Initially, it starts with a straightforward "evil empire with superpowers trying to take over the world" plot, but it evolves into something much deeper. The pacing is excellent, with Rave completing its run in just under 300 chapters across several story arcs.
The fights are also top-notch. Most characters have abilities similar to those in Fairy Tail. In Rave, characters use Dark Brings, which grant them magic-like powers. Unlike in Fairy Tail, these fights have real tension and suspense because the heroes aren't invincible. Mashima excels at fight choreography, ensuring that everyone gets a chance to shine, unlike in other manga where side characters are often sidelined for the main character's victories.
Of course, Rave Master isn't flawless. The ending felt rushed, and I wasn't particularly fond of the main villain. But aside from these issues, I can't find much else to criticize.
Overall, Rave Master works incredibly well as a manga when all its elements are combined. It seems Mashima didn't take enough time between writing Rave Master and Fairy Tail to come up with fresh ideas, making Fairy Tail feel more like fan service. Rave Master, on the other hand, is a genuinely quality series.
Groove Adventure Rave, known as Rave Master in North America, is easily one of my favorite shonen series and ranks as my fifth favorite manga ever! Let's dive into the story. A boy named Haru Glory is chosen as the Rave Master, meaning he is one of the few who can use Rave stones. Along his journey, he meets Plue, a snowman-like creature often mistaken for a dog. He also encounters Ellie, an Etherion girl; Musica, a man who can manipulate metal; Let, a dragon from the Mystic Realm; and many other characters.
Throughout the story, Haru faces numerous challenges that make him stronger, ultimately leading to battles against the main antagonist of the first half, Demon Card. As for the second half, you'll have to read to find out who the villain is. The artwork in this manga is excellent, with well-developed characters and engaging story arcs. For me, it became even better after Sieg Hart's fight. One of my only issues is the slow start in pacing, some art inconsistencies, and a shaky plot, but everything improved significantly after the sixth volume.
When I first picked up the manga, I thought it wouldn't be very good, but how wrong I was. This manga can be enjoyed by any age group, which is why it will always hold a special place in my heart.
I used to think this was great when I was in elementary school, but now that I've grown up, I'm not sure what to make of it. It can still be a fun read if you can mentally return to a time when your tastes were simpler and less critical. Cool things happen, and you enjoy them without overthinking. However, if you've developed a more refined taste for the media you consume, this might seem like trash compared to your current favorites. Honestly, the only thing I really remember is that strange dog, so my review might not be very helpful. If you're still in elementary school, though, you should definitely give this a read.
Rave, by the author of Fairy Tail, is a typical battle shonen story. It follows Discount Natsu as he becomes the Rave Master and embarks on a quest to find the scattered Rave stones to unlock his full potential. These stones were dispersed due to an explosion 50 years ago, and now Discount Natsu must travel the world to retrieve them. Along the way, he gains many friends and allies, including Discount Lucy, who has lost her memory and whose plot point is totally unrelated to the Rave stones—totally.
There's also an anti-Rave organization called Demon Card, which does regular bad guy stuff like trying to rule the world (bet you didn't see that coming). Given that this was created by Hiro Mashima, I didn't have high expectations after reading Fairy Tail. And I was right. This series is mediocre by every definition. The characters are as generic as they come, from the villains to the main characters, to the nice guy bad guys and the bad guy nice guys. The clichés in this series are mind-boggling. It’s like a textbook on how to make a battle shonen. The deaths are underwhelming, the dialogue cringey. The only legitimate entertainment comes from the fight scenes, which is crucial for a battle shonen. Honestly, the most surprising thing is how incredibly predictable everything is. Everything is so cliché. However, that doesn’t mean the series is bad; it depends on how you play the clichés. And the author plays them incredibly mediocritely. Zero risks were taken when making this manga—at least most of the time.
Now, the action, which is the most important part of any action series, is good. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still cliché, but the author does a decent job of hyping it up. Combined with his art and amazing double-page spreads, we get some fantastic panels. Discount Natsu has a sword with ten forms, meaning they can deus ex machina whenever needed. Literally, this was created so they can be whatever they want when the need arises—it’s pretty cliché. If you think I've said "cliché" too many times, just wait until we get to part two of the series. The fights are also cliché but do have their own sense of style, which is really the only actually good part about the series.
