I’m inclined to write something promotional or commercial related to this week’s manga selections and Black Friday, but instead, I’ll simply say this: thank you, readers, for joining us every week. I hope our reviews are helpful to you. Happy Thanksgiving!

After God (Vol. 1) • April Showers Bring May Flowers (Vol. 1) • GOGOGOGO-GO GHOST! (Vol. 2) • Hirayasumi (Vol. 3) • I’m Quitting Heroing (Vol. 7) • If the Villainess and Villain Met and Fell in Love (Vol. 2) • My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999 (Vol. 3) • A Sinner of the Deep Sea (Vol. 2)

A Sinner of the Deep Sea, Manga Vol. 2

If volume one of A Sinner of the Deep Sea was a fun romp with a lot going for it, volume two leans more heavily into the plot and action—but at the expense of some of the fun and innovation. Mermaid Jo flees her people’s security forces to find her friend Ryuu’s human lover, to bring him a message from Ryuu (still under arrest for letting a human find out about her). But she accidentally swallows a pill that will turn her human in a short time, meaning she has a very brief window in which to make it to the surface and to land. She manages to make contact with Yuki, the human, and they plan how to rescue Ryuu—a plan which involves turning both of them into mermaids, and which leads them to discover a much darker plot being hatched among the merpeople. This volume raises a number of questions: If the pill is just “medicine,” how does it literally change the pants/skirts/lower clothes of whoever ingests it? Is it actually magic—is there magic in this world? And what on earth would make a mermaid fall for the extremely bland Yuki in the first place? I tend to sympathize with Jo’s first assessment of Yuki: “What a slack-jawed dork…!” But I can overlook such things for now, at least. The bigger issue to my mind is the abandonment of several innovative features of the story for more conventional tropes. First off, volume one focused on Jo as the snarky but supportive friend for Ryuu, who was the ditz in love. This is a dynamic that works, but volume two seems to be setting up Jo to be the real love interest for Yuki, first by providing some romantic tension between the two, and then by making Ryuu complicit (at least mildly) in the merpeople plot. I was really enjoying seeing the story of the starfish-crossed lovers from Jo’s perspective, so losing this angle feels like a letdown to me; and Ryuu’s complicitness seemed like too abrupt a shift in her personality—she doesn’t need a villain arc. Factor in Yuki’s blandness, plus a new side character with a rather creepy personality, and this volume doesn’t quite measure up to the first (and contains the same level of questionable fanservice as the previous one did). Still, I’m not ready to abandon it yet. Jo is still an enjoyable character, the merpeople plot has potential, and the political discord among the sea people themselves seems intriguing. I’ll give it at least one more volume and see where mangaka Akihito Tomi takes us. ~ NegativePrimes

A Sinner of the Deep Sea is published by Yen Press.

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April Showers Bring May Flowers, Manga Vol. 1

Hana believes that she is too ugly and too much of a wallflower to be a beautiful and compelling heroine like in the shoujo manga she reads. In spite of feeling that way, though, she often pictures herself being like those heroines, with one way being changing out the flowers in the classroom each day. Thinking she’ll never get caught, she’s shocked when the most handsome and popular guy in her class, Ueno, discovers her! Will his kind words lead to them having a friendship, and maybe even other classmates too? I had very high expectations when I started this volume because I had heard nothing but glowing things about it, and I was not disappointed! Oh my goodness, there was so much I loved about it that I’m not sure I could convey everything because it was wonderful in every way! I guess a good place to start is with our heroine Hana, who is so relatable! I truly do love it when a story starts with a female lead comparing her life to a shoujo manga, because even if in this case Hana felt like she never will have her own shoujo love story, I know that by the end she will. It feels like a sweet foreshadowing that makes the heartache worth it, because I was sooooo sad to see how unkind she was to herself! Sobs! Even if no one is openly mean to her, she really doesn’t see herself in a positive way at all, and it made me sad on her behalf more than once. However, even with that said, I laughed a lot because of her expressions and how she really was trying to avoid any trouble, only to find herself at the center of it. Ha! I’m very hopeful that she will start to see herself differently, because she is a lot of fun, kind, and very caring. Overall, I’m so excited to read more of this series! This first volume was wonderful, and I would definitely recommend it to those who are looking for a “chubby” female lead, a male lead who lights up the page, and lots of humor through storytelling and art! ~ Laura A. Grace

April Showers Bring May Flowers is published by Yen Press.

