Archive for the Yuri Manga Category


SHWD (シュード), Volume 2

November 2nd, 2022

In Volume 1, we met Kouga, a new recruit to the Fukuoka branch of the Special Hazardous Waste Disposal team – an elite force that fights Dynamis, inhuman beings that poison human minds and drive people mad. Kouga is taken under the wing of Sawada, a jaded veteran with a mysterious (to us) past. SHWD (シュード), Volume 2 begins with our two large, muscular women, training…hard. When they take a break, we can see the beginnings of something building between them.

But the bulk of the book follows our cover couple – team leader Nonaka and the American transfer, Leone. Leo and Nonaka have worked together before and understand each other’s weaknesses and strengths. When Leo breaks down, Nonaka is there to stop her from causing herself a harm, and when Nonaka allows the Dynamis influence in her to get too strong, Leo offers her her body to consume while she’s taken into custody. We get Nonaka’s tragic backstory. The two of them have a deep relationship that, by the end of the volume, they tentatively allow to become something more.  They obviously understand one another.

The volume then turns back to Kouga and Sawada. Sawada mentions that different levels of access are given different colors in SHWD. But Kouga notices that Sawada is given a security clearance color that isn’t on the list. When Sawada returns from a disposal, Kouga is sure that she sees a Dynamis draped over Sawada’s head…but a second later, it’s gone and Sawada looks the same as usual. Who…or what…is Sawada?

This a solid action series, with powerful backstories and a pretty thin plot so far. One hopes that it will be given time to develop, so we get a current timeline story along with the puzzle pieces of the backstories. I just hope it doesn’t devolve into break up the team/get the team back together/the end. Here’s hoping this series gets the time it needs to work itself through.

As I said in Volume 1, “this series is a love letter to huge, muscular woman. ” Kouga, Sawada and Leo are massive, muscular body types and Nonaka is – for story reasons, of course – an adult in a child’s body.  There is some very mild nudity, but the service is muscled arms, torsos and legs. Not to everyone’s taste, but I find it a refreshing change of pace from willowy women.

Ratings:

Art – 8 Honestly great, despite kind of being exaggerated in a bunch of different ways.
Story – 7 Solid action story storytelling
Characters – 8 Tragic backstories ahoy!
Service – 5 Anatomy is fun
Yuri – Both couples are taking tentative steps forward, one more tentative than the other

Overall – 8

Volume 1 is available in English from Seven Seas!





The Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess and the Genius Young Lady, Volume 2

October 31st, 2022

In Volume 1, of the manga we met Princess Anisphia, a princess with no magic, but the memory of a scientific world who studies magic as if it were a science. We also met Euphyllia, blessed by the spirits with great magic, born and raised to be a Queen, but cast off and spurned by her fiance’…and no one truly understands why.

In The Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess and the Genius Young Lady, Volume 2  Anisphia is thrilled to have a powerful assistant, but volume 2 is really about repairing Euphyllia’s sense of self-worth. This is not an easy job, as everything she has trained for is in ruins and she is wholly reliant on the kindness of strangers. Thankfully for her, they don’t come any stranger or kinder than Anisphia.

And, so, as the news of a monster stampede arrives at the royal palace, Anisphia sees her chance to prove her theories, use her magic tools, gain materiel and money for experiments and sort out Euphyllia’s reputation all at once.

This is a very good volume of this series, covering the middle part of the first volume of the light novel. The fanservice which marred the first volume of the manga has been jettisoned. (I have long wondered if there is any real value in that kind of thing. Do the few people whose attention were captured, rather than repulsed by, an extremely close up-skirt panel make up enough of a paying audience to keep doing that, when it doesn’t serve the story well and is dropped almost immediately? I wish someone would do real market research on this.)

What is left is Anisphia’s sincerity, Euphyllia’s new commitment, and a rollicking fantasy adventure worth your time.  The story picks up speed as the Reincarnated Princess and The Magical Genius rush off to fight a dragon and save the kingdom.

I look forward to this arc finishing up in Volume 3 (which came out in February of this year in Japan), because it was a very strong ending for the arc. I’m not sure Volume 2 of the Light Novel (which I have read, but apparently, not reviewed) would make a good manga, as it consists mostly of people talking to one another. I enjoyed it, but does it have the hysteria needed to carry a manga? I guess we’ll see, as Volume 4 of the manga clearly jumps right into the new arc.

Ratings:

Art – 7 The sword just gets better and better
Story – 7 Solid
Characters – 8 Euphyllia comes in to her own here
Service – Thankfully, none
Yuri – 1 The door is open

Overall – 8

I’m a little surprised at myself not being done with Isekai yet, but I was reading fantasy from the early 70s, so perhaps this has just forced me to go back to my roots. ^_^ In any case, this story is less about Isekai and more about kindness and consideration being tremendously powerful – a magical tool we can all use.





