S.Q. Eries's Blog, page 23

Manga Review: Dive!! Vol. 2

With the 2020 Tokyo Olympics around the corner, there’s bound to be an interest in sports manga about Olympic hopefuls. Dive!! is one such title, and you can read on for the review of Volume 2. (For reviews of other volumes, click here.)

Back Cover Blurb

As Tomoki’s natural talent for diving blossoms under the guidance of Coach Asaki, his relationships with the people around him sour. The growing rifts start to take a toll on him, worsening his struggle to nail the three-and-a-half somersault dive. But even with all of that going on, Tomoki has to regain his focus…because the trials for the Beijing training camp are fast approaching!

The Review

The Tomoki character arc continues with him reconciling with Ryou and Reiji and nailing the three-and-a-half somersault dive, just to fall apart when his girlfriend dumps him for his younger brother. It’s been clear from the beginning Tomo has no real affection for Miu, so the break-up is no surprise. The fact that his brother takes her adds drama, but where it goes off the deep end is how badly Tomo takes it. He never cared about Miu before so it’s difficult to believe he’d ditch practice and sulk in bed for two weeks because of her. Overall, Tomo displays an oblivious insensitivity toward others and a hypersensitivity to rejection that makes me want to slap him. Even with his “diamond eyes” talent on the verge of a breakthrough, he’s not at all appealing as a character.

Fortunately, about halfway through the volume, the focus shifts from Tomo to Okitsu. Unlike Tomo, who’s mainly struggling with his stupid self, Okitsu is dealing with MDC expectations, the burden of his grandfather’s unfulfilled legacy, and his identity as a village boy in the big city. While the Beijing trials is an important meet for all the athletes, for Okitsu, it’s also his debut into competitive diving and everything it entails. Okitsu’s outsider perspective and his choices make the usual who-will-hold-up-under-the-pressure-and-win narrative a bit more interesting.

However, the outcome of the training camp selection takes an odd turn with the abrupt introduction of the Okitsu family back problems. While this isn’t nearly as bad as Tomo’s post-breakup self-destruction, it’s puzzling the creators didn’t drop more hints about this potentially disabling problem. That aside, watching Okitsu return home and ponder the meaning of diving in his life was engaging. It was certainly more compelling than Tomo’s miserable angst.

Another oddity of this installment is that we never actually get to see the training camp. After all the hype and anguish deciding who gets to go, we never meet the famed Chinese Coach Sun and see him at work. It could’ve been an opportunity to see our characters in an international environment, but oh well.

As with the previous volume, this volume covers the same territory of the corresponding Dive!! anime episodes. However, thanks to the slower pace and the broader perspective provided by thought bubbles, the characters are more fleshed out and their motivations clearer than in the TV series. In the anime, Coach Asaki was especially one-dimensional: all no-nonsense coach and not much else. She’s still mostly that in the manga, but we also get a couple scenes and flashbacks where she expresses a different emotion.

Extras include the first four pages in color and translation notes.

In Summary

Tomo nails it in the diving department while crashing in the relationship department. This could’ve been good drama, but it feels forced and comes off ridiculously melodramatic. Thankfully, the story shifts to Okitsu, who’s traveling a more interesting path and faces challenges that are actual obstacles. There is also a fair amount of diving in this volume, but most of the focus is on decisions and interactions out of the water.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manga Review: The Royal Tutor Vol. 11

Rich, handsome young men, each with his own distinct personality…this type of bishounen cast is a staple in shojo manga. And if you like yours with a generous helping of chibi humor, you should definitely check out Higasa Akai’s The Royal Tutor. Read on for my review of Volume 11. (For my reviews of other volumes click here.)

Back Cover Blurb

Some unexpected guests to the royal palace have the princes on their toes! Between acting as gracious hosts and testing their language skills, what additional lessons will the prospective heirs to the throne learn from their visitors?

