Notes on various manga

Apparently, I have a taste for shoujo high school romances. But then, many are played as romantic comedy and, hello -- writing high school romantic comedies. Just as with YA romance, there's a lot of middling, formulaic stuff out there. I wouldn't mind recommendations for more Good Stuff -- either in stores or scanlations.

Despite the appearances, it's not true that I like Good Morning Call and Lovely Complex only because their concepts* would make killer YA novels I want to write. For the former, it's also because my inner sixteen-year-old is crushing on Nao's character design. For the latter, it's also because it's got heart -- unlike most romantic comedy bickering, shoujo or Western, Risa and Otani's is unforced. There's no need to contrive anything when they're both hot-tempered and sensitive about their heights -- one quip's enough to set them off. Also, I like that, for a change, the boy's the clueless one. For other digs at genre conventions, there's KouKou Debut (does the Japanese title really have that wordplay?). It's not perfect, but I can't help but like a heroine with the straightforward intensity that Haruna attacks everything -- a trait useful for making you a softball pitching star, but it can hamper your drive to get a boyfriend. Word to upperclasswomen: don't try bullying a girl with a fastball -- she can whup your asses.

OTOH, Chokotto Sister is just plain sweet -- even the pervy bits. College student Haruma gets an overdue Christmas delivery from Santa:** the little sister he wished for as a boy. She comes with a little guidebook on how to be a little sister, which is occasionally inaccurate*** -- some of its advice was written by a perv -- but fortunately, she trusts big brother's corrections. Okay, so I'm a sucker for stories about suddenly becoming human and then having to learn how to be human. Many of the story elements are standard issue: the episode of taking sister to buy her first bra (oh noes the embarrassment!), the episode at the hot springs, the shy apartment manager who's crushing on big brother, the party girl upstairs, et cet. But as I said, sweetly handled, and the art's lovely -- the mangaka especially does body movements well, as when Choko skips down the street then lands thump! in front of the grocery store.

Speaking of art, I adore Yuji Iwahara's style. Only one series is licensed in English, Chikyu Misaki, a very cute fantasy adventure romp. His subjects seem to bounce around a bit: Koudelka is gaslight horror, while King of Thorns is post-apocalyptic. Both are tasty, and look like they ought to be smash hits over here.

Speaking of licensing, I was very startled to learn the anime of Koi Kaze is available in English. It's an incest love story, played for once for the drama rather than the angst.**** The manga's sketchy drawing style fits the often understated tone, but I wonder how deliberate it is, given the mangaka sometimes has trouble with proportions and perspective -- especially legs. But at the right moments, she nails the facial expressions -- and the way Nanoka grows up, over two years, is near perfect.

Can anyone explain the whole rescue in America arc of [Victorian Romance] Emma? I gots comfoozled. Where was she? How did he find her? What happened during the return journey? And if Hakhim's leaving, can I have his dancing girls?


* GMC: Two high school students, girl and boy both living on their own, are double-booked into the same high-rent apartment and decide to room to split the cost. LC: Tallest girl and shortest boy in the class are constantly paired by their classmates, to their intense annoyance.

** Who's a biker chick on a hovercycle. If that doesn't make you want to read this, I don't know what will.

*** It also fails to cover certain important subjects, such as what to do when a raven steals a shiny apartment key. Fortunately, the book's still useful even then -- throwing it in frustration at the bird can startle it into dropping the key.

**** It's amusing how many reviews almost apologize for its seriousness. And how many earnestly mention genetic sexual attraction and the Westermarck effect.

---L.

Notes on various manga

Apparently, I have a taste for shoujo high school romances. But then, many are played as romantic comedy and, hello -- writing high school romantic comedies. Just as with YA romance, there's a lot of middling, formulaic stuff out there. I wouldn't mind recommendations for more Good Stuff -- either in stores or scanlations.

Despite the appearances, it's not true that I like Good Morning Call and Lovely Complex only because their concepts* would make killer YA novels I want to write. For the former, it's also because my inner sixteen-year-old is crushing on Nao's character design. For the latter, it's also because it's got heart -- unlike most romantic comedy bickering, shoujo or Western, Risa and Otani's is unforced. There's no need to contrive anything when they're both hot-tempered and sensitive about their heights -- one quip's enough to set them off. Also, I like that, for a change, the boy's the clueless one. For other digs at genre conventions, there's KouKou Debut (does the Japanese title really have that wordplay?). It's not perfect, but I can't help but like a heroine with the straightforward intensity that Haruna attacks everything -- a trait useful for making you a softball pitching star, but it can hamper your drive to get a boyfriend. Word to upperclasswomen: don't try bullying a girl with a fastball -- she can whup your asses.

OTOH, Chokotto Sister is just plain sweet -- even the pervy bits. College student Haruma gets an overdue Christmas delivery from Santa:** the little sister he wished for as a boy. She comes with a little guidebook on how to be a little sister, which is occasionally inaccurate*** -- some of its advice was written by a perv -- but fortunately, she trusts big brother's corrections. Okay, so I'm a sucker for stories about suddenly becoming human and then having to learn how to be human. Many of the story elements are standard issue: the episode of taking sister to buy her first bra (oh noes the embarrassment!), the episode at the hot springs, the shy apartment manager who's crushing on big brother, the party girl upstairs, et cet. But as I said, sweetly handled, and the art's lovely -- the mangaka especially does body movements well, as when Choko skips down the street then lands thump! in front of the grocery store.

Speaking of art, I adore Yuji Iwahara's style. Only one series is licensed in English, Chikyu Misaki, a very cute fantasy adventure romp. His subjects seem to bounce around a bit: Koudelka is gaslight horror, while King of Thorns is post-apocalyptic. Both are tasty, and look like they ought to be smash hits over here.

Speaking of licensing, I was very startled to learn the anime of Koi Kaze is available in English. It's an incest love story, played for once for the drama rather than the angst.**** The manga's sketchy drawing style fits the often understated tone, but I wonder how deliberate it is, given the mangaka sometimes has trouble with proportions and perspective -- especially legs. But at the right moments, she nails the facial expressions -- and the way Nanoka grows up, over two years, is near perfect.

Can anyone explain the whole rescue in America arc of [Victorian Romance] Emma? I gots comfoozled. Where was she? How did he find her? What happened during the return journey? And if Hakhim's leaving, can I have his dancing girls?


* GMC: Two high school students, girl and boy both living on their own, are double-booked into the same high-rent apartment and decide to room to split the cost. LC: Tallest girl and shortest boy in the class are constantly paired by their classmates, to their intense annoyance.

** Who's a biker chick on a hovercycle. If that doesn't make you want to read this, I don't know what will.

*** It also fails to cover certain important subjects, such as what to do when a raven steals a shiny apartment key. Fortunately, the book's still useful even then -- throwing it in frustration at the bird can startle it into dropping the key.

**** It's amusing how many reviews almost apologize for its seriousness. And how many earnestly mention genetic sexual attraction and the Westermarck effect.

---L.