I've been doing Manga Mondays every week since I started my blog 22 months ago. It's always been a personal feature, but now I'm going to try turning it into a meme. There are quite a few people who do Manga Mondays. I don't claim by any means that I owned or created the idea of Manga Mondays - it's an obvious choice given the alliteration. I think a meme would be a good way for everyone to publicize their own Manga Mondays and get a little more publicity.
The linky will be below my review.
Skip Beat! vol. 3 by Yoshiki Nakamura
Kyoko is determined to win her way into show business, even if it means wearing embarrassing bright pink overalls and putting up with spoiled stars. But her first big assignment is proving more difficult than she imagined when Kyoko finds herself in front of the camera with an injured leg. Will she be able to ace her first attempt at acting despite the pain, or will she make an utter fool of herself in front of her sort-of nemesis, Ren Tsugura?(courtesy of Goodreads)
Review
*Warning: Potential spoilers. My manga reviews tend to be more of a summary than a review. I find it hard to review manga in the same way I do regular books.
I like Skip Beat, but I still find it frustrating. Why? I think it's mostly for two reasons. First, the series is still in the preliminary stage. Kyoko's relationship with the other characters is only beginning to develop. For example, I assume that Ren is going to be a big romantic hero for Kyoko. Kyoko can't stand him in Volume 3, but we get inklings of chemistry when even she sees slight evidence that he's not an ogre. Being Kyoko, she quickly dismisses Ren's good side. Ren's feelings for Kyoko are harder to pin down, but he does gain a great deal of respect for her when she acts in her try out despite having a painful broken ankle.
The second reason for being frustrated with this series is that I already love Kyoko. I love her focus. I love her darkness - how motivated she is by revenge and anger. It's a characteristic most of us can see in ourselves, whether we like it or not. I want to see good things happen to Kyoko. I want karma to work in her favor. I assume it will eventually, but at this point Kyoko gets kicked down and then kicked down again.
Kyoko is good at getting people to either follow her or at least pay attention to her. I love how she attracted little Maria's attention with her curse dolls. She also managed to change Ruri and convince Kanae to became a fellow Love Me member through sheer stubbornness and determination. Kyoko is the type of person who gets her claws into you and doesn't let go until you bend to her will. I like that she's not willing to change to get people to like her.
While Skip Beat doesn't have a beginning that sucks you in, I've become attached to the series. I want to see where it's going to go and when Kyoko is going to accomplish all her dark dreams.
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ReplyDeleteSkip Beat really does keep getting better and better and I really love Kyoko too - she's definitely one of my favourite shoujo heroines!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for recommending this series to me and I'm finally going to be able to read and review this very popular series.
ReplyDeleteHave a great reading week!
LOVE Skip Beat! I prefer the anime show to this manga . . . but I'm still a huge fan.
ReplyDeleteI have a feeling that this series is one that will grow on you. I'm hoping that there is a strong story and character arc where the slowness and your frustrations will pay out in the end. This is a series that I'll definitely want to try.
ReplyDeleteI liked it, but you're right, it's really frustrating. I had the feeling that the story is just going around in cirles and getting nowhere, so I kind of gave it up...maybe I'll read the last volume or something.
ReplyDeleteIt's so hard to see a character you like get kicked to the ground and pounded over and over again, especially when you just want good things for them. Hopefully, Kyoko will grow from these rough times and come out on top soon!
ReplyDeleteThis is a long manga series, so probably best not to get too ahead of yourself here. It takes a while for the story and characters to develop, since this isn't a YA contemp. With that time, it pays off later. You'll see that it will get good in ways you don't expect.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Kyoko is an awesome character. I love her, but Ren is awesome too. You'll see later on that it takes time for these two to get the right feel for each other. Definitely NO insta-love and that makes it rock!
Love skip beat! I have watched it and i'm at the latest chapter. I love Kyoko! She's hillarious and way better at acting than other girl in shobiz. Ren is awesome. I agree that the romance bettweeen Ren and Kyoko is fustrating but i think from where i am in the manga it will get better.
ReplyDeleteGreat review! :)
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