The Review

The previous volume ended with an intriguing scene of Rosenberg at Prince Eins’ residence. This volume opens with the continuation of that scene. The interplay between Eins and Rosenberg insinuates quite a bit about Eins’ reliance on the count. The Black Prince may have a flawless reputation, but the king’s concerns about his suitability for the throne are grounded in something quite real, judging from the anxiety both Rosenberg and Eins exhibit.

However, Akai-sensei remains coy about the specifics of the eldest prince’s fatal flaw and quickly shifts the focus back on the princes whose failings we are all too familiar with. Much of the early volumes were Heine’s individual and collective lessons for the princes. Now the fruits of that work manifest as Leonhardt entertains Fosein’s Prince Claude; Bruno receives his schoolmate Smerdyekov as a guest in Wienner; and Kai cheers on buddy Elmer in a grueling training exercise. Granted, they still have a ways to go, as evidenced by their dismal knowledge of the fairer sex in “My Ideal Princess!” but clearly their worlds are expanding as they forge and deepen bonds beyond their family circle.

Not that the other royal relatives are absent in this volume. Beatrix drops in on two chapters and cute Adele features largely in the Fosein state visit. The king and granny also make appearances as needed. While the characters do have a tendency to get carried away (as when Leonhardt discovers the true reason behind Prince Claude’s visit), family interactions remain characterized by genuine concern and warmth—with the exception of Eins, who always seems the odd prince out.

The volume concludes with both Kai and Bruno back in Wienner, improved from their time away yet having lost none of their affection for Heine or their kin. Things are looking well for Heine’s students, which casts an even darker shadow on Eins’ hidden struggle.

Extras include bonus manga on the inside cover, bonus story, and first page printed in color.

In Summary

This installment seems dedicated to showing the progress of the more socially awkward princes of the family. Licht has never had trouble in this department, so we have a collection of vignettes of Kai, Bruno, and Leonhardt interacting with members of the family and new friends. Most of it is light-hearted fun, even the state visit from the Fosein royals, but the chapters do demonstrate how Heine has strengthened them as competition for Prince Eins, whose loyal Rosenberg is likely to make a move to counter this development.

First published at The Fandom Post.

 

Light Novel Review: Saga of Tanya the Evil Vol. #05

The Saga of Tanya the Evil anime was a surprise favorite for me in 2017. With a title like that, I was almost too scared to give it a try, but conniving little Tanya turned out to be nothing like I anticipated. Yen Press has released Volume 05 of the light novel adaption, and you can read on for the review. (For reviews of other Tanya the Evil works, click here.)

Back Cover Blurb

Barely two months remain until winter, and opinion is split over whether the Empire should launch a full-scale offensive or rest until spring. Time is running out, and the General Staff can’t make up their minds. While everyone else is frozen with inaction, the Salamander Kampfgruppe under Tanya’s command is singled out for a mission that will ultimately decide the army’s course. As they face attacks from a seemingly relentless enemy that leave them without even time to sleep, will Tanya’s troops be able to hold out?

The Review

I’m not certain if Zen-sensei’s writing has improved or if I’ve just gotten used to his style, but Volume 5 is a much easier read than previous volumes. While Zen-sensei still has a propensity to be too light on backdrop details, he’s reined in his tendency to overexplain to the point of tedium. On top of that, the war narrative takes on intriguing twists and turns which exposes hitherto unseen aspects of Tanya’s character.

The volume begins with Tanya’s newly formed Salamander Kampfgruppe defending a salient on the Eastern Front. We’ve seen her personally leading her battalion before; now she’s  commanding multiple units from base headquarters. Although she’s giving orders from a completely different vantage, those who enjoy the tactical aspect of this series will continue to see Tanya leveraging the scant resources at her disposal to attain victory. In addition to countering guerrilla attacks, Tanya must also deal with the Federation soldiers they’re captured. What starts as a kind of dilemma leads to a massive perspective shift on the Eastern Front. Whereas the Empire’s other conflicts are purely military in character, Tanya makes the realization that the war against the Commies will also involve fighting propaganda with propaganda.

