Takako Shigematsu

This review was originally written for the website ListerX.com, which is now defunct. It can also be found on my blog, The Graphic Librarian.

Cover
The cover for V.02 while not quite as playful as V.01, seems much more suited to the actual story line. Hikaru is looking clueless and naive, Izumi appears cold and in control; the fist volume had the characters acting very unlike themselves, perhaps as a way of grabbing some extra attention from the buyers. Another difference on V.02's cover is the color scheme, which went from V.01's vivid pastels to warm tones of orange and yellow. The title font's dark lavender color hasn't changed, but the contrasting warm and cool colors actually work very well together. On the back is an adorable, albeit pointless, picture of Hikaru and Sumikko all dressed up for Halloween - complete with witch's hat and jack-o-lantern. The only annoying thing is that 1/4th of the image is covered with logos, barcodes, etc.

Artwork
Shigematsu's artwork is really growing on me. there's something about it that reminds me very much of Yu Watase's style. Admittedly, it's not quite as pretty, but it comes very close. The manga-ka has a real flare for comedy, as well. Granted, her dramatic sequences are full of flowers and truly sparkle on the page, but it's the comedic sequences and character outtakes that I enjoy the most. Hikaru especially has numerous panels in this volume where her reaction alone creates an unforgettable, laugh-out-loud experience. In addition, there are also some really excellent character close-ups, especially in regard to the guys. A definite feast for any bishonen lover since two new male characters are introduced in this volume. However, I'm still not thrilled with the overall hermaphroditic look of nearly every character. I guess what I mean is that the manga-ka draws the facial features of both her male and female characters almost exactly the same way, so that the only thing differentiating between the two is hairstyle, clothing, etc. Of course, Izumi is forgivable because he's cross-dressing, but I wish the other characters had at least one feature that would quickly identify them as either male or female. Granted, it's not usually hard to figure it out, but for some reason it continues to annoy me. Aside from that, Shigimatsu has put together yet another wonderful manga.

Plot
**Possible Spoilers Warning**
Volume 2 opens with the introduction of a brand new character. The school has hired a hot new music teacher, Tsukasa Ayase, who takes an immediate disliking to Izumi. Of course, that doesn't stop Hikaru from quickly developing a crush; Ayase brings out a different side of her, one that makes Hikaru feel safe and warm. But will her feelings last when Ayase takes every opportunity to lecture and reprimand her? She just can't seem to stop herself from getting into trouble, and constantly being by Izumi's side isn't helping the sensei's ideas about her. It all comes to a head when a fellow classmate, Shiori Ukyo, decides that Hikaru is the only thing keeping her from being close to Izumi, and challenges the bewildered girl to a duel. At first Hikaru refuses, wanting to stay on Ayase-sensei's good side, but she quickly realizes that if she doesn't agree Shiori will never relent. They agree to run a race and with a little under-handed help from Izumi and Sumiko, Hikaru wins, but her happiness is short-lived due to Ayase's continued disapproval.

In the manga's second story Izumi is using a school break to film a mini-series at a stately coastal mansion. HE drags an unwilling Hikaru along but she quickly forgets her protests when she discovers Ayase-sensei has joined them on the premises. He claims it's to make they behave themselves, but it seems he may have ulterior motives. As shooting gets under way, Izumi has difficulty getting into his role and it's not until an almost fatal accident occurs that he's able to succeed. Is it possible Izumi is beginning to view Hikaru as more than just a personal slave? Meanwhile, another new character appears on the scene, an actor named Hayato Kurobe. Unfortunately, unaware of Izumi's secret, he also has a huge crush on his cross-dressing co-star. Hayato's feelings border dangerously on the edge of obsession and he's willing to to almost anything to get what he wants, even if it means targeting Hikaru. Hayato's scheming actually manages to get Hikaru exactly what she wants - time alone with Ayase. Could he possibly be interested in carrying their relationship beyond their acceptable teacher/student status and how will Hikaru's friends react if he does?

Content Warnings
Language = Yes, but very scattered

Violence = Only if you count the comedic kind

Nudity = Not unless you count lots of bare, male chests

Sexual Situations = Hinted at, but VERY mildly.

Ratings
Cover - 8.5/10 - The layout and colors are playful, funky and highly appealing.

Artwork - 7.5/10 - Always pretty, but not quite perfection.

Plot - 7.5/10 - Light-hearted and fun, yet with a streak of drama (and Izumi's actually a bit nicer in this volume!)

Overall - 8/10 - While there's not really enought plot to completely reel me in, I adore Hikaru and Ayase, so I think I'll keep reading just for the fun of it.… (meer)

This review was originally written for the website ListerX.com, which is now defunct. It can also be found on my blog, The Graphic Librarian.

