Comments on: *Paradise Kiss — Recommended Series

By: Vertical Brings Paradise Kiss Back Into Print » Manga Worth Reading

Vertical Brings Paradise Kiss Back Into Print » Manga Worth Reading — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 17:26:55 +0000

[...] of the best series Tokyopop ever published, Paradise Kiss by Ai Yazawa (Nana), is coming back into print from Vertical, who’s expanding into shojo [...]

By: eipa

eipa — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 03:38:51 +0000

Yukari<3 George 4eva!!!

By: Johanna

Johanna — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 17:08:16 +0000

I really need to reread this series, but the situation you describe seems plausible to me — life does carry people in different directions, even in the same field. Not the happy-romance ending many readers expected, though.

By: Claudia

Claudia — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:45:59 +0000

I think it was highly unlikely that George and Yukari never met again, especially seeing how popular she appeared to be in Japan. I mean a model working for ten years and she never sees him again? The ending was pretty unsatisfying, even it was semi-realistic. I agree with a lot of the people that her being all mopey and still crying about Georg while married to Tokumori was a little annoying. It seems to imply that her life as a retired model after 28 would be downhill and miserable from there. Sure, she grew a little and was able to make her own decisions but I’ll always picture her jetting off on a plane with all of George’s creations, finding him there and throwing herself into his arms and becoming the best designer-muse couple in Paris. Because why else would George leave all of his precious designs? Maybe he was hoping after all that Yukari would go after him to Paris.

By: eipa

eipa — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 22:32:54 +0000

looooooooove the manga…however the ending is so so sooooo sad:’(…yukari should wait for george..or go and find him in paris..george had made it clear that he loves yukari so much..otherwise he wouldn’t left her all his creations right??yukari is being a lil bit selfish(no offense)..if george doesn’t care..he would just left without nothing behind for yukari..hope there will be another version of ending..hukhukhuk…i understand that in real world,those things happen..but it’s a manga..why not make a happy ending so that we the reader could take the inspirations from the manga to live our lives more enthusiastically???

By: Ariel

Ariel — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 06:27:02 +0000

Well if they had not made her seem so upset at the mention of George, and that she will cry about him…it almost seems as though they want you to think that she just settled, and that would make anyone mad..how they run you along this anime with whispy dreamy plot and abruptly end it bitterly.

The ending gives the air that George ran off with Isabelle or Kaori..and Caroline is not over that…and jealous and hurt.
And Caroline got stuck with someone who still had a high school crush on her…which is not love. You could tell that when Caroline easily tossed his picture in her desk and moved on and never even had thoughts about him.

So I don’t see what’s so real about that either.

It would have been fine to end it like that if they hadn’t made her seem so old and bitter and upset over George…really she seemed like a prude at 28… instead of smiling and sitting next to her groom or something? wouldn’t that have been a more reasonable and realistic ending…even if it wasn’t George..I mean really…
but honestly the fact that in her career as a model she never once went to paris to see him? or he never came to see her? alkdjf please. designers and models DO have time for vacations.

By: Johanna

Johanna — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 00:39:10 +0000

Um, spoiler warning? :) I’ve wanted to check out the other series, but I’ll have to wait until someone picks it up and translates it. (I’m not sure why a publisher hasn’t already.)

I have a hard time comparing Nana and Paradise Kiss. I should say I’m looking forward to reading both the newest Nana, Book 21, and rereading all 5 PK. But the easier-to-get-your-hands-and-head-around length of PK is a plus.

By: Caporushes

Caporushes — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 23:00:10 +0000

I love this series, so much. In my opinion it’s by a far a better-written, better-crafted story than Nana. Perhaps just because of the much shorter length, but Paradise Kiss remains a soft spot in my heart. I still go back and reread it often; Yukari’s transformation from a judgmental, high-strung child to a grown woman is one I am very fond of.

I’ve always loved the ending. George and Yukari’s relationship was unworkable, both of them incompatible with each other. You can love someone and not be able to stay with them forever. How often do people find the perfect person for them on the first go-around? It took Yukari years to realize that level-headed Hiro was best for her.

