http://kotonoha.monkey-pirate.com/ongoing-series/hourou-musuko/I have no real reason to do this review other than I like it and want others to read it.
Read the outline on the site first, as the review of what's been scanalted will be filled with Spoilage.
Begin spoilage.
I ran across this by some chain of links from another scanlation group(lililicious).
This author's work is something I'd enjoyed in the past so I began reading and again fell in love with the cute character designs, quick-developing story, and enaging endearing characters.
The story deals with something I'm fond of and do a fair bit of research on in real life: gender bending et al.
The decision to go with both male-female and femal-male characters and to have them be as close as they are(they're not quite really dating as yet. They're only 5th graders, though) was an interesting one. And stands up with only a little suspension of disbelief.
The real problem I see is the author chose to go with both a very physically girly boy and masculine girl.
It's something I see all too often in Japanese fiction. While gay fiction is en-vogue right now, it's still seen as something done by the pretty boys and tough girls. It's assumed.
It's somewhat boring and it's a bit of a convenient way around alot of truly difficult physical self-image issues that go with gender confusion.
The introduction of Yuki, the adult transsexual(how far her conversions are is unknown at this point) was a good way of showing thr younger readers(it seems to be targeted mainly at adults, but it's sure to be read by teens) and those simply ignorant of this sort of thing that it's commonly just one person in a relationship who's gone through this sort of thing.
It's timed well, and lends a bit of believability when Yuki tells the kids that they are very unusual, but lucky.
So far the whole thing is very subdued, somewhat idealised, and SLIIGHTLY ignorant. It's fantasticly illustrated.
I can't recommend it enough, despite how critical I've been. It might seem like I spent alot this listing its faults. However, everything else about it is just fantastic.
A favorite moment: Shuu's mother calling the kids to dinner to find his older sister brushing his hair. Seems she's happy to have a little sister.
― Lukewarm Watery G. Tornado; Less sick than before (The GZeus), Wednesday, 7 February 2007 06:30 (eighteen years ago)
I should have mentioned the issues addressed in the title line...
― Lukewarm Watery G. Tornado; Less sick than before (The GZeus), Wednesday, 7 February 2007 16:08 (eighteen years ago)
two years pass...
i have been reading scanlated manga at onemanga.com and it is shameful :(
― ian, Tuesday, 14 July 2009 04:08 (sixteen years ago)
gzeus was a real character, wasn't he.
― canks: for the memories (s1ocki), Tuesday, 14 July 2009 04:14 (sixteen years ago)
Miki Koishikawa's ordinary life as a high school sophomore is turned upside down when her parents suddenly announce that they are getting divorced in order to swap partners with a couple they met in Hawaii. They seek her approval of the shocking change, and at a dinner where Miki meets the other couple as well as their son Yuu, who is about her age, she reluctantly agrees to the arrangement. Yuu, while at first a jerk who takes every opportunity to make fun of Miki, turns out to be fun and attractive, and Miki finds herself falling for him. Little by little, she accepts her new family arrangement, and opens up to Yuu as they become friends.
Miki and Yuu's relationship starts to become complicated because of the previous relationships that they have and develop with other characters. These include Miki's long time classmate and former crush, Ginta Suou, and Yuu's former girlfriend, Arimi Suzuki. A secondary subplot develops when Miki's best friend, Meiko Akizuki, herself starts to have her own problems because of the relationship she has gotten into with one of the teachers, Namura Shin'ichi.
Throughout the series, Miki and Yuu's relationship is further developed and tried, influenced by other characters around them and the relationships that they develop with these characters.
― ian, Tuesday, 14 July 2009 04:24 (sixteen years ago)