Kazuki Takahashi (1961–2022)

Kaiba really needs to get a life, but damn, this is a good volume. Much more satisfying than the anime, with some brilliant plot twists.

This is a wonderfully-done manga, especially considering that back then in the early 2000's, a lot of manga were getting mangled in translation when being brought here to the USA. I bought this when YGO was still a fresh show on TV, with Pegasus as the main bad guy and all. But the manga is actually so much better than the anime. When I read it, I was impressed with how much more 'mature' the manga was in way of violence, threats and the like (I do understand that the anime was cut before it show more came here, though)

I have no complaints whatsoever about the manga. I absolutely love it. It's fun, interesting, action-packed, and after you're done, you just want to read more!!! (So I did buy a few more) It was well-written and not censored, and the notes really helped to make some things clearer (in reference to Japanese pop culture and such) It's been a LONG time since I read any YGO manga, but I still have fond memories, and I have also kept the YGO manga that I bought. Definitely a must-read whether you're a YGO or a manga fan. show less

Yu-Gi-Oh! Duelist #9-16 Yeah, I liked this series. Of course, the rules for cards were pretty loose and everyone pulled "secret" abilities out of their butts ALL the time, but it was cool. And having played myself I could enjoy the strategies as a player and not just a reader. Good stuff."

The Battle City finals are my favorite part of the Yu-Gi-Oh! saga, and I love finally being able to read the manga in English translation. Even though I know the story inside and out by now, the translated manga adds new nuances and details to be enjoyed.

This volume concludes the quarterfinals with Kaiba's duel against Ishizu. Kaiba's come a long way from the early manga, proud and determined and refusing to bow to fate. I like that Yugi encourages Kaiba, insisting that Kaiba must win so show more that they can meet in the finals -- which parallels Kaiba's telling Yugi to "stand up and fight god" during Yugi's duel with Marik's mind-controlled puppet in the preliminary rounds. Their rivalry drives them both to succeed so that they can face each other once again.

I'll be looking forward to the next volumes. show less