This is my first time writing a review so please bear this with me haha.
I personally believe that this is NOT a fetishization of abuse and suicide. The emotions are raw and the art only amplifies it. Do remember that the entire manga is 4 chapters long with an extra bonus one where it's just another cute flashback and you can practically read the entire volume within 40 minutes.
(Spoilers ahead? I'm not sure) Story&Character: 8 - Art&Enjoyment:10 - Overall: 9
Story & Character: 8 - I give the overall story and character(s) an 8 as with only 4 chapters you can really only do so much
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and it gives a great one throughout the entire run. We are introduced to the main character Tomoyo Shiino at the beginning just having a meal and hearing that her friend Mariko committed suicide. We are given flashbacks throughout the story that gives the readers the details between Shiino and Mariko's relationship. We are shown the beginnings between Shiino and Mariko where they start off in elementary school, then to middle school, then to high school, then adult life before and after Mariko passes. It's clearly shown that the love, whether romantic or platonic, between the two girls are true and strong between each other. We then notice that Mariko becomes obsessive sometime in high school and then develops the personality in which she loves/wants to make Shiino worry for her and to yell at her. I don't know how people can see this story as a fetishization of suicide in my opinion, as it gives a new insight to the change in personality between those who are abused and what could have led them to commit suicide. People like Mariko develop a twisted perspective and obsessive personality that makes them unable to really feel any emotions as they grow up. This can be seen when Mariko is obviously upset and crying when her dad beat her up during elementary and middle school, but sometime around the end of high school and adulthood she doesn't care anymore when she's beat up and seems to approach it as something she actually deserves and wants. Shiino on the other hand obviously cares about Mariko and still stays true to her love and friendship with her especially after Mariko's passing. OF COURSE THE CHARACTERS ESPECIALLY SHIINO ARE GOING TO BE CRYING AND YELLING, BECAUSE THERE ARE THOSE WHO ARE UNSTABLE WITH THEIR MIND AFTER A LOVED ONES PASSING. Throughout the story, Shiino is the only one really crying and screaming besides Mariko's father though not as extreme compared to Shiino. This establishes the difference between Shiino and the rest of the world as she seems to be the only one grieving for the loss of Mariko(if you don't want to include her father). Shiino REALLY cared about Mariko and tried to make due with what they missed out on when they were younger and when Shiino was busy due to her job by taking her remains from her father and going out. There are several character interactions that I won't write since I don't want to spoil it for anyone.
- Reason why I'm giving it an 8 and not a 10 is because there are obviously more things that could have been added, and some parts become confusing in the story or are just unnecessary for it to become a 'perfect' read.
Art: 10 - The art is expressive and Waka Hirako is amazing at portraying raw expressions even while adding some humor in the mix.
Enjoyment: 10 - As I said, the story can be read entirely within 30-40 minutes. As a short story and a quick read, MY enjoyment rating is a 10 because it delivers emotions nicely and the art and interactions between the characters are great and albeit realistic. I think what also made the story enjoyable is its humor. There are times where topics about suicide and abuse tend to be fetishized by making the characters too pitiable, too sad, and the story being outright depressing to the point where the story becomes unbearable to read just because it focuses heavily on the sad part and not anything else. My Broken Mariko does a good job of adding humor and other emotions such as anger, confusion, love/compassion in the mix while staying true to the subject matter. The humor is added to lighten the mood and to make the depressing moments even more sad. The anger, confusion, and love/compassion etc. are added in a timely manner when they matter the most.
Overall: 9 - OBVIOUSLY this is not /the/ best manga there is especially when tackling the subject of suicide and abuse, but with all my heart I can definitely say that this is one of the best that I've read so far about the topic. I feel like a lot of people forget that depressed and suicidal people have more emotions that being sad and happy in the past. Not all depressed and suicide people are pitiable and empathetic, there are people such as Mariko who become unlikeable and tend to be one of the people you want to avoid. This story was refreshing to read due to it's content that involves more than the sad and negative tones often displayed in depressing manga. I'd give this a 10/10 just for the enjoyment alone and making me cry. The funny part is, the parts where I cried where also the supposedly funny parts in the story. Do note that this story isn't really supposed to be a manga that "teaches" about suicide and abuse, but more so on a different perspective/outlook about the effects it has on certain people. There are times where people REALLY want someone to be the bad guy where they feel nothing at all, and there are times where people want to show a different side of someone who is supposed to be a bad guy. This doesn't ruin anything but add on to how even if you feel remorseful about what you've done to a certain person and regret your actions, you can and will never be forgiven whether fully or partially as your past actions are too heavy and too sinister to even ignore.
Side note: This manga as well as several others are very personal to me as someone who is also suicidal and depressed. Even when there are people who love us and care about us, in times we just really don't care about anything but ourselves no matter how many times we're reassured with something. Even if we're having fun, even if nothing bad is happening, it still lingers in our mind. And it's only a matter of when and where that we'll actually go through with it. Not all depressed and suicidal people think and feel the same way. But as someone who is part of the 'category' that acts and behaves like Mariko, I can truly say that this is a great manga even with it's minor flaws (just like any other manga to be quite honest haha).
