Slayers: Super Explosive Demon Story [Manga]

[Ragnar]

Well, our Fearless Leader gave the go-ahead for manga reviews, so here they are. This will be about the Slayers book series Super Explosive Demon Story.

First, I admit that this series is one of my favorites, having seen the first TV season. This will probably bias my views a little.

Books 1-3

These are published left-to-right with translated sound effects (This changes with book 4.)

Fans of the first series will probably like this. The storyline is a bit different, especially in the first book. The underlying plot is the same: Lina and her "dumb-as-a-stump" companion Gourry travel to Atlas City looking for adventure. I would reccomend this for fans of the Fantasy and Adventure genres.
The first three books roughly follow the TV plot, so if you didn't like the series, this probably isn't for you. The plot flows at a fairly good speed, and the characters are pretty well-rounded. The only thing that can get on your nerves a little is the joke about Lina being a little underdeveloped for her age. If you're hoping this joke will go away, I'm sorry.

The sound effect graphics in book 2 can look pretty fake at times, as they are clearly computer-generated. I usually prefer hand-drawn effects. If you don't want to shell out 120 clams for the animated box set, but are curious about this series, I would reccomend these books.

The characters are designed by Rui Ariazumi.
Art by Shoko Yoshinaka. Story by Hajime Kanzaka.
Published by CPM press. http://www.centralparkmedia.com

Rating: Eight out of Ten

[Ragnar]

This review is on Book 5 of the series.
This review contains an incomplete plot summary.

You may notice that I skipped Book 4. In case you hadn't noticed: I'm skipping Book 4.
The reason in that some genius decided to make Book 4 "Slayers Return," a manga based off of the movie with the same name, but neither the movie nor the manga comes after the events of Books 1-3 on the Slayers timeline.

Anyway, the Super Explosive Demon Story plot continues with Book 5: City of Lost Souls. This book is published right-to-left, with captioned sound effects. The captions are on the same page as the original Japanese, meaning that you don't have to flip all the way to the back to see the translations (something that has always bugged me.)

Plot:
Lina and Gourry are joined by Amelia Wil Tesla Seryuun (there are about fifty ways to spell this), the justice-loving princess of Seryuun City. It turns out that an impersonator of Rezo the Red Priest is lurking around Sairaag City and causing all sorts of trouble. The Heroes go to investigate, and are re-united with former travelling companion Zelgadis the Chimera.

Frankly, I would only reccomend this book if you are a huge fan of the series. It differs quite a bit from the second half of the first season of the TV series. However, there is one big problem with this book.
Remember how the first half was put into three books?
This half is in one book. The pacing can feel very rushed at times, and as a result you'll probably end up reading it over again to make sure you didn't miss anything.

The characters are designed by Rui Ariazumi.
Art by Shoko Yoshinaka. Story by Hajime Kanzaka.
Published by CPM press. http://www.centralparkmedia.com

Rating: Five out of Ten.

[Ragnar]

This review is on Book 6 of the series.
This review contains an incomplete plot summary.

This book is published right-to-left, with captioned sound effects.

In the latest installment, we find our crew of Lina, Gourry, Zelgadis, and Amelia at a hot spring, which can only mean one thing: Fanservice!
The mayhem starts when a "pervert" and a talking bear crash into the resort and stir things up. The bear turns out to be none other than Prince Philionel El de Seryuun, Amelia's father. As if that wasn't enough, some demons show up, and a battle starts in which Lina's powers are sealed. Fortunately, a mysterious priest known only as Xellos shows up, saves the day, and offers some famous taglines. The story continues as Lina tries to find a copy of the Claire Bible, and the Demons turn up again with a legendary beast known as the Xanasphar.

You know how I said the last book was rushed? This one's worse. Sometimes while I was reading I'd go back because I was convinced I had accidentally skipped over a page or something. I hadn't.

Only reccomended for diehard fans seeking a comlete collection, or someone who bought and truly enjoyed all of the previous books.

Rating: Four-and-a-Half out of Five.

The characters are designed by Rui Ariazumi.
Art by Shoko Yoshinaka. Story by Hajime Kanzaka.
Published by CPM press. http://www.centralparkmedia.com

[Celisasu]

I love the Slayers anime series but I've hated the manga so far.  Most of them would only get a 2 out of 5 for me with the best ones getting a 3...maybe.  

On a side note I saw the first novel that the manga and anime were based on.  I'm not sure what to think of it as it's obviously aimed at younger readers making it hard to rate(it kind of bores me).  Still it's better than the Slayers Super Explosive Demon Story manga in my opinion.

[thepanda]

I love the Slayer Special series, though.

Its so very much like the TV show in format, only with Naga filling the space (and doing a better job at it) that the rest of the Slayers crew usually occupy.

[Celisasu]

Yeah, Special was more enjoyable than Explosive Demon Story.

[Ragnar]

Yeah, Special was more enjoyable than Explosive Demon Story.

Agreed.

I liked the the Medieval Mayhem book with Ariazumi, however.[/quote]

[Stan]

I will say that the Manga, Super Explosive Demons Story, follows the novels closer than the anime. We see Gourry more as a guy or Jock type than the dumb blond. In a couple spots he is not as dumb as much as playing with Lina's head. Seeing these were a treat as it made looking at the manga different from the anime and one step closer to Kanzala's story. The manga in both the series and Specials, give a closer and better view of the relations between Lina and her partners, Gourry or Naga.

I agree that Medieval Mayhem is a must have for any Slayers fan.

If you are a Slayers Special fan, please stop in and join my LinaNaga Yahoo List.

[Ragnar]

This is a review of Book Seven.

Okay. If you've bought books 1-6, you might as well go ahead and buy this one. Unfortunately, there is as much jumping around here as in the previous ones. We get introduced to Garve [sic] for about five pages before Phibrizzo defeats him in an anticlimactic panel.

Truth be told, this really isn't worth my time reveiwing it. It's entertaining for a while, but the series shows a definite decline in quality each volume.
The most entertaining part is Amelia's line,

I bound up my boobies, but it really hurts.

You get the idea.