Archive for the English Manga Category


How Do We Relationship, Volume 6, Guest Review by Matt Marcus

August 3rd, 2022

Matt Marcus is a cohost of various projects on the Pitch Drop Podcast Network, such as the anime watchalong podcast Boku No Stop, which is currently covering the yuri anime Flip Flappers.

Well, here we are: How Do We Relationship, Volume 6. Miwa had her heart crushed, Saeko is trying to move on past their previous relationship, but the two are entangled yet again in a physical relationship but in an even more messy guise.

In the role reversal of the century, Saeko immediately apologizes to Miwa for treating her like a piece of meat–but much to her chagrin, Miwa is happy to be used because it means that she is still wanted. This time, it is Miwa who is using sex to escape how terrible she feels about herself, and the two end up in an ambiguous relationship. Over time though, Saeko helps bring Miwa back out of her depressive slump and back to school life. Eventually, Saeko shuts down their arrangement because for her, the love is gone.

Meanwhile, Saeko continues to slowly show more of her vulnerability to Yuria. In fact, she’s come to the realization that she is way more transparent about her feelings than she realized. When the inevitable happens and the two start dating, Saeko treats her with true kindness and consideration. It’s an incredible turnaround from the end of the previous volume, yet it feels completely earned. It seems bizarre to say, but, perhaps for the first time in the series, there are moments that are truly heartwarming.

Miwa is now forced to move on, and this is where things get a little…odd. With Shiho’s words still lingering in her head, she wonders if it would be easier to just date men instead. Weirdly, Saeko encourages this, which leads to a plot thread involving a handsome manager of a cafe where Miwa works. Now, sexuality is a fluid thing, but to my mind it would be very strange for the story, and for Miwa as a character in particular, if she fully explored this direction, even if only to reject it later. (Remember her turning down Tsurata in Volume 3?) Miwa admits to herself that she has some kind of abstract attraction to the “kind of guy” the manager is, but she isn’t convinced that she is really attracted to him.

This thought experiment doesn’t leave the hypothesis phase when she meets a new first year named Tamaki who bears a striking resemblance to Shiho. I would say this is another strange twist. In a way, it feels like falling back on old habits, especially when Miwa–before detecting any interest from the painfully blunt first year–states to Saeko that she might end up getting a girlfriend again after all. The volume ends hinting that the two may become closer very shortly.

Really, Saeko steals the show here. She shows an amazing amount of growth as a character. That said, I would have liked to see her at least take some responsibility for shutting out Miwa when her past came up. In fact, even after Miwa finally gave her the whole story on her Okinawa trip, Saeko did not fully reciprocate with Miwa by telling her about her middle school. I am hoping that her relationship with Yuria will give her the comfort she needs to address those issues head-on because they still feel unresolved. Nevertheless, this is the best version of her we see so far and it feels fantastic to see it on the page.

Miwa, on the other hand, acts really terribly in the early chapters by pushing on Saeko’s boundaries in a way that is quite uncomfortable to read in a couple of instances. Even after her recovery, she feels a bit unmoored in the second half of the volume. I trust that Tamifull will pull off her arc, but the path towards it is not entirely clear. Oh, and Shiho doesn’t make an appearance in this volume at all, which was disappointing to me.

I mentioned back in my review of Volume 4 that this manga captures the tumultuousness of college. Part of what contributes to that feeling is how the story tends to slip forward in large chunks of time. That becomes the most jarring in this volume, because Miwa’s rapport with Saeko changes seemingly on a dime. One chapter, she’s crying her eyes out realizing that any chance of dating Saeko again is truly gone, and the very next scene opens with her beaming to hear about Saeko’s first date with Yuria. It is nice to see that they are still friends and can openly discuss such things without hurt feelings simmering underneath like in the past, but it just feels too soon for the reader.

All in all, this volume felt a little more uneven than past volumes but improved greatly on later rereads. Its biggest flaw is lacking some narrative connective tissue that would have made certain plot turns feel more natural. Perhaps Tamifull felt that we had wallowed enough in the Bad Feels Zone and that it was time to kickstart the next phase. At any rate, with a new school term starting, there are still plenty of credits to earn.

