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Heroine Shikkaku - a teenage romance story that dares to be different by being told from the point of view of a character archetype that we love to hate: the antagonist / love rival.

And what a story it is.

Fans of this genre may be all too familiar (and tired) of the tropes that pop up in shoujo manga. To begin, here it's the new character who just so happens to have known the love interest since childhood, who fights to gain his affections. This is the story we follow in Heroine Shikkaku, with our hilarious, over-the-top protagonist, Hatori. As you might expect, she is the ... definition of the shoujo antagonist - merciless, manipulative and persistent.

Things don't turn out to be as she expects from a shoujo love story. (And when this happens, her reactions are absolutely outrageous and hilarious). At this point, the plot elements that are present in almost every romance story pop up - love triangles, ex-girlfriends, stupid misunderstandings, you name it. However, Heroine Shikkaku does a great job at revisiting and reinventing these tired tropes, and I credit all that to the excellent cast of characters.

Characters. That's one thing I always find myself bored by in the shoujo manga I've read in the past. For the most part, characters would suffer from no character development at all, making them seem like props to some bland theatrical work. This is not the case with Heroine Shikkaku. Each of the characters that become involved in Hatori's love story have their own chances to shine and really develop. You get to see everyone's side in whatever situation happens to be plaguing them. As such, the reader can understand their motives and empathize with them. Hatori's unrequited love in particular really spoke out to me. Despite it, she remains a strong person who seeks to move on from the past - and that's the kind of character I admire.

The art is your standard fare for shoujo manga. The girls are cute, the boys are gorgeous - but it's never difficult to tell each character apart; they're all unique in appearance. The expressions during the sadder/tender/fluffier moments are really well drawn and can tug at your heartstrings, too. But what really got me was the hilarious expressions from the protagonist, Hatori. Her various mopey, shocked, or "WTF" faces had me laughing out loud with the weirdness!


-----Conclusion--------

Heroine Shikkaku is a surprisingly deep story of unrequited love and learning to move on from the past, though initially disguised as a parody of a typical shoujo manga. It will surprise you with the refreshing characterization, have you laughing out loud from Hatori's hilarious reactions and antics, and aww'ing at the tender moments! All in all, it's an enjoyable read that has kept me hooked despite my growing disinterest in the genre.

What to say about Pupa? It's dark. Depressing. Brutal. Revolting, no doubt (as you can probably draw from the summary). It doesn't hold back in showing the suffering between our two protagonists, as they are thrown into a world of chaos, and left to fend for themselves.

Before we continue, let me clear up some misconceptions about this manga that you might have:

- Yes, the relationship between the main characters is unusual for siblings, but not to the point of fanservice-y, exaggerated sister/brother complexes. Their relationship is justified by their horrific past (which I won't elaborate on for this review's sake). I'd actually consider it ... to be almost symbiotic. Neither can live without the other, as they've been left with no one else to depend on for so long.

- Yes, it contains cannibalism. Well, if you can consider the monster-like form that the infected take on to be even remotely human. (There is a scene where you see a human eating another, though it's not as explicit as you'd think). This manga doesn't shy away from drawing the gut-feasting scenes either.

And now, let's talk about the plot. Infectious, man-eating disease? Been there, done that. As the name implies, it transforms those afflicted with the Butterfly Virus into a horrific, butterfly pupa-like being that craves for human flesh. Our two protagonists are thrown into this confusing world of the Butterfly Virus, and the story follows them on their struggle to become normal again. Various mysterious, underground organizations dedicated to the research of this virus become involved, and our protagonists are left to find out just who - or what- they can rely on.

As I've noted earlier, the art in the more suspenseful scenes is very detailed and horrifically gory. You'll see human guts spilling out, heads blown off, eyeballs plucked out…you get the idea. The expressions of horror and malevolence on the character's faces are also well drawn - you can really get a foreboding, "oh crap!" sentiment from it.

The art in the more normal scenes is an almost sudden contrast to all this. For the most part the almost cutesy appearance of the characters - namely, our female lead (the sister) - will throw you off. I find that it gives it a greater shock factor though, because soon you'll be seeing these poor innocent kids go through absolute hell.



Conclusion:

Basically, you'll need a strong stomach and an open mind to read this. I've found myself cringing as I try to imagine how much pain - both physical and mental - our poor protagonists are experiencing as they strive for a better, normal life while putting their horrific past behind them.

