Mars (manga)
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| Mars | |
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| Genre | shoujo, romance |
| Manga | |
| Authored by | Fuyumi Soryo |
| Publisher |  Kodansha, Ltd. Tokyopop |
| Serialized in | Bessatsu Friend |
| Original run | – |
| No. of volumes | 15 |
Mars is a manga created by Fuyumi Soryo. The series has also been adapted into a Taiwanese drama under the name of Mars. The manga stars Kira Aso, a timid artist who lives with her mom, and Rei Kashino, a flirt and playboy with a penchant for racing motorcycles (professionally). These two unlikely teenagers fall in and out of love (and in again by the end) throughout the course of the fifteen book series.
The two meet when Rei asks Kira for directions to a local hospital one day in the park, but instead of telling him the directions she draws him a map and hands it to him without saying a word. On the back of the directions is a picture Kira drew of a mother and child. On the first day school they are both surprised to find that they are in the same class. Later Rei walks in on their teacher sexually harassing Kira. Rei promises to protect Kira in exchange for a painted version of the sketch that was on the back of the map. He also offers to "lend Kira his body" and she asks him to model for her. All this interaction leads to a very interesting relationship between the two.
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[edit] Main characters
Kira Aso - A timid teenage artist, Kira lives with her mother; her father died when she was ten years old in a car accident involving a motorcycle gang. Her stepfather raped her when she was fourteen years old. Her mother finally discovered what was happening and separated from her husband, taking Kira with her. This experience caused Kira to withdraw from her social life at school. However, years later, Rei Kashino helps her recover. Kira marries Rei and Rei's uncle/mother's husband pays for her art college education.
Rei Kashino - An extroverted, child-like playboy, Rei races motorcycles on the professional circuit. He only got into the high school because he made a deal with his father that if he did, he could move out of the house. He and his father do not get along. He had a twin brother, Sei, who committed suicide.
Tatsuya - Rei's best friend, a skateboarder (though it's only mentioned once or twice in the series), and a less than average basketball player, has had a crush on Kira since they attended junior high together. However, he eventually comes to love Harumi, and goes out with her.
Harumi - A female classmate of Kira and Rei's, she's been "in love" with Rei ever since they slept together in their freshman year. Although initially she makes Kira a target of psychologically brutal attacks because of the growing connection between Kira and Rei, she later reforms and becomes a solid and protective friend. She eventually comes to care about Tatsuya, and they go out together.
[edit] Other characters
Sei Kashino - Rei's twin brother and a sensitive artist, Sei committed suicide during their last year of junior high. Rei was raised to protect him, and thus blames himself for his brother's death.
Shiori Sakurazawa - A girl from Rei's past, she was first Sei's girlfriend but then left Sei for Rei since the latter's morals were not as high. She also blames herself for Sei's suicide.
Masao Kirishima - A bisexual effeminate sociopath who was often bullied by his only friend, Yuji Aoki. Rei had saved Masao from being beaten to death at one point in time, but barely remembers this event as the action was impulsively taken when Rei was still in shock over Sei's death. Soon after this incident, Masao kills Yuji Aoki. Masao stalks Rei and openly admits to having a crush on him; he also says that he has a crush on Kira, who he sees as an obstacle in getting to Rei. His personality and mind is very much twisted, and he attempts to kill both Rei and Kira in the series.
Kira's Mother - A tired older woman who tries hard to raise Kira alone and earn enough money to enable Kira to go to college. She doesn't believe she can do it alone and compromises Kira's safety by moving in with the man who raped Kira earlier in Kira's life. (She did not remarry him - there was never a divorce.)
Kira's Stepfather - A businessman who had promised to take care of Kira and her mother but rapes Kira when she is in eighth grade.
Mr. Kashino - Rei's 'father' and the president of a multi-million dollar electronics company, Mr. Kashino is sterile.
Akihiko Kashino - Mr. Kashino's younger brother and biological father of both Rei and Sei, having had an affair with his brother's wife). He died in a car-racing accident.
Shoko Kashino - Rei's mother, she became insane shortly after Akihiko died. After making the realization that she couldn't take care of her children, and believing that Mr. Kashino would not take care of the children of an affair, she attempts to murder them. Although Mr. Kashino intervenes and puts her into a mental institution, Shoko commits suicide by hanging to be with Akihiko. Rei and Sei (age five) are the first to find her.
Officer Okuda - A police officer from the living safety division, Okuda deals with delinquent (and formerly delinquent) boys. Because Rei was a juvenile offender, he checks on Rei from time to time.
Hamazaki - A grade above Rei and Kira, Hama (as he's called) beats up Rei for his violence towards a classmate that had plagiarized Kira's artwork. Rei and Hama become friends after another bout of violence between the two. Hamazaki inherits his family's moving company.
Shuichi Takemura - A boy who was a friend of Shiori, Sei, and Rei in Junior High.
Ken - A young African man who lives in Rei's apartment complex.
Sonoko - Rei's father's secretary and lover.
Violet - A transvestite who lives in the apartment above Rei. She becomes one of Kira's friends.
Akitaka - a biker who lost his leg in an accident. He's Rei's trainer and coach, and also a friend.
Kyoko - Akitaka's wife, also a racer.
Chika - A classmate of Rei and Kira's, she is an aspiring singer.
[edit] Themes
Besides the main love story narrative, the storyline of Mars discusses topics such as mental illness, sexual harassment, suicide and bullying, which have contributed to making this manga popular with readers worldwide.
Mars has been translated into several languages, and is 15 volumes long with one prequel Mars: Horse With No Name