Anyway, if you want a fluffier ending, her previous series set in the same universe, Gokinjo Monogatari, might be more up your alley. Similar (though rougher) art style, about Miwako’s older sister. It’s not out in English though, which is a crying shame.

By: Manga Moveable Feast: Archive | Soliloquy in Blue

Manga Moveable Feast: Archive | Soliloquy in Blue — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 12:32:26 +0000

[...] Paradise Kiss – Recommended Series – Johanna Draper Carlson (Manga Worth Reading) [...]

By: *Paradise Kiss Books 1-5 — Recommended » Manga Worth Reading

*Paradise Kiss Books 1-5 — Recommended » Manga Worth Reading — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 11:13:59 +0000

[...] review was posted as part of the Paradise Kiss Manga Moveable Feast. Johanna previously reviewed the series as well. Ai Yazawa’s current series, if you’d like to read more of her work, is Nana. [...]

By: MMF: An Introduction to Paradise Kiss | Soliloquy in Blue

MMF: An Introduction to Paradise Kiss | Soliloquy in Blue — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 01:38:49 +0000

[...] From Johanna Draper-Carlson: [...]

By: *V.B. Rose Book 7 — Recommended » Manga Worth Reading

*V.B. Rose Book 7 — Recommended » Manga Worth Reading — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 13:55:27 +0000

[...] is a bit fluffier than Paradise Kiss, which revels in being edgy, but I was reminded of that earlier series while reading V.B. Rose: [...]

By: *Nana Book 9 — Recommended » Comics Worth Reading

*Nana Book 9 — Recommended » Comics Worth Reading — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 12:39:55 +0000

[...] plug various projects coming out related to her work. It’s twisted but fun when George (from Paradise Kiss) congratulates Hachi’s first boyfriend for stepping out of the story. [...]

By: Johanna

Johanna — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 01:30:23 +0000

There’s a difference between “love” and “crushing on”. And picking someone you’re compatible with isn’t looking for “an easy life”, necessarily. But I think people at different ages and in different situations can all find something to appreciate in this book, although not the same things.

By: yoyo

yoyo — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 23:55:22 +0000

Dirk Deppey, you wrote: “Caroline demonstrates her maturity by ditching the romantic-but-ruinous guy in favor of the one she can actually live with”.
Then goes my part: that means that in the end she wasn’t going to marry a person she loved but the one she would have an easy life with. Is that what it should be like? that definately sucks.

By: *Essential Books About Manga — Recommended » Comics Worth Reading

*Essential Books About Manga — Recommended » Comics Worth Reading — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 11:47:22 +0000

[...] of a wide variety of well-known female-oriented titles (including Swan, Hot Gimmick, Fruits Basket, Paradise Kiss, and many more), as well as other, non-manga-related topics. I contributed an overview of the six [...]

By: April

April — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 20:32:31 +0000

Johanna, thanks so much. I guess I can’t recommend the ParaKiss series then. They are already upset with Ranma 1/2 (1st volume only) containing some skin. Thanks a bunch for the reply!

By: Johanna

Johanna — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 20:18:20 +0000

Tokyopop rates it “Appropriate for ages 16 and up. May contain profanity and strong language, moderate violence and gore, moderate sexual themes and sexual violence, nudity, moderate fanservice, and alcohol and illegal drug use.” I suspect that Paradise Kiss gets rated for older teens because of its transvestite character, which a conservative audience may not be happy with. I don’t recall much nudity or graphic sex, but there is teen sex shown.

By: April

April — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 19:34:53 +0000

I am not familiar with Paradise Kiss (yet) but it has come with a lot of praises. My dilemma is that, I need to come up with a list of manga to recommend (I work at the Library–somewhat not into manga because of the “skins” and graphic issue… let’s just say a very conservative lot) and I have come across this site for help. Does ParaKiss have a lot of nudity and graphic scenes I need to be concerned about for my recommendation? I’m limited to mangas that complete the series in less than 10 volumes, so I have limited titles to work on. Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

By: naruto 91

naruto 91 — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 07:13:50 +0000

once i read this manga, i’ve fall in love with it…….i love it’s journey but not really the ending…….anyway..i stil LOVE this manga