When Kyoko’s heart is broken, she decides that revenge is a dish best served in the spotlight!
Kyoko Mogami followed her true love Sho to Tokyo to support him while he made it big as an idol. But he’s casting her out now that he’s famous enough! Kyoko won’t suffer in silence—she’s going to get her sweet revenge by beating Sho in show biz!
Kyoko needs to make some quick cash to pay for acting school, but an easy job as a seat filler for a variety show soon has her on stage—in a chicken suit! Her debut as Chicken Bo is just the break she needs, but a mess of rivalries could trip up her rise to the top. And things get even crazier when she’s asked to sub for Ren Tsuruga’s sick manager. Can her earnest hard work override a bad first impression, or will he become a powerful enemy?
Yoshiki Nakamura (仲村佳樹) is a Japanese mangaka. She was born June 17. Nakamura made her manga debut with "Yume de Auyori Suteki" in the manga magazine Hana to Yume in 1993.
Quick recap: Kyoko Mogami dropped out of school and moved to Tokyo to support her beloved Sho as he tried to break into show business. A couple of years later, the now rising star let slip that he has never liked Kyoko back, just using her as a free servant. Enraged, Kyoko has vowed to get revenge by defeating Sho at the one thing he truly cares about, public popularity.
Despite no training in the field or immediately obvious talent, Kyoko managed to get a internship at the LME talent agency, because she amused eccentric president Lory. Kyoko and another young woman with difficulties due to attitude, Moko, have been assigned to the “Love Me” section where they do humiliating chores in an effort to get noticed.
At the beginning of this combined volume, Kyoko manages to pass an audition to acting school by flipping a schmaltzy script to let her acid tongue shine. She doesn’t get the full scholarship, though, because Lory’s granddaughter Maria (whose home situation mirrored the script) interfered. Maria and Kyoko bond, and Lory begins to get an idea of how bad Kyoko’s mother was.
Next up, a series of coincidences wind up placing Kyoko in a chicken suit on a TV variety show just as that show has Sho as the main guest. When Kyoko hears Sho telling fibs to make himself sound more cool, she decides to use her anonymity to get revenge by making the heartbreaker look bad. It doesn’t quite work out the way she planned, but does allow her to see a different side of her coworker Ren.
We also learn that Ren has deeper connections to Kyoko than she’s aware of, but keeping them a secret because of his work ethic.
The following story has Kyoko and Moko trying out for a soft drink commercial, and we’re introduced to Moko’s self-appointed arch-nemesis Erika Koenji. A spoiled rich girl, Erika has never forgiven Moko (real name Kanae, by the way) for getting the lead in a third-grade play over her, and has used her wealth and connections ever since to quash Moko’s acting aspirations. This is at least partially responsible for Moko’s attitude problem and unwillingness to be friends with other girls.
Learning bits of this makes Kyoko, who has never had a female friend either, feel a connection to Moko, and their unique acting styles (plus some dumb luck) gets them the commercial spot.
The next big storyline has a cold going around the office, knocking out Ren’s manager, and since all the regular replacements are also sick, this leaves Kyoko with the job (while she’s also studying for a high school entrance exam–she really wants to complete her education.) Kyoko isn’t very good at a talent manager’s main job duties, but her skillset comes in handy when Ren falls ill as well and needs a nurse. Ship tease!
While Kyoko’s negative personality traits are still present, this collected volume allows her to show the positive ones as well. The appearances of her (literal) “inner demons” are less frequent. We also get some nice development for a few of the supporting characters, and hints of deeper backstory. I like the balance of comedy and dramatic elements, and the romantic hints aren’t overwhelming the story.
The character art is good, but backgrounds are often sketchy or outright absent.
Kyoko’s absentee mother comes across as a real piece of work; parents of younger readers may want to discuss unreasonable expectations with their children. Aside from that, this book is suitable for junior high kids (especially girls) on up.
Recommended to shoujo readers who like a little tartness in their heroines.
Tomos 4,5 y 6. La historia avanza! Me encanta la relación de Kyoko con Moko, en el fondo son parecidas. Y con Ren!!! Que momentos más buenos!!! Estoy viciada, ¡ahora quiero más! Por cierto, me encanta Nakamura añadiendo comentarios en las barras laterales con explicaciones de por qué dibuja a cada personaje de esa forma o el por qué de los nombres. ¡Qué maja!
This volume has some of my favorite moments in the series: •The stairways scene •The first chase scene •"Come down from your world and get muddy" •King Hamburger👑 •Cold argument •Kyoko and Moko becoming friends
What I think I like about this series is that though it's a romance it's not ALL romance. There are entire story arcs about the heroine's personal goals and friendships aside from the romance. I actually laughed out loud a couple of times, which is a feat.
O poder deste Manga de nos deixar presos a cada página é fantástico. O romance não é o foco principal, se procuram um manga de romance. Este volume fala muito sobre a amizade e a confiança. Fala sobre talento e sobre tantas coisas interessantes... A nossa Kyoko passa por tanta coisa e consegue ser sempre super alegre. Adoro!
***after reading*** This series holds up and that's rare. But I will say that I got a bit bummed after finding out it's still ongoing! From 2001 (I've already forgotten which year specific. My brain sometimes I swear) until this year. That is wild. But I'm glad I can catch up now.
