I didn’t hate it and I didn’t love it. I don’t know if it’s because I’ve read so much manga that I’ve become num to it’s downfalls. But It’s not like I am dying to find out what happens next either. Let’s just say that I am more curious what happens next in Naruto Shippuden

With all the Wolverine titles that are out now, I guess you are correct about this being pointless.

When do you pick up your comics?

Any interest in doing a Wednesday weekly post to list what issues Wolverine actually appeared in since I keep missing so many?

DiG…

The other one, unfortunately, is Marvel Apes: The Amazing Spider-Monkey. Why Marvel continues to release this drivel is beyond me. I guess fortunately Wolverine appears more than just as a cameo in it. The worst though is that it is guaranteed that he will be in their next one shot due to the ending. And while it’s setting up for something big, with a book like this does anyone really care?

I certainly am not trying to get into a pissing match about manga or anime. Many folks are more knowledgeable than I am. I was merely trying for a play on the famous Lloyd Bentson line, “Senator, you are no Jack Kennedy.”

To answer your question, I’ve dabbled in manga and anime for awhile and have been hitting the Otakon/Katsucon convention circuit since 1998.

All that said, did you like ‘Wolverine: Prodigal Son’?

As for the manga, I have to admit that it’s not from Japan and there are no Japanese writers or artists working on it. However you act as if this is the first time someone other then a Japanese person worked on a book in the same fashion as a Japanese artist. To insinuate that it is a rip off is a bit unfair considering how well the Teen Titans animation did on cartoon network. Same can also be said for Samurai Jack, another television show that has a loyal fanbase. Make no mistake that I actually care for both those shows, if each of them never existed it would be no skin off my back. I’m just making a valid point here.

Click here to see a more then large list of American Manga.

Another thing I would like to address is that you listed stereotypical manga that is always associated with the Anime fan base. That is the equivalent of me saying I read Spiderman, Superman, and Wolverine, so I know everything there is to know about American comic books. I’m not saying you aren’t a long time reader of Manga, but putting up a brand new title to those overly famous Manga titles is a bit of a overkill. So I’m going to put out another opinion out there from someone who has perhaps just as much Anime/manga experience as you.

Yes I have spent probably thousands of dollars on manga and anime. My collections ranges from “grunge” titles like Ninja Scroll, Wicked City, Battle Royale, and Bastard. Shonen like Rave Master, Flame of Recca, Yu Yu Hakusho, Hunter x Hunter and S-cryed. Shojo such as Fushigi Yugi, Kare Kano , Fruits Basket, and Love Attack And some more rare titles like Boogiepop Phantom, Captain Tyler, El Hazard, Tenjho Tenge, Berserk and Hajime No Ippo. Trust me when I say I’ve rotted my brain on the list of anime I’ve wasted my life on. I wish I was bragging here but the sad fact is I’ve actually purchased all of these titles in both manga and anime format, because I wanted to see the differences in both versions. (In some of these titles there a big differences and completely different endings.) Some are precious gems like Cowboy Bebop and others are overhyped way too much like Neon Genesis Evangelion.

It’s gotten to the point that I pick up on all the cliches in every anime I watch now. Whether it be something that’s been replicated a million times like the clones of harem anime like Tenchi Muyo, Love Hina and Please Teacher. Even shows I once loved like Outlaw Star for example, fails to even amuse me a little bit. Perhaps I just became bored or maybe I’ve outgrown it. Hell, I even waste my time laughing at all the parodies that point out all the faults these popular shows have. (Have you heard of Team Four Star?) The manga you mention above has so many faults, that I can spend all week pointing out all the nit picks. Hell if I was determined enough I could probably write a 10 page report on why I think it’s the most over hyped manga of all time. I mean don’t even get me started on that emo character Sasuke Uchiha and why he should die the most painful death a anime character has ever suffered.

Wolverine: Prodigal Son is not without it’s faults and it certainly didn’t start out to a epic start. (Like we all hoped.) However it’s not just Wolverine on the cover, it’s definitely a manga version of Wolverine. (I can’t imagine it being done any other way.) You get what is advertised and it’s not just a simple cash in on the series. I can imagine it being done in a thousand worse ways. (Perhaps in a Shonen Ai or Harem style.) Perhaps it relies too much on the shonen elements that every teenage boy’s manga has. But the fact remains that it’s just starting out and I remember Naruto and Dragon Ball starting out to a weak start in the very first volume. At least it doesn’t rely on the ecchi elements that almost every boy’s manga has.

BTW, how long have you’ve been collecting anime? Do you remember when the VHS tapes use to cause 30 dollars for two episodes? The prices that ADV and Manga Entertainment use to charge back in the 90’s was insane. You had to be extremely dedicated to purchase a complete series. (or extremely rich.)