The first Saturday in May is almost upon us, which means another year of free comics to enjoy. Fully Booked's schedule for this year's event is delayed by a couple of weeks, so I can't partake in the festivities until then, but I can continue a tradition of mine in the meantime. THE THEME: Once again, I check out five FCBD titles from previous years, taking care to keep things diverse in terms of publishers so I can showcase just how many of them participate in this event. Of course, keeping my selection varied is also good for me, as it makes my reading session interesting. THE COMICS: DAWN OF DC: WE ARE LEGENDS (FCBD 2023) Publisher: DC Comics Writers: various Artists: various This special edition collects a few previews for some of 2023's upcoming titles, each focusing on new DC heroes. The first focuses on Xanthe, a Chinese spirit envoy with a cool sword and some magical powers, as she teams up with Batgirl and John Constantine against some supernatural creatures. Next, we follow Red Hood as he investigates criminals making off with dangerous tech, but he instead finds that the Vigil, a new trio of vigilantes has beaten him to the punch. Last, there's City Boy, a young man visiting Gotham with some strange powers (which he uses to find stuff to make money with). Lots of interesting characters all around, and I want to see more of them. THE INTRINSIC #1 (FCBD 2011) Publisher: Arcana Comics Writers: Sean Patrick O'Reilly, Casey Jones, Erik Hendrix Artist: Allan Otero The Intrinsic is a big crossover event featuring a lot of Arcana's pantheon of characters. In this preview of coming attractions, Philosopher Rex sees a vision of the apocalypse (brought upon by Apollyon), and he must continue recruiting heroes to help turn the tide (including Kade, who is perhaps the most recognizable character I know from Arcana). He's still missing one more fighter, and they may just be the most unlikely of them all. MY LITTLE PONY: FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC (FCBD 2020) Publisher: IDW Writer: Jeremy Whitley Artist: Trish Forstner In this one, Twilight Sparkle is now ruler of Equestria, and the whole kingdom is in a tizzy preparing for her first sunrise. We follow Spike's perspective as he checks on the other main ponies who are helping out with preparations, and he checks in with the pony of the hour as she has a bit of an existential crisis. It's standard wholesome fun with adorable art, which is par for the course for MLP. SCAM: CROSSWORDS #0 (FCBD 2014) Publisher: ComixTribe Writer: Jason Ciaramella Artist: Joe Mulvey Here, we follow the titular character as he commits some heinous crimes, but it seems like he has some bigger plans in mind. Not much to go off of in terms of the story in this zero issue, but I am digging Crosswords' design. TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES (FCBD 2022) Publisher: IDW Writers: Tom Waltz, Kevin Eastman, Peter Laird Artists: Sophie Campbell, Kevin Eastman, Peter Laird We get two stories in this one. The first is a prelude to the Armageddon Game event, which sees a seemingly alternate version of the Turtles leave a bunch of soldiers as a bloody mess. I thought the way this story was framed seemed familiar, and that was reaffirmed when I saw the second story: it's literally the entire first half of the first ever issue of TMNT, and the Armageddon Game prelude takes heavy inspiration for its story, action, and dialogue from it. It's pretty cool to compare and contrast the two, and it's always amusing to see the dark, gritty roots of the series (which was itself heavily inspired by Daredevil) and how that contrasts to the incarnation of the Turtles that eventually became pop culture hits. Once again, I enjoy doing these and reading a wide variety of stories from across the many publishers that exist, and I look forward to continuing the tradition in the years to come. As for the actual Free Comic Book Day, I'm excited to take advantage of the sale and pick up something new for my collection. PANEL(s) OF THE WEEK: - end -
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The animal theme has been a fun little idea for a monthly manga reading prompt, but I have one more before April ends. BACKGROUND:
I rarely ever know anything about the manga I read prior to checking them out, so I don't even know why I even keep this section sometimes. SUMMARY: A young kitten is separated from her mother and siblings while taking a walk outside. She looks everywhere for her family, but she just gets even more lost and narrowly avoids all sorts of danger. Sad and alone, the kitten is found by a small family (a little boy named Yohei, and her parents) and is taken in. The catch here is that in the apartment they live in, animals are forbidden, so they must be a little discreet with what they're doing. At first, the parents take in the kitten with the intent of eventually finding someone who can adopt them. Unfortunately, no one seems to be available, and after a while, the family just decides to keep the kitten and be quiet about it amongst neighbors. The kitten is named Chi, which is apparently shorthand for "pee" in Japanese, as young Yohei repeats the word every time the kitten does it. The volume is split into bite-sized chapters detailing this journey, and once the status quo is set, you get chapters focusing on the typical things cat owners deal with (like picking out treats, dealing with scratched furniture, the frustrations of housebreaking, and a particularly traumatic pet visit). What makes this comic stand out is that Chi herself is a character with her own thoughts, and the book always shows what she's thinking at any given moment. Chi's story is obviously sad, but what makes it sadder for me is how she still longs to go home to her mother long after she's taken in. She does grow to love her present company (to the point that she gets upset when they're gone for a long time) and get a sense of the people she now shares a home with, but the fact that she still thinks about her actual family makes me wonder if there will be a point where she does see them again. The family as characters are pretty straightforward. Yohei is pretty excited about the cat, and while Chi has a habit of messing with his toys or scratches him in response to something, he takes things in stride (kind of surprising given how young he is). The mom and dad seem like pretty understanding parents, and their compassion for Chi shines through as they were willing to keep Chi despite the potential trouble they can run into with the owners of the apartment. The mom isn't too thrilled about Chi wrecking things or peeing everywhere prior to be housebroken, though, and I found it funny how the dad is a little disappointed when Chi refuses to interact with him after associating him with the vet visit she really didn't enjoy. As far as visuals go, Chi's Sweet Home stands out for two reasons. First, the English version is printed left-to-right, as opposed to the norm where the right-to-left format is retained. Secondly, this collected edition is in full color, and I loved the slight watercolor quality to it. The art style itself is pretty adorable, as both Chi and her human caretakers get simple yet highly cartoony facial expressions. VERDICT: Chi's Sweet Home is as sweet as the title implies, as while the circumstances that lead to it are sad, Chi finding a new family and learning to cherish their company the same way was quite wholesome. I found a lot of humor in seeing Chi act like a typical cat while also seeing her internal childlike thought process, and I enjoyed seeing Yohei's family quickly treat Chi as part of the household. I would read more of this book just to see Chi's exploits with her new family, but I'm also curious if she ever finds her original family at any point, and if the owners of the apartment catch wind of them keeping a pet and they're forced to either move or send Chi away. If you're a cat person (I like cats and dogs equally, so I'm not sure I can be considered as one), I think this is a book you'll enjoy. Chi gets into a lot of situations cat owners are bound to relate to, and the book actually showing what she's thinking is really funny; I found myself wondering if that's what goes inside the head of the cats I looked after. - end - I continue this arbitrary animal theme with this adorable title. BACKGROUND:
I didn't know anything about this one (which shouldn't be surprising at this point), though I was surprised to learn that the artist has a social media presence. I don't usually seek out manga artists online, but this is the first instance where the artist explicitly mentions their account in their book, so I had to check it out. You can find them here on Twitter. SUMMARY: This manga actually pulls heavily from the artist's life, as they share their stories about their dog Inu-kun and cat Neko-sama. Each story is its own brief chapter detailing an everyday scenario for the trio, and a lot of the situations are humorous in some way. Inu is described to be an excitable, fun-loving dog who enjoys their caretaker's company (almost too much) and loves being showered with affection, while Neko is depicted as a standoffish cat who thinks they're the boss of their caretaker and has a penchant for the devious (like stealing and wrecking chaos). Obviously, these descriptions fall in line with the typical stereotypes for each animal, but it's quite obvious that the stories here pull from personal experience. Most of the chapters are structured in such a way that shows Inu's reactions or disposition towards typical situations (like seeing their caretaker open food that isn't for them, or taking baths) and how Neko responds to the same situation. The contrast is funny pretty much every time, as Neko is framed as this maniacal villain next to Inu's bundle of joy and energy. Some of the chapters deviate from this formula a little, like the artist talking about their previous pets (and how those events shaped how she treats Inu and Neko now), their time working with people at an animal shelter, how Inu and Neko act when their mother is around, and even how they meet Inu and Neko for the first time. I liked having these more emotional stories peppered in between the funny stories, as they help highlight how special and cherished those funny stories will be as time passes. Having watched over both cats and dogs at different points in my life (with my current companion being a dog), I can totally relate with a lot of the scenarios shown here. Of course, every dog and cat each have a distinct personality, but a lot of stuff shown here is either universal or happens to be similar, like my dog getting super hyped for a walk if I so much as bump its leash accidentally, or one of the cats I used to watch over suddenly appearing like Batman from the shadows on my bedroom window. What resonates with me the most is how the artist clearly cherishes their furry companions. I can connect with how the artist just knows the quirks of their pets (the same way I know exactly what my dog means depending on the specific sounds they make) and how they're charmed over even their less desirable behaviors (like when one of the cats I took in leaving me dead rats as presents, which my mom did not appreciate). I can tell that the artist loves animals, and as someone who feels similarly, this whole manga feels like such an expression of that sentiment. The art style is simple yet adorable, as most things are drawn in this chibi style (with how Inu is drawn being the best showcase of it). I also loved the contrast of how Neko is drawn compared to Inu, as Neko is drawn to look more sinister than Inu's typically innocent face (highlighting the differences in their personality). The artist also includes real-life pictures of Inu and Neko, and it's fun to compare and contrast those photos with how they're drawn in the manga. VERDICT: I had a delightful time reading Vol. 1 of With a Dog AND a CAT, Every Day is Fun. I enjoyed seeing aspects of the very animals I took care of myself in Inu and Neko, and I can connect with the author's feelings on pretty much every front, from the specific feelings that arise from certain scenarios, to how they overall cherish and care for their companions. I wouldn't mind reading more of this for more cute, funny, wholesome, and even emotional stories starring Inu and Neko. If you're like me and you like animals (especially if you're a longtime pet owner), this is absolutely worth reading. There's bound to be something in this book that will resonate with you, and you may even come out of reading this cherishing your companions even more. I myself went out to pet my dog after finishing this. - end - I've decided at some point this week that my manga theme for this month involves animals, so this is what we're doing now. BACKGROUND:
I don't know anything about this series, but a title all about an aspiring veterinarian is the kind of thing that works well for the theme I just made up. Also, based on the afterword, this manga was made as a supplement to a 3DS game (one that appears to be Japan-only based on my searches), which I thought was interesting. SUMMARY: Yuzu Morino is an 11-year-old girl who moves in with her uncle Akihito after her father's passing and her mother's hospitalization. Akihito is a veterinarian who's in charge of the Blue Sky City Bow Meow Animal Hospital, and tasks Yuzu to help him out since he works by himself. Yuzu isn't particularly fond of animals, but as she helps take on cases, her tune starts to change. Each chapter of the volume is its own standalone story focusing on a particular patient, and every story ends with Yuzu learning a valuable lesson because of the animal's situation or the bond they share with their caretakers. Going in, I thought the stories would just be cute and wholesome tales of a girl learning to love animals as she helps them with their problems, but pretty much every chapter is highly emotional as Yuzu learns about what each animal is going through and how deep their relationships with their caretakers go. The summaries of the four chapters in this volume are as follows:
I take care of a dog myself (and have watched over a fair number of animals throughout my life), so pretty much every chapter had me emotional by the end. A bond between an animal and its caretaker is unlike any other, and that really came across in every story in different ways. Whether it's the animal themselves showing how much they care about their caretakers, or the human doing the same, each story had something that I could really connect with on an emotional level. Yuzu learns a lot as she helps to take care of these animals, and not just in the veterinary sense. As she helps her uncle with these cases, she learns to become more empathetic not only towards the animals, but also to their caretakers. And as I mentioned, there's kind of a moral to the story for Yuzu by the end, and each case has her learn something new. The biggest lessons for her have to do with her understanding her mother's ordeal, as she learns to be considerate about what her mother's going through via the animals going through something similar (like putting on a strong facade for the sake of their loved one). Other characters get to shine, like the owners of each animal who gets help in each chapter (their stories are instrumental in making their respective chapter feel emotional), Yuzu's uncle Akihito (who, despite his occasional quirks, is dedicated to the care of animals and is a good role model to his niece), and Yuzu's mom (who gets ample time to shine thanks to the scenes where Yuzu comes to visit her at the hospital). There's also Sora the chihuahua, the adorable mascot of the animal hospital, whose entire personality is that he is jealous of Yuzu being cuter than him (which I thought was hilarious). The art is as cute as it gets, with the highlights being the animals (some of which are drawn in a chibi style). The humans (well, the girls that are Yuzu's age, anyway) are also drawn in a similarly cute style, and they get big eyes and silly facial expressions to boot. If you like cute animals, you're definitely going to get a kick out of this manga's art. VERDICT: I came into reading Yuzu the Pet Vet expecting a more light-hearted affair, and I was pleasantly surprised to find that each of the chapters featured compelling stories highlighting the special bond humans and animals can have. Every story resonated with me in some way, and I thought it was wonderful that Yuzu is growing as a person as she assists in every case. I definitely would read more of this, but before any of that, I'm going to go and pet my dog. If you love animals like I do, you absolutely should read this. Each story tugs at the heartstrings, and you get cutely drawn animals on top of that. What's not to enjoy? - end - Well, I don't really have a theme for this month, so I guess I'll just pull manga names from a hat for the next couple of weeks. BACKGROUND:
In an instance of judging a book by its cover, I thought the title and the cover art looked like light-hearted fun, so I picked this manga today for those reasons. SUMMARY: One day, Kaede wakes up shocked to find a dinosaur just hanging out in her apartment. Neither of them are particularly bothered by this odd situation, so they just end up living together. The entire manga is just a collection of short stories detailing their time together, and it's a lovely mix of wholesome and funny. Some of the stories include Kaede trying to figure out what the hell the dino eats (and it turns out he really likes ramen), the two of them heading out to stores together, and even Kaede's friends meeting the dino. There really isn't much of an overarching plot, but it's delightful to see Kaede and the dino get along and grow to cherish each other's company. Kaede is more or less a regular girl with a job and some good friends, and while she has her struggles navigating living with a dinosaur, she makes efforts to really meet him halfway. From sharing her things, spending time with him, and appreciating his own efforts, she's really the kind of friend most people would want and strive to be. Being with the dino even helps her grow as a person a little, as she makes a new friend in her coworker in one of the stories, and even reconnects with her ex later on. The dino may not be able to speak, but he can certainly communicate well enough to get along with everyone he meets. There are definitely things humans do that he doesn't quite get the first time around, but you can see that he is sociable enough to make friends without her, is perfectly capable of doing things on his own (like keeping the apartment tidy or going out to the store), and finds enjoyment in human activities (like watching TV and movies, or visiting a shrine). His friendship with Kaede isn't just a one-way street, either, as he also goes out of his way to be there for her when she needs it. You also meet a few other people in Kaede's life, like her best friend Yamada, her landlady, her ex-boyfriend Shota, and her coworker Taguchi. They get along just fine with Kaede (with the highlight of this volume being her connecting with Taguchi), but the real fun is seeing them interact with the dino. On the dino's side, the most notable interactions are him learning about New Year customs from the landlady and his heart-to-heart with Shota. The art keeps it simple overall, with not too many variances in shading and mostly consistent linework. In terms of level of detail, the style isn't too intricate, but most other elements are detailed enough that the dino (whose design is as simple as it gets) really stands out when placed next to them. VERDICT: My Roomie is a Dino is a delightful little slice-of-life with an odd but nonetheless wholesome friendship at its center. While there's plenty of humor to be found in the hijinks the dino gets himself into, what really stands out to me is how quickly he and Kaede grow to be good friends, and how he gets along well with other humans. This manga also reminds me of the comic strips I grew up loving before I got into comic books ("animal character with human companion navigating daily life" isn't a new idea, now is it?), and it was nostalgic to see elements of the humor I picked up from those comics also be present here. Overall, this manga was fun, and I wouldn't mind getting all the other volumes so I have more of this to read. If you want something to read that blends silly and wholesome and like the short story format, I think this is a great book to spend your time reading. I don't think it's going to build up to have some overarching plot or tackle some heavy themes, but you're bound to be satisfied if what you're looking for is something light-hearted. - end - And thus concludes my month of manga with female leads. Like I said, this wasn't much of a challenge since I wasn't starved for choices, but it was nonetheless nice to have a theme for this month to keep things organized for myself. BACKGROUND:
There are only so many ways I can say "I haven't heard of this manga," but here we are. SUMMARY: Due to circumstances in her family, high school student Miko Sonoda (nicknamed Meeko) moves away from her family home to her uncle's boarding house, where she must live with other folks who are slightly older than her. Her new living mates are quite the cast of characters, but none stand out to Meeko as much as Jun Matsunaga, a young designer with a bit of a prickly exterior. Meeko naturally takes time adjusting to her new environment, but her newfound company is more than happy to help her out. She eventually finds her groove and learns to be more responsible as she realizes that the adults she lives with can be just as clueless or lost as she is, as well as gradually finding a sense of belonging with the rest of the people in the boarding house. The bulk of Meeko's interactions are with Matsunaga, who made quite a scary first impression on her due to his disposition. As she spends more time with him, however, she sees that he's kind at heart and despite his penchant for yelling, he is pushy because he looks out for Meeko's well-being. Meeko then slowly finds herself taking a liking to Matsunaga (to the point where she starts to get tense around him), eventually culminating in a big moment at the end of the volume. Although Meeko has a sense of responsibility about her, it's nice to see her grow to be more self-reliant and contribute to her new household. I can feel with her initial struggle to adjust to this new environment (especially considering she lives with adults who have their own lives), and it's also nice to see her take that in stride and slowly connect with her housemates. Matsunaga is the other character who naturally gets the most screentime, and I totally see myself in him due to his general demeanor. I know I can be impatient and that I'm no stranger to the occasional outburst, though like him, I make efforts to be considerate and be more affable when interacting with others (and I also struggle a lot with those efforts). He clearly expresses his care and concern his own way, and I completely understand the struggle of being seen as hostile when in reality, I just work differently from most. Meeko acting like a responsible adult (and most of the volume not really showing her life in school) makes the age gap element of the budding romance feel less unnerving in a way, but I personally still can't get past it completely. Outside of that, there's something sweet about her seeing past Matsunaga's exterior (which I know from experience will deter many from most meaningful interactions) and learning to understand and accept him anyway. The romance seems one-sided for now as Matsunaga only seems to see Meeko as a friend to support and spend time with, which I'm totally fine with (I'd honestly be unnerved if he showed any interest). Other characters also get a bit of time, though obviously not as much as the leads. You have Meeko's uncle (who is absent due to business but clearly cares for his niece as if he were his own), as well as Meeko's other housemates Ken (a light-hearted, sometimes forward guy), Asako (a put-together young woman whom Meeko sees as a bit of an inspiration), Ryo (a college student who's mostly quiet), and Akane (a girl who seems to be a recluse, but does interact with the rest of the cast). I'd guess later chapters put a spotlight on them as well. What stands out with the art style here are how lighter tones are the most prominent as well as the solid level of detail (which really comes across with how animated many of the facial expressions look). The art likes to make the colors even lighter as well as add effects like sparkles when Meeko starts to see things a certain way, which I think is a cute approach. VERDICT: Age gap of the romance aside, I enjoyed Living-Room Matsunaga-san for its protagonist (who makes an effort to better herself, learns to adjust to a radically new environment, and sees the good in someone who others may dismiss as hostile) and the odd but still wholesome dynamic of the people in the boarding house (who still come together and help each other out or celebrate despite having fully independent lives from one another). Honestly, my interest is more on the latter since I want to read a story where such a friendship dynamic is the forefront, so if later chapters continue to feature that alongside the obvious romance they're shooting for, I wouldn't mind reading more of this. If you share my sentiment and think the dynamic of the friendship between the people in the boarding house is interesting, you may get something out of this book. As for the romance, they've only really set the stage in the first volume, so I can't really say if it builds up to be something compelling. - end - I continue as normal with my manga reads this week, but today's title is definitely new territory for me. BACKGROUND:
I'm just going off of the synopsis since I haven't heard anything about this book, but based on that, this story seems pretty intense. SUMMARY: This manga follows the story of Nao Hanaoka, whose mother was a live-in wagashi confectioner for Kogetsuan, a prestigious confectionery. Her childhood was quite a happy one, as she acquired her mother's passion for making sweets, and she made friends with Tsubaki Takatsuki, the heir apparent of Kogetsuan. All of that ends one fateful night when Kogetsuan's master (and Tsubaki's father) is found dead, and a blood-covered Tsubaki frames Nao's mother for the murder. The story skips to fifteen years later, where we see that Nao (despite the loss of her mother) has maintained her passion for making sweets. It seems like she's found peace doing her own thing at a small-town shop, but her life is turned upside down when the past catches up back to her and she takes a job where she crosses paths with Kogetsuan again. Sure enough, she sees Tsubaki again after a decade and a half, but he seemingly doesn't recognize her. As if things aren't tense enough, Tsubaki (who has apparently grown to be quite abrasive) just straight up asks Nao to marry him. Despite her totally understandable disdain towards the man, Nao decides to go for it in order to get to the bottom of what really happened on the day of the murder. After a highly dramatic interruption of a wedding ceremony (which was going to see Tsubaki marry some other woman), Tsubaki shares the reasoning for his bold decision, as he intends to take over Kogetsuan so he can steer it through his own path. And thus, the marriage built on a lie (and two ulterior motives) begins. The last chapter sees Nao take on her first job as part of Kogetsuan, but the drama intensifies right off the bat as she takes on an order for the sake of pursuing her own investigation. Tsubaki accordingly punishes her for going behind his back, which hammers home how their "relationship" is