Art – 8 Continues to carry the story well
Story – 7 More of a mixed bag than previous volumes, but with really high highs
Characters – 8 Finally, some serious growth for Saeko and some forward momentum for Miwa
Service – 2 The sex is the least “appealing” that it’s been so far
Yuri – 8 / LGBTQ – 7 docking it one yuri point for Mr. Cafe Man

Overall – 8

Tamifull loves a good callback, and this time he “swung” for the fences. See if you can spot it.

Erica here: Thank you so much Matt! I’ve got Volume 8 on my plate in Japanese and I have to say, I’m actually really interested in where this is going. ^_^





Hello, Melancholic!, Volume 2

July 29th, 2022

Hello, Melancholic!, Volume 2 is, quite possibly, my favorite single volume of a school life Yuri story ever. ^_^

Minato faces her greatest challenge – performing with the band in public. We understood that she was traumatized by her former bandmates. But here, she is in the unenviable position of facing them down once again. Not only does she rise to the occasion, she excels! Minato, bolstered by Hibiki, Chika, Sachiko and Emma, faces down the fears of her previous self and moves past them.

For that alone, I loved this book. It’s not enough to know what’s held us back – we also have to keep moving forward. Minato takes a whopping huge step forward when she takes control of the audience. It won’t fix all her self-esteem issues, but it puts her in a much better place from which to address the rest.

From there on, this becomes a much more conventional Yuri romance story, but now, here, we’re open to it. The Minato that was terrified of standing out could never have been a partner to anyone, but the Minato that can confidently stand on the stage, can. And so we turn our attention to Chika and Sachiko and find out that there’s a whole lot we don’t know about them.

There’s still a lot for Minato and Hibiki to work through. As I said of this volume in Japanese, “I cannot tell you why, exactly, I want Minato to be happy – although there are a lot of superficially obvious reasons that I might feel that way – but I really want Minato to be happy. If Hibiki can make her happy, I’m all in for them. But I also know that there’s a lot standing between them before they get there…among them Minato herself. She’s a walking bundle of insecurity and hesitation. Ohsawa Yayoi’s come so far in the last few years – Minato’s expressions are really something. ^_^” 

That said, as we get ready for Volume 3 to come out in November, we are right there with them, ready to lend our good wishes. ^_^

Ratings:

Art – 9
Story – 9 More conflict in this volume is a good thing, as Minato becomes less passive
Characters – 9
Service – 1
Yuri – 9

Overall – 9

Another fantastic effort from Margaret Ngo, Marykate Jasper, Mo Harrison, H. Qi, Leighhanna DeRouen, B.Lillian Martin, Jenn Grunigen, and everyone on the Seven Seas team! This manga makes me cheer, every time. ^_^





I Can’t Believe I Slept With You, Volume 2

July 22nd, 2022

In Volume 1, we met Koduka, unemployed and kind of a hopeless mess. Without a job or money, Koduka strikes a bargain with her landlady – her rent for “favors.” Due to alcohol and desperation, her first “favor” is sex. The landlady is upset with herself for going there, and resets their favors to holding hands or going shopping together. Unbeknownst to Koduka, the landlady is, actually, in love with her.

In I Can’t Believe I Slept With You, Volume 2, a new tenant moves in to the building and in on Koduka. Once Setouchi sees how the landlady reacts to this, she wisely backs off. But now Koduka has a new friend…one she may be able to confide in? Setouchi admits that she missed out on love with a woman due to her own doubts. We learn that one of the major problems here is that Koduka may be interested, but she’s definitely clueless. That said, everyone – Setouchi and Koduka’s best friend, are doing their level best to clue Koduka in. It works! But there’s another hurdle. As a gay woman, the landlady is unwilling to confess to someone she thinks is straight and digging herself further in on not believing Koduka can possibly like her that way.

Koduka’s favors are getting sweeter and more personalized, which has the landlady struggling. She is sure Koduka isn’t interested in her, but Koduka is not sure at all about that. A discussion with her friend Aoi makes her more convinced that she does have feelings for the landlady…but her attempts at honesty are now shrugged off as “favors.”

This series is very much at a turning point here in Volume 2. Either it resolves next volume…or it becomes the worst kind of romantic comedy, where two people who like each other and would be fine together…aren’t, because reasons. The good news is that in this volume Koduka makes a step away from hapless. Now we need the landlady to move away from hopeless. If Volume 3 sets them up for success, I’ll be very pleased. We’ll find out in November when volume 3 hits shelves in English!

