- Last OnlineOct 13, 2023 8:49 AM
- JoinedMay 5, 2021
RSS Feeds
|
![]()
Mar 20, 2022
Story (9/10):
The story is not unorthodox or out of the ordinary, but the plot is something more relatable for people in the 21st Century. The basis of the plot is that a new student (Komi-san) transferred into the school and quickly became the “Goddess” of her class; however, although she is elegant in everything she does, she suffers from extreme social anxiety–to the extent of being unable to communicate with others. Despite this, an average student (Tadano) in the class meets the “Goddess” and notices that she is unable to speak and make friends; thus, the average student makes his goal to help her make
...
a hundred friends. This is a simple plot, but the author was able to make this whole experience with great pace and character development.
Art (8/10):
The art style of Komi-san is nothing to brag about, but the playful tone of Komi-san’s expressions makes the manga more enjoyable for the reader and allows the author to transmit their feelings to the characters. For example, when Komi-san is embarrassed or socially awkward, we often see her with a cuter, playful depiction of her; however, when things need to be more serious and attentive, the author makes the extra effort to flesh out her face–showing more detail to her facial expressions.
Character (9/10):
Komi-san, Tadano, Najimi, and the other characters in the story really made the story more nuanced–in a way that is not too overwhelming. All of the characters are often developed and always play a role in the story and the manga’s comedic nature. For example, Najimi’s gender is always questioned in the manga, to her clothing descriptions and her interactions with other characters. This brings me to the other point, which is continuity. Komi-san often leaves tiny details that were previously explored in previous chapters to the new chapters, and it makes the whole Komi-san world more exciting and interconnected.
Enjoyment (9/10):
This is more on a personal note. However, I enjoyed Komi-san and their attention to character development. I think the flow of the manga was great, and there was never a point where I felt I needed to sit down and take a breather, as the manga already does that. Main events were consistently spaced out so that the reader could digest all the content.
Overall (9/10):
Komi-san is a manga that isn’t too out of the box but isn’t too inside the box (if that makes sense). It enjoys the benefits of not being too outlandish and jarring to the reader but at the same time not too dull for the reader. The manga is already quite fleshed out and is long enough for any fast reader to be satiated for quite a while. In conclusion, Komi-san is an overall delight to read, and I hope this review was helpful!
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
What did you think of this review?
Nice
 0
Love it
 0
Funny
 0
Confusing
 0
Well-written
 0
Creative
 0Show all
![]()
Mar 7, 2022
Story (⅗. Typical plot for a unique niche)
The story goes back and forth between what happens in Who Made A Princess (WMMAP) and Lovely Princess (the original world that the protagonist reincarnated into). This allows the readers to grasp the impact of the protagonist's actions and how it affects the future plot of the story. The story manages to subtly highlight complex themes such as the internal self and Fate vs Free Will while delivering it in a good balance between light-hearted and serious. The plot progression has some headscratchers, sometimes deus ex machina is obvious, and some parts of the world are filled with
...
logical plotholes, but I think this work is a good starter for the classic family-oriented Otome Isekai – especially when the genre is very niche as of now. In my opinion, there are arcs that are either too short or too dragged out – I myself took a break from reading it because a specific arc felt too extended. As of now, the manhwa isn’t complete yet, but it seems like it will be near completion.
Art (5/5. My eyes have been blessed. The lifeblood of the manhwa)
The first thing that drew me into the manhwa was its art. I am continuously fascinated by how the artist colors and colors the sceneries and characters (especially the eyes). Every panel is either an aesthetically beautiful, eye-cleansing panel or a humorous, chibi-style panel. The contrast between the two styles amplifies its effects: the high-detail panels look even more detailed, and the chibi panels are even more adorable than how they already are. I would wax poetic about how the special effects and scenery blend well with other elements within each panel. It’s very obvious that a lot of work has gone into each chapter of the manhwa, and I personally look forward to the manhwa’s art the most every time a new update is released. While the manhwa’s art is really high-detailed and aesthetically pleasing, I think design-wise they seem pretty typical. For example, the main protagonist Athanasia has blonde hair and blue eyes, which is the most abundant hair-eye color combo in female Otome Isekai protagonists. The hairstyle designs are also pretty standard, nothing too crazy or innovative other than how gloriously well-detailed they are. In terms of clothing designs though, they are also quite pretty and unique, but it’s what you usually expect from Otome Isekais that are set in similar settings.
