R.O.D.-Read or Die manga

[Rod G]

So . . .

Who gets the rights to the ROD manga?

[Jayna]

Although it seems to have been forgotten in the recent manga explosion, Lone Wolf & Cub has got to be on the top of the list. In terms of art, story, drama, pacing it has it all.

[Rod G]

Jayna,this is about the Read Or Die manga which was the basis for the OAV.

[The Xenos]

I think he meant to post that in another topic, the "Manga's What do you like Best?". (Which I just noticed has horrible grammar and spelling in the title.)

Anyway, I am surprised no one has picked up the ROD manga. It was actually the first Japanese manga I bought. I couldn't even find scalations online at the time, though I have since. Don't thrink I read the whole volume yet though, even though I belive I legitly can as I own the Japanese. It is rather different from the OAV. I'd be quite interested in getting it in English.

-Xenos

[Rod G]

Amen to that!

[MKTerra]

Jayna,this is about the Read Or Die manga which was the basis for the OAV.Hmm. So this is distinct from the Read or Dream manga, the basis for the TV series?

[G_Man]

Hmm. So this is distinct from the Read or Dream manga, the basis for the TV series?

Correct, Terra. The Read or Die manga (which itself is apparently based on a series of novels) is the basis for the OAV, and the Read or Dream manga, which is a continuation of the orginal manga with different main characters, is the basis for the TV series. One thing they all have in common is Nenene. She is pals with (and is occasionly rescued by) Yomiko in the early manga stories.

[Rod G]

I only brought this up to remind anybody reading this that VIZ is releasing the ROD manga.

To which I say,"About time!"

[Rod G]

I only brought this up to remind anybody reading this that VIZ is releasing the ROD manga.

To which I say,"About time!"

And I finally managed to get the first volume.Has anyone else read it?

[Rod G]

And I finally managed to get the first volume.Has anyone else read it?


Well . . . Did anyone?

[apple pro]

I think it's pretty good. The Paper is cool but the story seemed a little too out there. The action scenes IMO were hard to follow. Paper's personality and the author seem to be taken to the extreme. Art is good overall.

I really loved the anime (movie) but this is not nearly as good.

[Ayo]

I think it's pretty good. The Paper is cool but the story seemed a little too out there. The action scenes IMO were hard to follow. Paper's personality and the author seem to be taken to the extreme. Art is good overall.

I really loved the anime (movie) but this is not nearly as good.

As a rule, I do not read manga based on anime.

It never quite works out.


I bought both FLCL's and they're probably the worst of all offenders, but I generally find manga derrivatives to be totally inferior. Original anime is usually my favorite kind of anime and while I do look at anime based on manga, the originals tend to be better suited for the medium.

[Sandoz]

As a rule, I do not read manga based on anime.

It never quite works out.


I bought both FLCL's and they're probably the worst of all offenders, but I generally find manga derrivatives to be totally inferior. Original anime is usually my favorite kind of anime and while I do look at anime based on manga, the originals tend to be better suited for the medium.
The Revolutionary Girl Utena manga is also a perfect example of this.

I picked up the R.O.D. manga on a whim since I enjoyed the OAV series and was hoping for a little more insight on the characters. I was pretty unimpressed. Yomiko has gone from being overenthusiastic to being just plain obnoxious, and Miss Deep and Drake are sorely missed (were they created for the OAV?). I won't be getting vol. 2.

[apple pro]

Just so all you know — I did not buy it. I read it during my lunch break. I don't really plan on buying it either. It did not leave much of an impression.

Buy Genshiken, Love Roma, Nodame Cantibile, Beck, School Rumble, Deathnote instead of this.

[Damo]

As a rule, I do not read manga based on anime.

It never quite works out.


I bought both FLCL's and they're probably the worst of all offenders, but I generally find manga derrivatives to be totally inferior. Original anime is usually my favorite kind of anime and while I do look at anime based on manga, the originals tend to be better suited for the medium.

You misunderstand greatly. First came the R.O.D. novels. Then came the manga which told stories in the same universe, but not the same stories as the books. Then the OAVs. Again, different stories, building on what went before. The OAVs are set after the manga and the books. That's why Yomiko's apartment is covered with notes signed "Nene" (and there's a special place in hell for the GROSSLY INCOMPETENT translators working for Manga that turned the "-Nene" on those notes into "Up up up!" in the American release). Then the Read or Dream manga, then the TV series, all part of one massive beautiful cohesive whole.

