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Thursday, February 20, 2020

Manga Review: Komi Can't Communicate, Volume 2, by Tomohito Oda


Rating (Out of 5): ~4
Publisher: Shonen Sunday (VIZ Media)
Release Date: August 2019
Volumes: 16+
Spoilers?: Light.
Volume: 1. 3.

Goodreads Synopsis:

The journey to 100 friends begins with a single conversation.

Socially anxious high school student Shoko Komi’s greatest dream is to make some friends, but everyone at school mistakes her crippling social anxiety for cool reserve! With the whole student body keeping their distance and Komi unable to utter a single word, friendship might be forever beyond her reach.

It’s time for the national health exam at Itan High, and the excitement of eye exams and height measurements have fanned the flames of competition for the unremarkable Makeru Yadano. She’s determined to beat the class idol Komi in the health test, and Komi’s total obliviousness to their impassioned duel just feeds Makeru’s determination. As the epic battle heats up, how will Komi handle her first rival when she’s barely made her first friends?!

Review:

Komi clearly attracts a certain kind of character to herself, as we see more obviously in this volume. She's seen as perfect, and thus draws admiration and awe and jealousy, only that makes people obsessed with her instead of angry.
We meet Yadano in this volume. She's competing with Komi (in her head) during the sport competition in this volume, and this leads to her attempting to be friends with Komi. Only she's so obsessed she's literally crazy and will threaten anyone in her way.
There was a point in this volume were Yadano goes too far, and I really liked how Komi stood up for herself and her friends, despite her own shyness and anxiety and want for friends. But then it kind of dwindles into a friendship anyway. I'm conflicted about this, because Yadano is actually scary and should be put away.
There are some fun plot lines after this, including Komi and friends going to eat ramen, and going shopping. She also meets a new friend in Nakanaka in this volume. She's a bit of an odd one, as is usual at this point, and while she freaks Komi out at first, they soon form an understanding, which is sweet.
This series is crazy. But it's a lot of fun, still, and I like Komi a lot.


A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!

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