#IReadsYou Review: HOW DO WE RELATIONSHIP Volume 1

HOW DO WE RELATIONSHIP?, VOL. 1
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

CARTOONIST: Tamifull
TRANSLATION/ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Abby Lehrke
LETTERS: Joanna Estep
EDITOR: Pacha Diaz
ISBN: 978-1-9747-1174-1; paperback (June 2020); Rated “T+” for “Older Teen”
216pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £7.99 UK

How Do We Relationship? is a “yuri” manga from creator Tamifull.  Yuri manga feature love stories in which the romantic lead characters are both female and are both lesbian.  Yuri manga, sometimes referred to as “Girls' love” manga, can also feature explicit depictions of lesbian sex.

How Do We Relationship?, Vol. 1 (Chapters 1 to 9) introduces Miwa Inuzuka, a shy young woman who is an incoming college freshman.  She accepts that she is a lesbian, but other than having had a “huge crush” on a girl in high school, she has never dated.  During “Matriculation Day,” Miwa bumps into Saeko Sawatari, an outgoing and brash young woman who immediately attaches herself to Miwa.

The two students eventually stumble into “going out” as a couple, but each has a different way of presenting themselves and different ideas about presenting each other in public.  Miwa wants to be secretive about their relationship, while Saeko always seems on the verge of blurting it out.  Will their clash of personalities be an impediment to true love?

[This volume includes bonus manga; an “Author Note” in manga form; and a “Commentary Track” comic.]

THE LOWDOWN:  The How Do We Relationship? manga is not my first experience with yuri manga.  I am currently reading A Tropical Fish Yearns for Snow (also from VIZ Media) and a few months ago, I read Éclair Blanche: A Girls' Love Anthology that Resonates in Your Heart (Yen Press), a recent installment in the Éclair yuri anthology series.

How Do We Relationship? Graphic Novel Volume 1 reminds me of another yuri series, the music and nightlife-themed After Hours (also from VIZ Media) in that After Hours focused on the complications of what happens after the two young women become a couple.  In her author's note, creator Tamifull says that she is interested in reading about romance that depicts what happens after the romantic leads decide to become a couple.

In truth, shojo manga, especially those set in high school, often end when the high school girl and boy decide to officially become a couple after overcoming the obstacles that kept them from being a couple.  How Do We Relationship? deals with the compromise, misunderstandings, spats, and self-interested calculations that are part of real-world relationships.  Tamifull takes a deep dive into all that is fair in love and war, but it does not make How Do We Relationship? any less romantic.

The translation and English adaptation by Abby Lehrke captures the yearning and longing of Miwa and Saeko to love each other and to be loved.  Tamifull deftly depicts passion without depicting sex in Vol. 1, which is exemplified in the moment in which Saeko tells Miwa that she thinks Miwa is passionate.  Miwa is shocked because she equates passion with the act of sex.  However, Miwa's passion in the way she seeks things out and in which she explores new things, even as she struggles with how far she should go with Saeko... and how fast.

I am genuinely curious to see where Tamiful is taking this story.  This first volume of How Do We Relationship? ends with a kind of romantic cliffhanger, but I see more complications ahead.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of yuri manga will want to read How Do We Relationship?

7.5 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2020 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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#IReadsYou Review: THE WATER DRAGON'S BRIDE Volume 11

THE WATER DRAGON'S BRIDE, VOL. 11
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

CARTOONIST: Rei Toma
TRANSLATION/ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Abby Lehrke
LETTERS: Monaliza de Asis
EDITOR: Amy Yu
ISBN: 978-1-9747-0958-8; paperback (November 2019); Rated “T” for “Teen”
200pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK

The Water Dragon's Bride is a shojo fantasy romance manga from writer-artist Rei Toma (creator of Dawn of the Arcana).  It was serialized in the Japanese shojo manga magazine, Cheese!, from 2015 to 2019.  VIZ Media published an English-language edition of the manga as an 11-volume graphic novel series from 2017 to 2019.