No sooner has the Salamander Kampfgruppe jelled as a cohesive fighting force than it gets disbanded. (As Tanya complains, “The higher-ups really just do whatever they want.”) Not only that, Tanya and the 203rd Aerial Mage Battalion get yanked from the Eastern Front and sent to take on the monster ship, RMS Queen of the Anjou. This arc has a lot of similarities to the previous northern ocean battles in that it involves submarines, ships, and the Commonwealth.  However, it differs in that the Commonwealth’s collaborator is not the Entente Alliance (although Mary Sue is present to go berserk against her father’s killer), but the Federation. The Commonwealth-Federation alliance is one between two mutually distrustful parties, and the lead up to their collaboration is an indicator of how desperate everyone’s become.

The other major difference is that the 203rd Aerial Mage Battalion suffers casualties. Tanya hasn’t lost anyone since the shovel training on the Rhine, which is astounding considering they’ve been in the thick of fighting on every front since. However, it’s because of this astounding record that the loss of nearly a quarter of the battalion hits so hard. von Lerghen’s accused Tanya of being an unfeeling monster before, but even though she doesn’t turn into a weepy mess, you can’t say she’s unaffected by her men’s deaths (which is probably why von Lerghen’s not spouting his usual von Degurechaff-is-abnormal criticism in this volume).

Then it’s back to the Eastern Front and a new Salamander Kampfgruppe. While the 203rd Aerial Mage Battalion stays with Tanya, the mages sent to replace her fallen men are all raw recruits. In fact, the majority of her new troops are green. Thus, Tanya’s not only with faced with the problem of repelling enemies but also the challenge of managing difficult-to-work-with personnel. As a former HR professional, she ultimately finds a way, but she can’t do a thing to stop her next enemy: winter.

Extras include map and fold-out illustration in color; appendixes of the history timeline and rough sketches; author afterword; and six black-and-white illustrations.

In Summary

A really wonderful installment here. In addition to a decent narrative pace compared to the bogginess in previous volumes, we get to see Tanya command multiple units and figure how to turn political differences into a weapon. But probably the most striking part of this volume is when the 203rd Aerial Mage Battalion encounters more than it can handle. She’s been accused of being an unfeeling monster before, but she’s strikingly human as she and her men mourn their fallen comrades.

First published at the Fandom Post.

 

 

 

Manga Review: Hatsu*Haru Vol. 5

Ah…high school romance. It is a staple of shojo manga, and Shizuki Fujisawa adds another title to this list with Hatsu*Haru. Read on for the review of Volume  5! (For reviews of previous volumes, click here.)

Back Cover Blurb

Kai just can’t shake his feelings for Riko, no matter how hard he tries (or how many other girls he dates). When it comes to first loves, though, Riko knows better than most how hard it can be to let things go. With Suwa and Akemi’s wedding fast approaching, will Riko be able to finally tell her most important people a heartfelt congratulations and move on?

The Review

The fourth volume ended with a tangle of misunderstandings. Apparently, Riko’s propensity for misreading situations is catching because one innocuous conversation between Takaya and Riko has exploded into a full-blown romance in Kai’s brain. Fortunately, Takaya and Ayumi realize what’s happened and set about clearing away Kai’s misperceptions—by having Ayumi pretend to be Takaya’s new girlfriend.

The characters are making a big deal out of literally nothing, and I probably would’ve found the situation tiresome if it weren’t for Ayumi. This series uses a lot of tropes (this volume contains the stereotypical summer homework and beach gatherings as well as a SECOND Riko-is-unwell-so-Kai-carries-her-home scene), and Fujisawa-sensei uses Ayumi to poke fun at oft used shoujo themes. In a conversation with Kai, she talks about romantic manga pairings; in another scene, she jokes about the “pretend relationship” trope that she and Takaya are undertaking. Although she can be intense, she’s upbeat and carefree for the most part, and the humor she brings in is a necessary counterbalance against the angst of our main couple.

