Manga Worth Reading

Otomen Book 12

Otomen Book 12

by Aya Kanno, $9.99, Viz

Ah, if Otomen has returned, warmer weather must be on its way, since we saw the previous volume at the end of last summer. That’s appropriate, since this is a lighter book, better read in a balmy frame of mind.

Since Asuka’s mother has been cracking down at school, enforcing rigid gender roles, Asuka and his friends have escaped to a men-only baking class to avoid the pressure placed by living up to old-fashioned stereotypes. The panel where Asuka ponders how good life would be “if we didn’t have to run and hide… if we could tell people who we really are…” will strike a chord with most teens. Everyone has secrets they’re taught to be embarrassed about, and seeing a light-hearted take on how to be happier being yourself is a welcome escape from the worries.

Much of the book deals with Asuka’s discovery of the truth about his father, who’s been gone for much of his life. There’s a kidnapping, to force things even more dramatically, and the combination of pastry and criminals reminded me of Antique Bakery, in a good way. The sparse panels, full of full-face reaction shots, make for a quick page-turner.

Dawn of the Arcana Book 2

Dawn of the Arcana Book 2

by Rei Toma, $9.99, Viz

The royal couple, married for political reasons, find themselves misunderstanding each other frequently. Prince Caesar tries to give his new wife a gift that would please her, but fancy clothes and a shopping trip don’t matter to Nakaba. The small incidents, simply told, are given more significance through the foreboding, “had I but known then”-style narration. We’re told that her happiness was short-lived, and she should have never have forgotten that she was living in an enemy kingdom.

We start getting hints of the melodrama as Nakaba begins having prophetic dreams, although she doesn’t always know how to interpret them. Meanwhile, her companion Loki confides in her his desire to overthrow the kingdom to free his people, even murdering the prince if necessary. So Nakaba, like a typical shojo heroine, founds herself torn between two pretty men — only the consequences are life-threatening in this historical fantasy.

She’s accused by the queen, confused by her roiling emotions for her husband, stupidly loyal to her assistant, struggling to understand her new powers, and finally, finding herself overwhelmed by stolen kisses. Girls should love it.

@Full Moon Book 2

@Full Moon Book 2

by Sanami Matoh, $10.99, Kodansha Comics

Second and final volume of this series, but it’s a sequel to the two-volume Until the Full Moon series, originally brought to the U.S. by Broccoli Books in 2005 and republished last year by Kodansha.

It’s goofy. Marlo is a half-vampire, half-werewolf guy who becomes a girl under the full moon. She/He has married childhood friend David, who’s a doctor and also a vampire. However, in this book, little witch Mona has cast a spell keeping Marlo female, which frustrates her/him immensely.

The art is full with detail, costume, setting, and characters. There’s plenty to look at, which is good, since I wasn’t always sure I was keeping track properly of the various cast members and their schemes. (That’s my fault, for trying to start with what’s effectively the fourth book in the series, but that’s the one I had.) Still, I can see why this is appealing; the romantic scenes are hot, and the light-hearted tone is a welcome change from traumatized, brooding vamps.

The new element in this volume is stalker Ingrid kidnapping David, so Marlo has to find and get him back. That happens relatively quickly, so this is a good manga for readers who don’t like drawn-out plots. Every few pages, there’s something else happening or a new person introduced. With the misunderstandings and the crushes, it’s kind of like a really twisted Archie comic.

Arisa Book 6

Arisa Book 6

by Natsumi Ando, $10.99, Kodansha Comics

Having missed a couple of books since I last read the series, I was hoping I’d be able to catch up, but apparently more happened there than I realized. However, the mystery doesn’t seem to have progressed any further.

I think there’s a disconnect between what I was hoping for with this series and what the author wants to do. I wanted to follow an actual mystery, with clues and progression on finding out who the King is; Ando seems to want to use the framework to tell stories about teen friendship without advancing our understanding of the underlying setup. Which is her right, of course, but it’s not the series I’m looking to read, because I’ve seen plenty of that already.

This volume tells the story of Shizuka, who has a bunch of the special King cellphones, and she struggles with how to use them. She’s after some kind of revenge, but Tsubasa thinks being friendly can defuse her. A bunch of characters then talk about friendship and whether it’s pretending or not. If you’re looking for a lot of emotional showdowns that don’t accomplish much, this is the series for you. I liked best the two bonus stories. One is a flashback to seeing the younger twins together; the other is a short in which the artist talks about taking a research trip.

