The 1st Manga Series I collected.

My 1st Manga Collection: Gensomaden Saiyuki.

" Regrets are just a way for the foolish and the guilty to past time." Cho Hakkai

こんばんは everyone here I'll introduce you all to manga and other aspects of my fandom that I hold dear, then collected and why. Starting off with:

Gensomaden Saiyuki or Saiyuki(as its more commonly know as), is a series loosely based on the 16th century Chinese Novel "Journey to the West" or "Xiyouji(Xī Yóu Jì)". Created by Mangaka(a person who writes and /or inks manga) Kazuya Minekura. This series was the first manga series that I have collected all the volumes for (9 in all).

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There were other series such as Ranma 1/2, and Samurai Deeper Kyo. That I had started prior, however at that point in time Saiyuki won out due to availability and shorter length, so even though I was collecting the other two, and traveling at the time. Saiyuki came out ahead. That is not to say I don't plan on finishing the stories of the other two, because I intend to. Whether by Anime, Manga, or both. But these two series, as well as a few others will be covered later in the incomplete section.

  Now another reason why I was very invested with Saiyuki was due to the premise of the story presented by Kazuya Minekura. I enjoy action, as well fantasy, but Ms. Minekura went a little a further when she partly based her work on  the story of the Chinese novel "Journey to the West". You see I enjoy mythologies, folklore, and etc. So when I notice what was being done it grabbed my attention even more. 




 The Saiyuki series isn't the 1st and it is far from the last to have taken the basic concepts of a popular legend or folk story and incorporated it into something new. There are many others example of one being Tears to Tiara.Which draws from Celtic, Welsh, Christian and Roman traditions. Thus when I see author take established lore and/or traditions and work them into something different, intriguing, and entertaining I tend to latch on to it. 
Thus I get obsessive and started collecting.


And no it didn't stop with the Manga, it included getting the complete box set of the Anime, and the Movie(yes there was a movie) "Gensomaden Saiyuki: Requiem". Yes I enjoyed them, they have their faults but it wasn't bothersome enough to me, to cause me to stop enjoying the series. 

Also I love the style of artwork used within the manga. Especially the cover art, and how the 1st half of the series front and back covers alternate.
 

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  However this scheme changes in the last volume, Volume 9 with the front having all the main characters together, with the back featuring part of the back of Cho Hakki(the one in green and white with the monocle)and his pet dragon: Hakuryuu, who can transform into a jeep(picture on the right). One could say that after reading the story thus far that this choice in cover art could symbolize the group going forward to the future, and not dwelling on what has taken place in each others past. Which is a central theme within the story overall.


In the end this series was very enjoyable to me, and its value to me as the first manga I completed and collected holds spot inside my fandom. Now there are other series that I enjoy more than this one,but it has the honor of being 1st, and there is nothing that can take that away from it. 

Until then おやすみみんな. I'll catch you all next time.

Side Note: This is not a review it is a summary of how and why this series became the 1st manga I have a completed collection of. Reviews of Manga, Light Novels, and Novels may take place, but I'm not one whose not careful when dealing with spoilers. So possible short