Saiyuuki

Firstly - I know I would be a little suspicious of a perfect 10 review, but this manga deserves it whole-heartedly (you'll probably be able to tell my enthusiasm by my excessive use of punctuation!!!). Anyway, on with the review:

Story:
There are only so many ways you can say, "AMAZING!!!" or "AWESOME!!!" but I'll try my best XD. Saiyuki is, as the synopsis probably told you, based on the ancient legend, though Minekura-sama added some little twists that probably weren't in the original - take Hakuryuu for example, who can transform into a jeep. However, despite the fact that the core storyline - simply: 'go to the west' - is potentially dull and colourless, Saiyuki manages to lighten it all up with brilliant backstories and detours.
Maybe at this point I should warn some of you: if you don't like mangas that never seem to reach their ultimate goal, or constantly dive into flashbacks, or are continually travelling sideways, this is probably not the best manga for you, as most of the story arcs are either flashbacks or detours. That said though, the story always manages to go somewhere and seem completely satisfying, even if - at the end of each arc - nothing has really changed.
In the end, the storyline is very character-driven, and this may be why it is an awesome story, as the characters are so well developed and so real (though this should be in the 'character' section, argh!!! =_="). And it still contains some big revelations and 'gasp' moments. It's a constant page turner - if you can tear your eyes away from her amazing artwork long enough to turn the page XD.

Art:
Oh my goodness.
There's not much to say here other than that.
OH MY GOODNESS.
How on earth can one person draw that well?!? It's so unfair for all the rest of us... *despairs*. Anyway, moment of self-pity over, let's actually get past the 'Oh my goodness' point.
Firstly, if you've only read the first couple of volumes, you might be thinking: 'What is she on about? The art style isn't that good!' but - as with all manga-kas - it takes a while for Minekura-sama to settle into drawing the characters. Give it nine volumes and by the end you'll be in complete awe.
Minekura-sama has a very distinctive style, based on a high degree of detail especially in the facial features, clothes and hair. At first it might be a little difficult to adapt to her style as it isn't clean-cut like many others, rather being very anatomically correct and, in places, slightly grotesque: none of her characters are drawn with symmetrical faces, unlike in other mangas, and when she draws hands she will draw every joint and bone. But maybe it is this slight grotesqueness that gives her art its very real beauty.
And oh my goodness it is beautiful! ^_^ Not only are the main characters all jaw-droppingly gorgeous, but the side characters are drawn with just as much care and attention to detail. Even background characters receive the same treatment - though she sometimes 'forgets' to give them eyes, replacing them with handy shadows that are easier to draw XD. And she draws inanimate objects amazingly well too - I for one would never be able to draw a gun that well! AND her backgrounds are beautiful as well. Gah!!! Is there nothing she cannot do?!?
So forgive her for being inconsistant - please! She makes up for it with everything else. In fact, it is difficult to truly capture how beautiful Minekura-sama's work is with mere words, and I don't really think I'm doing that great a job, but if you're still at a loss, look at the picture at the top left hand side of the page. Then you'll start to get it. ^_^ As they always say, a picture is worth a thousand words!

Character:
Again, this is another 'OH MY GOODNESS!' moment.
First off, let's make this clear, this isn't your 'normal' Sanzo-ikkou. I mean, it's supposed to contain a priest, a monkey, a kappa and a pig, right?
WRONG!!!
Minekura-sama - conveniently forgetting the fundamental details of the legend she's adapting - rewrites a whole new party. Sure, Sanzo is a priest, but I doubt in the original legend he smoked, drank, carried a gun, killed youkai mercilessly and took potshots at Gojyo (he uses the rather less fatal paper fan to punish Goku XD)! And yes, Goku is referred to as a monkey, though he somewhat lacks a tail XD. Instead he has gained a huge stomach, a loud whine and a very innocent child-like demeanour. And although Gojyo is - like Goku - called a kappa, he can't even swim - making him a rather bad water sprite at best. Minekura-sama's Gojyo is a pervert, a playboy and a womaniser who specialises in witty one-liners and smokes like a chimney 'with a burning lust for cancer'. Finally, Hakkai has undergone the most change. A pig? No. Rather: a tragic, full of remorse sinner who hides his troublesome past behind a benign smile and a slight laugh and is constantly having to apologise for the rest of the group's behaviour.
Slightly different, huh?
But all of the characters - no matter how unexpected and crude their behaviour might seem - are so loveable that it's almost impossible to choose a favourite between them. Delving deep into their pasts and emotions, Minekura-sama reveals the very real people behind the pictures. It's difficult for any manga to beat Saiyuki for the sheer depth and development of character - and what's more, it keeps on going in Reload!

