Selah's Manga Mania Reviews: Failed Princesses Vol. 1 by Ajiichi

Failed Princesses Vol. 1

できそこないの姫君たち | Dekisokonai no Himegimi-tachi
by Ajiichi
August 11, 2020
Publisher: Seven Seas
Genre(s): Romance, Yuri, Teens & Young, LGBT
168 pages

Volume 1 of 3
Fujishiro Nanaki is super cute, super popular, and super annoyed with anyone as plain as her classmate Kurokawa Kanade. When Nanaki finds out her boyfriend's cheating on her, however, her life makes a complete 180 -- as does her relationship with Kanade.
Opposites attract in this new high school yuri manga!

Amazon

Fujishiro Nanaki is super cute, super popular, and super annoyed with anyone as plain as her classmate Kurokawa Kanade. When Nanaki finds out her boyfriend’s cheating on her, however, her life makes a complete 180—as does her relationship with Kanade. This all-new yuri manga series explores the budding romance between the cool girl in school and the “plain” girl she once brushed off!

Friendship is an integral part of manga, but it can take a lot of forms. Tropes still reign, and so often, you get used to the popular girl and unpopular girl being at odds with each other.

And then there’s Failed Princesses.

Nanaki is popular and always has to be cute. While this seems obsessive at first, as the first volume goes along, you learn she actually has to put a lot of effort in. This is something she works at because it’s how she sees herself. Even so, it doesn’t prevent her boyfriend from dumping her. Kanade is the quiet, shy, ugly ducking otaku (fangirl) type and overhears the breakup. While she dislikes Nanaki because of a bad encounter with a popular girl in her past, she empathizes and reassures Nanaki that the situation isn’t her fault. Nanaki latches onto this and decides that they need to be friends. Kanade has absolutely no idea what to do with that.

The good: There’s a lot of emotional exploration and shifting in this one. The characters are decently self-aware while still being a bit ignorant of others’ feelings, which works. Kanade just wants to live her life even if Nanaki intrigues her. But the moment Nanaki befriends her, the popular girls laugh it off, thinking she just wants a servant and Kanade’s friends drop her. This possibility had never occurred to Nanaki, and so there’s a learning moment there as their friendship develops. In turn, Nanaki helps Kanade update her wardrobe and slowly gain a smidge of confidence. Kanade was under the impression that looks and popularity just happen, and Nanaki destroys that illusion as they bond over bad eyebrow grooming experiences. In the first volume alone, there’s just enough growth between the two of them to be interesting without shifting the dynamic too much too fast. The punchline at the end is Nanaki takes Kanade clothes shopping and then suddenly discovers that she may actually out-cute Nanaki, herself.

There’s also a great relationship between Nanaki and her brother. While Nanaki has things come somewhat easily to her because of her popularity and is a little insulated, she’s not a bad person. Her relationship with her brother really showcases her ability to have normal relationships. She’s also invested enough to want to borrow manga from Kanade and learn about her, in turn. It’s also a cool choice to not make Kanade totally friendless. Hence, she actually has stakes to lose due to the friendship with Nanaki. While she may not care about her appearance, she is intrigued by how Nanaki is so well put together, and her epiphany that people aren’t just born that way is honestly really nice to see in a teen series. The fact that it’s addressed makes the obligatory makeover scene feel truer than it would in a 90s movie sequence. I was impressed that Nanaki’s friends' snideness is very minimal compared to a lot of bullying scenes in other titles, and Nanaki immediately shuts it down. There’s no going back and forth for her. She does not stand for it, which is really refreshing. If anything, it’s Kanade trying to tell her how the world works and Nanaki reinforcing that it doesn’t have to be that way and that they both can learn from each other.

The bad: Nothing, really. The characters are still a bit tropey, but this is just the first volume, and it’s obvious that the intent is to have them grow.

Things to be aware of: Nothing so far. I haven’t fully researched this one, so I’m not totally sure if the intent is they become besties or end up together. But honestly, I could see it working well either way.

All in all, a fun title that takes standard plotlines and dares to do something a bit different without taking It completely away from the feel of a shojo title.

Four made-over sheep

About the Author:

website-FB-twitter

Selah Janel is a writer who is trying to start doing that again instead of reading manga all the time.

