Ao no Futsumashi (青の祓魔師)
Manga-ka: Katou Kazue
Genre: Action, Adventure, Shounen, Supernatural, School Life
Satan is the god of demons; but there’s one thing that he doesn’t have, and that’s a substance in the human world that is powerful enough to contain him!
For that purpose he created Rin, his son from a human woman, but will his son agree to his plans? Or will he become something else…? An exorcist?
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What with all these yellow flowers that I’ve never seen 
before sprouting all over the place recently, I have decided that it is the time for spring. Therefore I am mushrooming one of the manga that have been adapted into anime for this Spring 2011 – Ao no Futsumashi, that most may know as Ao no Exorcist.
I really like this manga. It’s a very good combination of shounen/action, and it’s not one of those badly executed, kind of wannabe ones either – it enters the ‘cool’ category (the kind of category that has little kids swinging whatever merchandise Bandai created and reaps profit from). It’s a little like Soul Eater; going to a school and learning how to exterminate certain things – even the art looks a little 
similar.
The first chapter starts off with a kind of rushed background story, and personally I find it a little too typically shounen. Still, It starts branching off with its own sort of feel and element the further you delve into the story, so don’t give up on it yet if you found the initial chapter a little not-so-special.
I’m going to sound redundant here but another (good, highly acceptable and extremely reasonable) reason why I like Ao no Futsumashi is because of the comedy. It’s more of a 
secondary genre though, so it’s not as prevalent as something like Beelzebub. It’s more around the Kekkaishi level – the humour pops up due to a consequence rather than being the main aim. A seasoning, rather than a main ingredient.
I wouldn’t say Ao no Futsumashi brings anything new to the table – it’s just a really typical shounen manga. But it’s a good one – and the anime is coming up soon so don’t forget to look out for that either!
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Saruyama! (サルヤマっ！)
Manga-ka: Akira Shouko
Genre: Comedy, Romance, School Life, Shoujo
Haruna Aizawa thinks that school life is just like a monkey mountain–all the monkeys form cliques, get into fights, and get back together again. The school that she just transferred to is no exception. There’s even a boy called Macharu Yamashita who reminds her of a baby monkey!
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Sa
ruyama!, also known as Monkey High! is the manga to choose if you are completely sick and tired of the usual plain-high school-heroine-going-out-with-hot-popular-guy.
What I like most about Saruyama! isn’t because it goes against the normal shoujo/romance/school life convention; it’s how it really does seem to be about love rather than a doki-doki high school romance. There are shoujo out there that follow the same path, but 
they’re usually involved with a lot of unnecessary drama – yet another thing I really can’t stand.
There’s a perfect balance of everything in terms of the relationship between the main couple that just makes it really sweet, simple and romantic. Backing them up are their classmates who are just the perfect, rowdy crowd to always lighten up the mood. A bit too interfering maybe, but it’s nice to just sit back and enjoy their antiques.
And yes. I find 
them extremely hilarious. I’m going to mushroom something not funny one day in the distant future. Mark my words.
I have to admit though that Saruyama! is extremely uneventful in terms of a shoujo/romance/school life manga– but really, I find that that’s it’s best appeal. It’s not about breaking up and choosing between 3 guys, it’s not about trying to look pretty and popular or getting a hot guy – it’s just falling in love and sticking with that person. It’s uneventful, but does it really have to have a bunch of unnecessary, dramatic hoo-hah to be enjoyable?
A nice relaxing, high school romance for a change =)
-arawr >=3
manga weekend 
I remember reading the first chapter of Ao no Futsumashi and thinking, hmmm, maybe this isn’t for me ^^; But I may go back and re-read it (especially since a lot of people say the story gets better AFTER chapter 1 xD)
I read a preview chapter of Monkey High! in Shojo Beat before it died. It seemed really cute :3 I like how you said this series doesn’t have lots of unnecessary drama (really, some shojos turn me off bc they are just too crazy D:). Will put this in my TO READ pile :3
For me, I can’t stop reading it after chapter 1, and end up marathoning it until the last chapter that come out atm!
It really get better though, you should give it a try!
xD
Ah, I read this back when there was only one chapter. I’ve learned not to read manga that have just been released because I tend to forget about them (I didn’t realize so many chapters had been released as of this comment! ^^; )
Since 2 ppl have recommended this, I will go give it a shot again 😀
i know how u feel abt the initial chpter being less than spectacular lol.. i actually didn’t continue reading past the 3rd chpter or sumtin, but about a few months back i just started reading it again and i absolutely do not regret it =D
saruyama is really cute XD it’s a super simple story with little complications so i feel like i actually can savour their relationship instead of wondering who’s gonna end up with who lol
Ohh, this is the first time I know that there’s someone out there that thought Ao no Exorcist gives Soul Eater-vibes beside me!
I loved it, and even marathoned it like I mentioned in the comment above 🙂
But somehow the recent arc doesn’t make me enjoy it as much as I did before..
For Saruyama!, I remember seeing that manga but the title isn’t appealing enough for me (it’s ‘saru’ lol). Will give it a try next time!
hahahah that’s nice! there’s something about the vibe the art gives and the whole concept that feels really similar to soul eater =3
i feel like the latest arc has introduced a handful too much characters at the same time.. @_@ but i still enjoy it =D the outlook starts becoming different since they all started becoming a bit more mature, i think…
lol!! i understand the name’s pretty stupid and not so appealing for a shoujo high sch manga but you should try it out at least once =)
The Ao no Exorcist manga looks good! It’s been a while since I enjoyed something in the shounen category. I was planning on giving the anime a try when it comes out but if I find it to be rushed, I’ll definitely switch over to the manga version ^^
I read Saruyama! at some point. I remember enjoying it. My least favorite aspect was those ears! My goodness~ Haha, but I understand the importance so I eventually let it go. Plus they sort of grew on me because of his character. But you’re definitely right about it being a rather straight forward love story. It takes more of a straight path than a crazy zig-zaggy one (with excess drama everywhere.)
ps. I like the new Header! Komura Ayumi? I’ve only read Mixed Vegetables and I didn’t think those were the characters but the art looks similar maybe?
i think animes in general tend to be less rushed compared to mangas coz they wanna fill up their 22-minute segment and stretch out their whole season for as long as possible lol
i’m reeaaaaaalllyy looking forward to the anime so i can see all the action scenes moovinggggggggg XDXD
lol the ears do sort of stick out XD they always raw him as that chibi monkey.. so cutteeee =3
credits to chungky who’s been experimenting with photoshop!! =D yep, it’s komura ayumi’s mixed vege… i think it’s the cover for the 2nd tankobon? it’s one of chungky’s mot favourite manga =D
reall glad you like our new layout! (chungky did everything lol)
YOU LIKED AO NO EXORCIST! YAAAAAAYY!!!! *fan*
I didn’t realize it’s like Soul Eater untile you mentioned it though, haha!