P.S.: Okay this is a little bit TMI but the greatest testament to this is how well the artist drew Athanasia’s Father, Claude. I usually find blonde-haired male characters at the bottom of my list of favorite designs, but hot damn how does one not simp for Athy’s hot daddy Claude? The artist took character designs that I usually wouldn't really like, and transform them into top rankers in my simp agenda.
Character (3/5. Unique characterization for first-timers, but pretty cliché in the genre.)
I think character design falls under the art section, so I’m not going to go deep into that. In terms of characterization, we have many of the typical cliches that one would notice after reading a couple of other Otome Isekais. If the reader is new to the genre as a whole (which is often the case), the characters may seem quite unique especially because female characters are not the typical protagonists of an isekai plot. I can’t give much away about characters without spoiling too much, but as someone who was new to the genre when I started reading it, I find each character of the manhwa lovable in its own way – having enough level of depth but also light-heartedness. After reading other Otome isekai manhwas, however, the illusion kind of breaks apart after knowing that some character motivations seem more questionable when compared to other works within the genre. However, there are character interactions that I wished the author expanded more upon or hope they will in the future (if you’ve read WMMAP, you know which ship I’m talking about)
Enjoyment (⅘. A trip to a mall. Go around the whole thing once, and then revisit the good parts. Content is content nevertheless)
WMMAP is my go-to recommendation when I want to introduce someone to the world of Otome Isekai – a small taste or a shallow pond before they get fully interested in the genre. There are better Otome isekai manhwas out there with a better plot, more unique characters, character interactions that are healthier, but I think one can only appreciate that if they have something to compare it to. That, in my opinion, is the role of WMMAP – a beginner-friendly Otome isekai that keeps its readers through the beauty of its art while introducing them to the niche genre. I often reread this series simply to find aesthetically pleasing panels or revisit scenes that I want to re-experience, but I always skipped through the draggy parts. References to WMMAP are standard and widespread among the Otome isekai world, and I would argue that WMMAP has the most abundant fan content compared to other Otome Isekai series so far, so I relish the massive amount of content in a genre that is sparse of them.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
![]()
Mar 7, 2022
*Note: review is on the manga version only
Story(9/10):
The Eminence in Shadow, written by Aizawa Daisuke, is an isekai manga and even in the oversaturated ocean of isekais in the manga industry today, it still manages to stand out. The story puts an interesting and creative twist on the generic OP, black-haired, harem protagonist that other isekais cannot compete with. What if the protagonist is a chuunibyou and not only that… but whatever he deludes about and says is coincidentally true?! This premise allows a whole lot of interesting and genuinely funny scenes to be conveyed. The story is neatly organized and planned out which does
...
confuse me and retains my attention well. Overall, the story is great.
Art(8.5/10):
The art of The Eminence in Shadow exceeds the quality of other mass-produced, generic isekai mangas and is consistent in its artstyle. The art is beautifully drawn by Sakano Anri, as well as the panel drawings. There were never any particular panels where I was awestruck but I was well-satisfied with the detailed and aesthetical drawings of the environment, characters, and effects.
Character(8/10):
The characters, besides the protagonist, in the manga are simple, cookie-cutter personalities that I’ve seen many times before. Despite being generic, Aizawa Daisuke manages to execute them well and turn them into easily likable characters.
Enjoyment(10/10):
I really enjoyed this manga and was greatly saddened by the fact that it only has 27 chapters the first time I read it. This manga was a fresh breath from all the isekai mangas I’ve read. If you like isekai, then this manga is a must-read for you. All in all, this manga is one of few that actually made me laugh and is also one of my favorites, so I suggest you, whether an isekai-lover or not, to give it a try of 5 chapters before dropping.
Final score: (9/10)
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
![]()
Feb 28, 2022
“Gun oil and Gun-powder are my favorite fragrances.”
