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Manga Review: Agents of the Four Seasons: Dance of Spring Vol. #1

The four seasons are a timeless subject in art and literature. In Agents of the Four Seasons: Dance of Spring, this classic theme gets an update in a setting with modern technology and extremists. Read on for the review.

Back Cover Blurb

At first, there was only Winter. But this lonely existence was too much for them to bear, so Winter split off part of themself to bring forth Spring. But the earth wished for Summer and Autumn as well, and with their creation marked the birth of the four seasons. The changing of seasons became the duty that fell upon humanity, and those tasked with the transition are known as “Agents of the Four Seasons.” This is the bittersweet story of Hinagiku and Sakura- Agent of Spring, and her devoted bodyguard who set out on a journey to usher in Yamato’s first spring in ten long years.

The Review

After the gods of Yamato created the seasons, four humans were given the duty of transitioning them. Known as the Agents of the Four Seasons, each takes their turn to travel throughout the land to summon their season. However, ten years ago, Hinagiku, the Agent of Spring, went missing, and her season appeared with her. Now she’s returned to bring spring to Yamato once more, but Hinagiku is no longer the person she was…

The setting of the series is a whole lot like modern Japan, with helicopters, cars, television, and well-established government bureaucracies. The thing that makes Yamato different is that seasons will not change unless an agent performs their song and dance. Although these agents have godlike powers, they are not immortal. They wear outfits reminiscent of traditional Japanese garments, and they dance with folding fans. They also have support staff, and chief among these people is the Agent’s Guard. Although Guards wear modern clothing, they wield katana-style swords. And because Guards must stay close to their charges, their relationships are also close, but whether the tone of that relationship is adoring or prickly depends on the pair.

Thus far, it is unclear how one becomes an Agent. What is clear, however, is that once an agent is installed, transferring that duty to another is either impossible or very difficult. So when Hinagiku disappeared, Yamato only experienced summer, autumn, and winter.

Volume 1 begins with Hinagiku and her Guard, Sakura, heading to a mountain so Hinagiku can call the spring for the first time since her disappearance ten years prior. In the midst of that wintry landscape, they encounter a 12-year-old girl who has no memory of spring. The depictions of nature in this manga are top-notch – not surprising for a series about seasons. The illustrations of winter giving way to spring as well as Hinagiku’s summoning dance are beautiful. However, following the narrative is rough.

It’s immediately obvious from Hinagiku’s oddly paused speech that something is off about her. However, the 12-year-old kid is also behaving weirdly because of her own circumstances. On top of figuring out what’s going on with these two characters, readers have to absorb all the background about the Agents of the Four Seasons. It’s a lot to process at once, and Hinagiku’s drawn out dialogue bubbles don’t help.

After two chapters of Hinagiku, the focus shifts to Rosei, the Agent of Winter. As it turns out, he was also caught up in the incident ten years prior. On one hand, his perspective clarifies that this trauma is at the center of the story and is what binds Rosei and Hinagiku. However, the additional details mentioned by him and his Guard bring their own confusion. In chapter 2, Sakura states that “Hinagiku died” because she failed to protect her during the incident. But Rosei and his Guard talk about how Hinagiku was “kidnapped.” So was Hinagiku killed and then resurrected? Or is the current Hinagiku a replacement? Or was Sakura just speaking metaphorically?

At any rate, we have a beautifully scarred cast, and I’m curious enough to read on to find out what actually happened to Hinagiku and if/how the other characters will move beyond their guilt and regrets.

Extras include creator afterwords.

In Summary

The Agents of the Four Seasons is beautifully drawn, poetic, and melancholy. Unfortunately, its first chapters are confusing. The world-building is complicated, and the special circumstances of Hinagiku and the one-off character in the opening scene make for information overload. However, if you can absorb it all, you may be intrigued by the mystery of what happened to the Agent of Spring ten years prior.

First published at The Fandom Post.

Manga Review: If the Villainess and Villain Met and Fell in Love Vol. #2

There’s been a lot of variations on the Villainess trope, and If the Villainess and Villain Met and Fell in Love is the latest such series released from Yen Press. Read on for my review of Volume 2. (For other reviews of this series, click here.)

