Romance of the Three Kingdom: your favorite comic adaption?

THE SEA

Romance of the Three kingdoms is as popular in Vietnam as it is in China, Japanese and Korean. It has become a part of our culture since centuries ago. I literally grew up with it, watched fims, cartoons, comics adaptions of it before I read the actual novel.
This a list of comic adaptions, the bolded ones are the ones I liked. Read them. They are good. Will add images and my opinions on them later.
[hide]1. Huǒ Fèng Liáo Yuán (火鳳燎原, The Ravages of Time, Hỏa Phụng Liêu Nguyên)
Author & Artist: CHAN Mou (陳某, CHEN Mou, CHEN Mau, TRẦN Mỗ)
Central character: SIMA Yi (TƯ MÃ Ý), ZHAO Yun (TRIỆU Vân)
Status: 37 vols - ongoing

2. Sōten Kōro (蒼天航路, Thương Thiên Hàng Lộ)
Author : Hagin Yi (李學仁, LI Xue-Ren, LÝ Học Nhân)
Artist: King Gonta (王欣太, WANG Xin-Tai, VƯƠNG Hân Thái)
Central character: CAO Cao (TÀO Tháo)
Status: complete

3. Ryūrōden (龍狼伝, Legend of the Dragon's Son, Long Lang Truyền)
Author & Artist: YAMAHARA Yoshito (山原義人)
Central character: Amachi Shiro & Izumi Masumi
Status: 37 vols - complete/ (Sequel) 4 vols - ongoing

4. Ikki Tōsen (一騎当千, Ikkitōsen, Battle Vixens, Dragon Girls, Nhất Kỵ Đương Thiên)
Author & Artist: SHIOZAKI Yuji (山原義人)
Central character: Sonsaku Hakufu (Tôn Sách-Bá Phù, Sun Ce - Bofu).
Status: ongoing

5. BB Senshi Sangokuden (BB戦士三国伝, BB Warrior Romance Of The Three Kingdoms, BB Chiến Sĩ Tam Quốc Truyện)
Author : Musha Gundam Series
Artist: YANO Kentarō (矢野健太郎), TOKITA Kōichi (ときた洸一)
Central character: many, như Ryubi Gundam, Kan-u Gundam, etc.
Status: ongoing

6. Kōtetsu Sangokushi (鋼鉄三国志, Cương Thiết Tam Quốc Chí)
Author & Artist: KYO
Central character: Rikuson Hakugen (tức Lục Tốn-Bá Ngôn)
Status: ongoing

7. Tenchi o Kurau (天地を喰らう)
Author & Artist: MOTOMIYA Hiroshi (本宮ひろ志)
Status: 4 vols - complete

8. Sangokushi (三国志, Tam Quốc Chí)
Author & Artist: YOKOYAMA Mitsuteru (横山光輝)
Status: 60 vols - complete

9. Lord (覇,-LORD-, Bá)
Authors & Artists: IKEGAMI Ryoichi (池上遼一), Buronson (武論尊; 史村翔, FUMIMURA Shō; 岡村善行, OKAMURA Yoshiyuki)

10. Romance of the Three Kingdoms (三國志, Sanguozhi, Tam Quốc Chí)
Author & Artist: LEE Chi Ching (李志清, LI Zhiqing, LÝ Chí Thanh)
Status: complete

11. Koihime Musō (恋姫†夢想, Koihime Musō)
Author : BaseSon
Artist: YAYOI Hizuki
Status: ongoing?

Qwan (怪・力・乱・神クワン, Kai・Riki・Ran・Shin Kuwan, Quái Lực Loạn Thần "Qwan")
Author & Artist: SHIMIZU Aki (志水アキ)
Status: ongoing

13. Sangoku Shiengi (三國志演義, Tam Quốc Chí Diễn Nghĩa)
Author & Artist: SHIMIZU Kiyoshi (志水清)
Central character: Ryuubi, Kanu, Chouhi
Status: complete

14. Ryofuko-chan (Yawaraka Sangokushi Tsukisase!! Ryofuko-chan)
Phát hành: Ganges, Chaos Project, Starchild Records, Square Enix
Central character: Ryofuko-chan (Ryofu - Lữ Bố), Chinkyuu (Trần Cung), Koujun (Cao Thuận), Sousou (Tào Tháo), Kanu (Quan Vũ), Kakouton (Hạ Hầu Đôn)
Status: ongoing?

