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silverthunder) wrote2009-10-28 10:14 am
silverthunder) wrote2009-10-28 10:14 am
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Manga post! Cappucino & Spicy Pink
So last week when Cody was on night shift and gone in the evening, I took the time to read a bunch of Wataru Yoshizumi's work (this is the mangaka responsible for Marmalade Boy and Ultra Maniac). A lot of her stuff follows her own traditional formula: the main couple suffer hardships but eventually end up together and happy in the end. Various other characters normally end up paired up happily or otherwise wrapped up in their own stories. I enjoyed them to varying degrees, but they weren't anything really special.
However, I'll talk about two of them.
One of the mangaka's newer works is Cappucino, in which the characters are college students (something I've only seen twice in her works). The premise of the manga is an already established relationship between two seemingly likeable young people who decide to move in together so that they will be able to see each other more. Their schedules have clashed so much that this seems to be the only solution. The beginning of the manga actually covers what I thought would end up being the main conflict: her parents' initial objection to the arrangement. Her beau declares that he intends to marry her once he has the means, and that seems to satisfy them.
With more than a few chapters left in this manga, I was wondering what was going to end up providing the conflict. I started getting hints at the beginning when she ends up doing all the housework and chores despite the fact that they both work full time. It seemed even more obvious when his obsessive student cajoles him into a "date". Honestly, being familiar with Wataru's work, I kept second-guessing myself. I was at least halfway through when I finally had to concede that this story was indeed about the deconstruction of this relationship rather than the overcoming of hardships and eventual reconciliation.
The major point of contention is the affair. The mangaka made the attempt to have the male protagonist continue to be sympathetic through this, but it didn't fool me. I don't care how much you convince yourself that you're doing it to make the other woman feel better, it is NOT acceptable. The good news is that the stupid fellow realizes this near the end. Clearly he thought he was being oh so careful and making both of them happy, but come on. Of course she knew, you idiot! And of course it hurt her, you can't just hide something like that from someone who you are supposed to share a bond of trust with. Luckily, this was addressed, and although she attempts to forgive him, it comes out that she can't. The trust is gone. It doesn't matter if he cuts contact with thisstalker woman; the damage is done, and there is nothing left to salvage.
The ending manages to be a little bit uplifting, at least in my opinion. I started this series with little admiration for the main female. All she wanted to do was get married and quit her job, turning over to a lifetime of housework and raising babies. Years after the breakup of her relationship, she talks about how because things ended between them she grew to love her job and take pride in her independence. She begins to pursue a new romantic relationship after bidding him a last farewell, and clearly has moved on. I would've liked it if this was dragged out more, so we could see her rise to this new height. However, I can understand why it's not; the story was about this particular relationship, and not anything beyond it. Anything else would've been a completely different story - one more in line with this mangaka's usual style.
I liked this. It wasn't a happy love story, but I felt the most important thing that needed to happen did: she removed herself from the relationship. He had done something unacceptable and broken her trust. She had to get away from him in order to continue with her life and be happy again. I'm glad she was strong enough to do it in the end, because it had to be done. I felt it to be poetic justice that he was still in love with her in the end but realized that he didn't deserve forgiveness. I had little sympathy for him, because I don't think there's any excuse for cheating. Can't have your cake and eat it too, buddy!
The next one that kind of caught my attention was Spicy Pink, which is the only manga I've seen by Wataru Yoshizumi that stars a couple in their late twenties with established careers. I mainly took note of it for that, because it contained all the same elements as in her other manga. Main couple overcomes obstacles and gets together. There are others holding feelings for main couple, but they don't manage to break them apart.
This one also dealt with unfaithfulness, although not in the case of the main couple and it was a lot more tongue-in-cheek for the most part. The main character's former love interest had cheated on her repeatedly before she found out, and his renewed interest in her is really more comic relief and a source of agitation to her than anything else (particularly since he's pursuing her while still involved with someone else). The main male character also had a woman who left him for another man, and this is clearly a sore point with him.
The interesting thing about these past relationships is that the main characters have moved past them and have no intention of looking back. This isn't necessarily because they are involved in a relationship with each other, but because they have outgrown their feelings for the people they had been involved with previously. Those feelings didn't work out in the first place, and they are quick to recognize that reigniting them has no appeal or purpose. Wataru instead uses them as plot devices, which isn't unusual for her.
For the most part, the strife between the two comes from the fact that they are from different social classes and have different styles and/or tastes. He is a rich doctor and she is a mangaka who, while not exactly poor, is not precisely well-off. He is classy and stylish, and she tends towards casual. As with most manga of this ilk, the main character is initially irritated with this guy but eventually grows to like and then love him. Further conflict follows, but in the end they seem to be on the right track together.
It's not really unconventional, but it was a good read.
