Customer Reviews

Skip Beat!, Vol. 19

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

 

 

Finally we learn something more about Ren's relationship with his father Koo! This volume is entirely about the relationships between Ren and Koo, and Kyoko and Koo. While there isn't really any advancement in the relationship between Ren and Kyoko, vol. 19 is far from filler or a waste of time. A lot of questions are answered, and we find out a bit about Ren's mother and what she is like.

Moko puts in an all-too-brief appearance. I wish we saw more of her.

As always, humor abounds. Kyoko's dread of Ren's reaction to her informal treatment of him at the end of vol. 18 is comical, as is her imaginings of herself as a shriveled daikon radish. President Lory's clothing is as overdone as always, but he makes no wacky dramatic entrances in this volume.

The series is just as amusing and engrossing as it was at the beginning. I'm looking forward to vol. 20!

Review

Skip Beat Vol. 19 (by Yoshiki Nakamura) is not to be missed. Some may consider it filler as the "Naruto" series often does have it, but it answers questions relating to Ren Tsuraga's past. We find out that Ren is actually the son of famous actor "Kuu". Ren like many children of famous actors changed his name and went away as he, too desired to be an actor and not ride on his tailcoats. Kyoko, the main heroine of the story is thick-headed as ever. She has yet to connect Ren to the "Corn" of her childhood. In the previous volume, "Corn" is actually a Japanese bastardization of "Kuon". "Kuon" is revealed to be no other than "Ren". Thus, the fate comes full circle.

Kyoko Mogami is further revealed as she says to Kuu that she is unable to love. She does not think she will make a good mother because she does not know how to be a mother as her mother ignore and berated her often for her failures. When Kuu placed the acting assignment onto Kyoko, I think it opened her eyes to what a good parent is as she steps into the role of Kuu's son, "Kuon". We do get glimpses of Ren's mother "Julie" and personal make-up artist "Jelly", who is a tiny 33 year old. This volume certainly smoothed over angst of Ren and Kyoko.

The series itself is certainly a good read as the characters have a level of depth to them that is uncommon in "shoujos". In this volume, there was no presence of "Sho Fuwa", Kyoko's childhood friend, abandoner and now rival, nor Reino, lead singer of "Vie Ghoul", her stalker. There is still humor amid the drama and there is still the Japanese essence of comedy in there, (ie. Daikon Radish joke).

That good enough for you people?

I love the characters and their silly antics to continue buying this series. Start from the beginning as I always suggest.

I ordered this item but it never arrived. I did receive a refund for it which was good.