Skip Beat!

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When I first heard about Skip Beat, I (sadly) wasn't one of the first people who loved it from its summary. In fact, after reading the brief summary I went "Psshhh, what's so great about this? No originality at all! The art isn't even that great either!" and walked away.
The reason I first started to read it was because
1) I had finished my favorite manga at the time
2) I was extremely bored and it was ranked quite high
Horrible reasons I know, and I really didn't think I would enjoy Skip Beat at all. In fact I don't know why there were so many ... people that love this series.

After the first chapter, I was hooked. The main girl at first was just like any other but the comedy and sarcasm and carefully drawn out eyes got my attention. Plus, the originally "not so original" plot began to seem much more interesting. After that, I read every single chapter up to 139 in about 3 days.

Story: It's not that high on the originality style because I can probably name a couple of stories that revolve around revenge and etc. However, the plot after the beginning, although a bit cliche, is still quite different and makes you crave more. That's the important thing, sure plot is necessary but even if the plot isn't "original" so long as the characters are good, then the story will automatically be good. Which is why this is 9.

Art: Okay, so the bodies are a bit exaggerated and elongated to show how "beautiful" they really are. Even though this a bit of a turnoff for me at first before I read the manga, I grew to be able to ignore the bodies and focus more on the facial expressions and eyes. Her eyes are amazing, it shows you all of the emotions and feelings. Since you can grow to ignore or later like me now, enjoy the exaggeration then art goes to 10. If you can't, it's more 9 since you cannot deny that most shoujo manga art is quite beautiful.

Character: No matter what anyone says, characters are JUST AS or even MORE important than the plot. No matter how unique or original your plot is, if your characters don't match up to it, the book or manga is not going to fare well. What Skip Beat lacks in it's originality department, it shows up in the characters. I won't go into great detail at the people because it would border on spoilers but as you read you can greatly identify each of the character's inner thoughts. Since this is told in Kyoko's perspective, you get to see how crazy she gets and laugh your head off at her "misfortune"! Truly an interesting main character.

Enjoyment: It's great. That's all I can really say. You laugh, you sympathize, you cry and you get angry along with Kyoko. It's amazing when a manga can get you going that much. This manga really is great and I'm sure even the worst critics (like me) can enjoy this.

Overall: 10. Simply (almost) perfect. A great read!

(Man that really was long! But I hoped this helped at least someone!)

Skip Beat isn’t your classic Shoujo, The cover is deceiving, on the outside it looks cute and fluffy, you open it up expecting a pleasing little love story with the usual clichés of a cute protagonist and her knight in shining armour.
But Skip Beats protagonist is not a mere Mary sue… Not at all, she’s dark, vengeful lacking in essential emotions such as love and her knight in shining armour Shoutaro, is an egotistical user.

Story: I first started reading this manga after being dumped in a foreign country for a local Thai girl, so for me this was like medicine… I could really relate ... to the character, and laugh with the story as it puts light on a dark subject.
It isn’t fun being used by the person you love, but instead of Kyoko rolling up in a hole she deside’s to get her revenge on Sho by entering his scene, the entertainment world.
The only possible down side to the story line could be the length, if you like the couple to be together within the first five chapters, Skip Beat might not be for you. But I found in this Shoujo I didn’t need them to be together for this to be one of my fav’s. Factors such as the humour, the characters personalities, and the story arcs all make up for this.

Characters: it’s a pleasure to read about these Char’s, Kyoko may be on a mission for revenge but her char grows throughout the story, she’s abit of a dork and lovable, you’ll be laughing during every chapter.
All the chars do advance during the story, at first you see Sho as the bastard he is… But later on he starts to grow on you… and the reader starts to forgive what he had done.. Its an emotional journey when you start to feel bad for the villain.

Art: To be honest, I did not like the art so much at the start.. (This proves how good the story line must be.) But I find now… I really like it… Why…. Well… I think her drawing is flawless in that style. It isn’t exactly a style I see a lot, but she can express things so well in the story. Hand actions, facial expressions, I even find the main man Ren quite attractive. This is Strange seeing as I didn’t like the art style to be gin with… I deduce that It must grow on you. But something I loved right from the start was her chibi’s! They are so very cute!

It's always a shock when you start submerging yourself in a story that you don't think will be that interesting and suddenly find yourself completely lost in it. Being a big fan of stories about the underdog, I'd have to say, Skip Beat! definitely captivated me; you're pulled in and can't stop reading wondering what will happen next.