Riko especially is a downer in this volume. If she’s not sighing over Suwa-sensei, she’s moping over the fact the Kai’s back to his playboy ways. And despite her increasing obsession with Kai, she has yet to recognize his crush on her even as she falls for him without realizing that she’s falling for him. Um… yeah. Riko’s being painted as dense, but her lack of self-awareness is pushing the boundaries of plausibility. Fortunately, Suwa-sensei gets hitched in this volume, effectively ending Riko’s romantic hopes with him, so hopefully this means that things can progress between her and Kai.

Extras include story-thus-far, embedded author’s notes, translation notes, and afterword. In addition, I dropped the packaging grade because the pages of my copy were cut too close to the edge and chopped off some words.

In Summary

A third pairing forms! Takaya/Ayumi isn’t the sweet innocence that is Miki/Kiyo and certainly not the prolonged yearning that characterizes Kai/Riko. Rather, these two have hooked up for the sake of getting Kai and Riko together. Even though the logic is shaky, Ayumi does a wonderful job of keeping scenes lively and fun.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manga Review: Barakamon Vol. 17

The contrast between city and rural life has been a source of entertainment since the time of Aesop’s fables. It remains a popular subject in manga and anime today, and joining the ranks of Silver Nina, Non Non Biyori, and Silver Spoon is Yen Press’ series Barakamon. Read on for my review of Volume 17! (For my reviews of previous volumes, click here.)

Back Cover Blurb

Spring is coming, but without Hiroshi, the villagers are in a bit of a funk. What will Handa-sensei do to cheer everyone up? Find out in Volume 17 of this hot ‘n’ hearty island comedy!

The Review

Handa’s a professional calligrapher and has spent a lot of effort (sort of) getting his calligraphy school started. Despite that, there’s no calligraphy at all in this installment of Barakamon. Rather, this volume is a collection of short episodes that poke fun at Handa’s immaturity and the folly of city folk.

However, there is one gag that runs throughout. Volume 16 focused primarily on Hiroshi’s departure from the island, and his absence is still keenly felt, especially by his mother. As a result, Handa gets the harebrained idea of becoming a Hiroshi substitute in Chapter 122, and ta-dah! One blond-dyed Handa for the duration of Volume 17. Obviously, it provides more fuel for the villagers to tease Handa, but Handa’s Hiroshi impersonations are pretty funny, too.

Then after a silly mini-mystery involving Handa’s refrigerator and two (ugly) stray cats, two college kids show up. Unlike previous visitors to the village, this aspiring idol and film student have no connection to Handa or any locals. They’ve come to make a documentary about rural life for a class assignment and are as intrusive as Kousuke was. They are also out of touch with reality, and most of the humor in this two-chapter arc stems from the disconnect between their idyllic notions of country life and actual Nanatsutake. Although Handa usually plays the part of the clueless city-slicker, this is a rare case where he’s more villager than not as he grudgingly hosts the students.

The volume then wraps up with two single-chapter stories. If you’ve ever wondered about squid-fishing, Chapter 126 will tell you more than you ever imagined about it. Even if you don’t care about squid, you get to see Handa interacting with a group of village men, which he doesn’t do often. And finally, Chapter 127 has all the Nanatsutake residents working together at the village’s cleanup event. “Working,” of course, is a relative term where Handa and the kids are involved, and the chapter is a stellar example of what happens when sensible Hiroshi isn’t around to keep everyone on task.

Extras include bonus manga, translation notes, and another installment of “Barakamon News.”

In Summary

There’s no major story arc or calligraphy in this installment. Rather it’s a hodgepodge of vignettes, ranging from a squid-fishing excursion to clean up day. Two Tokyo students briefly take over the clueless urbanite role when they traipse in for a class film project, but between cats raiding his fridge and his inability to cook for himself, Handa strongly continues as the village silly city slicker.

