Reader’s Corner: Mujina Into the Deep (Vol. 1), Hirayasumi (Vol. 4), and The Eminence in Shadow (Vol. 11)

The Eminence in Shadow gets back on track, Twwk learns how to keep up with who’s who in Ako and Bambi, violent and beautiful assassins leap from rooftops in the opening volume of Mujina Into the Deep, and more on this week’s Reader’s Corner!

365 Days to the Wedding (Vol. 3) • Ako and Bambi (Vol. 4) • The Eminence in Shadow (Vol. 11) • Hirayasumi (Vol. 4) • Mujina Into the Deep (Vol. 1) • Too Many Losing Heroines (Vol. 1)

The Eminence in Shadow, Manga Vol. 11

After fumbling the last arc, The Eminence in Shadow returns to form here in volume eleven as Cid travels to the Oriana Kingdom to disrupt Perv’s plans to marry Rose and take over control of the land on behalf of the Cult of Diablos. Now this is exactly what the series does so well, blending unrelenting action sequences that are unforgiving as seemingly vital characters are killed off while dropping joke after joke after joke. Is there a funnier action/adventure lead right now than Cid? I don’t think so. His combination of cluelessness and immense power lead to laugh-out-loud humor volume after volume. Actually, correction—that unrelenting humor has been largely missing the last several volumes, so seeing the series return to its heights with so many gags once again filling these chapters really gets me excited. This is the manga I fell in love with! And, surprisingly, by this point, I’ve also warmed to many of the characters, like Oriana, Epsilon, and Cid himself. This is a fantastic series and in volume eleven is at its best. ~ Twwk

The Eminence in Shadow is published by Yen Press.

READ Reviews of The Eminence in Shadow (Manga): Vol. 1 // Vol. 2 // Vol. 3 // Vol. 4 // Vol. 5 // Vol. 6 // Vol. 7 // Vol. 8 // Vol. 9 // Vol. 10

Ako and Bambi, Manga Vol. 4

With mangaka HERO’s character relationship chart in hand, I navigated Ako and Bambi with confidence for the first time in volume four. Until now, the series has been confusing for me because I just can’t get a tab on who these characters are besides the titular duo and Ako’s “real” self, Yamashiro. It’s a shame, because the series is illustrated in such a charming manner—eight panels per page featuring cute character design and in a simple style reminiscent of older newspaper comics, but with just a touch of color added. It’s also sweet and increasingly thoughtful; this volume, for instance, explores Ako’s true nature further and dives right into the unexpressive Bambi’s feelings for Ako, while adding further depth to virtually all of the other characters. But Bambi and Ako receive especially strong treatment in volume four from HERO, who makes Ako more complex than just the positive, excitable girl she appears to be, Bambi more than the “go with the flow” character he is on the surface, and Yamashiro more emotional than she’s willing to let on in front of others. Volume four is also exciting because the fated meeting between Ako’s two halves draws nearer and nearer. But alas, I can’t keep track of all these similar-looking characters—at least that’s how I felt until using that illustration. It helped so much! I could more fully enjoy this wonderful series as I referred back to the chart and drilled these characters into my mind. Hallelujah! If you’ve struggled in that arena like I have, I strongly recommend you keep the chart handy—it’ll help you understand and enjoy this otherwise wonderful, wonderful manga. ~ Twwk

Ako and Bambi is published by Yen Press.

Read Reviews of Ako and Bambi: Vol. 1 // Vol. 2 // Vol. 3

Hirayasumi, Manga Vol. 4

The humor and stress that comes as you find your way in life is what Hirayasumi is all about. Ultimately an optimistic look at adulthood, I love how this series nonetheless doesn’t shy away from the challenges of everyday life. For instance, in volume four, Natsumi struggles with revealing her true self (the mangaka side) to both her fellow students and parents, Hiroto realizes he can’t stay happy-go-lucky forever, and Akari struggles with her self-worth. But as many series of this type emphasize—but with special heart and authenticity in Hiyarasumi—kindness, sincerity, and love can help you face obstacles and overcome them. This is a wonderful theme and a special manga. I should note, though, that I’m a bit worried about it being able to continue being as good as has been. There are quite a few characters in Hirayasumi now, and it feels like the mangaka is perhaps moving a tad bit too quickly through the primary ones’ storylines, which leads to less emotional impact. The pages featuring Granny here, for instance, don’t hit the heart as strongly as past ones have. It could be that I’m just “used” to such scenes by now, but that itself presents a problem. Let’s see if Hirayasumi can continue to be meaningful and heartfelt while spinning out so many stories. ~ Twwk

Hirayasumi is published by VIZ Media.

