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Jan 20, 2025
Mushi Musume, or Insect Girl, is another example of why "found family" stories feel forced unless there's clear intentions within the storytelling and a clear destination for where it will end. This manga unfortunatley, as much as i like it, fails to do either of those and it suffers for it.
We start with a mother and her daughter in the woods who looks like any ordinary family but we soon come to learn they are anything but ordinary. Yuren, the daughter, bumps into a young man named Mashiro who is in the area to hunt mimushi, these dangerous insects that have an insect and human
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form. If you put two and two together it's obvious that the mimushi he's hunting is likely the mother and they planned to battle in out, however since the mother was already sick they decided to wait until she passed to sort of shield Yuren from seeing her mother fatally wounded. After Yuren's mother has passed, instead of Mashiro killing her off and being done with it he gives her the alternative to live in her human form and takes her into his care so she gets acclumated with human society. That's basically chapter 1 in a nutshell.
It actually starts off promising from this point as you quickly begin to see how naive Yuren is about the conflicts between humans and mimushi, and that naivety is what tugs at Mashiro's heart strings looking at what should be a dangerous enemy but comes off a sheltered child, and it causes further conflict when he brings her around other humans who know her true fate. The questions of instinctual violence divides those in charge of what to do with the girl and it soon spirals as no one really seems to have a firm hold of the situation. That's is actually a biproduct of the mangas main issue, pacing.
The pacing in this manga goes from-intense training with Yuren to controll her mimushi bloodlust- to very dangerous experiments- to full blown infiltration fights- to large scale civil war disputes and escape attempts. After about chapter 3 the trottle is at 100 non-stop, which some might like but it detracts from the understanding of those fighting on either sides. So you're left after these events thinking "what was the point in all of this to begin with?". Without going into too much detail they don't properly convey the interest of each side or the individuals we see fighting. We only know that Mashiro wants what's best for Yuren and she sees him as her only "family" in return. Everyone else and why they are so adament in killing each other is completely unknown. It's like they skipped 20 chapters of introductions and dialogue and setup and went straight to war. I personally found it jarring and by far the biggest issue with the story so far.
Other than that though, the characters we have been properly introduced to are very likable and easy to root for. There is a lot of morally ambiguous actions they take but the more you get to know them the more it starts to make sense, and so in the same vain i'd say the portrayal of established characters was done well. Also i liked the action and fighting. It looks a bit clunky at times (mage magic works inconsistently) but overall the fighting pages popped off to me and i enjoyed them quite a bit.
It is a solid 6.5 to 7.5/10 series. Doesn't do anything jawl dropping, no earth shattering plot or world building, no stand out brilliantly writen characters. That being said it is fun to read and does enough to keep you hooked so long as you can overlook certain flaws.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Jan 19, 2025
Yeah,
So this about half a step from a doujin after chapter 4. They may as well stop pretending and just add the Milf/Big Breast/Incest tags on the cover of each chapter. It very much reminds me of Okaeri Papa or Chi no Wadachi and the artstyle had me thinking of it as well. Essentially the story revolves around a young mommas boy whose never had a mom (died or something i forgot). So he did some mom hunting through, unconventional means lets say, and is suprised when the woman he meets actually end up being his new mom through remarriage. And will you get this,
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the fucking dad leaves for the infamous "business trip" and now he's home alone with this women who has that glimmer of something weird that you can't put your finger on.
That description is not copy pasted from a ChatGPT on popular hentai mom/son concepts, it's what actually happens across rhe start of this manga. You can also tell the author is doing one of two things: red herrings or forshadowing. I say this because about 10 times a chapter you'll see those dark hollow eyes that typically follow a horrific scene, but it's included in everyday conversation that elicits no red flags. The new mom without a doubt it a bit wierd with the whole "we're mom and son so we NEED to do this like other mom and sons", but she hasn't fully pulled that trigger just yet. I don't know why i'm going so in debt because there's not much else to read into here.
The MC and his dad are unlikable, the childhood friend might be a yandere but i'm not sure yet, the new mom is 60% shady 40% tits, and the dullness of interactions are what seperate this story from good suspense mangas. Not saying it's all bad, just saying it's not impressed me so far.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Jan 8, 2025
It's a hidden gem in the romance genre that avoids the bullshit cliches and conflicts (mostly) and is guaranteed to be a good time.
Quick premise recap: MC Tanaka Minato works part time at a restaurant and often seeks advice from his senpai Hiragi Rena. What he doesn't know is that same Hiragi-san is the popular girl at his school but because she goes by Saito and doesn't wear glasses like she does at work, she's somehow a different person. Not only that but Saito-san apparently doesn't recognize him either because he's a stud at work and a dork at school. What?😂
I remember finding this when
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it had 3 chapters translated and it gave off the impression of a stupid romcom with the "two personalities" gimmick that runs its course after only a volume, but 3 volumes i'm stunned that's not the case. Not only does it excel in terms of mood and pacing, but it gives off strong Horimiya impressions mixed with a bit of, well, the type of manga that should be considered boring with how laid back it is and somehow keeps you hooked (ex. My Love Story & A Sign of Affection). Now I will admit, it is a bit *turn your brain off and enjoy* as the main duo might have the average IQ hovering around 60, like you're telling me a slight chance in appearance and these two can't recognize each other even though they spend the most time around each other than anyone else? With this development you might think it portrays the story as a comedy but it's actually just straight up romance. The only hobbies they have, and share, is reading books which puts me to shame. They read like 5 books a week, what the hell?
