Our fun slate of manga and light novel releases this week includes the latest volumes of 7th Time Loop, A Condition Called Love, Medaka Kuroiwa, and The Ice Guy and the Cool Girl! We’re also reviewing the new volume of Dandadan, set to release next week, and a throwback, too—a short story collection from Full Metal Panic. Enjoy!

7th Time Loop: The Villainess Enjoys a Carefree Life Married to Her Worst Enemy! (Vol. 5) • A Condition Called Love (Vol. 8) • Dandadan (Vol. 8) • Full Metal Panic! Short Stories: Collector’s Edition 2 • The Ice Guy and the Cool Girl (Vol. 5) • Medaka Kuroiwa Is Impervious to My Charms (Vol. 4)

Full Metal Panic! Short Stories: Collector’s Edition 2, Light Novel

What a joyous throwback to the past! It’s been several years since I watched a Full Metal Panic anime (2018’s Invisible Victory) and way longer since I picked up a volume of the light novel, but after a few pages, it was like no time had passed at all; well, that, and as if decades had. The familiarity is because these are treasured characters and treasured story, and the short stories collections—this volume contains volumes four, five, and six of previously released side stories—are tonally on-point with the brighter, more slice-of-life aspects of the series. There’s a lot of time spent at Kaname’s high school here, and many of the stories are filled with slapstick humor and situations we would expect out of FMP and particularly season two, Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu (someone will have to tell me if these stories and those from the first collection were adapted into that season, as I’ve read, because it’s been too long since I’ve seen it!). The feeling of distance, though, is in realizing how things have changed in the LN and anime scene during the past two decades. While I fully enjoyed this collection, it does feel like a relic from the past. The way Kurz acts around Melissa when they first meet, for instance, had me thinking #MeToo, while Kaname slapping Sousuke with her fan might be a “What does that mean?” moment for readers under 25 years of age. But it was so much fun for me, a consistently well-written and fun series of stories. FMP fans should jump on this collection and be happy that it was licensed, but just be prepared to have to change gears when you fall back into this series. ~ Twwk

Full Metal Panic! Short Stories: Collector’s Edition is published by Yen Press.

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7th Time Loop: The Villainess Enjoys a Carefree Life Married to Her Worst Enemy!, Manga Vol. 5

“The only way to overcome your fear is to face it.” Rishe might have been able to disguise herself as a cadet, but Arnold discovers her secret when she is training with the other uprising knights! Not only that, she overhears a conversation between Arnold and Prince that could mean tragedy for Prince Kyle’s country and Galkhein. Once again I am amazed at Rishe! She is working through her own fears as well as learning about her desires and abilities, all the while trying to encourage Arnold and show him he is not the person people think he is. Plus, she is encouraging other people along the way too! It’s like her original dream to sit around and do nothing is going up in smoke more and more! Ha! Though I will say that while I knew Arnold was always super intimidating, this volume really showed how intimidating he can be. When he was talking to Prince Kyle, I was shocked at how Rishe didn’t shy away from his cold words and that Prince Kyle didn’t shy away from his overwhelming aura. Granted, I know that Arnold has a kind heart, because I think as Rishe pointed out, he has always respected her. He never once scolded her for the crazy things she does, but instead supports and encourages her in his own way. I might have been a little nervous about that one thing he said on the balcony, but I do agree with Rishe that it seemed like a plea for help. That leads me to say that I was excited about how this volume ended and how the next volume will unfold! Plus, Theodore! I love it when he and Rishe are in cahoots together, because it’s always to help Arnold in some way, even if it sounds like they aren’t. Ha! Overall, another very good volume that leaves me excited for the next one! ~ Laura A. Grace

7th Time Loop: The Villainess Enjoys a Carefree Life Married to Her Worst Enemy! is published by Seven Seas.

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Medaka Kuroiwa Is Impervious to My Charms, Manga Vol. 4

After sorting out a misunderstanding which arose between her and Medaka at the end of volume three, Mona thinks her plan to win over the one boy at school who seems impervious to her charms is progressing smoothly. But the course of true love never did run smooth, especially since she’s still doggedly clinging to the story that she’s totally not into him. Her (totally not) rival in (totally not) love, Asahi Shonan, continues charging hard to get noticed by senpai, but the biggest complication may come from another source entirely. Mona’s childhood friend Tomo Nanba just moved to Tokyo and transferred into her high school. Mona might have remade herself into a cutesy Tokyo girl par excellence when her family moved away from Osaka, but Tomo wears her bombastic, uninhibited Kansai personality on her sleeve. She can also read Mona like a book and has a mischievous love of poking holes in her best friend’s persona. With friends like this, Mona has little need of enemies… The side characters get some time to shine in this volume, and it’s good for the main characters that they do.  Our two leading ladies may hide it behind different personas, but at their core they’re a pair of romantically awkward girls who’d be perfectly happy to let Medaka chivalrously take the lead—if he would ever take the hint. Without their best friends to give them the occasional kick in the pants, we might get stuck in an eternal holding pattern. Tomo and Minami also seem to enjoy nudging their friends forward partly for personal amusement, as well as a desire to see them succeed, but hey, that’s the price Mona and Asahi pay for being so hesitant in the game of love. And on Medaka’s side, his two friends from school are rather standard “manga rom-com best friend guys” in a lot of ways, but at least they have the advantage of not being obnoxiously horny and cluelessly inept (looking at you Rent-A-Girlfriend and The Dangers In My Heart). They push Medaka to loosen up and stop being so serious about everything, but they also try to get where he’s coming from and understand there are some limits to appropriate behavior beyond simply what they can or can’t get away with. To keep forcing my “fast food” analogy for this manga, these side characters are the side order of fries. Not the reason you came into the restaurant, but they elevate the combo meal noticeably when made properly. ~ WacOtaku

Medaka Kuroiwa Is Impervious to My Charms is published by Kodansha.

