Fairy Tail, Vol. 01 (Fairy Tail, #1) by Hiro Mashima

Fairy Tail, Vol. 01 (Fairy Tail, #1) Reviews

• 
  Petros

  Ah, gotta love the masses and their love for mediocrity. Fairy Tail (FT) is from the pilot chapter/episode an average shonen series and yet it is loved by many for being just that. I guess rehashing notions from Naruto or One Piece can make a success out of anything. Because just like those shonens, FT has superpowers, adventure and a big cast of colourful and eccentric characters that occasionally get focused upon and fleshed out. Nothing we haven’t seen before but, hey, if it worked before why wouldn’t it work again?
  
  It is hard to analyze or criticize anything in this show without feeling like I am just stating the obvious or just describing a different shonen. For to be honest, there is approximately zero innovation in this work and it just walks upon the path others paved before it. It can work alright but it will never stand out on its own; it will forever be just a rehash of already established formulas that have been attributed to others at least a decade earlier. Oh well, I might as well make some further analysis just for the heck of it.
  
  - The art is ok for its genre but the setting lacks characterization. It doesn’t seem to stand out from the lot like others do, which again makes it hard to be remembered in the long run. There is no theme in the FT world and it passes by as a generic fantasy realm. The character figures are again nothing memorable; most are almost counterparts of people from other shonens, so again it has a problem being remembered for anything.
  - Another thing that annoyed me is how they placed as cameo Plue, a creature from the same mangaka’s earlier work titled Rave Master. Now what did that manage to accomplish other than annoying the average fan? Rave Master was a completely generic, aimless, boring, and incomplete series and you can easily see they are reusing the same character archetypes from there. Is that their way of telling us even clearer that they are rehashing other works INCLUDING their own? That sounds really tasteless to me. I hear he was placed there to please the fans of Rave Master but I don’t believe that. Who still likes that boredrome?
  
  The story is completely generic stuff and easily the weakest part of the show. It plays out like some MMO game, where you join a guild and take seemingly irrelevant to one another missions, while at the same time leaving a few openings for character colorization and world-building. It all plays out quite childishly and there isn’t even an objective for anyone in this show; they just take missions and hope to find something that interests them in the process. For example, we know Natsu is looking for a dragon but did he actually look for him? No, he is just fooling around in his guild and takes part in whatever mission comes along.
  
  The scenario ends up driving the characters and not the other way around; and even that happens in a bad way since the heroes are not actively doing anything. They just fool around until a villain or a mission appear out of nowhere (no foreshadowing at all) and just decide to take part in the whole thing for money or to save some girl. That makes the protagonist and his gang completely boring since they have no goals in life to go for without some world threat standing in the way. Heck, they would probably be sleeping all day long if they had no obstacles.
  
  Although many story elements lead to character immersion, that still makes the plot being predictable early on, with no interesting plot twists or memorable events. Some character’s past is revealed, some old enemies of him appear, some sinister plan of mass destruction takes place, and then the heroes storm in and win with the power of friendship. Thank you very much; I have seen it all before and in a more mature form.
  
  The cast is eventually the meat of the show, since the plot is mostly about somebody’s past creating problems in the present. This way you feel like everything is revolving around them and that they are not irrelevant to the main problem of each arc. Some of them count as cool and developed to pay attention to but don’t try to find unoriginal characters because you will be disappointed. They are all following a rather typical demeanour but at least they do it right to the most part. There is variety in personalities and powers and most have a rather basic but sufficient backdrop to work with. And don’t expect for any drastic character development either, since most of whatever the character learn and seem to wizen them in one arc, it is immediately forgotten in the next. It always was about the power of friendship. To hell with strategy, planning ahead, or even paying attention to your injuries. Just storm in and win against all odds with the almighty POWER OF FRIENDSHIP! I MUST PROTECT MY FRIENDS! FRIENDSHIP MAGICALLY HEALS MY GRAVE WOUNDS! FRIENDSHIP BRINGS EVEN THE DEAD BACK TO LIFE!
  
  So let me make clear that the series is aimed at younger teens; even younger than the target audience for Naruto or Bleach. There is a lot of silliness (more than the usual) and violence is really basic and mostly bloodless. Plus, no show which aims to be a bit serious would have a mascot in the form of a cheery blue flying cat named… Happy. So be warned that it is very hard to be excited when everything looks so easy going and silly; the boldest thing going around them is the fan service around the girls and even that is completely basic.
  