After reading the first three volumes i have to say i really only came away with one worry and that's if this story can sustain itself long term without any needless drama or forced conflicts. Not to say there's been no tension. Both characters, but especially Saito have to overcome their personal limitations due to what life has challenged them with. On the whole i've found every story beat engaging so far. However you know how it goes, around volume 8 or so there will be either A. some dumb misunderstanding that lasts forever or B. shoe horned inclusion of side characters that will make your eyes roll every chapter. I just hope that possibility is avoided and this easy going bond gradually increases before the climax and ending.
Highly recommend to any Slice of Life and Romance lovers out there.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Dec 22, 2024
It's Sakamoto desu ga with more fights and action, hence the name of course. That's it
I am honestly impressed by how these authors/mangakas can blatantly rip off, i mean *take inspiration from* other popular or critically acclaimed works with the slightest shift and really be proud about their work. To be fair im a huge fan of the over-the-top stupid fun OP MC, like Parry Everything and Sakamoto as mentioned, but i would love it if they put in even a little effort in making their works stand out. I understand they are trends for a reason, and the top class works dictate the output
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for a while at least. That being said, I could wittle down 90% of anime or manga nowadays to "can i show a random two similar works and see if they can tell the difference?". The answer is often no. The same applies here.
Forgive me for ranting instead of actually doing a complete review. As i said though if you've seen even one of these types you've seen them all. It's not bad, but it could be so much more with a little bit of innovation.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Dec 20, 2024
I am very suprised this doesn't have the recognition of other fantasies like Frieren or Witch Hat Atelier. The story is absolutely incredible.
Simple premise of course, strong burley type who protects a witch outcasts, it also reminded me a lot of Unnamed Memory, only it's actually good. Firstly is the pacing. They don't beat around the bush with each event, bounty-rescue-bodyguard-adventuring-exploring. The story has essentially followed this progression while maintaining a sense of urgency that doesn't detract from the world building. Which is my next point. The world building by chapter 28 is so well layered it reminds me of Joe Abercrombie's First Law Trilogy.
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For those who don't read fantasy much he basically executes character dynamics and a stricking world building style that blend very well.
But aside from that i just love the characters, the most impottant aspect of any story. Zig, the mercenary MC, reminds of various characters i've read. The stoic strong type but strangely caring isn't unique but i simply don't care. I always like them. Siasha, the outcast witch, is of course very curious of the world and cultures since she was mostly a recluse before their meeting. Plus the tropes balance out and rather than being over the top, again reminds me of Frieren's style. There also is a fair bit of action, but you probably expected that. I'll just say the intensity of the fights i wasn't fully prepared for and not in a bad way as a fan of grim-dark.
I always come across one of these every few months and go "how the hell do more people not talk about this?" but this one genuinely confuses me. As there's been isekai slop fed to people for years at this point, the few fantasy that are excellent do tend to stick out, and this is definetly one that should as well.
9/10 at the bare minimum for me.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Nov 30, 2024
Magokoro Scramble. Magokoro Scramble. Magokoro Scramble. Sorry, I could say that name all day. Rolls off the tongue and it sounds sick as hell, anyway.
Don’t let the “🤨” you’re about to see from this sway what you think of the manga itself. Im not sure about MAL, but the majority of threads I’ve seen elsewhere really hate chapter 6 specifically, but I’ll explain why it’s not a big deal (spoiler-free explanation) and why the premise and execution of this manga will determine how great it can be long term.
First though I’ll briefly cover the premise even though the summary does it pretty well. We have
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the MC Koharu Sanada; who has Telepathy, though emotions, and can basically read anyones true intentions. This has caused unpleasantness in past relationships (girlfriend) and he decides to shied himself from love going forward. Then you have Yuki Yatsutase who appears stone faced at first glance but underneath is your typical shoujo female protag. This will cause shoujo-like moments where she needs to be rescued every chapter, but it’s explained away in a not so meaningful way and as i'm not generally a fan of "damsels in distress" it does concern me what happens with her character development.
Second is the tone. It to me sits somewhere between goofy comedy and mysterious supernatural drama. That may seem vague but honestly we're about 6 chapters in and by this point in reading I usually have a good feeling for the vibe a manga gives. I really liked the interactions between the two MCs and even the small cast of side characters presented so far. The dynamic between them all has differed from carefree, or awkward, or protective, or silly.
