Strawberry Panic, Vol. 02

Strawberry Panic (Manga) #2

by Sakurako Kimino, Namuchi Takumi (Illustrator)

Astrea Hill is the setting where three exclusive all-girl schools converge. At St. Miator Girl’s Academy, gentle breezes scatter cherry blossoms across its lush campus.

Just weeks ago, Aoi Nagisa was a bright and cheerful young girl starting her first day as the newest transfer student at St. Miator Girls' Academy. But today, her once clean repurtation has been tarnished with vicious gossip and harsh scorn, and it's all because of her budding relationship with the star of Astraea Hill—Hanazono Shizuma. But as the Etoile Competition gets underway, Nagisa discovers a secret about Shizuma's past that shakes her very will to compete. Can Nagisa overcome her doubts before all is lost? Find out in the angst-filled second volume of Strawberry Panic!

Genres: Manga, Yuri, LGBT, Romance, Queer, Contemporary, Graphic Novels

168 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Sakurako Kimino (公野櫻子 Kimino Sakurako) is a Japanese novelist. She is notable for the creation of Sister Princess and Strawberry Panic!, two very successful bishōjo series where almost all the characters in both series are young girls. She has had her work serialized in the Japanese bishōjo magazine Dengeki G's Magazine, published by MediaWorks. She is also the creator of the light novel series Baby Princess, currently serializing in Dengeki G's Magazine.

Reviews

[Lindley Walter-smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can't figure out if this series is meant to be just a parody of the Class S genre or if it's supposed to be taken seriously, as all the sudden Angst of Doom in this volume would suggest. It doesn't help that the action is confused and rushed, with too many undeveloped characters competing for attention, or that the two main couples in this volume seem completely arbitrary - I still have absolutely no idea why they are supposed to be attracted to each other, let alone why they are declaring eternal love.

All the couples are girl/girl. For all that, Strawberry Panic feels completely un-lesbian. I don't know how else to put it, except that it feels like unconvincing fake lesbianism created to be nonthreatening and titillating to homophobic men, who get off on the idea of schoolgirls kissing and feeling each other up but are scared of actual gay people. It leaves me feeling vaguely icky.

The sole reason this gets two star, not one: the art and character design are really, really pretty.

[Hayley · Rating 3 out of 5]

You, a mere mortal, require food and oxygen to survive- But I, an unearthly scholar, only require the finest of melodramatic lesbian literature to sustain me

[Ayxan · Rating 2 out of 5]

So it literally ends in the middle of the event. They didn't get to the 2nd round. Was the manga cancelled? Because that does not feel like an ending of a series, much rather a cliffhanger for another volume.

There still is absolutely no world-building explained and I haven't even seen a teacher. Makes me wonder if that whole event is just a student thing, and the teachers are completely unaware of that. Might also explain why there were 20+ people on a high tower, with absolutely no safety measures. Nagisa was about to fall to her death even, had someone not rescued her.
Seriously, what kinda school is that? No, what world is that? I'm just confused.

Maybe, if I'll ever feel like I need some answers to this, I might check out the anime, but other than that, probably not.

[Freya · Rating 2 out of 5]

I actually couldn't finish this one. I forced myself through the first volume and just couldn't get through this as the writing never improved. I admit this is my first yuri, but it wasn't the yuriness of it that bothered me. In fact, I thought that bit cheesy and soft-core and plan on seeking out other yuri novels to understand the genre. No, the bit that bothered me was the story. It was all over the place. Character after character is introduced with short jumps back to people introduced earlier and seem to be the main characters. Its really unclear and makes it really hard to connect to any character. I couldn't cheer for any particular couple for the competition or to get together because I felt I didn't know them well enough and they were all too shallow. I might have liked Amane if she were fleshed out better and in longer story periods.

As it were, I never got drawn into the story. I spent half the time flipping back and forth trying to see if I missed something and trying to figure out who was being talked about. A little less "hand gently touching her face" and "the darkness in her past was lurking just behind her" and more focus on narrowing down characters would've made all the difference.

[David Doel · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was some improvement in the story; the author focused on just a few characters. There is a lot that doesn't make sense -- would Catholic schools be sponsoring a lesbian competition? Why is the setting even in a Catholic school environment?

[ｅｌｌｉｅ · Rating 1 out of 5]

just watch the show to be honest, at least the show is complete and the characters aren't as annoying

[Nami · Rating 4 out of 5]

Acá es cuando me lamento el haber empezado a leer esta serie porque... ¿POR QUÉ LA CANCELARON? Tenía tremenda trama. Este segundo tomo está mucho mejor balanceado que el primero, además de que nos enteramos del pasado trágico de una de las protagonistas, lo que agrega tensión y profundidad, uff. Si bien la pareja principal no me gusta mucho, me habría gustado leer más de la historia.

[Jamie (TheRebelliousReader) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars. I liked this more than volume one. The plot was a lot more focused and there was some great action towards the end. The characters still do nothing for me but this was still pretty fun. This isn’t a series I loved or would revisit but it wasn’t awful.

[Paulette · Rating 2 out of 5]

A little more plot development, but again, this series is just not for me.

[Jud · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bittersweet installment to the Strawberry Panic manga series.

This second volume shows some improvement compared to the first one, since the world and characters are presented in better ways, thus leading to an easier reading experience. The story and relationships keep developing in a dramatic and enjoyable manner. Again, some panels are super pretty to look at. Sadly, this is also the last volume, which leaves us with an uncomplete story. I really do not know why it came to be this way, but I hope one day they will give the manga some closure. 

For now, the Strawberry Panic manga remains iconic but unfinished. 

[Mehsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-read 2021: The next volume and boy I am glad I read it. This was such a great manga, and I love seeing the etoile competition, though again, things did feel rushed. I wasn't a fan of the other girls (the ones in the background) and how they just didn't seem to care about what they said or did. Bah. I am happy that we get to see Kaori and what she meant to Shizuma. I am also glad that Nagisa and Shizuma had that talk they needed. FINALLY. The outcome to the competition is going to be pretty much predictable, but I don't mind. Haha, I am fine with either Amane or Shizuma. :P

-----------------------------------------

5 years after I first read it, I read it again.

*sniffles*Kaori.. ah that part, that broke my heart in Light Novel and anime too. Poor Shizuma-oneesama. :(

Other then that, it was a wonderful volume, but the Continued in volume 3 message... :( There was never a volume 3. Just an omnibus with a few more chapters. :\ How sad this got discontinued.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not generally something that would be on the top of my list to read but I was greatly surprised! I absolutely loved the storyline and all of the characters. I would read this series again in a minute, it was that good!

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG THIS IS SOOO CUTE!!!!!!!!!!! Especially Hikari!!!

[Rochelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

An abrupt ending which will never be resolved in the manga ... guess I'll have to watch the anime? Sucks this series got left as it is

[Hunhan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is very interesting and i want to read this book all time.

[Melissa Kidd · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second part of the series has more over the top events, but it was still as good as the first volume. This is the last volume released however so this is it for the time being.

[AJ · Rating 2 out of 5]

(2.5) it was better than the last volume, but still not good. Apparently there’s a 3rd one???? I’m not reading all that 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[Bluesky]

It's great! ^^

[Layla Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

giid

[Dolores · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars