My ex once described sex as soup—it’s fluid, it can be swirled around, and it can be enjoyed at one’s leisure. However, depending on how you approach it, it can also be very confusing. Unfortunately, we live in a world where many people fail to understand the definition of gender. As someone who currently identifies as non-binary, I’m reminded of this fact every day. When I hear that gender is a core issue Mona Lisa, I was interested in how the comic would tackle this subject. While the story could have gone in many directions, as the first volume serves primarily as a setup for the overall story, I was a little worried about what exactly this story was trying to say.
According to the behind-the-scenes section of the book, the author of Mona Lisa, Kenji Yoshimurajust wanted to write a love triangle, but it seems their editors pushed them to develop a more unique setting for the story. Mona Lisa Definitely a unique setting and artistic symbolism. The story takes place in a world where gender is chosen at an early age. There are a lot of issues here about how to define a girl and how to define a boy, and kids feel pressured to place themselves in a binary world whether they’re ready or not. It’s a surprisingly poignant trans and coming out parable that puts gender in focus while also underlining how important it can be. I think a story is best when it uses its premise to bring out that discomfort and point of view. Ultimately, it’s up to the individual to decide who they want to be and why; it’s not a choice someone else can make for you.
That being said, it’s a bit concerning that when Mona Lisa Combine gender affirmation with romance and potential sexual attraction. The story is based around two people of the opposite sex (Ritsu and Shiori) competing for the love of a genderless Hinase, which is pretty interesting. However, I was taken aback when characters started saying “I’m going to turn you into a girl” or “I’m going to turn you into a boy” as an add-on to their confessions. It feels a bit contradictory to declare that they will affirm our protagonist’s gender when our characters are showing signs of being pressured to do so by outside forces. It paints a strange picture: once Hinase develops specific gender characteristics, the pursuer’s affection ceases. This makes them seem unintentionally cruel to Hinase. I really hope this hypocrisy is the point, because this might actually be a compelling story. I’m just concerned because the story was formulated without gender in mind, and perhaps without the necessary thought and care.
This also translated into the comic’s art direction. In a nice change of pace, Mona Lisa Not just black and white, as there are also times when blue is specifically used for emphasis. I like the fact that Hinase is always associated with some kind of blue. However, just like the direction of the story, I’m not 100% sure what the use of color is supposed to represent. Is this gender ambiguity? Is the use of blue symbolic or practical? Sometimes it’s actually a splash of color on the page, while other times a specific object like an envelope is highlighted to draw the reader’s attention. I think my biggest problem is that, so far, I have no idea where the story is going, for better or worse.
I like our main character Hinase. I think their stories are very relatable to people who sometimes feel trapped in a world where I’m either forced to hide myself or forced to choose who I want to be. There are a lot of quiet stories and foreshadowing surrounding Hinase, emphasizing that they likely suffered trauma related to their condition. They want to feel comfortable in their own skin or maintain some sense of normalcy in their lives, but they are constantly reminded that they are not “normal.” If anything I’ve talked about in the past few sentences relates to you, then I think I can recommend this story. It doesn’t even have to be gender specific; it’s just how well-written the protagonist’s character is.
Personally, I think I’ll keep reading Just like Mona Lisa. It’s fast-paced and has a lot of really beautiful moments that I think affirm the changing issues of gender. On the surface this might just be a love triangle, but the story has a lot of potential to go in different thoughtful directions. While I think it’s also possible that the story could go in a surprisingly cynical direction, I’d like to believe it doesn’t go there. While its symbolism and themes are a bit wonky and inconsistent, Just like Mona Lisa It’s a surprisingly refreshing take on a love triangle. Fingers crossed it keeps this conspiracy going for the right reasons.
