Fushigi Yugi, Volumes 1&2

Fushigi Yugi, Vol. 1

Fushigi Yugi, Vol. 2

By: Yuu Watase
Reviewed by: gothiclolitamaiden, 15
Rating: Didn't like it


“The discovery of a mysterious book transports Miaka and Yui into a strange new world reminiscent of ancient China, where they befriend seven Celestial Warriors, including dashing mercenary Tamahome and wannabe empress Nuriko. Only then can Miaka summon the power of the god Suzaku, find her true love, and get home safely.”

I reviewed the Fushigi Yugi anime some time ago, but now I’ve finally read the manga. I must admit that the manga is considerably better than the anime, but not enough to make it anything more than shoujo fluff.

In the original manga, Miaka is still very annoying. She still has beautiful, effeminate men who are generally more sensitive than real men madly in love with her. But in the manga, she actually has a bit of a back story. In the manga, we’re introduced to her caring brother and her strict mother, while in the anime, she’s just transported to the fantasy world, and she might as well be an orphan. One bonus of reading the manga instead of watching the anime is that there is no horrendously corny English dub to gripe about. And, I must commend Yuu Watase for being quite a talented artist, since her artwork surpasses that of the anime hands down.

The manga is an improvement on the anime, but it’s still overly romantic, escapist shojo fluff. It is the kind of manga you read after you’ve just been dumped. It’s like literary comfort food, a lot of calories, not a lot of nutrients.


Recommended to: OFans of shojo manga, anyone who's just been dumped and would like to lose themselves in an escapist, fluffy, romance story. Older teens.