15. Pink Shock!
Author & Artist: YASUI Riosuke
Nhân vật trung tâm: a girl called Ryuubi Gentoku, Morokuzu Takaaki (諸葛孝明), Kanu Unchou, Chouhi Ekitoku
Status: ongoing

16. Dragon Sisters! (ドラゴンシスター！三国志百花繚乱, Dragon Sister! Sangokushi Hyakkaryōran, Long Tỷ Muội! Tam Quốc Chí Bách Hoa Liễu Loạn)
Author & Artist: Nini
Characters: Gender bender of the original
Status: ongoing

Bù Shì Rén (不是人, Unhuman, Bất Thị Nhân)
Author & Artist: CHAN Mou (陳某, CHEN Mou, CHEN Mau, TRẦN Mỗ)
Status: complete

18. Chì Bì Zhī Zhàn (赤壁之战, Battle of Red Wall, Xích Bích Chi Chiến)
Author & Artist: LEE Chi Ching (李志清, LI Zhiqing, LÝ Chí Thanh)
Status: complete[/hide]
The first I read was Lee Chi Ching's faithful adaption with the same title. And it's still one of the best. Chan Mou's version is very fascinating with very well-researched information and has my favorite versions of Lu Bu and Zhang Fei along with unique insight on the story, but I wish it was a bit more realistic. Lord has to be my favorite for its bold and creative interpretation with realistically executed ideas and Ryoichi Ikegami's art is just plain smexy.
Battle Vixens is garbage.
[hide]@THE:

People need to be reminded of how good and epic the actual three kingdoms is when executed well:

My favorite character is Zhuge Liang.
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But anyone who actually know about history would take all those adaptions, and even the novel, with a grain of salt. Because lot and lot of stories in the original novel was fabricated as well and untrue to real history. There has been many controversial opinions and evidences suggested by historians about Zhuge Liang's actual talent as a military advisor, though all would agree he was an excellent politician and diplomat, so I only post those videos with him debating.

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Genderben pic from Koihime Musō (恋姫†夢想, Koihime Musō): [hide]
[/hide]
Only read one chapter. Seem like potential loli but it's quite funny. Don't quote me on that though.

kaizokuo12

Interesting topic!
I've been wanting to read stuff about The Three Kingdom (after playing too much Dynasty Warrior lol) but never really make an effort to search for it…
Definitely going to check out some of these titles! Thanks for bringing this up!

Malintex_Terek

@THE:

Genderben pic from Koihime Musō (恋姫†夢想, Koihime Musō): [hide]
[qimg]http://i528.photobucket.com/albums/dd325/jerooff/Covers/koihimemusou.jpg[/qimg][/hide]
Only read one chapter. Seem like potential loli but it's quite funny.

It's based on a visual novel, which was full of eye candy but was otherwise terrible to read, mostly because the MC is disgusting. Liu Bei has been replaced by this average Japanese kid named Hongo Kazuto, and he's in a fake Rot3K universe where everyone is a girl, except Chousen/Daiochan who is a very burly but very gay bear of a man voiced by Norio Wakamoto.

My beef is, after the Han dynasty falls, there's basically five kingdoms - Shoku, Go, Gi, En, and Tou. Shoku, Go, Gi, and En team up and destroy Tou. Then En, Gi, and Go are conquered by Shoku in that order. Then Kazuto confronts the Taoists and the world ends. What a wonderful story! I know so much about Rot3K now!

NOT.

Cyber-Robin

Wasn't Ikki Tousen supposed to be vaguely based off this?

I been trying to get into the books for some time now. Dynasty Warriors made me interested in it lol.

Jiks

I have discovered the 3 kingdoms via Dynatsy warriors. For the mangas I have read Ikki Tousen but that's all. I ve played the 3 Koihime Musou VN too. So, sadly I have only read/watch distant adaptations.
Except maybe for the John Woo movie.

