Manga Review: The Delinquent Housewife!, Volume 1, by Nemu Yoko

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: Vertical Comics

Release Date: September 2018

Volumes: 4.

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 2.

Goodreads Synopsis:

A family comedy manga about a high school boy and his sister in law who moves in, who has a BIG secret from her past.

Tohru Komukai and his bride-to-be, Komugi, move in with his family just until they find a place of their own. Or, that was the plan, until Tohru suddenly leaves for a long-term business trip overseas, leaving Komugi to fend for herself on her in-laws’ turf. While Komugi is pretty, considerate and appears to be an ideal housewife, the truth is she doesn’t know how to do a lick of housework, and can’t cook at all. Also, she has a secret past as a member of an all-girls bosozoku biker gang! The only member of the family to learn these secrets is Dai, Tohru’s younger brother, and he helps Komugi keep up appearances until she can learn how to hold her own as a domestic goddess...

Review:

Komugi and her fiance have moved in with his family while they plan and settle things, and then suddenly he's called away overseas on business. Which leaves Komugi with her fiance's family, not knowing them too well at this point.

Komugi is trying hard to help and fit in and get along with everyone. But she's clearly the odd one out. And also, she used to be a delinquent, and now she sneaks out of the house at night to meet up with her girl friends, and of course she can't tell her fiance's family any of this, because they wouldn't approve.

I was honestly very interested in this series, originally. I don't really understand why she would be living with her fiance's family, but maybe that's an American thing for that to seem weird; especially once he's gone for who-knows-how-long. But once it was obvious that Dai, her fiance's brother, likes her, I lost some interest. I'm still intrigued by Komugi's character and her challenges regarding her delinquent past, but I'm not interested in that whole unrequited soon-to-be brother-in-law drama. I don't think that's necessary.

I believe this is a short series, so I might try more. I'm not sure at this point.

Manga Review: Oresama Teacher, Volume 3, by Izumi Tsubaki

Rating (Out of 5): 3

Publisher: VIZ Media

Volumes: 12+

Goodreads Synopsis:

Mafuyu is the ideal yanki chick—no-nonsense, take-charge, and hard-hitting. But when she gets expelled for being a delinquent, her mother, fed up with her daughter’s wayward ways, sends Mafuyu to an isolated school far off in the country.

Mafuyu is heading home for the weekend to get some much-needed TLC. But neither her mom nor her hometown seem to be in the mood for a warm welcome. Trying to walk off the weird feelings, Mafuyu and some of her old East High comrades are caught in a trap set by the gang from West High! Can she help her former friends without compromising her fresh start?

Review:

It's taking me a bit to get into this series. I read The Magic Touch, and actually enjoyed it. And I like Tsubaki's humor, but for some reason, the story's moving too slowly or the subject (being a delinquent and fighting) isn't as interesting or something. Although, there isn't as much romance in this one as in the other one, which might be a part of it.

It's about Mafuyu, who has been sent to a new school because of her delinquent tendencies (as her mother doesn't like them), and she has promised not to do any of the delinquent type of things anymore. But then she can't help herself from saving a boy, but then later decides to wear a bunny mask to hide her identity. And she meets the guy, Takaomi, who's now a teacher, who got her into fighting in the first place.

In this volume, Mafuyu decides to go back home during a break and visit her mother (really, though, only because she's broke and wants a home cooked meal). And she gets to see her old friends from school, the delinquents that followed her. She ends up getting in some trouble with them, and she realizes that she isn't the leader anymore, which is sad, but they're awesome and sweet to her nonetheless.

But I really liked seeing the delinquents from Mafuyu's old neighborhood, especially the number one and two that follow her, and I hope that we get to see more of them.

That takes up most of the volume, except for the last two chapters, in which Mafuyu gets a little freaked out by her horoscope and then locked out of the house and has to stay with Takaomi, who turns out to be her neighbor. This isn't exciting in the way that I want it to be, but funny in the way that Tsubaki makes all of it. And then the last chapter focuses on Mafuyu and her new friend Hayasaka, who are the only members in the Public Morals Club, have to go talk to the student council to try to get it officially made a club. They don't know about this bet that Takaomi and the principal have, or why they are supposed to wear masks when speaking to the student council president. This is an interesting chapter, and opens up to some obvious problems that are going to come up with the president, and probably Takaomi and the principal as well.

I don't want to spoil too much, but it was good. And I liked it, and will probably be getting more interested in it as I read more. I should, at least, since I am enjoying it and I did like her other series. Her art work isn't amazing, or more like, it can take some getting used to. It's very sharp. But I'm used to it, so I don't mind it anymore.

I'll probably be reviewing the next volume soon, as I already have it and now only have to read it.