Ratings:

Art – 8
Story – 7, but there is a shift here, at least on Koduka’s side
Characters – 7, same.
Service – 5 a breast or two
Yuri – 8 Not just the main couple, either.

Overall  – Still holding at 7

For what is, if we are being honest, a weak set-up, there’s enough humanity in the characters that I want to see that they will be happy.





The Two of Them Are Pretty Much Like This, Volume 1

July 18th, 2022

Ellie is a scriptwriter and Wako (whom Ellie refers to as “Wanko” for her puppy-like qualities,) is trying to break into voice acting. They are living together…they are, in fact, lovers. And like most people, they are a little goofy and a little doofy in their private time together. Their private time together is what we will be seeing in The Two of Them Are Pretty Much Like This, Volume 1.

The last book we had from creator Takashi Ikeda was Whispered Words and one can instantly see some remnants of that series’ physical comedy here in wacky expressions. However, this series is far more adult and chill and the art reflects that, as well. Where every other character looks like a manga character, Ikeda’s studies of Ellie’s face are stunningly beautiful. Individual panels of her expressions took my breath away through the whole series.

There is no high drama here. Drama comes from real-life stresses. Did Wako pass the audition? Wako’s mother comes to visit – there is no homophobia, just a silly sit-com misunderstanding. Oh, but having Mom visiting is plenty stress enough. Ellie and Wako root for one another and take care of one another. Their relationship is an anchor, not a strain. The two of them have adult lives that are, just pretty much like adult lives are.

I love this series. Unconditionally. There is nothing about it I didn’t like in Japanese. Every volume was better than the last, and Takashi-sensei, as I pointed out in my review of the Japanese edition, still knows how to end a volume. Art, story, character, this is one of the best slice-of-adult-life stories I’ve ever read and I’m ecstatic that you can read it too! It might not sound exciting, but this is the after-happily-ever-after story I’ve wanted to see for ages.

Ratings:

Art – 8
Story – 8
Characters – 9
Service – 5 a bit, it’s a story for adult readers
Yuri – 10

Overall – 9 so there is room to go up. It will need it.

I find that I always default to ‘r’ over ‘l’ in my mental translation, so Sakuma will always be Eri to me. ^_^ But that in no way diminishes the terrific translation job done by Anh Kiet Ngo, which gives every character a unique voice. I love when Rina Mappa is given space for the lettering to shine in retouching, there are a couple of choices here that are fantastic. Thanks to the proofreader, copy editor and editor – and thank to Seven Seas for having all three of those (!). Another fabulous job by Seven Seas. Highly recommended and a shoo-in for one of my Top Yuri of 2022. ^_^ (Honestly, though, this year is gonna be tough – so much amazing stuff is coming out in Japanese and English….)





Yuri Espoir Volume 2, Guest Review by Matt Marcus

July 13th, 2022

We’re back o schedule today with a Guest Review Wednesday! Matt Marcus is a cohost of various projects on the Pitch Drop Podcast Network, such as the anime watchalong podcast Boku No Stop, which is currently covering the Yuri anime Flip Flappers. Welcome Matt back and give him our attention and kind words at the end of today’s review.  Take it away, Matt!

Back in the pre-pandemic, I would commute to work by bus. After a day of slaving over the computer, I would schlep my exhausted self into a seat near the back and space out while listening to a podcast. As the bus meandered through the suburbs of Maryland, I would often find my eye wandering to the other passengers. Among them, there were two regulars who stood out: the first, a white woman with a boyish haircut dyed Jolly Rancher red; the other, an Asian woman with an undercut, the top of which was colored a deep cyan. They didn’t know each other–in fact in the three years of that commute I don’t think they even sat near each other once–but on those dreary rides home, a part of me would wonder. What if…?

