Manga Worth Reading

This volume is a definite change of pace for this series about a pet shop worker, her dog, and their friends and canine companions. I appreciate the creator tackling all phases of pet ownership, though. One thing people should consider before getting a dog, or any pet, is that they are likely to outlive their animal loved one. It’s an important lesson in understanding the cycle of life.

Inubaka: Crazy for Dogs Book 13
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Kanako had a Pomeranian named Czerny. She doted on her pet, dressing the dog up in special outfits every day and generally treating her as precious. Unfortunately, Czerny has passed away suddenly. In this book, Suguri helps Kanako come to terms with her loss.

There’s a whole gamut of reactions covered here. One shop worker needs to be educated on how significant this loss can seem to a pet owner, while others feel a lot of grief. The problem of different recovery rates — some get over their pain quickly, others need much more time — causes tension among friends. An owner, losing her closest friend, might even feel suicidal.

The others worry about Kanako. Should they let her recover at her own pace, or should they step in to help? What kind of support does she need, because every situation is different? We don’t often see much of Kentaro, one of the pet shop workers, but here, he demonstrates unusual depth and consideration. And the gang has a creative suggestion to reorient Kanako in a more positive direction when it comes to remembering her beloved pet.

The big question is whether a grieving owner should get another dog, and if so, how quickly. Things are complicated by a natural disaster, which leaves both owners and pets homeless. By the end of the story, I admit, I was tearing up, because reading about the love between people and dogs is so heart-warming.

I was surprised but pleased to see such an affecting story in what I previously thought was a much lighter series. There’s a lot of thought-provoking learning here, accompanied by lovely pictures of cute doggies (and girls!). Although rated for Older Teens, I would think this would be a good read for anyone, teen and up, wondering about how to deal with loss.

Oh, and there’s also another story to change the mood, a comedy about feuding pet owners whose dogs are friends. It involves a modeling session with outfits for the pets, so the writer works in some information about sizing and reasons for dog clothes.

The college struggles from the previous two books continue to have ramifications, adding drama to this goofy romantic comedy.

Love*Com Book 13
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A couple, friends of main pair Risa and Otani, are facing separation, since she got into college and he didn’t. The relationship of the two seems vulnerable, with all these changes, so another boy, a judo champion, is muscling in on the girl. Otani winds up promising “let’s you and him fight” in a classic sitcom situation of having to train quickly for a competition one’s completely over-matched for.

Thankfully, not a lot of time is spent on the battle and training — the important thing is being willing to fight for the one you love, a message any young romantic will appreciate. The surrounding setup is a bit over the top, which provides the funny, but the underlying emotions are still plausible to readers. The artistic focus on well-drawn faces — eyes, mouths, and eyebrows — makes it easy to keep up with what the characters are thinking and feeling.

After that comes some family conflict, with Risa’s younger brother about to start at her high school, which he’s cranky about. (He wanted to aim higher.) She and her friends try to show him around while acting particularly juvenile, which doesn’t help his impression, but at least they seem like real kids. Brother thinks Otani is the only cool one and so should break up with Risa. This, understandably, doesn’t lead to harmony between the siblings. The real conflict arises, though, when the previously unseen Grandpa decides to set Risa up with someone better suited for her (i.e., taller) while distracting Otani with a professional flirt.

I’m impressed by how Aya Nakahara keeps a very basic premise — tall girl and short boy in love — fresh by introducing different twists and characters as needed. The types may seem familiar, but that just makes it easier to get into situations quickly. At first, the conflicts keeping the two apart were created by themselves: ignorance (of their feelings), then mismatched timing. Now, to keep the story going, the conflicts are external, based on the objections of family members. It’s a movement from the self to the community, although ultimately, it all comes back to trust, an interior virtue.

(A complimentary copy for this review was provided by the publisher.)

Review by Ed Sizemore

This volume continues, and concludes, the adventures of Mao-chan and the Special Defense Corps as they attempt to fight off the aliens who want to steal all of Japan’s cultural landmarks. The two female alien spies disguised as high school students face new hardships as they run out of money and have to find jobs to pay the bills while continuing their mission. Once the alien leader appears, the final battle begins. What will become of Japan’s national treasures?

Mao-Chan Book 2
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As in volume 1, Del Rey has combined the third and fourth volumes of the Japanese edition into one book for US release.

Part of the charm of this series has been the over-the-top humor. Akamatsu continues to weave light satire into this series. He pokes fun at such diverse targets as Dominion Tank Police, Galaxy Express 999, Gon, and Tenchi Muyo. The jokes are genuinely funny; several times, I actually burst out laughing at a scene. Wait until you see what happens when a tank with artificial intelligence turns to a life of crime.

