So much (*quite* deserved!)
Pandora Hearts love! <3 This makes me very happy, you guys.
Anyway
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, since I'm sensing a kindred spirit here in terms of reading (I myself blast through books-- be they plain text or manga-- like they're going out of style, LOL
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, and thus like to keep my to-read list quite full), and also since you mentioned that you're indeed up for more, I'll go ahead and throw out some more titles for you, too, then.
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(I'd definitely try to get around to the other ones first if you can, though!
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)
Seconding
Bakuman. It's awesome.
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In fact, the only reason I didn't recommend it in my first post is that it's literally a manga about manga, mangaka, and the whole business of making manga in general; so it's very meta, and is probably a little better to read after you've gotten to experience a few other series first. Still excellent regardless, though, of course.
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There is no nudity that I can recall in this (though there is a little fanservice on occasion, particularly in the stuff the fictional mangaka are drawing); and I don't think there was any religious stuff in this at all, either (I mean, there might have been some in some of the things the fictional mangaka were writing, but otherwise nothing).
Oresama Teacher - This is hilarious (well, IMO, anyway, LOL).
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Characters: Almost every single one of them is a delinquent, with the main girl actually being one of the toughest; the (titular) teacher is, surprisingly, one of the very few "jerk"-type characters I've seen who is actually genuinely amusing (as opposed to just angering, LOL); and, actually, that goes for all of the other characters, too-- many of them may initially seem to be stereotypes, but then they all either end up having some really bizarre quirk/twist or are simply just so darn entertaining that they quickly become unique.
![Grin :grin:](./images/smilies/grin.gif)
This series never takes itself too seriously at all (well, unless there's a particularly nasty fight, of course)-- in fact, it often borders parody-- and that actually really works in its favor. In other words, this is an excellent comedy series (can't even tell you how many times I crack up when I'm reading it-- some of it is downright hysterical!
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), with the bonus that you actually do care about the characters during the serious moments, too.
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Don't recall any nudity; and I don't think there was anything religion-wise in this, either, except for stuff like the usual ghost-story bit where students try to scare each other (which is, of course, also even more hilarious than usual
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/lol.gif)
).
Speaking of parody-- I'll also second
Ouran High School Host Club. It has quite a bit of innuendo, but otherwise no nudity/theology I can recall. Only thing is that this actually *is* a parody series-- it parodies a bunch of 'typical' shoujo clichés-- so you might want to read a few more 'usual' shoujo first so you can get the full effect. It's hilarious regardless, though (and surprisingly touching by the end, too).
Hikaru no Go - This is about competitive Go (which is a Japanese board game)... okay, yeah, I'm sorry, but there's really no way to make a synopsis of this sound anywhere near as good as it actually is, LOL.
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So let me just say that (like the reactions of pretty much everyone else I've seen) I was kinda wondering how 23 volumes of people playing some board game that I had no clue about (albeit an insanely strategic one
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) could be interesting, but gave it a shot because those same people said that it actually ended up being really good... and, of course, everyone was exactly right!
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As for content: No nudity, as far as I can recall; and religion-wise, there is a ghost that attaches himself at first to a Go board and then to the protagonist, but that's it.
Natsume's Book of Friends (a.k.a.
Natsume Yuujinchou) - Getting the content out of the way first: There's no nudity that I recall (and if there was, it's undetailed); and as for religion, well, there is rather a fair bit, considering it's part of the entire premise, LOL.
![Sweat :sweat:](./images/smilies/sweat.gif)
Not sure how much you know about the whole Japanese mythological background yet (you'll end up learning quite a bit about Japanese folklore throughout the course of your fandom
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), but basically, in their cultural mythology they have quite an array of supernatural creatures, including 'yokai' and some things often translated into English as 'demons' (although they're not really anything of the kind, of course; it's just that we don't really have any other word to translate it to, LOL), along with many different types of 'gods' (often tied to a certain object or place, and can also often be mortal-- and even originally human). Anyway, that mythology is woven into the very premise of this series-- the main character, Natsume, has been able to see these supernatural creatures since he was little, and has endured quite a bit of hardship (from both said creatures as well as fellow humans) because of that. At the start of this series, he finds out that he has inherited a special book (as well as the powers that allow him to see yokai) from his grandmother, who bound a bunch of yokai to her will by placing their names in that book. And now they want their names back...
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There is a really cathartic element to this series (indeed, it's actually known as one of the 'iyashikei' {'healing'} series-- it's soothing, and just generally makes you feel better-- although that term is probably more often applied to the anime); Natsume's innate kindness and desire to help others (be they human or yokai), no matter the cost to himself, is something to look up to; and the slow and subtle plot progression and character development winding throughout the series is excellent, too. I guess probably the best way to put it is that this series has a kind of quiet beauty.
