Caldi’s Manga Beat: What’s new in the Manga Pile. October 25, 2007
Posted by caldi-chan in : Comics, Manga Beat, general musings , add a comment
So it would seem I’ve been struck with the idea of writing once in a while, a segment called “Manga Beat” here on my blog. I think we can attribute it to the fact that I listen to music, and read manga quite a bit. In fact I even have to have music on while I write my Way of the Geek articles. (Which aren’t as poorly written as the stuff in here is -I hope-) So it’s hitting two birds with one stone here. Listening to music, reading a new Manga, and then writing about it. So lets get cracking.
First up we have Fall in Love like a Comic by Chitose Yagami.
It’s your typical Shojo Manga put out by Viz Media in the Shojo Beat section. Now normally I don’t read Shojo - anything, except for maybe Sailor Moon. Regardless the summary on the back, got my attention.
Basically Rena Sakura is your typical High School Student in Japan. Nothing unusual there. However, she’s not your typical student. On the side she is secretly a professional Mangaka. In fact with most of the young girls in her class, her Manga Cha♥mi is quite popular. This is most likely attributed to the fact that Rena writes “Manga that’s a little risque.” -Page Six- However and here’s the Ironic part, she has never been on a date before.
My first thoughts, when I finally opened this little gem was that the art style was akin to Clamps in the facial features. In fact Rena looks a little bit like Sakura from Card Captor Sakura. This includes some of her antics, however that’s where the similarities end, but then I got a glimpse of the male lead, Tomoya Okita. My first thought’s strange as they were, was that this character was the love child between Toya and Yukito. -Again Card Captor Sakura- If that were ever possible.
Regardless I moved on and read the book, having several laugh out loud moments when Rena decides to ask this main bishi lead out to “study” relationships so that her Manga could have more depth and realisim. However she really had no idea what she was getting herself into when she runs the risk of falling in love.
The irony of the situation here, is that while she writes Shojo, she’s never had a boyfriend before, and has never experianced a single thing she’s ever written about. That is till she’s met Tomoya. Hilarious, laugh out loud and gut bursting antics are to be had within these pages.
It really puts a perspective on why some comics seem to have more depth while others don’t.
Perhaps Chitose is on the right track, to have your comic or Manga to feel even more real, it would be a good idea to *know* what it’s really like, and to draw upon those feelings.
I found this Manga to be a rather good read. I’m looking forward to getting my hands on Volume two! In fact I better put this series on my discount List at IrBen Entertainment.