Comments on: We Were There, Volume 1

By: Eisner reactions, kids’ manga, Tomine speaks | Tokyovation

Eisner reactions, kids’ manga, Tomine speaks | Tokyovation — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 03:02:14 +0000

[...] Live for Love (Fujoshi Librarian) Lissa Pattillo on Sweet Admiration (Kuriousity) Melinda Beasi on vol. 1 of We Were There (there it is, plain as [...]

By: Reading Over Shoulders

Reading Over Shoulders — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 19:32:05 +0000

[...] Beasi reads We Were There and it sounds like a good choice for the Great Graphic Novels for Teens list. (link via [...]

By: Melinda Beasi

Melinda Beasi — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 15:16:37 +0000

It’s interesting to me that you picked this up because of the art, and it makes me want to take another look at it myself.

I’m so pleased that you enjoyed this review! I hope you do end up picking up Viz’s release of this series! I think they did a very nice job with it.

By: Melinda Beasi

Melinda Beasi — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 15:14:35 +0000

I looked this up after you asked, and apparently it should be “loath” though I can tell you right now, I have definitely used “loathe” incorrectly many times!

By: marmlade-girl

marmlade-girl — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 14:52:11 +0000

I found this manga years ago in Japanese at an anime convention and bought the first few volumes because of the art. I agree with your assessment of its flaws, but I think it has a unique, pretty look nonetheless. I never found translations and eventually sold them, I think.

But then the anime came out in Japan a couple of years ago. I downloaded it and watched it with relish. The story is awesome, and I think you hit the nail on the head when you said that the characters were taken away from the stereotypes and made real.

I’m looking forward to collecting this manga, now that it’s being released in English. Thanks for reviewing it. ^_^

By: Michelle Smith

Michelle Smith — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 13:42:28 +0000

Or should that be “loath?” I dunno.

By: Michelle Smith

Michelle Smith — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 13:41:55 +0000

Yes, but I’m loathe to say more because I want to see if you get the same impression from it as I did. :)

By: Melinda Beasi

Melinda Beasi — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 12:59:54 +0000

Oh, thank you, Michelle! *heart*

I definitely have to pick up volume two now. Did you continue to like it?

By: Melinda Beasi

Melinda Beasi — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 12:58:35 +0000

Oh, I hope you do! I’d be really interested to hear what you think of it.

By: Michelle Smith

Michelle Smith — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 12:23:35 +0000

Yay, glad you liked this one! This was a very excellent review and I agree with everything you said, but especially this: “The characters’ greatest obstacles are themselves, just like in real life.”

I’ll be curious to see what you think of vol. 2.