Princess Ai Volume 1
- PAPERBACK: 192 PAGES
- Language: English
- ISBN: 1-59182-669-1
- EAN: 978-1-59182-669-9
- AVAILABLE: NOW
- MSRP: $9.99
MANGA + COMICS
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User Reviews
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From the Washington Post
Princess Ai is very much of its genre—shojo, Japanese comics aimed specifically at teenage girls. It's got all the stock shojo characters and situations: cute-as-a-button women with eyes half the size of their heads, willowy young men, accidents that make them fall on top of each other, wardrobe malfunctions, bitchy rivals, scheming corporations and a hefty helping of cheesecake.
~Douglas Wolk
Copyright © The Washington Post Company
From Anime on DVD
One year after the successful release of the first volume comes the next installment in this 3-volume manga, co-produced by TOKYOPOP and Shinshokan, serialized monthly in Japan in Wings, and all based off an idea from and the persona of Courtney Love, who is a manga fan herself after living and performing in Japan. I admit that I have not yet read the first volume, but seeing the names Courtney Love, DJ Milky, and Ai Yazawa attached to this project definitely had me interested in checking out this volume. Thankfully, the thorough and exhaustive story summary at the beginning of the book got me all caught up so I could hit the ground running....
The most interesting parts of this story for me are the parallels between Courtney Love's life, from what I remember, and the character Ai. Not just their personalities, but also how they are treated and presented by the music industry and media. Ai is seen as being very independent, outspoken, and definitely a bit stubborn, very much like her real life counterpart in Love. Ai really just wants to be with this man Kent, who has touched her emotionally, as well as discover more of herself by finding this book. However, it is the pressures and constrictions from the music industry that are keeping her from doing either of these. I think DJ Milky has done a great job at understanding how Love felt during her time at the top of the music industry, and conveying all those feelings and emotions here in this story....
The parallels between Ai and Courtney Love are done very well here, creating a fictional biography of sorts about Love's experiences and struggles in the music business. In the music business you are someone's pawn, and they will use and abuse you as much as they can in order to get as much profit as possible. I definitely remember the loud and independent Love as portrayed by the media, but it is interesting to see the parallels of her character from behind the scenes. While the gothic fantasy aspect of the storyline hasn't quite grabbed my interest, and the romance is not very strong, there is definitely a good little story here with Ai the musician.
After reading this volume and doing some research on how this book was created, I admit that I have become quite fascinated with how this has all come together. Albeit a bit short in length, this is an interesting co-production that I think opens up some interesting and different avenues for future products. It is also very cool seeing all the marketing surrounding a manga title in the US, including dolls and an anime trailer. You don't see manga titles too often get this level of advertisement and merchandising, so I hope it pays off well and it becomes more commonplace.
~Jarred Pine
Copyright © Chris Beveridge. All rights reserved.
shamarystanley
The Best Fantasy
If you have ever heard of Princess A.I then you better read this article.MORE
shamarystanley
The Best Fantasy
If you have ever heard of Princess A.I then you better read this article.MORE
Ai is an alien who found herself on the streets of Tokyo with her clothes and her memory in tatters. Thanks to the kindness of a handsome, young college librarian named Kent, Ai started to piece together her past while she found work as a singer to earn some money. When a strange, dragon-winged female assassin from Ai's homeland tried to kill her, Ai agreed to a recording contract with H.T.A. in the hope that the powerful corporation might protect her from her enemies while enabling her to unlock her memories.
Princess Ai
A beguiling woman with a look that is a mix of trash, flash, and punk, a voice like an angel, and a mind all her own.
Kent
A sweet, guitar-playing college librarian who offered Ai his home and his heart to keep her safe.
Hikaru
Kent's jealous and possessive gay roommate, he hated Princess Ai on sight. Though Hikaru is in love with Kent, Kent has not returned Hikaru's affections. Yet.
Fa'an
A street musician with strangely compelling lyrics who helps Ai discover her flair for singing. He has a knack for appearing and disappearing at just the right time.
Nora
A leader of the revolutionaries in Ai-Land, this Angel wants equality—not superiority—over Humans...but not everyone shares his views.
Kaz
Nora's radical cousin who believes that the Human royal family must be conquered at all costs. Much to Nora's dismay, Kaz dispatched Tess to capture Ai.
Tess
An angel, a witch, or a demon, depending on how you look at her, she's actually one of the Furies of Ai-Land sent to search out and drag Ai back to her planet.
Takeshi
Tough, tattooed, and tawdry, he's a VIP at the nightclub Club Cupid who just happens to work for H.T.A., the hottest talent agency in Japan.
Hayabusa
Takeshi's boss, the powerful president of H.T.A., who's allegedly connected with the Yakuza (the Japanese mob).
