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REVIEW: The Key to the Kingdom GN 4-6




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here-and-faraway



Joined: 21 Jun 2007
Posts: 1528
Location: Sunny California
PostPosted: Wed May 06, 2009 7:35 am Reply with quote
I agree. It really is that good. I discovered the series thanks to one of your earlier reviews.
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CCSYueh



Joined: 03 Jul 2004
Posts: 2707
Location: San Diego, CA
PostPosted: Wed May 06, 2009 10:36 am Reply with quote
Quote:
In addition, characters and their various fantastical outfits are always gorgeously detailed, and she specializes in symbolic panels that represent and idea or theme as opposed to an event. CLAMP fans should love it…and then they will wonder why they have heard of CLAMP but not Kyoko Shitou.


I haven't read this author because I have grown weary of the dozens of shojo titles that promise the world & settle for far less. However, I read Clamp for their humor (Clamp School, Duklyon) & the way they layer their stories. If one pays attention, they drop clues to future plot developments all over--one just has to know what it is when one sees it.
As for why we haven't heard of this gal--outside of Takahashi, Clamp, Oda, Toriyama, Kubo, etc, are there that many authors that have crawled to the top of the heap here in the states that readers seek out other works they have done? I have hundreds of titles & most are the only title I have by that author. The Licensees here don't particularly support the various authors. If one series sells, they may license another by the author, but not necessarily. (And if it's TP, they might drop it). A percentage of readers seem to know the author of the manga, but most seem to go for titles & the way the titles are marketed doesn't particularly support authors. When I go to bookstores or browse online, the books are sold alphabetically by Title. I used that system for some time, but 2 yrs ago I switched to by author & was surprised certain authors wrote more than one title in my collection.
By and large, my collection is single titles by each author (unless they're using pen names. Some are, damn it. Throws off the system). For the most part the yaoi licensees have done the most with licensing multiple titles by authors(they just take forever between volumes). This always confused me since I figured it would make more sense for companies to sign with a proven author, but that's not how manga works in the US. Granted, even in Japan we sort of see an author might have a huge success that nothing else really compares to in sales & lacking the compilation format in the US that they possess in Japan, going for "safe" big titles makes more sense. Granted, that doesn't explain the countless aimless shojo titles we do get, but some must sell because they license them ad nauseum. The sheer volume of manga available in Japan makes the probability we're missing some great stuff here in the states huge.
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Senna



Joined: 14 Oct 2003
Posts: 99
Location: Somewhere, USA
PostPosted: Wed May 06, 2009 10:57 am Reply with quote
After the first review for this series, I was curious but didn't pick it up because I didn't see it at any of the bookstores I frequent (I prefer to buy manga in person) -- and sometimes series start out good but become watered down after a few volumes. After this review, I think I might start looking for a good price online. Like CCSYueh said, it can be hard to dig out the good shoujo from the piles of bad. I'm more than eager to pick up this title if it's all it promises to be.

EDIT: In my searching I've noticed the series is rated 16+. It doesn't really make a difference as to whether or not I buy it, but can anyone give me an idea of what the rating is for? (As in, why it's rated 16+ rather than 13+ or whatever.)
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belvadeer





PostPosted: Wed May 06, 2009 2:10 pm Reply with quote
I have to admit I really liked the ending to this series when I finished it a few months ago. One particular scene choked me up, something only a dragon fanatic like me can appreciate. It told a very rich story in six volumes and I never got tired of Asta getting annoyed at Bad's constant jokes about women. Anime hyper
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corinthian



Joined: 20 Feb 2009
Posts: 264
PostPosted: Wed May 06, 2009 4:56 pm Reply with quote
This sounds like an excellent series, and I will definitely pick it up. And only six volumes? My wallet and bookshelf give their appreciation... (Plus it's from CMX, so it feels good to give my money to somebody other than Viz when it comes to manga.)

Now for some pot-stirring. Not long ago Casey posted a comparably glowing review of three volumes of Naruto and there were cries of payola and hackery and such. Where's that now? Maybe it was all because the review isn't of a huge series with a huge advertising campaign? Or maybe because it wasn't Naruto?
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Pinkwings



Joined: 28 Jan 2007
Posts: 234
PostPosted: Thu May 07, 2009 7:56 pm Reply with quote
I am so freaking buying this asap. D: I wish I could find it online..looks like I'll have to buy it. I want to read this so badly.
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BleuVII



Joined: 19 Sep 2006
Posts: 672
Location: Tokorozawa, Japan
PostPosted: Thu May 07, 2009 10:32 pm Reply with quote
I picked up the first volume after the review that was posted here. I enjoyed it, and after reading this review, I might complete my collection.

So, thanks for the review.
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vashfanatic



Joined: 16 Jun 2005
Posts: 3489
Location: Back stateside
PostPosted: Fri May 08, 2009 7:16 pm Reply with quote
corinthian wrote:
Now for some pot-stirring. Not long ago Casey posted a comparably glowing review of three volumes of Naruto and there were cries of payola and hackery and such. Where's that now? Maybe it was all because the review isn't of a huge series with a huge advertising campaign? Or maybe because it wasn't Naruto?


I don't see how the two are connected at all. If she gives glowing reviews to something and everyone agrees, then there won't be any complaints. If she gives glowing reviews to something and people disagree there will be. And Naruto has wider exposure, so more people know it, so a greater variety of opinions exist. There's no reason why people would just automatically bitch over any review simply because it's positive.
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Isinkships



Joined: 01 May 2009
Posts: 2
PostPosted: Fri May 08, 2009 11:22 pm Reply with quote
I started reading this manga as the 4th volume was coming out.
It can be a little hard to find, but it's definitely worth the money.

The mangaka should be applauded for her pacing, the story doesn't rush through the material, nor does it belabor important points. And the characters get a fair bit of development through the telling of the story.
Proof that work in this genre doesn't need to end up being an exercise in shoveling through the cheese.
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