***before reading*** I bought this in London at the Forbidden Planet store. It was the first time I went there and I wandered around for an hour or so. It was the same summer that temperatures skyrocketed and you were advised not to take the underground. So we walked every where or took a bus. On the way we got lost and my partner can't handle heat very well but they persevered for me. Thank the gods there was Aircon in the shop.
Let's see what else can I remember? I bought this but also RWBR (?) And I wish I had bought more skip beat. I also wanted to buy a funko pop but that aisle was full of young-uns and I discovered I only like a few funkpops. Toothless and baby Groot 😅
Still I wish to go back some day. And I hop they'll have chairs for my admirable partner who suffered through the heat all because I didn't want to go on my own to this shop.
А я все жду-жду, когда же начнется самое интересное. Но каждый раз приходится напоминать себе, что Skip Beat - это изматывающий slow burn, где до настоящих чувств героям надо еще дорасти. И вообще это не самое главное. И что все равно я сейчас отстаю примерно на пару сотен глав :р
И должна признать, иногда эта манга проливается бальзамом на душу. В ней нет резких поворотов, она вся о взрослении, принятии себя, своих чувств (в перспективе), разнообразных взаимоотношениях (дружеские тропы тут не менее интересны, чем rivalry), и все это на фоне шоу-бизнеса (который мне кажется ужасно картонным, но это я, мне всегда подавай завод по постройке космических кораблей вместо поющих мальчиков). Несмотря на кажущуюся простоту (слайс такой слайс), манга не дает заскучать, и я все еще пытаюсь понять, что за волшебный рецепт такой, что даже я немножко пою дифирамбы, хотя все говорит против. До сих пор плачу над треугольными подбородками, ну а ноги Цуруги по-прежнему решают все :р
THIS SERIES IS SO GOOD. It's so good that I am considering it possibly being one of my favourite mangas of all time, but I am afraid to do that when I have yet to read the majority of the series. I'm worried that it will have a problematic twist and make me dislike the series like other mangas have done to me in the past. At this moment, I absolutely love the first 6 volumes of this series and I cannot wait to read more! I love seeing the development of Kyoko as a person but also seeing her friendship develop with Kanae. It's so beautiful. Then seeing Kyoko and Ren change their perceptions of each other as well. I love this series. It's a slow burn series that will get you invested from the start and won't let you go.
This was the 'second' omnibus in the Skip Beat series. Kyoko is still working on becoming famous and an actress to fight against SHO! She is making friends and gathering a crew around her as she works her way up to the top. Her relationship with Ren is still antagonistic but it is changing a bit. Apparently he knew her back when she was a young girl! And he is really drawn to her and her skills/talents; he doesn't want to support her in her mission because he doesn't approve of the reason she is working towards fame. I liked this one more than the last one. I have no idea how this serious has so many books! :O
This keeps getting better and better. I love how Kyoko's doing things for herself and enjoying life even if she doesn't realize it yet. This volume was funny, tender, and sweet, even with Evil Kyoko's eruptions. I <3 Ren, too.
En estos tomos, Kyoko profundiza un poco más en su relación con Ren, quien también tiene recuerdos de la infancia de ambos, aunque Kyoko no se ha dado cuenta...
3.5 stars. I read these volumes annoyingly slow. I’m also starting to realise that I like when there’s a more serious tone to the storyline (such as volume 6); I appreciate the humour more too.
As usual I adore this manag, I find the writing is a bit all over tho, so hard to tell what line runs into the next. Other than that it is fun and fluffy and just a great read.
This volume contains the 4th ,5th, and 6th volumes of the series. Kyoko finally gets a chance at acting with some sweet revenge. She meats new rivals and new challenges. If she makes it to through she might get something she always wanted. Must read the next volume, now.
SERIES REVIEW: (Side note - I have read more than what's official by reading translated online scans, as such my view may be a bit biased based on further plot developments.) Skip Beat is possibly the best shoujo I have ever read! While the art style may throw newer readers off as it is very 90's/early 2000's do NOT let it keep you from giving this manga a try! The characters and plot more than make up for any lacking art. Kyoko is my favorite protagonist I have ever read - book or manga. This is not your typical shoujo by any means. It has romance but focuses more on Kyoko's growth as an individual as well as her determination to find herself. The other characters are not left behind either. They are also constantly growing and changing in different ways giving off such a vibrant and realistic vibe (well mostly realistic-if you have read it you know what I mean) If you are looking for romance, comedy, a shoujo with depth this is the one. While at times the slower romance pace is frustrating the pay offs make it worth it. Instead of a cheap fix so many shoujo manga are doing this is a slow burning master piece. I really cannot give this series enough praise and everyone - shoujo fan or not, manga fan or not - needs to give it a try!
Working my way through this series, which remains to be cute. Though it took me until this particular book to realize just how young Kyoko is. I have the next book (volumes 7,8,&9) ready to go, so I'll obviously be continuing.
ETA: This counts as "A book where the main character is a different ethnicity than you" for my 2017 Reading Challenge.
i finished this book in a day like the other one. Ren is such a precious bean, who is a perfectionist in acting which is the thing he loves more that anything. its been a wild ride with our small child is in a commercial with her friend from the love me department <3 but also we get to see the whole dynamic with ren and Kyoko who becomes his sub manager (Rens manager got a cold and since this is the entertainment industry) she got the 'part'