And so, another year of Comic Yuri Hime magazine comes to an end. I had to buy another storage container and move a few years off my shelf so I have room for more – I can only keep about 3-4 years at a time on the one shelf where the current issues live, depending on the size of the issues. The 2023 volumes are visibly larger than 2022 and I can see that 2024 volumes are looking to be getting closer to 600 pages again. It’s been an amazing process, watching this magazine go from quarterly to monthly, and being a corporate partner to successful anime and multiple kinds of contests. What an absolute ride these past 20 years have been. When I look at Comic Yuri Hime December 2023 (コミック百合姫2023年12月号), I’m thinking about endings, but no series actually ended, except the cover story.*

There is one series, however, that will end with the next issue and I wanted to talk about it, because since the first chapter it has been a textbook example of how *difficult* it is to serialize a story. ^_^ So instead of me paging through the magazine, saying “here’s the stuff I like” let’s talk about a series I have not actually reviewed here, for reasons of my own.

Kimi to Tsuzuru Utakata, (君と綴るうたかた) localized in English as The Summer You Were There by Yuama, has had a literal fatal flaw since the very first chapter. Shizuku is an author, but she is clearly, visibly traumatized by human contact. Kaori is an ebullient reader of her work and, not coincidentally goes to the same school. Kaori asks Shizuku to write her a novel, but Shizuku, full to the brim with PTSD, is totally blocked. When Shizuku learns Kaori is dying, that does not help free her mind. But as the chapters continued, Shizuku has done a lot of work, in order to become the person Kaori saw her as.

The story has had to do some interesting things to get us to this penultimate moment. Firstly, Shizuku’s initial trauma was that she was the aggressor in an incident in elementary school and has never forgiven herself. The story takes time to parse this and the incident and aftermath is resolved. But, after all that time and care it turns out that “not forgiving ones’ self’ is not enough of a trauma to explain Shizuku’s very obvious PTSD. Much as characters we are told were “neglected” by parents, when their behavior shown signs of being a victim of CSA simply doesn’t sit right. (I am told that Citrus did, eventually, create a more plausible story for Mei’s behavior than parental neglect. As I have not read any of it beyond the first few chapters, I cannot confirm. If so, I think that’s good, narratively speaking. It was a horrible inconsistency in the story.) I am not a fan of trauma porn, but if you’re going to create a character who behaves like a victim of trauma, the story ought to be consistent.

Interestingly, in this case, Shizuku’s story is given a coda. Having been shunned by classmates for being “scary,” Shizuku takes to writing. She finds an online site and becomes a successful author. But with fame comes abuse and, at 13, Shizuku is alone and unable to cope with the harassment online. She stops writing, and becomes the recluse we met in the beginning of the story. At which point, we understand and her behavior actually, finally, makes sense. Was this series originally meant to be more than a volume or two, in which case the initial scenario might have been enough? Or was this planned? It feels more like the former, as that piece of the story comes in after the initial conflict is put to rest. Nonetheless, it was a good use of the (possibly extra) space and time.

Now we get to current issue and we have to reckon with the other huge weakness in the narrative. Kaori either must die as we have been told she will for years now, or an impossible and annoying miracle will occur. We have been repeatedly told that her condition is fatal. Even as she heads into surgery, we know there is no happy ending here – this surgery cannot save her. The final chapter hit shelves yesterday in Japan and there are a number of likely endings: One, Kaori dies, Shizuku goes on to plumb the depths of this horrible point in her life to become a famous author. Two, Kaori miraculously survives. Three, Kaori lives a little while longer, helping Shizuku become the person she wants her to be, then dies off-screen when Shizuku is helpfully older and more capable of coping.  Four, this was all a story that adult Shizuku was writing for Kaori and none of it happened. All of these have positives and negatives, and everyone’s opinion on what will work are different. I know how I would end it. ^_^ I’m hoping for an interesting ending that works with the characters and story as they have been presented to us.

We can see plainly here how longer serialization can and has to change the way a story is structured and executed. I’m reminded yet again, of Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane deciding that if you want a series to continue sometimes the premise be damned, you have to write a story (I believe this was in Have His Carcase, if you care to check, it has been a long time since I’ve read that one. Think I’m going to have to bust it out on audiobook….)

In just a few weeks I will know how this ends and I am equally ready to be annoyed and pleased. ^_^

And we’ll be in for another year of Comic Yuri Hime!

Ratings:

Overall – 8

*The cover story ends in an epilogue that returns us to the colorless life of our protagonist, fondly remembering that gloriously colorful year of her life and all I can says, adults…we are doing this wrong. ^_^;

The January 2024 issue of Comic Yuri Hime is out, with a whole new cover design.

The darkness has passed and, as the year ends, our cover story protagonist finds warmth and joy being with her dearest. I know this is the penultimate cover for this year, and it’s been more a series of impressions than a story, but it still has been a ride. Overall, I think this may be some of mebachi-sensei’s best work that I’ve seen. I’m always interested to see what the new year offers. I quite like the new-cover-design-every-year model they are going with now.

Comic Yuri Hime, November 2023 (コミック百合姫2023年11月号) very much feels like the theme is “endings,” even when stories are on-going! Arcs will end and new ones are about to begin. The magazine begins with a new story by Kodama Naoko, “Usotsuki Hanayome to Dousei Kekkon-ron” in which a straight woman imposes herself on a closeted lesbian / not-terribly-happy coworker. Since Kodama-sensei usually offers happy endings for her stories, I’m not really worried, but I am agitated at the lack of boundaries Nagisawa sets for Gotoh, then gets pissed that they get crossed. This is pretty much Kodama-sensei’s niche, but it’s not for me.