READ Reviews of Hirayasumi: Vol. 1 // Vol. 2 // Vol. 3

Mujina Into the Deep, Manga Vol. 1

Intense. Philosophical. Political. Graphic. Volume one of Mujina Into the Deep is captivating from virtually every perspective—the characters, the content, the illustrations, and the story. It explodes with two “pre-chapters” that show female assassins known as “mujina” who—in a future where society cares for all its people but restricts their freedom—represent that very freedom coveted especially by young people. But the irony of the situation is that mujina are virtual slaves, giving up their rights as humans and often living on the rooftops, which are unmonitored zones. One of the mujina is an “older” woman named Ubume, who is nonetheless deadly; another is Tenko, a social media superstar who lives a violent and provocative life. The two will clash as they work their missions, and meeting them in a violent showdown will also be Terumi, a video game company CEO who can best be described as that old man who wishes things were like they used to be, and a runaway girl, Juno. The story flies in these opening chapters; mangaka Inio Asano, best known for his surrealist work, Oyasumi Punpun, knows how to captivate readers. Warning: There is a lot of sexuality and graphic violence in volume one, and I imagine that will continue throughout the series. However, what shines just as strongly is a vision of the future which Terumi sees as creating young people who have no motivation to become more than the government shapes them to be. Astute followers of politics will immediately analyze the liberal and conservative perspectives in the series, though, at this point, it’s hard to say what Asano ultimately wishes to convey in his work. I can see myself tiring of the philosophical notes or perhaps feeling that the graphic nature of the material is too much to take, but at this early juncture, I’m entranced by it all and eager to see where the story goes from here. ~ Twwk

Mujina Into the Deep is published by VIZ Media.

Too Many Losing Heroines, Vol. 1

What happens to the childhood friends, genki girls, oddballs, and other “heroines” in romance series after lose to the winning girl? That’s the concept behind the romcom light novel series Too Many Losing Heroines, which recently received an anime adaptation (which includes the shortened version of the Japanese title, Makeine). If you’ve watched the anime, this volume will seem so familiar that you’ll feel like you’re watching again: It’s full of energy (not just through the three girls here—popular and charming Anna, sporty and kind Lemon, and shy and awkward Chika—but the protagonist Kazuhiko’s inner monologue) and a lot of fun as the characters begin to navigate love and the fallout from being the “losing heroine.” The momentum starts right from the beginning with Anna’s loss and carries pretty well through the entire volume. It features a ton of dialogue and lots of laughs, so though the volume is thick, it’s actually quite a quick read (lots of white space as well). I picked the series up because I thought it might translate better in its original form; I found the anime to ultimately be lacking in what I was hoping for—a smart celebration of all the girls we actually love more from romcom series than the heroines. However, I discovered that the anime very tightly adapted the novel. In other words, there’s not a lot of depth here, but if you’re looking for a fun romp and are a fan of romcom tropes, there’s still plenty to enjoy. ~ Twwk

Too Many Losing Heroines is published by Seven Seas Entertainment.

365 Days to the Wedding, Manga Vol. 3

The fake marriage in 365 Days to the Wedding is a fun plot device that leads to all sorts of interesting situations—like the visit to Oohara’s hometown in this volume to explain that the engagement isn’t real—but at its heart, this series is really just a lovely romance featuring two kind people who have ended up becoming adults who are socially awkward and generally fearful of people. Oohara and Honjouji want to be friendlier and more out-going, but they’ve let their past hurts, introversion, and family issues carry them into seeing the world with fearful eyes. And so, it’s not easy to for them to admit to one another that they might like to see their fake relationship blossom into something more—and it’s realistic in that sense, too. It’s slow going for this couple, despite being engaged! But the character growth is what helps to make 365 Days to the Wedding an engaging read. There are going to be many, many road blocks—in fact, the challenges for both Oohara and Honjouji are so sizeable we as readers wonder if they will be able to overcome them. Ultimately, I think that’s what going to make this “relationship” fulfilling—though the occasional trope like a drunken confession or a beautiful love rival (both of which are featured in this volume)—help the story along, too! ~ Twwk

365 Days to the Wedding is published by Seven Seas Entertainment.

READ Reviews of 365 Days to the Wedding: Vol. 1 // Vol. 2

“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.

Twwk
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6 thoughts on “Reader’s Corner: Mujina Into the Deep (Vol. 1), Hirayasumi (Vol. 4), and The Eminence in Shadow (Vol. 11)”

  1. […] Jackson P. Brown gives high marks to Legs That Won’t Walk, a “compelling, shocking” and “spicy” gangster drama… Erica Friedman reviews a recent issue of Galette… Megan D. checks out the first volume of Yakuza Fiance… and the latest installment of The Reader’s Corner offers succinct reviews of Ako and Bambi, Mujina into the Deep, and Hirayasumi. […]

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