AnimeSuki Forums

mdauben · 2007-09-03, 08:14

I could not find a thread about IO by Koio Minato so I thought I would start one. I just recently discovered this manga, and have already read through 9 of the total 10 volumes (I'm waiting for the scanlation of the final chapter before reading #10). As far as I know the title is unlicenced.

The story is about a young man who's parent's died in Okinawa when he was little. While visiting there on a high school trip, he is reunited with three sisters (who he had forgotten about due to the trauma of his father's death), who are the daughters of his parents best friends. The story progresses from there as he seeks to uncover the truth about the death of both sets of parents, as well as the mystery surrounding one of the sisters.

The manga is a nice combination of harem, romance, adventure, fanservice, supernatural and mystery. It's also considered a seinen title, so it's also a bit more mature than many of the other manga I have read.

I've been really enjoying the story, so I am kind of supprised there does not seem to be any discussion of it here. Has anyone else been reading this series?

Anh_Minh · 2007-09-03, 13:40

I have, for years now.

Though honestly, by the latest volumes, I'd forgotten so much of the story I summed it up in my head as "lots of girls in swimsuit."

rooboy · 2007-09-03, 23:55

IO is probably one of my five favorite manga that I wish would get licensed. Sadly I know it's not ongoing so the chances of anyone picking it up are pretty slim (I keep hoping for Del Rey since it was a Kodansha title). I think the service probably kills any chance of it ever coming to the US, which is sad, because while I don't consider it perfect by any means, I think it has a lot of appealing qualities.

mdauben · 2007-09-04, 12:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anh_Minh

Though honestly, by the latest volumes, I'd forgotten so much of the story I summed it up in my head as "lots of girls in swimsuit."

Hehe! I can see what you mean. I suppose having read the whole thing (well, all but the last volume) in a couple of weeks the details of the story remained fresher in my mind. I really see it as primarily a supernatural mystery story, with the fanserivce just a little frosting on the cake. It certainly wasn't the main point of the story like it is in some other manga.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rooboy

Sadly I know it's not ongoing so the chances of anyone picking it up are pretty slim (I keep hoping for Del Rey since it was a Kodansha title). I think the service probably kills any chance of it ever coming to the US

I don't really see either of those as any particular obstical, really. It might not be ongoing, but it's ten volumes long, which is as long or longer that some other titles that have been licenced. The fan serivice, while very much there is not really... offensive or pornographic. The main hurdle I would see is that this is a seinen series, and they just don't seem to be as popular as shounen and shoujo titles are with US publishers. Its not going to be the next Naruto or Bleach, but I think there could be an audience for this in the US.

Crystal_Method · 2007-09-04, 12:22

Yea I read this too, but forgot quite a bit of it.

Spoiler:

sorry, forgot to use spoiler tag

mdauben · 2007-09-04, 12:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crystal_Method

Yea I read this too, but forgot quite a bit of it.

Spoiler for Spoiler, Damn it!:

Gah! Thanks a lot. I had not gotten to that point in the story yet.

mdauben · 2008-01-01, 09:50

Well, the scanlation group finally released the last chapter of IO the other day, so I went back and re-read the whole series.

Some unexpected twists and turns in the last volume and it does get a bit dark there.

Spoiler:

Overall, I really liked the manga, and I think it deserves a lot more popularity than it seems to get.

CygnusX · 2008-05-23, 13:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdauben

Gah! Thanks a lot. I had not gotten to that point in the story yet.

Don't open a spoiler if u don't want to be spoiled

This manga came as a surprise to me. Reading the description of the story, it didn't look like I'd be very interested, though i liked to try it cos the art seemed quite nice, especially the girls

Story seemed to develop slowly at the start, but gradually I got hooked and still read the 10 volumes in 1 day.

Very nice art, nice story, though I don't think I understand everything yet. Got to reread it sometimes.

