Spiral: The Bonds of Reasoning Vol 1

[meganbmoore]

 After many years of waiting, i have finally read volume 1 of the Spiral manga.  I am in love.  Course, I was already in love thanks to the anime.  But I am feeling lazy, so I shall simply link to my post about the first volume of the anime here, which tells you what it's about.  There are plot differences, of course(largely the anime pulling stuff out...the opening story in the manga is a lot more details and complex, and doesn't involve Saiyoko at all, but rather, several other Blade Children) but it all still applies.

I was actually a bit worried going in...I spoiled myself for the manga recently, and...man...

The anime, once you look past the detecting and logic and cute OTP and manga insanity is pretty much a study in how much angst, self-doubt and emotional manpain you can pile on a guy without crushing him(the answer apparently being "endless, as long as he has a super cute and perky girl to be his cheerleader") but the manga?  That is a whole new level.  Yeesh.  Yet I am still in love.

Also, if you think Hiyono transcends genres in the anime, just wait until you read the manga.  It may be shonen, but that doesn't mean she can't summon up a swarm of sparkles and/or flowers to accompany her appearances if she wants to.