The characters themselves are very unique and well developed. The main character turns out to be a young heroine, Mogami Kyoko, probably one of my favorite characters. Her natural frankness and unsurpassed perseverance makes you just want to root for her even though the way ... she was introduced into the entertainment world is so unusual. Despite being undermined and looked down upon, it's just amazing how much she achieves and shines. Besides Kyoko, there are so many characters that you meet in the story, each with their own complex story and background. The characters are so dynamic, each in their own way that it just makes you want to know more about every single one of them.

It's no surprise that the characters themselves are so well developed since even those characters have to try act out other characters within the story, almost like a story within the story. The main storyline is quite simple, but the complexity lies within the background of each actor, each character. As you read on, you find out that everyone has a secret that they don't wish to be revealed, and that must be how it is in the entertainment industry.

As far as art is concerned, I must say that I have no complaints at all, although the author does tend to "chibi" forms a lot probably because of the difficulty and detail involved with each character. However, when it comes to the crucial moments, the expressions and looks on the faces of each character are amazing. When a character looks angry, it sends chills down your spine. The author certainly breathes life into each character. A smile can be from genuine to cruel to down right evil.

Overall, I loved the characters and the story development of Skip Beat! If you enjoy stories about the underdog, someone with a little bit of talent and a lot of perseverance, then I definitely recommend giving Skip Beat! a read.

Skip Beat! is the one and only manga that I have followed religiously. And I truly mean religiously. Every month, I check for the latest chapter as if it were a ritual ingrained in me. And having been a dedicated fan for over a decade, I now invite you to join the cult. So settle down, my friends, as I sing the praises of the masterpiece that is Skip Beat!

Story: Meet Kyouko Mogami, a young girl pouring her heart, sweat and blood into supporting her childhood crush Shoutaro so that he can fulfill his dream of becoming a top celebrity. Turns out he’s a narcissistic ... jerk who’s been using her all along for his own benefit, without a word or hint of gratitude towards her sacrifice. Upon realizing that her pure feelings have been trampled upon, Kyouko decides to destroy Shoutaro’s career by one-upping him and making him fear the terrible wrath of a woman scorned. In the strangest and most hilarious way anyone has entered show business, Kyouko weasels her way into a top talent agency called LME which sets into motion a series of life-changing experiences. Thankfully, the manga does not remain fixated on the initial hook and instead focuses on Kyouko’s journey into the unfamiliar world of acting, where she seeks to regain her lost self-confidence and hope and sense of self-worth, nor does it allow you forget Kyouko’s painful history or make you feel that her fixation with revenge is shallow or unwarranted. So don't be fooled into thinking that the synopsis offers a full picture of what Skip Beat! has to offer.

There is a wonderful balance struck between the light-hearted humor of a romance comedy and some of the more somber elements of a dramatic narrative. Every arc adds more complexity and depth to the story and the characters. The author, Nakamura-sensei did a superb job using flashbacks, supporting characters, and different jobs to highlight and draw out the various layers of the protagonist. I’m constantly blown away by the storytelling. No detail goes unnoticed, for one or two panels may be subtly foreshadowing the events of a chapter that will come out months or even years later.

Art: Nakamura-sensei has been working on Skip Beat! since 2002 so you can imagine that her style has evolved over the years. The art is clean and is a credit to the mangaka's skill. I admit I was put off by the men at the very, very, very beginning but the mangaka's style improves considerably. I can say that they contend as some of the hottest manga characters in shoujo manga. Another visual treat is Kyouko's many transformations according to her roles.

The expressions are stunning and lend authenticity to the characters' conflicts. The eyes are particularly captivating and every emotion is perfectly captured by the images alone. Chibi art is often incorporated alongside the more detailed anime profiles in a seamless and amusing manner. Although the art is gorgeous, it doesn't rely too much on the surroundings. Instead, the manga focus on gestures and convey a sense of "movement” that exists within the pages.

Character: This is easily the manga’s greatest feature. There are no flat characters in the world of Skip Beat! and you’d be hard-pressed to describe Kyouko as a Mary Sue type. Rather, the protagonist can be scarily obsessive about perfecting her voodoo doll-making skills at one moment and then gushing over pretty, fairy-tale related paraphernalia the next. Kyouko is equal parts innocent, crazy, dense, clumsy, funny, friendly, eager, elegant, polite, perceptive, hardworking, professional, intelligent, confused, sensible, vengeful, loving, and ambitious. Readers can quickly empathize with the many facets of her personality. Her acting career draws all of these traits because her roles require a process of self-discovery. Kyouko has a natural affinity to method-acting and the characters she plays essentially “possess” her once attained. At one point, she is described as the eternal butterfly, an actress that nobody recognizes because she disguises herself in the personas that she creates.