THE SEA

This post is deleted!

THE SEA

@Malintex_Terek:

It's based on a visual novel, which was full of eye candy but was otherwise terrible to read, mostly because the MC is disgusting. Liu Bei has been replaced by this average Japanese kid named Hongo Kazuto, and he's in a fake Rot3K universe where everyone is a girl, except Chousen/Daiochan who is a very burly but very gay bear of a man voiced by Norio Wakamoto.

My beef is, after the Han dynasty falls, there's basically five kingdoms - Shoku, Go, Gi, En, and Tou. Shoku, Go, Gi, and En team up and destroy Tou. Then En, Gi, and Go are conquered by Shoku in that order. Then Kazuto confronts the Taoists and the world ends. What a wonderful story! I know so much about Rot3K now!

NOT.

Thanks for your information.
This series seems like garbage. But my friends are still telling me to try it.
And Diaochan looks hilarious.

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Chicken

You know it is going to be The Ravages of Time for me. I love that Chan Mou sort of did his own thing with the characters while "generally" sticking to the story in the book.

Lord seems to have potential. I liked what was done with Liu Bei and the Peach Garden Oath. I am still waiting for more scans to become available.

I haven't found anything special among the rest of the list.

Ikki Tousen…

Punches THE SEA's clothes off

THE SEA

[hide][/hide]
The weirdest version of RotTK I ever read.

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@Chicken:

Ikki Tousen…

Punches THE SEA's clothes off

The author seems to be too horny to make any good manga. See Battle club and Godeath. What a waste of good art.

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@Chicken:

You know it is going to be The Ravages of Time for me. I love that Chan Mou sort of did his own thing with the characters while "generally" sticking to the story in the book.

Lord seems to have potential. I liked what was done with Liu Bei and the Peach Garden Oath. I am still waiting for more scans to become available.

!
I consider The Ravages of times an interpretation of history rather than an interpretation of RotTK, because Zhang Fei in history was indeed a scholar and a gentleman, and a lot of other things Chan Mou seems to want to correct the book. More like what's behind what was recorded into history.
A shame that it would be more appealing to older teenagers rather than actual adults because of its fantasy-like character designs and pop culture's definition of cool action style. You'd feel like you are reading some stories from some war strategy video game rather than a piece of literature.
Lord is actually far more mature. Even though it doesn't put in as much questions or psychological strategies. Closer to reality.

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One of the reasons why Lord rules: It depicts the cruelty of war realistically and unabashedly, not just some romantic academic philosophical wondering of The Ravages of Times or the nonsensical fantasist metal gore of Berserk:
Warning: heavy content, NSFW:
[hide] [/hide]
It feels more terrific than Berserk because it is so real.

And its depiction of human corruption is also very true to life. See what this says about the rotten nature and absurdity inside the castle:
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Chicken

@THE:

I consider The Ravages of times an interpretation of history rather than an interpretation of RotTK, because Zhang Fei in history was actually a scholar and a gentleman, and a lot of other things Chan Mou seems to want to correct the book. More like what's behind what was recorded into history.

There have been several mentions in the series of the whole "history is written by the winners" concept. One is when Liu Bei talks about how the final emperor of a dynasty isn't necessarily a bad ruler, but is portrayed that way by whoever supplanted him so that the usurper will seem like he was "saving" the nation.

A large chunk of ROTK is fiction, so it isn't like Chan Mou is diverging from an accurate historical account when he changes stuff.

A shame that it would be more appealing to older teenagers rather than actual adults because of its fantasy-like character designs and pop culture's definition of cool action style. You'd feel like you are reading some stories from some war strategy video game rather than a piece of literature.

To be honest, I don't really mind this. It seems to have a lot of Wuxia influences that, in my view, add to the general appeal of the series to both adults and teens. It is appealing in a different way to Lord (which, as you mentioned is more realistic in its depictions of the wars). I guess it comes down to whether you prefer an understated style to an over the top style.

THE SEA

The relationships in RoT seem way too unrealistic to me. And many characters, quite cool, lack believability. Including Lu Bu. The overwhelming amount of idealism put it below Lord in my taste. And I am talking in this manner because both are seinen.