Selah's Manga Mania Reviews: Uzumaki (3-in-1 Deluxe Edition) by Junji Ito

Uzumaki (3-in-1 Deluxe Edition): Includes vols. 1, 2 & 3
by Junji Ito
October 16, 2018
Volumes: 3
648 pages
English publisher: NA Viz Media
Seinen horror manga
Genres: Visual novel, Simulation Video Game, Dark fantasy, Horror fiction, Occult Fiction
Appearing as a serial in the weekly manga magazine Big Comic Spirits from 1998 to 1999. 
Kurouzu-cho, a small fogbound town on the coast of Japan, is cursed. According to Shuichi Saito, the withdrawn boyfriend of teenager Kirie Goshima, their town is haunted not by a person or being but a pattern: UZUMAKI, the spiral—the hypnotic secret shape of the world. The bizarre masterpiece horror manga is now available all in a single volume. Fall into a whirlpool of terror!

It's time to think about stories that freak us out, and Japanese horror has a certain something that just pushes things over the edge and down a cliff. Today, we're looking at one of the greatest authors in the genre and one of his most infamous titles. Today, we're looking at Uzumaki by Junji Ito.

We follow teenager Kirie and her boyfriend Shuichi as they slowly realize something is very wrong with their town and the people in it. It all begins with Shuichi's father's fascination with spirals that becomes an obsession, and then something otherworldly.

The good: This is a freaky series and I really like that the omnibus version collects it all in one place. While this is more surreal than other Ito titles which are more classic horror, the scare factor is definitely there. As the spiral obsession and paranoia jumps from person to person and then starts to physically affect the structure of the town and people's bodies in inhuman ways, the reading experience becomes really disturbing. My stomach dropped at scenes like Shuichi's mom puncturing her ear because she realized there was a spiral in the bones in it. The debate as people turned into snail creatures as to whether they could be used for food or if they were still human is intense. How villagers take shelter in the bunkhouses lets you know you've passed the point of no return.

Ito portrays the line between rational and madness very well, both in his pacing and art. You can physically see the moment where characters fall over the edge or give up, adding to the feeling over impending doom that builds through the story. As the town changes, you realize that this is way bigger than a few peoples' obsessions. I'd call it cosmic horror with patterns instead of monsters, honestly. And the ending took the breath out of me because it's quieter than I expected, but it really capped things well.

Ito's art is exceptional, and the vast amount of ways he incorporates spirals into body horror, architecture, and natural landscapes are impressive. It feels like he's really in his element.

The bad: if you want definite logic as to why things are happening, this will likely frustrate you. There is a reason, but it's vague. I would say the story is more about the effect the spirals have on people and the futility of their fight and just how wrong the decision to stay in town is. This is more surreal vs outright horror compared to something like Tomie, but it still has that Ito feel.

Some of the characters are a little one-dimensional, but in this case, it all pushes the plot forward and showcases the insane vignettes and variations on the spiral theme. He's taking you on a tour via these scenes, and it's your job to see how you feel about them. It won't be everyone's cuppa.

The ick: While a lot of the dramatic violence is off-screen, this is Ito, which means body horror. Contorted anatomy, mutations beyond the realm of physics, melty bodies, and characters in agony - it's kinda his thing. If looking at this isn't something you want to see, this title isn't for you.

Overall, while I would have liked a little more characterization and at times the pace can feel a little meandery, I felt the story super-fascinating and the art insane. I read it all in one night if that tells you anything. If you're looking for a story to get under your skin and never want to see spirals innocently again, this is for you.

5 spiralized sheep

About the Reviewer

website-FB-twitter
Selah Janel is a writer who is trying to start doing that again instead of reading manga all the time.

Selah's Manga Mania Reviews: Sleepy Princess in the Demon Castle, Vol.1 by Kagiji Kumanomata

Sleepy Princess in the Demon Castle, Vol. 1 

by Kagiji Kumanomata 

June 12, 2018-
176 pages
Genres: Slice of life, fantasy, comedy, supernatural
Shounen
Volumes: 8 (ongoing)
A captured princess just wants a good night’s sleep!

Imprisoned in the castle of the Demon King, all spoiled-sweet Princess Syalis dreams of is a good night’s sleep! Shhh...

Kidnapped by the Demon King and imprisoned in his castle, Princess Syalis is…bored.

She decides to while away the hours by sleeping, but getting a good night’s rest turns out to be a lot of work! She begins by fashioning a DIY pillow out of the fur of her Teddy Demon guards and an “air mattress” from the magical Shield of the Wind. The princess’s hapless demonic guards soon discover that their captive expects to be treated like, well, a princess. Things go from bad to worse—for her captors—when some of Princess Syalis’s schemes end in her untimely—if temporary—demise and she chooses the Forbidden Grimoire for her bedtime reading…

I love manga because sometimes I find a title that speaks to me on a cellular level, a title that fundamentally gets who I am.

So today we’re taking a look at Sleepy Princess in the Demon Castle. 

Obviously, this is my unofficial biography. 