  So is it a good show? No, but it’s a good time killer if your expectations are low and you are not older than 15 with prior experience to other famous shonen. I doubt it will leave any mark in anime history or be remembered as anything more than a rehash of other works. It does it right but at the same time it lacks the unique feeling every show that aims to be loved needs. It is indeed nothing but a fairy tale; shallow and for little kids who still tolerate the power of friendship is the most awesome thing ever. But it can be enjoyable just for that.
• 
  Megan

  This is a wonderful book that belongs to a wonderful series! It's creative how some people can use different kinds of magic like fire, ice, celestial and more. The drawings are great. The characters all have their own hidden past, that you'll get to read later on. The characters in this series all also have their own personality. The plot is great as well. There are several arcs that keep you reading more. I enjoyed this book. It is one of my favorites. I would recommend it anyone who likes manga, magic, fantasy and action.
• 
  Caz (littlebookowl)

  Rating: 3.5 stars
• 
  Xander

  Needless to say this is my favorite manga. I love fairy tail from the bottom of my year. In this book Lucy heartfellia is running from her past. Trying to get in the best wizard guild. She meets natsu a crazy powerful and reckless wizard. Oh well I’m not gonna spoil anymore for you so read it yourself.
• 
  Gary Sundell

  Enjoyable, but found the artwork too busy at times. I have the next 3 in the series and will finish those before deciding if I go further in the series
• 
  Krul Tepes

  This is my MOST FAVORITE anime and manga of ALL TIME! So much laughter laced with the thrill of excitement as each magic battle takes place. Also, some of the moments are really sad or beautiful that even I sometimes cried! And that is the truth. I love the different kinds of magic a wizard could have. Also, I really admire the bond between the Fairy Tail members; they have complete trust in one another and would rather give up their life instead of harming a comrade. The action and suspense the author puts are awesome when you can go on but annoying when you have to wait another week to get the next chapter because this series is still going!!! Love you Fairy Tail!!!
• 
  Anusha Narasimhan

  This is a funny, engaging and slightly unpredictable manga, with familiar tropes of Shonen genre. A good, light and fun read.
• 
  B

  I cannot wait to get to the second book! I love Hiro Mashima's art and stories and just now I'm going to love this series! A fun filled, hilarious new series following wizards and a happy companion (pun intended, his name is happy)! Involving wizard guilds, odd jobs, and a completely different sort of magic!
• 
  Molly™☺

  A definite comfort manga that I always find myself coming back to, it's a feel good experience that provides heart, laughs and introduces a wonderful set of characters.
• 
  Veronica Morfi

  Decided to finally start this manga. So far it's really good and hilarious. I just really want to get to know the dark pasts of all the characters.
• 
  Read with Sandee ・❥・

  This was so much fun to read. I cannot believe I have not watched the anime or read this manga before. The plot was engaging. The characters were charming. Now I can't wait to read the next one.
• 
  Shazza Maddog

  I picked this one up 'cause of the title and the cover - what can I say? Shallow, me? *grins* (Hey, the library doesn't really offer descriptions. If you pick it up, at least you can read it, right?) The story revolves around a girl named Lucy, who is a big bosomed blond, well, more than just big bosomed; they're straining at her shirt fronts. Still, despite that obvious shonen trait, she seems like a sweet girl, one you'd like for a friend (if you can deal with her excitability). She is a gate wizard, which means she can summon various beings from different dimensions. Meeting up with a wizard known as 'Salamander', Lucy wonders why her heart is beating so fast, why all the women are gathering around Salamander, and wonders if she might be falling in love. In rushes a young man and a cat - Natsu and Happy, respectively - and they manage to distract Lucy from Salamander. She takes them to lunch as a thank you and, over the food, they decide that Salamander is using a charm to sway the favoritism of women, and also discover that the three of them (yes, Happy too) are wizards. Natsu and Happy explain that they are looking for a wizard named Igneel, who trained Natsu to use magic. Lucy lets slip that she's trying to enter into a wizarding guild to augment her skills and Natsu and Happy basically wish her good luck with that, sending her on her way (while they continue eating).
  
  Lucy winds up reading a magazine about the Fairy Tail Guild, the guild she most wants to join. Fairy Tail is known for being rambunctious and obnoxious but taking on jobs that no one else will touch. While she's reading Fairy Tail's most recent exploits, Salamander literally pops up and asks her to join his party on his yacht - and plays on Lucy's desire to enter Fairy Tail. Lucy goes along with it, and dresses for the party. Later, Natsu and Happy are wandering along the street, replete with huge bellies, and overhear a couple of people discussing Salamander's party. Natsu and Happy overhear that Salamander is of the Fairy Tail Guild.
  
