A ton of manga and light novel titles hit shelves today, and we’ve got you covered! Among the volumes we review below are the newest releases for Hirayasumi, The Way of the Househusband, Agents of the Four Season, and Oshi no Ko. But there are plenty of other reviews as well! Take a look and see what we’re recommending this week!
Agents of the Four Seasons: Dance of Spring • Chitose Is in the Ramune Bottle (Vol. 7) • Cosmos (Vol. 2) • Farewell, Daisy: Jun Mayuzuki Short Story Collection • Hirayasumi (Vol. 6) • Lycoris Recoil Official Comic Anthology: Reload (Vol. 1) • Oshi no Ko (Vol. 11) • The Way of the Househusband (Vol. 14) • You Can’t Live All on Your Own! (Vol. 1)
Agents of the Four Seasons: Dance of Spring, Manga Vol. 3
Insurgents are attacking the house of Summer, trapping the agents and guards of Spring and Summer within. This is Sakura’s chance to prove herself to Lady Hinagiku, showing the goddess of Spring just how much she’s trained and grown since they were children, when she failed to protect her beloved friend from kidnapping. Meanwhile, on the estate of Autumn, a new child agent arises, as her adult carers both scheme to manipulate her and show they can’t resist indulging her. When Autumn is attacked too, though, it’s clear that things are getting serious for the deities of the seasons and their devoted guards. Is someone trying to undermine the whole system? *heaves a heavy sigh* This volume really dragged. The first two-thirds added barely anything to the plot or character stories and could have been wrapped up in a chapter or two at most. Things pick up with the introduction of Autumn, but…the relationship dynamics are just, well, kinda off, hinting at child-adult romance. To be honest, the Summer twins’ relationship is also edging increasingly toward “wink wink” territory, while the Spring pair takes codependency to a whole new level. I’ll admit it: I’m struggling with this one and won’t be continuing with the manga. But I do still have some trust in the original LN author, Kana Akatsuki, who brought us the pure loveliness that is Violet Evergarden, so I’m going to hope that these issues are confined to the manga adaptation (poor pacing, some illustration choices, etc.) and instead wait for the anime adaptation that will be coming our way from Wit Studio. After all, the worldbuilding is really interesting, and the mystery has hooks; it’s just stalled for me with the manga adaptation. So, to be continued in another format… ~ claire
Agents of the Four Seasons: Dance of Spring is published by Yen Press.
READ Reviews of Agents of the Four Seasons: Vol. 1 // Vol. 2
[Oshi no Ko], Manga Vol. 11
Kana Arima once again comes into focus in volume eleven of Oshi no Ko as she’s photographed leaving the home of a famous director in the wee hours of the morning. The surprise in this volume isn’t about Kana and her life and career, even if they are of course vital to the storyline—it’s what happens in response to her not-quite-an-indiscretion. And that’s the greatest appeal of volume eleven, one of the briskest reads in the whole OnK canon because it moves the story leaps and bounds in a matter of a few chapters. But after having so much structure and moving bit by bit for many volumes, is that a good thing? I can’t quite say, but I think it might be. One thing I’ve realized just recently is that while Ruby’s grown in prominence in recent chapters and Aqua has always really been the main character, their “hearts” have gotten lost—amid all the good stuff this series has to offer, but lost nonetheless. Where are Sarina and Gorou? Other than a vengeance born out of passion driving them both, are they still there inside their new skins? It seems like volume eleven is trying to remind us that they are, with a decision by Aqua that alters his relationship with Ruby. I’m eager to see how the series, now more two-thirds complete, ultimately resolves, and if speeding towards that resolution is the right route. Even if it’s not, in isolation, volume eleven is a thrilling read, giving us a situation with Kana that’s worrying, allowing Mem-Cho to be the most upfront she’s been about her care for the other girls, and providing a bit of shocker in the final chapter because, hey, this is Oshi no Ko. ~ Twwk
Oshi no Ko is published by Yen Press.
READ Reviews of Oshi no Ko: Vol. 1 // Vol. 2 // Vol. 3 // Vol. 4 // Vol. 5 // Vol. 6 // Vol. 7 // Vol. 8 // Vol. 9 // Vol. 10
Farewell, Daisy: Jun Mayuzuki Short Story Collection, Manga
It’s painfully difficult to say anything of substance in a one-shot, but there are at least signs of meaningful messages in this “short story” collection of works by Jun Mayuzuki of After the Rain and Kowloon Generic Romance fame. Mayuzuki is concerned with women finding their identity as they navigate the challenges of life, including relationships, jobs, sex, and more. The stories here all deal with these concepts, and fans of Mayuzuki will immediately recognize her writing style, themes, and artwork. But After the Rain (which I love) and Kowloon Generic Romance (which I felt sputtered off) these are not. It’s always taken time for Mayuzuki to say what she wants, so she mostly just leaves us with questions more than veering into answers, and I think leaning into humor and sex (this collection earns its parental warning label and shrinkwrap) is how she means to keep us entertained. Strangely enough, it’s the least sexy story—and the one least concerned with commentary—that I thought was best. The three-chapter “Refreshing Psychedelic” features an odd but earnest lead and quirky humor that works very well. Most of the rest of the collection aren’t interesting enough to become longer works, which is perhaps why they never did. However, Mayuzuki aficionados will certainly want to pick this manga up; the rest of us are better off rereading After the Rain. ~ Twwk
Farewell, Daisy: Jun Mayuzuki Short Story Collection is published by Yen Press.