Cover
When I first saw this cover three words immediately came to mind - colorful, girly, and just a wee bit naughty (which can also be used as a very succinct description of the manga's contents.) The next thing I noticed were the extremely long arms on the characters. Despite the extended appendages, I actually found this cover to be very appealing. The color scheme is nicely rendered and the fun, swirly font used for the title fits this series perfectly. I also like how they decided to use a different font and color for the manga-ka's name, so that it stands out without overpowering the title. Lots of pink daisies and a blue and white checked background enforce the light-hearted side of a manga that actually leans much more towards the dramatic. The back sports the same overall feel as the front by using lots of pastels. Unfortunately half of the adorable main image is covered by the logo, barcode and age rating. The blurb also appears a bit odd, squeezed into a small area due to the busy background. However, despite the flaws on the back, I still like it better because it features a self-portrait of the manga-ka and her puppy.

Artwork
What can I say? The artwork is absolutely beautiful! The characters, though a little gangly, are well-proportioned with pretty features that sometimes make their gender difficult to distinguish. In fact, I think my only real complaint about Shigematsu's style is that the main female character looks more like an effeminate boy rather than a girl. Of course, given the fact that Tenshi is in the gender bender genre, I suppose the fact that some of the males look like females and visa versa is understandable. Shigematsu also does a wonderful job on the backgrounds. There's almost always something there to fill up the empty space whether it's with sparklies, greytones, or even something more realistically drawn. In fact, her backgrounds remind me a lot of Yu Watase's style, which I've always been highly impressed with. Also, like Watase, The manga-ka does an excellent job of showing exactly what each character is feeling, unless, of course, she doesn't want you to know. However, despite my Watase comparisons, Takako Shigematsu definitely has her own beautifully unique style.

Plot
**Possible Spoilers Warning**
The story opens with our main character, Hikaru Takabayashi, getting ready to attend a new all girl's school. Apparently she had difficulties at her old school due to some jealous classmates and now she's decided to try and start fresh in a new environment. All she wants is to live a nice, normal, quiet life. However, things don't go exactly according to plan. It seems her new roommate, Izumi Kido, is a famous fashion model and has a very dark secret - she's actually a HE! All of Hikaru's plans are quickly dashed when she unwittingly discovers Izumi's true identity. Izumi, unable to trust anyone other than his friend Yasukuni Inukai, quickly decides he needs to blackmail Hikaru to keep her quiet and plays a rather dirty trick on her in order to do it. It's not long before Hikaru has become completely involved in Izumi's bizarre charade. With the help of of Yasukuni and the president of Izumi's modeling agency, Yuichi Akizuki, Izumi forces Hikaru to assist in his many deceptions time and again. At first Hikaru follows willingly along for the sole purpose of keeping her low profile, and she knows Izumi will make her regret it if she refuses to help him. However, she soon finds herself beginning to care about the strange new men in her life. But exactly how far will Hikaru have to go to prove she doesn't have her own personal agenda and fully gain their trust?

A Brief Note About Izumi - I really couldn't find a way to discuss this within the context of the plot description, so I'm going to rant a little bit right now. What is it about certain manga? Why do there always seem to be so many girls that wind up falling for complete and utter jerks?! Yeah, sure, they usually turn out to be okay guys in the end, but what is it that makes these girls stick around long enough to discover the "softer" side? Honestly, Izumi is a cold, remorseless, egotistical pain in the you-know-what. He's unnecessarily brutal toward Hikaru on numerous occasions and never once apologizes. . . even when he knows he's in the wrong. Of course, he can be really nice when he wants to be, and you might feel sorry for him on occasion, but does that really make up for Izumi's consistent cruelty and selfishness? I certainly don't think so. Nevertheless, Hikaru is obviously falling for him by the end of V.01, and all I can figure is that she must be some sort of glutton for punishment (or a subconscious masochist.)

Content Warnings
Language = None, that stood out, so if it's there it only crops up very briefly.

Violence = None.

Nudity = Yes, briefly in one scene you see Hikaru nude from the waist up.

Sexual Situations = Suggested, but nothing obvious.

Ratings
Cover - 8/10 - I love the use of pastel colors, but the posing of the figures is slightly strange somehow.

Artwork - 9/10 - Absolutely beautiful! I'm almost tempted to give a rating of 10, but there are a few odd places here and there.

Plot - 7/10 - This would be an 8, but I had to take off a point for the annoying male lead. The plot is still fresh and fun, especially if you like boys who cross-dress.

Overall - 8/10 - Despite my dislike of the male lead, I'd really like to see Hikaru develop the backbone that's starting to grow at the end of V.01, so I'll probably be reading V.02 when it comes out.… (meer)