Enjoyment:
Well, what more is there to say? The enjoyment level of Saiyuki is huge. And I mean HUGE in the largest size font you can get!
Firstly, there's the reading - which is AWESOME!!!
Secondly, there's the re-reading - Saiyuki has an extremely high re-read value: once I finished the series I just picked up volume 1 again and read all the way through once more! ^_^
Thirdly, there's all the subtext - yes, fans of shounen ai will not be disappointed by this one, though Minekura-sama never makes it blatantly obvious and I'm sure that some people could read it through thinking: 'What? Where's the subtext in this?'
And finally, there's just this great sense that you get that you're actually friends with the Saiyuki gang (though maybe this is just me... T_T).

Overall:
There's nothing more to say than: READ IT!!! PLEASE!!! ^_^

And that's all for now folks!

Just a shitty yaoi manga with a poor excuse of a storyline. Incest is involved too, so it appeals to a lot of people, heh. Shallow yaoi faingirls who are into the typical pretty boys, drama, scandal and incest will eat this up. The action sequences are so crap. I had no idea what they were doing. And the "powers" and "abilities" are so mediocre but the characters act like they're super awesome. For people looking for a good series, this is not for you. Turn back and stay well away from this pathetic excuse of a manga. Wish I could give it a zero overall. Need I really say more?

I'm usually attracted to any retelling or adaptation of the Journey to the West saga, and this was what first attracted me to Saiyuki, but I wouldn't have kept reading (and continued on to Saiyuki Reloaded) if the art and story were not consistently enjoyable. My disappointments were few: I wish the main characters were a little less abusive of each other -- even though it is manga, I understand, and not real life -- and I was disappointed that the storyline was left hanging, incomplete, at the end of Saiyuki. Saiyuki Reloaded might more accurately be called Saiyuki Continued, or even have kept the same title. But those are my chief complaints, and aside from those, I really have enjoyed the drawing and plot in this series.

The plot of Saiyuki develops gradually with occasional revelations about the main characters all contributing to the reader's understanding of their interactions with each other and others they meet. The general sense that the group is being led on by the gods, maybe even toyed with by them, underlies the whole story. Since that's a general feeling that pervades many people's lives, or a least a question we have to deal with, it makes for thoughtful moments to combine with the explosive violence in the story. This theme of being the playthings of the gods becomes dominant visually as well as through plot developments in some of the latter chapters of Saiyuki.

I finished Saiyuki and went on to Saiyuki Reloaded especially wondering how the character of Son Goku would continue to develop. The glimpses of his past, as well as his unleashed power, in Saiyuki fit with the Monkey King legend well enough that I was most intrigued by what would happen to him as the group got closer to (and arrived in?) India. But whether the unholy priest Genjyo Sanzo would find any sort of resolution in his life, and what would happen to Gojyo and Hakkai, are also worth finding out. This added to some curiosity about whether we'd find out more about some of the interesting secondary characters met along the way.

Quite possibly not only the best manga I have ever read, but the best story I've ever read.

Saiyuki is incomparable when it comes to character development, the manga gives you frequent glimpses into all the characters (incredibly sad) pasts, how they all met each other and by the end of the series you feel just like your watching a group of friends you know the characters so well.

The story is very entertaining, however while the description talks about the group heading west ,Saiyuki is definately a lot more focused on the journey, this series is already 8 volumes into the second series and showing no signs of them reaching their destination. But you know what? Thats great as it means this fantastic work will keep on going for longer.

READ IT. You will definately not regret it. One of the few mangas that truly deserves a perfect score.

Oh, Saiyuki my bad babe, we've had a long and passionate relationship over the years and I still think you're one of the best.

What can I say? Saiyuki by Minekura Kazuya was one of the first manga series I ever read and it has been my companion, inspiration and friend for a long time. Now it's time to spread the love.

*This is a spoiler free review*

This is the first part of the long-running Saiyuki series and the point where you should start your reading. Originally published in a magazine aimed at boys it's a curious mix of material seemingly targeted towards catering female audience and the shounen-esque escalating structure of the story filled with action. If you're familiar with the old Chinese legend about The Journey to the West...this is not like it at all. The characters are based on it but their personalities, origins and motives are heavily altered to fit in this particular story. To cut to the chase, we have a bunch of anti-heroes, villains, megalomaniacs, psychopaths and knight templars and...wait, did I just describe our protagonists too? Good doesn't always have to be nice and vice versa. And who's to judge what's good or evil anyway, huh?