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My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999, Manga Vol. 3

Akane continues to thrive playing FoS with her new friends, but she slowly realizes that her feelings for Yamada are growing the more she gets to know him and sees his kindness. That all comes to a head when she and the other guild members attend a cultural festival at Yamada’s school where Eita makes a joke that Yamada and Akane should date since all the students think they are. In light of the misunderstandings and embarrassment that follows, when Akane gets sick with a fever, who should come to help her? Yamada. I really feel like this is the volume where the series really starts to take shape and has me much more invested in all the characters! Not saying I wasn’t before, since I’ve read this series digitally three to four times already, but this is the part/volume where I just couldn’t stop reading! I think a large part of that is because we’re seeing more of Yamada and how kind he is as a person. He was before now too, but it’s much more obvious that just because he may say something “cold,” it doesn’t mean that he is cold. Akane is wonderful as usual! I really found her relatable when she was sick and getting so worked up, because girl, same! I’m so emotional and cry about everything, and so I saw a lot of myself in her. My heart hurt for her, though, when she thought Yamada helping her was just a dream. Definitely an excellent volume, and I’m very, very excited to be rereading this series physically! Loving everyone growing closer, as the relationships in this series, romantically and platonically, are everything! ~ Laura A. Grace

My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999 is published by Inklore.

READ My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999 Vol. 1 Review

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If the Villainess and Villain Met and Fell in Love, Manga Vol. 2

The class president’s contracted wind spirit has gone berserk, leaving all the students’ lives, including Bridgitte’s, deeply at risk on the field! Not wanting to see anyone get hurt, she steps in to help the class president calm down despite her “no-name” contract spirit showing no signs of being there. Thankfully, Yuri came to help her when she could have gotten injured, but why did he come to save her? Could there be something more growing between them? I will never tire of a heroine who, for the majority of her life, has been talked down to, bullied, and ostracized but still chooses to help those around her, especially those who were the same people who were mean to her! Maybe that’s something “cliche” for shoujo manga, but no matter how many times I read it, I find it so incredibly inspiring and admirable! That is definitely what happened here in the opening chapter, and I got teary-eyed because right after Brigitte was ridiculed, she still put herself in danger and stepped in to help the class president. I side with Yuri, in that I really prefer she go to him for help rather than put herself in harm’s way, but it’s also her courage that makes me love her character so much, so I don’t know. Ha! I do hope, though, that she won’t be in any more danger, but with how Lisa has it out for Brigitte, I don’t feel that things are going to go smoothly… Past the opening chapter, I was thriving with all the sweet romance moments and need Brigitte and Yuri to just hurry up and get together! Ha! Yuri may be subtle in his feelings, but I have no doubts he knew what he was doing when giving that gift to Brigitte at the end! Eeeepppp! There were definitely several other moments and revelations that I loved in this volume, but I will stop there because much of what I want to talk about is spoilers; but please know this is a worthy sequel that is just as good as volume one! I’m overjoyed to know volume three comes out early next year because I will be picking it up and reading it! ~ Laura A. Grace

If the Villainess and Villain Met and Fell in Love is published by Yen Press.

READ If the Villainess and Villain Met and Fell in Love Vol. 1 Review

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I’m Quitting Heroing, Manga Vol. 7

Volume seven of I’m Quitting Heroing introduces a slew of new characters (well, one is kind of an exception—you’ll see when you read it) and takes the story into new, fun territory that has me excited for where the manga is going. Having arrived at Lake Amia, Leo and Mernes face a challenging opponent known as the “Demon King Slayer,” but this guardian’s existence and reason for fighting are more important than one mere mission—the raison d’etre opens the story up to a brand new adventure. Unlike the arc involving Virgo, this one is a little more optimistic, quite fitting with the overall tone of the series. Maybe that’s part of why I liked this volume so much; it’s wonderful to see Leo now fully embracing the person (or machine) he’s become and continuing to help others grow. And I have to say, the part in this volume involving Echidna is pretty adorable, making her even more likable than she’s been. I still don’t know exactly where this series is headed from a big-picture standpoint—other than apparently uniting all of Leo’s brethren in various ways as the realm grows toward a peaceful existence—but I’m enjoying it regardless. I’m Quitting Heroing continues to be a fun, heartfelt series, and one worth the investment. ~ Twwk

I’m Quitting Heroing is published by Yen Press.

