Scrapped Princess

[Ashley]

This isn't an official review yet, as the series just began releasing, but I knew many of you might be looking into this.

Allow me to warn you up front. I was really, really looking forward to this release all summer, but I was a bit disappointed.

To start with:
Minimum age: I'd say 15-16

Violence: 7. Shannon goes to town with several would-be assassins, and while it isn't implicit, it's pretty clear that he kills them; 2 flasbacks show people brutally murdered; 2 panels with bloodied hands; 2 panels with someone with blood at the mouth dying.

Language: 1. I think I caught 1 or 2 "d*mns"

Sexual Content: 2. I think it's implied that one of the character's sister was raped before she died (her back was exposed as she was lying on the ground with men leering over her) but it was never clear

Nudity (or skimpy outfits): 5. While Raquel and Pacifica are fairly modest with just a little clevage, one character named Xi Wang Mu (I think she's the representation of Zepheris for those that saw the anime) appears completely naked. At first, it's a close up of her without a top and her hair covering the most sensitive areas, and then it's a full frontal shot for 2 pages. Pacifica freaks out and accuses Shannon of being a perv, and demands the girl put her clothes on (and she does).

Bad Religion: 6. Raquel uses fire and lightening spells, and can "sense" other's presences. The Mauser religion is a prominient theme in this series, and in this volume (1) they have their purgers dressed as monks to kill all that oppose them.

Ok, story wise:
None of the chapters are events in the TV series, which I suppose is great news for big fans. However...it's not at all like the series was. The dialogue is choppy ("We have an advantage here...but if we don't hurry, we'll be at a disadvantage" or "please, follow me!"), the art is a bit of a different take from the series, and it's very episodic. Very little resolve at the end of each chapter. All in all, this seems to be a very shallow add-on to this remarkably wonderful series.

[Kisa]

Hmm not surprised, I saw some scanlations of this and it seemed like it would be worse than the anime....

[Mangafanatic]

Yeah, I just flipped through it, but the art seemed pretty mediocre at best. Thanks for your thoughts, Ash!

[Ashley]

Honestly, I will probably keep buying it since it's a short series and I do indeed love it. So I will keep you guys updated, and then transpose this into an official review. ^^;; So if you're still interested, keep checking back, I'll keep updating.

[Gypsy]

I wasn't very impressed with the art when I first saw it. I probably won't buy the series, but it's nice to know that Pacifica freaks out in the manga too. That girl is crazy. ^^

[blue elf]

I was just wondering is the anime based off the manga series or is this one of those series where the anime came first, like with Escaflowne.

[shooraijin]

I'm pretty sure the anime came first, but I'm not wholly certain.

[Elric_kun]

the manga came first

[Ashley]

Actually, if I read the end correctly Scrapped Princess was actually a series of novels (real novels, not graphic ones XD) that were then adapted into the manga and anime series.

[Kisa]

hehe, cool.... yea i flipped thorugh it in waldens and the art is not like wow, but i will prob pick it up one day...
so it was a actual novel? i guess kinda like how howls moving castle came from a novel..... cool ^^

[blue elf]

I looked through the first volume at the bookstore and I didn't really think the art was that impressive, but I might buy it eventually. I hope they'll translate the novels like they're doing with Slayers and Vampire Hunter D.