Comic Yuri Hime, April 2022 (コミック百合姫2022年4月号) starts off with an evocative cover image. I very much continue to enjoy this year’s cover design, with it’s patchwork of color and texture. Great design work there! It’s always nice when Comic Yuri Hime chooses creative design for their annual theme.

The first story of interest to me this issue is inori-sensei’s “Watashi no Oshi ha Akuyaku Reijou.” We’ve come to the climax of the commoner movement arc, which means we’re almost at the end of the first novel. I hope you’re all filling out the monthly questionnaire and letting them know you want more of this series! I can say that, for this series, an international audience is recognized. Let Ichijinsha know that we want Drama CDs and anime and all the things. ^_^

In “Watashi no Yuri ha Oshigoto desu!” Kanako is in crisis. So much of her identity has been wrapped up in Hime that now that Hime and Yano are reconciled, Kanako is floundering. What direction will this desire for Hime head in? It could get ugly, but by now I completely trust Miman-sensei to take care of these characters. (Although I’ve got my eye on Nene…she’d better be okay, is all I’m saying. (-_-)

Kashikaze’s “Lonely Girl ni Sakeraenai” was absolutely adorbs this month. Ayaka finds her path in life, she and Sora eat cookies. I’m going to jump here and also mention, Inui Ayu’s and Ohi Pikachi’s comic essays on life with their girlfriends. After decades of high and low dramas, I like having an iyashikei manga or three to read and just be happy. More wholesome Yuri please!

Life as a married couple is going well for Kurumi and Ruriko in “Onna Tomodachi to Kekkonshitemita.”

“Kimi to Shiranai Natsu ni Naru” continues to be one of my faves, as Haru and Hinoto craft a homemade marriage certificate and decide to get jobs to keep up this beach house lifestyle. With this, they have fully thrown away the business suit lifestyle and they are positively glowing.

I have to tell you that “Odoriba Skirt ga Naru” just NAILS the landing here. 10/10 Michiru and Kiki are always so tenuous and now they might be on the edge of a breakup, but they talk…and then they dance. The three page set where their counting slowly comes together and eventually shows them in perfect synch was an outstanding use of word balloons. You could practically hear the music swell behind Uttane-sensei’s art.

Taguchi Shouichi’s “Futari Escape” is so goofy that I can’t possibly dislike it. In this chapter, they create a fictitious cat for themselves and really lean into the fiction hard.

In honor of the re-release of Haru Natsu Aki Fuyu and Love Gene Double XX by Taishi Zaou and Eiki Eiki, the first chapter of each is included this month. These manga originally ran back in the late 2000s, early 2010’s in Yuri Hime. I’ve reviewed them all here on Okazu (Love Gene Double XX Volume 1 | Volume 2  and Haru, Natsu, Aki, Fuyu)…they were both problematic. I still don’t know if the problems stemmed from primarily BL creators creating Yuri, but it sure seemed that way at the time. I’m not sure they’ve worn well, but YMMV.

Inui Ayu and Kon-san discuss negative things about each other, to temper all the lovey-dovey in her essay comic so far and Ohi Pikachi let’s us in on when she and Fuuka spent the night together for the first time.

As always, there are stories I read and have not mentioned and stories I do not read. (Like, there was a manga that ended this issue with both characters dead and my thought was, “that’s okay.” It’s not worth it to me to mention some of these.) But for the things I am reading, there’s more to like than ever before, overall, a fantastic issue of Comic Yuri Hime!

Ratings:

Overall – 9 (“Odoriba” put it over the line. ^_^)

The May issue is already in my greedy little hands, and it’s so good. ^_^

Comic Yuri Hime March 2022 (コミック百合姫2022年3月号) is another solid issue.

To begin with “Kimi to Tsuzuru Utakata” finally comes to the climax we had been expecting – Shizuku learns that Kaori is terminally ill. Her feelings may never have time to reach the other girl.

Following this, in “Sasayakuyouni Koi wo Utau” the SS Girls decide to up their game, while Yori and Hima try to make time for each other, even though they are on opposing teams for the big battle of the bands. Gosh, this manga is just so forgivably innocent, it makes me use the word “gosh,” unironically. ^_^ And, oh, they kiss.

“Watashi no Oshi ha Akuyaku Reijou.” dives deep into social justice issues this chapter, as a noble gets away with almost killing a commoner. The commoner movement takes this as a cue to get protesting, in exactly the same way we saw in the real world. This chapter cuts a little deep. As it should.

Speaking of deep cuts, “Watashi no Yuri ha Oshigoto desu!” was rough. Nene finally meets up with Youko who plays our poor chef like a keyboard. Nene is looking to find sincerity in a completely insincere person, and makes mistakes she hates herself for. Personally, I hate Youko for them. Sumika takes the wrongest position possible and I realllllly have to hope Nene comes out of all this with her life intact. I’m pretty angry for (not at) her right now. I trust ya, Miman-sensei, but this better be worth her tears.

“Kaketa Tsuki to Donuts” takes the jousei route, as Hinako’s mother comes to visit. Hinako tells her flat out that she likes Asahi, but then runs off and calls the other woman. Now that she has admitted to herself that she likes Asahi, will she admit it to Asahi?

In a Usui Shio two-fer, in “Onna Tomodachi wo Kekkon Shitemita,” Ruriko and Kurumi spend a day together to patch up some holes they have and Ruriko gives Kurumi a hug, which sets her thinking about their “friendship.”

“Kimi to Shiranai Natsu ni Naru,” by Keyyang is rapidly rising into my top several stories. Haru and Hi-chan wake up to find themselves engaged and happier than they have ever been. They decide to get rings and talk about wedding dresses. But first, breakfast!