Even obnoxious fleas like Shoutaro aren’t discarded after the inciting incident. He is further developed (while still retaining his childishly-possessive nature, because the essential element of his character profile is that he is the World’s Biggest A-Hole) and continues to serve various purposes. This is a relief to me, because I would have easily forgotten him otherwise and would wonder why Kyouko hadn't. I hate to say this, but Sho's existence is actually important. The pain of his betrayal is enhanced as readers slowly learn about Kyouko’s complicated childhood in increments. After all, it is their history that serves as a catalyst for Kyouko’s rise to stardom.

And speaking of complicated pasts, allow me to introduce you to Ren Tsuruga, the actor who has captured the admiration of every woman in Japan. This fully applies to the readership - I have rarely seen another 2-D character ooze so much charisma. At first, he seems to to be just another handsome gentleman the world of fiction has to offer. But our protagonist has developed a phobia of two-faced male celebrities. Upon Kyouko’s first encounter, he is quickly judged to be yet another detestable rival to defeat because of his condescending attitude towards her modus operandi. But even the coldest of hearts cannot help but be melted by his many charms, and Kyouko eventually comes to admire him as a senior and a mentor. Unfortunately, Ren struggles with the cardinal virtue of sincerity. Occupational hazard of being an actor? Not quite. The reader will be exposed to the darkness within Ren over the course of the story and come to the realization that he is the perfect counterpart to our protagonist. He is afforded as much depth as Kyouko and his personal growth is just as crucial to the manga.

I haven't even commented on the plethora of supporting characters. Nakamura-sensei breathes to life an endearing cast that truly feels like a diverse community. Every new opportunity brings Kyouko into contact with new people who feel real and contribute to her growth in unique ways. You can’t miss eccentric characters like President Lori, or the capable manager Yashiro, who provides both solemn advice as well as a true-fangirl’s commentary and thereby establishes himself as the de facto voice of the readership. And there are plenty of other colorful individuals, so I recommend you read Skip Beat! to meet them all.

Enjoyment: Surely, you’ve gotten my opinion by now. If I actually comment on this category, I’ll exhaust the thesaurus of positive connotations that can be related to Skip Beat! ;D

The binge-ability of this manga is extremely high. The only complaint I can bring to the table is that once you’ve caught up, it will be agonizing waiting for the next installment. Sometimes it feels like the story is dragging on for months before you take the time to revisit previous arcs and realize that the pacing is in fact quite excellent. Don’t expect a quick resolution and savor each chapter as they come. I pray and hope that Nakamura-sensei will write the conclusion before I die, but I’ve learned that the most fulfilling of relationships take their sweet time.

Overall: Skip Beat! and its adaptations are one of the main reasons people haven’t lost hope in the shoujo genre. It is a genuine flagship comparable to Akatsuki no Yona, Glass Mask, Yamato Nadeshiko Shichihenge, Ouran High School Host Club, Fruits Basket and Akagami no Shirayuki-hime. If you haven’t read it yet – or any of these other titles, really – put in your top priority.

Re-readability is also very high, for all of those who have already had a taste. I fell in love with this manga the moment I picked it up over a decade ago and continue to love it with the same amount of zeal. I’ve read and re-read all the chapters that have been published so far and have seen the anime and the drama adaptations too many times to count. The story manages to stay refreshing and enjoyable no matter how many times I revisit it.

Parting Remarks: Thank you for somehow reaching the end of this long rant. I apologize if the review wasn’t as substantial as it ought to be but I’m just one advocate out of many. Don’t just take my word for it. Go and find out if you will love Skip Beat! as much as the rest of the fanbase. (And if anyone tries to tell me that Yashiro isn’t a princess amongst us – then you better be ready to step outside because imma fight you.)

Story: Well i thought this was a well thought out and very good original story line.
I loved the humor and the situations the main characters get into.

Art: One word: Superb!!
It's good and detailed when it needs to be and in witty places i nearly wet myself laughing!
I find the art in a manga a major point if i am to like it and i found it very acceptable to my
standards. The facial expressions of the characters are very good.

character: well i'm only at chap 15 but i find the characters are already developing very ... nicely..
but the author doesn't land you with too much info at one but leaves the mystery background for the reader to understand as the story goes on.... creating a very nice building up effect.


Enjoyment: It is funny gets more and more romantic...it is dramatic dealing with life situations and it is a brilliant shoujo what more do you want?! XD it rocks i really enjoy every chapter craving to know more and laugh A LOT more!
lol

I give it a full 10!

Is this the One Piece of shoujo manga?

It's been a minute since I last wrote a review, but it's been many more minutes since Skip Beat! began. In the simple words of a fellow reader of this series:

"Either we will die or the author will die before this manga is completed"

Honestly I've faithfully followed Skip Beat! for several years now, with the intent of postponing my review until its completion. But what is this? "This pacing is rather slow," thought I. "The clothing and hairstyles are a bit outdated as well, I noticed. Just when did this begin? ...I'm sorry, does that say 2002?!? We're ... coming up on 20 years now?!"

