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Springfield News-Leader
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Deadline
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The Daily Princetonian
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When we first meet Madoka, it is a little bit saccharine. However, it's well worth the wait of getting through. Madoka is a longtime transgender girl (In Japan, the word 'he' is used) [full name- Yamada Madoka] The first clue is not something we, as English-speakers, would take note of. Madoka uses 'he', but the name, Madoka, is a girl's name. After she is introduced by the teacher, she takes her seat. Itsuki snubs her. Madoka picks up an eraser, but still Itsuki is very curt. Rather than take offense, she thinks it's manly and cool.
Later, when she goes around distributing kairanban (neighborhood newspaper) she crosses the Tanokana house. When she is greeted by a black Shiba Inu dog, she falls in love. (By the way, I had a Spitz cross - very lovely!) Then, Itsuki walks up, and is miffed by Madoka's dress. Madoka slaps Itsuki, and Itsuki slaps Madoka. Shortly thereafter, Hiroto (known early as 'big brother') sees Madoka, takes pity on her, and invites her in. Itsuki takes note, and Hiroto introduces him... as a transgender boy.
I won't say too much more, other than to mention two other characters. The first is good, the other, um, not so good. The first is Mai, nemesis of the first two (and especially that of Itsuki). She is very realistic, understandable - if not heroic. She's kinda like the Green Goblin in the Spider-man movies. You get her, even if you don't condone her. The other is Takato, twin brother of Hiroto. He swears revenge on Madoka... but does practically nothing. 'Throwaway' is defined here.
All in all, despite the hiccups, a good read.
Well, perhaps it's from seeing that stinker 'Naisho no Otome Revolver' previously, but seeing 'Past Future' is a damn sight better. Let me explain.
The scene opens with Akari Kako and Akari Mirai (in Japan, the names are reversed) with Mirai just about to attend a soccer match. Upon her leaving, Kako starts to do some chores... and starts to do some laundry. Well, things are inevitable, so Kako tries Mirai's clothing. Of course, Mirai forgot something, and is 'horrified' with Kako wearing girl's clothing. I say 'horrified' because Kako isn't waving a magic wand around, where suddenly he's a girl. Kako tries Mirai's clothing, but there are hints long before... and (his) classmates know.
As I said before, there are flaws. One glaring flaw is a total absence of parents. Unless both parents croaked, they can't be explained away. However, the struggles they all face are more realistic and truer. It might be nice if things are all pat, but that would be false.
Wow.
I don't know if 'Naisho no Otome Revolver' is absolutely the worst manga ever seen. But, gawd, it lies among the bottom o' the barrel. At the beginning, Tachibana Hinata wants to be a boy. Understandable. But in almost every scene, we get a crotch shot. Again. Again. And yet again. A little later we see hir little sister, Tachibana Hinata.
No, this ain't a typo. Only halfway (!) is the name changed.
Haryuki, do anything but manga. You'll make the world a better place.
This is the first in a series of manga. If you are unfamiliar with manga, it was a form of Japanese comics. Although it started in Japan, it moved on to China (manhua) and South Korea (manhwa). It then moved on to the USA, Canada, and France, to name just a few. The first were translated, but artists from the Western countries went on to create their own manga. For more details look up 'manga' under Wikipedia.
Some people don't consider manga art. That's your problem.
N.G! is one-shot. There are more strips, but since they are separate pieces, I'll only consider the first. Nakatomi is a high-schooler, but since they have good art books, a nearby university bookstore is where she is shopping. As she moves to the racks, Okasabe eyes her. After hesitating, Okasabe her to a fancy restaurant. Even so, she's still creeped out a bit. So she talks to Rin, her twin. By the way, Rin is TG. Hilarity ensues. End of story.
Since N.G! is a relatively short story, this will be brief. Good side - N.G! is true to form, with Okasabe being kind. Bad side - translation fairly poor, with the viewer being somewhat confused about Rin's identity.
Jared Todd
HRC
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Kiara Alfonseca
ABC News
Lucas Day
Finger Lakes dailynews.com
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