Chitose Is in the Ramune Bottle, Manga Vol. 7
Volume seven is the perfect example of the downsides of a romance manga that’s just good enough to keep you engaged but poorly written enough that it ends up taking some missteps—and in this volume, one of those missteps is a cringy scene bordering on sexual assault. We’ll get to that in a minute, but first a reminder of where we are. Chitose is pretending to be Nanase’s boyfriend to give her a buffer against a boy claiming to be her ex who is now stalking her. Nanase’s challenges are two-fold—both from within, as others in her class and even in her friend group are not happy with her “relationship”—and without, as the manga does a really good job of showing what feels like an authentic, terrified response to a stalker. But this is a romance manga, and so it can’t get too creepy, so volume seven has Chitose force himself on Nanase as an attempt to wake her up to reality and push her to become stronger. Yep, this series goes there. It is such a cringe-inducing scene. I read it in the light novels too, but don’t remember it having the impact it does here in the manga, where the visual element makes it seem all the more gross. But this series means to pass this scene off both as a doki-doki moment and as an example of how dedicated and smart Chitose is. The truth, of course, is that it’s neither and makes Chitose look really, really bad. Another layer is this: Chitose is—this scene aside (a really big aside)—actually a pretty likable character, though not the kind that would attract a harem, much less one that acts in the very odd way it does. You would be forgiven if you dropped the series here (I ended up dropping the light novels another arc or two past this one), though readers who enjoy a melodramatic, tropey romance manga may continue to find this one entertaining. ~ Twwk
Chitose Is in the Ramune Bottle is published by Yen Press.
READ Reviews of Chitose Is in the Ramune Bottle: Vol. 1 // Vol. 2 // Vol. 3 // Vol. 4 // Vol. 5 // Vol. 6
You Can’t Live All on Your Own!, Manga Vol. 1
Shuuko has reached the age where every other email she receives is an e-invite to a friend’s wedding. It’s a shock to the system—where have her twenties gone?—and may just be the wake-up call she needs, only waking up to what, exactly? Fortunately, Shuuko isn’t alone as she navigates the unexpectedly turbulent waters of her final months as a twenty-something, since she lives with three similarly-aged housemates, each of whom has a slightly different answer to what it’s all about, this thing called adulting. For Eika, building up her career is key at this stage in life, while for Shio, it’s all about work-life balance and enjoying the moment, especially when it comes to ordering luxurious foodstuffs (which her housemates never complain about!). Meanwhile, Misaki is determined to turn her boyfriend-who-didn’t-realize-they-were-dating into marriage material and make things official. On one level, there’s a lot going on in this slice-of-adult-life series, since the theme that brings this cast together is not at all a shared undertaking, but rather the disparate ways in which they respond to the conundrum of finding yourself older than you expected and needing to figure life out. There’s no time for hobbies here or learning a new skill. It’s more an emotional slice-of-life than an educational one. And honestly, I’m here for it. It’s so rare to get a cast of adults in manga, let alone ones whose stories aren’t escapist or healing in the tradition of iyashikei, but are instead, well, very much everyday. The challenges and mundanities they face are familiar to any adult, as are the more serious quandaries, but that’s what makes this such a charming volume. No great drama or profound answers, just quiet solidarity, as mangaka Mizoko Tsuno seems to be saying to a generation of women, “I hear you. I see you.” Most welcome! ~ claire
You Can’t Live All on Your Own! is published by TokyoPop.
Cosmos, Manga Vol. 2
It’s still early in the series run, but Cosmos is already displaying the potential to be a really special series—as well as the type of content that would transition well to an anime adaptation. A mixture of buddy cop series with sci-fi action elements, featuring humor, mystery, hints at romance, and tons of heart, Cosmos has been highly entertaining so far. There are two main stories in volume two, with the latter being a standout. A “demon adopts daughter” storyline, it compares well to the Acrobatic Silky one in Dandadan; this similar story is subtler, better-written, and warmer too. And it also adds a thread of connection to what appears to be a deeper tale in the series involving Homura—who, by the way, is such a fun lead with her OP abilities and dry humor. The adopted daughter story also features cool action, which isn’t especially dynamic here in the manga, but could be fleshed out by an anime studio. Back on the manga, though: I’m really enjoying the mashup of intergalactic mystery with humor and coming-of-age; it’s working together nicely and leading to a series with a tone that feels fresh and breezy. Cosmos is a cool series. ~ Twwk
Cosmos is published by VIZ Media.
