The cover of Comic Yuri Hime, January 2021 (コミック百合姫2021年1月号) begins a new Yuri cover story. Where 2020’s cover story was art-focused, with few words that just gave context to the image, this year we have separate stand-alone short stories in a ridiculously small type size that forces me to use a magnifying glass to be able to read it. It is a vaguely time-wimey story that uses a desk as a point of contact between young women in different times. The stories are by Ren Hanna, with quirky illustrations by Kesshin. If it were in 12-point type I’d probably be enjoying it. ^_^

This issue starts off with a new concept  manga from Usui Shio. In “Onna to Tomodachi Kekkonshitemita” Sera is an freelance writer who needs a good idea to write about. She pitches an article on same-sex marriage. Her best friend Ruriko (who is pretty obviously is in love with Sera,) volunteers. And so Sera and Ruriko get married, I trust Usui-sensei completely to do a good job with this story and so far (I just read the next installment yesterday) I’m not going to be disappointed.

Also in the “not a disappointment” category is Takeshima Eku’s “Sasayaku Youni Koi wo Utau” in which watching Yori continues to be a delight. AND it looks like we’re getting an actual post-they like each other arc! Whoo! You can also enjoy this story in English as Whisper Me A Love Song. It’s charming.

Kakaze’s “Lonely Girl ni Sakaraenai” is moving past it’s initial pitch and Sakurai and Honda are finding themselves having experiences neither of them would have been able to imagine previously.

“Kimi to Tsuzuru Utakata,”by Yuama is taking a deeply emotional turn, but I’m rooting for things to move past the obvious conflict here.

And wow, do I actually have no idea at all where – if anywhere, “Watashi no Yuri ha Oshigoto desu!” by Miman is going. Holy crap. This arc has lead everyone to saying stuff they mean. I’m not sure I have ever read this many chapters of, “you need to hear this.” I love it.

“Hello Melancholic” has now officially ended. I am going to miss it, honestly. Minato’s journey hit me in all the right places. /sniff/

Usui Shio is gunning for my favorite author of 2021, with some breathtakingly real chapters for “Kaketa Tsuki to Doughnuts.” I swear to all the gods, if people keep having actual conversations in manga, I’m gonna die of happiness.

SPEAKING of conversations, Ohi Pikachi’s “Hayama-sensei to Terano-sensei ha Tsukiatteiru” was a-ma-zing. Asuka confronts her family with whom she has a very bad relationship…and her being with a woman is only another brick in that wall, until Saki helps her face herself and her parents. Next on to Saki’s family. We already know how her sister feels, so this one ought to go well. ^_^

This issue also includes a chapter of a serialized novel (in slightly larger typeface than the cover,) about a girl who admire idols so much, she wants to become one. It’s not a bad opening gambit for what it a pretty worn trope already.

And, finally, Inui Ayu-sensei details the happy times she spends with her girfriend in her autobiographical comic. This time, they go out to breakfast, because why not? ^_^

Ratings:

Overall – 8

There continues to be series I am not following, and those I am, that I have not mentioned. In my opinion, this was an excellent first volume of the year, with a lot of stuff for many different fans. Including those who are inexplicably still reading “Yuru Yuri.” Why? Seriously. The continuing existence of that series bewilders me.

The final issue cover for this year by Rolua, is beautiful and poignant….and sadly relevant in this year of the plague, as the characters are released at last from the confines of this life, with a prominent “Memento Mori: And Two Borders Disappeared” across the cover, in case we didn’t get the point. ^_^;  Beautifully drawn, thoughtfully conceived and touching, this is still one of my very favorite cover art-novellas this magazine has ever had. What an amazing way to begin at the end, for Comic Yuri Hime December 2020 ( コミック百合姫2020年12月号)

The major series ending in this issue is tMnR’s series “Tatoe to Todokanukeda Toshitemo,” which…ended. After all the angst, it wraps up with a big old handwave. I’ll allow it. ^_^

I’m still impressed by the adaption of SukeraSparo’s VN “Kudan Folklore” and I’m sorry that Ohsawa Yayoi’s “Hello Melancholic!” looks to be heading for a climax next month, but I’ve really enjoyed the ride. ^_^

Some of my favorite ongoing series are Takashima Eku’s “Sasayakuyouni Koi wo Utau” which just continues to be sweet as can be, even as we are getting a set-up for some kind of conflict, Hanagata’s “Watashi no Oshi ha Akujaku Reijou” and I like “Odoriba ni sukaato ga aNru” by Utatane Yu. A couple of the one-shots this volume are also interesting, at least visually.