  Meanwhile, Lucy discovers that Salamander is pretty much the creep the reader expected him to be and, while he is a wizard, he's working with pirates to collect girls for slavery. Natsu and Happy crash the party, attempting a rescue, but Salamander uses his flame magic to whip Happy and Lucy out of the sky (did I mention Happy has wings sometimes? Yeah. Happy's a bit...peculiar). Lucy uses her gate key to summon Aquarius to send Salamander's yacht back to shore - while Natsu and Salamander get into a bit of a ruckus. We (and Lucy) find out that Natsu's teacher, Igneel, not only was a magic user but an actual dragon...and taught Natsu everything there is to know about fire magic. Natsu himself is more or less a human Salamander - as opposed to the character, Salamander, who just uses fire magically.
  
  Lucy joins Natsu and Happy on their journey, which takes them back to their guild - Fairy Tail (surely you saw it coming?) - and the trio are an interesting alliance. Fairy Tail Guild is every bit as raucous as mentioned earlier but Natsu's soft heart gets him to accept an assignment from a young boy who's father is a guildmember. Natsu, Happy and Lucy head into the mountains to track down the missing father, only to run into a gorilla thing that resembles that albino, horned gorilla from Star Trek: TOS, only much larger. Lucy, predictably, gets kidnapped and it's up to Natsu and Happy to save her. In doing so, they find the little boy's father and bring him back home.
  
  This has all the earmarks of a cute series, despite the vavavoom of the women (I've yet to see a female regular character who isn't spilling out of her top). The fight scenes are interesting and the magic is well done. Happy the cat disturbs me on many levels (his head is the same size as his body, for one, he walks on his hind legs and he has the appearance of a gingerbread man - not to mention the wings!) but it being a magic world, I can overlook that weirdness.
  
  If you like Harry Potter, you might find Fairy Tail to be a fun read.
• 
  Anna Scarlet

  Simply the best!
  
  "Even if I can't see. Even if I can't hear. I have light inside me. The path I walked with my friends, is bringing light to my future. I don't fear anything! This isn't even worthy of being called pain! The worst pain is.. The pain of losing your light." -Erza Scarlet
• 
  Ploye◡̈

  4.5/5 ^^
• 
  Connor

  This was so much fun and a perfect introduction to manga if you haven't read any before! I'm glad that it was a little different than the show so it kept it really interesting. I just love fairy tail, so I'll definitely be continuing soon since I'm in such a reading-slumpy mood.
• 
  London

  This rating is for the fairy tali series in general, 1)because I love it and 2) but I'm not going to go through and rate every single volume.
  This first volume got off to a rocky start. It is a bit confusing and the plot isn't in full swing yet, but once it heats up the series is amazing. It is dynamic, it keeps you on your toes (and with your face between its pages), and it is incredibly funny.
  
  One of my other favorite mangas is Bleach. I am also a fan of Naruto. However, there is a significant thing that sets Fairy Tail apart from those two mangas.
  BLEACH: The characters are very well developed. The basic idea is sound, but the plot is repetitive and has some serious flaws. For details, see my review on Bleach, Vol. 1.
  NARUTO: The plot is excellent but I wish there was some more character development. In the first story arc, the characters all seem really immature. (I haven't gone on to the second story arc, but I hope to be starting it soon. Look out for more reviews!)
  Fairy Tail: Well developed characters, phenomenal plot line, this one has a lot of great merits to it. I am not very far into it, but I can already tell that this is a manga that stands out in its own dynamic way.
  Gray is my favorite character. Lucy is my least favorite character. Let me explain why.
  One thing: this is the first manga I have read with the most sexual innuendos. Not sure I'm ok with that which is why Lucy is not high in the rankings of characters I like (plus she doesn't do much unless she's one-on-one).
  Gray, I guess, would fit into the whole sexual innuendo thing because he takes his clothes off a lot. But, he has a lot deeper personality and a darker past (as we see in his fight with Lyon).
  Anyway, I am not that far into it, so my opinions may change. However, these are my thoughts on the series so far.
• 
  Victor The Reader

  This manga really is something that's one real adventure. In the beginning of this story, we mainly follow Lucy, who yearns to join the most popular wizard guild called Fairy Tail. She already meets some of the members of this messy guild, including the brave but out of control Natsu and his talking cat Happy, and gets her first taste of the action and wonders where her place will be in her new life.
  
