S.Q. Eries's Blog, page 9

Artbook Review: Scribbles Vol. 1

Kaoru Mori is best known for her historical manga Emma and A Bride’s Story. For those who love her detailed illustrations, Yen Press has released Scribbles, a collection of Mori’s sketches and the thoughts behind them!

Back Cover Blurb

In this stunning volume, Kaoru Mori―author of award-winning series A Bride’s Story and Emma―shares works from her personal collection of sketches and concept drawings. From familiar characters and settings to illustrations drawn from Mori’s own interests, Scribbles is a fascinating glimpse behind the scenes and into the sketch books of one of Japan’s most beloved creators.

The Review

If you’re a fan of Kaoru Mori’s artwork, Scribbles is worth checking out. It’s a collection of sketches that Yen Press has packaged in fine fashion. There are no color drawings – the vast majority are pencil sketches with eight ink drawings thrown in. However, the book has been released as a hardcover, and when I compared it to Yen Press’ volumes of A Bride’s Story, I found the specs to be nearly identical. Both have dust jackets, the same dimensions, and the same brown covers with gold lettering on the spine. The weight and texture of the matte paper are also the same, as near as I can tell. The only difference is that the color used for the inner covers of A Bride’s Story are red, and Scribbles has a teal inner cover. Basically, Yen Press has maintained consistency with their Kaoru Mori titles so that they can all be shelved harmoniously together.

And the effort is worth it. Scribbles is not a manga with a story, but Mori-sensei’s artwork and commentary have a lot to offer to those familiar with her work.

If you’re acquainted with her historical works Emma and A Bride’s Story, you know that her illustrations are both a treat for the eyes and packed with exquisitely researched detail. Only a few of the drawings in Scribbles can be deemed polished, and some sketches Mori-sensei herself describes as “doodles.” Even so, the contents of this book are gorgeous, and the captions are an entertaining blend of research facts, thoughts about the subject matter, and the context in which she created her drawings.

In terms of organization, Scribbles has none. Drawings are not grouped by category, nor is there a table of contents. So it’s kind of a disordered, widely ranging collection. There are, as you might expect from the maid-obsessed mangaka, drawings of maids aplenty. However, the collection also includes bunny girls, cancan dancers, ballet dancers, and images inspired by operatic works such as Carmen. There are quite a bit of Victorian-era illustrations, but Edwardian and 20th-century business fashions are also included. Japanese garb is also featured, including Heian, Meiji, Taisho, and Showa styles along with a range of school uniforms. Subject matter includes humans, animals, and backdrops, but Mori-sensei definitely has a strong preference for female figures, from child to mature woman. And yes, there are a few nude sketches in the mix.

If you’re an Emma or maid fan, there’s a lot to like. Drawings related to the Emma series are featured on pages 2 through 13, 40 through 67, and 85 through 100. Illustrations include concept drawings for the Yujin figures series created for Emma, and captions include details that didn’t make it into the manga and Mori-sensei’s thoughts about the characters. Sketches from Mori-sensei’s other maid manga Shirley take up pages 74 through 84. And finally, the book includes an unexpected maid-related treat. Apparently, Mori-sensei still had maids on the brain after Emma concluded, so she sketched a three-part maid mini-manga for herself, and you can find it on pages 168 through 177.

To fans of A Bride’s Story, I’m sorry to say there isn’t nearly as much material related to that series. Only ten concept drawings are included in the collection. However, their captions provide an interesting glimpse of the early stages of that work.

In Summary

Kaoru Mori is best known for her Victorian romance, Emma, and her Central Asian slice of life, A Bride’s Story. However, her repertoire isn’t limited to the 19th century, and Scribbles provides a glimpse of her wide-ranging interests. This collection contains ten pages of A Bride’s Story concept drawings and about a hundred pages of Emma and maid-related material, but the remaining half of the book is populated by illustrations ranging from bullfighters to military personnel to figures from Japanese folklore. The contents are almost entirely pencil sketches, but they brim with charm, and Mori-sensei’s notes are a lot of fun, too.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manga Review: Like A Butterfly Vol. #01

High school romances usually involve a certain amount of shyness. For the lead couple of Viz’s Like a Butterfly, that shyness dominates the relationship. Read on for my review of Volume 1.

