World Famous Comics: Fruits Basket Ultimate Edition Volume 4
Fruits Basket Ultimate Edition Volume 4
By: Natsuki Takaya Publisher: TokyoPop Average Rating: Binding: Hardcover Label: TokyoPop Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 384 Publication Date: October 14, 2008 Release Date: October 07, 2008
Product Description: *Peaking at #1 in sales and consistently a strong seller, according to BookScan *Inspired the Hit Anime available on DVD! *The #1 Selling Shojo Manga in Japan! *The best-selling shojo in America *Part of YALSA's 2005 top ten “Quick picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers Elist!
When the infamous Akito makes an in-class appearance at the start of the school year, the Sohma family worries that his arrival will be an uncensored exercise of show-and-tell about Yuki's past. Meanwhile, when Ayame vows to rekindle his brothers' lost friendship, he begins to realize that you can choose your friends but you can't choose your family--especially when they're acting like animals!
Series just isn't grabbing me yet. Natsuki Takaya, Fruits Basket vol. 4 (Tokyopop, 1999)
Note: meeting more of the zodiac in each volume is not helping with the fact that we can't tell some of them apart already. I'm also hoping that, eventually, a real storyline is going to show up; Takaya has hinted at it a few times, but nothing has really emerged as a big story arc yet. I'm still soldiering on, but it's not catching me in the same way many manga series do. ***
I've been reading these in one sitting . . . Does that make me an addict? These books are wonderful and always put a smile on my face. They are definitely laugh out loud material. This is the book where Tohru meets Akito, who at first appears to be nice, but is actually very controlling, in my opinion. He tried to brainwash Yuki! wtf??
... and hold it in my heart Having introduced us to the rabbit, dragon (seahorse), rat, cat, dog, boar and cow of the zodiac, it's time to meet a few new people.
Specifically, it's time to meet the sinister head of the family, and the heretofore unknown snake of the zodiac. And while the fourth volume of "Fruits Basket" is extremely funny and kooky, Natsuki Takaya introduces us to some of the darker, more tragic dimensions of her characters.
Momiji and Haru have just entered high school with Tohru, Kyo and Yuki. The class president makes trouble for a gender-bending Momiji -- and almost gets throttled by "black" Haru -- but otherwise things are going well. Then Akito suddenly shows up, and while he initially seems friendly to Tohru ("You really are cute!"), his cruel streak is revealed when he sees Yuki.
Later on, Yuki and Tohru are gardening when a snake slithers into Tohru's clothes -- and it turns out to be Ayame, Yuki's flamboyant, flirtatious older brother. Problem is, Yuki can't stand the sight of him, and the more Ayame talks about himself the worse the rift between them grows.
When the anniversary of Tohru's mother's death rolls around, the Sohmas become involved in the lighthearted ritual at her graveside -- even having a raucous meal on it. But Hana hints at a dark connection between Tohru's mother and Kyo. And when Tohru is hanging out with Momiji, she finds out the saddening story about his own mother, and why she doesn't remember her own son.
The fourth volume of "Fruits Basket" is when Natsuki Takaya really starts balancing out her comedy with angst, rather than more straightforward romantic comedy. She doesn't lay on the dark stuff too heavily just yet -- a scene here, a line there -- but you can tell that things are getting less fluffy.
Most of it is still very fun and light -- Haru showing the class president that the, um, carpet matches the drapes, as well as generally abusing him ("That's incredible! Say something, GOD!"), the grave visit, Yuki's woes with new girls, and virtually any scene with Ayame. The flashbacks to Ayame and Shigure's teen years are especially funny ("Now please, lust after me!").
But Takaya shows her darker dimensions, hinting at Yuki's abusive past, and Kyo's possible involvement in Kyoko Honda's death. These are no more than glimpses, but her elegant artwork makes them chilling. And she ups the tragedy exponentially with Momiji's backstory. Despite his chirpy, sunny personality, we find out that he has a story even sadder than Tohru's. Good luck not crying during that chapter.
This volume also introduces us to Akito (well, up close) and Ayame, and Akito is about as nasty and creepy as you'd expect. But Ayame steals whatever scenes he's in -- flamboyant, flirtatious, socially inept, an astounding liar, and very arrogant ("Direct your passions at me!"). But we do get to see his more sedate side, and his real (though confused) desire to bond with his younger brother.
The fourth volume of "Fruits Basket" delves into darker territory without losing its comic edge, and introduces us to two important characters. And it only promises to get better.
Sugoku tanoshii wa yo. I own this series in Japanese, and it is a wonderful read! It has all the important elements of a good shoujo manga: it is romantic, twisted, with a shoujo (in the traditional meaning of the word) involved in finding a new family and love triangles galore. It is just a very fun read, no matter the language!
all fruit baskets it was wonderful sweet and momiji was positive cute.loved all the carters. got to read more. the best there is
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