Back Cover Blurb

Nival’s wind Aria has gone berserk, threatening Brigitte and all her classmates! Just as her no-name spirit shows signs of awakening, Yuri leaps in to save her from the rampaging spirit! Until now, describing their relationship as confrontational would’ve been putting it lightly― especially after their rocky introductions. But in the aftermath of the incident Bridgitte begins to see Yuri in a different light. And as her feelings for him grow, could the once-insurmountable distance between them be shrinking…?

The Review

Volume 1 ended with a cliffhanger as the class president’s contracted spirit goes on a rampage during class. The emergency sets up a situation where multiple things get accomplished. First, Yuri displays his feelings about Brigitte by running to her aid – no surprise there. Second, after all the hints Yuri’s undine dropped about Brigitte’s supposed no-name spirit, we get a glimpse of its true nature. Third–and most unexpectedly–Class President Nival goes from being Prince Joseph’s loyal tool to Brigitte’s earnest admirer. Seriously, he’s following Brigitte like a lovesick puppy throughout the latter half of the book.

I don’t believe the story is headed into reverse harem territory. Nor is Nival a realistic contender for a love triangle. His purpose seems mainly to give Yuri a reason to show his jealous side. Because even though Brigitte thinks Nival is simply a clingy friend, Yuri recognizes the other boy’s real feelings toward her and is not happy about it. Thus we get another character to make our couple’s romance arc more interesting, even if he isn’t a rival for Yuri. In the meantime, Brigitte is slowly but steadily falling for Yuri, though she would never admit it.

Developing that aspect of the story is all good and fine (this is a romance, after all), but I found it strange there wasn’t more conjecture about the display of Brigitte’s power, which her instructor described as “splendid, refined magic.” As a reader, I’m dying to know the true nature of Brigitte’s contracted spirit, and it frustrates me that the characters aren’t equally curious. Because this is only Volume 2, I realize the mystery’s probably going to drag a while longer. But you would think that after Brigitte quells a life-threatening incident, the school or her status-obsessed family would bother reevaluating her abilities.

Anyway, in rescuing her classmates, Brigitte decidedly takes herself out of the villainess category. But the one who firmly assumes that mantle is Lisa. She’s definitely the character the creators want you to hate, but her motivations are difficult to pin down. She’s certainly out to make Prince Joseph hers, yet at the same time, she’s frustrated that her attempts to charm Yuri into loving her haven’t worked. If she was scheming to pass herself off as a good girl, she blows the act by publicly deriding Brigitte. And she’s kinda stupid. I’m hoping that will be more substance to her, but for now she’s coming off as an emotional idiot.

Extras include the first two pages printed in color, bonus text story, and creator afterward.

In Summary

Brigitte’s latent powers save the day! Weirdly, it only earns her a somewhat improved social life and the heart of the class president. While these relational elements help push along the romantic arc between Brigitte and Yuri, it would be nice if the school and Brigitte’s family attempted to bring more insight on her mysterious contracted spirit.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manhwa Review: What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim? Vol. 6

Lots of Korean web comics and web fiction are successfully making the jump from the Internet to traditional media nowadays. One of these is What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim?. Read on for the review of Volume 6 of the manhwa. (For other reviews of this series, click here.)

Back Cover Blurb

After finally overcoming their past, Youngjun and Miso are ready to take on the future as a married couple. But one final obstacle looms between them and a happily ever after―the meeting of the in-laws!

The Review

It’s obvious from the cover design that Miso and Youngjun tie the knot in this volume. However, the first third of the book focuses mainly on the supporting cast. First, sidekick Yusik, who has been the butt of so many jokes, gets his own happy ending. While I’m glad he reconciles with his ex, it’s rather abrupt because the interaction leading up to it is mostly them bickering about the things that caused them to divorce in the first place. Second is Miso’s aged rock guitarist dad going to meet Youngjun’s parents to discuss wedding arrangements. As a financially strapped musician, he’s intimidated at the prospect of mingling with the ultra-wealthy, and not surprisingly, the narrative turns his efforts to compensate for what he lacks into comedy. However, the story also throws in an unexpected twist that breaks all the social barriers down.