A large chunk of ROTK is fiction, so it isn't like Chan Mou is diverging from an accurate historical account when he changes stuff.

That was my point. Chan Mou did a careful research on Zhang Fei. And several aspects of RoT are closer to history than RotTK.
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In term of realism and expression, Ikegami has to be the best in the industry. And nobody depicts the concept of hero better than him. I'd call his story-telling style romantic realism. (he is not the writer, but he decides certain element in how the story are told. Koike's writing under Adachi's , Nagai's, Kojima's and Ikegami's art are way different from each other.)

!

Malintex_Terek

@THE:

And Diaochan looks hilarious.

Daiochan was the best part. How can you beat NORIO WAKAMOTO as a 7 foot tall, greased bodybuilder passing as an exotic dancer in Luoyang who is not so subtly gay. The best girl IMV was Kan'U/Guan-Yu, who was a very noble samurai girl. However, the guy who killed Guan-Yu in the original Rot3K didn't do it in KM, instead Shoku defeated that person. I forgot the name.

However, since Ryofu/Lu Bu is actually a woman, Diaochan doesn't seduce her. Instead he hits on Kazuto all the time, which is fine by me, because Kazuto is a HORRIBLE hero. I mean really anger inducing. He didn't sit well with me at all.

Outerspec

@kaizokuo12:

Interesting topic!
I've been wanting to read stuff about The Three Kingdom (after playing too much Dynasty Warrior lol) but never really make an effort to search for it…
Definitely going to check out some of these titles! Thanks for bringing this up!

Pretty much this for me. I've played so many Dynasty Warriors games I feel like I've been personally immersed in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms without much effort. Of course I don't think playing games based off of the popular story/legacy is really that informative but it has peaked my interest in this manga you're talking about Sea. I always played as the Shu kingdom so Liu Bei all the way.

Prismeru

I´ve only played two games of the Dynasty Warriors series (in the PSP) and after playing the first i read the epic, or novel, in the library of chinese clasics. It was a long time ago and, i feel bad for this, i don´t remember everything in crystal dim detail. It´s a very, if a little long, enyojable read. Personally i prefer Journey to the west. But i really like some passages from the books. Right now i remember, god i hope IT IS from ROTTK, when the child emperor escapes, Diaochan and Lu Bu interaction and zhuge liang continually out-witting sima Yi.

I also love when Guan yu just runs about wei and tears through all of Cao Generals… or was it Zhang Fei? man, i forget everything. Shame on me.

Hiroy

@Cyber-Robin:

Wasn't Ikki Tousen supposed to be vaguely based off this?

No. It pretends to be.

Aohige_AP

Ryuurouden is a different take on RotTK.
The two protagonists travel in time from modern day to the RotTK time period.
The main character becomes a formidable commander, knowing the history's outcome of each battles.
It started out with absolute terrible art, but over the course of… what, 20 years? developed to be totally different look.
Still on going, although I haven't really followed in the last several years.

But I have to say... my favorite feudal manga aren't RotTK periods.
I've been looking for a place to recommend these two:

Ginga Sengoku Gunyuuden Rai (Galactic Feudal Heroic epic Rai): A fictional feudal tale of galactic empires based on Chinese and Japanese feudal period.
The culture and weaponry are feudal time based, and they clash spaceships at each other, aboard them with swords and arrows.
As the story progress, it's become surprisingly complex and very true to spirit of feudal tales. VERY good read, and awesome ending.
The protagonist Rai starts out as a careless, ambitious soldier. But over the course of 10 years grows to become wise, ruthless, yet benevolent king. The entire tale spans until his conquest of the entire galaxy is done.
This was Manabe Jouji (known for Caravan Kidd and Outlanders)'s finest, biggest and longest hit ever.

Kingdom. Currently running in Young Jump. Story of rise of power of king of Qin, first emperor of China.
Protagonist is Rishin (sorry, dunno how he's spelled in Chinese-romanization. It's 李信), who befriends the king in their youths, serves him as a soldier, and eventually rise to a general. One of my favorite current series. It's funny, hot-blooded, and moving.
Warning: Several historical characters (two to be exact) have been genderbent to make things interesting.