Back Cover Blurb

Suiren Shibazeki is often compared to a beautiful flower—but one that grows on the tallest peak of a mountain, forever out of reach. When Suiren develops feelings for the quiet Taichi Kawasumi, however, she doesn’t want to be a distant flower. She’d rather leave her lofty perch and fly toward him like a butterfly.

After Kawasumi rescues her from an unwelcome admirer, Suiren finds herself captivated by him. However, Suiren is too shy to speak to anyone, much less this reserved karate boy. What’s more, Suiren isn’t the only one interested in Kawasumi. Will a class trip offer the opportunity to reveal her feelings before it’s too late?

The Review

Suiren’s gorgeous looks make her an idol among her peers. However, all the attention makes the shy girl withdraw into herself, especially around boys. But after schoolmate Kawasumi rescues her from an unwelcome admirer, Suiren falls for him. There’s a problem though. He is as reticent around girls as she is around boys.

Like Viz Media’s Wolf Girl and Black Prince, the original Japanese material for Like a Butterfly was printed a decade ago. However, the content of Volume 1 isn’t obviously dated, so it still works as a contemporary high school romance. The premise of Like a Butterfly is another matter though.

Some main characters are easy for readers to relate to. Suiren, not so much. Nicknamed “Mysterious Flower” by her adoring fans, she’s been treated like an idol by girls and boys alike since middle school. As a result of this intense popularity, she rarely speaks or shows emotion. In Chapter 1, she only has three brief lines of dialogue, and two of them are in middle school flashbacks. Even her internal monologue is on the sparse side. Moreover, she has no goals, no interests, and isn’t involved in any activities. She just kind of… exists to be admired. As a result, it’s largely up to Suiren’s two friends to provide explanations and react/interact with other characters on her behalf.

Things aren’t quite as bad with the male lead, Kawasumi. He’s standoffish around girls but behaves normally, for the most part, with other boys. And unlike Suiren, he has a club activity (karate) that he is dedicated to. However, the combination of a boy who avoids female attention and a girl who’s too shy to interact with boys is kind of a problem for a romance series. I don’t have anything against a slow burn, but this set up makes the pace ridiculously slow.

Because dialogue is nearly impossible between these two personalities, there’s a heavy reliance on significant looks to tell the story. Unfortunately, Suiren doesn’t really show emotion either, so those significant looks get old fast due to her limited expressive range. And because neither she nor Kawasumi has the initiative to start anything, it takes a third character, the upperclassman Koharu, to get things rolling. Like Suiren, she’s crushing on Kawasumi, but Koharu’s aggressively pursuing him despite his repeated rebuffs. Koharu’s dogged pursuit is what causes Suiren to realize her own attraction to Kawasumi and eventually pushes her to interact with him. Though that interaction is limited to wordless actions like bowing and returning stray volleyballs.

Those who’ve experienced intense feelings of shyness around their crush might relate to this aspect of the plot, but main characters should have more initiative than this for a story to have momentum. As it is, it’s only thanks to the liveliness of the supporting cast that Like a Butterfly has any momentum at all.

Extras include creator notes embedded in the manga and a couple bonus illustrations. There are no translation notes, but they would’ve been handy for the cultural reference to red bean rice.

In Summary

Romances generally have some obstacle that must be overcome in order for love to be attained. In the case of Like a Butterfly, the obstacles are Suiren’s unapproachable aura, Kawasumi’s disinterest in romantic relationships, and the fact that neither character talks to peers of the opposite gender. As a result, the story has a lot of observing from a distance, not a whole lot of interaction, and almost no conversation between the lead couple, if you can even call them that. Even for a slow burn, this romance is moving at a glacial pace.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Light Novel Review: Sasaki and Peeps Vol. 4

Isekai, sci-fi, and fantasy are huge light novel genres. But how about a mash-up of all three? That’s what you’ll find in Sasaki and Peeps! Read on for the review of Volume 4. (For other Sasaki and Peeps reviews, click here.)

Back Cover Blurb

Thanks to Peeps getting a little lost in the sauce, the whole world has found out about the base where Sasaki and Futarishizuka were keeping Lady Elsa. When Sasaki’s various acquaintances show up there looking for him, bullets and magic fly as the carefully built boundaries in his life come crashing down. Meanwhile, Sasaki gets a new assignment—dealing with a giant sea monster in the North Pacific! Between this rampaging octodragon(?) and distressing new developments in the proxy war, can Peeps and his exhausted owner manage to save Japan and—more importantly—get some rest?