The Water Dragon's Bride focuses on Asahi.  A modern-day girl, she is pulled into a pond and is whisked away to a strange and mysterious new land.  She meets a boy, Subaru, the son of a prominent family from a nearby village, but his mother immediately dislikes Asahi and plots to sacrifice her to the god of the Great Lake.  The Water Dragon God wants Asahi to be his wife, and though she refuses, some locals still see her as a priestess.

As The Water Dragon's Bride, Vol. 11 (Chapters 41 to 43 to Last Chapter) opens, the Water Dragon God continues to weaken because he previously transferred his powers to Asahi.  Now, he wants to return Asahi to her world before his powers disappear, but when he sends her home, this god will die.  Although she struggles to stay with him, Asahi knows that the day when they must part is coming – sooner than either realize.  Is it truly the end for these two star-crossed lovers?

[This volume includes the four-panels comics, “The Water Dragon God's Chill Zone #1-3” and bonus manga.]

The Water Dragon's Bride manga sometimes suffered from a sense of the sameness.  As the series approached its conclusion, however, it recovered some of the edginess it showed in its earliest chapters.

The Water Dragon's Bride Graphic Novel Volume 11 is the final volume of the series.  Creator Rei Toma has more surprises in store for her readers.  Vol. 11 depicts the love between Asahi and the Water Dragon God at its most passionate.  I found myself racing through this volume, hoping for a happy ending, and Toma does not disappoint.  The resolution is off-beat and edgy, and she makes us work for our happy ending; real love is bittersweet, and it doesn't come easy.  Toma offers the perfect ending because she leaves us wanting more.

To that end, Abby Lehrke makes the most of this volume's sparse dialogue, as she captures the wanting, the desperation, and the yearning.  Monaliza de Asis splashes her lettering like glittering water droplets throughout the art, helping to give this timeless tale of love an ethereal quality.  So, dear readers, The Water Dragon's Bride gives me the substantive ending for which I had hoped.

9 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2020 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.


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#IReadsYou Review: THE WATER DRAGON'S BRIDE Volume 10

THE WATER DRAGON'S BRIDE, VOL. 10
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

CARTOONIST: Rei Toma
TRANSLATION/ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Abby Lehrke
LETTERS: Monaliza de Asis
EDITOR: Amy Yu
ISBN: 978-1-9747-0503-0; paperback (July 2019); Rated “T” for “Teen”
192pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK

The Water Dragon's Bride is a shojo romance and fantasy manga from writer-artist Rei Toma (creator of Dawn of the Arcana).  It was serialized in the Japanese shojo manga magazine, Cheese!, from 2015 to 2019.  VIZ Media published an English-language edition of the manga as an 11-volume graphic novel series from 2017 to 2019.

The Water Dragon's Bride focuses on Asahi.  She is a modern-day girl who is pulled into a pond and is whisked away to a strange and mysterious new land.  She meets a boy, Subaru, the son of a prominent family from a nearby village, but his mother immediately dislikes Asahi and plots to sacrifice her to the god of the Great Lake.  The Water Dragon God wants Asahi to be his wife, and though she refuses, some locals still see her as a priestess.

As The Water Dragon's Bride, Vol. 10 (Chapters 37 to 40) opens, the Water Dragon God has transferred his powers to Asahi.  Now, the “water priestess” is going to put an end to the god of darkness, Tokoyami's plot to cover the world in darkness.  First, Asahi is going to have to change the heart of Kurose, a boy from her world, who is the god of darkness' pawn.

Then, Asahi is confronted with another problem.  Why has the Water Dragon God fallen asleep?  Can she save him?

[This volume includes the four-panels comics, “The Water Dragon God's Chill Zone” and bonus manga.]

THE LOWDOWN:  The Water Dragon's Bride manga can sometimes suffer from a sense of the sameness.  However, as the series approaches its conclusion, it recovers some of the edginess it showed in its earliest chapters.

The Water Dragon's Bride Graphic Novel Volume 10 is the penultimate volume of the series.  Like the previous two volumes, it is out to offer surprises.  Creator Rei Toma digs deep into Kurose's despair and also reveals more about the first moments in the human boy's relationship with the god of darkness (whom the boy named “Tokoyami”).  Toma also confronts the status quo of the relationship between her star-crossed lovers, Asahi and the Water Dragon God.

