Manga Review: Kigurumi Guardians, Volume 3, by Lily Hoshino

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Kodansha Comics

Release Date: December 2017

Volumes: 3 (Hiatus)

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 2.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Lily Hoshino, the beloved artist behind Mawaru Penguindrum, offers her cute and twisted take on the magical girl genre. You probably never thought Sailor Moon needed more hot older guys in full-body mascot costumes, but Kigurumi Guardians will bring you around!

Hakka's second year of middle school was dull as it could be, until a suspicious cow mascot ("kigurumi") shows up in her room, holding a sign that reads, "My Name Is Ginger." But this isn't (just?) a stalker, it's a magical being that's come to convince Hakka (and her friends) to become Guardians, and save the world! Hakka is understandably confused, until she's suddenly attacked, and a beautiful young man leaps in to save her. Can this handsome knight and the weird kigurumi be... one and the same?

Review:

The beginning of this volume concludes Nobara's plot. The girls on her choir team don't like her, and then when they're used against her, Nobara has to face some realities. After that, we get to know Satsuki better. He has a rather lonely home life, which is helped with Fennel being there.

Aside from that, there was a fun chapter where they all go out shopping together, and we get to see their more casual dynamics. All of this leading up to the cliffhanger, as we're starting to learn that Hakka might be more powerful than she realizes.

I really like the dynamics of the characters. Each couple fits together really well, and I like how the kigurumi are there for their person how they need to be. I really like Satsuki and Fennel, in particular. I enjoy the humor, and the main plot is intriguing, though a little odd. My only wish were that the three main characters were older, because they really act like they should be in high school, and when I'm reminded of the age difference it bugs me. But it also bugs me that it doesn't feel like there should be such a huge gap.

That cliffhanger is rude, and it looks like it's going to be a long while for the next volume, still. I'm not sure why, though, if the authors sick or something, or if it's being discontinued? I hope not, because I really enjoy this series.

Manga Review: Kigurumi Guardians, Volume 2, by Lily Hoshino

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Kodansha Comics

Release Date: October 2017

Volumes: 3 (Hiatus)

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 3.

Goodreads Synopsis:

KISS AND TELL

Hakka has rescued her classmate from the evil invaders, but the Guardians' battle is only just beginning! Strange things are happening around the popular idol, Ranan, and she might be taking people's hearts. But Hakka has other concerns—her brother walks in on her and Ginger in the middle of their kiss!

Review:

We get a couple different plots in this volume. We get some more saving hearts ones, this time featuring a pop idol and possibly another one at school. Hakka's brother discovers her and human Ginger, and she has to pretend to be dating him. It's a dumb plot line where her brother follows them on a date, though thankfully she doesn't seem to think much of it during the actual date.

I didn't really notice in the first volume, but the reminders of how Hakka is only in middle school is a bit bothersome. Normally I don't really mind age differences, but it's a bit much here. For one, Ginger is quite older, in his twenties. But also, they don't seem like they're in middle school. It actually feels more like high school, and I think that would have made more sense.

Aside from that, I'm actually enjoying the development of the romance. Also, since I liked the sexual-fluidity about one couple, it bothers me that that might be turning into a triangle for Hakka.

In this volume, we also got a bit from Nobara's point of view, seeing her home life and who her “friends” are, and what she and Basilico do together. It's sweet, and I definitely like her more now. Though, it didn't feel like we got quite enough, since it always goes back to Hakka so quickly.

Overall, I'm rather enjoying this series so far. I'm looking forward to reading the next one.

Manga Review: Kigurumi Guardians, Volume 1, by Lily Hoshino

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Kodansha Comics

Release Date: August 2017

Volumes: 3 (Hiatus)

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells. RightStuf.

Volume: 2.

Goodreads Synopsis:

THE CHOSEN ONE
Hakka Sasakura's life is about to turn upside-down. She comes home from a day of admiring her student body president to discover that a mysterious creature resembling a man in an animal suit has taken up residence her home. What's more, she has been chosen to work with this strange being to fight off invaders from another dimension and save the world...and she has to kiss him to do so?! Lily Hoshino, the beloved artist behind Mawaru Penguindrum, offers her cute and twisted take on the magical girl genre. You probably never thought Sailor Moon needed more hot older guys in full-body mascot costumes, but Kigurumi Guardians will bring you around!

Review:

I wasn't too sure what to expect with this volume, but I was surprised with how fun it was.

Sasakura is starting a new school, and she's surprised to arrive home one day and find a weird costumed person there. He can't speak and communicates with little white boards, and she doesn't know what to do with him. The next day, she finds out that her and two other classmates have been chosen to be guardians, and they have to kiss these creatures to release them to fight.

The people/creatures that they're fighting are a little odd, but I don't think we know much about them yet. It was a little farfetched of a story, but I think it works given the odd plot to begin with. It's cheesy, but done in a comedic way, and not too serious about it. Though there is something deeper going on, we only got a couple hints here.

Sasakura and her penguin-guy are cute, and already starting a fun dynamic. The other girl chosen is a prissy popular girl, and I think they'll form an odd friendship, which should be fun. Her boy partner is also quite adorable and sweet, and I like him. One part I really appreciate, though, is that the other student chosen is a boy, and his creature is also male. I don't think too much will be made of it, but they're cute, and I like how nonchalant the boy is about it. I also liked that it was pointed out that they're chosen as partners because they're supposed to be together, destined to like each other in one way or another.

This was a really fun volume, and I'm quite excited to get the next one.