Inui Ayu and Kon-san talk about their exes and how they approach dating so differently and Kon-san takes a point a step too far in “Kyou mo Yane no Shita.” And Ohi Pikachi shares the story of her first kiss with Fuuka in “Pillow Talk ha Fuku wo Kite.”

As always there are other stories I’m not mentioning and some I’m not reading. Basically, the middle third of the magazine is “meh,” to me, which gives me a 2/3 good or great percentage…more than satisfactory IMHO.

Ratings:

Overall – 9

I’m also always interested in the editor’s recommendation pages, in part because they often suggest things I don’t know and in part because I’m interested to see what they think is good (subtext: even if I disagree. ^_^)

The April issue of Comic Yuri Hime is out now in Japanese bookstores!

After the text-heavy cover story for 2021, Comic Yuri Hime, January 2022 (コミック百合姫2022年1月号) treats us to a new image-heavy, story, this one by, I believe the characters are pronounced Isshiki (一色). The cover has an underlying texture with image and lettering as a spot gloss over, which makes for a really interesting feel that aligns with the collage look of the layered art. The title lettering has returning to a a funky font. I’m mentioning all of this because I really like this. A lot. I love that they are coming up with wholly new design aesthetics every year and using the cover as art and story as well as basic information. Remind me to tell them this next time I fill out the monthly questionnaire.

Following this is information about the Comic Yuri Hime Pop-Up Shop that opened in Akihabara, and has now moved to Nagoya. You can absolutely buy goods on the online shop, if you have either a buying service or shipping service, like Buyee or Tenso. Of course I bought some stuff. ^_^

The manga gets off to a fantastic start with “Watashi no Yuri ha Oshigoto desu!” by Miman. We step right into Nene’s backstory and…wow. First of all, Nene is the first lesbian character in the story and she’s not shy about it. Secondly, we are quickly approaching a reckoning with the woman who broke her heart and I’ve got my popcorn ready. This issue was great – Nene’s long been my favorite character – but yeah, cannot *wait* for the February issue!

In  Takeshima Eku’s “Sasayakuyouni Koi wo Utau,” Yori is trying to understand her own feelings about Himari, including the jealousy she’s now experiencing. Part of what makes this story so good is Yori is very honest with herself and Himari.

“Kimi to Shiranai Natsu ni Naru” finally has caught up to itself. Bike returned, Megumi and Haru get dinner (at last!) and a new friend to help the celebrate their summer of freedom.

You know I don’t usually talk about Citrus, but this issue someone actually smiled!

“Kaketa Tsuki to Donuts” is heading for a climax, and so, inevitably, both Asahi and Hinako doubt themselves. Which makes  a perfect double header with Usui Shio’s other series, “Onna Tomodachi Kekkonshitemita.” Hopefully that one only has a 2-chapter funk to deal with.

I also don’t usually bother to talk about “semelparous,” but this page had me howling with laughter. I know some folks like this, but I just cannot take it at all seriously. This is comedy, surely?

And finally (for me), Inui Ayu continues her tale of how amazing her girlfriend is in “Kyou mo Hitotsu Yane no Shita.” ^_^

CW reminds me (thank you!) that this issue also has the beginning of an essay by Pikachi-sensei about life with her girlfriend.  ^_^ It really feels like a tipping point has been passed. 

As always this is merely a selection I particularly enjoy. There are other stories I like and others I don’t, but I am confident you’ll find something you like.

Ratings:

Overall – 8

Lesbians in two issues in a row. Smiling faces in Citrus. It’s already a great new year for Comic Yuri Hime!

Comic Yuri Hime, December 2021 (コミック百合姫2021年12月号) was a terrific end to a year of pretty darn good Yuri manga!

To begin with “One Hundred Years Distance,” Hanna Ren’s science-fiction time-travel plague-focused cover novel wraps up with a message for all of us to get vaccinated, wear masks, wash our hands and care for one another. Japan gains a new Youtuber, as Shizuka send her message across time from 1921. Kesshin’s art was wonderful,I really enjoyed this story, but oh my goodness did I dislike the teeny-weeny font size.  Still, it was the best of the shousetsu this time around.

Takeshima Eku’s “Sasayakuyouni Koi o Utua” has moved into a new arc that I will not spoil, but the stakes are completely different than “does Himari love Yori?” now and it’s way more interesting. We’re seeing more of Yori’s real self and watching her learn to ask for help.

“Kimi to Shiranai Natsu ni Naru” by Keyyang had a pretty weak start, in my opinion, but seems to have found itself and is now ready to fly! Having been stranded, our two protagonists head to a relative’s home. In a call to her aunt, Hi-chan and Haru take the leap from lovers to engaged and their lives instantly become brighter. NOW I’m ready to see what happens.

I…loved…”Suszume-chan to Mahou no kiss,” a zombie story by Nimu. Just a fantastic short story.

“Lonely Girl ni Sakarenai” is now, finally, addressing Ayaka’s problem, the source of the entire story – that she is terrible at taking tests.

“Onna Tomodachi to Kekkon Shitemita,” by Usui Shio was kind of frustrating, in part because it was realistic. Kurumi and Ruriko are starting to see the cracks in what is an unbalanced relationship.

Low-key one of my fave stories this year has been “Odoriba ni Skirt ga Naru” by Watane Yuu. Kiki has an honest and loving talk with her former partner – and forever best friend, Shion. Now, Kiki and Michiru can move forward together as dance partners.

As always, there were many more stories in this issue I read and either enjoyed or didn’t. This was a strong and varied volume that topped of a year full of a lot of stuff I loved and a lot I would be happy if you scoured out of my brain. In other words, something for everyone. ^_^

Ratings:

Overall – 9

One of the most solid years I can remember since 2011 or so.The January 2022 issue is already out, I have already read it and cannot *wait* to review it!