READ Reviews of I’m Quitting Heroing: Vol. 1 // Vol. 2 // Vol. 3 // Vol. 4 // Vol. 5

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GOGOGOGO-GO GHOST!, Manga Vol. 2

I can’t say I was fully vibing with volume one of GOGOGOGO-GO GHOST!, with its heavy emphasis on Akechi and Masako’s vengeful spirit against others and how messy Akechi’s characters is. But volume two softens the series some, making it far more palatable. Yes, Akechi seeks just as much revenge against others, but her conscience shines through (mostly), and those on the cursed side of the grudge truly deserve what they have coming to them, like the guy who purposely knocks women over in the subway station or the swindler who takes advantage of women who live by themselves. What I liked most about this volume, though, is that the series has started to move out of the introductory material and is developing its story; for instance, Akechi comes face to face with her horrible ex, who seems to have an almost supernaturally powerful awfulness on his side, while the exorcist who is crushing on Akechi becomes a more vital part of the manga. Masako is as likable as ever, but I’m also appreciating the mess that is Akechi more and more; at the very least, I want to see her grow and find a place of happiness, which will have to come not through depending on her “Big Sis'” but by finding a better way to live. I’m eager to see her character mature and just generally for the story to continue to develop; I admit, too, that I’m finding it quite fun to see awful people receive some ghostly justice. ~ Twwk

GOGOGOGO-GO GHOST! is published by Yen Press.

READ GOGOGOGO-GO GHOST! Vol. 1 Review

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Hirayasumi, Manga Vol. 3

Relationships are as varied as the people involved in them. Hirayasumi, which in its short run has shown itself to be unusually perceptive in expressing both how complex and simple people are, demonstrates as much as it dives more deeply into the world of romantic relationships in volume three. And no surprise, it does so with as much gentleness, humor, and insight as I’ve come to expect from the manga. What’s particularly interesting here, though, is that into the presumed relationship between Tachibana and Hiroto is thrown a wrench in this volume, which leads to an entirely new wrinkle; meanwhile, Natsumi and Akari find themselves feeling very differently about possible romantic relationships at school, and Yomogi’s wife makes her first appearance. And all of these relationships and developments are endearing. There’s so much beauty to enjoy and wisdom to glean from reading the stories of the characters’ everyday lives, and plenty of humor and emotion to keep Hirayasumi from becoming soporific. In that way, the manga reminds me of a couple of my favorite slice-of-life anime films: In This Corner of the World and My Neighbors the Yamadas. Seeing as those are both fantastic, memorable works, that’s perhaps the highest praise I can give this series. It deserves that acclamation—and so much more. ~ Twwk

Hirayasumi is published by VIZ Media.

READ Reviews of Hirayasumi: Vol. 1 // Vol. 2

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After God, Manga Vol. 1

Dark, quirky series seem to be all the rage these days, with After God, a new series by mangaka Sumi Eno, joining Chainsaw Man and Fool Night in that popular subgroup of manga. But does it live up to the outstanding standard set by those two series? Well, no—not yet, at least. But there’s plenty to be excited about. The series opens with a young man named Tokinaga researching a dangerous, uninhabited area of Japan, when he stumbles upon a high school girl whom he believes is trying to take her own life by submitting to a “god,” one of the giant beings that have taken over half of Japan and lead humans to their deaths. But this girl, Waka, is more than she seems; so, too, is another young woman who appears on the scene and proves to be very dangerous. This Mexican standoff of sorts is just the opening to volume one, and there’s so much more than happens as well. Volume one does a nice job of introducing a great deal of mystery for the manga to explore, but it also structures the series immediately as a “human vs. god” story. As I mentioned, it falls right into that subset of manga that isn’t terrifically new but feels like it’s hitting a fever pitch lately. After God resembles Fool Night in its beautiful, often nature-focused artwork; it is similar to Chainsaw Man in character designs, humor, and grotesque and sometimes sexualized horror imagery. But even though it’s just as violent as those manga, After God is a lot more light-hearted, perhaps to its disadvantage. It’s also not as well-written—for instance, I rolled my eyes when Tokinaga had a “psych!” moment about 2/3 of the way through the volume. But I’m still intrigued by it all. I like the designs and art, and I appreciate the attempts at levity. The series could get old really quickly, but until then, I’m open to seeing where this dark sci-fantasy manga leads. ~ Twwk

After God is published by VIZ Media.

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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.