Before we get into actual series content/quality, my preliminary advice is to put off starting this series for as long as you can so that you aren't left waiting for monthly updates of chapters that are unfailingly short. There it is, I can't do more for you on that front, let's get to critique.

Skip Beat! is sublime, despite its mediocre artwork. A long-running series ought to boast of (1) an expansive storyline and (2) notable character development; Skip Beat! succeeds in both.

We achieve the former through the realm of entertainment. As an actress, Kyoko's ongoing improvement in her acting range translates directly to the environmental expansion viewed by the reader. It's historical drama, it's an action flick, it's shoujo within shoujo (so meta!). I most likely would have dropped the series upon reaching the latest chapters, except one of these subplots hooked my interest and I remain hopeful for more content like it.

The latter benefit, character development, is the author's particular--and possibly indirect--skill. Without this, the series would be truly unbearable. Truthfully, characters' big "realization" moments are somewhat overblown and fairly trite. However, the underlying pace of the story actually results in subtle shifts for the story's leads that are very satisfying to consider at large. I wonder how much this effect is derived from the author's own maturing over 2 decades of work.

To conclude, Skip Beat! holds a unique place in the ranks of shoujo manga for a reason. I think you'll find something to enjoy in its many pages, but if you like conclusions (like me), then hold off for "another minute."

This is an awesome story!!! I really liked how much comedy is included in it and how it doesn't focus on the romance part ALL THE TIME. Overall, I like most Kyoko and it's hard not to like her little demons and the way she reacts to everything. It's also nice to see how Ren's feelings develop as the story goes along and wonderfully naive she stays throughout the whole time.

The way Kyoko progresses during the plot and the magnificent way that the whole thing is drawn and what they say makes this manga on my top 5 list and I can't wait till the ... next chapter comes out. ^.^

This manga isn't by any means done, that being said my review is based on the first 166 chapters, because at this point no matter how the mangaka decides to go, the ride has been unbelievable (and long)

If you're thinking that, well she looks bubbly and she is scorned so this manga must be a love triangle. All I have to say is HA!

What makes this manga special?
The characters, Kyoko alone was portrayed amazingly. I mean how can one character be so psychotic and innocent at the same time.
Not only does she have multiple personalities (she does, you could even see the difference) she ... is also one of the nicest people you could ever meet. She's naive and clueless but when she gets angry, watch out. She breaks all the rules and becomes someone so great, she doesn't even recognize herself. Throughout the manga you see her changing as a person and as an actress.

The only thing that bothered me at first about the manga and even the anime, is that the men are drawn so tall (long). Even their face is long, it was weird at first but you start to notice that is the style of the author and the plot is so interesting you just let it pass.

Like all my favorite manga this one has a moral :)
Sometimes you have to change yourself and become someone you don't recognize in order to really find yourself.

Okay, first I have to say: I hate shoujo manga. Really. I can't stand the stuff. The stories, the styles, the characters .... ew.
But... I have been absolutely shocked by how much I enjoy this particular shoujo manga. And why do I like it? It takes the normal genre of shoujo and takes it so a new level, becoming something original.

First off, I still don't really like the art. Sorry, but I've never been a big fan of the style. It's GOOD, sure, but it's just personal preference that I dislike it. A bit too stereotypical bishie style. But everything else makes up for this.

The ... story is fantastic. I was so hooked I couldn't stop reading practically! (I nearly put off my homework for a couple days just to read it! ... whoops)
There are a few bits I got frustrated with, like how some characters I like don't appear for chapters on end, but the character interaction is just so interesting that I forgive all my grievances.

The characters are the thing that really did it for me. I am so SICK of the "perfect girl" heroines of both shoujo and shounen manga. The thing I love about Skip Beat's heroin is that she ISN'T perfect. Kyoko is bent on revenge, really dense when it comes to relationships but has a sense of duty to people she's responsible for. She doesn't follow the common cute, clumsy,endearingly stupd "mother theresa" character mold. This is no Tohru of Fruits Basket.

Skip Beat's humor is well-executed, and the romance is very enjoyable to read. I am always so excited for the next chapter to come.

Skip beat is one of the highest-caliber shoujo mangas out there, and it is truly deserving of a read. I VERY highly recommend it to anyone, shoujo-fan or not.

= Story =
- I have to say, it's rare to find a plot where a girl goes all out to get revenge on some guy she thought she loved (in manga that is). Fuwa betrays Mogami who then does a 180 on him. That's basically it. The story itself has different events, but they all somehow connect to the fact that Mogami is out for revenge by becoming more popular than Fuwa. It's basic enough to understand the characters at least which some times can get out of hand in Shoujo mangas.