 Alternative TitlesSynonyms: Yiska Japanese: マイ・ブロークン・マリコ More titlesInformationType: Manga
Volumes: 1
Chapters: 5
Status: Finished
Published: Jul 16, 2019 to Dec 17, 2019
Genre:
Drama
Demographic:
Josei
Serialization:
Comic Bridge Authors:
Hirako, Waka (Story & Art) Statistics Ranked: #17092 2 based on the top manga page. Please note that 'R18+' titles are excluded. Popularity: #531
Members: 35,158
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Nov 13, 2020
This is my first time writing a review so please bear this with me haha.
I personally believe that this is NOT a fetishization of abuse and suicide. The emotions are raw and the art only amplifies it. Do remember that the entire manga is 4 chapters long with an extra bonus one where it's just another cute flashback and you can practically read the entire volume within 40 minutes. (Spoilers ahead? I'm not sure) Story&Character: 8 - Art&Enjoyment:10 - Overall: 9 Story & Character: 8 - I give the overall story and character(s) an 8 as with only 4 chapters you can really only do so much ... 
Jan 7, 2021
This manga is not about suicide as many may think. This is a short story about grief. The protagonist is Shiino, a very impulsive young woman who has just discovered that her best friend, Mariko Ikagawa, has committed suicide. The manga follows Shiino as she takes Mariko's ashes on a trip while she remembers moments of their life together.
Devastated over the loss of someone she loved so much, we witness bits of memories that briefly reveal the nature of their relationship and the gradual disintegration of Mariko's mental health. This is definitely not a showcase of suicide. If anything, this is a revealing tale of ... 
Dec 23, 2021
Don't listen to the naysayers - this is an excellent manga, though likely goes over the heads of a younger crowd, as many of the depictions in the story rely on the reader having a full life experience that allows them to contextualize many of the events. This manga is short, and thus, condensed, and like many pieces of media in this form - your mileage will vary based on how much you have lived and seen.
My Broken Mariko touches on the subjects of abuse and grief. It handles these subjects tastefully, without forcing anything. The way the story unfolds feels like you are watching a ... 
Feb 16, 2023
I know this is bad readership, but if I hadn’t been so taken by the beautiful, painterly cover art for this manga, I might never have read it; that would have been my loss. The irony is that Waka Hirako’s artstyle in this manga is quite different from the cover, and her cartoonish art is also why I love this manga.
“My Broken Mariko” is a dark but straightforward story with a tone and pacing that turns comedic with surprising frequency. It features rather flat characters who are nonetheless given satisfactory depth and lifelikeness through Waka sensei’s incredible art. The premise is simple and the story ... 
May 12, 2022
°English Version°
"My Broken Mariko" by Waka Hirako is going to make me sad for a long time. An unhappy story that conveys despair, anguish, fear, as well as the mourning that a near death. It shows the need for catharsis to return to a place that will no longer be like before. He feels deeply sad. Shiino reacts to the suicide and she remembers her past as she searches for an explanation about what happened, and this hits anyone who could go through a similar situation too hard. In me, I couldn't help but identify a bit. I do not have much more to say. This story can really ... 
Dec 11, 2022
SPOILER !
Although I keep it quite vague... The Characters were fleshed out pretty well for the course of its short run. Mariko being a completely wrapped in her unshed emotions that keep eating at her and it coming out in the form of self mutilation and terrifyingly low self esteem where she ends up accepting her constant abused state to be how she should continue living her life. Shii-chan having to take the role of a nurturing caretaker and protector to mariko, feeling that they really only have each other, and at a constant crossroads ... 
Jul 9, 2021
I wish I had read this as a physical manga.
This is really a whirlwind of emotion. Reading My Broken Mariko, I was so wrapped up in the emotional chaos that the thought of exploitation/objectification of death and suicide really did not cross my mind at all. It's something I'll think about more closely now. Waka Hirako's art is on another level. It's at once hilarious and devastating. It perfectly captures the idea of a subjecive point of view, captured in detailed lines and beautiful character work. Every panel brims with energy and passion. For a subjet so difficult and wrenching, this manga wraps up ... 
May 2, 2022
I'm not sure how Waka Hirako, the author and artist, pulled this off so well, she only let on that she watched her mom being physically and emotionally abused, and put alot of her own thoughts into the characters. From those few interviews, there's clearly more than she was letting on.
I would like to point out from the other reviewer, that she did jump off, after hitting the helmeted guy that stole her backpack, who is now chasing after a new victim, she smashed the vase and must have KO'd him, but then looked like she chased/jumped over the cliff after the ashes. I feel ... 
May 18, 2022
hello, yes well... that happened.