The Story of Saiunkoku Book 6

The Story of Saiunkoku Book 6

by Sai Yukino and Kairi Yura, $9.99, Viz

These characters are really pretty, all the more so in the color two-page spread that opens the book. I’m glad I had that eye candy to tide me over, since the book opens with the conclusion of a fight I didn’t remember starting in the previous volume. Soon enough, though, that’s settled, and we’re back to Shurei’s quest to become a civil servant in a world that doesn’t believe females should be allowed in that role. With the help of the city’s leading courtesan, who gives her makeup lessons, because she is told to remember she’s still a woman.

However, passing the nation’s service exam is only the beginning. Performing well on a test doesn’t convince the bigots that she belongs in the work, and obstacles keep being placed in her way by those who hold grudges. Of course, she keeps a good attitude throughout, inspiring those who know her, and the Emperor continues to stand behind her and support her. It’s grueling just reading about what she’s put through, but her dedication is inspirational.

(The publishers provided review copies.)

As with any addiction, sometimes I’m afraid to talk about the hold Bakuman has on me. I called the series one of my Best Manga of 2011, due to how much I enjoy and anticipate reading it, but I well know that it also has flaws, mostly relating to its horribly cardboard female characters. Still, I look forward to each new volume with great gusto, since I love following the struggles of the manga artists and the details revealed about the industry, especially how they work with the magazine staff who are their bosses.

Bakuman Book 9

The boys’ original editor is now working with Iwase, introduced in the previous volume as a rival for Takagi, the writer. I like her skills, but her motivation to beat Takagi as a way of forcing him to be interested in her is ridiculous. The rest of her attitudes, though, are quite amusing. When told her series was accepted for serialization, her editor is surprised that she’s not more excited. She responds, “It’s just that I’ve never failed an exam or had a submission turned away in my life.” I could grow to like her.

Perhaps I should follow Ed’s advice of simply ignoring any relationship story pages and just read the bits about making comics. That especially goes for the subplot of Takagi promising his girlfriend they’d get married if their new story got accepted as a series. I suspect that’s to allow for comedy bits, such as Mashiro pretending to be her father so Takagi can practice asking him for her hand, but it’s at best funny in an uncomfortable way. Few American readers can relate to either wanting to get married so young or the girlfriend’s lack of any ambition or goals for herself.

Anyway, Iwase’s artist is Nizuma, taking on a second series in a groundbreaking decision, and he’s always a pleasure to see more of, since he comes the closest to “crazy obsessive artistic genius” in type. (I wouldn’t want to work with him, but he’s great to read about, especially how everyone else uses him as a barometer for talent.) How all the other young creators take the news of the new series allows for checking in with the wide cast of supporting players. I particularly like the brief mentions we get of Hiramaru, the one who can’t make a deadline without his editor sitting in his room staring at him. He’s developed a crush on Miss Aoki (who’s shown on the cover), and his editor is taking great advantage of this romantic pressure point to keep him working. (I like her, too, in her quiet certainty and her request to only work with female assistants to avoid complications.)

The more I read, the more I share the guys’ dislike for their editor, who doesn’t seem to know much about what he’s doing. Even when he is clear on his goals, they’re not the same as what the boys want, pointing out how what’s good for the manga magazine and the business may not be the best thing for the artists. He does get some development this volume, though, learning to make different kinds of choices.

The conflict in this installment is that the boys’ new manga is doing well, but it’s a joke-based series that mostly appeals to kids. It’s successful, but none of their friends like it, because it’s too young for them. Those friends, meanwhile, are working on series that rank higher, so the guys have to figure out whether to be satisfied with what they have or strive to create something more artistically challenging. In short, it’s the classic debate of art vs. commerce, whether a working creator should aim for prestige and recognition or stability and money.

Once again, we’re left with a cliffhanger that puts the guys’ career on the line, all the while they’re shaking up the usual way of working. It becomes clear that Takagi’s marriage is another way of ramping up the potential effects, since he’s going to have a wife to support. Changing his state is a way of signifying the importance of learning to make adult decisions. I should have had more faith in the Bakuman creators — they use their characters like paper dolls, the women especially, but there’s always a dramatic purpose behind it. (The publisher provided a review copy.)