I wouldn't call myself a fan of the shoujo genre, so for me to give Mars a score of 10, must mean that it transcended the trappings of the genre and connected with me on a universal level. And it did.
This story of a boy on the wrong side of the tracks, and a shy artist girl both falling for each other, captivated me. Its not some innovative blast of originality, there's no genre deconstruction, no super twist that tips the world upside down. Its just a love story told really well.
Fuyumi Soryo is an intelligent writer. Her use of all the
...
tropes of high school based manga feels refreshing, and her focus on mental, emotional instability and psychological scars is fascinating and compelling. It’s assisted through the use of contemplative dialogue and characters interacting to move the plot forward, rather than the plot conspiring in convoluted or clichéd ways to move the characters.
I think maybe that Mars is so accomplished; feels so fresh and realistic, despite mild helpings of melodrama along the way, because Fuyumi Soryo was in her thirties when she wrote it. This may be a tenuous assumption because a lot of manga authors are in their thirties anyway, but the fact that as a female she'd racked up a decent amount of life experience before putting some of it down on page, must have had some substantial affect on this manga's final form and popularity. You feel that like unlike other authors, especially males, Fuyumi is writing about what she knows, not what she dreams or masturbates about. This isn't delusional wish-fulfilment like so many romance manga out there focusing on a harem setup, with dozens of girls chasing a nerdy guy to get into his pants.
As for the melodrama aspect, it has to rear its head eventually, because the longer you make your shoujo romance tale the sooner it will appear. At 15 volumes, Mars has to have some melodrama to sustain the story, but it doesn't bring the manga down, because Fuyumi is a skilled writer with characters you genuinely feel for. You get lost in the story so much you have no idea you're wading through melodrama, and by the time you've waded out, you don't even care it was there in the first place. The characters never suffer as a result, they are never compromised, they are always the author's top priority.
Mars feels authentic. When we watch lovers meet, when we watch them spar; make love, it all feels sweet and romantic. I don't think its even josei manga, yet it treats sex in a way that most shoujo probably wouldn't. Sex isn’t something discussed in a round-about way, or never seen directly, or just hinted at, it's not something laughed at or demonised. Sex is not a prize. Sex is just sex. Some characters have it all the time, some have never had it; some have hang-ups, some don't. Sexuality is as much a focus of Fuyumi's pen just as much as psychological issues, an area that she excels at, and explores more with a later manga: Eternal Sabbath.
Despite the cute character of Kira, and the fact that she cries every five minutes which admittedly grates, it doesn't feel saccharine at all. The character conflicts, the world the story is set in, the way everything pans out, it feels authentic, and when it doesn't it's at least in service of the story. Because its 15 volumes, stuff just has to keep happening to our main characters, it wouldn't be much of a story if only a handful of things happened, but Fuyumi has the skill to make it engaging and flow from one story arc to another seamlessly.
You're willing Kira and Rei to pull through it all, like lovers on the run from the world. The biggest criticism of the manga would be that the last major threat; the last antagonist; that last hurdle that every story must have, in this case began to feel too generic for my liking, but it never becomes boring at least and resolves itself swiftly.
Mars has gorgeous art. It's clean, soft, and beautiful to look at. Fuyumi makes it look so easy. The beauty is in the simplicity. There's no unnecessary detail, just what is essential. Essential for characters, essential for the story. The scene composition is masterful, and so is the design of the panels. It just flows so well. The best way I can describe it is that it all makes sense. The panels are arranged in a way to make the reading not just efficient, but to lead you along the narrative. Rather than have a page with one image or too many, Fuyumi will make use of all that extra space with smaller consequential panels for key character reactions, but the skill is in her juxtoposition.
It's hard for me to explain, but hopefully you'll understand what I'm talking about. It's not something pushed into your face, it's subtle and affective. Basically I wish more artists utilised page space as efficiently and skillfully as Fuyumi. Mars definitely has the most romantic art I've ever seen in manga. At one point I was actually shocked by what I was reading: Mars has better race scenes than anything I've read in over 400 chapters of racing manga Initial D.
One of the things I love about this manga and Fuyumi Soryo, is that even though she inserts humour here and there, it never feels forced, but more importantly it never feels like she's using it as a crutch like so many other manga do. There are manga out there that have more humour than romance in their love stories; more super deformed faces than normal art. They drown out the narrative and characters with jokes, but Fuyumi doesn't torture us this way.
When she uses humour, it comes naturally from the story. It provides a break from the angst of the characters and it's never used as a crutch. It's used sparingly, so when it comes we don’t expect it and it works all the more better for it. The story doesn't need humour at all, but she provides it for our benefit, not because she needs it to pad out a chapter.
Mars, the red planet, the warrior of war, the fiery passion in us that love ignites; drives us out of our minds; pushes us forward whether we like it or not, and makes us sacrifice anything and everything to sustain it. You see it all in this manga, and that’s why I gave it 10.