I started reading the manga tied by the beauty of its cover that has a style that I had never seen. So I continued with the drawing that is a mixture of soft strokes with something funky at times. Then... then the story hit me. In the words of the translator I read and dare not steal, the story "is not about happiness, understanding or redemption, it is about the raw rage, fear and longing of those left behind, the help sought and the guilt that remains. I like to think that the story is not about suicide either, although it is the ... 
Mar 19, 2021
My Broken Mariko was quite a weird experience for me. It's one of the few manga works I've ever seen which is about suicide and tragedy (there is also goodnight punpun which was even more subversive). Well, I think it's a pretty strange choice of story yet it was fine. It's not a greatly written or a pathetic manga but right in the middle. If you are highly sensitive for tragic stories you might not want to see this one. When I saw the first page of the manga, I saw a warning about that the manga is a traumatic one and has heavy contents
...
Jan 2, 2023
My Broken Mariko is about a woman who reminisces about the times she spent with her best friend after she learns that her best friend committed suicide. But it's too short for a work that deals with topics such as suicide, abuse, longing, and sometimes regret and anger. There is no story in particular, and for the reason I just mentioned about it being way too short, there isn't enough time to connect with or empathize with the characters. While the feelings of a woman who lost her best friend and her anger towards life in general are beautifully presented at times, I think the
...
Jul 9, 2020
Story 3: this whole plot is about suicide, so beware. i thought Mariko's backstory was tragic but the whole plot seems to be about how tragic it was so i got really bored. my brain was moaning. the main character is mariko's best friend who goes on a bizarre adventure of sorts but it was kind of boring and cliche(but this could be a biased view)
Art 10: i like the artstyle, it's very unique and gave me more enjoyment while reading it. Character 4: affected by the story. the main character is kind of likeable but again, this whole plot is about suicide and ... 
Jun 23, 2023
I want this review to be short.
The story and the way it was tell was a 9 for me. The emotions feel raw, the story use the suicide of Mariko as just a jumping point to tell the grieving of the main character Shii. Shii's grieving and mourning of Mariko's death feel very real to me, seeing how broken she was at the lost of her friend, Shii cared so much for Mariko yet it still feels not enough. The story even touches me in the emotions portray in Shii's reminiscent of their friendship through her flashback. Seeing the hopeless sadness seeing and trying ... 
Feb 21, 2021
I had to take a few deep breaths while reading this because it is a very tough read. Basically it’s about a woman named Shi who discovered her best friend Mariko passed away due to suicide and she wants to ensure she gets her wishes. Mariko had a tough life with her parents such as her father doing absolutely terrible things to her and the fact her mother didn’t protect her. I have to say, the character development with Shi was great like I wish there was more than 3 chapters cause I really wanted to find more about her as a person. I even
...
Jan 25, 2024
It deals with the aftermath of a friends suicide and what has caused it to happen, or at least what her best friends believes has caused this to happen, as this is from her perspective.
Generally, i'd recommend you give it a chance. the main character is shouting a lot of the time, but that's her expression of her feelings throughout the story. The "side" characters get some form of expansion on their characters, apart from 1 which feels odd considering what the character represents..? the art is beautiful though, story boarded really well. the story is straight forward too with its goal being easy ... 
Apr 18, 2023
It wasn't incredible, but it was interesting. I read it after one of the worst days of my life, and it left me feeling refreshed and relieved, as if I had just drunk a glass of cold water after a long day. and it had a small impact on me.
The art style can be silly at times, but I love how I can feel emotions just by looking at a drawing. And I really wish there were more chapters. And the last two or one chapter just confused me, but it was fine. So I gave it a 8/10. This my first review so bear with me 
Dec 18, 2022
Honesty. When making a story that has so many serious emotions and themes running through it, making it believable isn't easy at all. Many stories can't even begin to tackle those elements with such honesty and flare as this one does in such a short runtime.
My Broken Mariko explores a story about rediscovering yourself with death surrounding you. An exploration on what happens to those around you when you die, it hit in many levels and contains such powerful elements with a feeling of realism in how people express themselves. When dealing with death, crying isn't something that happens excitingly, it doesn't bring catharsis or ... 
Sep 16, 2023
Mental health is one of the most important things, and one of the big problems in today's society. Everyday we see many smiles, apparent happiness, but behind that, there may be a person suffering. Let's fight for greater accessibility to mental health specialists, and let's be more empathetic with others.
This last trip of these friends is a continuous search for the signs that would explain Mariko's su1c1de. A journey full of memories, through the letters that Mariko wrote to her. Not only to be able to fulfill the wish of her friend and say goodbye to her, but also to free her from her suffering, ... 
Jul 30, 2024
English:
Manga highly appreciated by critics. I found the narrative very boring, I didn't like the development of the plot, nor the ending. In my opinion, the author failed to work well with the text that the story was following. The idea when I saw it was phenomenal, but saying that the work is good just because it was is a serious matter, it's something I don't talk about. I recommend reading it if you are a woman and interested, because just because it is a JOSEI does not necessarily make the work good for women. I was so disappointed. Not to mention the imbecility of putting ... |