Read Cosmos Vol. 1 Review
Hirayasumi, Manga Vol. 6
Even if life doesn’t go the way you planned, even if you’re struggling, lost, or disappointed—that doesn’t mean that you’re not significant. That you aren’t worthy. That you aren’t on the right path. This is maybe the primary theme of Hirayasumi, with all its characters facing challenges of some sort, from more minor (and even cute) ones like the first fight in a relationship to really troubling ones, like the guilt over not being able to bear children. What the manga does so well is to humanize the characters going through these sometimes overwhelmingly sad circumstances by presenting a fuller view of them as people with flaws and wonderful traits, like Hiroto, who in this volume finds a project that he hopes will help him carve a path forward when his chill personality has caused him and others trouble in the past, or Yomogi, whose harsh and selfish exterior belies kindness and good nature, the latter coming out during a drunken episode. The series also impresses the idea that it’s okay to be sitting in the in-between, in the space where we might feel like we’re flailing; volume six hits this theme very heavily during Hiroto and Natsumi’s intertwining stories. Volume six is a treasure—a beautiful and warm series of chapters for a manga that is already remarkable and continues to be on the rise. A final note—my favorite chapter in this volume involved Natsumi’s 60ish-year-old manga editor, not a usual pick for a character receiving focus in a series of mostly young adults. But it’s a story of grace that fits perfectly in this gracious and graceful series. ~ Twwk
Hirayasumi is published by VIZ Media.
READ Reviews of Hirayasumi: Vol. 1 // Vol. 2 // Vol. 3 // Vol. 4 // Vol. 5
The Way of the Househusband, Manga Vol. 14
I hate to admit it, but The Way of the Househusband has lost some of its shine. Now in its fourteenth volume, that’s to be expected—despite shifting situations and really well-crafted jokes, there’s a feeling of repetition and a lack of the surprise that contributed to the uproarious humor of earlier volumes. That doesn’t mean it’s not a worthwhile read, though; in fact, the series remains solidly funny and a really clever work. Kousuke Oono has added so much color to the neighborhood in which the actions takes place and has created such a large cast that he’s able to pick and choose from situations, people, and places, and make fun scenarios—like the adoption of a fearsome cat by the surprisingly-impoverished ane-san, or the increasingly high stakes game of trading collectable cards that involves corruption and the series’ otaku characters. This is such a well-written comedy and has such a feel-good vibe to it. It may not make me laugh out loud as much as it once did, but it’s still a vital part of my reading schedule. What a wonderful series! ~ Twwk
The Way of the Househusband is published by VIZ Media.
READ Reviews of The Way of the Househusband: Vol. 3 // Vol. 4 // Vol. 5 // Vol. 6 // Vol. 7 // Vol. 8 // Vol. 9 // Vol. 10 // Vol. 11 // Vol. 12 // Vol. 13
Lycoris Recoil Official Comic Anthology: Reload, Manga Vol. 1
I tend to like anthology collections—I typically have the best time reading different takes on a beloved series. After all, what’s not to like? Fans get to see their favorite character portrayed in unexpected and fun ways! And that’s meant to be true here in volume one of Reload as well. But in this Lycoris Recoil anthology, nothing rises above the level of mediocrity. I started to forget the stories immediately after reading them; there just weren’t any fresh or memorable moments in any of the chapters. Even the one chapter at that concludes this piece—one that was meant to be poignant—didn’t elicit an emotional response from me. Some chapters were far worse—boring, too short, or meandering. And then there’s the innuendo, fanservice, and…Takina barking like a dog?! Yep, there’s some weirdness in this collection, with certain scenes standing out because the fanservice extends beyond the boundaries set in the original series (which really tried to walk this fine line), as well as moments that were simply out of character. The chapters were created mostly by artists who do adaptation manga, and while their artwork is fine, they honestly didn’t feel like fans of the show beyond liking the cuteness and hints at Chisato x Takina. Ultimately, this volume is lacking—a shame, because as a fan, I want as much Lycoris Recoil as possible. Future works adapting, anthologizing, or adding to the series are coming from Yen Press; let’s hope they’re more carefully developed than this collection. ~ Twwk
Lycoris Recoil Official Comic Anthology: Reload, Vol. 1 is published by Yen Press.
“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.
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