Manga Roundup 01

I have a few confessions to make. First, I read a lot of random manga. I can’t even keep track of most of it, especially since I don’t always care enough to read without skimming the boring shit. Second, I suck at posting about it. This is mainly because I feel its almost a waste of time to make a post about a manga without putting a lot of content in the post. I have, however, found a solution to this: A Manga Roundup.

I pretty much snagged the idea from Kita ze Inbou‘s “Manga Files”. Since I generally read a lot of weird/obscure stuff without steady scanlation releases, the Roundup can also be used to consolidate any “Holy shit! That manga has a new chapter and I want to talk about it” posts. So basically the Roundup is just a random collection of mini-posts. I can only hope they will inspire someone to read something different or unusual.

Disclaimer: There may be a lot of shoujo in these posts. I am vehemently anti-shoujom but I admit to often getting hooked on some titles. Mostly its because I want to see how it end or because I want to see how offended it can make me (seriously, most shoujo heroines are dumb as shit). Oh yeah, and there will probably be posts about some of the typical WSJ series in which I will do nothing but oggle the dudes.

Is it wrong that I find these two to be an adorably fucked up couple?

Boku to Issho

「僕といっしょ」
Furuya Minoru
Chapters 31-33

Recap: When we last left our retarded intrepid heroes, Ayame had walked in on Suguo masturbating. Probably to thoughts of her. Awkward. So he did what any self-respecting guy would do: he got the fuck out of there. Ayame eventually convinced him to return (I’m not sure how, but there was a crazy dude who claimed to be able to talk to orcas involved). In the next chapter Sugou finds Itokin’s mother, though the reunion goes awry. The final release deal with a man obsessed with breasts and finding the perfect pair. Unfortunately, these mythical tits are attached to Ayame’s chest.

Thoughts: I was hoping for more comedy over the whole “caught masturbating” imbroglio, but I still can’t complain too much about how it turned out. I love how Itokin’s mother resembled him so much. I’m not surprised Suguo got fucked over after that encounter. Bu I am surprised that Suguo decided to help the breast-obsessed man get to Ayame’s tits. I’m especially surprised since its kinda obvious Suguo is crushin’ on Ayame, even if its just a little bit. Now I’m just wondering how they’re going to pull this off. I can’t imagine Ayame going along with anything that involved a strange man groping her tits.

Our star-crossed lovers, Evyione and Yashin.

Evyione

「에뷔오네」
Kim Young Hee
Chapters 1-18

Premise: A retelling of the classic fairytale The Little Mermaid, but with a twist: A powerful sea-king falls in love with a beautiful princess and makes a deal with a sea-witch so that he can see her in her world. Like in the original tale, the king loses his seductive voice and must walk unsteadily on painful human feet. He is also cursed should the princess, Evyione, fall in love with another. Unfortunately, they are separated by the social classes of the times and Evyione already seems to have thoughts about someone else.

Thoughts: I enjoyed this far more than I thought I would. I like the role reversal from the classic tale, though I’m secretly hoping that this story will have a happier ending than the original! The narrator has already warned of tragedy. I love Evyione’s interactions with Phildelis, the man who found her after her near drowning (and the sea-king’s possible rival in her affection), and I love how she’s teaching Yashin to read and write human language (not that she knows he’s anything beyond a poor, but handsome, mute). I worry about all the gossip and sneaky political maneuvering going on around Evyione. I can’t see it all ending well.

I wonder if she went to band camp.

Koharu no Hibi

「こはるの日々」
Ooshiro Youko
Chapters 1-4

Premise: One afternoon, Tori catches a girl who stumbled on the train. The next day the girl, a fellow schoolmate named Koharu, appears to thank him and, from that point on, pops up everywhere. Things take a turn for the weird when, after know her only for a day, he spies her in his homeroom sucking on his recorder. She quickly, and not unsurprisingly, confesses her feelings to Tori. While flattered, Tori becoming increasingly perturbed by her obsessive behavior.

Thoughts: I have no idea what to think of this manga, but I’m preparing myself for a mindfuck. Koharu seems like she’ll turn yandere at any moment, though she greats every upset with either tears or a smile. On one hand, her behavior is so crazy-stalker-girl. But, on the other hand, when Tori calls her on her freaky shit, she seems genuinely contrite and sympathetic. Obviously, she has no clue as to what is socially acceptable in a relationship, so I have to wonder how fucked up she is in other ways too.

At least she's not calling them 'hipsters' like the anime does.

Kuragehime

「海月姫 〜くらげひめ〜」
Higashimura Akiko
Chapters 1-2

Premise: Vivi’s post on the anime more or less covers the premise of the story. Tsukimi, a jellyfish fujoshi (and by that I mean “female otaku”) living in an building shared by other fujoshi of varying interests (they refer to themselves as the “Amars”, or “nuns”) runs into a beautiful and fashionable “princess” when she is trying to save a jellyfish in a pet store. Unfortunately for Tsukimi, this “jellyfish princess” is actually a guy.

Thoughts: Chapter 2 didn’t go that far beyond the first episode of the anime, but I loved it anyway. I’m enjoying more and more about the Amars. I am tickled pink that one is a Three Kingdoms reki-jo, even though her way of talking is more than a little obnoxious. It looks like that cross-dressing man (Kuranosuke) is inserting himself into Tsukimi’s life whether she likes it or not. Despite her awkwardness and protestations, it seems like she’s taken a liking to him. That might have to do more with the fact that he is a “jellyfish princess” and that helped her save Kurara than anything else, though.

/ 4 Commentsleave a comment /

• kluxorious says:

  October 21, 2010

  That girl there… she wasn't sucking on the king's dick was she? Tell me that was icre-cream please O_o

  Reply
  • morri says:

    October 21, 2010

    Actually, that image is for "Koharu no Hibi", not "Evyione".

    And the creepy stalker girl is sucking on her sempai's recorder. (No, that's not a euphemism).

    Now I'm wondering if I should change the image placement if its confusing which image belongs to which manga. >__<

    Reply
• Leon says:

  October 27, 2010

  I'm surprised I haven't started reading Boku to Issho yet, especially after the awesome that was Ciguatera.

  Reply
  • morri says:

    October 28, 2010

    That is so lame, Leon.

    I can't believe you didn't instantly pick it up after reading my epic post about it.

    Reply