In Volume 3 of Hitohira, the spotlight remains firmly on Mugi’s transformation from a pathologically shy girl to one capable of dealing with being in the public eye. But even Mugi’s new pair of wings doesn’t mean she’s always going to be able to fly.

Although they had their triumph, Nono’s renegade Theater Group does not get enough votes to survive and is formally, and tearfully, dissolved. But, what Nono could never get while it existed, she finally gains as it is disbanded, and the two theater groups celebrate Christmas as one. Nono and Mirei look forward to their own parting from their precious kouhai, knowing they did everything they could to have the best possible time during their high school years. Although they have not yet left the story, exeunt Nono and Mirei.

The spotlight shifts slightly now, allowing another character to enter from the wings. Mugi’s friend, benefactor and protector, Kayo, tells her something that will completely derail Mugi’s new-found freedom. She had hoped she could share it with her dear friend, but instead learns that Kayo is leaving to go to school overseas. Even after Kai intervenes, hoping to force a climactic confrontation, the denouement of this volume arrives with no resolution.

Now that Mugi is no longer a simpering whiner, I’m so much more able to enjoy this story. Of course, I wish it were really about Nono and Mirei, but it’s not. And this crisis with Kayo will be resolved with the usual last minute confession/forgiveness/farewell but, even as predictable as this plot complication is…it’s still pretty all right.

So, nothing new in this theater of the non-absurd, but nothing hideously absurd, either. From its birth where I felt it was an irksome manga about a annoying girl, it has left its chrysalis to become a nice manga about a nice girl who is only occasionally annoying as the plot requires. ^_^

Ratings:

Art – 6
Characters – 8
Story – 7
Yuri – 1
Service – 1

Overall – 7

Once again it is Okazu Superhero Daniel P who has sponsored today’s review, so once again he is the recipient of my sincere thanks. Become an Okazu Hero yourself by sponsoring a review and join the Okazu Hero Roll!

Having sold her soul to the Ferryman, Michiru’s life went from miserable to chaotic. But, in Zombie Loan, Volume 3, it’s finally settling down into a pattern of hunting zombies with Shito and Chika in order to pay off the loan that keeps her alive. Of course, as with all things regarding credit, the late fees, renewal rates and interest are, in this case quite literally, a killer.

The first half of this volume ends the Butterfly arc, in which /massive spoiler/ serves to /spoiler/ /spoiler/.

Sorry, I’m just being silly. Chika’s best friend ever turns out to totally not be what Chika thinks and, as a result, Chika falls into a depression.

The Ferryman, in a uncharacteristic moment of noticing that his employees have feelings, decides to take them on a short getaway to build team spirit. (Oh, yes, pun intended.) As usual with this kind of chaos-comedy, it only partially works.

At the hot springs, Yomi comes on to Michiru pretty blatantly, but sadly Michiru doesn’t bite. Yomi’s reaction makes it obvious that, despite her apparent pervishness, she actually *likes* Michiru and is quite hurt by the rejection. (As we suspected, naturally.) We’ve never seen Yomi sexually harrass anyone else since Michiru arrived, I don’t think. So, it’s a confirmed siting – Yomi is a member of Team Lily. But that hardly helps her, since Michiru isn’t.

Shito is a freak, (why should today be any different?) and Michiru still can’t figure him out (ditto) but the end of the volume implies that the next character to be emotionally brutalized will be him. Yay.

I find myself staring in confusion at most of the funny omake comics. I’m not a “fan” of the series – there’s an engagement necessary to have the detail one needs to find these funny. I lack this engagement, so…. hah? Likewise the Dears/Rozen Maiden/Zombie Loan crossovers in the back. I know they are all Peach Pit stories, I’ve followed two of the three…I’m just not getting the jokes.

Other than this teeny little piece of “meh” I liked this volume best so far. The characters are starting to become – dare I say it? – human to me.

Ratings:

Art – 6
Story – 7
Characters – 7
Yuri – 6
Service – 3

Overall – 7

It is my pleasure to once again thank Okazu Superhero Dan P for his sponsorship of today’s review! You are truly a superhero to Okazu readers everywhere.

Also – let this story be a warning to those of you who never lived through the vast overplaying of Chris DeBurgh’s “Don’t Pay the Ferryman.” Take the message to heart, my young friends.

Crazy, wacky gender-bendy hijinks turn into slightly serious gender-bendy hijinks in Volume 4 of Your and My Secret.

Akira, still stuck in Nanako’s body, is being wooed by his best Senbongi, while Nanako, happily passing her days in Akira’s body, is still going out with her best friend Shiina.

The bulk of the volume follows Akira’s wavering feelings, as he is alternately attracted to Senbongi, repulsed by his own interest, and still – he insists – in love with Nanako. Senbongi says plain out that he doesn’t care that its Akira in there – he likes the Nanako he is. Akira gives in and they begin to date – which doesn’t actually make him any happier, except when it does.

We get a little glimpse back to their earlier years and see that Senbongi hasn’t changed much. He’s more sensitive in some ways and less in others, but overall he’s not a bad guy. And there’s no reason to doubt his affection for Akira.

