Happy day! Not only is it Guest Review Wednesday here on Okazu, we have a brand new reviewer! Today we welcome Sandy, who is taking a look at Otherside Picnic, Volume 1 manga, out now from Square Enix! I know you’ll give him a warm welcome. Take it away, Sandy!
I am a huge fan of Iori Miyazawa’s Otherside Picnic series of novels. I enjoy following the adventures of Kamikoshi Sorawo and Nishina Toriko as together they explore the wonders and terrors of the Otherside. And at the same time, they also explore the wonders and terrors of human connection with one another.
When I heard that the novels were bring adapted into a manga, I was so excited that even though I can’t read Japanese, I bought the Japanese editions hoping that at least I would enjoy the artwork…which I did. When I finally got my hands on the English translation, it was worth the wait.
Like the novels, Sorawo is our guide to the Otherside. We are given glimpses of her story as text and artwork combine to introduce us to Sorawo’s first journeys into the Otherside where she will encounter the enthralling Toriko. This will lead into their shared experiences of the Otherside; experiences that will change them both.
For example, I particularly appreciated the depiction of the Wriggler also known as the Kune-kune. Not just the Wriggler itself, but how it acts as the path that will draw Sorawo’s deeper into the world of the Otherside and how this impacts her and Toriko. With this artwork I certainly feel that I am being given a glimpse of the Otherside and its mysteries, but not in such a way where I understand everything.
Overall, the artwork and the dialogue between the characters complimented my vision of these people and the Otherside that Iori Miyazawa had created so vividly in the novels. There are moments of the terror that creeps up on you from the Wriggler and the Eight-Foot-Tall Lady. And then there is the wary banter between Sorawo and Toriko as they take their first steps in learning about one another and helping us to understand what brings them into this world.
As well as the banter, through Sorawo’s internal monologue we are introduced to Sorawo’s emerging and complicated feelings about Toriko. Feelings shaped by Sorawo’s response to the nature of Toriko’s quest to find the mysterious Uruma Satsuki, as Sorawo wonders, what are Toriko’s expectations of her?
There are a couple of minor issues, such as the artwork was sometimes a bit cutesy for my taste. I appreciated the work of the translator, though I did miss some of the colourful British words and phrases used in the novel. There is also a bonus original story that gives us some interesting insights into Kozakura and the nature of her relationship with Uruma Satsuki and Toriko.
Ratings
Story – 9
Character – 7
Service – 4
Yuri – 5
Overall – 9
All in all, I thoroughly recommend reading this manga, but don’t forget the novel!
Erica here: Thank you Sandy! I’ve got this on my to-read list and am looking forward to it even more, now. ^_^ Thanks for whetting out taste for more Otherside Picnic.
Well done, Sandy! I wondered how this would compare to the novels and to the anime and, while you didn’t necessarily mention the animated version, it seems like the manga came closer to realizing your expectations. Cheers!
I think the manga is a nice complement to the novels. I especially think the rendition of the Otherside creatures is good — especially the “eight foot woman” with its alternate distorted-torii form. Much better than the anime, too be sure.
On the other hand, some things just work better in the novel — for example, the tension when they return to Sorawo’s entrance to the Otherside, with the pounding on the door and the blue glow seen through the peep-hole. That scene, memorable in the novel, is lost in the manga.
I was glad to get an explanation for Kozakura’s hot cola in the short story. I hope there are more such stories to further build out Kozakura’s relation with Satsuki and Toriko.
I take your point about the blue glow – it’s always hard to render color in black and white, but I liked how much realer the elevator ride and the kune-kune and the construct felt to the novel than in that anime, where every bad thing is just a black miasma over something.
More importantly, I think the manga gives weight to the madness part of seeing the Otherside that the anime just sort of hand-waved.
Yes, I absolutely agree about the hot cola. I’m not sure if I really want to know more about Satsuki, tbh. ^_^