The focus switches back to the main couple for the next third of the volume. Interestingly, the story doesn’t end at the wedding. It actually skips from wedding preparations to a month after the ceremony when Miso realizes that she’s pregnant. This is to stir up a last bit of drama as Miso misinterprets Youngjun’s feelings about children. However, it never really gets fraught. This far into the story, you know they’ll work it out, and so this romance comes to its happy conclusion.

The final third of the volume consists of two bonus arcs. The first is a glimpse of young Miso accompanying Youngjun to a corporate event during their time in the United States. The second arc fast forwards nine years into the couple’s marriage. Through the perspective of their son, we get to see what kind of family life Miso and Youngjun have created as well as get a peek at what happens with Yusik and his wife.

Extras include an afterword, bonus art, illustration gallery, artist’s note, and translation notes.

In Summary

Our couple has been through all sorts of trials, and they finally arrive at their happy conclusion. And not just them – even Yusik and the members of Miso’s hard-luck family get their own happy ends (although some aspects are a stretch). The last chapters do include some last misunderstandings for tension, but overall it’s an everything-ends-well finale.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Light Novel Review: Wolf and Parchment: New Theory Spice and Wolf Vol. 9

Holo and Lawrence of the Spice and Wolf light novel series have reached their happy ending, but for those who haven’t gotten enough of the Spice and Wolf world, creator Hasekura has a spinoff series: Wolf and Parchment. Read on for the review of Volume 9. (For reviews of other volumes, click here.)

Back Cover Blurb

Preparations for the ecumenical council have begun in earnest as Col and his companions think about who they should recruit to their cause. They will need all the help they can get to right the Church’s wrongs, and there might be no better place to start than the imperial city of Estatt, as the archbishop who rules over it could be instrumental in making the emperor their ally. There’s just one problem―an imposter claiming to be the Twilight Cardinal has appeared just outside of Estatt and declared the city’s cathedral a place of vice and greed. They have no idea what the imposter’s goal is and even worse, Col isn’t sure he can prove he’s the real Twilight Cardinal…

The Review

Col and company have been journeying further south, and the story now takes them to Estatt and Ohlburg, towns well beyond the original Spice and Wolf world map. So it’s no longer mountains and snow that our characters are traveling through, but swamps and humidity. As to the purpose of this next leg of their trip, it is twofold.

First, with the Ecumenical Council coming up, Col needs allies. When he first got word of the Council in Winfield, it sounded like he simply needed to get to the mainland ASAP to present his arguments. Now, the situation is shaping into a less time-sensitive but much more political fight. The narrative provides an info dump on how the current Empire came to be, why the Emperor’s support would be valuable to the Twilight Cardinal’s cause, and how Col might access the Imperial court through the seven prince-electors who put the Emperor in power. And one of those prince-electors is the Archbishop of Estatt.

The second reason for heading to Estatt is that someone claiming to be the Twilight Cardinal is denouncing the Church in that very city.

The first part of the book is a lot of conjecture about this Twilight Cardinal and his ultimate goal. As Col and company investigate Ohlburg, the cult-like shantytown the impersonator has created in the swamp outside Estatt, Col is confronted with the power that his name apparently commands. He does a lot of growing up as he comes to grips with the role he must assume by stepping onto the world stage.

Col and Myuri’s sleuthing takes them through the tunnels outside Ohlburg, into the library of Estatt, and down to the catacombs beneath the Cathedral. While this mystery is engaging, when Col ultimately figures out the truth behind the impersonator, it’s a bit of a letdown. He’s not the first to figure out what’s going on with this scammer; if anything, he’s late to the game. A ton of people know the truth, and the real issue at hand is how to resolve the situation without the victims of the scammer becoming collateral damage.

Thus, the last half of the book has our characters devising a nonviolent solution and putting it into play. As for their scheme, it’s a stretch in many ways. The initial description of Estatt and Ohlburg includes a suspiciously large amount of details about topography, so it’s no surprise when those elements play a key role in the final resolution. What is surprising is the scope and number of people involved. Col just happened to have sent a letter to Ludward’s mercenary company prior to initiating their investigation, so his group is conveniently available when they need to fabricate a disaster. The plan also requires getting the cooperation of both Estatt’s Church and the swindler group in a really short period of time. Most disappointingly, after pages and pages of evaluating options and laying things out, readers don’t actually get to see the action play out. The narrative follows Col, who is hanging out away from the chaos for dramatic purposes, and he only hears about the progression of the plan via messages.