Comic Yuri Hime November 2022 (コミック百合姫2022年11月号)

October 23rd, 2022

Comic Yuri Hime is not as predictable as the turning of the seasons, but it’s also got some rhythms of it’s own these days. The November issue tends to be rather strong, to keep folks engaged as some series come to an end and others begin. Comic Yuri Hime, November 2022 is a volume in which most of the crises, cliffhangers and pain points resolve before the new arcs begin. With one good exception.

The opening color pages herald a new series this issue….one that I confess I did not finish. “Aishitabun dake Aishite Hoshi~!” has made it plain to me that escort/arranged dating/brothel stories have worn out their welcome on my shelves. There’s nothing new to be done here except have women worry that their bodies aren;t good enough and I will never find that appealing. Dear readers…your body is fantastic and sexy. Imperfections are like accents in speaking, they give us character.

Manaria confronts Rei about her real desires in “Watashi no Oshi ha Akuyaku Reijou.,” as the finale to the Scales of Love Arc approaches. inori’s characters are just so vibrant when rendered by Aonoshimo’s art. I’m actually a little surprised we haven’t had anything visual for this yet…not so much as a promo video. After claiming that most Jousei and Yuri are written and drawn in a way that makes them better as live-action, this series would, actually, make a terrific anime. ^_^

Shiho is finally having to face down some of her many piled up issues in “Sasayakuyouni Koi wo Utau.” Kind of unsurprisingly, it all comes down to love and jealousy. I mean, they are in high school, after all. ^_^ Not to be uncharitable, but I will not mind when we move past Shiho to the battle of the bands.

Shizuku seems to finally have movde past her trauma and is reaching into herself to make Kaori happy in “Kimi to Tsuzuru Utakata.” It looks like Kaori’s plan is working. Then what?

Here’s the one exception to “handwave the crisis over” motif that fills his volume.  The boot is poised. Kanako feels lost and searches for help with the wrongest person. Youko convinces Kanako to the do the wrongest thing and as the chapter ends, we see the boot, slipping from fingers, headed towards the ground. I have a very clear idea about what I need from “Watashi no Yuri ha Oshigoto Desu!” now, but I wonder if I’m going to get it. I’m just gonna have to trust Miman-sensei. ^_^

We already know that “Natsu to Lemon to Overlay” will be ending shortly. This issue I had to agree with that choice. The premise is so interesting! A voice actor hired by a woman to read her final statement after her death. We’re chapters into this and we know nothing about anything. Konno is just throwing money at Yunimaru and they have fun doing typical manga versions of happy daily life stuff. Where did the plot go?  Yunimaru won’t ask, Konno isn’t saying. I love fireworks, but what is this manga about?

“Onna Tomodachi to Kekkonshitemita” resolves the latest crisis rather neatly. Rio is back and Kurumi’s friendly nature makes her an ally.

Another crisis averted in “Lonely Girl ni Sakaeranai” and then precipitating crisis averted! Oh phew. This series has legitimately been over for a couple of volumes, but I really am okay with this. ^_^ Oh but, finally, the whole gang admits what has been obvious to us (but not to all of them) that the 6 of them is really three couples.

The volume ends with a number of new series, columns and comic essays as always. I’m reading and enjoying about half of the content, which make this year a pretty solid showing for Comic Yuri Hime.

Ratings:

Overall – 8

The December issue is out in Japan. Don’t forget to let Comic Yuri Hime know which series you like best and least!

 





Amayo no Tsuki, Volume 3 ( 雨夜の月)

October 21st, 2022

2022 has been an absolute celebration of amazing Yuri manga licenses and releases. Almost everything I wanted to have been licensed has been. Of the two remaining that haven’t, I am very hopeful that we’ll be getting good news in that regard before the end of the year, because this series is one of my favorite so far this year.

I’ve talked at length about some of the reasons why this series by Kuzushiro is so good, in my reviews of Volume 1 and Volume 2. In Amayo no Tsuki, Volume 3 ( 雨夜の月) we get the last piece that would make this series perfect, IMHO. Whatever happens now, I am in the front row, rooting for everyone.

The story begins with Saki and Kanon out doing, y’know, stuff. They run into a woman handing out fliers for a salon, who asks Saki to be a practice model. As it happens, she needs her hair cut, so Saki ends up there and has one of the most extraordinary conversations of her young life. Because…the woman cutting her hair – and doing a great job of it – has accurate gaydar and sees Saki for who she is. She talks to Saki like she’s been there  – for the first time in her life, Saki has a person with whom she can, should she want, confide in about the one secret she keeps closes to her chest.

