. You just can't deny and put an end to the Twilight saga madness. From Novels to Movies, fanworks, shirts and merchandise, Stephenie Meyers created a fever that just doesn't seem to end soon. For Twilight fans it's something to look forward to (*cough*) while for others who might think it's overrated, this new addition to the collection is just something unbelievable.
Twilight: Graphic Novel Vol. 1 is on sale today with over 350,000 copies available in the U.S. Market.
Scene where Mike Newton introduces himself to Bella
The "Manhwa" (Graphic Novel) is created by Korean Artist Young Kim, and published by Yen Press. According to Jsyk.com, the artist based the "drawings on the descriptions in the books, not the actors who were cast in the movies. So they really look nothing alike, which is a little refreshing and weird at the same time." I couldn't agree more with the Young. When I first watched the movie, I personally didn't see Edward in Pattinson or Bella in Stewart.
The only detail I can't find in the news online is how much does each volume cost? I hope it's reasonable enough as not to make it a more rip-off!
A Manga review of Zettai Kareshi (Absolute Boyfriend)
For girls who think that they ugly, not so feminine (in terms of action) and “tit-less” (okay let’s not dig on that too far >.<”), your chances of getting the absolute boyfriend are… 100%!
Let’s take Riiko Izawa, a 16-year old girl with sadly, the above mentioned characteristics. She has been rejected by all the guys whom she confesses to. It’s like Hanamichi Sakuragi (Slam Dunk) or Seiji Sawamura (Midori no Hibi)... female version. Well, not in terms of being a deliquent feared by everybody. She’s just simply… not standing out.
One day, she picks up a dropped celphone in the park and talks to the person on the other line. It turns out to be the owner of the phone, a comical [cosplaying] salesman. His name is Gaku Namikiri who offers Riiko a lot of his different products. Riiko greatly resists the temptation of buying bosom-enlargement products (LOL)and says that he wants a boyfriend instead. Turns out, Gaku also sells one! He hands her a CD which contains a secret URL to the website called “Lovers Shop”, asking her to keep it an absolute secret. Riiko finds it all a joke but out of curiosity, tries “the three-day trial” of a stunningly handsome man labeled as “Nightly Series Type 01”. When she woke up the next day, her order is suddenly delivered to her home!
She opens up the big crate and out comes….a corpse-like naked man! XD
Horrified that the lover she “ordered” through the internet is true, she reads the ‘instruction manual’ where it says that the lover is just sleeping (Sheew!) and to wake it up, she must give him a kiss…
Never-been-kissed Riiko hesitantly does it and surprisingly does wake him up! And the figure’s first words are “Hello Girlfriend”!
Dumbfounded Riiko calls Gaku about this sudden madness who explains clearly that the kiss was to start-up and identify who the figure’s “lover” is that and that she did “order” the Nightly Series which is by it’s name, is a “Night lover”! (WTF! *Gulp!* Wooot! XD)
She has three days to “enjoy” him (evil laugh), Riiko and “Night” (the name she gave him) has done… NOTHING to Night’s purpose! >_<” She kept on hiding him at her home (her parents being on a trip for a while) and from his childhood neighbor Soushi Asamoto. And during Night’s stay with Riiko, she realizes that he is indeed the perfect boyfriend, handsome, loving, humorous, and everything a girl would wish for. Despite Night’s persistence at times that they make love, Riiko always declines saying that she wants to give it to her ‘true love’.
On the fourth day, Gaku then appears at her home to collect the payment for the “Night” since it’s already considered “SOLD” because Riiko didn’t return Night after the three day free trial! XD To her horror, Night costs… ¥100M because of Riiko’s input of the options she wanted for a boyfriend (e.g. handsome, kind, romantic, good at cooking, etc.) and all of those options totaled to ¥100M! LOL!
Gaku then explains that Night was actually meant to be a lover for rich women anyway. XD He can shoot ‘30 rounds a night’ which could lead to a mere mortal’s death! XD (This scene was really funny, I actually laughed my head off!) It is then revealed that Night is a ‘Figure’… a kind of human-like robot who can be transplanted with the options the buyer desires to be an ultimate “lover”. And because that reason, Riiko should not tell anyone about it (“Hi this is Night, he’s a robot!” …Get the gist? =.=”) or else pay ¥100M… in CASH. >___<”
But obviously given Riiko’s stature, she couldn’t afford to pay for him and thinks of getting a part-time job while Night insists that he works too to pay for his own cost as not to burden his ‘girlfriend’ (awww! XD). But her lifetime won’t seems to be enough to pay for Night so Gaku suggests that if Riiko offers her ‘services’ to his Company (Kronos Heavens), her payment would be waived. And her so called ‘services’? Not really to be one of the Lovers Series, but instead help Night collect data about women through his “control ring” to help the company understand what women want and eventually improve their “Lovers for sale”. (Do you really think men can fully understand us women?! XD)
The next chapters show how Night went to the same school as Riiko, (“A Good Place to collect data!” – Gaku) he swiftly gains the attention (and hearts) of (almost) all women because of his charming, dependable, intelligent, athletic, good-looking, and sensitive (not to mention devotion and loyalty to Riiko)traits. He even has his own fan club who doesn’t allow any girl to come near him! O_O” Given the situation that since the keep their relationship a secret, Riiko and Night are somehow parted and so the love triangle begins…
Riiko’s bestfriend, Mika Ito, falls inlove with Night. She actually knew their secret and tries different actions (such as seducing Night and framing Riiko) just to get her hands on his boyfriend. Yes, it is revealed in the manga that she is indeed a b*tch.
