Zero's Familiar Omnibus 1-3 (Zero's Familiar, 1)

Note that this review comes from the perspective of someone deeply familiar with the source material, both the anime this purports to be based on and with the terrible fan translation of the light novel. If this is your first exposure to Zero no Tsukaima, there will be spoilers. If you've seen the anime, you won't find anything you don't already know.The first thing I noticed was the art. It took a while to get used to. The anime and the light novel illustratoins tend to have harder angles, straighter lines; the manga is all curves and big bubbly eyes, very "moe".This is particularly evident in the faces, which have a more angular, "aristocratic" feel to them in the originals, and a much more "moeblob" feel in the manga.This visual softening is matched by a softening of characters and scenarios in the manga. Yamaguchi has downplayed somewhat the abusiveness of the nobles toward the peasants. For example, Louise's violence toward Saito is less front-and-center than it is in the Anime (where even the ending credits of the first season has some rather frightening imagry). If the story where Saito runs off to confront a nobleman before he gets the chance to rape Siesta is in the manga, it isn't in this first volume, whereas in both the anime and the light novel it's Saito's first clue that the shiny fancy sword Kirche buys for him isn't all it's cracked up to be, *before* he breaks it on the golem and is forced to draw Derflinger. Even Kirche avoids Saito's reproof with that story omitted. I'm honestly not sure how I feel about this.That said, the more light-hearted tone allows the funny and adorable to shine through a bit better, I think. Louise didn't look like herself at first, but now that I'm used to the art style, she looks absolutely adorable. The "fun" shines through better in some of the party atmosphere type scenes (such as the Frigg Ball). It's every bit as "squee-worthy" as the anime, and perhaps the softening is necessary in the absence of a soundtrack.Yamaguchi does seem to be going deeper into the "whys" and "hows" of the backstory, and the villains... either that, or I'm finally getting it reading this third adaptation. For instance, I never realized, before reading this volume, that Reconquista was an international organization, and not just an Albion thing. It might have been covered in the light novel, but as I wrote earlier, the fan translation (there is no authorized translation that I was able to find, beyond book 1) is terribad.One more observation. This is the first case I've seen where the manga actually had *less* fanservice than the anime (which was, admittedly, pretty fanservicey. I'm not sure if I should be ashamed that slightly disappointed me or not.

It's a used library book, very beaten up. I love the series, but this isn't right.

I pre-ordered the omnibus because I enjoyed the anime. Although the artwork is different, the story is still very enjoyable and will give you (hopefully) a fun snicker and smirk here and there as you turn the pages.

Good to have 3 volumes in one

High literature this is NOT, but a fun story about a classic tsundere attending Hogwarts is what you'll get. I am enjoying it enough to get the next volume which is coming out next week.

love it a really good anime to have. have watched it lots and still like it. good price too. A real keeper

It came in great condition.

Great book love it!

the story is really easy to fall in to, and as it's an omnibus edition it just means that there's more of it to love. each character is easy to understand and the relationships between them are usually sweet. the plot is interesting, funny and to some extent original. its somewhat similar to the plot of the anime, but i didn't recognize this book at first because of the title. I've always known this series as 'the familiar of zero' and not 'zero's familiar'. i understand that's not that big a deal, but on the character profile pages that come between chapters it has 'the familiar of zero' written on the side, so i got a little confused.the only real problem that i have with this book is the art style. the way that its drawn and the use of screen tones/shading makes me think that it should have been in colour. for one it would have made it much more desirable to own, but compared to most manga series it seems somewhat flat or two dimensional in the art style (the characters seem to be a little too 'cartoony' at times)over all:plot - 4/5characters - 4/5art - 3.5/5while this starts of very strong there are some tedious moment, but i will definitely continue and get the other 2 omnibus to add to my collection.

Great Omnibus happy to have read it thanks

Great purchase

REALLY GOOD SERIES

J’avais découvert il y a des années, la version animée (Zero no Tsukaima) que j’avais adorée. Je ne suis absolument pas fan de manga mais là je dois dire que j’ai tout de suite accroché devant l’univers proche de celui d’Harry Potter (le côté école de magie.) On plonge dans les aventures d’une sorcière vraiment mais vraiment pas douée qui se retrouve avec un humain sur les bras pour familier. L’humour est là dès le début et l’équipe qui va peu à peu entourer Louise est juste excellente. Concrètement, c’est un mélange de personnages qui n’auraient jamais dû se retrouver ensemble.On a Louise, petite sorcière très jolie mais au caractère terrible qui compense ses lacunes par la colère. La flamboyante Kirche très très voluptueuse et le sachant pertinemment, souvent accompagnée par la douce Tabitha qui ne demande qu’à pouvoir passer sa vie derrière les livres sans être dérangée (mon petit coup de cœur, elle est vraiment adorable) et pour finir Guiche, le beau gosse extrêmement superficiel mais hilarant par lui-même. Et Saito dans tout ça essaie de comprendre ce monde étrange et la place qu’il peut y avoir.On est donc dans un manga typé Héroïc Fantasy, bourré d’humour et d’aventures aux dessins extrêmement agréables selon moi. Le format anglais (ici trois tomes en un) permet d’avoir de la matière à lire, ce qui m’a énormément plu, on passe davantage de temps dans la saga.Concernant l’anglais en lui-même, le texte est bref et simple, c’est une lecture idéale pour un débutant. C’est une lecture qui vous fera passer indéniablement un bon moment.