First published at The Fandom Post.

Manga Review: Everyone’s Getting Married Vol. 9

Most romances in Viz Media’s Shojo Beat line are targeted toward a high school audience, but Everyone’s Getting Married is actually aimed toward older readers. It’s twenty-something angst instead of teen angst, and you can read on for the review of Volume 9. (For the reviews of previous volumes, click here.)

Back Cover Blurb

Successful career woman Asuka Takanashi has an old-fashioned dream of getting married and becoming a housewife. After her long-term boyfriend breaks up with her to pursue his own career goals, she encounters popular newscaster Ryu Nanami. Asuka and Ryu get along well, but the last thing he wants is to ever get married. This levelheaded pair who want the opposite things in life should never get involved, except…

The Review

As you might guess from the cover art, this is the final installment of the series, and yes, Asuka and Ryu join the ranks of the married. However, the way this romance concludes is a real disappointment.

It opens with a promising start. Asuka tells Ryu they’re breaking up and refuses to change her mind. While Ryu’s stewing about this overseas, Kamiya makes a move to take Asuka home on a stormy night. Asuka’s emotionally vulnerable, and as Kamiya responds to that, you can feel the sparks flying between them. But Asuka can’t stop comparing Kamiya to Ryu, and the scene ends in a handshake. Personally, I think the comparison should drive her into Kamiya’s arms, but if she’s going to pass him up because she can’t get Ryu out of her head, then Ryu needs to do something spectacular to get her back.

Unfortunately, that spectacular effort doesn’t materialize. The most telling lines are Ryu saying, “To me, Asuka, you’re no less important than my work,” juxtaposed against Asuka’s thought, “Ryu is the most important.” Ryu finally returns for a visit but almost immediately gets orders to return to Washington so Asuka’s the one rushing to see him. Then he says that he’ll honor Asuka’s feelings—by focusing on work and waiting for her. (That’s no different than what he was already doing!) And even though there’s no proposal or promise of marriage, Asuka’s heart wavers toward him.

It gets worse. The story fast-forwards three years. Rio has changed her mind on marriage and is marrying Hiroki while Asuka, although she still desires marriage, doesn’t seem to have dated anyone since Ryu. Of course, Asuka and Ryu run into each other at the wedding. They haven’t kept in touch, and as they have their first conversation in three years, Ryu proposes to Asuka. One might argue that this is romantic because Ryu hasn’t been able to forget Asuka after three years. However, he also hasn’t done a thing for her in three years. He says he focused on work for her sake, but those words ring hollow considering how he put work before her throughout their courtship. Yet despite having been ignored three years, Asuka readily accepts the proposal, no hesitation.

The last chapter depicts the couple’s “happy ending.” Just as Ryu’s changed his mind on marriage, Asuka’s changed her mind on what she wants her married life to look like, and somehow everything beautifully works out. Even so, Ryu keeps doing stuff that makes me want to scream at Asuka to call the wedding off.

Extras include story thus far, bonus manga, and author’s afterword.

In Summary

The series concludes as most romances do with a joyful wedding. However, Ryu doesn’t put in the effort to earn Asuka at all. A male lead who completely drops out of a woman’s life for three years and returns to the scene expecting her to marry him isn’t at all compelling. As for Asuka, I find myself wondering about her judgment rather than being happy for her.

First published at The Fandom Post.

 

Manga Review: Saga of Tanya the Evil Vol. #05

The Saga of Tanya the Evil anime was a surprise favorite for me in 2017. With a title like that, I was almost too scared to give it a try, but conniving little Tanya turned out to be nothing like I anticipated. Yen Press has released Volume 05 of the manga adaption, and you can read on for the review. (For my reviews of other Tanya the Evil works, click here.)

Back Cover Blurb

As hinted at by Colonel Lergen’s ‘thoughtful’ words of advice, an attack on Dacia has been ordered by the Empire, and the fearsome power of the new mage battalion is deployed. Determined to unleash the power of modernity upon the enemy, Tanya prepares her freshly polished human shields for an all-out battle…There’s no holding back with a resume-worthy achievement on the line!!