Now if only I could read the damn novels. Translate faster, damn you people!

[apple pro]

Damo,

then why has Yumiko's personality changed depending on the different mediums? i'm not familiar with all the ROD stuff.. thanks

[Damo]

Damo,

then why has Yumiko's personality changed depending on the different mediums? i'm not familiar with all the ROD stuff.. thanks


I wouldn't say her personality is very different. She's a substitute teacher in the books, and in the first part of the OAV she gets a substitute teacher job and immediately spends all her money on a book-buying spree - very much what you'd expect her to do in the manga. Honestly I see her personality being pretty much the same (flighty, euphoric around books) until she makes friends with Nancy. Her relationship with Nancy has a profound effect on her, and she's different from that point on.

The manga are definitely the lightest and most carefree parts of the R.O.D. saga (especially the Read or Dream manga), but I think that makes the harsh events of the anime stand out better.

[The Adventurer]

I ordered my copy through Diamond, so it should be out next week.

So, the Read or Die Manga isn't going to be a rehash of the OVA? But more like a prequel?

FANTASTIC! Where everyone says the Read or Die and Read or Dream Mangas were the bases for the OVA and TV series, I feared I'd be buying the same stories twice. The fact that they are continueations, linked with each other is a load off my mind.

[Damo]

The Read or Die manga precede the OAVs. Their main point is to introduce the young author Nene (who is referenced in CORRECTLY translated versions of the OAV's. All the notes in Yomiko's apartment are written by her and signed by her. The very sloppy translation being sold mistranslates the notes to end with "up up up" instead of "-Nene"). They're... reasonably important to the overall R.O.D. story.

The Read or Dream manga are mostly fluff, and much less realistic than the rest of the series. They can be fun, but their removal wouldn't change anything. They star the three Paper Sisters in Hong Kong, before they meet Nene.

R.O.D. the TV, obviously, pulls everything together.

[Paploo the Ewok]

I'm looking forward to the copy awaiting me at the comic shop. Manga's DVD was pretty keen outside of the Nenene error. Hopefully they'll work the Novels into their release schedule if the manga does well [since it's an Ultra Jump title, they probably already have access to the rights].

[The Adventurer]

After reading through the first part of the 1st volumes. I'm getting the sense that it really got a balls translating job. I'm having trouble just following the basic narative.

This isn't helped by some very unclear panel lay outs and some odd pacing issues.


I hope it smooths out as it goes, because I'm starting to get disapointed.

[Black Atom]

Someone recommended this book to me and I must say I find it rather terrible. Admittedly, I don't read much manga, but I find this one dreadfully hard to follow. I'm not sure if it's a problem with the translation, but I can't follow this book at all. I gave up about 1/3 the way through.

[Black Atom]

Someone recommended this book to me and I must say I find it rather terrible. Admittedly, I don't read much manga, but I find this one dreadfully hard to follow. I'm not sure if it's a problem with the translation, but I can't follow this book at all. I gave up about 1/3 the way through.

[Damo]

Finally got my copy of Viz's translation today.

=(

I don't know what to tell you. It is a very subpar translation. The first few pages were such a mess I had to pull out my fan translations to see what was being said. I haven't seen any instances of completely changing the meaning of what was said (at least not so far), but the translations are so clunky and awkward that it's almost unreadable. Damn. My fan-translations don't cover the full series, I was hoping the Viz versions would translate the stuff after what I have. >_<()

[Damo]

Viz translationFan translation

Joker:Well, typical Mr. Woo, the bookworm. Or is it the book viper? You're as good as they say, Mr. Book Worm. Or did you say your name was Book Viper?

Thief:It's a job. You'll do anything as long as the money is right.It's just my job. So long as there's money in it...

Joker: Was that worm or viper?So which did you say you were? Worm? Or Viper?

Joker: Sorry, slip of the tongue.Well, I guess it's irrelevant.

Thief: I completed the job. Now pay me my money.I've done my part, now pay up!

Joker: Why such a hurry? Let's chat a bit.Why are you in such a hurry? Let's chat for a bit.

Not huge differences, but I think it goes to show there's some real skill in translating well.

[The Adventurer]

No kidding, doing verbatum translations like Viz has apparently handed us, takes all the character out of...well...the Characters. Me, I'm all for some 'changing' of word usage if it means the story flows better. Because R.O.D is nigh unreadable in places.