One thing a bit cruel imho:

Spoiler:

About the romance in this manga, the evolution in it is pretty nice, though

Spoiler:

So a phew flaws in this manga imho, some things might have been done better to make the stroy more believable, but it's still a very nice read.

mdauben · 2008-05-25, 10:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by CygnusX

Don't open a spoiler if u don't want to be spoiled

The problem was it was not originally in a spoiler tag. The poster went back and did that after I whined.

Quote:

This manga came as a surprise to me. Reading the description of the story, it didn't look like I'd be very interested, though i liked to try it cos the art seemed quite nice, especially the girls

True, it seemed a bit more... light weight at first (a fluffy fanservice series) but as the story progressed it got quite a bit deeper and more complex.

Quote:

About the romance in this manga, the evolution in it is pretty nice, though

Spoiler:

Yes, that was one thing that bothered me a bit.

Spoiler for Peruvian Holiday:

2007-09-03, 08:14	Link #1
mdauben Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: In a world all my own	IO: The Ocean Adventure and Love Story I could not find a thread about IO by Koio Minato so I thought I would start one. I just recently discovered this manga, and have already read through 9 of the total 10 volumes (I'm waiting for the scanlation of the final chapter before reading #10). As far as I know the title is unlicenced. The story is about a young man who's parent's died in Okinawa when he was little. While visiting there on a high school trip, he is reunited with three sisters (who he had forgotten about due to the trauma of his father's death), who are the daughters of his parents best friends. The story progresses from there as he seeks to uncover the truth about the death of both sets of parents, as well as the mystery surrounding one of the sisters. The manga is a nice combination of harem, romance, adventure, fanservice, supernatural and mystery. It's also considered a seinen title, so it's also a bit more mature than many of the other manga I have read. I've been really enjoying the story, so I am kind of supprised there does not seem to be any discussion of it here. Has anyone else been reading this series?

2007-09-03, 23:55	Link #3
rooboy Umeboshi! Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Tejas Age: 48	IO is probably one of my five favorite manga that I wish would get licensed. Sadly I know it's not ongoing so the chances of anyone picking it up are pretty slim (I keep hoping for Del Rey since it was a Kodansha title). I think the service probably kills any chance of it ever coming to the US, which is sad, because while I don't consider it perfect by any means, I think it has a lot of appealing qualities. __________________

2007-09-04, 12:22	Link #5
Crystal_Method I want dreads... Artist Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: a cardboard box Age: 33	Yea I read this too, but forgot quite a bit of it. Spoiler: I think the last thing we find out is that mio-chan is actually blood related to the male lead. sorry, forgot to use spoiler tag __________________ Last edited by Crystal_Method; 2007-09-04 at 13:12.

2008-01-01, 09:50	Link #7
mdauben Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: In a world all my own	Well, the scanlation group finally released the last chapter of IO the other day, so I went back and re-read the whole series. Some unexpected twists and turns in the last volume and it does get a bit dark there. Spoiler: Like Crystal_Method said, it turns out Mio is Taiyo's half-sister, supprising, but it helps resolve the Taiyo/Shibuki/Moi triangle. at least. OMG! Machiko murdered that little Peruvian girl in cold blood! Probably the most complex character in the series. I alternatly loved, hated, and felt sorry for her through the course of the story. Geeze! Taiyo's old man was a real man-slut, wasn't he? He was either the father or lover of 3/4 of the female characters in the story (including the wives of two of his "friends"). Taiyo's mother didn't die to save his life, but committed suicide because Taiyo's father was cheating on her? Nagisa, Shibuki and Moi's mother didn't die trying to save Taiyo, but in a boating accident trying to strange the little shit? No wonder Taiyo tried to forget his childhood. Overall, I really liked the manga, and I think it deserves a lot more popularity than it seems to get. Last edited by mdauben; 2008-01-01 at 17:39.

2007-09-03, 13:40	Link #2
Anh_Minh I disagree with you all. Join Date: Dec 2005	I have, for years now. Though honestly, by the latest volumes, I'd forgotten so much of the story I summed it up in my head as "lots of girls in swimsuit."