Extras include the first eight pages printed in color, a world map, five black-and-white illustrations, and an afterword.

In Summary

Col has an imposter! It’s proof of the influence he’s earned, and the situation forces him to mature as a character. However, for all the hype about figuring out the imposter’s motives, their investigation feels like a letdown when Col discovers how many people actually know the truth. Moreover, the narrative doesn’t actually show their large-scale solution playing out in real-time.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manga Review: Saga of Tanya the Evil Vol. #24

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 24 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

The Imperial Southern Continent Expeditionary Army Corps finally faces reality―their manpower and supplies won’t sustain their rapid advances much longer. And when the Imperial Army’s weak spot is exposed, an experienced commander like de Lugo will be quick to push his advantage and pin them down. Romel and Tanya fought like rabid dogs on the offense, but how will they fare when they’re backed into a kennel?!

The Review

The final showdown between Republican General de Lugo and the Empire’s Romel takes up the entirety of this volume. It gets off to a slow start with a bunch of narrative explaining the groundwork behind the Republican counterstrike before the fighting actually erupts. The action then begins at sea with the Imperial Navy getting pushed hard by the newer warships loaned to the Republicans. While the sea battle images are pretty cool, the flow of the fight is hard to follow because distinguishing between the two navies is difficult.

Things get a lot easier to follow when we switch to land. Romel had expected to encounter the Republican Army as dispersed units; instead, they’re overwhelmed by a unified force. This upset is shown through the perspectives of Romel, the elite mage Deborah, and an extremely green tank battalion commander. From the newbie’s field promotion to captain to Deborah’s frantic assessments of the battlefield, the Imperial forces are clearly suffering a beat down, and the illustrations do a wonderful job conveying the chaos among rank-and-file as well as providing a theater-wide view of the clash.

Interestingly, Tanya isn’t caught up in this mess. Thanks to proactively offering a night recon, she and her battalion unknowingly avoid de Lugo’s trap. And because hers is an elite force, once Tanya realizes what’s happened, she’s perfectly equipped to ruin the Republicans’ plans.

If you love the mages of the 203rd, you will love these pages. The members of the battalion strike some really nice action poses as they obliterate the Republicans’ best mages in a surprise attack. In fact, many of these pages have no text; they simply let the visuals do the talking.

Of course, things can’t be a complete cakewalk in a conflict of this scale. The mage battle culminates in an epic dogfight between Vianto and Tanya, one that requires Tanya to unleash the power of her Type 95 orb. We’re guided through the showdown via the commentary of Tanya’s subordinates, but here too, the creator dispenses with text in many places and simply lets the drawings tell the story.

Thus ends the Southern Continent arc. I’m a little sad to see it end as Romel was such a big, fun personality. Worse, conflict in the East looms in Tanya’s future.

Extras include world map, battle log thus far, character introductions (in ridiculously small font), profile for the 203rd Battalion, country profiles, profile of the Imperial Southern Continent Expeditionary Army Corps, status of each country (also in ridiculously small font), and chapter glossaries (although the referenced chapter numbers appear to be incorrect).

In Summary

If you want war scenes, this is pretty much cover-to-cover war scenes. From naval engagements to ground warfare to dogfights in the sky, Volume 24 provides a range of battlefields as well as clear explanations of the flow of the conflict. And when Tanya’s group takes the spotlight, they show why they’re the best of the best. It’s a spectacular end to the 203rd‘s tour of duty in the Southern Continent!

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manga Review: The Small-Animallike Lady Is Adored by the Ice Prince Vol. 1

Princes in fairy tales often fall for a heroine’s devastatingly good looks.  But how about a prince who falls for the heroine’s hamster-like qualities? That’s the premise of the rom-com The Small-Animallike Lady Is Adored by the Ice Prince. Read on for the review of Volume 1.

Back Cover Blurb

I’m Liliana, the daughter of an earl, and I’m in a terrible bind. For some reason, when the “Ice Prince,” Prince William, hosted a party to find his bride, I was the lucky guest he chose! Except…living a life as royalty is just about the last thing I want. So my goal is to break off my engagement―the sooner the better! But why is it that day by day, His Highness’s attitude only grows sweeter…?