So the series is headed for a substantial ending (hopefully) that will probably be consequential.  I would be surprised if Toma gave us only easy answers as she resolves this relationship.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Rei Toma will want to try the “Shojo Beat” title, The Water Dragon's Bride.

A
8 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2020 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.



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Review: AFTER HOURS Volume 3

AFTER HOURS, VOL. 3
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

MANGAKA: Yuhta Nishio
TRANSLATION/ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Abby Lehrke
LETTERS: Sabrina Heep
EDITOR: Pancha Diaz
ISBN: 978-1-9747-0071-4; paperback (December 2018); Rated “T+” for “Older Teen”
288pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK

After Hours is a yuri manga from creator Yuhta Nishio.  “Yuri,” also known “girls' love,” is a genre that depicts romantic situations between female characters.  After Hours is the story of Emi Ashina, a 24-year-old, unemployed young woman who does not know what to do with her life.  At a club, Emi meets another young woman, Keiko “Kei” Yoinoma, a DJ and who becomes first, Emi's friend, and later... much more.

As After Hours, Vol. 3 (Chapters 11 to 16 to Final Chapter), Emi, Kei, and Kei's crew put the finishing touches to their long-planned rave.  Kei will DJ, and Emi will VJ, but an act of petty crime may put a crimp in their plans.  Later,  Kei disappears and Emi begins a frantic search for her.  Will Emi's new-found confidence, determination, and focus falter now that her mentor and lover is gone?

[This volume includes bonus manga, “Chapter 1 (reprised).”]

The After Hours manga is my first experience with girls' love manga.  This is a sweet, almost PG-rated-like romantic drama that is a gentle introduction to the girls' love genre.

After Hours Graphic Novel Volume 3 is the final volume of the series.  This volume is 128 pages longer than either of the two earlier volumes.  This allows Yuhta Noshio to depict the rave – both on stage and behind the scenes – in detail.  Those extra pages are also really good for detailing the story behind Kei's disappearance.

I like that After Hours Vol. 3 does not play it safe or predictable, especially after two relatively tame volumes that really were not intense.  This final volume makes an argument that there should be more After Hours.  In the meantime, the three volumes of After Hours that we have offer a nice story of young love... after hours in Tokyo.  Plus, the bonus manga offers a nice reprise of this romance's love-at-first-sight.

A-
7.5 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2018 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Review: AFTER HOURS Volume 2

AFTER HOURS, VOL. 2
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

MANGAKA: Yuhta Nishio
TRANSLATION/ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Abby Lehrke
LETTERS: Sabrina Heep
EDITOR: Pancha Diaz
ISBN: 978-1-9747-0025-7; paperback (June 2018); Rated “T+” for “Older Teen”
160pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK

After Hours is a yuri manga from creator Yuhta Nishio.  “Yuri,” also known “girls' love,” is a genre that depicts romantic situations between female characters.  After Hours is the story of Emi Ashina, a 24-year-old, unemployed young woman who does not know what to do with her life.  At a club, Emi meets another young woman, Kei, who is a DJ and who becomes a dear friend.

In After Hours, Vol. 2 (Chapters 6 to 10), Emi and Kei tell Kei's DJ crew about their plans for a big musical event.  Emi is still a little unsure of her feelings for Kei, and Emi still has an apartment and a live-in boyfriend.  When Kei learns Emi's status, she turns distant with Emi, whose secrets and anxiety are starting to catch up with her.  Will that ruin her new relationship?

I think that I had heard about girls' love manga before reading the After Hours manga.  Now, I am reading it and Sweet Blue Flowers, a yuri title also published by VIZ Media

After Hours Graphic Novel Volume 2 deals with the awkward stage in a relationship, when secrets can quickly end everything.  Emi is trying to find herself as both a VJ and as part of Kei's professional world.  This volume is a pivotal entry in the series as far as romantic developments go.  People who read Vol. 1 will want to show up for Vol. 2.