HOWEVER, I may love the story, but only certain parts. Skip Beat starts off ... slow. REALLY, REALLY slow so the point where you literally have to stop reading. I honestly only read the series b/c I wanted to see what Fuwa and Mogami would do next if they were to meet. I don't care much for anything else b/c I feel that the pace is inconsistent and there's absolutely nothing to keep you reading. Mogami and Fuwa have a connection and their actions are what keep me reading. So yeah... the plot itself is rather inconsistent to my discontentment. -

= Art =
- Nakamura Yoshiki has a very unique style. She doesn't tend to... sharpen the chin's of her male characters. So their chins are basically... a parabola. Compared to her previous work 'Tokyo Paradise,' her art has changed significantly. But when you see how she draws their side profiles, it's... different than how you see her characters front and center. Another thing that makes her art style unique if the ratio of torso to legs. When you look at a full scale drawing of someone, you can see that their legs are incredibly long and their torso is literally half the size of their legs. Some times it does look really... out of place, but her art in general in amazing. -

= Character =
- I absolutely love Mogami. In the world of Shoujo manga, the female heroine is almost always useless in some degree or another. Mogami is one of those rare female heroines that don't cry about everything and who actually are able to defend themselves. Plus she has these mini demon Mogami's who defend her. They represent her thoughts.

Skip Beat fans, or the majority of them anyways, LOVE Tsuruga Ren. He's handsome, an actor and a model. It's also been hinted that he's an American with problems. People pair him with Mogami as well b/c a) ___________________ and b) _______________________ (spoilers). But I don't like him. It's not b/c I'm a Fuwa - Mogami fangirl, but b/c he's not my type of ideal character. He's that one well known guy who hides his true feelings (not enough to call him tsundere though) and who is the ideal guy for every girl. I don't like him as a character even after learning about his back story.

People will hate me for saying this, but I like Fuwa a lot more than Tsuruga. He's an arrogant douche who... you can love and hate. Again, the chemistry (if you can call it that) b/n him and Mogami is enticing. It makes you wonder what they'll do next time when they meet. Or how far Mogami will go to surpass Fuwa. But Fuwa doesn't get as much 'screen' time as everyone else... which saddens me. But he is a decent douche and if Mogami isn't as thickheaded as she is then the story would've turned in my favor.

Note: Mogami is a girl motivated by hatred. She literally has common sense, but lack any sort of emotion when it comes to Fuwa. She's naturally naive and ignorant, but not like Misao (Black Bird). Also, she's fairly gullible. -

= Enjoyment/Overall =
- The series is still fairly decent. I am still reading it now, but the past chapters... well.... I had to force myself to read them. The story is really slow at this point. 'Why not drop it?' you may ask. Chapter 199 was just updated and after going through all those chapters, I'm not just going to drop it. This manga is a 'droppable' manga so if you don't like it the first few chapters, I HIGHLY encourage you to force yourself to read it a little more. It starts getting more interesting around chapters 20 and 30. -

Skip Beat, by far, is the best manga I've read. The story is filled with romance, drama, and huge amounts of suspense. Even if you don't normally like shoujo, I'd recommend at least checking out the first few chapters. Most of my favored anime/manga is shonen, but Skip Beat is the exception to this. If you want to enjoy a new, original storyline, Skip Beat is the manga for you! Maybe it seems like some frilly, girly story from the cover, but seriously, give it a chance!

Story-10~
The story gets a 10 because it's filled with nonstop action, romance, drama, suspense, ... and plot twists! *taken from Wikipedia* ( Skip-Beat! is about Kyoko Mogami, a wistful yet cheery sixteen year-old girl who loves her childhood friend, Shotaro, but is cruelly betrayed and thus seeks revenge against him.) Instead of crying over her heart being broken though, she takes a step up and decides to fight back. He can't just treat her like this! She was practically his maid for years, only wanting love, and then Sho ditches her like she's nothing and goes to his fangirls like nothing happened. He is popular in show business/singing and therefore, doesn't need her anymore. Sho pretty much dragged her all the way to Tokyo from Kyoto, just to use her and ruin her life! Kyoko goes into acting to try and outshine him so that he will see that she isn't going to be his weak, love-seeking maid anymore.

Art-8~
The art is pretty good, but definitely isn't the best. Even so, it's bearable and shouldn't interfere with the story too much. Despite having bad points, there's good points with the art too like the eyes and the facial expressions. It definitely gets anyways.

Character-10~
As for characters, they deserve a 10. Skip Beat's characters all have unique personalities which draw you in even more than the story does. Without the characters, Skip Beat would honestly just be another boring shoujo (well ok no but still not as good).