 Alternative TitlesJapanese: MARS More titlesInformationType: Manga
Volumes: 15
Chapters: 59
Status: Finished
Published: Jan 13, 1996 to Nov 13, 2000
Theme:
Psychological
Demographic:
Shoujo
Serialization:
Bessatsu Friend Authors:
Souryo, Fuyumi (Story & Art) Statistics Ranked: #2982 2 based on the top manga page. Please note that 'R18+' titles are excluded. Popularity: #508
Members: 36,632
Favorites: 2,052 Available AtResources | Reviews
Filtered Results: 39 / 39
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Aug 14, 2008
I wouldn't call myself a fan of the shoujo genre, so for me to give Mars a score of 10, must mean that it transcended the trappings of the genre and connected with me on a universal level. And it did.
This story of a boy on the wrong side of the tracks, and a shy artist girl both falling for each other, captivated me. Its not some innovative blast of originality, there's no genre deconstruction, no super twist that tips the world upside down. Its just a love story told really well. Fuyumi Soryo is an intelligent writer. Her use of all the ... 
Sep 9, 2009
I'm saddened to see that this manga is not so known around fans of the genre.
I found out about this manga in this site while I was browsing around.I read one of the reviews here and thought to myself,why not try it?It has gotten a really high rating and must be good.Alright,sometimes high rating can be in fact misleading so I wasn't so excited at first and wasn't expecting a lot from this one.How wrong I was... And here comes my review on this manga. Story 9/10 I didn't give this a 10 cause the story is really common,you know....girl turns bad boy into a sweet boy.We've heard ...
Oct 4, 2007
Too bad I cant give it more than a 10. Its the all time greatest shojo there is. I could keep reading it forever. The main character Rei has problems with his past that make him slightly unstable but Kira, the other main character, falls in love with him after a little teasing >.> hehe. It progresses from there and we find out that Rei isnt the only one thats a little messed up in the head. Drama ensues and im sure you'll cry while reading it. I did. The first 4 volumes are a little slow but that's not saying much considering how much
...
Aug 16, 2011
I just finished reading Mars and i had to write a review. I am happy to say that this manga was far from what i expected. This story was intense, loving, and amazing. The depth this story had was incredible and i can't help but want to read it all over again.
Story: I gave the story a 10. This was by far the best manga i have ever read. The story had so much depth and heart that i finished it all in one day. This story caught me off guard. Not knowing how it was going to end, will they stay together? Will ... 
Aug 7, 2011
This manga's been in my "plan to read" list for so long, and after rereading one of my favorites manga for the 5th time i decided to change it up a bit and read Mars. It saddens me to say that i was truly disappointed.
Maybe i just had really high expectations for it, cause of all the amazing reviews, but at the end of the day it did not blew me away... The story starts off very interesting, the quiet artist and the bad boy, but i started to lose interest by the 3rd volume. Yes, this story is darker than most shoujo mangas, but ...
May 22, 2022
A big disappointment. The first two volumes were gold, but then as I read on, it devolved. I thought volumes 8-9 were at its peak in terms of the drama. But onwards, it became even more unbelievable as it went on. Becoming a Kdrama essentially.
I read it, thinking this would be like Fruits Basket. But that's hardly the case. I was apprehensive about this being a soap opera. It started off rather grounded in the first two volumes, but by then, it became something outta a Kdrama. Hugely disappointing. Disclaimer, the drama is highly triggering for those who are sensitive. It tries to be much ... 
May 15, 2011
(Taken from my blog at http://ritsuinfigureland.wordpress.com)
Mars, by Souryou Fuyumi, ran from 1996 to 2000, which justifies it’s dated (yet astoundingly beautiful) drawing style. Like I’m never tiring of saying, all my posts contain spoilers. You were warned. Story: Aso Kira is a very shy teenager who rarely speaks to anyone and prefers keeping to herself doing what sets her free – drawing, which she is exceptionally good at. One day, while drawing at a park, she’s intercepted by Kashino Rei who asks her for directions. She draws him a map without saying a single word and walks away. She knows about Rei: he’s the best-looking guy at ... 
Dec 13, 2016
At first glance, Mars seems like your typical shoujo - shy girl somehow charms the Most Popular Boy At School - but don't be fooled. This manga's a soap opera through and through. If you're looking for standard shoujo - a bunch of highschoolers hanging out complete with the Valentine's Day arc, Christmas arc, White Day arc, "we're graduating" arc - you really won't get it here. This manga's a lot more serious than the usual lighthearted slice-of-life romcom.
The thing about this work is that it feels dated, and it's not just the art. Kira, the female protagonist, is the ingenue of ingenues; so demure ... 
Aug 19, 2013
Okay, so actually I already knew the entire story before I even started reading because I've seen the Taiwanese drama remake of this... twice. Obviously I knew I would like it (and if you like this, then go watch the drama -- it's seriously the best thing ever!).