The humans and demons (in this case think fantasy-type monsters of varying degrees) are at war and the demons kidnap Princess Syalis to have an upper hand. The princess could care less. She's only put out by the fact that it’s SO HARD to sleep well in the Demon Castle, you guys. So, she becomes a master at jail breaks...but only to get herself more personal comfort. Add in things like teddy bear demons, her making bedding from ghost shrouds, her accidentally dying a few times (she really puts the cleric through a lot), and I just...it’s hysterical. Syalis is so unaware of anything but her goal, and the demons just do not know how to take her.

The good: This is a cute, witty, hilarious read. All four volumes I've seen do not disappoint. What could be a tired gag is kept fresh from chapter to chapter, and there's some nice slow character work done. By volume four Syalis is starting to kinda have an inkling beyond her selfish whims (but not enough to detract from who she is) and the demons (even the king) realize they kinda don't want her to leave. There's also some nice comparison to game play, and the king always tries to give the hero who’s trying to rescue Syalis a fair chance (and it’s usually ruined by Syalis, herself). It’s a title that knows what it is and is comfortable sticking to what it does best.

The bad: For me, nothing. I could see if a reader wants something with a faster arc of a more serious narrative this may not work, but I love this take on the fantasy genre. Like anything else, some bits work better than others, but nothing feels slow or ineffective to me. 

The ick: Nothing overt or in your face. There are some pretty blatant innuendo and misunderstandings (the king misreads her request to hit her pressure points as seduction at one point), do this is probably a teen and up title. I find it all pretty hilarious, and there’s nothing graphic.

All in all, one of my favorite newer titles.

4.5 sheep

About the Author:

website-FB-twitter
Selah Janel is a writer who is trying to start doing that again instead of reading manga all the time.

Selah's Manga Mania: Dawn of the Arcana Vol. 1 by Rei Toma

Dawn of the Arcana Vol. 1
by Rei Toma (Author, Illustrator)
April 30, 2012
192 pages
Volumes: 13 (List of volumes)
English publisher: Viz Media
Genres: Fantasy, Romance novel
Publishers: Viz Media Shogakukan
Shōjo manga
Princess Nakaba of Senan is forced to marry Prince Caesar of the enemy country Belquat, tantamount to becoming a hostage. While Caesar is pleasing to the eye, he is also selfish and possessive, telling Nakaba outright: “You are my property.” With only her attendant Loki at her side, Nakaba must find a way to cope with her hostile surroundings, her fake marriage...and a mysterious power!

For those who like some adventure and lots of subplot with your possible romance, we have a great series to look at this week.

Dawn of the Arcana opens with Nakaba, a Senan princess forced into marrying Caesar, a Belquat prince to help the kingdoms actually get along. Whether this works or is a gesture for show is debatable. Nakaba and her Ajin (half human/half animal) servant Loki move to Belquat, and all sorts of intrigue develops. If this wasn’t enough, Nakaba also has the Arcana of time (in the past, those with Arcana powers were slaughtered, so obviously she keeps this quiet once she realizes that it’s a thing). 

There’s a LOT going on here. Like just so much. Almost too much. You have the struggles between countries and political coups going on within Belquat, there’s the actual question of Nakaba’s station because her red hair isn’t a desirable trait in that world, there’s the human vs. Ajin racism, her and Caesar not getting along then learning to love each other, and a love triangle between her, Caesar, and Loki, because of course.

 

Honestly, this hits a lot of issues that are relevant in today’s world, and it’s really interesting to see how they’re dealt with. The stereotypes and racism are somewhat obvious in a clunky fantasy world way, but in a genre that usually chooses high school love fantasies, this makes for an interesting read. Nakaba grows and has to balance all her feelings for people with opinions on the issues, as well as keep herself and those she cares about alive. I like that she isn’t completely automatically in love with Caesar at first, and vice versa.

There is real development going on there, and the political stuff takes time to unfold as well. Caesar and Loki are both portrayed as not perfect, which is refreshing. If anything, the Arcana stuff feels a little wedged in to me, but it’s still an interesting subplot. I need to catch up, but there are some interesting side characters that we meet as the cast journeys around, and all in all the worldbuilding isn’t bad. Everything has a distinct look, which I appreciate, and you can tell a lot of thought went into things.

Nakaba, herself, isn’t a naïve heroine or one that figures things out right away. She’s there in the thick of things, learning, getting things wrong, stumbling through the events, which I really like.

The Loki vs Caesar stuff admittedly tires me out, but it’s at least coming from a believable place. As far as ick, there isn’t really any unless you’re not into fantasy adventure violence.