not built on trust. As of now, there is no love lost between the two leads, so I'm not really sure where the "steamy romance" the synopsis describes comes into play. Nao and Tsubaki have their own goals for arranging the marriage, and the last chapter made it clear that they do not trust each other. Hell, Nao straight up says "something's wrong with me" for even going with the idea in the first place. If this story is indeed going in the direction of "they actually end up falling for each other for real," I haven't the slightest clue how they get from point A to point B. While I am quite curious about how the romance element eventually surfaces, I'm more interested in the mystery element of the story right now. Next to nothing is established about the facts of the murder that saw Nao's mother be taken, and even less is known about what Tsubaki actually knows (and if he had a reason as to why he decided to frame Nao's mom for the murder). I don't know how the rest of the manga is paced, but I'm interested to read about Nao trying to solve the mystery while the constant threat of the facade falling apart (and what untold repercussions that may bring) hovers over her like the Sword of Damocles. Nao herself is a straightforward character. She's passionate about her chosen craft, she's still traumatized by what happened (though she does her best to persevere), and her determination to find the truth is shown perfectly as she enters a "relationship: with a man she has every reason to (and absolutely does) hate. Tsubaki, in contrast, is a man shrouded in mystery, and not just because we don't know what his intentions were on the night of the murder. He does state his reasons as to why he even cooked up the marriage scheme, but I feel like there's still more lurking underneath the surface. Other characters are introduced, though with significantly less focus given to them. The most notable ones for me were the mysterious man who delivers Nao a letter from her mother (which compels her to search for answers), Tsubaki's mother (who has an intimidating aura and has immediate suspicions towards Nao and her "relationship"), and Tsubaki's grandfather, who, despite his affable exterior, has extremely high standards and is keen to see Tsubaki put his money where his mouth is at the risk of him being effectively banished from Kogetsuan. The overall art style has a solid amount of detail, and there's quite the variety when it comes to the linework (which occasionally deviates from the thinner outlines to much bolder ones), textures, and shading (which was the most notable element to me, as the high-contrast panels really pop next to the more muted panels). As for other elements, the facial expressions for the more intense moments definitely feel intense when you look at them, there's a recurring theme of flowers used as background elements for characters, and the wagashi (which I don't think I've ever had any of in my life) look pretty tasty. VERDICT: I am quite intrigued by the mystery of Something's Wrong With Us, and while I am invested in Nao's journey to unraveling said mystery, I find her methods for doing so quite stressful to read (and I mean that more positively). Her choosing to live out a lie to get back into Kogetsuan is practically begging for trouble, and I feel like this is going to end up as one of those figurative car crashes you can't look away from. Like I typically say for such stories, I have a morbid curiosity when it comes to seeing the inevitable consequences, though in this case, the tension is exciting (since it feels kind of like a race to find the truth before than happens). I'm also curious about the supposed romance, but given it's a non-factor right now, I'm not too invested in that as I am with solving the murder. This manga seems like it's up the alley of people who are into a little mystery (and perhaps those into more intense romances with a forbidden air to them, if that's where the story's going), though I can't say if the overall story is well-paced (which I'd say is quite important for mystery stories). - end - Let the manga reading continue! BACKGROUND:
Surprise, surprise, I don't know anything about this series, either. I picked this one out because I thought the dynamic presented in the synopsis was interesting. SUMMARY: Hayami is what the kids call a girlboss, as she is pretty much the ace of her sales department, and she's caught the eye of her coworkers with her effortless beauty to boot. Unbeknownst to everyone, however, she is quite the slob at home, living in quite a pigsty. While she'd really prefer to live in better conditions, she just doesn't have her heart set in cleaning up, which leads her to keep her living situation a secret. Everything changes when Yamamoto, Hayami's junior, visits her house to return a lost item. He is horrified at what he finds (and his image of Hayami is quickly shattered), and Hayami quickly learns that Yamamoto is quite the neat freak (and a stern one at that). Hayami is amazed by Yamamoto's proficiency at cleaning, cooking, and all things domestic, and they end up spending more time together as he helps keep Hayami's place spic and span (while Hayami continues to be an excellent mentor to him at work). Not long after, an idea floats into Hayami's head: why don't the two of them just live together? She seems to enjoy Yamamoto's presence, his influence is enough to inspire her to sometimes do small things, and she can give it her all at work now that she doesn't have to think about housekeeping. Yamamoto agrees, and thus he becomes Hayami's "wife," while Hayami decides to take the role of breadwinner to pay for their new place. The pair decide to keep their living arrangement (which they agree is completely platonic) under wraps, though their coworkers end up gossiping anyway. The rest of the volume sees them navigate their new life together (the dynamic of which is largely Yamamoto dealing with Hayami's bullshit as she sits there amazed) and come to the realization that they each may have deeper feelings for the other person. Hayami starts to feel a bit of fear at the thought of Yamamoto finding some other girl (and not just because their arrangement has to end if that happens), while Yamamoto comes to terms that he may actually like Hayami. Neither of them really discuss their feelings until the end, where tensions start to run a bit high and they find themselves sleeping in the same room together. The circumstances that led to this are stupid, but the cliffhanger the volume ends on is anything but. Hayami is a pretty amusing lead given she's kind of the subversion of a usual trope, and while I know better to call the kettle black here, the extent of her messiness is legitimately terrifying (and nowhere near my occasional bouts of clutter). We get a little bit of how her messiness has affected her other relationships up until this point, though very little of why she became the way she is (which I would like to explore). Likewise, Yamamoto subverts the expectations for a character of his ilk, and I quite admire how put together he is (I can be as laser-focused on organizing and cleaning as he is, though both tend to falter pretty quickly when my emotional state takes a nosedive). He reveals a little bit of why he grew up to be such a whiz at housekeeping, though the mystery for him is what exactly about Hayami that draws him to her. As far as the romance goes, I'm not really invested yet since I don't have a sense of why Yamamoto likes Hayami despite her being the embodiment of his living nightmare. That being said, I totally understand Hayami's side of the story; I personally find it hard not to be taken by someone who excels at things you're not really good at and goes out of their way to be helpful and kind (especially if it's directed at you). People like that inspire you to be better yourself, and those are people worth building relationships (of any kind) with. A few other characters are introduced, but they don't get much screentime. The most significant ones to me are Akamine (a mutual coworker who somehow more girlboss vibes than Hayami and who's either interested in Yamamoto or sees Hayami as a rival) and Yamamoto's eldest brother (who pretty much acts like an overbearing mother and provides further context to why Yamamoto is the way he is). The dominant art style goes for a decent level of detail while keeping things in the light tones, but there are plenty of panels where they mix things up, like more dramatic shading to depict strong emotions, sillier, highly exaggerated facial expressions, sparkly effects for the more dreamlike points of view, and even variations in the linework (some panels look like they were done with marker or something close to crayon) and textures. Seeing all these variations made for a delightful read. VERDICT: Mr. Bride has fun with the whole role reversal of stereotypes by having an entertaining dynamic between the two leads (well-meaning but lazy woman who's also amazing at her job vs. put-together man who's still learning the ropes at work). I get that the romance between the two is going to be the heart of the story, but my interest at this point in the manga is more getting to know key aspects of the characters. Again, I totally get how Hayami falls for Yamamoto (and I want to see her succeed because I get it), but I feel like I don't know enough about her or Yamamoto to be invested in where the story will eventually lead. I will trust that later volumes will assuage my concerns, though. If a rom-com with these two interesting characters sounds like fun to you, this might be a manga for you. They set up the dynamic between the two pretty quickly while also not beating around the bush when it comes to setting up the romantic tension. I have no idea where it goes past the first volume, though that cliffhanger hints that things may get a bit intense. - end - I continue my monthly challenge with this romance manga. I told you I didn't have a shortage of those. BACKGROUND:
This was a friend recommendation that works pretty well for the theme I'm going for in March since it has a female lead. They labeled it a "typical shoujo" on my list, though I don't think I've read enough to know exactly what that means. SUMMARY: Moe Sasaki is a transfer student at a new high school, having had to move to her mother's hometown after her father's passing. She's having trouble moving past her loss, and she's also struggling to fit in with her peers (ending up a loner), but everything changes when she's "rescued" in a fire drill by the serious but kind-hearted Kyosuke Ebihara, one of the local firefighters. They end up crossing paths more as the volume progresses, and Moe's admiration turns into infatuation as she finds comfort in Kyosuke's reliable, caring nature. A lot of the scenarios involve Kyosuke bailing her out of trouble (including one serious run-in with a serial arsonist), which irks Kyosuke as he notices how careless Moe can be at times. Above all else, Kyosuke inspires Moe to be more confident and responsible, which helps her find friends in school and grants her the courage to take the initiative in her everyday life. She also tries very hard to emulate Kyosuke's example and attempts to do the responsible thing in most situations, though she gets herself in trouble more often than not. Such situations typically end in Kyosuke getting her out of a jam, though she certainly doesn't mind the attention. Though Moe wishes Kyosuke would reciprocate her feelings, he's not making it easy. For one, he sees his rescuing of Moe as simply doing his duty, and he is quick to remind Moe to stay out of trouble and to think before acting. For another, he appears to be actively putting up a wall between him and Moe, as the book makes clear that he threw himself into his work after dealing with a devastating loss of his own. None of this deters Moe, however, as she talks with Kyosuke regularly and even goes out of her way to try to help him when he gets sick (stating that she wants to be able to rescue him when he's in trouble as some sort of recompense). Other characters are introduced, though they don't get as much screentime. Moe's friends assume she and Kyosuke are dating and find the thought romantic, while Kyosuke's coworkers occasionally find themselves on the receiving end of his stern warnings in training scenarios. Perhaps the most notable characters outside those groups are Moe's younger brother Ryu (who, like his sister, misses his dad, and finds comfort in a male role model with Kyosuke) and Kyosuke's boss, who seems privy to what he has gone through and encourages him to move forward. The art is pretty solid in terms of the level of detail, between well-drawn faces and somewhat intricate background elements. I also noticed the prominence of lighter tones throughout the book, which makes the contrast of how Kyosuke (who is raven-haired) is drawn quite notable. VERDICT: As far as romance stories go, My Boyfriend in Orange is (so far) nothing I haven't seen before: girl falls head over heels for this perfect guy, but he doesn't see her that way just yet. I get where Moe is coming from (who wouldn't want to date a hot firefighter who's as responsible and effortlessly dashing as Kyosuke?), and I like that regardless of how things may turn out for the two of them, crossing paths with Kyosuke inspired her to be a more confident person. I also find Kyosuke interesting as a character, as it's clear that there's more to him than just what he puts out there, and I wonder what it will take for him to show his vulnerabilities (or even what those are). The whole point of the story is likely them ending up together, but I'm honestly more interested in the characters as individuals at this point, as it's clear that having each other in their lives will lead to growth for both of them. I could probably take or leave any drama that follows in later volumes, since they'll probably go through some common scenarios (like love triangles and such). This seems like a pretty standard romance story formula with some solid characters, so if you're into that, this may be worth reading. - end - It might as well be tradition for me to do at least one of these every March. THE THEME: It's a Leading Ladies theme. You know the drill. The theme within the theme this time, however, focuses on comic adaptations of popular TV shows with female leads. Incidentally, everything I read here is published by Dynamite Entertainment, which only adds to the astounding number of IPs I'm surprised they have licenses for. And for the record, I only really know of these shows and haven't seen any of them apart from perhaps the occasional clip online. THE COMICS: XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS (2016) #1 Publisher: Dynamite Comics Writer: Genevieve Valentine Artist: Ariel Medel While Xena and her companion Gabrielle help two young girls get home, they learn that a faction called the Harpies seem to be wreaking havoc. Knowing them to be an ally against the Roman Empire, Xena tries to learn what she can, but the ending reveals that she may not know as much about the Harpies as she thought she did. CHARLIE'S ANGELS #1 Publisher: Dynamite Comics Writer: John Layman Artist: Joe Eisma This comic follows the original Angels from the TV show (AKA not the ones from the movie, which is the incarnation I grew up with) as they go undercover to catch an arms dealer who uses a club as a front. It's got all the action and espionage I expect from the series, plus a dash of romance for one of the Angels and a hint of an overarching plot involving a pair of assassins. ELVIRA: MISTRESS OF THE DARK #1 Publisher: Dynamite Comics Writer: David Avalone Artist: Dave Acosta Elvira is the host of a show called Movie Macabre, which was one of those shows where a host presents movies (in this case, horror B movies). In this story, Elvira is transported from her movie set to the 1800s by an otherworldly force, where she meets Mary Shelley (the author of Frankenstein, among other things) and fights some sort of evil warrior. The premise is definitely weird, and the comic embraces that with a good helping of goofy, fourth wall-breaking humor. CHARLIE'S ANGELS VS. THE BIONIC WOMAN #1 Publisher: Dynamite Comics Writer: Cameron DeOrdio Artist: Soo Lee The Angels cross paths with the Bionic Woman (also a hit TV show from the same era) in this one, but they're unfortunately adversaries here, as the Angels are tasked to infiltrate a facility that Jaime (the titular Bionic Woman) was requested to defend. I'm curious if they succumb to the trope where they eventually team up to fight a common foe. CHARMED #1 Publisher: Dynamite Comics Writer: Erica Schultz Artist: Maria Sanapo This comic seems to be set in the modern day, but otherwise follows the formula of the Halliwell sisters juggling their mission to fight evil supernatural entities with their witch powers and the hassles of daily life. There seems to be a plot brewing on the side of evil, although the sisters are yet to register it. I think my main takeaway with this selection is that I should go back and watch these shows (maybe not all their episodes, but at least a season or two). All these shows are familiar enough to me, which speaks to their impact on pop culture, but I only know the surface-level stuff. As always, I'm interested in exploring the source material of something if I see the adaptation first, and this is no exception. PANEL(s) OF THE WEEK: - end -
For the month of March, my personal challenge is to read manga with female protagonists. This won't be difficult, either (I am not starved for choices, trust me), but it's more to make picking what to read easier for myself since I've been having difficulty choosing from literally hundreds of titles. BACKGROUND:
As usual, I'm coming in with no prior knowledge at all. I did read the synopsis, though, and it seems like this will be an interesting mix of comedy and a coming-of-age story. SUMMARY: O Maidens in Your Savage Season follows the story of a high school literature club made up of five girls. You have the de facto main character Kazusa Onodera, her good friend and "comrade" Momoko Sudo, the silent, brooding writer Hitoha Hongo, the super prudish Rika Sonezaki, and Nina Sugawara, the most popular girl in school. They're a bit of an odd bunch, but they certainly enjoy their books. The story kicks off right after the club reads a rather erotic book, which prompts very different responses from the club members. For the most part, the manga focuses on Kasuza's perspective, as she navigates being introduced to intense language in the more adult books they've been reading. What complicates her feelings about sex is her relationship with her childhood friend Izumi, who she's starting to see differently. Kazusa already avoids him as it is due to bullies getting on her case (Izumi is seen as attractive by the other girls), and here comes the concept of sex to mess things up further. Things get even more complicated when Kazusa catches Izumi jerking off (that's awkward, obviously, and it puts sex on her mind even more), and she learns that some other girl is looking to confess to him. The latter has the more profound effect on Kazusa, as she slowly but surely comes to terms that she has feelings for Izumi. Kazusa's journey with accepting the nature of sex seems in line with that of a lot of adolescents, so the wrinkle of having a specific guy she likes on her mind makes her journey slightly more interesting. Nina is a curious one, as no one really knows why she decided to join the literature club. In any case, she reveals to the group that she is quite curious about sex (thanks in no small part to its prominence in literature) and is interested in experiencing it for herself. Her appearance has her deal with creeps, unfortunately, although she's able to handle those situations creatively with her theater experience. I'm not really sure what her character arc is supposed to be yet, but it's nice to see that there's at least one person in the club who at least appears to be level-headed about everything. Sonezaki is outspoken when it comes to her aversion to sex, as she cannot stand even the mention of it apart from her idea of tasteful eroticism. She gets a lot of shit for her looks and gets bullied for it, and combined with her inability to process that one guy at school seems to genuinely like her, it becomes clear that her disdain for all things sexual is her repressing something. She's pretty much the extreme when it comes to attitudes about sex, so seeing her wrestle with all that should lead to some big character moments for her. Hongo doesn't really interact with the rest of the group, but you see that she gets plenty out of being in the club. On the side, she's quietly working on her writing, and she's taking heavy inspiration from the club readings to write her own steamy stories. She's even going as far as to submit manuscripts to publishers, but it seems like she has a long way to go before becoming a published writer. Outside of that, she doesn't seem to have a personal journey of her own, though she might get one that eventually influences her future in writing. Lastly, you have Momoko, who sadly gets the short end of the stick in terms of character. The extent of her presence is assenting to whatever Kazusa is saying, so I'm left wondering if she has her own story going on or what her personal thoughts are on everything that's going on. The manga alternates between literature club meetings and the situations the individual members get into, with Kazusa getting the most screentime overall. The club meetings are humorous, as everyone dances around the whole sex thing (not that weird considering everyone's age), but the ending throws a wrench into everything as the club is under threat of being disbanded by the administration. The art is pretty nice with its decent level of detail, and I particularly enjoyed the variance when it comes to the shading and the linework (as some panels really mix it up with lighter tones and thinner lines). That variance really comes across when Nina is present, as she appears to be drawn quite differently from the rest of the cast. VERDICT: O Maidens in Your Savage Season features quite the cast trying to deal with the revelation that is sex, and while there's a solid mix of personalities within the literature club, the amount of focus given to each feels far from equal. I'm curious about the how Kazusa and Sonezaki will grow from their current state, for example, while I find myself left wanting more out of Hongo or Momoko (who don't get as many character moments). I would read more of this if I knew everyone ends up having a fleshed-out and unique arc, though I am interested to see how the threat of nonexistence of the club would actually affect their high school lives. If you find humor and/or something relatable about of a group of high school girls navigating through their awkward feelings about sex, this book might be exactly what you're looking for. I can't really say if they stick the landing when it comes to character arcs, though. - end - Since 2024 is a leap year, I thought I'd close out the month of February with a bonus Five Comics on the extra day. THE THEME: I decided to keep the overall spirit of my reads for this month by selecting five comics with romantic elements in it. Not everything I picked here are necessarily romance stories per se, but they at least feature a romance (or elements of it, or a setup to one). This is probably one of the few themes where I'm kind of stretching it, but I hope that's OK with you folks. THE COMICS: DREAMLESS #1 Publisher: Blatant Comics Writer: Bobby Crosby Artist: Sarah Ellerton This story features an American girl and a Japanese boy who can see the other's life when they sleep, and that strange bond leads to them falling in love with each other. Now, they struggle with the fact that they live thousands of miles apart, and while their connection makes them close in a way no other pair can quite replicate, they still yearn to be in the same time and place as one another. HEART ATTACK #1 Publisher: Image Comics Writer: Shawn Kittelsen Artist: Eric Zawadski In this universe, there exist people called Variants who have powers thanks to some genetic tinkering, but they face discrimination from the law and the government. Two teenagers (a young man keeping a low profile after witnessing an abduction, and a young woman trying to use her platform to fight for equal rights) cross paths and discover that their powers combined can cause serious damage, setting up the rest of the series. There's no romance brewing with the main pair just yet in this issue, but it's pretty likely given the "us vs. the world" angle. THE NEW WORLD #1 Publisher: Image Comics Writer: Ales Kot Artist: Tradd Moore After an apocalyptic event splintered the United States, a bunch of new nations sprung up in its place, with New California (this comic's setting) being run by a fascist government and policed by super-cops whose assignments are made a television spectacle. Stella Maris is one such cop, but one that refuses to kill (the audience gets to vote if perps get to live or die when apprehended). She ends up hooking up with a rogue hacker looking to stick it to the man, but the story kicks off proper when she is tasked to hunt him down. SCOOBY-DOO (1997-2010) #36 Publisher: DC Comics Writer: John Rozum Artists: Joe Staton, Dave Hunt, Andrew Pepoy OK, this one's kind of cheating, as while the comic's cover teases that Fred and Daphne get together... they actually do nothing of the sort here. The out-of-character Mystery Inc. that graces this issue's cover are actually the villains of the first story, as they're impostors using Mystery Inc.'s clout to commit crimes (with the phony Fred and Daphne actually being an item). The other story is about the gang trying to find a replacement for the Mystery Van after it breaks down (and crossing paths with a crook in the process). Spoilers: they go back to the old one in the end. A TRAIN CALLED LOVE #1 Publisher: Dynamite Comics Writer: Garth Ennis Artist: Marc dos Santos From the co-creator of The Boys comes a series with a lot of characters and two (so far) concurrent stories. The first is a girl out for revenge on a creep who instead ends up hooking up with a hitman on the scene, while the other involves a group of friends meeting at a bar discussing a dubious plan. It seems like these disparate parts will become more interconnected as the story progresses, and overall, this definitely shares the irreverent vibe that The Boys is known for. While I may be reaching with my selection on five when it comes to this theme, the tenuous connection did afford me a chance to read a more diverse variety of comics this time around. As much as I ended up enjoying my month of reading various romance manga (a far cry from past me, who simply just couldn't get into romance stories), it's nice to cleanse the palate with some different flavors. PANEL OF THE WEEK: - end -
I've got one more romance manga before the month of February ends, but fret not, as I have way more titles sitting in my library that will get their time in the future. BACKGROUND:
I'm not familiar with this one, and I'm reading this because it was a friend recommendation. SUMMARY: Natsuo Fujii has quite the crush on his teacher Hina Tachibana, but for obvious reasons, that's never going to pan out. Hoping to move on, he joins a mixer and meets Rui, a reserved girl from another high school. The two end up sneaking out of the party, and Rui (a virgin seeking to know what sex is like) ends up asking Natsuo (also a virgin) to have sex with her. He agrees, and the two basically have a one-night stand. The encounter doesn't really do much to help Natsuo, nor does Rui find the experience particularly profound. Natsuo's life is turned upside down when he learns that his dad he's going to remarry. Now, he's fine with that whole situation, but there's quite the twist waiting for him: his prospective stepmom has two daughters, and it's Hina and Rui. Not only is his longtime crush going to be his stepsister, it turns out that the girl he lost his virginity to is also going to be his stepsister. The rest of the volume sees Natsuo try to adjust to his new situation as he starts to live with his new stepsisters, wrestle with how to keep things under wraps at school, and get to know Hina and Rui better. Although there's an inherent awkwardness when crossing paths with Rui (who herself is so nonchalant despite the sexual encounter), Natsuo finds a way to get along with her and even helps her find friends at school despite her intimidating exterior. Dealing with Hina's presence is even more difficult, as it's quite obvious that Natsuo's feelings are far from resolved. Things get complicated when he learns that Hina is having relationship troubles (something that she is determined to keep to herself), and when he confronts Hina about it, things end on an intense note. The forbidden love angle is quite obvious here, not just with the stepsibling situation, but with the student-teacher dynamic between Natsuo and Hina, and the fact that Natsuo and Rui had sex (though that was obviously before the big reveal). There's definitely a good amount of spice if you're into this sort of thing given all the secrets that are being kept. Personally, this really isn't my kind of thing (even if there are a lot of factors that alleviate the inherent taboo aspect of everything), but I appreciate that the story isn't fixated on the sex/romance and sees Natsuo strive to be a good friend to Hina and Rui regardless of the situation. Although he's struggling a lot with his hopeless crush, Natsuo is more or less a decent guy. Interestingly, he has aspirations to become a writer, although this aspect of him is only relevant as the circumstance that leads him to connecting with Hina. Even before the whole stepsibling situation, he does his best to be considerate towards both Hina and Rui and tries to offer what help or comfort he can when he sees them struggling. I'm also just glad he isn't some sort of freak. I'm most curious about Hina as a character, as she appears to be the textbook "cheery on the outside, but going through hell on the inside" kind of person. At the very least, I would like to see her learn to trust Natsuo and get through her troubles, though I also have a morbid curiosity towards how she'll navigate this volume's ending and the possibility of learning that Natsuo and Rui have slept together. Rui is interesting in a different sense. I completely relate with her stoic, blunt personality and am amused by her completely nonchalant behavior towards things most people would be freaking out about. This volume doesn't reveal much else about her, but I really enjoyed the chapter where Natsuo helps her get friends as school after noticing no one talks to her. I would be interested to see how she grows as a character. There are also minor characters like Natsuo's dad and stepmom, as well as his best friend Fumiya to whom he shares his weird situation with. They obviously don't get as much focus as the main characters, but they have their brief character moments. The one that stood out to me was Natsuo's conversation with his dad over the remarriage, as it's made clear that their relationship is strong and that they still hold a lot of love for Natsuo's mom long after her passing. In terms of the art, the amount of detail is solid, and I found the strong contrast between the elements in black and the rest of the art quite striking. I also enjoyed the occasional goofy facial expression, but for the most part, the faces are drawn with plenty of detail (especially the eyes). The visuals get spicy as well, and while there's nothing wildly explicit, you will get your fair share of full-on nudity in some panels. VERDICT: Domestic Girlfriend Vol. 1 dials up the heat almost immediately with its tense premise, although as of now, the tension is focused squarely on the relationship between Natsuo and Hina. I appreciate that Natsuo, for all his struggles, does his best to not be a complete weirdo about his situation and tries to be there for his new stepsisters with no ulterior motive. I'm also interested to see more facets of Hina and Rui's respective characters, and I can only imagine how the intensity will ramp up once secrets are revealed and feelings are shared. Like I said, this kind of forbidden love stuff is not my cup of tea, but as far as this volume goes, the themes are being handled in a way that doesn't scream "living out a fantasy" or anything similarly off-putting. I can see myself reading more of this if it continues to maintain that mature tone, and if you want something that's trying to strike that balance between spicy romance and serious drama, this seems like that kind of manga. - end - I'm keeping the ball rolling with this month's romance manga challenge with a slightly weird pick. BACKGROUND:
As I said with the previous entry, I wanted to keep things diverse in terms of the tone of the stories I read for this month. Against my better judgment, I looked for a manga with a synopsis that leaned more towards the sexual aspect of relationships, and this fits the bill in some way. SUMMARY: After having too much to drink the previous night, Tatsu Yunoki is shocked to find a woman sleeping next to him on his bed. She introduces herself as Kotoka Hatsushima, who tells him that they hooked up last night over their... very specific kinks. Kotoka says that she was instantly attracted to Yunoki's back (that's a thing?), while Yunoki was apparently super into Kotoka's hair (what?). Yunoki is quick to apologize (as well as freak out) over the mess, but Kotoka insists that since they both satisfy each other's kinks, they might as well start dating. The rest of the manga follows their time together as they go on dates, spend time at home together (they move in together after a month, which is wild), and get to know each other. A lot of the scenarios (which are presented in bite-sized pieces) focus on them navigating their weird kinks, which leads to a fair share of hilarious moments. It's entertaining to see them indulge each other's respective obsession by saying or doing some bizarre shit, as well as the many instances where they call the kettle black and speak out on the strangeness of the other's kink. Despite the odd circumstances that led to the relationship, both Yunoki and Kotoka view it seriously, as they make genuine efforts to be considerate of the other, show their appreciation, and try to take things slow as they aim for a deeper connection. Although the manga focuses more on the humor of the two navigating their kinks, it slowly becomes clear that both parties are developing an attraction to the other that goes much deeper than the reason they got together in the first place. There are sexy times in this volume, although it focuses more on the silliness of each character's kinks than it does on the intimacy or passion between them (although that level of connection is shown to be developing here), and you won't really get any actual scenes beyond the occasional implied nudity in the shower. Yunoki being completely fixated on his thing with hair is particularly hilarious, as it leads to Kotoka expressing her light-hearted frustration over him willfully ignoring the rest of her body (to the point that she smothers her boobs on his face in a desperate attempt to divert his attention). In the last chapter, Kotoka meets Eno, who is Yunoki's younger sister. As it turns out, being a freak runs in that family, as Eno is unhealthily obsessed about legs. That aside, she wants her brother's relationship to succeed, and goes to... extreme lengths to ensure that it does. After that, the volume ends on an interesting note, as Kotoka and Yunoki will have to interact during work. Yunoki and Kotaka are not ashamed about expressing their kinks at all, and that makes the fact that they find themselves flustered over developing deeper feelings all the more amusing. It's heartwarming to see them make efforts and do things that aren't just to satisfy their kinks, and that has me invested in seeing their relationship mature in later chapters. The art is quite a treat to look at thanks to the abundance of pleasantly light shades, plus the prominence of wacky facial expressions complements the light-hearted tone of the story extremely well. I also found Kotoka's design quite notable, as the art goes out of its way to make her look super cute with her eyes and the emphasis on her lovely locks (which takes on many different hair styles throughout the volume). VERDICT: What I Love About You definitely leans into the weirdness of each lead character's respective kinks, but it never feels creepy because of how Yunoki and Kotaka consent to, accept, and find the humor in it. This being a core aspect of their relationship leads to its fair share of hilarious moments, but what really hooked me on this book is the slow but sure growth of said relationship where both characters come to terms with the fact that they love each other for more than just how they satisfy each other's kinks. This reminded me a lot of Sweat and Soap (I talked about that here) in that it's a manga centered on a relationship built on something many would consider weird, but it ends up being quite wholesome. I wouldn't mind reading more of this one to see how things develop. There's definitely a bit of steamy imagery and intimate moments if you're into that sort of thing, although this volume focuses more on the comedy than it does the sex. If that's the kind of balance you're looking for, this rom-com might be for you. - end - I'm doing a bonus read right on Valentine's Day, because heaven knows I have no plans tonight. BACKGROUND:
I didn't know what this was until I picked it up on digital, but based on the synopsis, the story seems to lean more heavily on the drama side. I want to keep things interesting this month by reading stuff with different tones (as opposed to, say, reading exclusively rom-coms for four weeks), so I thought this would be an excellent pick for today. SUMMARY: Tsugumi Kawana (a young interior designer) is reunited with her high school crush Itsuki Ayukawa thanks to a work party. Kawana learns that Ayukawa is now a big shot architect, but she also learns something else: Ayukawa is paralyzed from the waist down due to an accident that left him with a spinal cord injury. This revelation shocks Kawana, and startlingly, she finds herself fully hesitating to pursue her rekindled feelings towards Ayukawa. Her tune changes when Ayukawa is hospitalized due to a serious complication brought about by his injury. In the hospital, Kawana sees the extent of the injury with her own eyes, but also sees Ayukawa's indefatigable resolve to continue working on a project of his despite the situation. During that ordeal, Kawana's feelings come rushing back, and she sees herself falling in love with Ayukawa all over again. Kawana and Ayukawa start seeing each other regularly after this point (though only as friends). As she spends more time with Ayukawa, Kawana starts to see Ayukawa's struggles firsthand. Aside from the obvious difficulties, she sees how other people look at and speak of Ayukawa behind his back, as well as how accessibility for disabled people like him is sadly uncommon (which extends further to his job, as some clients decline his barrier-free designs). Kawana notes that a lot of everyday life seems like such a struggle for Ayukawa and finds his seemingly strong will admirable. The subject of the conversations eventually lands on relationships, and Ayukawa insists that he's content being alone, remarking that his condition makes things difficult for any prospective partner. He then shares that his disability is the reason he and his girlfriend from high school split up. Kawana assumes that Ayukawa was dumped because of what happened, but she and Ayukawa see Yukimura (Ayukawa's ex) at a high school reunion party. Yukimura has a heartbreaking reunion with Ayukawa at the party, which Kawana overhears. She shares that while she's now getting married to someone else, she genuinely loved Ayukawa and that Ayukawa was the one who ended things due to how others viewed their relationship. Kawana then helps both Yukimura and Ayukawa find closure with each other by taking the latter to the former's wedding in what is easily the most bittersweet moment in the entire volume. In a later chapter, Kawana enlists Ayukawa's help for a home renovation to accommodate a teenager who, like him, must use a wheelchair due to an accident. He happily obliges, but when the two come to meet the homeowners, they find that the boy (named Haruto) is having an incredibly difficult time coming to terms with his situation. Hoping to help in some way, Kawana asks Ayukawa to speak with Haruto (who openly expresses his frustration). Ayukawa invites Haruto to play wheelchair basketball with him since they were both players before their respective accidents. Despite enjoying his time actually playing, Haruto still struggles to accept his situation, but thanks to a poignant response from Ayukawa and the support of his own girlfriend (who, I must point out, never gave up on him, despite shutting her out for a literal year), he finds a way to carry on. Kawana is deeply moved by these events; it's in this chapter that she learns how Ayukawa feels about his own situation, and it's yet another lesson for her as somebody who doesn't have the perspective of a disabled person. The last chapter of this volume sees Ayukawa hospitalized again, although things aren't as dire as last time. It's here that Kawana meets Ayukawa's mom, who is thrilled to meet her. Ayukawa's relationship with her mother comes with its own challenges, however, as his drive to succeed has his mom (understandably) concerned that he will drive himself into the ground. Kawana ends up speaking with Ayukawa's mom herself, and the latter shares the very real health risks her son faces, his change in demeanor in the early days after his accident, and her desire to see him happy despite everything. Kawana is compelled by this conversation to finally confess her feelings towards Ayukawa, but her plan is sidetracked looking for a kitten that Ayukawa recently adopted. Ayukawa disregarding his well-being during their search sends Kawana over the edge, and she lets out the most passionate confession I've seen in a while (disclaimer: I don't consume a lot of romance media). This is only the first volume, but goddamn, there are some seriously emotional moments in here, and every chapter has at least one that hits hard in vastly different ways. Whether it's Kawana's feelings resurfacing during Ayukawa's first hospitalization, the pair attending Yukimura's wedding, or Ayukawa speaking to a near-inconsolable Haruto, each chapter has a memorable interaction that left me pondering in silence for a moment. Kawana is a fascinating character to follow, as she starts off a bit judgmental upon learning Ayukawa's disability. That changes quickly (at least in terms of the manga's pacing; they should have let this one breathe a bit), and as the story progresses, she learns more about how life is for Ayukawa. As she does, she starts to understand a tiny bit of what he goes through (but also acknowledges that there's so much she can't possibly begin to comprehend), ruminates on what struggles she may have to face if she chooses to pursue this relationship, and falls more in love with him regardless. I find her dedication to Ayukawa and willingness to understand him quite admirable. Like Kawana, I can't even begin to understand Ayukawa's situation, and the manga doesn't pull any punches when it comes to showing all that. Whether it's the social stigma, the physical struggles, the worrying medical complications, or even the emotional toll, it's all shown through Ayukawa. And regardless of our differences, I could totally relate to Ayukawa's ambition (especially in how reckless his pursuit of it can get, as well as how some aspects of it are rooted in some unhealthy emotion) and his thinking that he's better off alone than a burden. I also found his perspective on "accepting one's disability" (which he shares with Haruto) eye-opening, as he essentially disagrees with the notion of chasing that feeling. Despite all this, Ayukawa does as much as he is able and strives to be the best that he can be at his dream job, and that's its own level of admirable. Yes, a lot of what he has to deal with is undeniably hard, but he doesn't let any of that dissuade him to do what he's passionate about. Although the core characters of the manga are very much Kawana and Ayukawa, even the one-off characters feel impactful thanks to their meaningful interactions with the leads. The highlights here for me are Yukimura and Haruto, whose respective heartbreak and anguish come across so well even with just a few panels and a couple of lines of dialogue. I'll even put in Haruto's girlfriend in this category; the fact that she never abandoned Haruto at any point despite everything is compelling enough in and of itself. The art style is simple to the point that I mostly never thought about it, but it does a fantastic job of highlighting the emotional moments with excellent facial expressions, the use of more varied shades, and focusing on just the right elements for closeups. VERDICT: I thought Perfect World was a fantastic read just from the first volume. It depicted Ayukawa's disability in a way that didn't shy away from reality (which was eye-opening for me), and that made Kawana's journey from hesitating to pursue him to resolving to see a relationship through despite anything and everything that comes because of that disability even more compelling. I'm still thinking about those emotional moments I mentioned earlier, and by the end of the book, I was fully invested in both leads and their blossoming relationship. This manga blew me away completely, and I am 100% willing to read more. This is a rare instance where I'd recommend this book regardless of genre inclinations. The perspective it brings in terms of life with disabilities is more than worth the price of admission alone, and I think Kawana's growth is worth sticking around for. - end - |
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May 2024
Derryck
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