The October issue of Comic Yuri Hime is what I’m starting think of as “steady on.” There are series I like a lot, that sort of sandwich series I don’t much care about, that sandwich stories I don’t like at all, which means I’m reading the beginning and the end of the magazine and just sort of skipping the middle. It’s not 100% every issue, but relatively consistent.

The magazine opens up with a short text story for Yume Utsustu Re:Master, the game that is being promoted in the early pages of recent issues.  This Yuri Visual novel by Konami is about sisters, so is dead to me. Do let me know if you’ve read it and would like to do a review!

“Pochacrime,” Mintarou’s new manga series about indoor climbing, known as bouldering, was not bad. It’ll have to develop a little more before I really decide if I like it or not. My reticence is most because of the art and the viewpoint of the art. If the characters develop to become more than a vehicle for “cute girl eats” and “staring at cute girls’ asses” I’m totally willing to get on board.

A serious crisis comes to a head in Miman’s “Watashi no Yuri ha Oshigoto Desu!” as Hime finally confronts Mitsuki about what the actual heck is happening here. What she finds is probably not what she expected, but once again, her reaction is better than I expected from her. It’s a sign of good writing that I find myself totally comfortable with changing my opinion of both lead characters.

I’m pretty sure this is not going to break any new ground, but I still like Takshima Eku’s “Sasayaku ni Koi wo Uta.”

I’m pretty sure it is going to break new ground, so I’m always eager to read a new chapter of Takemiya Jin’s “Itoshi Koishi.” Yayoi’s confronting some of her own concerns once again and Hina’s right there to let he know when she’s overstepped.

Ohsawa Yayoi’s “Hello Melancholic” is already pushing Minato very hard. She’s barely had time to realize that she’s got friends before she’s realized that she’s falling in love with one of them. A late night caper of illicit musical practice isn’t helping her feel any more grounded….but it’s kind of obvious that this sort of total disruption of her status quo is what she needs.

Ichijinsha is reprinting Kindaichi Renjurou’s Mermaid Line, (which I reviewed back in 2008) with a new complete edition. This month’s issue reprints the classic-Yuri style story “Yukari to Mayumi,” in which two OLs pretend to be dating, but one of them finds that it makes her question her own feelings.

“Ikemen-sugi Shiki-sempai” takes a shocking turn towards drama as Hana learns something about Shiki-sempai that’s she not supposed to know. (It’s not really shocking, but it’ll be good for a couple of chapters of drama.)

Werewolf / vampire /drug / dark fairy tale “SCARLET” is still chugging along, as Misery (Mizallie, but let’s face it, her name and her fate are “misery”) throws herself into the middle of the story once again.

And “Umineko Bessou,” by Kodama Naoko, is getting a little darker as Ashima’s horrible family life crowds out Mayumi’s personal drama. When Ashima points out the obvious, it break Mayumi’s carefully constructed emotional cocoon.  Yes, Mayumi, it is obvious you like Rin. I’m kind of with Ashima on this, it is a bit of a “duh” moment.

Ratings:

Overall – 9

The stories I don’t like, I don’t like more than ever, but the ones I do, I like more, so it all works out.

The November 2019 issue is available and waiting for me at the store – I’m looking forward to it very much!