In today’s ever-changing comics industry, there are two universal truths. The first one is dog man Still the defining comic of our time. The second is that more people are reading comics and online comics (also known as vertical comics) than ever before. So, we at Comics Beat are continuing our Beat’s amazing adventures. Each week we ask three authors to recommend some of their favorite books and series from Japan, Korea, and elsewhere. This week we’re featuring classic teen jump love stories from the ’90s, cat-centric love stories from the 2020s, and of course, motorcycle love stories.
yes
Writer/Artist: Gui Zhenghe
Translator: Yamazaki Joe
English adaptation: Lance Casselman
Retouching and lettering: Huang Xiaomin
design: Hidemi Sahara
edit: kit fox
Publisher: Visualization area
Gui Zhenghe is a prolific cartoonist with a long history of popular works. Some may remember him from the romantic comedy series video girl aior his superhero comics wingmanwhich recently got a live-action TV adaptation. His comic that has had the biggest impact on me is yes. I remember buying them in bulk when they were first released in the US.
yes It tells the story of Ichitaka, a high school student who has a crush on his classmate Iori. However, just as the relationship between the two became closer, Yiying’s childhood friend May re-entered his life. A long love triangle begins. Of course, Yitong’s story from adolescence to adulthood has to face more than just these two people.
The realistic painting style of the characters on the cover was completely different from the general comic style seen at the time. While the story starts off fairly light-hearted, it matures as the characters mature. Gui’s art is equally full of detail and emotion, making it easy for me to get sucked into the story. Plus, I really liked the ending.
I think yes Often ignored by VIZ and manga readers. I don’t even think this feature is currently available on their VIZ Comics app. But it’s still a print, and there’s a digital version, which is nice to see. This is a series that I will always recommend, although it has a certain flavor that not everyone will like. I hope those of you enjoy it as much as I do. — Derek Crow
kiss with cat
Writer/Artist: Senri Miko
Translator: I can’t read local comics
Engraving: Chana Conley/Local Comics
Publisher: Kodansha
Erina is a proud Catholic. From her pencil case to her Insta feed, there’s nothing around her that isn’t cat-related. Her heart belonged to those adorable button noses and soft toe beans, and she was equally uninterested and aloof toward boys—to many, she was a relatable queen. One day, while she was in her room, a black and white cat scratched at her window. She jumped at the chance to pet the adorable uninvited guest. In fact, he was so well behaved for a stray cat that she kissed the cat without a second thought. Because who wouldn’t? The next thing she knew, she was sitting across from her withdrawn and currently naked classmate, Mao Shan.
Another week, another shoujo manga recommendation! kiss with cat It is a romantic comedy set in high school with fantasy elements. Maoshan can only change shape between cat and human through kissing, but the object does not have to be human. In human form, he still has some cat-like sensitivities, such as his dislike of loud noises or onions. In turn, he can speak perfectly even in cat form.
In the postscript of volume one kiss with cat, Senri Miko shared that they decided to draw this comic because they couldn’t afford a cat themselves. (They already have two children and two dogs.) It can be seen that Qianli’s observation of cats is very good, because Mao Shan’s behavior is so good! Just like you don’t adopt cats, they just choose you, Mao Shan decided on his own that Elina is now his “owner”. He knows how adorable his cat form is and won’t hesitate to use his soft paws or soft tummy to get what he wants. Be glad this isn’t a full review or you’d be browsing through my massive collection of “Nekoyama is his adorable furry self” screenshots.
I’ve only read two volumes so far and I must say that the plot is a little weird. If you go into it expecting a believable story, you will be disappointed. I’m not saying this just because a boy turned into a cat. My man suddenly started living in Alina’s house and using his charm to charm her mother so they could “adopt him.” All kinds of mischief happens at school because even though he’s a human, he can’t help but react to the birds. But the character designs are gorgeous, Erina and Nekoyama make an interesting pairing, and I found myself turning the pages. The series is six volumes complete, so you won’t be wondering what happens next! — Melvi Guire
Mars
Writer/Artist: Winter beauty is desolate
Translator: Shirley Kubo
Retoucher: Rosalind Santos
edit: Stephanie Donnelly and Robert Coyner
Deputy Editor: Teresa Kunimoto and Eric Althoff
Deputy Editor: Paul Morrissey
Publisher: Kodansha
When I first started reading shoujo manga in high school, I was surprised at how many different types of stories there were. mafia thriller (banana fish), epic romanticism (Basara), Science fiction(please save my earth) and a love letter to Shin Megami Tensei (angel sanctuary) to name a few. Of course, these stories are love stories with similar artistic styles. But depending on the author’s ambitions and interests, the scaffolding surrounding romance can be quite different.
Mars An interesting case study in this regard. This is a traditional romance manga in every sense of the word, telling the story of two beautiful teenagers who fall deeply in love with each other. Rei is a dreamboat who jumps down the stairs on his motorcycle to rescue his daughter. Kira is an ordinary female artist whose sparkling eyes hide unexpected reserves of power. The two of them first met in a park, where Rei asked the shy Kira to draw a map for him.
However, just after their adorable encounter, Rey had a long conversation with a friend and fellow motorcyclist who lost his leg in an accident. “My body was floating in the air and the next thing I knew, everything went black,” the motorcyclist said. “It’s like I’m dreaming.” This sequence is a road map Mars is about to become: not only a heart-warming romance, but also a psychological roller coaster that touches on motorcycle racing and art history.
Conversation with cartoonist Naoki Urasawa, Mars artist Winter beauty is desolate Admitting “I prefer scary imagery to furry cuteness… with romance, I like to focus on the suspenseful aspect.” She later turned to psychological science fiction (ES: Eternal Sabbath) and historical fiction (Cesare.) But don’t discount it Mars. It’s probably a hit, and it perfectly balances the shine of shoujo manga with Soryo’s own preferences. It’s also one of those rare comic book love stories where both parties (not just one) are dealing with deeply repressed trauma and they have to help each other get through it. — Adam Westcott
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