The Review

16-year-old Liliana is a bright noblewoman who loves eating tasty food and loves her family. She also wants to marry for love. So when she is summoned to a matchmaking ball arranged for Crown Prince William, also known as the Ice Prince, she wants no part of him. Thus, she does all she can to avoid attention – and unexpectedly winds up as his fiancée. Liliana seems doomed to a loveless marriage with the unsmiling prince. That is, until William glimpses Liliana chowing down on dessert…

Romances starring an ice prince-type lead are commonplace. Romances starring a heroine who essentially resembles a hungry pet, not so much. But that is the female lead for the (very descriptive) title The Small-Animallike Lady Is Adored by the Ice Prince.

I actually feel kind of sorry for this main character. Carefree though Liliana is, she’s intelligent and, when duty demands it, hard-working. She’s also fairly adept at navigating difficult social situations. However, for the romance part of the story, her appeal is reduced to that of a cute pint-sized glutton.

The way the story goes is that neither William nor Liliana want to get married. But William’s position as Crown Prince demands he take a wife, so he selects Liliana as the least unappealing of the options presented to him. And once he makes his choice, Liliana’s stuck, unable to defy royal decree.

Things take an unexpected turn when Liliana’s weakness for food gets the better of her, and William catches her indulging her appetite in a very unladylike way. For reasons explained in the latter portion of the book, William views women as untrustworthy nuisances. However, in that instant of gluttony, Liliana ceases to be a woman in William’s eyes; rather, he sees her as a kind of adorable animal (think squirrel or hamster).

With that shift in perspective, he treats her accordingly, feeding her by hand and patting her on the head. Unsurprisingly, his behavior perplexes Liliana (and everyone else) and increases her determination to put him off. But all those attempts, whether talking about nose hair or getting William’s younger brother José to oppose the match, only get him more attached to Liliana.

Thus, these feelings are more affectionate/territorial than romantic, and they are fairly one-sided in the first volume. Because this is a romance, Liliana will have to develop feelings for William, and at this point, it is unclear how that will happen. William may be a master of pen and sword, but he’s overly serious and terrible at conveying and understanding emotions. His stunted relational intelligence is compounded by the fact that he’s shunned the opposite sex for nearly his entire life. Some of the funniest interactions are between William and his longtime friend Daniel, the normie in William’s life who has to explain to him such common sense as why a lady might be freaked out if he pulls her onto his lap.

Aside from William, there are two other princes, one engaged and one not. Liliana also has two brothers who are popular with the ladies. As such, I’m guessing other couples will emerge in this romance. All of our characters are highborn, which means a lot of palace and tea party-type settings. However, Liliana and José also attend a high-class academy, so there will probably be school-centered arcs as well.

Character designs are average for a shojo manga, but their expressions in key moments pack a punch. The layout of the pages do feel cramped though, as if the artist was trying to pack as much content as possible onto each page.

Extras include the first two pages printed in color, creator afterward, and bonus manga.

In Summary

This isn’t Enemies-to-Lovers but Icily-Indifferent-to-Charmed-by-Hamster-like-Qualities? While the heroine isn’t particularly unusual in her small stature or weakness for tasty food, the male lead’s inability to interact normally with people (and women especially) is. Thus, most of the humor in this European-style fantasy romantic comedy comes from the prince’s less-than-conventional treatment of his fiancée and the reactions that result.

First published at The Fandom Post.

Manhwa Review: See You in My 19th Life Vol. 4

Lots of Korean web comics and web fiction are successfully making the jump from the Internet to traditional media nowadays. One of these is See You in My 19th Life. Read on for the review of Volume 4 of the manhwa. (For more reviews from this series, click here.)

Back Cover Blurb

An impromptu trip to the seaside becomes an opportunity for Chowon and Seoha to mend their relationship, but it’s also a trip down memory lane for Jieum. While reminiscing on her old life as Juwon, Jieum gets lost in the past…but when she’s caught in a moment of carelessness, Chowon becomes increasingly suspicious! Moreover, when an old classmate reminds Doyun of his status, he puts a foot down in his relationship with Chowon, causing the rift between them to grow ever wider…

The Review

The seaside trip of the previous volume continues–and unexpectedly gets extended. Due to a sudden storm, our characters postpone their return, staying overnight instead at Chowon’s family’s summer home. In other words, a vacation house Jieum lived in during her previous life. Given how careful Jieum has been about not revealing her past life, it seems out of character for her to do not one, but two things that point toward her Juwon identity. The consequences of her slip-up aren’t immediate, but the way Chowon’s pondering things, she’s bound to confront Jieum about it soon.