Jen
The one singer at Club Cupid who takes the time to befriend Ai.
Courtney Love
While Courtney Love is best known as the controversial front-woman for the alternative rock band Hole, as an accomplished actress and for her marriage to Kurt Cobain, it is a little-known fact that before her meteoric rise to fame she lived and performed in Japan and became a huge manga fan. Her interest in Japanese comics led her to TOKYOPOP, where she collaborated with D.J. Milky to create her fantasy alter ego, Princess Ai.
D.J. Milky
He likes to eat ramen late at night and bananas for breakfast. Addicted to digital and analog fusion, Milky is in a constant state of flux and irk. Life's one reward comes in the form of making stories, music, and lately shooting DV. Milky has composed a few songs for TOKYOPOP including School's in Session (GTO), Initialize (Initial D), and Worthy of Your Soul (Reign), as well as writing Karma Club and two upcoming Stray Sheep books. Milky is currently in development on two manga projects as well as staring intently into the vortex.
Misaho Kujiradou
Favorite Foods: Natto (fermented soybeans), crab, miso ramen.
Least Favorite Foods: Red beans, cherry lobster, cold noodles.
Desk Motto: "If I do it, things will work out. So I do it."
Personality: Do things at my own pace. Stubborn. Timid. High-tech, but I hate the phone (laugh).
Current Obsessions: Dolls, especially "Super Dolphy," Flower Patterns, especially roses and gorgeous double-blossom floral patterns. The color pink. Other Works: debut work was Time Trouble in Oct. 1997, an 8-page comic she first made for Comic Ecole that received good feedback for its artwork and cover! First work that received substantial comments and feedback was in June of 1999, which was her 40-page manga story You are My God of Fame (a slapstick love comedy). She also received her first fan-letter for it!
As TOKYOPOP's first Japanese-American co-publishing venture, Princess Ai is an interesting story with an equally interesting story behind it. Though started in the United States, Princess Ai was brought to fruition in Japan. Despite the difficulties that come with working in different languages, different cultures, and different time zones, this book still became a hit in both countries.
~Rob Tokar, Editor
USA
UK
JAPAN
Only registered members can post comments
I have only read the 1st Princess Ai book, but I have books 1,2 & 3, plus I have Princess Ai: The Prism of Midnight Dawn. I WOULD LOVE TO MEET PRINCEES AI! I LOVE THIS SERIES SO MUCH! IF ANYONE HASN'T READ THESE BOOKS..... BUY THE darn BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CRAZYFACE606
06.12.2009 12:00 AM
f***!
CRAZYFACE606
06.12.2009 12:00 AM
SORRY BOUT THE darn F*** MESSAGE! I KNOW, WEIRD.
CRAZYFACE606
06.12.2009 12:00 AM
its kinda hard to readon the computer so i think im going to buy the book
SHAMMALAMMA
05.23.2009 12:00 AM
Wow this is amazing ;D I hope someday I can draw like that ^.^
MISDERMEANERJ
04.12.2009 12:00 AM
My friend Manda totally got me obsesed with Princes Ai. I love this manga, but mostly the outfits that the princess wears
CHARMEDGIRL24
04.06.2009 12:00 AM
this is a really good manga. and i'm not really a fan of courtney love, but she and her co-authors have created a promising storyline. I'm excited to read the rest.
COWLUVER65
03.05.2009 12:00 AM
thats right!!!!!!!! and its so f***ing awesome
ERGOPROXY13
02.13.2009 12:00 AM
I have wanted to read this one for sooo long!! I might just go to Borders and read the rest.
KAWAIIDESU15
02.06.2009 12:00 AM
its so great!!! i love GOTH!
KRAP24
02.05.2009 12:00 AM
Wow! It's so coolest drawing style ^__^
ALEXSILENT
01.24.2009 12:00 AM
very very beautiful graphic !
KNESKA
01.23.2009 12:00 AM
oh nice serise luvin it XD too bad im broke so i cant buy any of it T-T
VIATAF
12.30.2008 12:00 AM
is princess ai: destitution the very first one?
ENIGMA16
11.22.2008 12:00 AM
Still working on my princess ai collection!
SAILORNEPTUNE31
08.17.2008 12:00 AM
its cool
NELLNELL
08.05.2008 12:00 AM
OMG!! I gotta read this book!! Im getting it in the mail. I read the first chapter, and itss off the hook!! ^_^
SAILORNEPTUNE31
07.27.2008 12:00 AM
wow what pretty artwork!!! i have to buy this ^-^
DARKNDANGEL
06.14.2008 12:00 AM
i luv it!!! it was the first manga i ever brought and i had 2 go back 4 the next 2!!!! its justb tooo good.!!