  There's plenty of fantasy, humor and action within this first volume of a great manga. My favorite thing is the art style that makes it both very beautiful and cartoonish too. It's definitely like "One Piece", but with more fantasy than swashbuckling. I'm ready to adventure with more Fairy Tail. A- (91%/Excellent)
• 
  Shar

  Having only watched a few episodes of the anime series, I decided to delve into the manga as my first experience with reading manga. I think I am now addicted to manga. Immediately, I loved this. I have no idea how to even go about reviewing manga but I will have a go.
  
  I loved the quirkiness and silly humour. It was engaging and kept my interest throughout. The art style was the perfect combination of cute and sophisticated. The three characters, Natsu, Lucy and Happy were introduced well and I enjoyed learning about them and each of the wizard types which were shown in the volume.
  
  After finishing, I immediately began the next volume.
• 
  Lynn Cornelissen

  This was my introduction to manga. The book has an interesting premise with magic guilds where wizards of different kinds work together. Only this isn’t explored much beyond the fairy tail guild. The main female character is honestly a bit ditzy and unnecessarily sexualised (the latter goes for all female characters, idk if this is a manga theme bc i’m not here for it). Some scenes fee unfinished while the story hops to the next one, overall I could do with a bit more backstory and world-building. Also the talking cat does not get enough picture time - might pick up the second one to see if this builds, but open to better manga recommendations.
• 
  Sara L.

  I LOVE IT!!
• 
  Roxana Chirilă

  I watched a few episodes of the anime at one point and really enjoying it, so I've been considering getting the manga for months now. Unfortunately, it's very long and not yet finished, so I kept postponing it until I finally saw it on Humble Bundle today and jumped at the opportunity (45 volumes at the price of about 2 volumes? SIGN ME UP!)
  
  Anyway, the first volume is a fairly good start to the series - there's the compulsory "pilot" episode where a minor issue is solved and characters get to display their various powers (Lucy can summon cool spirits, Natsu does fire magic and Happy is an occasionally flying cat), personalities and motivations. It's fairly standard, but that doesn't make it bad - the universe seems interesting, the story is easy to follow, you get a few teasers that bigger issues are afoot and everything generally seems cool enough, even if it hasn't properly started yet.
• 
  Greg

  3.5/5 A solid intro volume to a shonen series. I read the first few volumes of this way back when it was first starting. I also watched the first 51 episodes of the anime which covers to roughly volume 16ish. I was in the mood to go back and do some of Mashima's manga and decided to give this one a go. I was either gonna do this or go back and try Rave Master again (which I also read the first few of) but since all of Fairy Tail was on Comixology it got the edge.
  
  Volume 1 introduces our main cast. The fire mage Natsu, his talking cat Happy, and Lucy the Gate Keeper mage. This volume focuses on Lucy finding her way into the Magic Guild Fairy Tail. Then it cover's their first mission together.
  
  I love Mashima's ladies and his plots are usually pretty fun. Let's see how long I can hold out before I lose interest. Hopefully I won't.
  
  Natsu, Happy, and Lucy on the cover of Volume 1.
  
  Read 10/11/21
• 
  Ravenous Raven of Mordor

  You’re a guild, Fairy Tail! I’m a what?
  
  First off, this is a classic story of the friendship between humans and cats. Yes. I got in a lie right from the start.
  
  Lucy a celestial wizard is on the prowl for a club worthy of powerful wizards. On her journey she stumbles upon Natsu (a dragon hunter), and Happy (my much beloved character thus far), which have knowledge of the whereabouts of this esteemed wizard establishment.
  The guild’s purpose is to assist and protect each other when necessary, for coin of course. Sounds simple, except for all the unexpected circumstances that make it just the opposite.
  
  “All I need is the power to be able to protect my comrades. So long as I can have the strength to do that, I don't care if I'm weaker than everyone in the world.”
  
  The facial expressions are boisterously merry, as is the introduction to the... respected guild members.
  
  This volume was phenomenal, a clear insight to what is ahead and strap in because this is going to be a great ride. (Natsu, your bucket awaits).
  
  The review continues in volume two.
  
  As always...
  5 Stars.
• 
  Gustavo

  Finalmente después de un montón de tiempo agarré este manga. Quería juntar una buena cantidad de tomos, pero Ivrea viene publicandolo a paso de tortuga.
  
  El manga en sí es divertido, con mucha acción, algunos clichés típicos de series shonen y una onda muy similar a One Piece, hasta el estilo de dibujo de Mashima es parecido. Por ahora es un manga muy entretenido, con un mundo interesante con mucho potencial para desarrollar.
• 
  Kaion

  Feels suspiciously like an RPG, minus the level grinds and the getting hopelessly lost (Review of Fairy Tail: Vol. 1-3)
  I had a whim to introduce a rollicking adventure shonen manga to my life, so Fairy Tail fit the bill. In fact, it may fit the bill too well.
  