At this point of the story the plot is mostly about introduction to the world and characters and it's greatest function is to move our main guys to new places to kick some ass - and to give them some more reason to get snarky with each other. When we get to the sequels, Saiyuki Reload and Saiyuki Realod Blast, the story starts to unravel more. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. What we have in here is a straightforward road trip adventure mixing witty dialogue with action and mythology with past events heavily on the background. The episodic story arcs throw us in monster-of-the-week situations which usually trigger our main characters to have to deal with their own inner demons as well. The setting can be only described as "schizo tech gone wild" with it's weird and intriguing combination of magic and science.

I've always loved the characterization and character dynamics in Saiyuki. There's many kind of relationships to discover, from loving to lethal to unconventional. The bickering and passive-aggressive attitudes are hilarious and there's also some of the best executed tense moments I've ever read in any manga. Both the strength and weakness of the characters lies in the fact that they stay true to themselves with their own moral codes and ideas of how to live. Saiyuki is also infamous for the angst: almost every single boy, girl, granny and their dog is in some way or another traumatized by their tragic past and we get a full set of psychological problems and other less pleasant topics do deal with. Hardships have an effect on us, be it something easily overcome or something more brutal. The past shapes you and can always be in your mind but it doesn't have to chain or define who you are right now and I love Saiyuki for showing that.

Minekura's art is distinct and easily recognizable. And I adore it! I admit, the proportions are a a little off, especially at the start of the series and everybody is just so beautiful that it makes you sweat uncomfortably but I still look up to it because of it's uniqueness. Her art evolves along the way and the later parts of this first series is where I've always considered it to be at it's peak. The other thing I appreciate is the composition. Everything's in it's optimal place, the panels run smoothly and story flows as intended; dramatic and emotional moments have plenty of punch.

The greatest thing about Saiyuki is that it doesn't pretend to be anything else than it is: an action romp with badass bishounens on the wheel. You don't have to try to search anything deep from it, because the action and comedy are great, but there's also some interesting questions about self, identity and purpose of life to ponder. In this fascinating world there's great ambiguous characters to love, pretty art to enjoy and up to date best dialogue translation Tokyopop ever came up to.

This series can never get too much love. I've grown up with it and been even taught some life lessons along the way and it still feels fresh every time I start the journey again. I'd dare people to give it a chance and maybe get surprised. The story continues.

TL;DR
Saiyuki is an entertaining over the top adventure oozing with blood, hot guys and angst. If you're up to some action and mad one-liners I'd tell you to pack your Smith&Wesson and give it a shot.

To those who have read Saiyuki Gaiden I write this for you to be my main audience.

Intro: I have to say that this being a kind of continuation of Saiyuki Gaiden not only killed the ending of Saiyuki Gaiden, but also screwed the storyline.
I mean if it were another independent story by all means, it's not bad but because it isn't really made me gnash my teeth as I was reading it.
The quality of the illustrations was mediocre, as I saw it, and the story was a bit forced, compared to Gaiden.
Ultimately, it disrupted the story of Saiyuki Gaiden and to anyone who has finished reading Saiyuki Gaiden and wants to try this one, I sincerely hope you don't.

I think the writer should have stuck with choosing one storyline to follow instead of writing two similar ones.

First of all I’ll tell you that the story-line was kind of the opposite of its so-called predecessor; the predecessor concentrated on one character more than others but gives the other characters the spotlight sometimes but this story is more about a group giving the spotlight to each and every-one of them which to be honest since this is the supposed sequel contradicts the predecessor. Also, the predecessor had one deep running story while this one is several different stories, each different and non-related to the past one, meshed together.

The story itself was like comparing silk to stone, quality-wise, while Saiyuki Gaiden had a beautifully told heart-wrenching story, the stories told by Saiyuki were kind of shallow, the plot for most of them was like there-is-trouble-we-must-help-happy-ending. As the plot was that simple it doesn’t grab the reader’s attention enough to make anyone feel for the characters which puts Saiyuki Gaiden to shame, since Saiyuki is the supposed successor.

The characters in Saiyuki are all chummy-chummy and that’s great except that in Saiyuki Gaiden you had the chummy-ness and some DEPTH which Saiyuki lacks.

The illustration went downhill with the story line.