A decent end of year volume. 2020 definitely was a great year for Yuri overall, and for Comic Yuri Hime, in general.

Ratings:

Overall – 8

The January 2021 volume is already and out and content wise, it’s starting the new year with a bang!

There were loads of great stories in Comic Yuri Hime, November 2020 (コミック百合姫2020年11月号). The cover is one again Rolua’s scifi-ish ouvre, which I am really enjoying. Honestly so far, maybe my favorite year since the 2011 reboot covers.

The issue starts off with a rough chapter of “Watashi no Yuri ha Oshigoto desu!” by Miman, as everyone in Liebe Cafe struggle with the tangled relationship between Hime and Mitsuki, as the cafe celebrates a double birthday event for Kanako and Mitsuki.

“Futari Escape”  takes us to, among other places, the Fukui Prefecural Dinosaur Museum. Honestly, I love that we have an honest-to-goodness Yuri travel to random places series. I’m not in love with Taguchi Shouichi’s characters, but I forgive that because…dinosaurs.

Overall, Shime’s “Yurizukushi no Kyoushitsu de,” we focus on Oohkouchi Kisaki, a rarity in Yui manga. Kisaki is genuinely heavy, not just plump. She’s also well-loved by her classmates and a badass at volleyball. It is so refreshing that her weight is neither a joke, nor a caution, and the girls around her adore for her self.

The star story this issue is “Hayama-sensei to Terano-sensei ha Tsuiatteiru” by Ohi Pikachi, as Hayama-sensei has something very important she wants to ask Terano-sensei…. Look, I know this series is complete fantasy, but please allow my fantasy in which women who love each other are given room to be adorable and adored.  ^_^

“Watashi no Oshi ha Akujyaku Reijou,” hit a key scene which, if I described it to you, you would stare at me like I was crazy. Don’t believe me? Okay – Rei blackmails Claire’s father into allowing her to be Claire’s maid. Yes, blackmail. See?

Equally as wonderful is Ohsawa Yayoi’s “Hello Melancholic!”. I mean, yes, I love that Minato and Hibiki are starting to communicate – that Minato is starting to communicate, specifically and yes, they may be on the same page after all…but I love that Minato took the reserve chair position in the grownup band, too. She’s changed so much already.

“Kaketa Tsuki to Donut”s is moving towards a climax, so this chapter is the new girl meets the old girl episode. Hinako is going to have to figure out what she wants. It’s not that simplistic, of course, because adults. ^_^ I love everything about this story – art, story, characters. Usui Shio is my jam right now. (Also Yuni, but that’s a review for another day.)

Inui Ayu’s autobiographical comic has gotten to the heart of every lesbian relationship – who cooks and who cleans. ^_^

Ratings:

Overall – 9

A fantastic issue this time and I look forward to the final issue of the year to see what it brings!

Comic Yuri Hime, October 2020 (コミック百合姫2020年10月号) was such a fast read, that I had put it on the to-review pile and then questioned myself. Had I actually read it already? Really? But in fact, yes, really, I had read it twice through! That’s not uncommon, but upon the third go-round, I had to admit that this was a pretty good issue. ^_^

I’m still loving the cover art by Rolua.

New story “Odoriba ni Skirt ga Naru,” (translated as “The skirt rings at the landing,” which is definitely the machine translation. I found myself spending too much time unsuccessfully trying to come up with a version that sounds more elegant,) was a lovely little intro chapter. I hope I really enjoy this feels-like-a-classic-Yuri-manga about ballroom dancing from Utatane Yu.

“Watashi no Oshi ha Akujyaku Reijou,” was pretty fun, but I’m going to withhold discussing it, until I review the Light Novel…this chapter brought up a few points I want to cover.

I actually laughed out loud at  Taguchi Hiichi‘s “Futari Escape” as a dreamscape and dinner merge to become Sushitaro, the talking sushi.

In “Hayama-sensei to Terano-sensei ha Tsukiatteriru”, Ohi Pikachi takes the opportunity of a class trip to explore seasickness…and tell the story of an older woman who is on her way, after a lifetime of separation, to be reunited with the woman she loves. Two thumbs up for that from me!

Ohsawa Yayoi’s “Hello Melancholic!” takes a major turn, as Minato finally turns to someone else for advice and finds that getting help is a good thing. She admits she’s never had anyone she can talk to, and Ema seems to just the right person to start with.

