So I’ve been rereading the original series (bought the first three of these 3-in-1 volumes so far) and thought I’d start a discussion around it. There’s so much that could be talked about and I don’t even know where to begin.
I don’t think it’s any surprise that the two chapters that introduced Seto Kaiba and Duel Monsters (Magic & Wizards as it’s actually referred to at this point in the series) were so popular with readers at the time. “The Cards With Teeth (Part 1)” was the ninth chapter of the series and it has three major things going for it that I think helped really set it apart from what came before.
-It’s the first chapter of the series to actually revolve around a game. All the other chapters up to this point featured Shadow Games that were loosely tied into whatever was happening, but those Shadow Games were always set up by Yami Yugi as a response to circumstances. The games were befitting of the people he was playing against, but they didn’t exist outside the context of being Shadow Games. This chapter first introduces a game that’s considered an established property and widely-played (at least in America at this time) game, shows off a bit of how the game is played, and then flips that game on its head by turning it into a Shadow Game at the very end and for all of Part 2.
-Talk about an evolution of art style. Probably the most detailed piece of art up to this point in the series for any non-human thing was the scorpion seen in chapter 8, “The Poison Man.” But when the monsters come to life in this particular Shadow Game, they’re so detailed compared to everything else that they stand out visually and feel otherworldly.
-Seto Kaiba was probably the most interesting one-off antagonist up to that point in the series because he already had the potential to be a great foil to Yami Yugi. Both are master game players in their own right, but Seto’s arrogance and his willingness to cheat to stay on top plays perfectly opposite to the calm, cool confidence of Yami Yugi and his ability to work through a situation without resorting to cheating (even if some of the Shadow Games before this point are probably aren’t fair to the other person, like Ms. Chono from chapter 7 “The Face of Truth” who isn’t even aware she’s playing a Shadow Game).
I’ll be back for more manga discussion as I continue through the series. What are your thoughts? If you love the OG series but haven’t read the manga… what are you doing, bud? Go out and read it, you’re missing out.
Thanks for the overview! I definitely need to go read it now.
I might be one of the few people out there who prefer the manga to the anime. Boy, do I love/hate it. For various reasons. Sometimes even the same reasons.
The card game was also popular because at the time Magic the Gathering was getting big. It’s what inspired Takahashi in the first place. People were getting hungry for trading card games. I’m positive if Kaiba was introduced with another game and someone less interesting was around for the introduction of Duel Monsters Kaiba would have ended up as a one-shot villain regardless. Readers really liked the card game. Eventually the publishers only wanted Takahashi to write about the card game. I know there were plans for more tabletop type games in the story, but Takahashi was overruled.
Which is a shame. Part of the reason I like the early manga so much was because of the variety of games in it. Some of the games Atem came up with were stupid or not much of a game at all, but it was a lot more creative to me than “everything a card game”. Even if events during the later card game arcs were great(and the art of the monsters were always a delight, the constant (and inconsistent) card game aspect got to be old. For me. I know it’s why most people like the series.
When I first read the manga, I was actually more invested in the two chapters which came after Kaiba. Learning about Jonouchi’s past and seeing what Yugi/Atem would do for a friend was a lot more interesting to me than what he would do for a card. Even if Kaiba was a more nuanced villain.
Kaiba wasn’t even very nuanced. It was just that every other villain was so black and white the little bit of “something else” Kaiba had elevated him above the rest. More of his depth came later, not in his introduction.
I probably have a binder full of all my interests and nitpicks about the manga, but I’ll stop. Thanks for bringing up this topic! It happens to be a part of my current obsession. XD
I agree about enjoying the variety of games seen in the early manga. A core memory of mine from way back in 2002 was being a little kid picking up volume 3 of the manga – first time I had ever held manga in my hands before – and seeing things like Yugi and Mokuba playing Capsule Monster Chess, or the digital pet chapter where they’re basically playing with Tamagotchi. And who can forget the criminally underused Dungeon Dice Monsters? That was a really cool concept for a board game.
Personally, my favorite part of the early manga is the Monster World arc introducing Bakura. Those chapters were the inspiration that pushed me to start working on my own tabletop RPG, something I’m still toying with to this day. To say that Takahashi’s work was influential on myself and my interests and values would be an understatement.
You and me both! Monster World was fantastic. I really wish it had gotten another chance to shine. Yes, I know technically the Pharaoh’s Memories Arc was playing Monster World, but we didn’t see that for most of it. It was there more to explain how the story was being framed. Could have used more tabletop.
Which is saying a lot, because as someone who was invested in the lore and characters, I also wanted to actually have the story in the past and see what happened at the time.
I’m also an avid lover of tabletop RPGs. I liked them beforehand, which is probably why I so desired more chapters like them, but I do like the percentage based way the game was run. It was interesting. Also, the usage of a laptop to generate some of the outcomes suggests one might even be able to create a solo game with the system. Which would be great, because so often groups fall apart before the end of a campaign.
The percentage-based rolls were inspired by Call of Cthulhu, which was the most popular RPG in Japan at the time (D&D has only more recently overtaken it in popularity). I actually prefer CoC’s d100 percentage rolls over d20 stuff, so seeing it in play in the manga was so cool. A solo game with that kind of system would be pretty interesting - hell, I just might have to try something like that for my own game. I’m not entirely sure how it would work, but you’ve given me some food for thought.
Oh, interesting!
I would probably require a slew of different tables. Maybe even a way to randomly set up a campaign? You might know how each can go, but you don’t know which one you are starting with. Early places share the same encounter tables and general quests, but it becomes more specific as you go on.
Hell, after making something so complicated it would all be new. There is no way to remember all of that. Plus, if there was a template, people could make their own and share solo campaigns so people have something completely new.
Another one who prefers the manga here! Though it has been a while since I read it.
Takahashi was amazingly more open and honest about how restrictive JUMP was than most other artists (before and after Duel Monsters ended!). Other artists under that juggernaut of a publishing company usually wouldn’t say a thing or polity word how their editors nudge them in a different direction. Every time I remember reading those interviews I weep for what YuGiOh could of been.
Fine, you’ve convinced me, I’ll pick up a copy!!
It was called Magic and Wizards at first??? Jeez, really wearing the MTG inspiration on its sleeve there
I haven’t read the original series in a long time, but I remember every time I did it was jarring. To be fair, because of the popularity angle Jump runs on and the rng element of what their editors decide what amateur work gets to shine for that week, you will get a lot of stuff that feel like they were on their 1st rough draft instead of being allowed to cook longer.
Since YuGiOh was allowed to keep going, Takahashi was able steadily work out of that rough draft feel and we get to see who (mostly) everyone is! However, this means lot of the past is in a form of retcon status. Which is really disappointing. A lot of things I wished got explored only gets mentioned in one sentence and never again. (What do you MEAN Bakura has a dead sister that he keeps writing letters to??)
I can’t remember what films Takahashi said inspired him to start with the “revenge fantasy but I’m embracing its horror” start. That part of the early story felt weak to me (despite me usually preferring that focus) because it was done in the “monster of the week” format. But again can’t really blame Takahashi for that, it’s the kind of story format Jump thrives on. Thankfully he learned fast and was able to break out of that format.