Enjoyment-9~
Enjoyment gets a 9 just because I don't like waiting 2 weeks to a month between chapters, it is cruel. I really do enjoy reading this manga.

Overall-10~
Overall, Skip Beat gets a 10. I love love love this manga and I'm so happy that I decided to check it out. For a long time, it seemed like total crap that wasn't worth even looking at...DON'T JUDGE THIS BOOK BY ITS COVER! D:

I was a little apprehensive to start this to begin with. My friend was pushing me to read / watch it constantly, and has been doing so for the past year. Having just finished one of my favourite mangas of all time - Kare Kano, and watching my favourite anime of all time - Ookiku Furikabutte, I was reluctant to start something which frankly, from the blurb, didn't sound all that exciting or original.

Kyoko, obsessed with her friend Sho since childhood, has sacrificed everything for him. She has juggled jobs, quit school, learnt the art of a proper hostess, got to be loved by the ... parents, supported him in his dream of becoming a singer, and anything else he has asked for on the way. But when Sho gets that first, addictive taste of stardom, he ditches her for the much hotter girls and the much more inticing lifestyle. This acts as the catalyst, and Kyoko becomes bitter - determined that she will beat Sho in showbiz.

The basic plot seems... well, pretty basic. Typical shoujo, she'll try and beat him, he'll find redemption, they'll fall in love, and live happily ever after right? It is a shoujo after all!
WRONG. The friend who pushed me so hard to read this often says "Rather than looking at it as a romance-with comedy, look at it as a comedy-with romance. You'll enjoy it much more."
And she was right. True it's a long winding plot which, at 166 chapters translated, still hasn't reached anywhere NEAR a conclusion, so the die-hard get-to-the-confession-and-make-it-soppy shoujo fans probably won't get a kick out of this humourous, if not romantic story.

But anyone open to brilliant arcs, hilarious moments and lovable characters will thoroughly enjoy this, I guarantee it. From a obstinate die-hard slush or seinen fan, I've now come down with a serious case of Skip Beat addiction. I'm only up to volume 15, but can guarantee I'll reach the stage where I'm waiting impatiently for the next chapter to be scanned.

Thinking back, so far I can't remember a plot line previously used in another shoujo. I think the fact this is a COMEDY with romance rather than a ROMANTIC comedy gives it an edge. There are (so far) no love rivals, no trivial troubles arising between the star-crossed couple (to be honest, there is no couple as of yet - so it's not even possible). Because it is so far from a typical shoujo, the plot lines are so original.

You can almost tell the mangaka, Yoshiki Nakamura, has thought this all out (although, maybe she hasn't and is just a phenomenal story-teller), only tidbits of characters past being fed to an avid reader.
It has the funniest story lines I've ever read in a manga - my mother thought I was mad when she'd hear me in utter hysterics (Kyoko in a chicken suit - SB readers will understand this.)

All in all, this manga will make you laugh, make you cry, make you fall in love with the characters and find yourself immersed in the crazy world that is Skip Beat, and never want to leave.

First thing you need to know before reading this manga is that this is WAY better than the anime. I remember watching Skip Beat years ago and thinking it was decent, but the manga is a totally different story. Secondly, this IS an ongoing manga, and even though there's almost 200 chapters in it(so far) and its super amazing, we still haven't reached the climax- that in itself is exciting to me.

STORY: The story is amazing, but it actually starts out a seemingly very lame story haha. You start reading about this teenage girl who naively gave up everything to move to the city ... with her childhood friend who's actually a famous popstar. He treats her horribly and she selflessly does everything just for him. It pisses you off just reading it. Then a turn of events and you watch this childish girl start to see reality. I suppose that its a bit slow with the romantic development, but that doesnt mean the romance is lacking. The comedy aspect of this manga is one of the best ive ever read in a rom-com. The dialogue in itself is great, but when coupled with their expressions and personalities, its priceless!

ART: This is a fairly old manga! The first volume was released over ten years ago so of course the art continually got better and better over time. Even starting out though the art was superb! Their 'slightly' exaggerated faces make you laugh super hard, and in the midst of all the gags, the serious scenes are drawn beautifully. This mangaka really has a way of drawing you in.

CHARACTER: By far their personalities are much much better than expected! I suppose saying it that way sounds bad but honestly I really had no idea what kind of characters to look forward to. They have a past and a future goal, and they are constantly looking for ways to improve themselves and reach toward their future. You see the characters grow and mature along the way and it interesting.

ENJOYMENT:
There's no mistake about it, this manga is a gem. You laugh, you smile, you hurt, you get mad, a story that makes you want to keep reading. I've read this through 3 times and each time I read it straight through without more than food breaks. That has to count for a lot.