Author Kenichi Sonoda is a gun enthusiast, and Gunsmith Cats is a gun-nut’s absolute dream written by one. The story took place in Chicago, Illinois, around the 80s - 90s and was influenced by the 1980s comedy, action film “The Blues Brothers.” Following the duo of smiting gals: Rally - our main gal, Minnie May - her partner in their day job as gunsmiths, and their side-job as bounty hunters in Chicago’s underbelly.
The manga focuses on three things: guns, girls, and cars.
Starting with the girls, our pistol packin’ momma, and main girl - Irene “Rally”
...
Vincent. Taught to shoot with an AR-7 by her father (an Olympic level shooter), Rally’s has become an ace shot when it comes to just about anything and everything. From the WA2000 that she keeps in the back of her stylish 1967 Shelby GT500 to her .25 DuO that’s kept in a sliding rail around her forearm. Within the first chapter, she’s shot a finger off of two different people, and that’s not all she’s gonna do when it comes to simple badassery. In later chapters, she does more feats of absolute marksmanship, and some just seem like major dues-ex when she’s in a bind, but though some actions she does depend on luck - most of what she does in the manga is completely feasible with the right training and knowledge.
Rally’s Partner, “Minnie” May Hopkins, is a petite bombshell with expertise in high explosive ordnance. She follows Rally’s bounty hunting quests with an explosive pep and usually provides a lighter tone due to her sometimes bubbly nature. As mentioned earlier, she’s a crack at rigging and disarming explosives in no time and always carries a small amount of C4 and detonators within the heel of her boots. When Rally is down or needs a room breached, Minnie May is right beside her, ready to deal with anything. The characters have a good dynamic with each other; having bonded in many previous missions and mornings in the gun store, they’ve developed a comedic approach to things and usually bicker charmingly.
Coming into the style of Gunsmith Cats is quite the treat for a gun-nut and a petrolhead, as Kenichi Sonoda captures both in stunning black and white style. All the guns have been beautifully transferred into paper; both the cars and guns have painstaking detail on all of them. Rally’s 1976 Shelby GT500 Cobra has each individual grill and headlights drawn spot on, and the decision to include the white Le Man's stripes on the car provide such a nice touch for classic car enthusiasts. Even when it comes to little details on Rally’s CZ are perfectly drawn, with attention to the hammer and even magazine release of the pistol. Overall the style is like reading a full series about Dirty Harry, with high octane fun fights and clever gunplay from Rally herself.
The story is best left enjoyed by going in blind; it’s nothing special in the beginning with small inconsequential baddies. However, when the main antagonist Goldie comes into the picture, the story pops the clutch and puts it into the next gear. The 5th Volume, “Bad trip,” is a high point within the series, where Goldie’s manipulative and strategic mind is put front and center. After that, the manga still maintains good pacing and interesting plot points; however, I feel that at some points, it may slow down. In general, I felt I stayed more for the characters than I stayed for the story.
Overall, Gunsmith Cats is an amazing manga but niche manga, with the focus being on a buddy cop duo and gunfights. It, in general, is one of my favorite action mangas due to its compelling characters, but it does suffer because of its slightly repetitive nature. Don’t let that discourage you. Rally still remains my favorite action manga hero and will most likely remain so, as I have yet to find any action manga that challenges it.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
![]()
Feb 26, 2022
(CONTAINS SPOILERS)
Kaguya-sama Love is War is an overall unique slice of life rom-com shonen manga that I have personally read before. The manga’s premise is very interesting and a past interview with the manga’s author–Aka Akasaka–very much showed this. He wanted to conceive a unique rom-com manga plot with two tsundere having clashing romantic feelings and he most definitely was able to complete this; however, there are some shortcomings to the manga. After the main premise was concluded (the confession), the manga devolved to a more cliche rom-com plot as the relationship between the two main characters developed. Yet, in my personal opinion, I found
...
this interesting since the characters got the chance to be more developed and nuanced. Nevertheless, this did not persist as Akasaka developed a new plot for the manga which is Shirogane saving Shinomiya from her family.
Overall, the manga has an interesting plot and premise and, in my opinion, it was a very good read, and enjoyed my time reading it.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
|
