Told you it was depressing. 
edited 28th Feb '10 7:34:03 AM by Miijhal
Well... there's depressing, and then there's twisting-the-knife-and-pouring-salt-on-the-wound depressing.
I'm getting into this, strange as it is. The style sort of grows on you after a while.
Brace yourself. EI isn't kidding there. Have something extremely saccharine to read once you're done.
edited 28th Feb '10 1:02:22 PM by Miijhal
Simultaneously experiencing Hype Aversion and Angst Aversion.
You can't even write racist abuse in excrement on somebody's car without the politically correct brigade jumping down your throat!
Not Actually Indie
As I've mentioned before, I found Onani Master Kurosawa useful for this purpose (but you have to read through to the end.)
On that note, I'm thinking of reading Ai-Ren, but I suspect I might need something else to pick me up after that. Anyone have any recommendations?
edited 28th Feb '10 1:07:57 PM by Desertopa
...eventually, we will reach a maximum entropy state where nobody has their own socks or underwear, or knows who to ask to get them back.
Moyashimon or Kimi Ni Todoke are good series to improve one's mood. The former is quite funny and educational, the latter is one of the best shojo series you'll find.
edited 28th Feb '10 1:12:32 PM by Miijhal
Not Actually Indie
I read the first few chapters of Kimi Ni Todoke and was quite unimpressed. Does it get better from there?
...eventually, we will reach a maximum entropy state where nobody has their own socks or underwear, or knows who to ask to get them back.
I'm only done the first volume, so I can't really say. I liked it so far.
Other than that, I can't really give any more recommendations since all the other cheery series I read are yuri/lesbian issues manga.
edited 28th Feb '10 3:49:10 PM by Miijhal
Not Actually Indie
I was hoping more for something uplifting than cheery. I'd take an Earn Your Happy Ending over something with minimal conflict.
...eventually, we will reach a maximum entropy state where nobody has their own socks or underwear, or knows who to ask to get them back.
Not Actually Indie
I do trust you, but unfortunately, that's because I already read it.
...eventually, we will reach a maximum entropy state where nobody has their own socks or underwear, or knows who to ask to get them back.
@Desertopa: Still can't help you there. It's pretty much 'depressing' or 'yuri' for me when it comes to manga.
Hmm, maybe Mushishi? I can't say much about the manga, but the anime is a favorite of mine. Very soothing.
edited 28th Feb '10 4:10:34 PM by Miijhal
Oh, that's too bad. How 'bout Baccano?
The Breaker has some funny parts, but it's more shonen-y action sort of stuff.
Not Actually Indie
The Breaker seemed like it might have potential, except that it is basically a modern take on an old Korean genre of story that goes thus
- Young male protagonist is troubled by tormentors
- Protagonist meets martial arts master
- Martial arts master gives protagonist magical food
- Protagonist becomes insanely powerful and lays the beatdown on former tormentors.
As a plot device, I find this impossible to take seriously.
Bartender is good, but I've also read what's available online of that.
I'm probably being a bit unfair here, since I haven't really made clear just how many series are invalidated on grounds of my already having read them.
I don't suppose there's a manga version of Baccano, is there? I enjoy reading manga alone, but I pretty much only watch anime in company.
...eventually, we will reach a maximum entropy state where nobody has their own socks or underwear, or knows who to ask to get them back.
Well I thought you wanted something funny/happy, not something you can take seriously >__>
I think there are light novels of Baccano, but I have no idea where they are online.
How 'bout Keroro Gunsou? It's not meant to be taken seriously at all. I haven't read the manga, but I love the anime.
edited 28th Feb '10 4:59:41 PM by melloncollie
DUMB
Oyasumi Punpun is so incredibly depressing that discussion about it turns to recommendations of Super Peppy Go Yay. Impressive.
Baka-Tsuki has the Baccano novels.
edited 28th Feb '10 5:00:32 PM by Tzetze
[1] This facsimile operated in part by synAC.
Oyasumi Punpun is like those kind of books I hate to read; depressing childhoods, depressing love, depressing characters...But if it's this work, it's okay.
Join us in our quest to play all RPG video games! Moving on to disc 2 of Grandia!
DUMB
I bet it's the bird penises. You just want to see bird dicks, doncha.
edited 28th Feb '10 5:12:03 PM by Tzetze
[1] This facsimile operated in part by synAC.
Sh-shut up! I read it for the loli fanservice!
...wait, that's not any better, is it?
Join us in our quest to play all RPG video games! Moving on to disc 2 of Grandia!
Go watch Hanamaru Kindergarten or Yotsuba after you're done.
Alternatively: Kodomo No Jikan 
edited 28th Feb '10 5:27:00 PM by Yuen
Pat. St. of Archive Binge
Potemayo. It solves everything.
"Aren't you going to tell them about the weird stuff?" "Nah. More fun that way."
Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away.
Sorry about re-railing this, but doesn't Punpun's shadow look strangely humanoid?
