Fool's Gold

So, during the Phoenix Cactus Comicon, that took place on the weekend of 25-27 of January, I went to three panels by the manga artist Amy Reeder Hadley and was amazed by her ingenuity, humor, and great personality. After learning how to draw drag queens from her, I checked out her manga, Fool's Gold (which is produced through Tokyopop), and was wondering what other people thought about it. So, what do you all think about it?

I saw some ads for it online. the story looks pretty interesting. I think her art reminds me more of American comic art rather than manga thought, which is fine. So how much of it have you read? Is it something you'd reccomend?

I bought the first book from the artist at the Phoenix Cactus Comicon and right now I am hunting down the second volume. I love the story and I definitely recommend it. The art is very american but that is not always a bad thing. To give my recommendation a boost...my older brother who doesn't like any chick flix or chick stories or girlie manga or girlie anime, read the book and said it wasn't bad and i think he can't wait until i get the second volume.

Right now I'm anxious for the 3rd volume cause the 2nd ends so...well...it's confusing

To be honest it's difficult for me to read this left to right, it just feels wrong, but I do love the art work and got to talk with the artist (she even gave me practice tips for drawing) Like previously stated the art work is american but when I first saw Fools Gold I thought it was foreign manga for sure, and then after reading it I was surprised but in a good way. You can tell (most) nationalities of the characters by looking at them and it isn't trying to be japanese with an over use of chibi's or jokes that are misunderstood.

As for the story, well it's a shojo, so if your into shojo's you'll like it but if your not then don't bother.

I agree the second was really good and this time I was watching out for some of the foreshadowing things that Ms. Reeder Hadley likes to put in and I was really happy because I did catch a few. Did you spy any?
I agree with Game Sage about the way it was formatted. I kept reading it backwards so I wouldn't understand something and I would have to go back and reread it the right way. Frustrating.
I like the way Hannah was drawn. She has great hair which is something I can never perfect. I feel bad for her character though did you, Game Sage?

CattieBrie wrote:I agree the second was really good and this time I was watching out for some of the foreshadowing things that Ms. Reeder Hadley likes to put in and I was really happy because I did catch a few. Did you spy any?
I agree with Game Sage about the way it was formatted. I kept reading it backwards so I wouldn't understand something and I would have to go back and reread it the right way. Frustrating.
I like the way Hannah was drawn. She has great hair which is something I can never perfect. I feel bad for her character though did you, Game Sage?

...
*goes back to look through Fool's Gold*
eheheh...I haven't had time to keep up with my manga (cept the big ones) but I do think Hannah does have a messed up child hood which does make her like she is...but I don't necessarily pity her. I do think she's been given a crap situation in life but I also believe that people dont have to let those situations take a hold of them.
She obviously likes to be the center of attention, and while she doesn't normally go out of her way to hurt people she can and will with the proper pushing of buttons. So I dunno. Right now I don't like or hate her character I'm waiting to see what happens next before I pass my judgement, but by volume 3 I should have a good stand on her.
To be honest, I don't like Penny though. I think she's a bit full of herself and here's why. She realizes her situation is not normal, she realizes she's a bit more mature than most girls, BUT because she realizes that she is also full of herself and it's been coming back to bite her in the butt a lot lately.

Yeah, Penny can be a little too full of herself to notice how the other characters are feeling (eg. Orion). Have you noticed that she always seems to be patting herself on the back for all the victories of the club. Seems a little conceited since the other club members do some work as well with all the selecting the pyrites and so on.

Hannah kinda reminds me of what happens to child actors and actresses when they grow up.

CattieBrie wrote:Yeah, Penny can be a little too full of herself to notice how the other characters are feeling (eg. Orion). Have you noticed that she always seems to be patting herself on the back for all the victories of the club. Seems a little conceited since the other club members do some work as well with all the selecting the pyrites and so on.

Hannah kinda reminds me of what happens to child actors and actresses when they grow up.

Yeah I think she is going to have a huge breakdown just because of the way the last one ends. All the things that could happen with Orion, Hannah and the other classmates probably wouldn't be as big an issue if Penny's friend was there (I can't recall her name right now) but I think she was Penny's biggest support and without her being there it hurts Penny's judgement and capability to handle hard situations.