so if you were to ask me what my favorite manga or anime were, I'd most likely look at you were an expression reminiscent of a dying fish. The truth is, I don't have a favorite manga. But that's not what this entry is about. Because I may not know what is my favorite, but I certainly know what isn't.

Mainstream. now I'm not one of those snooty otaku that hate mainstream simply because they're popular. I just don't like a large quantity of it. Mostly because, well let's face it. Anime drags on if the series get popular and manga is no different (naruto, bleach, dbz. inuyasha, fruits basket etc) I don't like that. Now of course there are some excellent mainstreams out there- but you already know about most, or else they wouldn't be mainstream haha.

But some of the off the beaten path, short series manga- hard to find I fear. Here's a list of a few I've read recently...

Pierce by Iizuka Shuuko and Chocolate Kisskiss by Morinaga Milk are both about as shojo and cute as I can stand. But they are sweet stories about innocent love and how can you not adore moe school girls??

and speaking of lovey dovey cavities >_> Private Table by Takaboshi Asako is the same...kinda, one is a real jerk, but he means well and by the end of it you get that ^_^*

though I can't stand the lovey dovey crap for long haha

I'm more impressed by...

Dead Flowers Takahashi Tsutomu about a biker who nearly runs over a kid who's lost connection with reality. It's mostly about finding the right sound for the will to live to resonate.

Similarly Route 20 by Sadamoto yoshiyuki is about finding a missing need for freedom, even at the risk of death. It's a pretty spiffy 'growing up' type of manga too if that's how you see it.

Reset by Tsutsui Tetsuya is a fun, dark and violent manga asking 'when is a video game too real?' how do you know if you're still in it?', when players of a LAN Game start killing them selves
"You have failed at life, please reset."


Renka by Asada Hiroyuki follows a manslayer by the "name" Renka. It's very very short, but beautifully done. read about manslayer Renka and his 'merciful right hand of death'


In Kurogane by Toume Kei, the main character Jintetsu a young man torn to pieces by dogs only to be brought back to life with a mostly mechanical body by a master inventor. Though the manga centers on him- it's often more about the people he meets on his journeys around japan as a sword for hire. A fantastic read and the only thing you'll regret is the mask that hides his face.

GOTH by author Otsuichi and artist Ooiwa Kenji. Don't let the title fool you, this is grade A (or by YYH ratings S grade) stuff. This is a 'detective' style manga different from the rest. It centers mostly on Kamiya Istuki as he solves mysteries of murders that happen around him and his friend Morino. Itsuki is cold and analytical, interested more in the act, the 'flesh and blood' while Morino is interested in the "pain before death".

Beautiful art will draw you in, and the chilly cool of Itsuki- who solves mysteries in self interest and curiosity not justice- will make you linger, but each short story will trap you. I love this one so much I bought it, which I never do =/

all can be found on MangaFox, so really you have no excuse! Go read them! ^D^