Surprisingly, the biggest target is Love Hina, with two chapters of Akmatsu making jokes at his own expense. We are introduced to Keinosuke Urashima, a student who keeps failing the entrance examine to Tokyo U, and his girlfriend Nana Nanasegawa. Together, they run a hot spring resort called Hinata Ryokan. The funniest moment in the book is when Nana and Private Mishima (both modeled after Love Hina’s Naru) meet, and everyone remarks on how they look identical.

But the series doesn’t rely solely on satire. Mao-chan is filled with appealing characters. The three young girls of the Special Defense Corps all really care about each other. Their grandfathers may try to make everything a competition, but they wisely ignore them and focus on being friends and developing teamwork. They also take seriously their role to preserve Japan’s landmarks. They’re earnestly trying their best in the face of overwhelming odds. It’s easy to find yourself drawn in by their youth and sincerely.

RAN continues to provide excellent artwork. He’s certainly an accomplished mimic. I would like to see a series where he gets a chance to develop his own style. Just a brief word of warning. There is plenty of fan service. No nudity, but lots of bikinis and towels.

Overall, Mao-chan was an enjoyable read. It was a good break from all the more serious manga I’ve been reading lately. The decision to keep Mao-chan short was wise. It prevents the humor or the characters from getting stale. I’m optimistic that Mao-chan will most appeal to anime and manga fans who like a good parody. However, the jokes are broad enough on their own that anyone can read and enjoy Mao-chan.

Although it’s part of the Viz Kids line, I found this collection of fashion- and friend-focused four-panel strips entertaining in a great-for-summer mindless-fun way.

Choco Mimi Book 1
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Choco (Chiyoko Sakurai) is the sporty one interested in moody boy Ando. Mimi is the cuter, frillier one with the adorable dog Chiffon. He’s my favorite character. Although a fluffy dachshund, he thinks of himself as a man serving his master, dedicated to making Mimi happy and being stoic in light of the goofy things she does to him. There’s also Mumu, a cross-dressing little boy who causes conflict in weird ways.

Although we’re told several times they’re 8th graders (making them, what, 14?), they’re drawn in a little kid style (as seen on the cover) that reminds me of Junko Mizuno (only without the grossness). The few introductory pages tell you everything you need to know about them, their likes and dislikes. After that, it’s a series of 4-koma, vertical four-panel comic strips, with the characters being cute and silly at school or elsewhere.

Jokes revolve around Mimi having an unexpected response or the girls and their clothes or how the boys act. There are also half-page images of the girls hanging out, as well as fashion half pages, often seasonally oriented, where their outfits and accessories are described in detail. Sometimes the strips take up a full page or more, with more panels, creating little stories. The result is a lot of content, with plenty to read and lots of detail to look at.

I found it surprisingly readable. I liked entering the ChocoMimi world for a little while, when all that matters is looking cute and having fun with friends. It’s great escapism with an unexpected amount of creative imagination. Although rated for all ages, I don’t know that I’d recommend it for very young kids. It’s best for those who can evaluate what the characters do and figure out which parts make sense (taking care of animals) and which are fictional exaggerations (how Mimi acts in class, like wearing a bikini to school). It’s also not for those who are allergic to “girly”, a word used frequently and accurately within.

(A complimentary copy for this review was provided by the publisher.)

It’s been a while since I’ve checked in with this entertaining game competition series. (In part, that’s because of a Diamond hiccup soliciting Book 14, which meant I had 15 but had to wait to get the books in order.) I’m glad I could read all three of these volumes together, since they make up a major turning point in Hikaru’s life.

Hikaru no Go Book 13
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Hikaru has become a professional go player, and as the book begins, he’s dressing up for the recognition ceremony. He’s still learning how his new occupation works, who plays whom when and what it all means, but he’s still focused on catching — and passing — Akira Toya, son of the reigning champion.

They’re all so indoctrinated in the rules and roles of the competition that a slight or inadvertent insult becomes grounds for a vow to win against them in a match. That keeps the games emotionally involving both for the characters and the reader. Yet the characters recognize how much they all, as go players, have in common, as part of a tradition much bigger than they are. There’s also a mysticism about certain people sensing something special about Hikaru that fits right into a story that features a ghost.

Also in competition are Hikaru and Sai, since both want to play using Hikaru’s hands. Hikaru’s become a strong enough player on his own that his rise in professional ranking is believable, but he needs to continue making his own decisions in order to really learn the subtleties of the game.

Given how long Hikaru’s been chasing Akira, their match isn’t to happen yet. (The reader will remain in suspense even longer.) Akira is kept away from the games when his father, holder of five championship titles, has a medical emergency that hospitalizes him. Coincidentally, that wraps back to a previous plot point about playing go on the internet, an outlet that allows Sai to compete without others becoming suspicious. The champion player takes up online gaming when he must stay in the hospital, bringing him back into contact with Sai and Hikaru, whose childish exuberance and lack of thinking result in an unexpected wager with major consequences.

