From award-winning Hiroyuki Takei, Shaman King was produced as a hit anime in 2001. When he takes a shortcut through a cemetery, Manta Oyamada meets a strange kid with headphones — surrounded by ghosts. The kid is the teenage shaman Yoh Asakura. Tapping the supernatural swordfighting powers of samurai ghost Admidamaru, Yoh fights Bokuto no Ryu, a sword-wielding gang member. But an even more dangerous opponent is stalking Yoh and Manta — a Chinese shaman who wants to possess Amidamaru.

Graphic Novel

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First things first, yes, the Shaman King anime blows on FoxBox becuase of the editing. It's gonna end up like Sailor Moon: Most of the episodes are heavly edited due to the trageted audience (kids and tweens). Also, this is not the Japanese's fault. They, and the American distributers, decide who their target audience is and go through together and edit the episodes. It's the same with Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh! and just about every kids-targeted anime. However, many American manga companies (like Tokyo Pop) do not edit the orginal manga. All they do is the English translation (which includes foot notes for certin Japanese references) and that's it! Plus, the manga is always 10x better than the anime. And maybe someday they'll release the unedited anime just like they did with Sailor Moon.

With that said, the Shaman King manga is one of the most entertaining, page-turning and orginal mangas out there. The plot deals with a middle school shaman named Yoh Asakura. He transfers to Tokyo in order to continue training for his goal: To become the Shaman King. Along the way, he befriends another student, the ever-nerotic Manta Oyamaoa, who can also see ghosts and spirits just like Yoh. Together, they are paired up with the ghost of a dead samurai named Amidamaru, who is Yoh's partner in his quest. In the first volume, readers learn about what it takes to be a shaman and even get a taste of some inpressive Shaman duels.

The story is funny and is sprinkled with bits of dark humor and drama, plus it keeps you focused and leaves you craving for more! the art style is a balanced mixture of cartoony and sharp, dark line and appeals to both genders (male and female). While Shaman King is featured in the English version of Shonen Jump (a magazine geared to boys), girls will swoon over Yoh, feel sympathy towards Manta, and boo at the villains. Plus, Yoh's girlfriend Amy prooves that girls can be just as brash and compelling as the guys.

I urge anyone to check out Shaman King. If you enjoy appealing art, excellent story telling and manga in general, Shaman King is right up your ally!

2 of 2 found the following review helpful:

Shaman King of Manga!May 30, 2004
By Kalika
Ok, so that's a bad title, but this manga really does rock! Following the life of Yoh Asakura on his quest to become the Shaman King, this manga is humourous, but also has its "deep" moments. Yoh is a laid back, lazy boy, who chanels spirits to do his work for hih in school, and whose philosophy is to just leave everything, and it will work out somehow. Anna is his "fiancee", and also a shaman, who can summon spirits. She handles Yoh's "training" (read: TORTURE... she's really tough). Manta is Yoh's friend, small and bookish. Amidamaru is Yoh's friend, as well. He's the ghost of a long dead smaurai who YOh calls on to win Shamanic battles.
This manga is constantly amusing, and very well drawn. Every character is unique in both looks and personality. (Besides, what's funnier than seeing a Chibi SD Samurai Warrior ghost???) This fist volume definately shows a lot of promise for a great story. ((Hopefully the anime will be released over here soon!!))
A definate buy.

2 of 2 found the following review helpful:

if you like manga this is a must haveMay 01, 2004

Like I said if you read manga you'll love this. It's about this lil dude named manta. He meets this new kid named Yoh but hes not your ordinary 13 year old. He's a shaman. (Some one who can interact with spirits) From the day Manta meets Yoh nothing will ever be the same. Shaman King is packed with action and humor. The art style is really cool too. The manga is also in Shonen Jump. It has spawned an anime series, toys, feature length movies (yet to be realeased here in the states, and even some video games due out later this year. Try it you'l like it.

2 of 2 found the following review helpful:

Talk about a ghost story...Sep 23, 2003
By Jug of Voodoo "Jug of Voodoo"
I collect manga and I enjoy FOX's "Shaman King" cartoon, so buying this was the next logical step. The comic turned out to be better than the cartoon. The anime seems obligated to have a huge slam-bang battle at the end of each episode while the manga is focused on story, not action (not that they ignore that).

The book is formatted in the right-to-left Japanese style, with little arrows on the pages and instructions in the front (sorry, I mean the back) for first-timers. The artwork has a bold graphical style but doesn't skimp on the details (check out Amidamaru's elaborate samurai costume) and the characters are refreshingly original and funny. Manta's maniac fits are hilarious, especially when he complains about Yoh's scholastic slacking. The battles, usually involving Yoh channeling the skills of Amidamaru or another warrior ghost, are exciting and well drawn.

The content is rated "T" for "Teen" because there's some mild profanity and the battles can get brutal. Also, some of the ghost characters died violent or disturbing deaths. These events are only minimally described through dialogue and panels and are never blatantly detailed.

1 of 1 found the following review helpful:

This Book is the best!!!!!Aug 22, 2005

I loved this book. I read it in two days. Its about this teenager named Yoh and he is a shaman (someone who sees and can talk to ghosts and spirts) and he meets someone named Mantana (something like that) and he can also see these spirts (but he's not a Shaman) and so since they both can see spirts they become freinds. And near the end of the book they meet another shaman named Ren and he is a mean shaman and thinks that spirts are tools and not freinds and so Yoh diden't like that and they fought. Also Yoh units with this 100 year old (or I think more then 100 years) samuri or spirt named Amedimaru and Ren can unit with Bason a Chinese Worlock or spirt.And so thats pretty much what this first book is about. Also after Yoh and Morty become freinds they go on a little adventure. This book is T for Teens and I agree because this book has swears in it. Just to let parents know.

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