The Review

For a guy whose goal is a slow, relaxing life, Sasaki’s working pretty hard in both the modern and the otherworld. And things get particularly chaotic in Tokyo when individuals representing all four supernatural groups stumble into each other in Sasaki’s hotel suite.

So much for the secrets he’s been trying so hard to hide. Passing off their superhuman damage as an “unidentified gas explosion” is one thing; keeping all those parties–two of which are sworn enemies and one who’s really unhinged when it comes to Sasaki–is another thing.

Interestingly, a bigger problem explodes onto the scene to force the four factions to cooperate, if only temporarily. Yet another inhabitant of the otherworld appears in the Pacific Ocean: a kaiju-sized octodragon. And there’s no time to wonder about how it crossed over – the powerful beast is on a swift trajectory toward Japan! Most of this volume is a lengthy set up for the cooperative effort, and it includes a show of force by five Magical Girls, a Demon/Angel skirmish that destroys Sasaki’s apartment, and the most suspiciously extravagant employee welcome party ever. Buncololi keeps things interesting, all the while seamlessly weaving the details that compel the four-way collaboration.

My main complaint is–as Sasaki’s neighbor observes–that Sasaki’s constantly surrounded by underage and ostensibly underage females. Their personalities and characterizations make the book’s brand of fan service particularly distasteful. Sasaki’s 13-year-old neighbor is especially bothersome in this respect. As in previous volumes, the POV occasionally switches to her, and her obsessive thoughts are disturbing to be frank.

With the marine monster causing so much trouble, the events in Japan take up the lion’s share of this volume. And to be honest, things are relatively quiet in the otherworld – except for a sudden visit to Sasaki’s not-yet-complete estate by Prince Lewis. The encounter provides a better picture of Prince Adonis’ rival for the throne, and though Prince Lewis’ attempts to ensnare Sasaki are not nearly as formidable as a dragon that can destroy nations, they’re probably a hint of headaches to come for Baron Sasaki.

The first eight pages, which contain illustrations and a thread from Futarishizuka’s social media, are printed in full color. Extras also include a summary of events thus far, ten black-and-white insert illustrations, afterword, and original cover material.

In Summary

What happens when you put otherworld inhabitants, a Demon and his Disciple, psychics, and a Magical Girl in a hotel room? Pandemonium at its most destructive! Fortunately (or unfortunately?) for Sasaki, a gargantuan otherworldly octodragon swims onto the scene, forcing all parties to cooperate for the sake of the planet. Meanwhile, Sasaki’s carefully kept secrets get exposed one after the other. Hopes of a quiet life seem to be drifting further away as supernatural disasters keep him working overtime!

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manga Review: Sasaki and Peeps Vol. 2

Isekai, sci-fi, and fantasy are huge light novel genres. But how about a mash-up of all three? That’s what you’ll find in Sasaki and Peeps! Read on for the review of Volume 2 of the manga. (For more reviews of Sasaki and Peeps works, click here.)

Back Cover Blurb

THE GRAND ADVENTURES OF A MAN AND HIS BIRD―DIMENSION HOPPING BETWEEN WORLDS! “…How did I end up working for a secret government department that essentially functions as a psychic police force?! I only wanted to save that woman from a thug… Peeps, didn’t you say there’s no magic here?” “I did. But perhaps this world possesses something similar to magic that operates under a different set of rules.” “Haah…I wish I could just focus on eating French’s food and learning teleportation magic and doing business with the Hermann Trading Company. At least the other world seems pretty peaceful―right?”

The Review

The previous volume was very high fantasy with Peeps’ magic and Sasaki’s sojourns into the Western-medieval-style otherworld. With Volume 2, we take a turn into sci-fi as Sasaki encounters psychics on the streets of Tokyo. By “psychic,” the narrative refers not to a clairvoyant, but someone more along the lines of an X-Men mutant, an individual with innate superpowers. Poor Sasaki has the ill luck to stumble upon two such individuals battling it out, and he uses his magic to prevent one from murdering the other.