Meanwhile, readers learn more about the years in Seoha’s life that Jieum wasn’t privy to, thanks to an incident caused by her scummy brother. I thought it strange in Volume 3 how chummy Doyun’s brother Dojin was with Seoha. Turns out Dojin was the reason Seoha and Doyun became friends, not the other way around. Moreover, Seoha is not as helpless as you’d expect given his runaway tendencies and moneyed background. Watching Seoha and Dojin take on a bunch of loan shark toughs threw me for a loop, but the explanation he gives Jieum for his fighting prowess is plausible.

What is less surprising is the miserable dynamic Seoha is subjected to when he is forced to attend a family gathering. His dad’s already proven a jerk, so it’s not much of a stretch when the rest of Seoha’s relatives turn out to be cut from the same cloth. This opportunistic bunch is being introduced in order to cause future problems, but for now, they create a situation for Seoha to be emotionally vulnerable and reach out for Jieum’s help. Chowon’s not making a lot of progress on getting out of the Broken Hearts Club, but Jieum certainly is!

In Summary

From a visit to Chowon’s family summer home to gangsters out to collect Jieum’s brother’s debt to run-ins with old classmates to uncomfortable family gatherings… A lot of our characters’ pasts mix with present events in this volume. But even though Seoha isn’t making any progress in changing his family’s dynamic, he is making progress in his relationship with Jieum and, interestingly, Chowon.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manhwa Review: Beware the Villainess! Vol. #1

There’s been a lot of variations on the Villainess trope, and Beware the Villainess! is the latest such series released from Ize Press. Read on for my review of Volume 1.

Back Cover Blurb

When a modern-day college student wakes up in the body of Melissa Foddebrat, the villainess of a cliché reverse-harem novel, she is determined to cast aside the plot and live a quiet life of luxury, but…AGH! Why are all the men in this novel trash?! A sleazebag crown prince, an asshole sniper, a crazed werewolf, and an obsessive merchant―Melissa can’t just stand by and watch the innocent heroine suffer at the hands of these four male leads. Scummy love interests, begone ― this story is getting a rewrite!

The Review

When a burned-out Korean college student meets an untimely end in a traffic accident, she wakes up in the body of noblewoman Melissa Foddebrat, the villainess of a cliché romance novel. Uninterested in playing out her part in the story, the reincarnated Melissa determines to cast aside her role and live a quiet life – starting by breaking her engagement to the philandering prince who’s one of the male leads. The only problem: he refuses to let her go!

While our main character is supposedly reborn into a romance novel, the scenario feels a lot more like a stereotypical otome video game. There is the commoner heroine with a heart of gold and magical talent and looks to match. The haughty highborn villainess. And four conquerable characters – I mean, male leads: the crown prince, an assassin, a werewolf, and a merchant.

The cover teaser might lead you to think our main character is motivated by feelings for the heroine Yuri, but she’s not. Although there are several mentions of Yuri, she doesn’t show up in person in Volume 1, nor is Melissa particularly interested in meeting her. In fact, she’d prefer to avoid Yuri entirely and sidestep the drama dictated by the novel.

Unfortunately for Melissa, she is intimately connected to two of the male leads. Crown Prince Ian is her fiancé, and the assassin Jake is Melissa’s younger brother as well as Ian’s close friend. So her first goal is to break her engagement to Ian before he meets the heroine, thereby avoiding any involvement with her. Because Ian has a history of cheating on Melissa, going so far as to seduce other women in front of her, she thinks this should be easy.

However, even though Ian is half-naked on top of another woman when Melissa demands an end to their engagement, Ian refuses. Moreover, he acts like he’s the victim. Apparently, the Melissa of the novel never blamed him for his philandering; she only ever vented her wrath on the women she caught him with. So when our reincarnated soul takes over, no one believes she actually wants to dump him. In fact, once she goes off script, Ian – and later her brother Jake – are determined to cement her in her role as Ian’s fiancé.

