Manga Club

If you haven't heard of it before, this is a new event we're trying out.
The idea is that we all read a selection from some manga or other, preferably one not everyone has already read. Then, on a later date, we discuss it and stuff.

Today's selection is chapters 1-20 of Black Cat. You can start reading it here.

This topic will be open for discussion on Staurday, June 12.

All right. I guess people can start posting here now.

Overall, I liked it enough to want to read more of it, if only to pass the time.
But it felt a little bit stale- as though I'd seen it all somewhere before.

I figured they'd use the "attempted mission > mission failed" loop to make sure they'd never actually get any real money- but if that was going on, it didn't feel distracting...

It kinda bugged me how Train had lots of crazy superpowers for no apparent reason (although that'll probably be explained later). Other than that, I thought the main characters were all right- they ended up solving their problems in fairly creative ways, but didn't always win.

Although she didn't do much in the first 20 chapters, I liked Eve and her transformation bit, although it felt like her heel face turn was just a bit too quick.
I was glad they didn't kill her off- the little girl death toll was getting much too high in things I'd been watching. If it'd had gotten much higher, I'd have ended up strangling my computer.

Finally, it is not in any way epic or cool to call yourself a "stray cat". It just isn't.
It's also not cool to have crazy mind control powers and an overly hardcore name/appearance, then turn out for your power to be control over insects. Although to be fair, he used it pretty well.
...As long as he doesn't invent new species of bugs whenever he needs to do something really stupid. "THESE ARE THE FORCE FIELD GRASSHOPPERS THEY MAKE FORCE FIELDS"

In summary: Good, but felt a bit stale.

All right I read the whole thing a while back but I'll try not to give too much away. With regards to Kratos's comments I have to admit the series does feel a bit off at points, but I still suggest finishing it up if you got free time. Train's not as broken as you think. You mentioned the bug dude, he's got friends. I'll leave it at that. Also the stray cat thing is about freedom. It's a bit cliche but you need Train's backstory. (I don't think ch 20 gets that far does it?) Basically what I'm saying is it's not the best series but read the way you would a novel. A little before bed when you have time. The best and worst thing about it is that it lays some pretty good ground work for a streched out Shonen series, but doesn't take more time than you're willing to spend on it.

Well I read this like, 5 years ago. Its one of my favorite series up there with Reborn and Soul Eater. Train's "broken" because he was the strongest member of the Chronos Numbers. If you watch the anime, it starts off differently with Sven being alone and broke, and train is still evil and assassinating people as a member of Chronos for like the first 4 episodes. Im assuming when he says bug guy hes talking about Shiki?

; ;

It defeats the purpose if you've all read the whole series already!

Ah well. No big deal, really.
Yeah I meant Shiki.

I've read it twice through, and the entire series is on my shelf

Train doesnt have SUPERPOWAHS or mind control. He's very agile and knows martial arts. Plus he's been a high level assasin for years so his aim is unmatched. In that instance where his eyes became catlike, he was simply intimidating those poor stupid goons of Torneo's.

Kratos Aurion wrote:; ;

It defeats the purpose if you've all read the whole series already!

Ah well. No big deal, really.
Yeah I meant Shiki.

We're sorry. not really, it's a great read That's something to keep in mind for the next one. How 'bout Saiyuki, Juushin Enbu: Hero Tales, GTO's prequel(forgot the name), Cyborg Grandpa G, Metallica Metalluca, HunterxHunter, Freezing, Azumanga Daiyoh or Frankenstein? Those are some on my "Start if I ever have time list". (though I'm on ch 2 of hero tales atm)
Anyway back to Black Cat. Train actually had less power than most of the villians (and his sidekicks for that matter), but was that much cooler for it. Hey how many Chronos #s didn't they show? I would love to see an accompanying book for this series filling in gaps like that.

The author had said he would like to continue the series one day. It may happen.

But I think you only saw the other numbers in the anime version. I never watched it, just wiki'd it.

So I never read this manga. But now that I am I like it. I kinda worry about the amount of characters with special powers. Since Eve joined up I worry that ALL of the guys with special powers will end up joining Train for some reason. And while there's no problem with a few joining up, I worry it'll end up with about 20 good guys watching as Train and Creed do a final fight and the rest of them stand there saying "GO TRAIN-SAN!!!"

But that fear I feel is unlikely to come true. But if it does I'll be disappointed.

Mufasa wrote:So I never read this manga. But now that I am I like it. I kinda worry about the amount of characters with special powers. Since Eve joined up I worry that ALL of the guys with special powers will end up joining Train for some reason. And while there's no problem with a few joining up, I worry it'll end up with about 20 good guys watching as Train and Creed do a final fight and the rest of them stand there saying "GO TRAIN-SAN!!!"

But that fear I feel is unlikely to come true. But if it does I'll be disappointed.

There aren't nearly as many people in here as in Bleach : D
I might be able to count the people wishing him good luck in the end on two hands.

Well, at the point I'm at, there's arguably 4 people. Including Miss. Rinslet. But I have a feeling about a handful that are floating around.

Edit: Also, I have to say, I really like all the character designs. At least the main characters. Each one is really unique and very detailed.

There arent characters that join Train for good outside of Sven and Eve. Of course theres a handfull of supporting characters, and only a few of them are reoccuring.

We can discuss Black Cat more, but how about we pick what series to do next?

Metal Rabbit wrote:We can discuss Black Cat more, but how about we pick what series to do next?

Ya, this session's about over, so I guess that'd be the next step.

It was kind of dissapointing that most people had read it already, but there were a few who hadn't so I guess this was a partial success.

Actually, i've never read HunterxHunter, maybe that would be a good pick? Has anyone else read it?

yes, I love that series, although its on haitus atm so yeah

That series keeps going on hiatus : o
What the hell keeps happening with the author

health problems, also it has like 300 chapters so I Doubt we will be reading all of that

I haven't read it either. We could just do the 1st vol. then those who want can continue on their own.

1st vol entails 10-12 chapters?

That's how much I'll read unless otherwise.

With Black Cat, we read the first 20 chapters.
Did that amount work out okay for everyone? If so, we can just do that again.

Worked for me. I ended up finishing the series today.

Chapter 80 - 185.

My head is pounding....

....Ow...

Mufasa wrote:Worked for me. I ended up finishing the series today.

Chapter 80 - 185.

My head is pounding....

....Ow...

Headache tablets, or maybe reading a little less in one sitting.

Lyle I know how that goes. I read Elfen Leid in one sitting.

Metal Rabbit wrote:Lyle I know how that goes. I read Elfen Leid in one sitting.

same here. and about 120 chapters of reborn once.