The Review

The Dacian invasion is an entertaining arc in the novel and the anime, and the manga brings its own delightful spin to this material. These chapters are all about disparity—the contrast between Tanya’s ecstatic response and Lergen’s horrified one, the difference between the size of the Dacian forces and the 203rd Aerial Mage Battalion, and above all, the imbalance between the might of a modern military and an antiquated one. The Dacian army, despite its overwhelming numbers, is a joke, and Tanya beats it down accordingly while the narrative provides engaging explanations of the evolution of military strategies and equipment.

A unique element of the manga is that it provides the thoughts of the people around Tanya. The novel keeps to one perspective at a time while the anime generally only shows characters’ reactions to Tanya’s actions. The manga, on the other hand, shows the thoughts of multiple characters at once. In doing so, the manga delivers a clarity that isn’t available in the anime and novel. For instance, Tanya’s interpretation of Visha’s reluctance to deliver the warning to the Dacian capital and the actual reason behind Visha’s reluctance. Tojo-sensei often employs this contrast in thoughts to illustrate the disconnect between Lergen and Tanya and generate humor at the same time.

The thrashing of the Dacians is a fun romp, from the mages’ domination of the battlefield to Tanya’s reprimand of Weiss to the obliteration of the Daicans’ arms factory. Once they returns to base, however, the pace slows significantly as the narrative delivers the political and strategic repercussions of Dacia’s failed invasion. While this section isn’t nearly as engaging, it does convey the information necessary to set the stage for the war chronicle’s next clash, and it does so with a clarity and brevity far superior to the original novel. Once again, I’m grateful to Tojo-sensei for such a brilliant interpretation of Tanya’s story.

Extras include character introductions, detailed glossary of terms after each chapter, and an interview with voice actress Aoi Yuki from the Tanya anime. As with previous interviews, Yen Press used a teeny font for those pages, so reading is hard on the eyes.

In Summary

Unlike the previous volume, where Tanya’s subordinates are struggling to survive her training regimen, the 203rd Aerial Mage Battalion gets a lucky break when the Principality of Dacia declares war. Normally, taking on three divisions is a daunting task, but Tanya turns an enemy invasion into an amusing lesson on the tremendous difference between modern and pre-modern military technology.

First published at the Fandom Post.

 

 

 

Manga Review: Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts Vol. #4

The theme of love transcending appearances is a popular one in fairy tales, and Yen Press’ Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts fits that genre. The fantasy manga tells of the relationship between a girl and her beastly fiance, and you can read on for the review of Volume 4. (For reviews of other volumes, click here.)

Back Cover Blurb

Confronted with yet another challenge to prove she is worthy to become queen, Sariphi must now entertain the mysterious Duke Galois upon his visit to the palace. But will learning niceties and dance steps be enough to win over the duke, who is rumored to be a fearsome warrior with a burning hatred for all things human? Or has Sariphi been set up to fail her way out of the palace and the beast realm for good?

The Review

Now that the detour with Ilya is over, the story returns to Sariphi’s trials to become queen. Unlike the first trial, the second has nothing to do with magic. Rather, this one is about surmounting the prejudices humans and beastkind hold against each other. Duke Galois, a powerful lord and a military leader in the old wars against humans, has requested to meet the candidate for queen, and Chancellor Anubis declares that properly hosting this guest is Sariphi’s next test.

Previous volumes have hinted at Anubis’ opposition to Sariphi as queen. This volume indicates that he’s not merely advising the King against Sariphi but actively working to undermine her. While he has his reasons for doing so, his attempt to make Sariphi fail in a touchy political environment seems out of character for the otherwise sensible chancellor. In addition, Duke Galois’ visit is named as a trial when the palace learns that he’s coming; it’s not part of Anubis’ original “Trials to be Queen.” With Anubis adding tests as he pleases, the story seems as if it will wind up a struggle of Sariphi versus Anubis’ plots.

