Hiroto is a pretty carefree 29-year-old, except he finds it difficult to talk to attractive women around his own age. He has no problem befriending older ladies, including an 81-year-old former lunch lady he affectionately calls Granny. He has dinner at her house twice a week until she suddenly dies of a heart attack and leaves her two-bedroom house to him. When Hiroto’s cousin Nat comes to live with him as she attends art school, the two learn to live together and figure out what it means to be adults in their various stages of life - Nat as a struggling college student with social anxiety, and Hiroto trying to figure out his purpose in life.
0 Comments
Illustrated by Jes and Cin Wibowo
Tony is constantly the new kid at school, having made many transfers, but this latest school is proving to be even more challenging with a more than fair share of bullies pointing out every eccentricity Tony has and posting much of it to social media. It becomes too much for Tony to handle - the bullies suck all of the joy and light from his days until he's ready to give up completely. His parents begin having him go to therapy, and he switches schools yet again to one where most students are more accepting and there are fewer bullies. Tony finds a home with the Literature Club and even finds his voice again as a champion for others with their own bullies and in their self-expression.
Master Rei and Mira collect rainwater in a spare room, and through magic, they are able to swim in the bucket and delve into the water’s memories. Mira is able to see the town without any of the people, and she expresses a desire to come to the real town one day. This makes Master Rei hopeful. Later, Capri visits again and, disguised as Mr. Cappy, goes on an adventure with Mira inside the house. The two bond over a love of an author, and Capri discovers later that the author will be hosted for a book signing in town. With the help of Master Rei and Mr. Cappy, Mira attempts to come closer to the village and contain her anxieties so that she can attend the signing. At the end, Master Rei is informed of a new young girl in the area who needs his attention and is struggling with a similar affliction to Mira.
In this autobiographical comic, Thorogood details her life as an illustrator going to comics conventions, trying to break into the industry, her attempts at romantic relationships, and her struggles with her depression. She goes far outside her comfort zone and decides to meet an online friend in person, which requires traveling from England to California. The two become romantic partners, but Zoe is very conflicted because the man is still infatuated with his previous partner, and he has children who don't accept her. During the months this comic takes place, the COVID pandemic begins, so isolation makes projects difficult and cancels some of Thorogood's planned appearances. She struggles with going to conventions and imposter syndrome, feeling like her illustrations are not worthy of the praise she receives from fans who visit her booth.
Master Rei tries to help Mira overcome her shyness and make new friends, but it seems Mira is only comfortable talking to cute animal-type creatures, rather than others her age. Later, Master becomes sick and their magic goes wild, so the roles are reversed as Mira takes care of her master for a change. Once Master is feeling better, the two get to work replenishing some of the Master's medicinal ingredients, and Mira is shocked to see the cost in labor and ingredients. Then, Stella, one of Master Rei's old friends, comes by and finally gets to meet Mira, who she only knows through Rei's letters. Stella is an inventor and has created many awesome things, including crayons that draw in the air. Lastly, Rei and Mira reminisce about when Mira first came to live with Master Rei and how they started on the path of finding a way to control her powers.
Illustrated by Rito Kohsaka
As Miyo received no formal training with he Saimori family, she begins etiquette training in order to feel more worthy of her husband-to-be. And her trainer is none other than Lord Kudo's sister, Hazuki! She's also plagued by nightmares, which Kudo tries to keep away, but he's not always successful. With the increased activity of grotesqueries, he's kept busy at the office, and the strain takes a tole on Miyo's physical health. As Kudo continues to look into Miyo's family history, he also meets a strange young man -- Arata Tsuruki -- who, officially, is dispatched to help the Anti-Grotesquerie Unit, but he also seems to be connected somehow to Miyo's Usuba clan.
Illustrated by Rito Kohsaka
Miyo has been kidnapped and is brought back to the Saimori house where Kaya and her mother try to force Miyo to refuse Kudo's marriage proposal. Kaya believes she will be able to rearrange fiancés and become Kudo's fiancée while giving Kōji to Miyo. Kōji was unable to stop the kidnapping from happening, but he does the next best thing: he brings Lord Kudo to the Saimori house. Lord Tatsuichi tries to stop Kudo from entering the Saimori house, and even forces a bewildered Lord Saimori to stand with him, but the two of them are no match for Kudo's superior strength. In another part of the kingdom, sinister actors put an evil plan into motion by digging up a sealed grave and introducing new grotesqueries into the world, which Kudo's battalion will have to investigate.
Illustrated by Rito Kohsaka
Miyo continues to heal from her past in Lord Kudo's house, and he doesn't pressure her to tell him what she's been through. Because he has been so generous and kind, Miyo decides she wants to make him a silk hair tie While on a shopping trip, Miyo slips away to buy some silk thread, but, Kudo uses that opportunity to arrange for new kimonos to be made to replace her threadbare ones. While out on the town, the two run into Miyo's sister, Kaya, and suddenly, all of Miyo's healing came undone. Kudo protects Miyo and whisks her home, enraging Kaya and sparking her curiosity as to what she can do to pry Kudo away from Miyo. To hint at some of the mysticism of the world, Kudo must deal with some supernatural threats as part of his military commission, and he ponders on the decline in magical abilities amongst the affluent families.
Reiji is trapped in his small town life. His brother is a shut-in who constantly berates their mother; his grandmother is suffering from dementia and is the main reason his mother is so tired; and his mom sets him up with a construction job for after high school, effectively killing any aspirations he had of leaving. One night, while out buying food, Reiji realizes that the shop clerk is actually Nagi Aoe, a famous idol singer from a band he enjoys escaping to. She asks him for a tour around town, which he gives her on the back of his bike. At one point, while stopped in a bridge overlooking the town's river, she asks Reiji if he’ll enter a suicide pact with her, similarly to the heroes in a tragic story based on the town. They wind up back at her house where she takes his virginity. Afterwards, Reiji can’t stop thinking about her, her wish to die, and whether he would be better off dead as well.
Illustrated by Rito Kohsaka
Miyo may be the oldest daughter in the prestigious Saimori family, but her step-mother, step sister, and father bear her no love. She is constantly demeaned lower than a servant, and generally abused by the family. When her stepsister gets a marriage proposal, her father decides it’s not good to have Miyo continue to be around the house, so he enters her into a marriage arrangement with a very eligible but purportedly despicable man, Lord Kiyoka Kudo. Miyo tries her hardest to prove she can be a nobleman’s wife, but she lacks refinement and education, and worries Kudo will break off the arrangement and leave her homeless. But what she doesn’t know about Lord Kudo is why his previous betrothals all failed - that he’s not looking for a typical noble woman to be his wife. |
About MeI've been reading manga and comicbooks for years. Now, I write reviews and other helpful things for School Librarians, teachers, parents, and students. Search this siteRatings, Audience, and Subject Tags
All
Archives
September 2024
|