I've been doing Manga Mondays every week since I started my blog 2 years 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. 4 by Yoshiki Nakamura
Kyoko Mogami followed her true love Sho to Tokyo to support him while he made it big as an idol. But he's casting her out now that he's famous! Kyoko won't suffer in silence--she's going to get her sweet revenge by beating Sho in show biz!
Kyoko helps the LME president's granddaughter heal from a childhood tragedy, and in return she should have earned a free ride through the LME training school. But the other students throw a fit, and now she still has to pay. In order to support the high cost of the program, Kyoko gets a job as a seat filler on a TV show. But when one of the characters gets sick, Kyoko has to fill in - in a chicken suit! To make matters worse, Sho is the guest star! Will Kyoko destroy her only chance of revenge?(courtesy of the back cover)
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.
It's finally happened. Skip Beat hooked me in. It took four volumes, but I am now firmly entrenched in the story and love Kyoko, Sho, and Ren.
I love that nothing ever turns out the way Kyoko intends it to, but it still ends up working out in Kyoko's favor. I love that Kyoko never loses her spirit - that is, her optimistic yet crazed vengeful spirit. She learns to rely more on herself in this volume and not on the superstitious symbols of good luck that she's counted on in the past. Ren helps her get past has superstitions, although in a way that infuriates her, as Ren has the habit of doing.
I finally am seeing the reason that Ren is a romantic figure. He's shown his good side at a few points in past volumes, but it comes out more clearly here. He is kind, sensitive, smart, and thoughtful. And Kyoko briefly realizes it. Then he goes back into his shell and once again becomes cold, hard Ren that brings out all of Kyoko's anger.
The scenes with Kyoko in the chicken suit made me laugh. She will do anything to ruin Sho's life. Yet it always backfires. Sho is starting to figure out that Kyoko isn't the sweet, meek spirit he thought she was. I'm curious to see how their relationship will develop from her.
Can't wait to read the next volume!
I love mangas so this is an awesome feature!
ReplyDeleteI've only read volume 1 of Skip Beat so far, but I've seen the anime and this part is funny and it's even more funny what happens after this (if it's not a filler and is actually in the manga, I hope it is), she meats Sho again after this, I'm not sure what volume it would be in, but it's hilarious, I love seeing Kyoko's character changes: sometimes she's happy, sometimes she's sad, but most of the time she's angry and wants revenge, I find that absolutely hilarious and the fact that she's a bit different than other shojo main characters.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read any of these volumes, but it sounds really fun.
ReplyDeleteOld follower
I didn't like Skip Beat for the first couple of volumes but I am OBSESSED now (I'm in the 20s somewhere).
ReplyDeleteI love the slow burn on the romance, and how completely unaware of it Kyoko is. So many heroines are desperate for love or pining. I enjoy watching the awkwardness of their budding relationship, and the fact that the guy is more interested. :)
I love that Kyoko seems a bit different from the other shojo female characters I've met so far. I think she would really get along with Tsukushi from "Boys Over Flowers", a manga series which I think you'd really like.
ReplyDeleteYay! Glad this one finally drew you in. It's always nice when that happens! And good for you sticking with it for 4 volumes, I might have given up before then:)
ReplyDeleteI hope it's okay if I'll participate in the future, too - Finally got to read some manga this weekend again.
ReplyDeleteI have some Manga magazines that feature two chapters each of Skip Beat, but I have never read them because I missed the first few volumes. :/ Damn.
It's it great when the books in a series get progressively better?! Makes sticking with it so worth it.
ReplyDeleteGood to know that you're loving it! I really like Kyoko in the chicken suit.
ReplyDeleteGreat pick!
I do love it when one character is trying to mess with another but it backfires. Sounds fun!
ReplyDeleteI knew you'd become a convert! Kyoko is the best for all the reasons you state. She's sweet, yet crazy vengeful. Ren is gorgeous and swoonworthily-cool, yet can be a douche sometimes. But, nothing like the douche Sho is. I love how things developed between Shotarou and Kyoko as time went on. But, that's a much later arc.
ReplyDeleteYou haven't even gotten to the best arc, and when you do, you'll probably want nothing but to read Skip Beat! If only I could get amnesia and read the Dark Moon arc for the first time all over again....