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Underwhelmed by Bokurano




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GATSU



Joined: 03 Jan 2002
Posts: 16393
PostPosted: Sat Sep 05, 2009 2:03 am Reply with quote
I thought it was going to be creepy, but so far, judging by the Viz translations, it just ended up being another Eva clone with some Death Note-type rules to it. Does it actually get better later on?
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HellKorn



Joined: 03 Oct 2006
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Location: Columbus, OH
PostPosted: Sat Sep 05, 2009 12:22 pm Reply with quote
You wouldn't judge Berserk just based on its first few awful volumes, right? Similar case here, though the opening chapters of Bokurano are actually good enough -- manga obviously is a slow-burner and can actually get better to its nature of publication, unlike anime.

Bokurano is nothing like Evangelion, outside of the superficial similarity of them being subversive and dark mecha. Have no idea why you're referrencing Death Note.

Short answer: Yes, Bokurano does get better.
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GATSU



Joined: 03 Jan 2002
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PostPosted: Sun Sep 06, 2009 12:59 am Reply with quote
Berserk is friggin' awesome in its first couple volumes. I actually wish that was what the series was like in general.

Quote:
Have no idea why you're referrencing Death Note.


Kids having deadly powers which might back-fire, etc.
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dtm42



Joined: 05 Feb 2008
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PostPosted: Sun Sep 06, 2009 3:00 am Reply with quote
Just a little tidbit you might enjoy; the director of the Anime adaptation of Bokurano has made no attempt to hide his extreme dislike of the Manga. Not because it is "just an EVA clone", but because it is just so utterly bleak and depressing. Even more so than EVA itself, in some ways.
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dormcat
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Joined: 08 Dec 2003
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PostPosted: Sun Sep 06, 2009 5:53 am Reply with quote
dtm42 wrote:
Even more so than EVA itself, in some ways.

But with much better and more reasonable pacing and background settings.
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bahamut623



Joined: 23 Jun 2005
Posts: 1463
PostPosted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 12:09 am Reply with quote
I've had a question about Bokurano for a while, so I might as well ask it now.
I started reading Narutaru a while ago, and I'm really enjoying it. I'm not that far into it, but I've heard later on there are some questionable images (sexual, etc.). While I don't have a big problem reading it, I would have a problem owning it. So my question is, does Bokurano have anything like that? I know the story is disturbing in a psychological way, but is there anything visual like in Narutaru?
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dormcat
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PostPosted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 12:25 am Reply with quote
bahamut623 wrote:
So my question is, does Bokurano have anything like that? I know the story is disturbing in a psychological way, but is there anything visual like in Narutaru?

spoiler[Chizuru Honda had a sexual relationship with her teacher (also her elder sister's fiancé). Later he betrayed her by inviting his friends to gang rape her.] The art of this chapter was not as graphical as Narutaru, but the story was as, if not more, disturbing. I also saw a newer page (which I don't own yet) with the Zearth (protagonists' robot) spoiler[tearing off the wall of a building, revealing a little girl having sex with an adult male.]
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Shadowrun20XX



Joined: 26 Nov 2007
Posts: 1938
Location: Vegas
PostPosted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 2:09 am Reply with quote
GATSU wrote:
I thought it was going to be creepy, but so far, judging by the Viz translations, it just ended up being another Eva clone with some Death Note-type rules to it. Does it actually get better later on?
Somewhat man.

Spoiler 1 spoiler[Getting to see each new mech's technique kept me going. About half way through one of the boys stops and say's he wants to greet the other pilot. The other pilot? Another Child! ]

Spoiler 2 spoiler[In one of the final fights when Zearth goes for the final kill,you get to see inside the other pilot's cockpit. It's 15 other children in the same exact situation. Meaning each mech they downed is an alternate reality snuffed out. Also meaning there is a higher power playing with the universe. ]

Spoiler 3 spoiler[ Each child is destined to die, so you know that it is going to happen towards the end. All the kids die and dung beetle gets his form back,while Kokopelli gets the form that dung beetle had. It then proceeds to show more chairs. So it's like a sick game with two bad guys trading off forms,jumping around the universe. Extra: Kitoh just so happened to be finishing the series right when I finished the manga myself. (so I lucked out at the time). Also in the anime....the last girl gets away. It's complete crap. Not Kitoh's depressing style at all. I really gotta say, I really enjoyed the manga a lot.]

