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A review by booksong
D.N.Angel, Vol. 1 by Yukiru Sugisaki
4.0
Another one of my favorite mangas, also introduced to me by my friend, this one is nice because it hits a good, solid medium between shojo (female appeal) and shounen (male appeal).
Daisuke Niwa has been trained to be a thief ever since he can remember; his mother and grandfather have constantly drilled him in lockpicking, trap avoidance, stealth, and use of his wits. He doesn't really understand the purpose behind it, just that it's a "family tradition." And despite the fact that he knows how to pick a lock and disarm a booby trap, Daisuke can't get his crush Risa to notice him at all.
But then one day while looking a picture of Risa, something very strange happens. Daisuke transforms into someone totally different...the tall, winged, dark-haired, sleek phantom thief Dark, who has been striking across the city and stealing precious art museum pieces. No one knows who he is or is able to catch him. And now Daisuke realizes that this is the true family tradition...the Niwa men have harbored the soul of the phantom Dark for generations as an alter-ego, awakened by strong romantic feelings.
Now formerly ordinary 14-year-old Daisuke has a whole world of problems to navigate; his crush Risa, her tomboyish sister Riku, and his classmate Satoshi, who may also be harboring an age-old phantom being. Besides that, he's also being pressured to steal art pieces by night, carrying out Dark's calling. And his biggest problem may just the snarky, hot-tempered, arrogant, and stubborn Dark, who's inside Daisuke's mind and body to stay, whether either of them like it or not.
There's action, there's romance, a bit of humor, and fun characters that you develop affection for easily. Not the deepest or most layered manga out there, but one of my definite favorites nonetheless.
Daisuke Niwa has been trained to be a thief ever since he can remember; his mother and grandfather have constantly drilled him in lockpicking, trap avoidance, stealth, and use of his wits. He doesn't really understand the purpose behind it, just that it's a "family tradition." And despite the fact that he knows how to pick a lock and disarm a booby trap, Daisuke can't get his crush Risa to notice him at all.
But then one day while looking a picture of Risa, something very strange happens. Daisuke transforms into someone totally different...the tall, winged, dark-haired, sleek phantom thief Dark, who has been striking across the city and stealing precious art museum pieces. No one knows who he is or is able to catch him. And now Daisuke realizes that this is the true family tradition...the Niwa men have harbored the soul of the phantom Dark for generations as an alter-ego, awakened by strong romantic feelings.
Now formerly ordinary 14-year-old Daisuke has a whole world of problems to navigate; his crush Risa, her tomboyish sister Riku, and his classmate Satoshi, who may also be harboring an age-old phantom being. Besides that, he's also being pressured to steal art pieces by night, carrying out Dark's calling. And his biggest problem may just the snarky, hot-tempered, arrogant, and stubborn Dark, who's inside Daisuke's mind and body to stay, whether either of them like it or not.
There's action, there's romance, a bit of humor, and fun characters that you develop affection for easily. Not the deepest or most layered manga out there, but one of my definite favorites nonetheless.