In this case, the ordinary girl must quickly learn the skills required of a beastperson queen. Watching friends Cy, Clops, and Amit bring her up to speed is fun, but when Sariphi actually has to greet the duke, Tomofuji-sensei draws Sariphi with a bizarre expression that makes her look hypnotized. And when Sariphi gives the duke a tour of the palace, the explanation of its layout is helpful but feels rather belated, considering we’ve been at this palace for four volumes now.

Much the way Naruto wins over his adversaries by sheer force of character, Sariphi does the same with the duke. However, the final outcome of this arc contains a major contradiction. At the outset, Leo tells Sariphi that the duke is stronger and more powerful than he is, and when Galois arrives, Anubis remarks that he’s someone indispensable to the kingdom. Yet at the end of the chapter, Anubis dismisses him as a person who can be easily replaced. While these sudden changes in opinion make for dramatic scenes, they don’t make a whole lot of sense.

Extras include embedded author’s notes about the characters and the bonus manga, “The Beast Princess and the Regular King.”

In Summary

The story shifts back to Sariphi proving her suitability to be queen consort with her second trial: acting as hostess to a hostile guest. This arc gives Sariphi a chance to show off her spunk, determination, and charm as well as the opportunity to dress up. However, like much of this series, the politics as well as the arbitrary addition of tasks to Sariphi’s trial list don’t make a whole lot of sense.

First published at the Fandom Post.

 

 

 

Manga Review: Hatsu*Haru Vol. 4

Ah…high school romance. It is a staple of shojo manga, and Shizuki Fujisawa adds another title to this list with Hatsu*Haru. Read on for the review of Volume  4! (For reviews of previous volumes, click here.)

Back Cover Blurb

School can’t teach you everything, especially when it comes to love! No matter how much a guy studies, it still won’t be enough to turn around his terrible luck with romance! Just as an apple can never return to the tree it fell from, is unrequited love destined to never be reciprocated?

The Review

Volume 3 ended with Kai essentially confessing his feelings to Riko. When Volume 4 continues the scene, that confession goes right over Riko’s head. Kai even takes the agonizing step of clarifying his feelings, but Riko still doesn’t get it. As a reader, this is a letdown because so much tension and emotion built up only for Kai’s efforts to go to waste because Riko is—as Ayumi puts it—“denser than a black hole.”

Thus, we have a lot of drama that results in absolutely no progression in Kai and Riko’s relationship. However, even though Riko doesn’t pick up on Kai’s feelings, Ayumi does. Deciding that Kai’s genuinely in love with Riko, she decides to give her support, and in no time, she winds up on Kai’s Romantic Endeavors Support Group with Miki, Tarou, and Takaya.

The Support Group gets their next big chance to push Riko and Kai together when Kai, Miki, Kagura, and Kiyo fail their exams. Tarou proposes a study camp at his family’s temple, and the same eight participants from the amusement park date join in. Although the lack of progress between Riko and Kai is frustrating, the interactions in the group scenes are quite fun. Having Ayumi actively take Kai’s side is also an improvement. Before, she was an outsider whose out-to-get-a-scoop tendencies were annoying and intrusive; now, she’s pretty much part of the circle and trading private jokes with the others.

There’s only so long Fujisawa-sensei can get away with Riko not picking up on Kai’s feelings, especially with the growing number of people aware of his crush. So Kai hits yet another bump in the road when he misinterprets a moment between Riko and Takaya and concludes that they’re mutually attracted. This leap is nearly as implausible as Riko’s ultra denseness, especially since the subject of Riko and Takaya’s conversation is Kai. Ultimately, it feels like an excuse to put Kai through the agony of imagining his crush with his best friend (although it is entertaining).

Extras include story-thus-far, embedded author’s notes, 10-page extra chapter, and afterword.

