The main story by Hinako Ashihara concluded in the last book, so this volume is all background. We start with Ann’s mother as a teenager, a standard tale made deeper by the knowledge of her eventual sad ending. She’s too concerned with what others think and tortured by the explicit, mean rumors that follow her. She can’t avoid them — either she’s seen as too warm (and thus loose) or too cold (stuck-up). Something about the depth of her desire […]

I’ve given up trying to make sense of this series — I just enjoy reading the over-the-top teen drama making fun of restrictive gender roles. Aya Kanno seems to be wandering through whatever conventions she wishes as a way of playing with her characters and providing entertainment to the reader. This time around, in Otomen volume 8, it’s the possibility of Ryo moving away for family reasons. That allows everyone to demonstrate just how much they’ll miss her in over-the-top […]

The most interesting elements of the series by Kiiro Yumi have been downplayed by this point in favor of generic romantic comedy. In Library Wars: Love & War volume 3, Dojo and Iku spat and argue, and her lack of self-control, instead of being charming, makes her seem childish. It’s no wonder their relationship can’t go anywhere; at this point, I wouldn’t want it to until she grows up. That would be acceptable if this was some schoolgirl shojo, but […]

As I feared, Miki Aihara’s worst tendencies are coming to light in Honey Hunt volume 6. Although considered a promising actress-to-be, Yura is also a dishrag, typical of Aihara’s young women. All that matters to her is whether she has the attention of the man she’s crushing on, risking her career (such as it is — she demonstrates no talent, just family connections) for a date. She gets jobs after press coverage based on whom she might be dating. Much […]

Akito and Moritaka struggle to become manga-ka (published comic creators) by meeting with an editor at Shueisha (owner of Viz Media) in Bakuman volume 2. They’re getting advice on submitting to the magazine Weekly Shonen Jump. (That’s the original home of this manga during its serialization — it’s Disney-style cross-promotion in action!) The advice on making comics seems realistic, at least when it comes to the Japanese industry. I’m not sure a story about kids making professional-level manga can ever […]