Third is the art. I usually find this a poor attempt by manga reviewers to pad out length but it actually suprised me how much i liked the mix of the supernatural specific artstyles and base art of the manga. That is to say the art itself doesn't look jaw dropping or anything but how it was utilized was very impressive.
PSA: before i wrap this up, be aware that you might be tricked into thinking this manga contains "NTR" which is kryptonite for romance anime fans. However that's not accurate here. The supernatural abilities are not exclusive to MC Sunada and lets just say many use their abilities disgracefully. There is no shock value here, but I do see why what happened upset many who read it that way.
Do I recommend this manga. Hell yes. Of course you can never tell how good something will be long term. You can read 10 volumes and think somethings sick then the rug is pulled out from under you when it goes to shit. I think the idea and premise is fun and with the right execution the elements of supernatural abilities won't hinder that otherwise goofy feeling this manga gives off.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Sep 1, 2024
The amount of times a romance manga starts with a strong first impression, then stalls in the expedition might have to be investigated.
I’ve read two body swap romcoms and this is by far the better of the two, but it’s still not great. To make a long story short, MC Sunao was dumped by cheating gf Lemon. Years later he falls in love with club-mate Natsumi. Before he can confess, he dumps into Lemon again and they somehow gain the condition of switching bodies every other day.
I’m not even going to try and sound smart in this review, it’s just disappointing to see
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a story with a, not unique, but fun premise be turned into a gag for the sake of maintaining the status quo. The protagonist by chapter 36 seems to inherit a bit of Kazuya from Rent a Girlfriend with his internal monologues that sound ridiculous to any functional person. If there’s one thing I can’t stand about a character, it’s that they progressively regress in character development. All other characters either have A. Tried to better themselves for one reason or another or B. Tried to make a positive impact on those around them. Sunao Akiyoshi (MC) does neither of these things and it’s becoming increasingly more infuriating to read.
I will say this, if you like side characters who take the burden off of watching drivel over and over, you might like what this manga has to offer from around chapter 16 onwards. Characters like Raika (Lemons friend) immediately have 10x the impact that the bland main cast. For what’s its worth, this manga actually made me laugh. There’s basically zero comedy in “romcoms”, even popular ones like Kaguya-sama and to the credit of this manga it’s so ridiculous at times I couldn’t help it. It could have benefitted more from this if there was more to root for, but about 60% of the last 15 chapters was contrived garbage. The equivalent of “Hey how’s it going” “I’m doing good how about you?” “I’m doing just fine thank you” in real life. Just filling the air with conversation, or in this case, text to fill out the pages
All in all it’s not that bad though. It’s worth reading weekly probably, if you have nothing better to do.
Reviewer’s Rating: 5
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Aug 29, 2024
I made a promise to myself to finish the next 5 manga I planned to read, that was a mistake. Blue Flame falls in the category of “absolutely vile insane drama I can’t stop reading, I just have to not start in the first place” and I’ve been trying to distance myself from that because they’re good reads once a year.
I really don’t need to go into the premise or story, for two reasons. One, if you seen one of these you’ve seen them all. Inu to Kuzu, Musume no Tomodachi, Oyasumi Punpun, Chi no Wadachi, and Shounen no Abyss just to name a few.
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Reason number two is you wouldn’t care anyways. I can’t even pretend to lie and say this has any redeemable factors that make it worth a read alone. I can’t even be critical about it like I can with more common drama plots. Every single character is a piece of shit, every possible action is a 180 from what a character should do, and by chapter 34 I found 11 serious plot holes that would make a fantasy author cringe in horror.
That being said you get the gist. I recommend this manhwa if you like any of the aforementioned ones I previously mentioned.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Aug 25, 2024
Edit: *Just finished it and I take back everything I said in this review, oh my god it’s so fucking bad. How do y’all do it?😂 I’ll keep the same review up though, it’s how I felt at the time*
This anime is at best a 5/10, you guys do too much I swear.
I read the manga well before this came out and it was the most 3/10 experience I had ever read. I don’t hate the characters, or story, or silly themes before anyone thinks that. It is just so goddamn boring it could replace melatonin. Now I will say the sfx and music of
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the anime combined with the incredible voice acting make it a more pleasant experience in anime form, but that’s really just the nature of romcoms/comedy shows.
There’s nothing special about this show. There’s been a lot of opportunities to expand on characters background and besides Alya we hardly get to see it in detail. I think if the story was more character driven it would be ten-fold more interesting, but I guess I’m in the minority there as well. You can like the show, hell you can love it, but to me it’s run of the mill stuff.
Reviewer’s Rating: 2
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Jul 28, 2024
People like to hate I see.
I’m not sure how this is rated a 7, and My Dress Up Darling is almost a full number score higher when there’s almost already been more plot progression in just these 4 chapters than that. I guess I’ll begin with what it’s started well with so far. Pacing, character dynamics, humor (ous) moments and situations, light-hearted themes. Where it could be improved next, more comedy, art, and that’s about it.
These are personal observations and it’s still early, but you guys hate life I guess. It’s been genuinely good so far and I hope it maintains this quality throughout.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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