There’s a massive power creep issue with this series. Where the hell were all these characters before? The author keeps pulling monsters out of nowhere. But the real issue is that the main characters keep getting ridiculously stronger. Holy shit, you'd think after the seventh time they used their ultimate ability with a 1% chance of success and a 99% chance of failure resulting in their death, it would fail at least once. The power scaling was a major issue. Everyone somehow kept up with little to no explanation, and even if an explanation was given, it was BS. At least it had style.
Honestly, though, the worst part about this series is the female characters. This has some of the poorest-written heroines I’ve seen in a while. Discount Lucy needs rescuing every single time and loses her will to defend herself whenever she gets forcibly kissed. It’s insane. The only decently written heroine was one of the villains, basically Discount Juvia, who had guts and a personality that didn’t revolve around screaming Discount Gray’s name. There’s another strong heroine, but since her clothing conveniently rips every single time, I’m not counting her. It’s disappointing because fan service is a major issue here. There’s an entire underwater mermaid arc just so the author can draw half-naked chicks for an entire arc—one of the longest arcs in the series. Ironically, this arc was the turning point where the quality noticeably improved, not great, but visibly better. Issues with paneling and fight scenes became smoother. While Fairy Tail’s fanservice is worse, this is still a major issue and legitimately upsetting and unentertaining part of the series. Male fanservice is used for comedic purposes, while female fanservice is for sexual pleasure, and the latter is much worse.
The characters, though cliché, were entertaining in their own right. Many badass moments involving the characters are exemplified by the double pages and do their jobs well. Watching the good guys get pissed and destroy everyone is always entertaining. The villains, however, were definitely the main issue. The author pulls the whole bad guy turned good at the last minute and sacrifices himself to pay for his sins BS, which is completely wrong. There’s this guy who’s a total jerk, but the MC forgives him—WAT? Like, the crap he did is worth execution, and you’re just letting him go. It’s insane how much the good guys let bad guys go, and it works in their favor. I also enjoyed that some characters actually die—not last-minute rescue deaths. Thankfully, only 98% of the cast is alive in Rave, giving somewhat real depth to the fights that were always to the death.
The best character, however, is Discount Jellal. This guy is insane, and I’m in love with him. All the unique personality and well-written drama—he has it. Discount Jellal was by far the best character in this series. Every time he showed up on screen, hype was heavy inducing.
Volumes 31-34 are amazing. It’s like it was written by a different person entirely. It took me 2 days to read volumes 1-30, yet less than 2 hours to read volumes 31-34. This is next-level stuff. While it isn’t worth reading 30 volumes for, especially with the ending (which I’ll get to), it was definitely where the author took risks and made the series more fun.
As far as endings go, you wish for more, especially when it comes to ships, but the discount Fairy Tail cast can only get so much. It does enough for the main couple you want, but I wish side characters got more closure. We’re left with implied resolutions.
TLDR: Mediocre, but it was just good enough at times for me to give it more than just a pass. 6/10.
Popular Reviews
Rave Master was a series I discovered during my middle school years. It was one of the first manga I ever read, and I was captivated by how different it was from American comics. The series exuded style; it integrated musical themes into various story elements and naming conventions, character designs were spot-on, and the initial cast was likable enough that I quickly became attached. At that time, I was too young to afford buying the volumes, and my lack of resources made me lose track of the series.
Years later, with Hiro Mashima currently writing several ongoing titles (as of the beginning of 2020), I decided to finally reread Rave Master to completion. My manga knowledge had significantly increased since my last read, and I was curious to revisit it. Watching an artist's work evolve over time is fascinating, and Mashima is no exception. The first few volumes of Rave Master can be a bit rough, but near the end, my attachment to the characters and the artwork kept me engaged enough to finish the story.
The story includes many typical shonen tropes: the power of friendship overcoming any obstacle, the main character winning fights simply because he is the protagonist, coming-of-age story elements, and so on. Unfortunately, this also becomes the manga’s biggest flaw. Characters often survive their battles out of plot convenience (Let and Haru being prime examples). Despite suffering lethal damage or sacrificing themselves for their friends, they all miraculously survive. Moments with emotional weight are sadly negated later because the author was hesitant to kill off fan favorites, while other characters are killed off almost casually.
Another significant issue I have with the story is its inconsistent pacing after the King/Demon Card arc. Pumpkin Doryu, a major side villain, has a multi-volume storyline (which I found the least interesting) yet the final enemies' battles only take a few chapters. I’m unsure if this was due to publication issues or if the story was intended to end this way, but the last storyline felt rushed, introducing several incredibly powerful characters who are defeated within 2-3 chapters.