Amatsuki - A joke was made in one of the volumes that this series is a 'Science Fiction Historical Supernatural Fantasy Romance Mystery,' which is funny not only because it's true, but because it *works.* It does indeed have all of those elements, and yet somehow they're all blended perfectly into one awesome package. Add to that the fact that the plot is really intriguing (the twists aren't quite as earth-shattering as, say,
Pandora's, but it's still very nicely mind-bendy
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), the characters are well-developed and endearing, and the art style is interestingly unique, and you have a winner. Insert the usual don't-recall-that-there-was-any-nudity-but-if-there-was-it-was-undetailed disclaimer here; and as for the religion-- there is a bit of the same mythological-creature-stuff that I described Natsume having
SPOILER: Highlight text to read: (although even that is not really 'real' thanks to what the Amatsuki world actually is), and certain inhabitants of the Amatsuki world are trying to fight against what they call 'God' (however, what they're actually giving that term to is something quite different indeed. I really don't want to spoil it, though, so please just trust me that the 'God' of Amatsuki is actually not any sort of supernatural being at all, no less THE God
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).
The Lucifer And Biscuit Hammer (a.k.a.
Hoshi no Samidare) - No, it doesn't actually have anything to do with Lucifer, LOL.
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Actually, it's rather difficult to even give a proper synopsis of this without spoilers, so I'll just use the description from MAL: "The world is in mortal peril. Sir Noi Crezant, the Lizard Knight, has been sent to gain the aid of the great warrior Amamiya Yuuhi in hopes of finding the Princess Samidare and protecting the planet from the incredible 'Biscuit Hammer' poised to crack the Earth in two. Unfortunately Yuuhi wants no part of it, and the Princess doesn't prove to be the shining 'hero of justice' role model that Noi had hoped for." And it's actually even way more awesome than that sounds; but, y'know, like I said, can't really say much more because of spoilers.
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Also, this series does play off of certain shounen tropes a bit, so it's slightly more clever if you know those; however, the story is plenty fantastic on its own, so don't be afraid to dive in regardless.
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Content-wise, there is some fanservice (Samidare likes wearing skirts, and also happens to like jumping around in the air a lot... etc.
![Tongue :P](./images/smilies/tongue.gif)
), and a bit of nudity on occasion, though IIRC it was undetailed; and religion-wise, I'm sure there was something, but I'm unfortunately drawing a blank on what it was ATM...
SPOILER: Highlight text to read: (I think one of the characters was an athiest, or wanted to become God, or something like that...?) Aargh-- I usually have a really good memory for story detail, so I'm really sorry I can't be more precise on this one right now.
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(But I've been wanting to re-read this for quite a while... guess I need to move it up sooner in my reading schedule!
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)
Immortal Rain + the 1-volume
Touhou Shinigami: Meteor Methuselah Gaiden prequel - The story, the characters, the humor, the drama, the romance, the action; all of it is great! As for the plot: Immortal guy, 'assassin' girl, bounty hunters, living weapons, and the man who started it all (and wants to end it all, too)... seems simple enough, and in essence it is; but that's the beauty of it. Because it's the characters that carry this. Rain is hilarious, sweet, adorable, and awesome; Machika can kick butt against all but the very strongest opponents (and doesn't hesitate to do so when necessary), but at heart is a strong yet compassionate girl; and Yuca goes from being eminently hateable to being one of the most brilliantly sympathetic antagonists I've ever seen. <3 (And the other characters are pretty good, too, of course.
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) And the finale... everything about that finale was absolutely beautiful.
![Glomp! :hug:](./images/smilies/glomp.gif)
(And be sure to read the
Shinigami prequel afterwards, too, because that was also excellent!
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) As for the content: There are a couple of panels of detailed female nudity during the course of the series (which are not really for fanservice-- once is when a character suddenly stands up during a bath, another is on the cover of a magazine, etc.-- however it's there, nonetheless), and I guess one of the male characters ends up clothes-less at one point, too (although that is *not* detailed, LOL); and religion-wise, the term 'spirit of Methuselah' gets tossed around, there is reincarnation, there is one character who 'doesn't really understand' God (and thus kinda equates Him with 'feelings'...
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), and another character who is atheistic out of bitterness. (Those latter two items only briefly come up about once and twice respectively, though.)
And
Death Note - This is a Supernatural Mystery Thriller, and my favorite way of describing it is that it's like Sherlock Holmes on supernatural steroids-- and with the bad guy as the protagonist! And despite that latter fact, the good guys are awesome, and the battle of wits is addicting. As for content: I think there might have been a little nudity in this-- I'm recalling a shower scene and a scene where a hostage is told to undress?-- but I'm pretty sure it was undetailed; and the theological stuff is actually a little heavy-- the whole premise is that there are 'death gods' who use these notebooks (which have a bunch of rules attached to said use) to off people, and one ends up in the hands of a human... etc.
Also: The only reason that I'm not recommending the
Mushishi manga here is because you should go watch the anime instead. (And then the special. And then the second season that's finally beginning in April.)
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I very rarely recommend an adaptation over its source, however
Mushishi's adaptation is so fantastic that it's one of the few I will. Story-wise, it's a historical fantasy about this guy who wanders around and helps (or at least tries to, as best he can) people with their problems with Mushi, a fictitious, partially supernatural (though still rather scientific at its core) form of life. Content-wise, there's no nudity at all, and the only 'supernatural' stuff that occurs is because of the Mushi.