I also read Datte Suki Nandamon, Kimishika Iranai, Mint na Bokura, Random Walk, Cherish and PxP, but don't really have much to say about them. They were cute and enjoyable for the most part. I'll probably read Handsome Girlfriend next - maybe even tonight. I think it's the only one left that I haven't read, besides Quartet Game which I can't find for viewing online.
However, I'll talk about two of them.
One of the mangaka's newer works is Cappucino, in which the characters are college students (something I've only seen twice in her works). The premise of the manga is an already established relationship between two seemingly likeable young people who decide to move in together so that they will be able to see each other more. Their schedules have clashed so much that this seems to be the only solution. The beginning of the manga actually covers what I thought would end up being the main conflict: her parents' initial objection to the arrangement. Her beau declares that he intends to marry her once he has the means, and that seems to satisfy them.
With more than a few chapters left in this manga, I was wondering what was going to end up providing the conflict. I started getting hints at the beginning when she ends up doing all the housework and chores despite the fact that they both work full time. It seemed even more obvious when his obsessive student cajoles him into a "date". Honestly, being familiar with Wataru's work, I kept second-guessing myself. I was at least halfway through when I finally had to concede that this story was indeed about the deconstruction of this relationship rather than the overcoming of hardships and eventual reconciliation.
The major point of contention is the affair. The mangaka made the attempt to have the male protagonist continue to be sympathetic through this, but it didn't fool me. I don't care how much you convince yourself that you're doing it to make the other woman feel better, it is NOT acceptable. The good news is that the stupid fellow realizes this near the end. Clearly he thought he was being oh so careful and making both of them happy, but come on. Of course she knew, you idiot! And of course it hurt her, you can't just hide something like that from someone who you are supposed to share a bond of trust with. Luckily, this was addressed, and although she attempts to forgive him, it comes out that she can't. The trust is gone. It doesn't matter if he cuts contact with this
The ending manages to be a little bit uplifting, at least in my opinion. I started this series with little admiration for the main female. All she wanted to do was get married and quit her job, turning over to a lifetime of housework and raising babies. Years after the breakup of her relationship, she talks about how because things ended between them she grew to love her job and take pride in her independence. She begins to pursue a new romantic relationship after bidding him a last farewell, and clearly has moved on. I would've liked it if this was dragged out more, so we could see her rise to this new height. However, I can understand why it's not; the story was about this particular relationship, and not anything beyond it. Anything else would've been a completely different story - one more in line with this mangaka's usual style.
I liked this. It wasn't a happy love story, but I felt the most important thing that needed to happen did: she removed herself from the relationship. He had done something unacceptable and broken her trust. She had to get away from him in order to continue with her life and be happy again. I'm glad she was strong enough to do it in the end, because it had to be done. I felt it to be poetic justice that he was still in love with her in the end but realized that he didn't deserve forgiveness. I had little sympathy for him, because I don't think there's any excuse for cheating. Can't have your cake and eat it too, buddy!
The next one that kind of caught my attention was Spicy Pink, which is the only manga I've seen by Wataru Yoshizumi that stars a couple in their late twenties with established careers. I mainly took note of it for that, because it contained all the same elements as in her other manga. Main couple overcomes obstacles and gets together. There are others holding feelings for main couple, but they don't manage to break them apart.
This one also dealt with unfaithfulness, although not in the case of the main couple and it was a lot more tongue-in-cheek for the most part. The main character's former love interest had cheated on her repeatedly before she found out, and his renewed interest in her is really more comic relief and a source of agitation to her than anything else (particularly since he's pursuing her while still involved with someone else). The main male character also had a woman who left him for another man, and this is clearly a sore point with him.
The interesting thing about these past relationships is that the main characters have moved past them and have no intention of looking back. This isn't necessarily because they are involved in a relationship with each other, but because they have outgrown their feelings for the people they had been involved with previously. Those feelings didn't work out in the first place, and they are quick to recognize that reigniting them has no appeal or purpose. Wataru instead uses them as plot devices, which isn't unusual for her.
For the most part, the strife between the two comes from the fact that they are from different social classes and have different styles and/or tastes. He is a rich doctor and she is a mangaka who, while not exactly poor, is not precisely well-off. He is classy and stylish, and she tends towards casual. As with most manga of this ilk, the main character is initially irritated with this guy but eventually grows to like and then love him. Further conflict follows, but in the end they seem to be on the right track together.
It's not really unconventional, but it was a good read.
I also read Datte Suki Nandamon, Kimishika Iranai, Mint na Bokura, Random Walk, Cherish and PxP, but don't really have much to say about them. They were cute and enjoyable for the most part. I'll probably read Handsome Girlfriend next - maybe even tonight. I think it's the only one left that I haven't read, besides Quartet Game which I can't find for viewing online.