As it turns out, the girl he saves is a member of the Cabinet Office Paranormal Phenomena Countermeasure Bureau. Basically, a secret government agency comprised of psychics that counter rogue psychics. Their policy is to require all law-abiding psychics to join the agency (lest they be deemed rogue), and because Sasaki’s magic looks a whole lot like psychic superpowers, he’s immediately coerced, er recruited into the agency. The only silver lining is that psychics are limited to one superpower each, and because Sasaki’s only manifested one spell before them, he’s able to hide the fact that he’s not a psychic and actually much more powerful than they realize.

So most of this volume is spent introducing the Bureau, psychics, and two of Sasaki’s new coworkers, the combat-happy Hoshizaki and their intimidating section chief Akutsu. This world-building requires a lot of explanations, but fortunately, the manga is not nearly as long-winded as the light novel. The mangaka also presents information in a relatively digestible manner. And to give readers (and Sasaki) a break, but the middle chapter’s a quick trip to the fantasy otherworld before resuming Sasaki’s deep dive into the secret world of modern-day psychics.

Once you’re done slogging through all the rules of this new supernatural system and the government agency that goes with it, the book rewards you at the end with an action-packed chapter and a half. It’s along the lines of an X-Men battle – if an X-Men battle had a clueless middle-aged office worker thrown in for laughs.

Despite the glut of new details to keep track of, I enjoyed the continued adventures of Sasaki and Peeps, with one exception. I mentioned in my review of Volume 1 that I found the manga’s portrayal of females problematic, and Volume 2 is no better in that respect. This volume introduces a new male and a new female character. The male character, Section Chief Akutsu, is Sasaki’s age and has a dignified bearing. Hoshizaki, on the other hand, has no dignity at all. She’s very young, kind of thoughtless, and oozes fan service with her large bust and short skirt. And Sasaki’s middle school age neighbor returns to show that she really does have a very unhealthy, very creepy obsession with Sasaki.

Extras include the first four pages printed in color, the creator afterword, and a bonus short story by Buncololi.

In Summary

Sasaki stumbles upon humans wielding supernatural powers in Japan! No, they’re not mages, but they assume he’s one of them, so Sasaki gets dragged into the hidden world of modern psychics. It’s a lot of information to plow through as the story morphs into sci-fi, but the narrative keeps things entertaining, if heavy on the fan service.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manhwa Review: A Business Proposal Vol. 1

Lots of Korean web comics and web fiction are successfully making the jump from the Internet to traditional media nowadays. One of these is A Business Proposal. Read on for the review of Volume 1 of the manhwa.

Back Cover Blurb

 Hari Shin has officially hit rock bottom. After being worked to the bone at her office job, meeting her long time crush’s girlfriend, and helping to pay off her family’s debt, she’s 0 for 3 with work, love, and money. Luckily, her friend Youngseo has a business proposal for her: go on an arranged date in her stead, and Hari will receive a hefty compensation. Things grow complicated, however, when the other party turns out to be her new CEO―and he’s got a proposal of his own!

The Review

Hari Shin’s overworked, drowning in debt, and friend-zoned by her longtime crush. So when her heiress friend Youngseo offers her cash to impersonate her for an arranged date and scare the guy off with a femme fatale act, Hari agrees. But things take a turn when the blind date turns out to be Hari’s new CEO. Worse, Hari’s efforts to drive him off result in a marriage proposal! What kind of pervert is he?

I was five pages into this manhwa adaption of a web novel and thought, “This is totally the set up for a contemporary K-drama series.” And as it turns out, A Business Proposal was adapted into a 2022 K-drama (available on Netflix). I haven’t seen the TV series, so I can’t make comparisons between the manhwa and the live-action adaption. However, the manhwa has many classic K-drama romance elements. The male lead, Taemu Kang, has gorgeous looks, an amazing body, wealth, and all the power and arrogance that comes with being the successful CEO of an international company. A company that just happens to be the employer of drowning-in-debt office drone Hari Shin. Her parents’ restaurant has gone deep into the red. To pay the rent, Hari’s taken a loan from her company, which has essentially turned her into a corporate indentured servant. So while Hari is college educated and her family debt doesn’t involve gambling losses or loan sharks, she falls into the category of financially-strapped heroine to offset our rich male lead.