And “Umineko Bessou Days” ends. No real drama, our protagonist, Mayumi, learns to speak her mind and she gets to live happily every after! I bet that the next story Kodama Naoko does will be chock full of horrible people. ^_^;

Ratings:

Overall – 8

As always, I read most of the stories, except a very few. There is one jarringly explicit horribly conceived porn story that I’d gladly use as kindling, and some other stuff that I won’t miss if it disappears, including the ever-befuddling endless page count of Yuri Yuri and its identical spin-offs. But overall, a very decent volume, with some interesting features.

The November 2020 issue hits stores in Japan this week!

This cover wins. It is, in a lifetime of reading comics and decades of reading Yuri manga, my favorite cover of any Yuri manga ever. The foldout cover, with art by Rolua, is the wholly goth image of an angel with a drippy gold halo and black feathered wings, holding a woman to her chest, the credits and title of the magazine visualized as tattoos across her arms and back. Two thumbs up from me. Animate apparently included a postcard of the full picture with purchase of this issue.

Comic Yuri Hime September 2020 (コミック百合姫2020年9月号) is a very good issue for me. Individual stories were good, and overall it’s a pretty solid volume. But I really wanted to review it this week, because Seven Seas re-announced the Light Novel for I’m in Love with the Villainess and since the manga is running in this magazine, I felt extra motivated. ^_^

This volume starts off with the once-again popular “lesbian sex worker helps a woman get over her nervousness about sex, “with the addition of secondary plot about Asumi’s first love clearly being a sex worker as well. Gosh, I wonder how that will work out?

Takeshima Eku’s “Sasayakouyouni Koi wo Utau” was adorable for what it didn’t do as much as what it did. Yori looks up what to do on a date and, for once, we are not obliged to presume that what she found was nothing but porn. Phew! Her choices of behaviors, the ratings for them, and her honesty with her new girlfriend, was fun and refreshing,

“Watashi no Oshi ha Akujaku Reijou,” which is headed our way, as per the Seven Seas announcement above, remains goofy with the second “high class manners” contest I have now encountered in a GL Bunko. ^_^ Protagonist Oohashi Rei, having woken up in the world of her favorite otome game, finds herself challenged by her love interest, the game villainess, Claire-sama. But. Rei is familiar with the world from having played the game so long and is able to best her challenger in a series of contests that included schoolwork, magical skill and a test of refined manners at the table.

I don’t know where “Kudan Folklore” is likely to take me, but so far, I’m kind of into this apparently dark, but so far mostly unformed urban folklore kind of gothy ghost thing with a reasonably smart and confident lead. More importantly, it was the first time I’ve seen the phrase “mochi ha mochiya” and had just read a great thread on it on translator Jocelyne Allen’s Twitter (which was mostly around how Google will not take the place of a real translator any time soon.) It means, something like if you want mochi, you go to a mochi shop…in other words, go to the right place/people for the right thing.

I will now formally admit that I adore Osawa Yayoi’s  “Hello, Melancholic!” and while Minato faces her own fears, I’m all for her and Hibiki figuring out what they mean to each other.

“Watashi no Yuri ha Oshigoto desu!” is clearly winding down. The staff of Liebe cafe ask Hime and Mitsuki to sit down and have it out between them, but the conclusion isn’t conclusive.

It was lovely that Saki’s sister was all for Saki and Asuka being happy together, rather than a tired jealous-little-sister stereotype in “Hayama-sensei to Terano-sensei ha Tsuskiatteiru.” This made the third or fourth story where a tedious stereotype was just left behind and it strongly affected my overall feeling about this issue.

mintaro’s “Pochi Climb” limps to an end and I feel nothing. It never really seemed to know who it was for. It wasn’t a sport manga, it wasn’t a romance, it was just an idea that never gelled.

I know it’ll end eventually, but I’d be thrilled if “Kaketa Tsuki to Donuts” by Usui Shio just went on forever. It doesn’t even have to have conflicts, just let’s sit back and watch people figure out stuff in a gentle Jousei manga style.

Inui Ayu’s autobiographical work just slides along one cute interaction at a time. Along with Usui’s story, these are the best way for me to end this issue. ^_^

As always there are other stories I did read and others I did not in this issue and hopefully, you’ll find something to enjoy yourself. You can buy this in print from Amazon JP, or digitally on JP Kindle and Global Bookwalker.

Ratings:

Overall – 9

What pushed this volume up in rating was a refreshing lack of tiresome, old-fashioned tropes just not being used. It’s super past time we have non-bratty little sisters and protagonists who are smart and athletic actually being confident, instead of emotionally tortured wrecks, and supportive friends and lovers, instead of pointless miscommunication. What a relief!