One of the things I have enjoyed mostabout the recent cover story is the normality of it all. These two girls are clearly typical(ish) schoolgirl-types – throughout this past year, we have seen them enjoying each other’s company doing extremely average seasonal activities together. Here we can see them in school, but we’ve seen them hanging out on a summer day, in a pool, walking, etc. These covers haven’t been amazing, but they are, I think, quite nice. ^_^

Welcome to Comic Yuri Hime for November 2018（コミック百合姫2018年11月号).

Far from “nice,” this issue starts off with a flamboyant bang with a new series “Scarlet” about a vampire vampire hunter and her werewolf sidekick. The series is action-filled and just the right amount of bloody, but Feine and Iris are on the side of good when it comes to the common folk, which makes them okay by me.

FINALLY, in “Watashi no Yuri ha Oshigoto Desu!” Sumika has worn away the very last of Kanako’s defenses and, while the girl is still not letting go of her obsession with Hime, she can at least put  a name to it, at last. I really like Sumika (and totally would have voted for her in the contest, too.) Here’s hoping she manages to convince Kanako to turn her affection elsewhere. You know…this is the first time I’ve seen a “souer” couple where the point of the couple is actually the point of having a “souer” at all – taking udolescent passion and moderating it through platonic affection and admiration. Rock on, miman-sensei for actually doing that.

OMG, Ohi Pikachi ‘s “Hayama-sensei and Terano-sensei are Dating” is just too freaking cute. So, so cute.

Ohsawa Yayoi’s “2DK, GPen, Mezamashitokei” comes to an expected climax and still does something unexpected. I won’t tell you yet, I’ll save it for the review of the collected volume, but if you read it, see if you can figure out what it is. ^_^

Did you know that in Salem, Massachusetts, Halloween is referred to as “The Holiday.” Well, in Neji’s “Welcome to Prisontown” the residents of the underworld clearly feel the same way, and the whole town is gearing up for a festival. Akari and Meari have a beautiful, romantic night, but it all come crashing down when the town headmonster tells Akari that she’ll be returning to our world, tomorrow.

In “Goodbye Dystopia” Mizuki and Asami come perilously close to talking to one another about something important.

Takemiya Jin’s “Itoshi Koishi” continues with Yayoi surprising Hina at her school festival and having way too much fun.

“ROID” by Shiroshi continues to be a favorite of mine. Having established the characters, a plot complication has arisen and, as of yet, we really have no idea what it is that these shadowy people want with Anna and her creators. Stay tuned to read what I hope will be a sci-fi story about AI that moves beyond “what does it mean to be human” into “Anna and her friends get involved with some shit.” You know…a plot.

In “Yurikon,” we circle back to look at two previous married couples and see how they are doing. 

And, as always there are other stories that I have not mentioned. I’m reading about half the current series, skimming through a few more and ignoring about a third for one reason or another. That’s a pretty good percentage for any manga magazine.

Ratings:

Overall – The good is a 9, some of the bad is getting kinda gross. We’ll call the issue an 8, but with an eye to some of the good stories ending and whether we’ll get something suitable to replace them.

December issue will be hitting shelves in Japan mid-month.