OVERALL: READ IT!

I've taken up reading Skip Beat after having watched and immensly enjoyed the anime. I just had to know what happens next in Mogami-san's turbulent life. The manga is good, I'll give it that much, but it's not great. In my opinion there are too many chapters that are nothing more than fillers. To tell you the truth, I thought about giving it up altogether. However, I couldn't. It's all Mogami-san's fault!
Mogami Kyoko is one of the best female characters I've encountered in a shojo manga. She starts out as a passive, innocent-beyond-innocence-itself girl (read: anoying as hell). She looses that trait as she is ... betrayed and she strives to reinvent herself and to regain the trust in people and in love. She becomes a rising actress, working her way to the top.
It's a rather new experience for me to keep reading a shojo manga because I like the female character so much. Don't get me wrong, I do like the male characters, Tsuruga-san and Fuwa-san, but the motivation behind my sticking like glue to Skip Beat is Mogami. She is fun and smart, and she gets herself in all sort of impossible situations. Once a meek little lamb, she turns into a ferocious, unyielding girl. A worthy cause, which, unfortunately, gets a bit sidetracked as the manga continues on.
However, every once in a while, Mogami-san shines in all her ferocity and all is right with the world. It's actually somewhat easier to digest all the seemingly meaningless chapters, knowing that you'll get what you want.
Tsuruga Ren is, sort of, the main male character. I said sort of, because he gets fewer pages as the manga continues, which is rather irritating. I really like the fact that he is a nice guy, supportive, and ready to help when help is needed.
I believe Skip Beat is a manga worth reading. It's fun and witty, just like it's main character, and although it sometimes wanders off to a place I don't understand or like, I think it's still worth going through that place. I know that the overall grade seems to be rather harsh when taking the review into account, but I just can't forgive all those boring chapters.

Skip beat. One of the best manga EVER. It's my favorite shoujo manga.

Story: The story is soooooo good. This is really original. I don't think that you'll see any shoujo manga this good and this original. It's not your cliché manga where everything resolve around love. Of course there's romance but it's not just about it.

Art: Well the art is ok. I like this kind of art. It's not too much but it's real good. There's better art out there but this style of drawing is alright.

Character: Good god. The character are amazing. The character developpement of every character is so good. You can ... absolutely relate to them and understand what's going on in their mind. You just want to hug them and give 'em a cookie.

Enjoyment: I enjoyed this manga very much. It's really amazing. It's one of those mangas that keep you hooked and make you unable to wait for the next chapter.

Well just read this manga. READ IT NOW

I first heard about this manga from a friend of mine. I was excited since she is really harsh and critical so she must know what is a good read...
but then I read the synopsis. I was so let down, "this is so used theme!". I didn't like the main character and her original attentions and reasons. I avoided the series...
Up until I accidentally payed a crunchyroll membership I forced myself to take a good use of it and came up with Skip Beat. I decided to give it a shot... Before I knew it I had binged the whole anime. I instantly switched to ... manga where it was left off and so far I have always read it when I got the chance.

It's great. It's one of the best "shoujo"s out there and it has great comedy. I recommend the anime too since it did a great job at giving so similar feel and soul as the manga did, and that's rare. I often hate the anime adaptations no matter what.
It has romance, but it doesn't get boring. the characters seem pretty real with mixed emotions and unsolved feelings. This series won't start with romantic stuff, actually quite the opposite.
*possible spoiler* The main protag holds her grudge against love for a very long time. She eventually grows as a person and she gets better goals in life, (I'd say that's not exactly a spoiler since it's kinda expected of her, but sorry anyways) but you have to follow her undevelopmend-ness for a long time - but this time it's not a problem. I often get annoyed by shoujo series rushing their stories. *spoiler ends*
But sometimes even I get bothered by how little the characters and feelings develop against each other - and I have given a nickname to this series "cocktease". I actually feel like a schoolgirl once again when I'm reading this manga and something "romantic" happens, no matter how small and insignificant it is to me in reality, I blush when it happens in this manga. A lot. And that's a really nice feeling. It doesn't rush itself and I really get the feeling that the mangaka values more her characters than the whole "tell a love story" -concept. I ended up hating and loving everyone in this story.
I adore the comedy in this, like I said before. It's not some cheap moe or pervy-humour all over the place. Most jokes comes from the characters and their interaction. There is some characters though that don't seem as "real" or are somehow unnecessary - but some of them have had their excuses and reasons come up as the story progresses, some.
But.. I do have a complaint regarding the art. It's really beautiful and detailed, especially the eyes. I love how Kyoko's eyes have been made both in the anime and in the manga. But like I said the art... I'm not a big fan of extremely long leg -manga style. Sometimes it broke my immersion when there was a whole body shot and the legs were so damn long. Every now and then males had too thick neck too and sometimes the hand palms were too big too... I don't want to complain about something so little, but for me it did break the immersion. It could be a stylistic choice but it's a style choice that ticked me off. It's just me. But like I said the art is otherwise very well done and beautiful. It just suffers from the barbie- syndrome (long legs) like many other Shoujo -mangas, and it just happens to bother me. You might find it attractive and it's okay.
But I have another complaint too... And it's about the art. (I'm sorry). I sometimes had a hard time understanding where everything was. But it can just be me not paying attention. I just wish a little bit more background art.
Now that I've criticized so meanly the art I have to praise it a little bit more. I loved how the mangaka saw extra effort to some simple things like belt rings or buttons on a phone. I especially love the presidents mobile phone, I want one like that! So what I mean to say is that the art has some nice details.