  Manga titles are often just plain weird or nonsensical, but in this case, the pun is almost apt (the story is about wizards, not fairies). The titular Fairy Tail is the name and symbol of the world’s most exclusive wizard guilds, whose members are not only famous for their powerful magic skills but also infamous for their tendency to cause collateral damage (usually of the property kind). Lucy, a teenage Celestial wizard, hasn’t a clue how to join the exclusive guild until she gets a chance encounter with a strange young man who eats fire and his flying, talking cat?
  
  In these first few volumes, Hiro Mashima (of Rave Master fame) quickly establishes the main ‘team’, the structure, and premise of the manga. The characters are quickly, if sketchily defined: the big-boobed girl protagonist Lucy [Summon Magic, sometimes smart], the spiky-haired guy protagonist Natsu [Fire Eater, gets motion sickness], the identified-cute-talking-animal-sidekick Happy, the other-spiky-haired-guy-the-first-guy-can-squabble-with Gray [Ice Maker, exhibitionist], and other-girl-the-first-girl-can-admire-as-evidenced-by-less-boob-display Erza [Battle Armor Magic, rule-enforcing]. And it’s not long before this team gets established into adventure-seeking pattern, light on the character motivations sure, but heavy on the action and banter-y humor.
  
  In fact, with the broad characters and the guild and the taking of missions posted on a cork board in their guild office (a tavern) in which all the other colorful guild members hang out to provide useful commentary, and the relentless pace of said missions… why, the story feels suspiciously like an RPG (specifically in my limited experience, like FF12), well, expect minus the level grinds and the getting hopelessly lost and the hours of upfront backstory (so almost nothing like FF12). We get little side panels often explaining people’s magic skills (their attacks, for example, all have names) and the price and usage of all their items such as potions and spells and such.
  
  The only really standout element of the manga so far is Mashima’s wonderfully kinetic action sequences. He manages layouts both interesting and clear, which can be a somewhat rare pleasure. The character designs quickly distinctive enough that you’ll never mistake one character for another, even though I don’t always find them aesthetically pleasing with all the buggy eyes and spindly limbs. Some reviewers complained about the fan-service, and while I noticed it, I didn’t find it generally distracting (and at least gender equal) except in the case of the main character Lucy, who is called “cute girl” a few too many times. Mashima almost always renders backgrounds and interiors with precise and placing detail as well, which is crucial in any adventuring story and shows some nice world-development, though I could just be this impressed because I have spent too long in the shojo-land of backgrounds of stars and hearts and flowers and tone-on-tone explosions and unfurnished rooms.
  
  Generic, yes, but I still largely enjoyed the spectable of the first three volumes of Fairy Tale, so I’m willing to stick around a little while longer to see if It grows into itself more and gains some more defining characteristics. Rating: 2.5 stars
  
  I don’t really have much to add about Fairy Tail volumes 4-6 that I didn’t already say in my original review of the manga. I will say the pace of these three volumes slows down a skosh, as they are dedicated mostly to only a single mission: Eager to prove themselves, Natsu, Lucky, and Lucy take a dangerous mission above their ranking. Tailed by Gray and Erza, they go to a haunted island to uncover the mystery that has cursed the local villagers, a mystery which involves dark characters from Gray’s past. Gray gets the first semblance of character depth, in a backstory-heavy mission that’s mostly enjoyable to read, if not very surprising. The other characters remain at about the same interest level however, and Mashima has mostly settled into a rut of the same easy and predictable gags around their ‘peculiarities’. But that's what Fairy Tail is. Shonen formula. It knows its audience, though its audience won't include me in the future. Rating: 2.5 stars
  
  Publishing note: The Del Rey publishing job looks pretty spectacular from the point of view of someone who doesn’t know ten words of Japanese. They’ve left the honorifics, the sound effects, and the ‘action’ dialogue (stylized dialogue outside of speech bubbles that becomes part of the art) nicely intact—leaving the translation for the later two in small text on the same page. Each volume comes with wonderfully helpful translator notes at the back that explain the many puns and references and the reasoning behind their attempts to translate those accurately without compromising clarity.
  
  Series rating: 2 stars
• 
  Cassie

  This AINT no fruits basket but it gives me such dragon quest vibes i think I’ll pick up another volume
• 
  Juwita

  Gambarnya bagus, ceritanya menarik, paling suka sama Happy 😊
  P.s: Masa lalu Natsu and Lucy kayaknya berhubungan 🕵️