Their date ends at a love hotel, but nothing happens on account of the unlikely appearance of Grandpa. Ah, ha. Ha.

Meanwhile, in the only dribble of Yuri in this book, Nanako is still dating Shiina and doing a damn good job of it too, by the looks of it. Ironically, upon seeing her best friend’s body in tears, Shiina, still out of the loop on the switch, admits that if she were a guy, she’d want to go out with Nanako…which, she is. Just not the way she thinks. If there’s anyone I sympathize with in this story, it’s Shiina, who is the sweetest, least manipulative character and the only one of the four who doesn’t know what’s up. I don’t see it being a good end for her.

The end chapter is a generic extra story about a boy who is clueless about girls.

I sincerely hope that the next book delves a bit into Nanako’s issues dating Shiina, because Akira’s reactions are kind of limited and I think we’ve run through his whole repertoire now.

It’s not a bad series for a forced gender switch comedy manga. Now that we’ve had a volume off of Nanako being a jerk, I’m ready to turn the spotlight back on her, though.

Ratings:

Art – 8
Characters – 6
Story – 6
Yuri – 1
Service – 5

Overall – 7

Many, many thanks to Okazu Superhero Ted the Awesome for sponsoring today’s review!

Welcome to Wednesday on Okazu, the day I crash and burn and pass the baton to whomever is standing closest and doesn’t think to run away. Today’s victim Guest Reviewer is the much beloved, admired and bewildered Sean Gaffney! Let’s welcome Sean with this Laurel and Hearty handshake.

Gin Tama is a very successful Shonen Jump series that has been running in Japan since 2004. It’s being released by Viz 6 times a year in their ‘Shonen Jump Advanced’ line (where it is less than successful, but hey, they can’t all be Naruto), and Vol. 13 just came out this month.

The basic premise combines a gag comedy with a samurai action manga. The manga is not afraid to veer wildly back and forth between these – 2/3 of the time it’s stupid self-referential gag manga (Gin frequently can be found reading Shonen Jump, and a recent chapter arc has the characters fighting each other after seeing their rankings in the new popularity poll), but when it gets serious it can be almost Kenshin-esque in its dealings with samurai honor and how one should go about getting revenge.

The main characters are our hero, Gin, a silver-haired samurai (the title Gin Tama is a naughty pun in Japanese); the ‘straight man’ bespectacled Japanese guy, Shinpachi; and Kagura, a superstrong alien who acts like an obnoxious Chinese girl most of the time. Shinpachi also has a sister, Tae (or Otae, depending how formal people are), who is usually sweet and very Japanese until anyone crosses her at all, whereupon she’ll happily throw them into walls – usually while smiling sweetly.

Now, by now I’m sure you’re asking where the Yuri is. This is an Okazu review, after all. In the newest volume out from Viz, Tae is kidnapped by a bishie eyepatched ninja, who we see from flashbacks has known her since childhood. The ninja is Yagyu Kyubei (you may groan here), Tae’s childhood friend. She’s supposed to be confused for male by everyone, but frankly, she’s not drawn in any way that I didn’t immediately think she was female. She has, however, been raised as a male, and has returned after years of rigorous training to fulfill her childhood promise – marry Tae.

Our heroes rush to her rescue, and a huge battle ensues (which continues well into Vol. 14, out in September). This is the usual Gintama battle, being filled with swords and silliness. Kyubei’s gender is noted, as is her being raised as a male, which seems to solve the whole I want to marry Tae thing. However, Kyubei is quite aware that she is female, and is in love with Tae anyway. Further volumes show she tries occasionally to be more feminine (wearing a flower as her eyepatch, for example), but her one-sided love remains true. (Tae thinks of her as a very good friend, mostly, with occasional tease, but as this is a comedy action manga, there aren’t any real pairings anyway). Gin Tama is not really a series to read for the Yuri, as the two characters don’t appear that much. But if you like silly comedy with lots of hard-to-translate Japanese puns and toilet humor, also veering into serious action angst, and frankly not caring if folks break their neck going between the two poles, then there’s some Yuri here for you.

Ratings:

Art – 7. Nice balance between bishie swordsmen and completely idiotic expressions.
Story – 6. As noted, the series veers wildly, but mostly sits in the ‘stupid comedy’ end of things.
Characters – 8. Lots of likeable, fun characters who are enjoyably insane.
Yuri – 4. Kyubei’s feelings are real, in my opinion, but this isn’t going to go anywhere.
Service – 4. There really isn’t much here for Fanboys, as Gintama doesn’t do a lot of fanservice at all.

Overall – 7. A fun Jump manga that caters to fans who wanted to see Kenshin on the toilet reading manga more often. With added Yuri eyepatch ninja girls.

–SG

As usual, Sean manages to make it sound good. I tend to pare things down to the problematic core, worry it a bit, then spit it back out. These are complementary skills, I think. ^_^ Thanks Sean! You’ve made me all happy now. Which is good, considering what my next review is on….  ^_^