Saki meets Kanon’s father who is in town to conduct his orchestra in a performance, and another extraordinary thing occurs. Rinne, Kanon’s younger sister, calls Saki and asks her to spend the evening with Kanon, so she’s not alone on the night of the concert, as Kanon does not wish to attend. Why is this extraordinary? Because it’s a perfectly nice thing a sister might do for a sister she loves…something we really don’t get much of in manga.

Saki invites Kanon over for a sleepover, but gets no sleep at all. She’s more and more aware of Kanon and her feelings for her. On the other side, spending time with Saki is definitely changing Kanon. She’s more open to new experiences. She’s having fun. And she’s looking forward to the next chapter in her life. She wants to be independent when she goes to college, but it also frightens her a bit. Saki suggests they live together and, embarrassed, admits that she cares about Kanon more than anyone else.

Mortified, Saki is ready to be treated differently the next day at school, but Kanon is the same as always, Saki runs away, just a little, still embarrassed…and runs into the girl who hurt Kanon in her previous school. Ayano tells Saki the story from her perspective…it’s honestly sobering. Saki will have a lot to think about in the next volume.

So this series is solid on HHD representation and perspective, shows families that like each other, but still have problems to deal with, pressures faced by people who are caretakers (even if they are self-imposed and/or misguided) and now, has added the last piece. Will Saki open up about being gay? How will Kanon respond? This series is #1 on my most-anticipated license of 2022 and I’m just impatiently waiting now. ^_^ Among other things, it’ll be the second time Kuzushiro has had a series licensed in English. Previously JManga licensed Kimi no Tamenara Shineru, which I edited and of which I have reviewed the first 6 volumes, it continued for many more volumes after that. It was so good, but super obscure. ^_^ I expect this one will have a much broader impact.

Ratings:

Art – 8
Story – 9
Characters – 9
Service – Really not
Yuri – 4, LGBTQ – 6

Overall – 9

I love this series and I hope you all will be able to read it soon, too.

 





Tsukiatte Agetemo Iikana, Volume 8 (付き合ってあげてもいいかな)

October 20th, 2022

“The characters and the art have grown, Tamifull’s narrative skills are excellent here. We’ve been with them through a lot…and we’re still here as they enter the next phase of their lives.” In Volume 7, Saeko and Miwa moved on. Still friends, Miwa encourages Saeko in her new relationship. And Saeko encourages Miwa to find someone new.

In Volume 8 of Tamifull’s Tsukiatte Agetemo Iikana, (付き合ってあげてもいいかな), Miwa has, indeed found someone. But she’s holding back because 1) is it just that Tamaki reminds her of her old sempai? Or 2) that she’s older and therefore doesn’t want to – even unintentionally – manipulate the younger woman into a relationship. Tamaki, on the other hand, makes her feelings clear during their band camp. And so, Miwa follows her heart.

And now Saeko has to face the thing that she’s not had to face before. Her jealousy of Miwa was one of the reasons they had to break up, but that was pure possessiveness. Now she’s watching as Miwa and Tamaki are building something and she’s struggling with it. She’s grown up a bit…and she has her own relationship to deal with. But…

At the band’s first live club performance, Miwa meets Yuria for the first time…and they get along famously, leaving Saeko to comedically worry what they are saying about her. ^_^ It’s a stereotypical scene, but one that works every time. ^_^

Tamaki is very serious about this relationship with Miwa. Saeko is still working on her boundaries with Yuria. All is well, as the volume comes to an end and Tamaki invites herself over to Miwa’s place with very definite mischief in mind.

This volume feels exactly like the moment a clogged drain starts working again. Everything that had blocked up between Miwa and Saeko is gone and they can support and love one another as friends. Seeing them root for each other (even if sometimes Saeko is faking it, which is going to have to be a thing addressed in a future volume) is so much better a feeling than watching them struggle to make sense of them as a couple. The band stuff always feels tangential, but it’s not – it’s very much part of their lives. This is what life looks like – people and places and activities that slip by almost before you can remember it happened and the next thing, you’re older and making a whole new set of mistakes. ^_^

Ratings:

Art – 8
Story – 9
Characters – 9
Yuri – 9
Service – 5

Overall – 9

I am convinced that if the manga had started here in Volume 8 it would not have been as popular as it is, but having started where it did, it resonated with a lot of people…and nwo we’re seeing a path forward. If I had to guess, I’d say this series ends at graduation. It’ll be interesting to see where it does go from here. Volume 9 sports a different cover design again, I assume it’ll take us in a new direction!