But that’s not all! Another revelation which is undeniably a character inlove with Riiko, It’s no other then her bestfriend since Highschool… Soushi! He cares for her so much that she keeps for her everyday, cleans up their house (at some instances) and is obviously jealous of Night! The catch? Soushi hasn’t revealed his true feelings for her, not until everything was too late…
The story progresses with Night developing ‘real emotions’, acting on his own (despite not being inputted in his system), and thus enabling him to truly LOVE Riiko. She who sees him once as just a mere ‘appliance’ eventually feels something for him.
Things get really sweet and painful when Night ‘malfunctions’ and breaks down. He is then taken back to the company and would be replaced for another Type 01. Riiko refuses, saying Night can’t be replaced and for some reason, Night was able to come back because he doesn’t want to leave his girlfriend alone… (awww).
Several attempts to capture and replace Type 01 were made by Kronos Company only to give up in the end when Night finally destroys the ring that “controls” and binds him with the company. Riiko also realizes that she doesn’t want to lose him. But just then, Soushi also finally confesses his love so she’s torn apart between the two guys she likes. An answer from her is demanded by Soushi as to who is the better boyfriend… her perfect ‘robot’ boyfriend or the human who has been there for her ever since they were kids and someone who she can grow old with...? =(
Now if it seems like you can’t wait to read Zettai Kareshi, you’ll cry in sheer love for the story when it unfortunately learn how it ends! If you don’t want to spoil the fun, don’t read the next paragraphs so go and read the 33 chapters of scantalations here!
As I was saying, if you’re really going through this paragraph, it’s a big spoiler if you haven’t read the manga yet since I’ll divulge who Riiko chose in the end.
Ready?
When Soushi confessed to Riiko, she finally gave the [unexpected] answer…
“I like you Soushi… but I’m sorry the one whom I want to be right now is with Night”!
My jaws drop and my heart feels the pain, (yeah yeah, so what if I’m so hooked?! XP) Riiko chooses the robot Night (whom I would have chosen too If I was her! ;-P) and so Soushi leaves for Spain (to join his Father), fully certain that Night can take care of his beloved Riiko.
At times she reminisces over her childhood friend and how she chose Night instead, but Riiko has no regrets and finally spends her days happily inlove with Night by his side.
…Until tragedy stikes.
Riiko and Night went out for a date and bought themselves identical rings as a sign of their love for each other. It was such a wonderful scene that could be carried off in death as the best memory of one’s life! …*starts to sniff*
For the past few days, Riiko has been noticing that Night is always sleepy. She asks him what’s the matter and he only says he’s just tired. He calls Gaku and they talk about something which is not shown in the manga. The next scene shows Riiko leaving the house for a while and notices Night sleeping in the couch. She kisses her and notices he’s not wearing their identical rings. Night wakes up and pulls her to him, gives her a passionate kiss and tells her “I love you… forever”.
My hands tremble at the turn of every page… the revelation is heartbreaking! Riiko comes home after a while only to find Gaku meside Night’s body… inside a corpse bag!
Night has ‘died’… his systems shut down.
Riiko in disbelief, touches his cold hands and kisses Night, hoping to ‘start him up’ like how she did the first time he met him... And as Riiko spends the next days being quiet, mourning over the loss of Night… A shadow embraces him, a warmth so familiar.
It’s Soushi who has has returned and is holding Night’s ring in his hands... Turns out, Night knew his condition and asked Gaku to send the ring and a note for Soushi telling him he’s counting on Soushi to make Riiko happy… and his final words for her is “Don’t cry anymore”… *Author bawls*
The wonderful story of Absolute Boyfriend ends with Riiko being able to be find true love, happiness with both man she loves and being loyal to only one.