READ Reviews of Medaka Kuroiwa Is Impervious to My Charms: Vol. 1 // Vol.2 // Vol.3

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Dandadan, Manga Vol. 8

The important panels in Dandadan volume eight aren’t the super cool ones early in the story featuring famous classical composers like Bach and Beethoven in their big-headed, demon form or those involving the bulk of the book which focus on Okarun’s growth as a young man as he takes on the responsibility of finding a way to help Evil Eye, but an unassuming one in that latter story. It’s where Momo is falling from the sky and, when previous volumes and every law of manga assumes that readers will see an extreme fanservice shot, we don’t see anything of the sort. We get PG-friendly panels instead. And thus Yukinobu Tatsu has completely a slow and back-and-forth transition in his creative, cool, and humorous series, from one that also indulges in sexual depictions of characters who look and act their age to allowing what’s really good about the story to shine without wedging that type of material in. Yes, fanservice will surely remain part of Dandanan, but the trend has shown that Yukinobu sensei is largely leaving the worse kind behind and focusing more on the sort that has always added to his story—humorous male-focused fanservice. A weird thing to celebrate, but it’s a strong choice both creatively and morally, and makes the series more enjoyable. And while volume eight isn’t Dandadan at its best—the story with Evil Eye feels like very quick closure to an overly long arc—these pages are ridiculously funny, including the introduction of a nerdy-type who wants Momo’s attention and tries to get it through acting in a way he presumes she likes. The volume is worth the purchase for these pages alone. But the point is this—the humor, the cool designs, the great two-page spreads—these are all the more punctuated when the cringe fanservice goes away. And now, I believe, you’ll see Dandadan, also set to hit your streaming device soon in its anime form, in all its ridiculous and cool glory. ~ Twwk

Dandadan is published by VIZ Media. Volume 8 releases on July 16th.

READ Reviews of Dandadan: Vol. 1 // Vol. 2 // Vol. 3 // Vol. 4 // Vol. 5 // Vol. 6 // Vol. 7

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The Ice Guy and the Cool Girl, Manga Vol. 5

“I had no idea that cheering for someone with all your might could make your heart race so much.” Oh, how I feel the same way when reading this story, Fuyutsuki! Another volume where I was squealing and kicking my feet, but also flying through pages because of that business trip chapter! EEEEEPPP! But backing up, sparks, er, blizzards are flying everywhere in this latest volume because Fuyutsuki has invited Himuro to her place! Not only will that be a time he can spend alone with her, but what’s he going to do when they also have to take a business trip together?! This series really is a slow burn, but this volume gave lots when it came to the romance! I’m very excited to know that Fuyutsuki really is starting to view Himuro differently, but poor Himuro! There was lots of confused and shocked hail, and I felt bad for him because you do have it right, Himuro! I think you’re just going to have to give Fuyutsuki some time so she can realize what her feelings actually are. I really liked the sports festival as well as the bonus chapter! I never tire of seeing Himuro’s little snowmen, and deeply enjoyed seeing some old faces again. (Fuyutsuki’s best friend’s reaction was real! 100% me too! Ha!) Definitely another fun, sweet, and quick read that still has me feeling super happy after finishing it! ~ Laura A. Grace

The Ice Guy and the Cool Girl is published by Square Enix.

READ Reviews of The Ice Guy and the Cool Girl: Vol. 1 // Vol. 2 // Vol. 3 // Vol. 4

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A Condition Called Love, Manga Vol. 8

Hotaru and Hananoi are eagerly looking forward to summer break, where they can have even more “firsts” together, but when Hananoi’s father comes back home from traveling overseas and while Hotaru is visiting at Hananoi’s house, they might have a different “first” then either one of them expected! Rather than maybe spending time at the beach or pool, Hananoi is in another country, and our two love birds find themselves having their first long-distance relationship! When I realized that Hananoi would be going overseas, I was super bummed at first. However, I really loved seeing how steadfast he and Hotaru are. I haven’t ever doubted Hotaru’s feelings for Hananoi, but I think this is the first time we’ve seen just how deeply she cares for him. Plus her transparency in telling him she can’t smile for him right now due to a circumstance really made my heart go out to her. Hananoi, being the amazing young man he is, encourages her, saying that she doesn’t always have to have a smile on her face. In fact, seeing both of them be so real and honest with their feelings was my favorite part! On a different note, Yao really impressed me in this volume! I can see why Hotaru admires him, because it speaks so much about his character and how good of a guy he is to let her be. I feel bad that I thought the worst of him when the series first started. Ha…ha…ha… Moving on, this was a great volume! I was so happy to meet a bunch of other characters and see more of Hotaru’s family! It was even very fulfilling seeing our leads get to know the other’s family better too! I love these two so so so much and want nothing but happiness for them! ~ Laura A. Grace

A Condition Called Love is published by Kodansha.

READ Reviews of A Condition Called Love: Vol. 1 // Vol. 2 // Vol. 4 // Vol. 5 // Vol. 6 // Vol. 7

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“Reader’s Corner” is our way of embracing the wonderful world of manga, light novels, and visual novels, creative works intimately related to anime but with a magic all their own. Each week, our writers provide their thoughts on the works they’re reading—both those recently released as we keep you informed of newly published works, and those older titles that you might find as magical (or in some cases, reprehensible) as we do.