Perhaps there is drama in later volumes, but for right now, the story is all comedy. Our reincarnated soul is not an extreme personality; she simply gives as good as she gets. Due to the circumstances she’s inherited from the Melissa character and the quirks of the male leads, she’s got a lot to push back against. The dialogue can get crude, and she and Jake are constantly giving each other the finger. And because she is the story’s villainess, her expressions take on the stereotypical bad guy menace whether she intends it or not.

Regarding the supporting cast, only two male leads and Melissa’s father the Duke have been introduced, and they all give Melissa different reasons to despise them. In the absence of the heroine, the only female character of note thus far is Melissa’s ever-cynical, ever-calm maid Yona. While other women are intimidated by Melissa, Yona simply states things as they are, which makes the pair seem like a comedy duo in situations where Melissa’s utterly frustrated.

Like most Ize Press manhwa, this book is printed in full color on glossy paper making for a visually appealing but hefty book. The illustrations work well for this comic storyline. The narrative makes a lot of modern references, and some of the artwork reflects this with drawings reminiscent of The Simpsons, One Piece, and Kaiji. Some of the more obscure cultural references are explained in the Translation Notes, but not all.

In Summary

It’s another villainess isekai! In this one, our reincarnated soul couldn’t care less about the characters or events of the original novel. All she wants is to avoid the heroine so she can enjoy her character’s cush lifestyle. Unfortunately, two of the male leads are dead set on forcing her to stay in her role. It’s a comedy of extreme personalities in this villainess isekai parody!

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manga Review: Me and My Beast Boss Vol. #3

There are a number of Beauty and the Beast retellings, but how about one in an office setting? Yen Press’ Me and My Beast Boss spins a workplace romance between an office worker and a literal beast of a boss. Read on for my review of Volume 3. (For other reviews from this series, click here.)

Back Cover Blurb

Beastfolk reign over the world. Despite being oppressed and looked down upon for her human “weakness,” office worker Saki earnestly tries her best. And while Atlas, the boss of the company, is one of the beastfolk, he acknowledges and trusts her. “I want you to become used to me quickly and fall in love with me.” Atlas’s feelings, crossing the boundary between humans and beastfolk, only grow stronger…

The Review

By intervening on Saki’s behalf, Atlas earns Saeki’s trust. Atlas responds to Saeki’s openness by introducing him to Grey, who, upon discovering that Saeki possesses insight into Saki that Grey does not, seizes the opportunity to (forcibly) recruit Saeki into his personal mission to kindle romance between Atlas and Saki.

It is a bit odd having three men so focused on romance when it hasn’t even entered our female protagonist’s head. Having characters on different wavelengths is a classic comedy device, but I found it odd that “date” doesn’t even cross Saki’s mind when Atlas gallantly takes her by the hand and asks her out to dinner. At any rate, Saki and Atlas are getting closer, but Atlas is the only one catching feelings.

The second half of the book focuses on a new ploy by the former managing director. This time, he’s joining forces with a human-run company, whose CEO Magatsu just happens to be Saki’s ex-boyfriend. Grey and Atlas already have an inkling of what trouble their adversaries are plotting from the very start, so Atlas’s position is never in any real danger. Instead, this arc presents Magatsu as another human devastated by speciesism and gives Atlas the opportunity to demonstrate by his actions that he is different from other beastfolk. This arc also includes a formal dinner, so Atlas and Saki get a chance to dress up. It is a little strange that Grey’s the one to help Saki with her makeup, but the cast is lean on female characters, so Shiroinu-sensei’s just working with the characters on hand, I guess?

Extras include the first page printed in color, illustrations printed on the inside covers, and two bonus manga.

In Summary

A new threat to Atlas appears in the form of Magatsu, a human CEO who happens to be Saki’s former boyfriend. While the incident is tidily wrapped up in record time, it does give the newly formed team of Atlas, Grey, Saki, and Saeki a chance to demonstrate what humans and beastfolk can do when they collaborate. Also, Atlas and Saki get a chance to dress up!

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manga Review: The Magical Girl and the Evil Lieutenant Used to Be Archenemies

Enemies to lovers is a common romance category, and The Magical Girl and the Evil Lieutenant Used To Be Archenemies takes on that theme with some pretty unconventional characters. Read on for the review.