Great thumbs up to my favorite manga artist Yuu Watase for making another favorite (Aside from Fushigi Yuugi)! FYI, There’s also a live series of Zettai Kareshi that was released in Fuji TV (year not mentioned in source http://wiki.d-addicts.com/Zettai_Kareshi). It has a total of 11 episodes and sorry but I really am not quite hot about watching it. >__<” *Author settles for manga still. Sniff.*
If you wanna bum by being a couch potato, here are some shows i've watched [when i was still one ]. Like 'em or not, it's up to you, but heck i wouldn't be writing this in the first place if i didn't think they not even worth it! XD (Including previews about it so at least don't get too lazy to read it! =P)
On Anime:
1) Kyou Kara Maoh! (God Save Our King!) By Tomo Takabayashi Anime Series, 78 episodes Genre: Adventure, comedy, shonen-ai, role-playing
A young boy (around 16 years old I think) named Shibuuya Yuuri (and his only interest is baseball I might add) was ‘flushed’ down the toilet by some bullies and end up being in a different world. I know disgusting. *LOL* But it’s his destiny to be in New Shikaku, the world he was going to rule over. It would seem that his soul was the reincarnation of the previouos ‘Maou’ or Demon King of that place, so it’s up to Yuuri to fulfill that task. Of course at first, he thought it was all a circus joke, with all the royal court of handsome men and flying skeletons following him around, but eventually accepts the sudden responsibility.
The all out story of this anime is to stop the demon race (not actually demons or monsters… they look human but have powers) against the normal human race. The best thing about this anime? It’s the man-loving part. Hahaha! It actually got me hooked on a man-to-man relationship mainly because of what happened to Yuuri in that place. Since this anime is a shonen-ai or harem anime, meaning it’s an anime of ‘beautiful’ men (or beautifully drawn men), they are more good-looking that the women and so, it seems like I agree to that kind of unusual pairing as long as it’s an anime! >_<” When the first few episodes ran, Yuuri got into a fight with one of the Previous Maou’s son, Sir von Beilefeld, better known as Wolfram. Yuuri then slaps him in the cheek and picks up a knife in the middle of the brawl. At first I was wondering how come Yuuri ‘slapped’ Wolfram. Not punch him. Then there was a lot of uproar within the characters when the new Maou picked up the knife. It was later cleared that in their world, slapping someone in the left cheek means…. *hold on to your seat* you’ve proposed to that person! And picking up the knife means you’re not taking back what you said, instead, is demand for a duel. *ROTFL* Talk about coincidences and ways to show love! Well, of course they don’t really love each other… yet. But as the series progressed, it wasn’t directly shown that neither of them said ‘”I love you’s’” or tried to kiss one another, but in most Kyou Kara Maoh forums, there are a lot of fanarts that show their lovin’… and by golly, does it looook goooood! >: ) (Oh my, it seems like I’ve just said a spoiler! >_<) To wrap it up, Kyou Kara Maou has a unique story of comedy and adventure that truly keeps you guessing ‘till end. ^^v
2) Bleach By Tite Kubo Anime Series, (on-going) latest release: episode 138 Genre: action, Dark anime
Ahh, the ‘fast-fan-attracting’ anime, Bleach. The story of a normal boy living in a normal world until one day, they are attacked by ‘hollows’ or spirits of the undead world longing to eat human souls. The Shinigami (Death God) in-charge of exterminating the hollows is Rukia. But unfortunately, she was severely wounded by the monsters and had no choice but to transfer her powers to the boy, Kurusaki Ichigo. Awakening his shinigami possibilities, he then becomes a substitute death-god and aids his comrades in protecting Ichigo’s city. (A fictional place in Tokyo called Karakura town) Each shinigami has a ‘Zanpaktou’ or a sword that is mainly used in combat. Each Zanpaktou has a power that is yielded when you call its name. As for Ichigo’s “Zangetsu”, it allows him to become faster both in body and attack because his Zanpaktou is a black, light sword. It’s actually cool compared to the other large and superfluous swords the other characters have. ^^v
The first 120 episodes were full of action and thrill that made this anime popular. But since it’s still on-going, most of the latest episodes have just been ‘fillers’ or side-stories as the main characters train to become strong in order to fight the upcoming battle against the Shinigami traitor, Captain Aizen (what a handsome antagonist! ^^v) and his group of ‘Espada’ or the strongest amongst the hollow-types. It’s been boring to watch the side-stories but Bleach enthusiasts have no choice but to watch it, hoping to get a glimpse of the ‘long-lost’ hero of the story, Ichigo that is. He hasn’t been shown much in the story lately but when episode 138 was released, I finally remembered how the impatient-orange haired-substitute shinigami looks like.