Chicken

@Aohige_AP:

! But I have to say… my favorite feudal manga aren't RotTK periods.
I've been looking for a place to recommend these two:
! Ginga Sengoku Gunyuuden Rai (Galactic Feudal Heroic epic Rai): A fictional feudal tale of galactic empires based on Chinese and Japanese feudal period.
The culture and weaponry are feudal time based, and they clash spaceships at each other, aboard them with swords and arrows.
As the story progress, it's become surprisingly complex and very true to spirit of feudal tales. VERY good read, and awesome ending.
The protagonist Rai starts out as a careless, ambitious soldier. But over the course of 10 years grows to become wise, ruthless, yet benevolent king. The entire tale spans until his conquest of the entire galaxy is done.
This was Manabe Jouji (known for Caravan Kidd and Outlanders)'s finest, biggest and longest hit ever.
! Kingdom. Currently running in Young Jump. Story of rise of power of king of Qin, first emperor of China.
Protagonist is Rishin (sorry, dunno how he's spelled in Chinese-romanization. It's 李信), who befriends the king in their youths, serves him as a soldier, and eventually rise to a general. One of my favorite current series. It's funny, hot-blooded, and moving.
Warning: Several historical characters (two to be exact) have been genderbent to make things interesting.

I can't find any scans for Galaxy Warrior Rai. A pity because the whole anachronistic technology thing seemed interesting.

Kingdom has only got four chapters that have been scanned (22 raw volumes!). I started it a while back and it shows promise.

Aohige_AP

Shows promise? More like one of the best manga running currently.

It's a shame it's not translated.
It does require a team with knowledge of Japanese, English AND Chinese.

Both of these series have a lot in common btw.
Both Rai and Shin started out as a young, brash soldier, gradually learning the art of war.
Except in Kingdom, the role Rai played is split between Shin and Sei (King of Qin).

THE SEA

I read Rai when was young. Liked it. But the the art wasn't inspiring.
There are way many manhua about the Quin Emperor. Including wuxia. I also read manhua about Sun Tzu, Liu Bang (first emperor of Han), Lee Shimin (first emperor of Tang), etc.
My favorite feudal novel isn't even RotTK. It is this: http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%9D%B1%E5%91%A8%E5%88%97%E5%9B%BD%E5%BF%97
It seems there is no English version. Truly a shame, because this novel is epic by the very meaning of this word. It covers up a large part of China history (400 years). Many references used in RotTK were from this period.
There is one manhua about Sun Tzu that is very interesting in its analyses of war strategies. I hope it will get scanlated some day.

Aohige_AP

I liked the art in Rai, especially the latter half.
Manabe improved a lot as the series went.

Have you read the Ibunroku volume, that came out just a few years ago?
It takes place like 25 years later. Involving a illegitimate child he had with Masamune.
The art in that was superb.

Speaking of art… back to the topic of RotTK, the aforementioned Ryuurouden is one such case of extreme art change.
Check this out.

!

As for the best manga interpretation of RotTK, it is arguably Yokoyama's faithful masterpiece.
Of course, anything from Yokoyama is a masterpiece.
He practically created the existing manga and anime genres along with Tezuka.

THE SEA

@Aohige_AP:

Have you read the Ibunroku volume, that came out just a few years ago?

I will check it out.
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Ryuuoden's art.

!
I like how he draws muscle so much.
See the two Xiongnu kings? just smexy.
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I think the most faithful adaption of RotTK has to be Lee Chi Ching's.
Yokoyama's

!

Lee Chi Ching's

!

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Lee Chi Ching's art resembles Ikegami's a lot. Especially later on.

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More of Lee Chi Ching's incredible art:

!

fangasms

If you want to learn about RotRK without reading the novel, there is no comic more accurate than Lee's. The fact that he is 100% Chinese and living in China does help. Ikegami's style is more realistic due to world wide influences (he must have used real life photos for references a lot) and Lee's is more comical and surreal and closer to Chinese traditional art. Ikegami excels in expressions while Lee specializes in brush-strokes. Both are two of my major inspirations.