Actually, the inciting incident portrays Hari more along the lines of poor normie getting caught up in the problems of rich people. One of the less typical aspects of this series is that Youngseo, the best friend of broke Hari, is filthy rich. As the heiress to a company, Youngseo’s situation is similar to Taemu’s in that they have comparable social status and are under pressure to meet potential spouses and get married already. And both view the matchmaking meetings arranged by their families as a waste of time. However, while Youngseo schemes to get out of yet another meeting by dressing up her friend to send as a substitute, Taemu decides to cut things short by simply marrying his first blind date, whoever she is.

That in essence is one of Taemu’s unique quirks. He’s stubborn about sticking to his word, no matter what new information might arise. At times, this quality runs counter to his other quirk: he hates having his time wasted. As Youngseo points out, if a quick marriage is his goal, it would be a lot more efficient for him to find someone willing rather than continue pursuing someone who’s turned him down. However, his third unique quirk is what has Hari terrified: he despises liars. Taemu’s notorious for firing employees for lying, and when Hari discovers that the suitor she’s trying to fool is him, she realizes her job is at risk.

At times, the details maintaining the story premise get a bit shaky. There’s one point where Hari could have easily shaken Taemu off for good, but she conveniently falls asleep (in a café no less!) during the 20 minute window she had to escape. That aside, the stakes of love and money (especially once Youngseo falls for Taemu’s head secretary) keep this an engaging and fluffy comedy of sham identities and misinterpreted intentions.

By the way, the artwork is great at projecting the mood, whether comic, frantic, or sizzling. Illustrations are rendered in full color on glossy paper, which makes for a nice looking but hefty book.

In Summary

Do you like workplace K-drama rom-coms? Then you might enjoy the impersonation hijinks of A Business Proposal. The premise gets a bit shaky at times, but the series is meant to be a fun, silly romp with lots of eye candy, so it works.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manga Review: Death Note 20th Anniversary Edition Vol. #01

Twenty years have passed since Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata released Death Note, and the series still remains high on my list of recommended titles. To celebrate this masterpiece thriller, Viz released a special 20th-anniversary reprint of the first volume of the manga.

Back Cover Blurb

Light Yagami is an ace student with great prospects–and he’s bored out of his mind. But all that changes when he finds the Death Note, a notebook dropped by a rogue Shinigami death god. Any human whose name is written in the notebook dies, and now Light has vowed to use the power of the Death Note to rid the world of evil. Will Light’s noble goal succeed, or will the Death Note turn him into the very thing he fights against?

The Review

Viz did something similar with Bleach when that manga celebrated its 20th-anniversary last year. However, unlike the Bleach reprint, which is available through your local book supplier, the Death Note commemorative release is a convention exclusive. It was sold at the Viz booth during Anime Expo a few weeks back. I’m not sure if the Death Note reprint will be available at subsequent anime conventions, but the bottom line is that is not available through usual book channels.

In terms of the product itself, it’s a reprint of Volume 1 with an alternate cover. The front features art from the January 1, 2004 series launch in Weekly Shonen Jump magazine. The back cover features a color version of the title page illustration for Chapter 3 “Family,” with the words “20th Anniversary Convention Exclusive” printed lengthwise in silver.

And…that’s it. I thought this exclusive might have additional extras honoring the series’ 20th anniversary, but it pretty much is Volume 1 of the manga dressed up in a different cover. However, if you’re a big fan of the series and a collector, this is another item to consider for your collection.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manga Review: Wolf Girl and Black Prince Vol. #01

Just about every shojo title has a guy with princely good looks. However not all of those characters have a princely personality to match, and the handsome male lead in Wolf Girl and Black Prince gets labeled by the heroine as blackhearted. Read on for my review of Volume 1.

Back Cover Blurb

Fed up with her friends’ constant bragging about their boyfriends, high school student Erika Shinohara decides to make up one of her own. When her lie starts unraveling at the seams, her charming schoolmate Kyoya Sata agrees to be her pretend boyfriend, seemingly saving her reputation. She won’t get off that easy, however, as she soon discovers her white knight is actually a blackhearted prince! Now Erika must be at his beck and call or risk her lie being exposed. But is Kyoya really as blackhearted as he seems?

