Customer Reviews

Otomen, Vol. 3

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Volume 1 of Otomen was cute, endearing, and a wee bit cliched. Volume 2 didn't really grab me, what with the "surprise fiancee" story. Every one in shoujo manga seems to have a surprise fiancee. It kind of takes the shock out of it. Plus that girl was more than a little creepy. But Volume 3 has again cemented my love of Asuka and friends. It returns us to the cute and endearing stories that I love so much.
Again for those who haven't been paying attention thus far, Asuka Masamune is a super manly high school student harboring a light and fluffy secret. For beneath his masculine facade is a romantic, cooking, sewing, girly man. By now he has gained two friends who know his secret: Ryo Miyakozuka (the clueless tomboyish girl that he's in love with) and Juta Tachibana (a womanizer who's secretly a shoujo manga writer). Book 3 also introduces Asuka's would be kendo rival: Hajime Tonomine. I hope he shows up again in the next book, and judging by the cover I think he will.
Storywise, where Volume 1 focused on building a relationship between Asuka and Ryo, volume 3 has stories that cover all of Asuka's life, not just romance. Probably partially because Asuka's so nervous that he can't even ask Ryo to be his girlfriend without a heavy dose of coaching. Very heavy. It would be irritating if the whole thing wasn't so adorable. Light romance or not, I really enjoyed the whole book. Chapter 1 has Ryo volunteering at a day care. They're short handed so she asks Asuka to help out too. Of course since his home life was anything but normal he has no idea what to do. His attempt at fatherly activies with the kids was hilarious! Chapter 2 is described on the back of the book. Ryo and Asuka go to an amusement park together. It should be a happy romantic date, right? Wrong! Chapter 3 has Asuka playing detective. Juta's three (count 'em 3!) girlfriends are suspicious because he's always busy so they get Asuka to find out if Juta has an extra-special girlfriend. And Chapter 4 is where Hajime Tonomine comes in. Asuka has repeatedly beaten Hajime in kendo, aggravating Hajime to no end. However when they meet on the street one day they find out that they probably have more in common than they thought. It was a little predictable but had some of my favorite parts of the whole book. Hajime is so prickly it's funny. Also making a brief appearance is Yamato the girlishly cute boy that Asuka helped in book 2.
The art continues to be excellent, the story pacing pretty good as well. The stories gave Asuka good (if slightly melodramatic) chances to show off both his girly and action man sides. And I'm definitely looking forward to seeing more of Hajime and Asuka's friendship/rivalry in the next book.

The art style was more than passing in this page turning shoujo work.
The character Asuka Masumune is an incredibly effeminite guy who likes
cooking, sewing, and other girlish hobbies. The size of the book was perfect
and often focuses on short stories involving a romantic relationship
between Asuka and his would be girlfriend Ryo. Some of the parts in book
2 threw me off, as the fiancee part was a bit dry and lacking. However, the
3rd volume brought it all back for me. This is a worthwhile buy for any shoujo
manga fan.

Still a very worthwhile manga, if you like humor!

Naturally the relationship between Asuka & Ryo fails to progress. If it didn't, this manga would be over very quickly! There is a serious part of the story where Asuka's mom comes back and tells him he's engaged, and they meet his fiancee...a lot of drama there, not too interesting but semi-fraught with tension.

But I still live for the Juta-Asuka sections, which continue to be funny and worthwhile. If Juta weren't so nosy and so loyal, Asuka would be in a lot more trouble for things!

Ryo still a weak background character...