Komi Can't Communicate Vol 2 by Tomohito Oda

In the second volume of our communicatively challenged heroine, Komi continues on her quest to make 100 friends, but is truly oblivious to those around her who are obsessed with her.  First, there is Yadano, who is determined to beat her in the physical test (and fails), then there's Kawai, who has a huge stalker-like crush on Komi and is willing to get rid of Tadano to get close to her.  Then, there's Nakanaka, who lives in a fantasy world where Komi is the princess giving her quests.

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The episodes in this volume are all very short and slightly disjointed. Some of them lead right into the next, but others are a few page long stories that aren't picked back up again. Kawai is crazy, and I’m not super comfortable with the murdery bits of her character.  That episode was a little too dark all at once, and I'm really not sure still how Tadano ended up kidnapped and tied up in her room. The seriousness of Kawai's problem is presented in a very cutesy way, even though the topic is pretty serious.  I'm still rooting for Komi to get 100 friends, and if she somehow reforms wanna-be killers along the way, I suppose that's good.  The art for this volume, similarly to the first, is very cute with many moments where characters are drawn in chibi style (small proportions, big eyes).  However, when Komi is presented as a beauty, or as a princess, she is depicted very elegantly and tastefully.

Sara's Rating: 7/10
Suitability Level: Grades 7-12

Tags: Rating: 7/10, Suitability: Middle School, Suitability: High School, Manga, Realistic Fiction, Friendship