If you want romance, yeah, of course it’s gearing up for that, but if you want consistent plot, it’s also got bucket loads of that, which makes for a fun fantasy adventure read.

3.5 sheep

About the Author:

website-FB-twitter

Selah Janel is a writer who is trying to start doing that again instead of reading manga all the time.

Selah's Manga Mania: Skip Beat!, Vol. 1 (Skip Beat! Graphic Novel) by Yoshiki Nakamura

Skip Beat!, Vol. 1 (Skip Beat! Graphic Novel) 

by Yoshiki Nakamura

August 27, 2013

184 pages

Genre: Comedy, romance Manga

Publisher: VIZ Media: Shojo Bea

Demographic: Shōjo

Volumes: 42

Kyoko knows she's not plain and uninteresting, no matter what Sho says. With the help of a little makeover, Kyoko's ready to exact her revenge. But first she needs to land an audition, and she sets her sights on the agency where Sho's lead rival works. Her persistence pays off, but her broken heart turns out to be a disadvantage. Kyoko has lost the will to love anybody, let alone fans she's never met. Can the agency see past this problem to Kyoko's true star potential?

Sometimes the right title just finds you and it is everything you ever wanted and needed but never realized. Skip Beat is one of my favorite titles, and it’s a unique blend of story, romance, character growth, and wackiness. There’s equal emotions and comedy here, and it all blends into something really special.

Kyoko Mogami is a sixteen-year-old girl who runs away the dude she’s in love with, Sho, to Tokyo where he tries to make it as a musician. She’s worked for his family for a while and they have a lot of history together. So, when he becomes famous, it becomes a massive betrayal when he dismisses and humiliates her, pretty much leaving her on her own far away from home after she left school and took multiple jobs to support him while he was trying to get started.

Any other title, this would be played as a sad, tragic thing and it would focus on getting them back together and reaching understanding.

In this series, Kyoko’s inner ‘pandora bos’ opens and all her inner rage is unleashed. She determines that the obvious course of action is to take revenge and become more famous than Sho. She walks into a talent agency with no experience to audition, catching the attention of the eccentric president when she claims she doesn’t believe in love. The president is all about love. What follows is a long-running series of events where Kyoko slowly trains and develops as an actress, makes multiple friends and enemies in the industry, and slowly develops feelings for her friend/mentor Ren Tsuruga, though they both fight it and he has secrets of his own.

Part rom-con, part I don’t even know what, what really makes this thing work are the characters. Kyoko starts off so spikey and angry, and slowly develops a sense of self through acting and begins to regain her empathy, it’s really a character arc to behold. She’s also fairly naïve and oblivious, which makes a lot of interactions (especially with Ren) super amazing. Ren also is something of a dark horse, and as more of his past is revealed other than just his acting ability, you really get two fantastic characters learning to deal with their emotions before they hopefully get together.  

There are great side characters along the way, and a lot of this series is just so funny. Not even in an unintended sense – there’s some great, great comedy here. There are a lot of fantastic mini-arcs that are just absorbing and you truly grow to feel for everyone in the cast. The pacing is pretty smooth, and it’s always fun to suddenly revisit certain people from volumes upon volumes ago. I also have no idea how accurate any of the entertainment industry stuff is in Japan, but it feels legit, and Kyoko learning her craft is given a really nice amount of time throughout the whole thing.

I started this one on a lark because of the subject matter, but it’s become one of my very favorite series.

The good: everything I just mentioned.

The bad: For me, nothing. Because it is long-running (we’re up to volume 40), it is a time investment, but one that’s well worth it. A lot of the subplots also take their time, so for some people, some bits may feel a bit draggy if you’re not into the subject matter covered.

The ick: I can’t really think of anything. Anything that might raise eyebrows is usually put there because it might (the Cain Siblings arc comes to mind), but it’s fully addressed and the characters’ feelings often mirror what presumably are the reader’s. There’s nothing over the top graphic or violent, though. 

Rating: 5 superstar sheep.

About the Author:

website-FB-twitter

Selah Janel is a writer who is trying to start doing that again instead of reading manga all the time.

Selah's Manga Mania: Idol Dreams, Vol. 1 by Arina Tanemura

Idol Dreams, Vol. 1

by Arina Tanemura

November 3, 2015

192 pages

Shojo Beat

Volumes: 4 (ongoing)

Genre: romance, YA, fantasy

Josei 

At age 31, office worker Chikage Deguchi feels she missed her chances at love and success. When word gets out that she’s a virgin, Chikage is humiliated and wishes she could return to the time when she was still young and popular. She takes an experimental drug that changes her appearance back to when she was 15. Now Chikage is determined to pursue everything she missed out on all those years ago—including becoming a star!