While approaching the end of the second chapter, I've found that the story seems to be headed towards a very generic, predictable path. I can't say I've been amazed by the plot, despite the shocking but revolting gory scenes. I'm always left expecting both of the characters to "man up" or at least attempt to fight back against the antagonists. To me, they just seem like the punching bag that functions as the source of "shock" and "horror" - and that's what makes Pupa just another generic horror manga.


As a horror manga, I wouldn't say that it's so frightening that I'd call it nightmare fuel, but if a depressing, merciless story chock full of slimy bits and gore is what you're craving - go for it.

If you are into prince-and-pauper type romances, then this manga is for you. It's a story chock full of drama, stemming from the typical forbidden relationship between a lower-class individual and an heir-to-be of a rich family, coupled with some really sweet romance and a dash of comedy. Saa Koi ni Ochitamae is a good read if you're just getting into the Yaoi genre.

This manga is the standard fare for a "prince-and-pauper" story. What sets it apart from others is the characters. Unlike most BL protagonists, Noboru isn't annoyingly naive and clingy. He's not the type to immediately go head-over-heels for someone, nor will ... he back down and stay silent when he's upset - making him a pretty awesome protagonist. The love interest, Naoya, is introduced as your typical arrogant rich kid. Meeting Noboru unveils his more compassionate, caring side, as the two find themselves hopelessly in love with each other. The story revolves around the trials and tribulations the two encounter as they deal with coming out, maintaining their relationship despite the scorn from family, and from a pesky individual who seeks to crush Naoya's reputation...

The art is pretty good, and very reminiscent of shoujo manga styles. Noboru's the typical doe-eyed uke, though his indignant, headstrong personality is a huge contrast to his innocent appearance. Naoya's got the handsome, rich-boy seme look - very fitting for his personality. Minor characters such as Noboru's younger brothers - who often serve as the comedic relief - are drawn very cutely.

The romantic scenes are also nicely drawn. A few minor issues with the proportions of the face here and there, but nothing too noticeable to detract your attention from the story. The mangaka does a good job at portraying the tenderness of the moment. Sex scenes aren't too explicit - for the most part, the naughty parts are faded out. Good if you're just getting into the BL genre.

Conclusion -
SKnO is a cute and short read. There are dramatic moments all around, though they are quickly resolved as happy endings. You might find yourself laughing out loud at Noboru's siblings' antics, or wholeheartedly rooting for the main couple to resolve their misunderstandings (there's a lot of these moments). If you're in the mood for a fluffy, somewhat short romance, give SKO a try.

A sweet, slow-paced story of two brothers and their unusual yet strangely entrancing relationship.

Haikei Niisan focuses on the story of overly-dependent Yutaka, whose fondest childhood memories were of him and his older brother, Minoru. Yutaka was always overly attached to his brother, who was something of a second parent to him. As the years pass, Yutaka's feelings for Minoru transcends that of your typical sibling relationship - and Minoru's constant absence from home leaves Yutaka forever yearning for him. How will Yutaka fare as his feelings become increasingly intimate, and what of Minoru's feelings for Yutaka? Can a love like this ever prevail?

The topic of ... incest is an interesting one because it is commonly linked to sinfulness and even fetish material - basically, it's a scorned-upon topic. However, Haikei Niisan manages to illustrate the other side of it in the form of an innocent love between two brothers who grew closer than best friends. The narration really does a great job in making you able sympathize with the two main characters. As the story progresses, one might even able to completely forget about the taboo nature of such a love, because the story revolves around just that - a love story between two conflicted individuals who are unable to express their true feelings that were kept locked away for so many years. Yutaka and Minoru's affinity for each other is just so innocent and pure, you can't help but root for them.

The art is very well done, and very efficient in depicting the atmosphere. Great use of soft gradients in the backgrounds to enhance the nostalgic feel of the flashbacks into Yutaka's childhood; it enhances the gentle atmosphere of the manga. Illustrations are very well done for the more emotional scenes (like when the reader is given insight into the character's thoughts). Expressions are beautifully drawn and can really stir up empathy during the more emotional parts.

Conclusion:
Haikei Niisan is a refreshing read, especially for those seeking "forbidden love" stories. It is a romance story involving two conflicted individuals, and the ever-increasing pressure to conceal their love for each other, simple as that. Even if incest is not your thing, I would recommend trying this manga because it does an excellent job of showing a sweet and innocent love, hindered by a topic that is sometimes misunderstood in our society.