A-
7.5 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2018 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Review: AFTER HOURS Volume 1

AFTER HOURS, VOL. 1
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

MANGAKA: Yuhta Nishio
TRANSLATION/ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Abby Lehrke
LETTERS: Sabrina Heep
EDITOR: Pancha Diaz
ISBN: 978-1-4215-9380-7; paperback (June 2017); Rated “T+” for “Older Teen”
160pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK

After Hours is a yuri manga from creator Yuhta Nishio.  “Yuri” is “girls' love” manga, a genre which depicts romantic situations between female characters.

After Hours, Vol. 1 (Chapters 1 to 5) introduces 24-year-old Emi Asahina.  She is unemployed and does not know what to do with her life.  One night, she is supposed to meet her friend, Mayumi, at a night club, but discovers that Mayumi has ditched her for a guy... again.

Emi decides to hide in the corner of the club, because she really does not like the club scene.  When a guy tries to hit on her, she is rescued by a young woman who introduces herself as Kei, a DJ.  Kei seems determined to be friends with Emi, and by the end of the night Emi will discover just how far Kei wants that friendship to go.

I think that I'd heard of girls' love manga somewhere in the last decade or so of reviewing manga.  My VIZ Media rep sent me a copy of the first graphic novel in the After Hours manga series, giving me my first chance to read “yuri.”

After Hours Volume 1 did not shock me at all. The first volume of yaoi or boys' love manga that I read was pretty surprising, but I can't remember which manga it was.  The characters in After Hours are interesting because there seems to be some mystery about the leads, their motivations, and their plans.  Beyond that, they are not particularly strong characters... yet.  I anticipate lots of drama in this series, just going on a few cues and clues, so I want to see more of this.

B+
7.5 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2017 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Review: THE WATER DRAGON'S BRIDE Volume 2

THE WATER DRAGON'S BRIDE, VOL.2
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

CARTOONIST: Rei Toma
TRANSLATION/ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Abby Lehrke
LETTERS: Monalisa de Asis
EDITOR: Amy Yu
ISBN: 978-1-4215-9256-5; paperback (July 2017); Rated “T” for “Teen”
192pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK

The Water Dragon's Bride is a romantic adventure shojo manga from Rei Toma, who is also the creator of the Dawn of the Arcana manga.  This series follows a modern-day girl who is transported to a mysterious world where she meets a supernatural being known as the “water dragon god.”

A modern-day girl named Asahi is pulled into a pond and is whisked away from her happy home.  Suddenly, she is a stranger in a strange and mysterious new land.  She meets a boy, Subaru, the son of a prominent family of a nearby village.  Subaru takes Asahi home, but his mother immediately dislikes the girl and plots to sacrifice her to the god of the Great Lake.  The Water Dragon God wants Asahi to be his wife; she refuses, and he steals her voice.

As The Water Dragon's Bride, Vol. 2 (Chapters 5 to 8) opens, Asahi hovers near the brink of death because of a burn inflicted upon her by Subaru's mother.  The Water Dragon God decides to heal Asahi although she has rejected him.  Feelings of compassion for the girl have awakened in the deity, but Asahi still fears him and is also desperate to go home.  When she hears rumors of another modern person who lives in this new world, Asahi hopes that she has discovered a way out, before her grief destroys this world.

[This volume includes Bonus Comics 1 and 2.]

I did not read the first volume of The Water Dragon's Bride manga, but my VIZ Media rep did send me a copy of the second graphic novel in this series.  The series, however, is easy to follow thanks to summaries on the back cover and near the front of the book and also because of the clean translation and straightforward English adaptation by Abby Lehrke.

The Water Dragon's Bride Volume 2 epitomizes Rei Toma's trademark of shojo manga with pretty art and edgy storytelling.  The graphical storytelling and art is soft-focused and has a sweet-nature, but the story it tells has hard edges and a dark center.  However, I don't know what to make of this manga.  The title character is shallow and not likable at this point in the story, and the lead character is a cry baby.  The characters are simplistic and simple, although I think that overall this narrative has an interesting premise.  I am curious to see where Toma takes this, as I was really impressed by her manga, Dawn of the Arcana.

B
6 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2017 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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