I've actually awakened some desire to act within myself while reading this. A lot of the acting problems and settings seem somewhat realistic. If you're an actor you might consider picking this one up - but I don't know how realistic it is since I'm not an actress after all so don't blame me if I it's not realistic.

What can I say? It's a manga that exceeded my expectations. The idea and the synopsis are really simple, but within there is a nice story and a manga that hooks you up.
Actors are cooler than I thought.

Quite frankly, do not start reading Skip Beat! Well, not until it's finished anyway.

Skip Beat! is a very well written manga. The art is clean and very detailed at times, not including anatomy unfortunately. It has a total of 203 chapters at the moment and is updated every month. I strongly recommend that you wait until it is finished because it's so good! Having to wait an entire month for a chapter is nerve-racking and can get very tiring.

But still! This manga is a must read. It's cute, but not overly cute. It has amazing character development and its fair share of cliffhangers. The storyline ... is very detailed and the pacing is perfect.

O.K. look. First glance you think, meh. Second glance, why is this so great and popular???? Third, after being recommended to it SO many time based on what you like you decide to read 1!!! (just 1) chapter. Suddenly everything changes. it is SOO funny, it a fantasy but at the same time not fantasy...... Kyoko reminds me of me. Blind and slightly easy to fool but can get so angry imaginary devils attack! She loves fairys (

When i looked at skip beat first and saw it was a shoujo, i won't lie to you, i was not impressed, all the sparkles and showbiz i thought it look so unoriginal, i put off reading it for as long as it's been out! however i picked it up this two days ago and have been unable to put it down! i finished all 177! it's FREAKIN AMAZING!

Story: when i read the first chapter i was unconvinced but about 5 chapters in it all took off and i realised the way the story was going to be written! it's not really fluffy more funny ... and deep. but its not boy meets girl, love triangle ensues...this story is so much more, its so REALISTIC. which is what i love about it, because the past of the characters are there and yes, they influence them, but They Don't talk about it every second panel, its realistic in the sense that, even if something hurts you, you have to move on, and i think the story painted this perfectly. I have also had tears coming out of my eyes from laughing so hard at the dialogue!

Art: i admit upon reading it first i found the art so confusing and hard to see, but that got better from about chapter three, the expression she shows on them is truly amazing, I've read so many manga and this is the first where I've seen a character make as many emotional faces as Tsuruga ren has made and they all look so genuine, the care taken in the portrayal of them is so good, and all the costumes the characters have. the panels can be a bit packed sometimes so that's why it gets a nine.

Character: The character development in this manga is excellent. every character is so unique and their personalities are so life like. sometimes you can guess what's gonna happen in the next panel, because you know that character so well that you know what they're gonna say next. The thing is although they develop and learn as the manga goes along, the original character is still there, just having learnt something new. the only thing i have against it is that the main character although she has learnt and developed, is too much the same. it's a plus but also a minus in terms that she hasn't realised things that she should have etc..

Enjoyment: this gets full marks. i read all the available chapters there are. this manga will draw every emotion out of you. i have felt anxiety, panic, happiness, sadness, curiosity and even anger! I've laughed out loud so many times and felt like despairing with the character aswell. this is a guaranteed read, don't trust the cover and enter into this incredibly detailed and realistic world!

This manga is everything to me! I can relate so much to the main character who is Kyouko. After being betrayed, she doesn't believe/want to love again. To try to get revenge on the person who betrayed her, she will also go into the showbiz and try to win that person. You WILL laugh and there will be time s in which you will cry (or at least almost cry). This is also not your average love story, it will take a while for kyouko to find love and love for many other things. Main characters are Kyouko, Ren, and Sho! You will fall in ... love with many of the characters in this manga! Please Enjoy! :)