Back Cover Blurb

Byakuya is the alter ego of the heroic magical girl Glass Happiness. Mira is a villainous lieutenant to the Evil King, and he’s prepared to do what it takes to eliminate his wand-wielding nemesis once and for all. While his cunning is unmatched, the last thing Mira expected was love at first sight! Now, instead of devising schemes to defeat Byakuya, he’s finding excuses to see her! What’s more, she doesn’t seem to mind…?!

The Review

Mira is the Evil Organization’s mastermind. Infamous for his cruelty, he’s laid waste to many a nation. But when magical girl Glass Happiness appears, he’s rendered powerless – by love at first sight!

The Magical Girl and the Evil Lieutenant Used To Be Archenemies is a magical girl parody. To start, our heroine Byakuya, a.k.a. magical girl Glass Happiness, has the look of a magical girl, but all the other stereotypes get turned on their heads. Instead of fighting for love and peace, this hard-luck orphan views her magical girl role as a job. Moreover, it doesn’t pay all the bills. Even with multiple part-time jobs, she lives a hand-to-mouth existence. Most of her problems can be tracked to her angelic familiar, a cat-man who is more yakuza than angelic. He is verbally abusive, sexually harasses her, and takes all her money like a callous pimp.

Then there’s Mira, the lieutenant known far and wide for being cruel and heartless. Well, turns out he actually does have a heart, which he immediately loses to Byakuya. So instead of scheming against his magical girl enemy, he’s forced to use his wits to justify his actions towards her, which generally fall in the category of bringing her various treats and bailing her out of lewd situations that the cat-man’s coerced her into. And because Mira treats her far better than anyone else in her life, Byakuya regards him only with respect and gratitude.

I’ve honestly got mixed feelings about this title. Enemy-to-lovers is a favorite subgenre of mine, and the story does a lot of fun and playful things with this trope. I also have a soft spot for stoic, serious tsundere, so Mira is an absolute delight.

However, the manga reeks of fan service. Byakuya’s costume is pretty much lingerie; one scene even has Mira questioning the appropriateness of her outfit – if you can call it that. Whether in battles against the Evil Organization or unsavory gigs arranged by the cat-man, Byakuya ends up in situations with lewd overtones. Moreover, Bellatrix, Mira’s chesty colleague in the Evil Organization, is prone to smutty fantasies so there’s those images as well.

On top of that, there is the weirdness that is the story’s other magical girl, Hibana. In addition to contributing to the fan service with her own lingerie-type costume, she’s a hellion that attacks allies, friends, and enemies alike. Her dialogue is almost entirely F-bombs, and she prefers brass knuckles to her magic staff. Hibana definitely breaks the magical girl stereotype with her behavior which is sort of funny but mostly bewildering.

By the way, the format for the illustrations alternates between four-panel columns (each column picking up a single page) and regular manga panels. There doesn’t seem to be any particular pattern to when the styles switch. Backgrounds tend to be very simple, but the characters are well rendered, and their expressions and emotions leap off the pages.

The book is hefty – over 400 pages. From what I can tell, it includes the entirety of the series (20 chapters), plus the standalone manga Beauty and the Beast. The artwork and story for Beauty and the Beast is nowhere as polished as The Magical Girl and the Evil Lieutenant, but readers might be amused by the fact that Fujiwara-sensei recycled a couple key names from that earlier story.

For those familiar with the anime, the manga covers the same general territory as the TV show, but there are variations. For example, the manga has Byakuya telling Mira about the slime video in the park, not in a hostess club. There is no equivalent for the anime Christmas episodes in the manga, and the manga also contains material not in the anime.

Extras include seven bonus illustrations printed in color and sketches.

In Summary

This magical girl parody could be a cute rom-com with the evil lieutenant fighting to maintain appearances even as he falls head over heels for his cute nemesis. However, the fan service is fairly excessive, and cussing magical girl Hibana and Byakuya’s gangster-ish familiar add enough crass elements to put at least half the humor into crude territory. So although the actual relationship between Mira and Byakuya can arguably be characterized as chaste, the title does warrant its Older Teen rating and its Language, Nudity, Sexual situations and Violence labels.

First published at The Fandom Post.