short book, starts out good, then it starts to rush and then details fly put the window and then each chapter is years forward. everything happens in the beginning.
This is a manga that takes a rather loose inspiration from the Vandread anime. Similar to the anime, it's set in a universe where men and women live on separate planets and are constantly at war. Likewise, it focuses on Hibiki, a young man who finds himself aboard a vessel crewed entirely by female pirates, where he is called upon to pilot a mecha against an enemy unknown to both genders.
However, the similarities stop there.
In the manga, Hibiki is the sole male onboard. His relationship with Dita evolves much more swiftly compared to the anime. Some of the crew members either differ or possess vastly altered personalities. Moreover, the nature of the external threat is significantly different.
Story (5): The basic storyline works well. The universe serves as an intriguing backdrop, and I appreciate the accelerated development of Hibiki and Dita's relationship. The issue lies in the fact that the story progresses too rapidly. Action scenes are perplexing, certain plot elements remain unexplained, and characters appear and disappear with minimal introduction. If this manga were three or four times longer, I believe I would enjoy it much more; as it stands, it can be confusing at times.
Art (6): The character designs are skillfully rendered, and the ship looks suitably impressive. However, the action sequences aren't executed particularly well. A confusing event might occur in one panel, only for the next panel to feature a character explaining precisely what just happened. There's excessive "telling" and insufficient "showing," which isn't ideal for an action manga.
Character (7): Generally, I enjoyed this iteration of Hibiki, Dita, and the rest of the crew. They're likable individuals striving to make the best of their circumstances. Yet again, the problem is the rushed pace. There is some character growth, particularly with Dita and Hibiki, though even then they occasionally act in ways that seem inconsistent with their established personalities. The other characters lack consistency in their actions.
Enjoyment (6): As someone who has watched—and appreciated—the anime, I found this to be an engaging alternate take on the universe, especially regarding the relationship between Hibiki and Dita. Had they devoted more time to developing the plot and characters, I would have liked it considerably more. As it is... it's decent.
Overall (6): If you've seen the anime and are interested in alternate universe stories, I'd cautiously recommend this. Otherwise, it's probably best to steer clear. The Vandread manga isn't poor, but there are numerous superior action, sci-fi, and romance manga available.
Popular Reviews
However, the similarities stop there.
In the manga, Hibiki is the sole male onboard. His relationship with Dita evolves much more swiftly compared to the anime. Some of the crew members either differ or possess vastly altered personalities. Moreover, the nature of the external threat is significantly different.
Story (5): The basic storyline works well. The universe serves as an intriguing backdrop, and I appreciate the accelerated development of Hibiki and Dita's relationship. The issue lies in the fact that the story progresses too rapidly. Action scenes are perplexing, certain plot elements remain unexplained, and characters appear and disappear with minimal introduction. If this manga were three or four times longer, I believe I would enjoy it much more; as it stands, it can be confusing at times.
Art (6): The character designs are skillfully rendered, and the ship looks suitably impressive. However, the action sequences aren't executed particularly well. A confusing event might occur in one panel, only for the next panel to feature a character explaining precisely what just happened. There's excessive "telling" and insufficient "showing," which isn't ideal for an action manga.
Character (7): Generally, I enjoyed this iteration of Hibiki, Dita, and the rest of the crew. They're likable individuals striving to make the best of their circumstances. Yet again, the problem is the rushed pace. There is some character growth, particularly with Dita and Hibiki, though even then they occasionally act in ways that seem inconsistent with their established personalities. The other characters lack consistency in their actions.
Enjoyment (6): As someone who has watched—and appreciated—the anime, I found this to be an engaging alternate take on the universe, especially regarding the relationship between Hibiki and Dita. Had they devoted more time to developing the plot and characters, I would have liked it considerably more. As it is... it's decent.
Overall (6): If you've seen the anime and are interested in alternate universe stories, I'd cautiously recommend this. Otherwise, it's probably best to steer clear. The Vandread manga isn't poor, but there are numerous superior action, sci-fi, and romance manga available.