STORY: 10 Yes, it's a "masterpiece". That word is usually over-exaggerated when pertaining to shoujo, because it's so hard to find good shoujo manga and when it's even mildly good, you're inclined to think of it as a masterpiece even maybe when it's not. But I'm serious here, this story was wondrous. Basically, it's about two teenagers -- ... 
Jul 13, 2011
I don't have the words to describe how amazing this manga was! Not only does it contain perfect artwork that shows that every page was important, it also has a fascinating story with characters that you will hate or love if intended by the author.
After completing the book, like me, you'll understand how overly simplified, or even warped the description is. Since I read this before I even had a MAL account, when I read they're description, I thought that I wasn't picking the correct manga! I mean, like other shoujo fangirls, I must've read dozens ... 
Jun 30, 2017
Mars is definitely a series for the ages. It has everything that one could possibly ask for when looking for a great romance manga series, and then some. Whether you are a sucker for gorgeous art, tight-knit plot work, or beautiful characters with dark histories, you will definitely find yourself falling in love with this series before the end of the first volume.
My experience with Fuyumi Soryo began when I picked up her psychological sci-fi series Eternal Sabbath a few years ago. ES was one of the very first manga series that I had ever read and I thought it was amazing. I’m still rather ... 
Jul 22, 2010
Okay, so, when I first started reading this manga, I was kind of expecting what I was used to: A predictable story line. But I like those, so I was okay with it. In the beginning, that is what it seems like, too. But I was so wrong.
This is one of the best shoujo mangas that I have ever read. Honestly, there were points in time where I had no idea why it was even being called a shoujo manga anymore. It managed to capture so many different genres, I am sure that there are a lot of people out there that will like ... 
Aug 22, 2008
I dont know what to say about this manga except that it is AWESOME! I definitely give this manga a perfect 10. There so many surprises and twists to the story that I couldnt keep my mouth closed when reading it. Once i started reading i couldnt stop. It just so exciting and it kept my attention the whole time. This is an absolute master piece. The way the author showed all the hardships of life. The story is so realistic. must read!
Jan 28, 2019
Mars is sorta like a coming of age story, and it went far beyond my expectations—when I first read it. The characters have depth and actually kind of act like teenagers, (Even though some of the concepts are a bit outdated). But I still keep coming back to read it every now and again.
Story 10/10: The story is very good it has a story and sticks to it and add to it. And it becomes a bit more intriguing the farther you go down the rabbit hole. Art 9/10: A bit "outdated" but unique in its own right. Character 9/10: They felt real, and ...
Apr 21, 2020
i loved this manga one of my fav manga's out there .The art was amazing fuymi soryo does an amazing job with the art style and story was also something to look forward to you completly enjoy yourself in the story and the characters to make you immersed in the story.One of the best shoujo mangas out there .It deals with certain issues that really exsist in the society like mental health,depresion,suicide ,domestic abuse . The romance is paced at a good rate
and the growth between their relationship as time progresses is also highlighted perfectly .overall this is must read for people love romance manga 
Sep 21, 2021
Mars is a must read. This manga is such a rollercoaster but it's also so good. Everything it's perfect and realistic, even if Mars is like 30 years old it never gets old and I'd never get tired of it. The characters are realistic and well written, the art is SO SO SO GOOD I just love it. It's one of my fav shoujo. This story is very very good and enjoyable, their love story is one of my deepest dreams. Also the characters are so stylish, i love their outfits. Overall Mars in my opinion is a 10/10, just read it <3
Jan 1, 2015
Maybe you would say, she didn't even finish it, why the hell she's writing this? and I would say you are absolutely write, but I thought 10 chapters is enough to make a review on this Manga, because it's simply magnificent.
Mars, the goddess on earth for both the characters and the readers. I read a lot of mangas that goes with the same story, the bad guy who fall in love with the sweet girl and bla bla bla. this is your first impression when you start this manga, BUT it's not that simple. no it's not an ordinary story and you are not used ... 
Jul 19, 2010
I first picked up Volume 1 at my local library, but I was putting off reading it. The only reason I actually picked it up was because I thought the art was good. I read the first 15 pages and then... I just couldn't stop. Kira and Rei are so relatable. I read the whole series in about 4 or 5 days because I couldn't stop thinking about what would happen next. The art is amazing, I've fallen in love with it. Even though the story line isn't something I've never seen before, It just touched me. A love story about a bad boy
...
Feb 22, 2011
OMG OMG OMG.
So like I'm not good with words, and this is my first ever review on MAL, but I don't even care. This is the best Shoujo manga I have ever read!!! If you like romance read read read read this! OR ELSE! D:< The main guy (Rei) is damn hot he is my ideal man soo freaking uhh I don't know fergalicious I'm in luuurve with him, he's a sex god! and the girl is really sweet! I can't help but love her, she can be such a crybaby at times but I don't mind because I love her! Ummm yeah, if you like romance you'll ... |