After you guys finish Kitoh's Bokurano, you should search out his other works. The Wings of Vendemiaire is pretty ****ed up as well.

bahamut623 wrote:
I've had a question about Bokurano for a while, so I might as well ask it now.
I started reading Narutaru a while ago, and I'm really enjoying it. I'm not that far into it, but I've heard later on there are some questionable images (sexual, etc.). While I don't have a big problem reading it, I would have a problem owning it. So my question is, does Bokurano have anything like that? I know the story is disturbing in a psychological way, but is there anything visual like in Narutaru?
In Narutaru,there are a few sexual situations and a particular rape scene where spoiler[ One of the main characters gets gang raped by a group of girls.The girls had a vial of semen that they were trying to force into her. Bullying her.] It's not shown in detail, so it's not something someone is going to see,unless you really look for it.

Dormcat already answered the one in Bokurano. They're no big deal. Heh, though people shouldn't be aroused by Kitoh's sickly character illustrations anyway. Laughing I don't judge though.
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slickwataris



Joined: 21 Dec 2004
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Location: Carol Stream, Illinois
PostPosted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 9:08 pm Reply with quote
I always thought of it as "Battle Royale with robots." That's the impression I got while watching the anime. I'm slowly reading the manga on IKKI.
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slickwataris



Joined: 21 Dec 2004
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Location: Carol Stream, Illinois
PostPosted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 9:09 pm Reply with quote
xdouble post

Last edited by slickwataris on Tue Sep 08, 2009 10:32 am; edited 1 time in total
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bahamut623



Joined: 23 Jun 2005
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PostPosted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 12:21 am Reply with quote
Thanks for the info. If it's not too explicit and not often, I guess it's alright. I could always just read it on the website and see for myself, but...reading it online is less appealing then reading it in physical book form. For most Ikki series that I'm interested in, I'm just waiting for the print editions.
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dormcat
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Joined: 08 Dec 2003
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PostPosted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 1:09 am Reply with quote
Shadowrun20XX wrote:
Spoiler 1 spoiler[Getting to see each new mech's technique kept me going. About half way through one of the boys stops and say's he wants to greet the other pilot. The other pilot? Another Child!]

I have to say that spoiler[the other pilot is the cutest girl I've seen in Bokurano bt far (glasses glasses). Pay attention to her forearm: numerous scars show that she has tried committing suicide many times, probably after knowing she has been "chosen."]
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Monumension



Joined: 03 Jul 2005
Posts: 268
Location: Norway
PostPosted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 12:42 pm Reply with quote
slickwataris wrote:
I always thought of it as "Battle Royale with robots." That's the impression I got while watching the anime. I'm slowly reading the manga on IKKI.


Along with Saikano and Gantz that one popped into my mind when I started on Kitoh's manga. One difference being that the children in Bokurano are in an even more hopeless spot than the kids in Battle Royale: spoiler[They're practically doomed whether they decide to play the game or not, and they'll take the whole world with them if they lose. ] It's amazing what a trip to the summer camp can lead to!

As for GATSU's question; yeah the manga gets better later on, but I thought this series was pretty solid from the start. Could be it's not your thing.
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Shadowrun20XX



Joined: 26 Nov 2007
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PostPosted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 10:41 pm Reply with quote
dormcat wrote:
Shadowrun20XX wrote:
Spoiler 1 spoiler[Getting to see each new mech's technique kept me going. About half way through one of the boys stops and say's he wants to greet the other pilot. The other pilot? Another Child!]

I have to say that spoiler[the other pilot is the cutest girl I've seen in Bokurano bt far (glasses glasses). Pay attention to her forearm: numerous scars show that she has tried committing suicide many times, probably after knowing she has been "chosen."]
I agree Glasses are the best.

Oh wow, good hawkeye Dormcat. I really like little details like that. It shows that they covered more bases than just a short appearance. I'll go check that out now. Very Happy
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