The Review

High-schooler Erika Shinohara is a big fat liar. Her classmates are constantly bragging about their boyfriends, and to keep up, she acts like she has one, too. The farce nearly falls apart, but handsome schoolmate Kyoya Sata offers to bail her out by pretending to be her boyfriend. However, there is a catch. Erika must follow his orders like a dog!

This is not a recent title (first published in 2011). However, there hasn’t been much by the way of high school shojo amid the current isekai and action glut, and the content of Volume 1 isn’t obviously dated. So it still works if you’re looking for a contemporary romantic comedy.

As you might guess from the synopsis, this is an enemies-to-lovers story. I generally enjoy that trope, but I had a difficult time warming up to Wolf Girl and Black Prince. Mainly because I had trouble warming up to the main character Erika. She has no aspirations other than keep up with her clique. Not only does she blatantly lie to maintain appearances, she treats the one friend who actually knows and accepts her for who she is rather awfully. Erika’s also kind of thoughtless. Shortly after making her (pretend) relationship with Kyoya public (thereby triggering the ire of his female fans), Erika agrees to a date with another classmate with no consideration of how that might affect the charade Kyoya’s helping her maintain at school.

Actually, most of the female cast is terrible. Marin and Tezuka, the friends that Erika’s so desperate to impress, make me question Erika’s judgment. When Erika introduces Kyoya as her boyfriend, her friends respond by trying to publicly humiliate them in the cafeteria. Later, when another boy asks to speak with Erika, the two girls immediately blab to Kyoya, “Erika’s cheating on you!” In Chapter 3’s double date, Marin not only demonstrates a crazy temper, but she’s also physically and verbally abusive toward her boyfriend. Meanwhile, Tezuka’s apparently dating a grown adult.

With upstanding friends like these, who needs enemies?

As far as Kyoya goes, Erika describes him as having a “heart of coal,” but he’s actually fair, if a bit twisted. Erika is in a mess of her own making; he offers a solution but prices it accordingly. Given the amount of trouble the pretend relationship causes, he’s actually reasonable. Yes, he’s rude and sharp-tongued and makes fun of Erika when they’re alone, but he doesn’t extort money or sexual favors. Of course, his mockery of Erika and his cynical attitude toward women and romance has to be rooted in something, and unraveling that past will play into their relational arc.

As far as the comedy part of the story goes, much of the humor comes from Erika’s vain thoughtlessness and Erika and Kyoya’s biting exchanges. Some laughs also come from the antics of Erika’s clique. In general, jokes trend toward the mean-spirited end of the spectrum.

Extras include the author’s foreword and afterword. There are no translation notes, but translation notes would’ve been handy for cultural references such as the Okinawa souvenirs and Doraemon.

In Summary

Wolf Girl and Black Prince is definitely not the type of story where everyone’s their most authentic self and supportive of one another. Rather, it’s the opposite. As this is an enemies-to-lovers story, the contentious pretend couple will eventually swing toward genuine affection, but in the meantime, you have to put up with the ridiculous facade the main character’s so desperate to maintain before her so-called friends.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manga Review: Me and My Beast Boss Vol. #01

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 1.

Back Cover Blurb

In a world where humans are thought to be inferior to beastfolk, human office worker Saki Oki endures a constant stream of ridicule and scorn from her beastfolk colleagues and superiors. So when she gets called into the CEO’s office, she’s prepared for the worst―but instead of firing Saki, the CEO acknowledges her hard work and makes her his private secretary! With all eyes in the office on her, Saki struggles to get used to her new position, not to mention her boss’s intimidating―yet oddly charming―aura…

The Review

In an alternate modern society of beastfolk and humans, humans are at the bottom of the social hierarchy. As a result, diligent human office worker Saki Oki is ridiculed by her beastfolk colleagues and never gets recognized for her hard work. That is, until the CEO calls her into his office and makes her his personal secretary! She’s thrilled by the promotion, but her new boss–who has all the menace of a lion–is going to take a while to get used to…

Me and My Beast Boss is rated Older Teen. While there isn’t much in Volume 1 that would be objectionable, I doubt the title is that relatable for younger readers. It has a corporate setting and all adult characters. (Oki’s age isn’t provided, but from her work experience, she has to at least be in her mid-20s). Office politics, harassment by abusive superiors, and the frustration of others taking credit for your hard work are all elements geared toward an older audience. Oki’s struggles in the workplace are certain to resonate with corporate drones who suffer terrible bosses.