Despite these gripes, Rave Master is a great shonen read. You’ll quickly become attached to the colorful, diverse cast and the world of Rave. Plus, the length of the series doesn’t require too much of a time commitment.
Groove Adventure Rave: An epic adventure filled with emotional events.
This is probably the only manga I've completely read, so I think I should write a review about it.
Note: I watched the 51-episode anime ten years ago. I recently finished reading the manga. I am also currently watching Fairy Tail, another story by Mashima Hiro, so this review will be based on that context.
If you have read or watched Fairy Tail, you should definitely read this manga. There was a 51-episode anime adaptation of Groove Adventure Rave, but it didn't cover the entire story. Therefore, reading the manga is the only way to understand the whole narrative. This story might even be the origin of Fairy Tail (or so I thought).
This manga follows the typical shonen genre pattern. A hero battles evil, travels through various places, and meets many comrades along the journey. Like other shonen stories, the hero is powerful and becomes even more so as the journey progresses. The hero also possesses a very powerful item that can only be used by him to defeat evil. In the end, the hero and his companions defeat evil and save the world, but the cost is high, which is what makes Groove Adventure Rave truly stand out. Several important characters die, and these events are deeply touching.
Enough about the story. The plot is amazing, so I give it a 10. The art is unique but inconsistent, changing several times, so I'll give it an 8. Character development is great. For enjoyment, I really enjoyed it due to the masterful story, so overall, I give it a score of 9.
For those who want to experience a different kind of shonen manga, Rave is the best choice. For those who have read or watched Fairy Tail, this manga might be its origin, so you should definitely read it.
Please enjoy the read.
WineZ
PS: If you've already read the comic, DON'T watch the TV series. It leaves out Volume 1 and is just absurd. You will get frustrated!!
I will update as I read more.
Story: 4
Character: 4
The story and characters are quite cliché. It follows a warrior who is the only one capable of saving the world from an evil organization. Along his journey, he encounters individuals who join him because he has changed their hearts. He manages to turn a few villains to his side, refuses to kill, and embodies the typical naive good guy. The overall plot direction was fairly predictable.
Art: 6
The art style is reminiscent of One Piece, which I personally enjoy, so it was tolerable for me. The artwork improved significantly after about seven volumes. There are many well-drawn fight scenes, but the mangaka reuses several character designs from Fairy Tail, which I love. This repetition made me somewhat annoyed seeing similar characters again.
Enjoyment: 10
Overall: 8
Despite my lower scores in other areas, I unexpectedly loved this manga. It had a lighthearted tone with plenty of comedy, yet it also tackled serious themes. While it could be cheesy and a bit lame, the emotional highs and lows, along with minor plot twists, were fantastic.
I recommend this manga to readers who seek an emotional experience and can overlook clichéd storylines and characters. They should also be able to tolerate the art style.
Groove Adventure Rave, known as Rave Master in North America, is easily one of my favorite shonen series and ranks as my fifth favorite manga ever! Let's dive into the story. A boy named Haru Glory is chosen as the Rave Master, meaning he is one of the few who can use Rave stones. Along his journey, he meets Plue, a snowman-like creature often mistaken for a dog. He also encounters Ellie, an Etherion girl; Musica, a man who can manipulate metal; Let, a dragon from the Mystic Realm; and many other characters.
Throughout the story, Haru faces numerous challenges that make him stronger, ultimately leading to battles against the main antagonist of the first half, Demon Card. As for the second half, you'll have to read to find out who the villain is. The artwork in this manga is excellent, with well-developed characters and engaging story arcs. For me, it became even better after Sieg Hart's fight. One of my only issues is the slow start in pacing, some art inconsistencies, and a shaky plot, but everything improved significantly after the sixth volume.
When I first picked up the manga, I thought it wouldn't be very good, but how wrong I was. This manga can be enjoyed by any age group, which is why it will always hold a special place in my heart.
I used to think this was great when I was in elementary school, but now that I've grown up, I'm not sure what to make of it. It can still be a fun read if you can mentally return to a time when your tastes were simpler and less critical. Cool things happen, and you enjoy them without overthinking. However, if you've developed a more refined taste for the media you consume, this might seem like trash compared to your current favorites. Honestly, the only thing I really remember is that strange dog, so my review might not be very helpful. If you're still in elementary school, though, you should definitely give this a read.