ENCHANTIX
06.12.2008 12:00 AM
It's weird, this is the only site I've ever seen this manga on, but it's the best manga I've ever read. You would think more sites would host it...
SHADOW14FOX
06.12.2008 12:00 AM
it's hard to read the test~ it's too small but a wonderful book!
SEINA
05.25.2008 12:00 AM
lol.. I have volume 1&2 MAybe I`ll go for three?
AILANA0CHAN
05.04.2008 12:00 AM
lol.. I have volume 1&2 MAybe I`ll go for three?
AILANA0CHAN
05.04.2008 12:00 AM
that is really cool
BABYG23
04.11.2008 12:00 AM
This was a good manga! I only read up to vol. 2, but it still rocked!
KITTY08
04.04.2008 12:00 AM
awesome story line and don't get me starterd on the pretty artwork!! i really like this...i wonder if it's avaible in england....
ANIMELUVSFREAKS
03.31.2008 12:00 AM
^_^ I wish i could read it all TT-TT
OJAMA56
03.22.2008 12:00 AM
HEY were'd all the previews go, there used to be entire volumes on here! TT-TT
OJAMA56
03.22.2008 12:00 AM
i love the way ai dresses its so cool and the manga's good ^__^
GOTHICXLOLITAXFREAK
03.20.2008 12:00 AM
Is this good i'm bout to find out
OJAMA56
03.17.2008 12:00 AM
This is way too popular. Totally mainstream, everyone knows about it, it's everywhere. And yeah it's good but so is D.N. Angel and that's not that popular at all.
YOGIRL655
03.14.2008 12:00 AM
this is such a good story i love it!
YUKIKURAN
03.14.2008 12:00 AM
i have to say i thought it was boring but when i saw the cover the design is breath taking.its cool!!!!!!!
AMIXXAA991
03.13.2008 12:00 AM
my friend just lent me the ultimate edition of princess ai It AMAZIN'!!!
KITEANGEL
03.13.2008 12:00 AM
Ah, the only thing really good about this series was the art, which is really beautiful. Misaho Kujiradou is amazing (so what if Ai Yazawa initially designed Ai? Kujiradou knows what she's doing!) I really did not like the story at all, though. And I thought an awful lot of the dialogue was really silly. I gave my copies away to a friend. XP (what? I kept reading 'cause I thought it might get better! So I was wrong...)
ROGUE1ANDROID
03.13.2008 12:00 AM
I don't know why you guys are all freaking out about the free manga thing....the online manga is working just fine....and i have to say, i thought i wouldn't like this manga but....IT ROCKS!
ZOOGARAH
03.10.2008 12:00 AM
I love this manga and now I get to finish it!!! I only got thru Volume 2 via the libary!!
BECCANLARGO21
03.10.2008 12:00 AM
whoever illustrated this book is really-i repeat: REALLY REALLY GOOD. i try to get my drawings to look real pretty but i cant ever draw them more than once!! arghh! well this illustrator is really talented (well der but i had to say it) and the story is love-able! im a big fan of this manga! xP
EMOAI
03.10.2008 12:00 AM
YAY! Good story and nice graphics! .... Loveless is still meh fav though... But Bleach is first!!!!!
DEATHLOVESLOVELESS
03.10.2008 12:00 AM
I love hentai!
YOGIRL655
03.09.2008 12:00 AM
I LOVE Princess Ai!!the hole story and the design is PERFECT!!!!
SIGRA1989
03.09.2008 12:00 AM
i havent read it yet but my friend Cyn REALLY recomends it
LOVELESSLOVER6396
03.09.2008 12:00 AM
It looks like an Okay book. I'm able to get the full stories. W aren't U?
ILOVEBOOKS12
03.08.2008 12:00 AM
I love it SO much^_^!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2KOOL2B4GOTTEN
03.08.2008 12:00 AM
THIS STUFF GOT SOME WICKED GRAPHICS AND KICK-ASS STORY LINE IT BRINGS A NEW LOOK TO HIP-HOP AND ROCK ANYWAY ..... PRINCESS AI IS SO KOOL!!!.... BANZAI!!!!!!!!!!!
ANIL
03.08.2008 12:00 AM
i love this book and i agree with pinkangel i cant wait for it to be anime i would totally watch it all the time
PRINCESSEHINATA
02.25.2008 12:00 AM
wtf is VIP? I wanna read this, but I can't!
SHADOW14FOX
02.17.2008 12:00 AM
i wanna read this someone tell me y i cant.....:(
MYBOYSLOVER
02.16.2008 12:00 AM
this is my favorite manga second to cardcaptures!!!!!!!!
ANIMEANGELXOX1
02.10.2008 12:00 AM
yo , i agree with killichan , i can not wait 4 this to become a anime
PINKANGEL
02.06.2008 12:00 AM