Hikaru no Go Book 14
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I realized in this volume that I really missed seeing women in major roles. Most of the competitive players and observers are male, so it’s only the rare wife or female assistant who gets to speak. I suppose it’s realistic that Hikaru no longer keeps in touch with his schoolmates, since his life has gone in a different direction, but I loved seeing his cute little friend appear again.

I haven’t said much about the art because it’s so excellent. Beautifully rendered, clear expressions, dramatic shots… the standout sequence, though, has to be when Sai plays on the internet. The game is staged with the two players, their board, and nothing else, just surrounded by black space. Sai’s presence comes into view behind Hikaru and then subsumes him as the ghost begins directing the play, one of the most important games of his (after)life. It’s impressive and intimidating, focusing only on the showdown between two giants.

The online game, watched by curious players all over the world, continues in Book 14. Hikaru sees something very important during the game, demonstrating to Sai that the boy has reached a whole new level of play. This is the most significant turning point in both of their lives. The way the match was arranged also causes some to be curious about Sai’s connection to Hikaru, causing him additional consternation.

Hikaru no Go Book 15
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Although Hikaru and Sai’s relationship is non-traditional, there are some very universal aspects to it. This turning point marks where the father figure gives up on his own plans and instead does what he can to see that his child will carry on into the future to become the best he can be. While Sai and Hikaru have this transition spiritually, Akira and his father face it physically. In both cases, they’re chasing their destinies.

Book 15 is where the most important change occurs. I don’t want to say too much about it, for fear of spoiling anything for readers, but I will say that I never expected the series to go in that direction, although it’s a stunningly good choice in retrospect. (According to one source, this is 2/3 of the way through the overall series, which ran to 23 volumes, so it’s a good time for it, too.)

The event shows how Hikaru is growing up while reminding us in many ways that he’s still a young boy, with a lot to learn about life and behavior. His enthusiasm and energy need tempering before he drives everyone around him crazy. And he doesn’t realize the truth of what he’s got until it’s gone.

Also in this volume is a tour of significant go history sites and shrines, reminding the reader just how long this game has been played and revered.

Solanin has little in common with how many readers think about manga. It’s a self-contained volume, slightly larger in size than the usual manga digest and much thicker. More important is the content, a story about young adults seeking to find themselves and their directions in life. If the book was described to me, I would be more likely to guess Top Shelf or Drawn & Quarterly instead of Viz. I welcome seeing this diversity from them as part of their Signature line.

Solanin
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Meiko graduated from college and took an office job while waiting for her “epiphany”, when she figures out what she wants to do. Her boyfriend, a freelance artist, moved in with her, but she’s tired of him, just like she’s tired of everything else. She knows what she hates, but she doesn’t know what she loves.

Her days are defined by boredom, especially after she quits the job to figure things out. She thinks she’s getting the freedom she needs, but she wastes her time hanging out at home, too apathetic to try any of her dreams or fancies. Her boyfriend’s also part of a band that doesn’t do anything but rehearse, and most of the other members have similar reactions to things. They claim “depression” because they’re too sensitive to deal with daily life.

Simple faces with detailed emotion convey every feeling in a way the reader can easily relate to. And most will have gone through this or known those who have. When I first heard about this story, my jaded side thought “why do I want to read this when I lived it?” But I found myself caught up in their uncertainty about life. I enjoyed the book more, having survived it and come out the other side. It gave me perspective that made the story richer as the characters discuss various philosophies and purposes.

The question of “what is happiness” is something everyone has to determine for themselves, and Meiko’s mom seems to have the right idea, saying it can be simple if you don’t make it hard for yourself. Bandmate Rip finds his own kind of contentment, while Meiko struggles for the strength to forge a new direction.

At first, she piles her drive into her boyfriend, encouraging him to pursue the music he loves, but that’s not a long-term solution for her, and fate makes that clear. That particular event was the most disappointing part of the book for me, because I got the feeling it was going to happen before it did, and I found it a little heavy-handed and cliched. But the point is to more fully develop Meiko. She tried to break out of routine, of settling for what she had, but while she had enough determination to make that choice, she didn’t have enough to keep pushing through to the next step. She too easily settled back into a new routine. It took shock and the removal of the guy she was clinging to to really make her change stick.

While Meiko is often aimless, the book is not. If you like Honey & Clover, try this for a more realistic, less wacky take on sometimes similar happenings. And be sure to linger over the outstanding art capturing the band’s stage performance. It captures music and energy wordlessly.

Here are a few more reviews:

• “like Scott Pilgrim but without the video game realism, and twice as much of the drama” — Christopher Butcher
• “a classy, beautiful book and at over 400 pages, a bargain to boot” — Greg McElhatton
• “exactly the kind of book that fans of manga who want to read mature, adult work have been hoping for” — Matthew J. Brady

Another Inio Asano work, What a Wonderful World!, has just been offered for order through the Previews catalog. Two volumes, 210 pages/$12.99 each, JUL09 1105 and JUL09 1106. They’re due out in October. (A complimentary copy for this review was provided by the publisher.)