Despite the fantasy element of beastfolk, Me and My Beast Boss falls more into the category of office romance. The romance starts off entirely one-sided though. When CEO Atlas gives Oki her promotion, she’s thrilled but must immediately deal with the grumblings of jealous colleagues and backlash from her no-good former supervisor. In short, even with her tough as nails personality, she’s got her hands full. As CEO, Atlas can do what he wants without having to answer to anyone, and he promotes Oki because he recognizes her abilities. But after their first meeting, he’s utterly captivated by her.

The reason why this combination works is because they are both misunderstood by almost everyone at the office. For Oki, it’s because beastfolk choose to despise humans and refuse to recognize anything to the contrary. Having Atlas acknowledge her without prejudice and praise her efforts is a dream come true. Atlas is misunderstood because he’s a “reverted beastfolk.” Majority of beastfolk look like cosplayers wearing animal ears and tails. However, reverted beastfolk retain more animal characteristics, and Atlas, who derives from a lion, has the face, fangs, mane, and paws of a lion. Combine that with his position as CEO, and everyone in the company’s too frightened of him to notice the honest, gentle personality that lies beneath. So Oki’s forthright efforts to get to know him despite the fear triggered by his fearsome appearance captivate his heart.

Volume 1 mostly has Oki grappling with the triple challenge of getting accustomed to her scary looking boss, living up to her new position, and dealing with coworkers who don’t think she deserves it. Meanwhile, Atlas supports her publicly and privately, subtly and dramatically (as the situation calls for it), even as he hides his growing affections for her.

Overall, I love the dynamic between the two, but the one thing that prevents me from completely enjoying it is that Atlas is awfully handsy with his new secretary. Blame it on corporate HR training videos and all the garbage unearthed during the “Me Too” movement, but when Atlas pats Oki’s face and hair, my internal alarms scream, “Inappropriate!” The narrative provides both Oki’s and Atlas’ POVs so readers know he’s not a sexual predator, but as the head of the company, he holds all the power in this relationship.

Then again, this is a fictional world, one in which humans are so despised that a beastfolk superior can break his human subordinate’s wrist with impunity. When Atlas catches Oki’s old supervisor in the act of physically assaulting her, Atlas tries to have him fired, but even with his power as CEO, the most he can do is get him demoted. So, yes, the rules are definitely different in this world.

The artwork, by the way, is fabulous. Shiroinu does an excellent job especially portraying the varied aspects of Atlas, from fearsome to supportive to lovelorn. Moods are also conveyed beautifully, whether tense, uplifting, or romantic.

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

In Summary

Don’t let the beast people aspect of it fool you–Me and My Beast Boss is an office romance! Despite the obvious differences between the main characters, this story isn’t so much opposites attract as it is misunderstood souls finally being seen for who they are. While there are definitely behaviors that would never fly in a real-life office, the interactions between Oki and Atlas are utterly charming.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manga Review: Doomsday With My Dog Vol. 2

There are tons of post-apocalyptic works in the market. But how about one where the last human on earth has conversations with her talking dog? That’s the premise of Doomsday With My Dog. Read on for the review of Volume 2 of the manga. (For other reviews of this series, click here.)

Back Cover Blurb

What They Say
A single teenage girl, the last of her kind, continues her journeys through Japan with the adoring and bright Shiba Inu Haru―and they’re not alone! From the aloof beauty Snow White to the friendly neighborhood aliens, they’ve got plenty of fellow wanderers to meet, swap stories, and get into misadventures with. Who knew the apocalypse could be such a party?

The Review

It’s another installment of a Shiba Inu and his master wandering a post-apocalyptic Japan inhabited by talking animals, fantastic creatures, and aliens. Nearly all the characters in Volume 1 return in Volume 2, though some more briefly than others. We also get new characters. The ones with the most air-time are the Anubis-style aliens who travel from planet to planet to liberate all canine species. When Haru’s master inadvertently insults them, she’s thrown into prison, so of course it’s up to her loyal dog to get her out of trouble.

Another addition to the cast is Collie-nee-san. She looks elegant, but she’s a hard-core BL fangirl. When it comes to discussions of canine behavior, she’s always interpreting through a yaoi lens.

