When I read last month’s issue, I had the feeling that the cover story this month would shift away from smiles and color and…bingo!, so it has. This is the teenager-est cover writing I have ever read, nice work mebachi-sensei. The tears here are from the unbearble heaviness of being, rather than any specific circumstance; the awareness of the passing of time, the feelings of joy and loss.
And so we arrive at Comic Yuri Hime, September 2023 (コミック百合姫2023年9月号) and I am, for the briefest of moments, caught up. ^_^
The long-awaited climax to the Battle of the Bands in Takeshima Eku’s “Sasayakuyouni Koi Wo Utau” was pretty much the satisfying, wholesome and sweet ending we were all hoping for.
And it looks like Sumika has come to the same conclusion I have about Kanako in Miman’s “Watashi no Yuri ha Oshigoto Desu!”. She can care for her, and be affectionate, but there will have to be limits. The two schwestern continue their honest discussion and I think (I hope) this is the best possible outcome for them.
“Shikabane Shoujo to Ai ga Omoi Seikishi” brings our zombie protagonist and her holy knight onee-sama back to the school where they embark on their first task…to save a bunch of chickens. Which they do. And the chickens are very grateful.
“Watashi no Oshi ha Akuyaku Reijou.” has stepped back into Rae’s past life…the painful first time Oohashi Rei fell in love. We will one day feel sympathy for Misaki, but she is not a likable character. This is followed by Lene and Rae solving the problem of how to get Claire to eat and enjoy carrots in “Watashi no Oshi ha Akuyaku Reijou. Maid Kitchen”
“Kiraware Majoreijo to Dansou Ouji no Konyaku” by Chimmi Chiruha has a fine set up and some strong characters, but will this story of a young woman affianced to the princess who dresses like a prince go anywhere? Based on this chapter…no. They’ve already defanged the antagonist.
I am angrier about “Kimi to Shiranai Natsu ni Naru” than I have been about just about anything in ages. What the actual fuck was that? Oh hey, everyone, just give up your dreams, suck it up and go back and be part of the rat race? What a waste of fantastic premise and art. I hope this was not what Keyyang wanted because it sure wasn’t what I needed.
If you have ever wanted to read a story about a high schooler and a really big alien woman, “Choujin Uchyuu Yori Ai Wo Komete” has you covered. Overtones of Rose from Steven Universe all over it.
We pick up a third party member (who is inherently untrustworthy) in “Garan no Hime.” Future betrayal is imminent!
And it seems that most of the 18+ content has fallen to the end section of the magazine.
Ratings:
Overall – 8
Other than the fact that “Kimi to Shiranai Natsu ni Naru”‘s ending was so awful and angry-making, this was a solid issue. But that was a really awful and angry-making ending and I cannot let it go. Why? Who was that for? UGH.
The October issue hit shelves this month already in Japan!
I get why a lot of people are upset with Kimi to Shiranai Natsu ni Naru’s ending, but I honestly think it’s thematically very consistent (and, dare I say it, good). If you take the lens that the manga is anti-capitalist, or at least capitalist-critical, then having the characters be able to escape that system would defeat the point. The horror of capitalism for those caught between its gears is its inevitability, fleeing into a fantasy is a delusion (albeit a happy one) and can only postpone it. The system that caused them to look for an out wouldn’t be a particularly menacing villain if it you could simply say “no”, and that inevitably stalks the characters for almost the entire series.
I get why people wanted the characters to have a happy ending simply because they like a happy ending, and I’m not trying to invalidate those feelings. I just think that *some* of the criticism of the ending misses its coherence in the context of the wider story.
I’d love to hear other’s thoughts on this
That’s a totally valid perspective. I hadn’t considered that angle. I was just looking at it from a narrative perspective.
Glad to hear I’m not totally off the rails with my read of it lol