Takeuchi Mick - Her Majesty's Dog, vol. 08-09 (Eng. trans.)
While I like this series, it's never among my very favorites because it keeps shifting the focus from the best parts-the relationship between Hyoue and Amane and Amane and Hyoue's character growth-to random wacky hijinks and haphazard plot. Unlike Minekura's series, where the plot often seems to be haphazard before being wonderfully tied together, Takeuchi seems to flit from element to element and worse, from tone to tone. The rapid flips from delicate angst to jokiness totally doesn't work for me.
I think I also need to reread the entire series, because I have no idea what's going on with Zakuro and the whole koma-oni thing. I suspect part of this is due to the series pacing and not to my horrible ability to follow plot; it's hard keeping track when the manga keeps going from koma-oni plot to stuff like the school play.
That said, I still love the Hyoue-Amane relationship, from the brief flashbacks in v. 8 to Amane deciding to let Hyoue go at the end of v. 9. I especially love the scarlet ribbon/red thread imagery; Japan has the red thread folktale, right?
I also like that Ateko and Amane's friendship continues to get page space, and the way Amane continues to try her best to clear up misunderstandings. If only the entire series were like that!
I could care less about movie-star guy and wish he would disappear.
I think I also need to reread the entire series, because I have no idea what's going on with Zakuro and the whole koma-oni thing. I suspect part of this is due to the series pacing and not to my horrible ability to follow plot; it's hard keeping track when the manga keeps going from koma-oni plot to stuff like the school play.
That said, I still love the Hyoue-Amane relationship, from the brief flashbacks in v. 8 to Amane deciding to let Hyoue go at the end of v. 9. I especially love the scarlet ribbon/red thread imagery; Japan has the red thread folktale, right?
I also like that Ateko and Amane's friendship continues to get page space, and the way Amane continues to try her best to clear up misunderstandings. If only the entire series were like that!
I could care less about movie-star guy and wish he would disappear.