Overall, this anime has been in my Top 5 list actually so despite its unnecessary fillers, I just hope ???? finally puts the story back on track and stop GMA 7 from further sinking the anime’s class because of the local station’s cheap and annoying dubbing. T_T” But I can say that no matter how bad the dubbing is, at least the songs still remain the same highly-praised OST. ^^v
3) Naruto Shippuuden By Jump Comics (Masashi Kishimoto) AnimeSeries (on-going) recent release: episode 27
The ever-addicting anime of all time rises its way into my top 5 list of best anime as the release of the second season, Naruto Shipuuden (Hurricane Chronicles) become one of the busiest downloads in the net! Running on its 27th episode now, I’m sure Naruto fans are always on the look-out for it new anime and manga releases. Too bad for me, I don’t read the manga mainly because I don’t know what chapter I should read that would be the same as the anime version. (Oh stop being a hypocrite Joan and say you just don’t want to know the spoilers! >_<”) I remember back when I was still playing Ragnarok PH Online, my Dragoons family was the one who forced me to watch Naruto. True to their word, I got hooked on it and hardly got time to sleep because in the morning I got to school, play Ragnarok afterwards then watch the CD’s ‘up ‘till dawn! ~_~”
At first I had the impression that the anime Naruto overall was childish that’s why I didn’t watch it. But now, after seeing how this anime has suddenly transformed into a better and more matured-drawing, i got more hooked than ever! The funny faces has become less, yes, but it just shows the change of the anime per se after the ‘supposed 2 years’ transition where all the characters trained to become stronger. I also noticed that aside from being close to the likeness of human-like drawing, (the eyes are actually more human, not the usual wide-eyes anime we know) the drawings are also finer, coloring is almost real, and to top it all, everyone else has something under their sleeves that you just can’t guess what’s coming! My only sort of negative comment about this anime is that the pace of the story is slow. I mean, it was the same as Naruto Season 1 where a fight of a single character could take weeks of normal TV broadcast, but couldn’t the publishers be more considerate that there a lot of Naruto fans like me that can only watch what’s going to happen next after a WEEK because Naruto Shippuuden is being released EVERY Fridays ONLY. Waaaah…! What a wearisome interval. ~_~”
4) Claymore By Norihiro Yagi Anime Series, (on-going) recent released: episode 22 Genre: Dark anime, action
This is probably the only anime I’ve watched that I think doesn’t necessarily needs a story. The thrilling and fast-paced action itself is contentment to the few who watch this anime. It’s an anime that sadly, doesn’t get the popularity it deserves. With it’s excellent drawing and effects, it’s honestly breath-taking and when ever I watch it, people in my household always wonder how come I yelp or suddenly shout while watching Claymore. *LOL* So far the only thing I want from this anime is the next episode because im soooo eager to watch what will happen next! Claiirreee! Rakkki!! Claaaaiiiree! Rakkkiii!!! XD
5) Marmalade Boy - Manga By Wataru Yoshizumi Genre: Love story, Drama, comedy
The story is all about 2 families who switches partners and lives under one roof together with their siblings. The Koishikawa’s have a happy-go-lucky daughter named Miki and the Maatsuyura’s have a secretive son named Yuu. Both are almost of the same age (teenagers) and later on in the story, they fell in love with each other even though it is forbidden by their parents. They keep their relationship secret and fight for their love when they knew a shattering truth that they could actually be… half siblings! I chose to read the manga over the anime episode because according to the comments / ratings I read, they say that the anime was somehow changed. And I’ve actually read Marmalade Boy when I was in 2nd year high. I only read it again because it’s simply so good!
The only probable thing missing about this anime is a continuation or a remake of a Korean-novela out of it. LOL! But genuinely,I recommend it to anyone who would take the time to read this because I’m so out of praises for this manga! When I started reading this 3 days ago, I simply couldn’t stop and didn’t ran out of tears to shed! It’s actually made me inlove (despite the fact that I don’t have anyone special right now… awww!) ANYWAY…. The love story simply took my breath away. I’m acting like a kid all over again, daydreaming of such a love fantasy, hoping Yuu is somewhere out there… *beautiful eyes* XD
6) Other recommended ‘a-must-watch’!
You're such a loser (LOL ^^v) )if you haven't watched even neither Heroes or Prison Break. I know these are old series already (released last year) but they are really good series i'm sure you wouldn't to leave the monitor alone! There's also the popular ANIME called ‘Death note’. (There's a live series of it but really, i liek the anime waaaay better!)All these a-must watch has a unique story line and i just couldn't help but onder how brilliant the script writer was for thinking up such wonderful stories! (Well Neil Gaiman himself is already a god so i guess that answers my question. XD) They may seem almost unreal but they really are worth watching, it’s just up to you to get your butt out of your seat and find these copies! :p
A slothful writer/ blogger/ model-ish/ photography enthusiast/ frustrated musician who finds this blog as the outlet of all her randomness and or anything that might be worth reading. This blog is intended to be an outlet of her thoughts and creativity but most of all, improve her way of thinking and writing and hopefully along the way, discover her own limitless capabilities.
Scene where Mike Newton introduces himself to Bella
Scene where Mike Newton introduces himself to Bella