In terms of content, Haru still philosophizes, but there’s a heavier focus on character quirks and the comic situations that the cast gets into. Most of the story is presented in a four-panel format, but the creator also throws in content in a slightly longer 1- to 2-page format. This volume also skews more towards featuring the canine characters than Volume 1, which was more balanced in mixing it up with other animals, mythical creatures, and aliens. So if you like dogs, you’ll enjoy the range of breeds, their personalities, and their interactions and observations. The female Shiba Inus’ fight for Haru’s affections continues as do the comparisons between Western and Japanese breeds. Aside from Haru, the dog that makes the most appearances is Husky, who has been relegated to the role of village idiot (sorry, husky lovers).

The book closes with the bonus story “Next to the Glass Case with You.” Volume 1’s bonus story “Ten Years Later with You” leapt ahead to the end of Haru’s life, and Volume 2 does the opposite by jumping back to the day that dog and master met at the pet shop. In addition to adorable illustrations of puppy-Haru, we get a glimpse into his master’s family situation and clues as to why her personality wound up the way it did.

Extras include translation notes in between chapters, afterword, and bonus illustrations.

In Summary

If you enjoyed the antics and exchanges of Haru and his ditzy master in Volume 1, you’ll probably enjoy Volume 2. There are more canines in this installment, including Anubis extraterrestrials and a BL-loving Collie. And even though goofy humor predominates, it wraps up with a touching glimpse into Haru and his master’s past.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manga Review: Saga of Tanya the Evil Vol. #19

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 19 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

After surviving the Commonwealth’s assault, the 203rd Battalion advances toward Parisii, the capital of the François Republic. Mocking the Republican Army’s feeble attempts at resistance, Tanya assures herself that there’s no way the Empire could get Dunkirk’ed like its equivalent from her previous life—but when her knowledge of history clues her in to something no one else can see, she may have to take matters into her own hands…

The Review

After a glimpse of the nuns and orphanage that raised Tanya (printed in color!) and a post-dogfight follow-up with Colonel Drake, it’s back to the Rhine theater – what’s left of it. The Republicans are on the run, and Imperial forces are rapidly advancing toward the Republican capital.

Parisii’s pathetic final stand against the Empire was skipped over in the anime, but the manga spends about 30 pages showing how the last line of defense goes down. In doing so, it does an excellent job of establishing the atmosphere for the events that follow. Although the Imperial forces expected more of a fight, they chalk up the feeble resistance to snooty Parisiian unwillingness to sully their beautiful city with defensive structures. As such, morale goes sky high upon the capture of Parisii, and even Tanya, who instinctively senses things are going TOO well, gets swept up in the euphoria of victory along with the people of the Empire.

Which is just what the Republicans want. While the Empire drops its guard to celebrate, the Republic’s not insubstantial remaining military are retreating–with the intention to establish a government in exile and carry on the fight from its colonies in the Southern Continent. While the Imperial higher-ups are well aware of their movements, they view them as the last throes of a defeated opponent and focus instead on drafting up their terms for peace. So the only one in the Empire to figure out the Republic’s ploy for what it is, of course, is Tanya.

In the anime, her desperate fight to warn everyone of the impending disaster is framed as a battle against time and a battle against ignorance. The manga gives this arc the added element of everyone’s perception of Tanya. From the higher-ups at General Staff to Western Army Command to the subordinates beneath her, everyone has their own incorrect interpretation of why the unflappable White Silver is raving like a maniac. It’s been a running gag how Tanya and the rest of the cast constantly misread each other. But in this instance, instead of laughs, the effect is tragic. So much so, you want to give poor Tanya a hug at the end of the volume.

Extras include a world map, battle log thus far, character introductions (in ridiculously small font), profile for the 203rd Battalion, country profiles, and glossaries for Chapters 55 and 56, which for some reason are labeled for Chapters 70 and 71.

In Summary

Tanya’s not plunged into a death-defying battle in this volume, but in a sense, it’s worse. While Imperial higher-ups discuss peace demands, she is the only one who realizes the Republic’s sacrificed its capital in order to secure forces to continue their fight. Tanya’s cursed her fate before, but these chapters truly plunge her into emotional turmoil as everyone–from superiors to subordinates–disregard her warnings to continue the road to perdition.

First published at the Fandom Post.