Had Kokoro Komadori been seated on that bus, she would have been furiously sketching a meet-cute, with hearts in her eyes and lilies blooming out of her hair. In Yuri Espoir Volume 1, Kokoro, a third year high schooler and daughter of a powerful CEO, learns that her father has picked her a “suitable” fiancé whom she will marry after graduation. However, Kokoro is only interested in girls–and “yuri” relationships in general. Knowing that she can’t refuse her father, she resolves to spend the “last year of [her] life” indulging in every yuri fantasy she can imagine and capturing them in a sketchbook with her best friend and comrade in arts, Amami, who is secretly in love with her. The volume ended on a cliffhanger as Kokoro receives a confession from a first year girl named Mitsuru.

And thus we come to Yuri Espoir, Volume 2. As with the first volume, each “chapter” comes in two parts–the daydreamer’s version chock full of familiar tropes followed by the real story that is more complex. I continue to appreciate that the true stories occasionally have some bite to them with a touch of bitter aftertaste, like 70% dark chocolate. Thankfully they are not all like that, else the reader would be left with a very dour outlook for real life yuri relationships. So far, we have yet to revisit any of the couples from volume 1, though this volume includes two bonus chapters that tell the backstory of side characters that made appearances in Chapters 2 and 3.

This volume focuses on Kokoro’s outlook on her situation and the perceived limits of her agency. Yes, she wants a love story of her own but not if it has an expiration date…or perhaps, it would have to be with a particular someone. One thing I like here is that Kokoro’s sense of filial piety has nuance to it: sure, she doesn’t want the marriage and will never forgive her father for arranging it, but also she knows and appreciates that he had not previously pressured her with any extraordinary expectations like is common for other children of powerful families. She is given a push by Mitsuru and later Amami to speak to her father and voice her feelings on the matter. Whether she will follow through with it is another matter entirely.

Amami gets to step up a bit in this volume. She may be a neophyte to yuri, but she is willing to indulge Kokoro in her lily-scented flights of fancy. The second daydream scene was a particular highlight that I won’t spoil, but it was very fun to see Amami get in the spirit of the exercise. Unfortunately, it seems that her behind-the-scenes machinations with her art teacher to thwart the engagement are not working out to her advantage.

To be honest, I didn’t care much for newcomer Mitsuru. Usually, when the object of your affection rejects you and slaps you in the face, that should not deepen your feelings for them. Maybe she proves herself a worthy character down the road, but here she comes off as a nuisance. I do like that Sou, the fiancé, is starting to get a bit of page time. The story seems to be trying to humanize him somewhat, but his eyes have never been drawn on his face which clearly feels pointed. I’m certain we will learn more about him in the next volume.

The art makes wild tonal swings, often to great effect. Whenever the topic of the engagement comes in, things suddenly take a horror manga turn with heavy lines and deep cross-hatching. The backgrounds are generally not very detailed, with most of the effort put into the characters. Overall, there is something about the art that feels “vintage” in a way that I cannot quite put my finger on. It’s got charm.

I haven’t mentioned it yet, but this series is surprisingly funny. Every chapter or so there’s a gag that hits me at just the right angle. The premise in general is a vehicle for coy winks to longtime yuri fans, so Okazu readers such as yourself will likely get a lot out of this series.

I am curious to see for how long this story ends up running. Could be four volumes, could be ten. So far, the series has felt quite fresh, but I wonder if this dual chapter trick will continue to sustain it.

It has been over two years since I’ve had to take that bus ride. Maybe the next time I do, a little Kokoro will be perched on my shoulder, weaving new stories in my ear as she sketches away. 

Art – 7 Simple but charming

Story – 8 Mostly vignette-driven with a heavy dose of winking metafiction
Characters – 7 With one exception, the characters all have a fun rapport
Service – 2 A couple of suggestive fantasy panels, but nothing too scandalous
Yuri – 9 / LGBTQ – 1 It’s yuri all the way down

Overall – 8 The formula still works, the question is for how long

PSA: please don’t actually ship real life people. Also, don’t smoke.

Erica here: Thanks Matt! Are strangers you see on a bus really “real people”? Especially if you only see them once and never again? Of course they are real…with lives of their own…and thinking about those is what makes sonder a great exercise in creativity. I’ll admit that at least one fiction story I have written was inspired by compete strangers on a train. I also agree on not smoking. Smoking is really quite disgusting.

Yuri Espoir, V2 is on my to-read pile and I’m glad to hear it’s taking this unique way to look at Yuri tropes and building a real story with it!