Mink, Vol. 2

Mink #2

by Megumi Tachikawa, Michele Kriegman (Translator), Darcy Lockman (Adaptation)

Cyber Idol Mink has got her work cut out for her! With her popularity soaring and her single climbing up the charts, Mink lands some major deals. But when her archenemy and fellow pop star Azumi rages with jealousy, she's out to steal Mink's spotlight and sabotage her first major gig. To make matters worse the "Celebrity Killer" is looking for a scoop, and he's out to expose the real Mink!

Genres: Manga, Fantasy, Shojo, Romance, Comics, Fiction, Graphic Novels

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Megumi Tachikawa (立川恵) is a Japanese shōjo manga artist, best known for the manga Saint Tail, which was also adapted into an anime series. She made her manga debut in 1992 with 16-sai no Tiara, which was nominated for the 'New Face' manga award.

Reviews

[~Cyanide Latte~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not much to say at the moment, but when it comes to re-reading this series, volume 2 in particular is the volume that I remember most from my high school days. It's worth getting through the first volume in order to read this one, as I do feel that the story starts to even out with its pacing and we're introduced to more character development and complex interactions. We see Mink interact more with her celebrity crush, watch the rivalry grow between her and Azumi even as Mink's fans remain touched by her work, and we also get to see her feelings for her manager, Motoharu deepen.

Again, it's worth the read. Is it still rough around the edges? Absolutely. But the fun storytelling and adorable artwork help to balance that out, even as the work improves!

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cute fluff continues, as Mink becomes more accustomed (ish) to being in the lime light. A rivalry starts with her and another star--Azumi, from the first book, and her feelings for Motoharu grow. (Given me tagging the first book as "insta-love", I won't be here, since they're already insta-love.)

The pacing is still a little jumpy, but better than the first. The manga is mostly slice of life, so that's to be expected.

I did however enjoy the manager's constant "Because I'm her manager" catch phrasing in this, as he ended up having to do various random tasks, unrelated to being a manager, such as saving Mink from a fire and dealing with ghosts. (Yes, ghosts.)

While there's a more 'softer' love triangle in this, I wouldn't call it one, since it's pretty clear what the main ship is, and what everything is pushing towards. There's not really competition, just dragging out that kiss for six books, haha.

If you're needing an easy pick-me-up, assuming you can find this rarer series, it's worth a look :)

[Soobie has fog in her brain · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok, it's funny but while I'm reading I'm recognizing scenes from other manga. This is never a good sign.

Well, I'm probably too old to appreciate it or - better - the manga didn't age that well. Still I'm going to read my way through all six volumes.

[Tülin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really shouldn't like this over the top feminine idol sci-fi splosh, but it's adorable and nostalgic.

[L1nkinP4rK · Rating 5 out of 5]

cute good book #2

[Ace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rival Azumi causes trouble by cancelling Mink's concert, a new kiss scene in her drama, Valentines Day difficulties arise in volume two of Mink. The sugary-sweet romance continues as Mink's feelings for Motoharu develop; always present in her life, it's hard for her to figure out if he's nice because he's her manager or if he might have feelings for her, too. The artwork is less confusing in this volume than it was in the first one.

Older readers, or those who have read and enjoyed more serious manga, may pass over Mink. The story is lighthearted and fun; it doesn't deal with anything particularly deep. It relies on tropes and stereotypes instead of allowing its characters to develop into full-fledged people. However, the story is cute if you're a fan of rom-coms or enjoyed Full Moon O Sagashite; Mink shares some similarities with Arina Tanemura's manga, though Full Moon is aimed at older audiences. As a middle school student, I loved this manga; three stars from my younger self, two from me as an adult.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I said in the first review, this is a sweet manga. It's got that innocence to it that you don't often find in books these days. The story feels like it moves a bit in each story, and the art is nice. It's a fun fast read and perfect for the audience it aims for female YA readers, though I think YA boys might enjoy it as well depending on their tastes. I'm not sure I'll read much beyond the next book, since I only own the first three, or that I'll ever want to read the series again, but I did enjoy reading it while I had it and found it a cute series.

[Suzanne Gilbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Full disclosure: I am the English translator of this series, under my legal name, not my pen name of Suzanne Gilbert.)
Japanese is a language rich in onomatopoeias so my daughters, who were the age of the target audience at the time, had fun helping me simulate English versions of those sounds: c-runch, flip-flop, ka-boom.
Megumi is one of the most popular manga artists for tweens and teens and she really builds a connections with her readers by using the page margins to share how she felt, what music she was listening to and which ideas were inspired by earlier readers.

[Jayme Daly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very entertaining!