Manga Review: My Little Monster, Volume 4, by Robico

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: Kodansha Comics

Release Date: 2014

Volumes: 13.

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 3. 5.

Goodreads Synopsis:

YOU CAN'T HAVE IT ALL Having sorted out her feelings for Haru, Shizuku's got her mind on her studies. However, things get turbulent when Shizuku and Haru's delinquent friend Yamaken start taking the same cram school classes. Haru targets Yamaken as a love rival, and Shizuku could not care less. The New Year approaches bringing new chaos!

Review:

Haru and Shizuku are still struggling with their feelings for each other. Haru wants all of her. Shizuku is trying to figure out what to give him, how to handle him, while also wanting to focus on her studies. Then there’s all of the outside influences, friends causing trouble and antagonizing them.

It’s all entertaining and fun, and I do like seeing it.

I want to get to know Yamaken better. I want to see more of the relationship developing between Natsume and Sasayan; I like their friendship, and the way they’re there for each other, in a way.

I want to love this series, but I’m mostly just meh about it. I don’t love it, I don’t hate it. It’s okay. But given how much love I see other people feeling for it, and what I’ve heard about later in the series, it makes me want to read more, to keep going. Either way, it’ll probably be a slow progression for me.

Manga Review: My Little Monster, Volume 3, by Robico

Rating (Out of 5): ~3-3.5

Publisher: Kodansha Comics

Release Date: July 2014

Volumes: 12 + 1

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 2. 4.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Haru confirms his love for Shizuku after a talk with the class rep, Chizuru Oshima (who also has feelings for Haru!). Meanwhile, confused and unsure, Shizuku decides to eliminate her feelings towards Haru in order to focus on her studies. Will Haru be able to change her mind? The school fesival brings chaos and rivalries as personalities clash! From the Trade Paperback edition. 

Review:

I’ve taken a break from this series for a bit. I just wasn’t feeling it enough, but I ended up picking this volume up on a whim. And now I’m glad I did. I almost think I needed a break in order to really get into it, because this volume had me.

Mizutani is still being quiet and distant, denying her feelings for Haru. Haru is starting to wonder about her feelings for him, while trying not to be too obvious or pushy, even if he is a little. Oshima is in love with Haru, and he’s oblivious while confiding in her. Poor girl.

Asako is friends with Mizutani, and she wants to be girl friends that confide in each other. When Mizutani is her distant self, not talking about her feelings or herself, it hurts Asako’s feelings. I’m glad that they have a little talk in this volume, though. It makes me happy for Asako, because she’s a nice girl and I like her.

I’m also a fan of Sasayan, the sidekick in the background. I like his relationship with Asako, too. They’re just fun to watch in the background, talking and away from some of the main drama.

Then there’s quite a few background characters. Haru’s brother is fun to watch, with his harassing Haru, and seeing Yamaken freak out over them. 

This volume was fun, and it pulled me back into the characters. I’m glad I picked it up, and I look forward to catching up with the series.

Manga Review: My Little Monster, Volume 2, by Robico

Rating (Out of 5): ~3-3.5

Publisher: Kodansha Comics

Release Date: May 27, 2014

Volumes: 12 + 1

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 3.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Haru's big brother suddenly appears with unclear motives. What is clear is Haru's hatred for his big brother. Haru disappears at the sight of his big brother and Mizutani is left with even more questions about Haru. What are her feelings for him? How can she make him like her? And what is the deal with his big brother?

Review:

I want to love this series. And I am enjoying it. But it just doesn’t have me super excited for it.

It’s cute, there’s some good humor in this. Maybe I’m just not attached to the characters enough. And I don’t really love any of them. Mizutani isn’t bad, and I do like seeing her grow and figure out her feelings. I don’t mind Haru, either, although I think I thought I would find him more adorable or something. There are other minor characters, and I like them enough.

We met a new character in this volume, who might be competition for Mizutani. We also met Haru’s brother, which caused some drama from Haru and for Mizutani.

I’m just not hugely attached, or in love with anything. It’s not really grabbing me. I want it to, really badly. But it’s not.

I’m still definitely going to be sticking out this series for a while longer, and I hope it really hooks me soon. But right now, it’s not.

Manga Review: My Little Monster, Volume 1, by Robico

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: Kodansha Comics

Release Date: March 11th, 2014

Volumes: 12 (+1 special volume)

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 2.

Wishlist Thursday.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Mizutani is a self-absorbed overachiever, concerned only with maintaining the highest grades in school. Haru is an impulsive short tempered brute, who scares everyone with his explosive bursts of violence. Haru gets suspended on the first day of school when he encounters some bullies harassing a student and dispatches the bullies with great bloody violence. Mizutani is tasked with delivering school materials to Haru who interprets this as an act of friendship and latches on to Mizutani, much to her dismay. And so begins a strange and potentially combustible relationship!

Review:

This volume did not start out as exciting as I thought it would, but it was still very good. It started a little slow, I guess.

I enjoy the pet dynamic in shojo manga, where the boy is adorable but violent, and the girl kind of tames him. It’s just an adorable dynamic, in my opinion. And I don’t think there are enough manga translated with it. Which is part of why I jumped right on board with this series, I’m sure.

Mizutani is the girl, a little disinterested in the people around her, instead wanting to focus only on her studies. Then there’s Yoshida, who’s skipping classes, wanting friends but a little naïve, and quick to violence. He quickly takes a liking to Mizutani, but then decides that maybe it’s just as friends, whereas Mizutani goes through the opposite reaction.

I particularly liked that they were both pretty upfront about their feelings. That rarely happens, in anything, and it was refreshing. It should definitely lead to some interesting developments in the coming volumes, and I’m looking forward to that.

We also got to meet some other characters, some who seem to become their friends, which is new for both Mizutani and Yoshida. I look forward to getting to know them, and seeing how that develops Mizutani and Yoshida’s characters. 

This was a bit of a slow volume, and I think very much a beginning to the series. I’m looking forward to seeing where it goes next, though. I'm liking the setup, the way the story is told, and the characters so far.

Wishlist Thursday[47]: My Little Monster, Volume 1, by Robico

My Little Monster 1 by Robico

Publisher: Kodansha Comics

Release Date: March 11^th, 2014

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

Goodreads Synopsis:

Mizutani is a self-absorbed overachiever, concerned only with maintaining the highest grades in school. Haru is an impulsive short tempered brute, who scares everyone with his explosive bursts of violence. Haru gets suspended on the first day of school when he encounters some bullies harassing a student and dispatches the bullies with great bloody violence. Mizutani is tasked with delivering school materials to Haru who interprets this as an act of friendship and latches on to Mizutani, much to her dismay. And so begins a strange and potentially combustible relationship!

Why?:

I think I’ve watched the first episode of the anime for this series twice now (one of those times after the license was announced), but haven’t gotten around to watching more. I’ve enjoyed it, though. I was excited when Kodansha announced it, because it sounds exactly like something I would like, plus I’ve heard good things about it. I’m looking forward to reading it.