In Summary

Ayumi switches roles from being a snooping reporter to actively supporting Kai’s endeavors to win Riko’s heart. This adds an extra element of fun to the group efforts to bring Riko and Kai together. Unfortunately, the reasons preventing pair from getting on the same page are getting weirder and weirder, and I’m starting to feel more frustration toward their romance than anything else.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manga Review: Dive!! Vol. 1

With the 2020 Tokyo Olympics around the corner, there’s bound to be an interest in sports manga about Olympic hopefuls. Dive!! is one such title, and you can read on for the review of Volume 1!

Back Cover Blurb

Tomoki has long been passionate about the blink-of-an-eye performances that take place off the ten-meter diving platform. But as a member of the Mizuki Diving Club, he’ll need more than passion when his team’s lackluster record leaves them on the outs with their sponsors! With a new coach and a deadline to qualify for the Olympics in one short year, Tomoki and his teammates compete for glory with the fate of their diving club riding on their shoulders!

The Review

DIVE!! is a title that at first glance seems similar to the swimming anime Free! It’s a sports series whose main cast consists of young male athletes in swim wear. However, there are major differences. One, the main character, Tomoki Sakai is a second year in middle school. Two, there’s no teamwork dynamic to the plot. Most sports series center on a team sport (i.e., Haikyu!! and Kuroko’s Basketball) or the team version of a sport (i.e., Bamboo Blade and Tsurune). The set up for Dive!! is more along the lines of Yuri on Ice, where success and failure depends upon the individual, and although multiple athletes train in the same club, they’re ultimately rivals, not teammates.

The club that our main character trains at is the Mizuki Diving Club (MDC), a facility under the direct management of sporting goods manufacturer Mizuki. MDC has been operating at a loss, and the company’s new president is looking to shut it down. If MDC wants to stick around, it needs to produce results.

That’s where Kayoko Asaki steps in. She’s an America-trained diving coach who also happens to be the granddaughter of the previous Mizuki company president. Determined to keep the club open, she abruptly shows up as a new MDC coach and challenges its male divers to qualify for  Japan’s Olympic Diving Team. The club’s star, high schooler Youichi Fujitani, immediately accepts the challenge. However, Tomoki, who’s a mediocre diver, is also inspired to strive toward that goal.

Tomoki falls under the category of the undiscovered talent. Because Coach Asaki recognizes his hidden potential and Tomoki is willing to endure her tough regimen, his abilities improve by leaps and bounds. While the diving training scenes are kind of interesting, Tomoki’s character arc is less compelling. He comes off as an uncaring jerk toward his girlfriend, and his overly emotional response to the backlash of other MDC divers (who have flagrantly rejected Coach Asaki’s training regimen) feels like drama for the sake of drama. As such, I don’t feel particularly invested in him as a character.

The other two  MDC primary divers are fortunately a bit more interesting. Club star Youichi Fujitani is the son of divers, and although he lives up to his thoroughbred pedigree by winning competitions and inspiring MDC members, he resents the expectations heaped onto him. Meanwhile, Shibuki Okitsu is the club’s wild man. Unlike the others, he’s not interested in diving to compete or even diving in a pool. While this ocean diver is intriguing, he’s drawn more like a man in his prime than a high school teen.

If you’re familiar with the DIVE!! anime, the manga covers the same territory, but at a slower pace. This allows readers to get a better grasp of character arcs. For instance, the flashback to Youichi’s diving accident more clearly establishes his bitterness than the anime does. In addition, the frame by frame illustrations break down the split second diving acrobatics that my eyes couldn’t keep up with in the TV series.

Extras include the first four pages in color and translation notes.

In Summary

If you’re interested in learning about the sport of high diving, this manga will teach you a few things. If you enjoy illustrations of fit young men in Speedos, you’ll get that, too. While the main character isn’t particularly lovable, this story of young athletes striving to make the Olympic Team does have timely appeal with the 2020 Tokyo Olympics fast approaching.

First published at the Fandom Post.