That’s one big book…
My pre-order of Mao-chan Volume 1 arrived today, and it’s a lot bigger than I was expecting.
I realize the Amazon description lists it as 400 pages, but I never took note of that. For a USD cover price of $15.00, I was not expecting 400 pages of the United Defense Force…er, rather, the Combined Arms Defense Corps.
I’ve read the first chapter, and it’s similar to the animated counterpart. I imagine the first few stories will follow along with the animated storyline, then the manga will diverge into a story of its own.
The first thing to get used to will be the new names. The Ground Defense Force I know from the anime is the Ground Corps. Seaman Recruit Sylvia Maruyama is now Marine Defense Corps Able Recruit Sylvia Maruyama. Somehow I get the feeling these titles are much more accurate, but their animated subtitle/dub counterparts flow so much more easily that it’s hard to adapt quickly.
There also appears to be a new character working for the Ground Def–er, Ground Corps. I forget the name of the character from the anime she’s replaced, but it’s the gal sitting in the moving chair and communicates directly with Private Onigawara (other than Chief of Staff Onigawara and Field Grade First Class Mishima). My guess is she’s a representation of a character the artist, Ran, would like to see in as a character in the story, perhaps a female avatar of the artist himself. Series author Ken Akamatsu similarly had an appearance in the animated Love Hina (I don’t recall if he appeared in his own manga works of Love Hina). Akamatsu appeared as a cameo, but this blue-haired lady who looks too young to be in her job position (defence corps members’ ages notwithstanding) looks to be intended as an actual full-time story character.
I have a lot of reading to do. Here’s hoping the rating of “OT Ages 16+” doesn’t suggest any inappropriate material. I’d like to have something to read during break at work since I’ve finished reading through my Scrooge McDuck comics.
One problem with the comic, though: sometimes text at the edge of a page cuts of. Such as on the third page of the comic, and first actual page of anything happening. Sigh…
Oh, and the translation notes section is awesome.
