Manga Review: Jealousy, Volume 1, by Scarlet Beriko

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: SuBLime (VIZ Media)

Release Date: July 2020

Volumes: 4+

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 2.

 

Goodreads Synopsis:

 

The prequel to the popular yakuza rom-com Fourth Generation Head: Tatsuyuki Oyamato!

A yakuza head finds himself ensnared in the unwavering attentions of a sometimes impetuous but always cunning schemer. If being yakuza doesn’t get him killed, his new lover just might!

Uichi Rogi is in a bind, both literally and figuratively, when he meets Akitora Oyamato, the yakuza head who’s come to collect a debt from Uichi’s lover. Instantly smitten, Uichi schemes dubious and often dangerous ways of getting closer to the man, but his lies come at a heavy price—one he may regret having to pay for Akitora’s affections.

 

Review:

 

This is a spin-off of the one-shot Fourth Generation Head, featuring the stoic bodyguard of the yakuza with his little daughter.

I will say I'm intrigued by these two characters, and I find his daughter to be quite smart and cute. But most of this volume centers on Uichi and his past, what led to him being where he is today. Once upon a time, he was a young man, who had a hard time really connecting with people and feeling emotions, and he grasped onto the yakuza head at the time. He does several questionable things in order to get closer to him, leading him to very odd and sticky situations.

Uichi's obsession with the yakuza head is definitely dangerous and unhealthy. I'm curious where it's going, but I'm also very wary. Mostly, though, I would like to know more about his present situation, and I'm not sure when we'll get that.

Same as with the previous story, though, I tend to like the characters and relationships, more than the main, yakuza plot line.

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: Nisekoi: False Love, Volume 1, by Naoshi Komi

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: Shonen Jump (VIZ Media)

Release Date: January 7th, 2014

Volumes: 10+

Spoilers?: Not more than the synopsis.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Powells. RightStuf!

Wishlist Thursday.

Next Volume. 

Goodreads Synopsis:

Love triangle! Comedic antics!! Gang warfare?! You won’t want to miss out on Weekly Shonen Jump's laugh-out-loud feel-good manga series!

It’s hate at first sight... Rather, a knee-to-the-head at first sight when Raku Ichijo meets Chitoge Kirisaki! Unfortunately, Raku’s gangster father arranges a false love match with their rival’s daughter—who just so happens to be Chitoge! However, Raku’s searching for his childhood sweetheart from ten years ago, with a pendant around his neck as a memento, but he can't even remember her name or face!

Reads R to L (Japanese Style) for teen audiences.

Review:

This is not the type of manga that I usually pick up, as I tend toward shojo manga, but it is the type of anime that I’ll watch (mostly influenced by my brother, who watches a majority of harem anime). But it looked good, it was on my list, and so I went ahead and requested it.

Ichijo is the main character. He’s a pretty average guy, trying not to get too much attention aside from from the girl he likes, Onodera. But then there’s the fact that his family is part of the yakuza, and he’s a very non-violent person, which conflicts. But then Kirisaki moves to town, a girl who he immediately doesn’t get along with after she falls on him, but who he then has to pretend to date so their competing yakuza clans will calm down. Not to mention the fact that Ichijo made a promise with this girl he can’t remember when he was little, involving joining lock and key necklaces, and he might know who that girl is…

I like Ichijo. He’s an average, nice guy. I like both of the girls, too, and don’t really know who he’s going to end up with, or all that much about what’s going to happen next. I hope that the pretend dating doesn’t go on too long, because they’re rather horrible at it and because I want something to happen with Onodera. She’s a sweet, nice, shy girl, and I want her to have a happy ending. Kirisaki is violet and loud, but nice, as well. I don't feel as strongly about her as I do about Onodera, but I could easily grow to like her more. I know there’s still a lot to go, and I’m sure there will be a lot of hectic chapters of humorous chaos, though.

I look forward to reading more.

 A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, and Erik Jansen from MediaLab PR. Thank you so, so much!