08-29-2004, 12:48 PM
rugrats1 Wrote:Being relatively new in the manga game, ADV is still trying to find what works and what doesn't.
A classic example includes the "Azumanga Daioh" manga.
In the first volume, they used the same font for everything; gave unnecessary explanations for sound effects each time, and not just in the first instance (How many times do we have to be reminded that, during a storm, "Boom" means "thunderclap"?); some instances of added dialogue (when compared to the Japanese original); and the index (in the Japanese version) replaced with an unnecessary review of the chibi versions of the characters used between chapters.
In the second volume, they started using different fonts for dialogue and sound effects and ditched the sound effects explanations, but still kept the chibi review (from volumes one and two), in lieu of an index. (There was no index in the entire run of the English version.)
In the third and fourth volumes, cultural notes were added in the back, which were sorely needed in the first two books.
And throughout the series, the printing is a little darker (more so in the first two books), as compared to the Japanese version.
Finally, one thing I don't understand is the ADV English version is in a form of a standard paperback, and retails for US$9.99; while the original Japanese version from Dengeki is of better quality (including slick outer paper covers), yet retails in Japan for only ¥680 (roughly US$6.80).
They just started releasing manga so it's expected they go through some growing pains. More competiton will be good for manga. Zagatto is right that because of supply and demand you can't really compare prices between the english versions and the original japanese ones. As manga gets more and more popular I'm sure we'll see prices drop, maybe not as cheap as in Japan but maybe too around french standards (7-8$US a volume). 10$ is alot better than the 15-20$ Viz used to charge just a couple of years back.
I don't care much for dust covers, they get damaged so easily and they always get loose and slip off when I'm reading the manga.