So one of the interesting things about English translations is that sometimes the ratings get a little jumbled. At least at my library, I’ve found Josei shelved with shojo and sometimes it doesn’t really matter. Other times, eeeeeeeeh. This series isn’t all that explicit, but the subject matter falls into the same kind of uncomfortable that Big and Thirteen Going on Thirty fall into. Yet somehow more so. This week, we take a look at Idol Dreams.

Chikage is an office worker and is 31. A lot is made of the fact that she’s mousey, an introvert, so of course she’s a virgin, because apparently getting de-hymenized is a cure-all for everything that ails ya. She feels embarrassed and alone, and reminisces about how popular and confident she was at 15, and how great it would be if she could be that age again. Through an old friend, she takes an experimental drug that zaps her back to 15 for a set amount of time each time she takes it. And she ends up inadvertently becoming a pop star because of course that’s a thing that happens.

So okay. While I don’t overtly despise this as much as Black Bird, this is also a hard one for me. I’ve made it through four volumes of this…thing, so let’s break it down point by point.

The good: The story itself, if divested from a lot of social issues, is not that bad. I like the interplay of 15-year—old Chikage accidentally stumbling into being an idol, the triangle set up between her and the two male idols she falls in with.

The bad: it’s also freaking creepy when your brain snaps back and you realize that this woman is actually 31 and is developing legit feelings for these boys. She thinks about them while at her office job. It’s kind of tempered with a nostalgic aspect, but still….lady, you are 31. You should not be dating minors, I don’t care how old you are after you take a pill.

The good: You see Chikage slowly try to resolve her adult life and relationships/exchanges as she has more positive interactions as a 15-year-old.

The bad: few of these people get that she’s talking about 15-year-old boys when she mentions relationships. Also, one of the two adult men she’s in a triangle with is kind of a jerk, and the other has a girlfriend but still carries a torch for her. This is the damn weirdest, most convoluted setup.

The good: you have the obligatory ‘oh no I’m changing back moments’ that are some fun comedy

The bad/eh: there’s really not a lot of them, though? A lot of this is more the emotional effects these experiences are having on her, and as of volume four I’m getting the vibe that she just wants to be 15 forever even though she has no one in her life to look out for her anymore and would basically be at the mercy of the music industry.

The other big problem: I get cultural differences, but can we just say that at this point in time, no one should be ashamed to be an office worker at 30. Some people strive to be that. Chikage is obviously making enough to live on her own, which is an achievement. So what if she’s an introvert? So what if she’s shy and a workaholic? She’s showing that she has good instincts in the publishing firm she works for as of volume four and that there are people who appreciate her. Really, to show that she’s a “loser” we get the obligatory comparison of her vs the stacked gorgeous coworker who goes through men and flirts her way through life.

I’m not saying either one are bad, btw. But they’re two very cliché types and they’re played in the worst possible way.

Plus there’s the whole loser if you’re a virgin thing. Seriously? It is 2018, do we not have any other cliché trope to toss around by now? Is sexual status still the be all end all? It just seems a really weird thing to make a core aspect of a character who is not determined to be a nun from birth, and it’s especially disappointing to see it used to negatively. 

The ick: Really, my biggest beef is that both Chikage plotlines suck you in…as separate things. If it wasn’t the same person, it would be fine. They could be cousins, sisters comparing notes and learning from each other, anything. I truly don’t get the need for the age changing other than it’s a trope often played for laughs. I enjoy both storylines, but the moment I remember they’re the same person or see Chikage at 15 thinking about her adult suitors or Chikage at 31 thinking about her teen suitors it just…ew. As a whole, I don’t find any of this romantic or uplifting. And I’d blame my age, but josei is kind of meant for my age bracket. Given that I’m within range of the lead character, I just find it all particularly a bit lazy and creepy. She’s not old. She’s not used up. She’s not a loser. If you reframed a lot of this there would be no need for her to take the de-aging pills. There’s no need as it is – she just needs some confidence and to be around some men who aren’t committed or aren’t jerks and to work in a publishing firm that appreciates her. Plus, you get the sense that she isn’t fully doing this for herself…or if she is she’s doing it to make other people like her or to get to a point where they will, which just plays into the whole ‘be a certain way so dudes will like you’ thing. So romantic, this title.

Rating: This is a hard one, because I do get invested in both aspects of the story. I think more fun is had with Chikage at 15, but I feel for older Chikage. If it wasn’t for the underlying creepiness of the story, I’d give it a much higher rating. As it is, I’m going to have to go with 2.5 sheep.

About the Author:

website-FB-twitter

Selah Janel is a writer who is trying to start doing that again instead of reading manga all the time.