“Watashi no Oshi ha Akuyaku Reijou.” is a new chapter for the manga which follows a friendly dodgeball game between our principals…that will lead into Yuu’s “Tears of the Moon” arc and the biggest reveal to date. Have to admit I laughed at Cardinal Lily’s beserker form. ^_^

In “Watashi no Oshi ha Akuyaku Reijou Maid Kitchen,” Rae and Lene bond over drinks and confidences, then blow Claire away with a team-up on swan-shaped choux creme to impress her guests.

We’re not yet done with Kanako’s melancholy yet in “Watashi no Yuri Ha Oshigoto Desu!” In the meantime, Sumika suggests they stop dating, as that really wasn’t good for either of them…and Kanako is left to grasp for a lifeline yet again. Honestly, I hate this arc, but it has to be done. We have go to get to the bottom of this infection before it can be healed and Kanako is adept at hiding what she’s feeling. I just hope there’s somewhere healthy for her to go.

“Kiraware Majoreijo to Dansou Ouji no Kon-yaka” has his it’s first real complication, in which Ciel’s secret is explained…and her parents ignore her desires completely. Eve stands up for Ciel, but will it be enough?

Usui Shio’s “Onna Tomodachi to Kekkon Shitemita” all but wraps up as Kurumi suggests to Ruriko that their feelings are the same and how about a real wedding ceremony? This series will end on that in next month’s issue. A Yuri wedding is once again the end-all-ending. You know me…I am not satisfied. There is more to a relationship than just a wedding ceremony. ^_^;

“Osoto Gohan to Issho ni” is taking mealtime back outside – this time on an overnight camping trip! Who among us hasn’t obsessed over the cute, but useless, lantern for a camping trip? ^_^

And Shurika and Mari are getting the hang of relying on one another in battle in “Shikabane Shoujo to Ai ga Omoi Seikishi no Tobatsuu no Gakuen Life.” I’m not gonna lie – this, “Kono Yo de Ichiban Sutekina Owarikata,” and “Garan no Hime” feel like disappointment. There’s a ton of set-up and the story setting is complicated, but the vision for the narratives has been severely limited in scope. I want the story to be as big as the world you set it in, creators and editors!

Ratings:

Overall – 8

As always there are stories I am reading and have not mentioned and stories I am not reading – I have never once even attempted “Oomuro-ke” because I cannot care at all about a story in which nothing happens, that is a spinoff of a story in which nothing happens. ^_^; But if that kind of thing is your jam, then you’ll love that and other stories that I don’t discuss that run in monthly Yuri manga magazine Comic Yuri Hime!

The December issue is already on shelves and so far has been really good. ^_^

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Comic Yuri Hime, October 2023 (コミック百合姫2023年10月号) begins with another moody cover by mebachi. It has been a cover story very full of emotion, but…sort of free-floating out there to be interpreted at will. Impressionistic storytelling with every-day art.

The opening stories this month are not my faves, including “Kyou ha Kanojo ga Inai Kara” which has just been licensed by Seven Seas as My Girlfriend’s Not Here Today.

Usui Shio’s “Onna Tomodachi to Kekkonshitemita” is coming to an end next issue, but in this one, Ruriko and Kurumi have an important conversation like two adults, which was deeply refreshing.

Also refreshing and relaxing is Takeshima Eku’s “Sasayakuyouni Koi wo Utau” in which Shiho and Aki finally have a normal conversation. Phew. Will they make it as an item? No way to know – Shiho is pretty high-strung, but maybe they have a shot at being something to one another.

This was followed by Aonoshimo-sensei’s full-color report of Anime Expo in Los Angeles. That was a lot of fun, seeing Claire and Rae experiencing American fan culture at it’s friendliest.

In “Watashi no Oshi ha Akuyaku Reijou.” Rae’s story about her first love comes to a crashing halt with rejection and bullying and a painful love quadrangle.  She very lightly tells us that they all made up later, but it’s hard to not sympathize with Claire and Lily being angry.

And, then, once again Claire has a problem – it is very hot out. Lene and Rae create a main course (not a dessert! Claire insists) to cool her down, in “Watashi no Oshi ha Akuyaku Reijou. Maid Kitchen.”

We finally, finally get the story of Shizuku’s trauma in “Kimi to Tsuzuru Utakata” and it really wasn’t about the thing that happened in school, but what happened afterward when she stated writing. Which makes much more sense.

“Odoriba Skirt Ni Naru” edges closer to the quadrille. Kiki gives Michiru the best present of all – her own tuxedo coat resized to fit her new partner. Michiru tells Kiki how she feels about her.

There is a cute one-shot by Kashikaze about two students passing notes.

“Osoto Gohan wo Go-issho ni” is heading back to camping, this time overnight. Whee!

There are a lot of stories I’m reading in the magazine right now where I am just waiting for a plot to happen. Magical school zombies and post-apocalytic travelers and friendly zombies in ancient China…it’s all good stuff, I just need to see a plot sometimes?

A brand new utterly goofy, derivative story called “Extreme Super Darling” with an average girl, Ikeda Rio, in a school of Yuri stereotypes elites. We have  Haruka/Michiru pair, Chikage and Yurika. Rio ends up being challenged to a duel by Chikage because of a misunderstanding. The art is over-the-top with 70’s shoujo stylings and I think I like it! ^_^ Ikeda Rio…really.

All in all a good issue. Some things will come to an end next month and some things will begin. Time and Yuri move onward.

Ratings:

Overall – 8

The November issue is out now, featuring a new story by Kodama Naoko. If you like her brand of Yuri, keep an eye out!