Honestly, this was like a slap in the face to those who are fans of Saiyuki Gaiden and if you’ve finished reading it (Gaiden); my advice is to move on and not bother to read this, it only damages the Gaiden’s reputation.

Although you must take account that though Gaiden was written after Saiyuki, Saiyuki takes place after Gaiden; so pointing the finger towards the writer for leaving fans unsatisfied with both stories doesn't seem to be a bad idea. Doesn't it?

Saiyuki is a slow to start series. As I started, I was a little confused as to what the hell was going on, thinking that I'd missed something. Too much was happening with no proper character introductions, and no real story.

The story gets better as you go though. By the start of the second volume, I had regained my ground. I knew who the characters were and what they were doing.

Unfortunately Saiyuki's story isn't up to scratch. It isn 't a bad story, it just doesn't go anywhere. By the end of it, realising that it hadn't been completed and that there was an entire series. Saiyuki Reload follows it. The problem is that the story wasn't enticing enough for me to even bother with the next series. I was just a little annoyed that I thought I was getting to the end of the series and in the end there was little to no plot development, with the characters basically ending up back where they were at the start.

The characters in the series are interesting but highly cliched. The second I saw them, I could guess practically everything about them. And generally, I was correct. They are see-through and unbelievable. The only redeeming parts are the stories of Hakkai and Gojyo, who have deep and interesting backstories.

While the story and characters aren't amazing, the artwork is incredibly well done.The artstyle is a little hard to get used to, but once you have, it is the best thing about the series.

Overall, the series is interesting, but not really worth your time. If you've really got nothing better to read, give it a go. It's not bad, but there are much better series out there.

To me, Minekura-sama is a god. Her work is beautifully drawn, with deep, intricately real characters, strong page-turning storylines and laugh-out-loud one-liners. A recipe for perfection if ever I saw one. And Saiyuki may well be her best manga so far.

Story: Intense, fast-paced and moving. High-tension battle scenes are perfectly balanced with calm character-interaction moments, and every now and then there's a flashback. Now Minekura-sama can't take full credit for the story, as it's based (quite closely, apparently) on the Chinese "Xiyouji" legend, so it's not like she came up with it. However, since my favourite arc is the "Be There" arc, which is fully Minekura-sama's invention, I think I can award her high marks here ^^

Art: Ah, the art. You only need to look at the cover of volume one to know that you're dealing with an exceptional artist. The only reason I gave it a 9 rather than a 10 for art is that it takes Minekura-sama a while to get into her stride. In the first volume, the art is - well - kind of rubbish. But DO NOT BE PUT OFF BY IT!!! By the time you hit volume 4, all the "Oh gods, what's with his bendy neck?" moments are gone, and by the end of volume 9 it's as though you're looking at a different manga. Each frame is worthy of a front cover. Magnificent ^^ Just stick with it!

Character: The cast of characters in Saiyuki are some of the most loveable characters I've ever come across. A gun-toting priest, a food-obsessed monkey, a lecherous half-demon and a kind human-turned-youkai. Each of them has a dark tragedy in their past that makes them who they are, and so each character has several layers to their personality, making them extremely believeable and real. Luckily, though, Minekura-sama decided not to make Hakkai a pig, as in the original Xiyouji legend xD He is faar improved as a gorgeous bishonen ^^

[sorry, I keep using ^^, it's a bit of a habit xD moving on!]

Enjoyment: The most enjoyable series I have had the pleasure to read. As I said, the art is wonderful (once you get past the first few volumes), the story is thrilling and the characters are loveable. A better bunch of bishonen you couldn't find anywhere. And it's the brilliant one-liners that make you scream with laughter (well, maybe that's just me xD). Oh and the translators deserve a mention: the Nibley sisters (?) have done the best translating job I've ever seen! And, of course, there's the shonen-ai. Now for those who are uncomfortable with shonen-ai, don't worry - there is nothing explicit, it is all just little phrases and glances that *can* be interpreted in that way, but you can read the entire series just thinking they're all just good friends. Me, I love shonen-ai, and seeing all the subtext just made the series stick in my mind that much more, and is one of the reasons I keep going back to re-read and re-read.

Overall: Fantastic! Amazing! Superb! Unrivalled! I honestly can't recommend this series highly enough. Whether you're interested in comedy, drama, character analysis, beautiful art, shonen-ai, comeraderie, action; it's all here! Saiyuki is the full and ultimate manga package and anyone and everyone should at least give it a try. Go and read it now!! Right now!!