Not Your Idol is a complex story about a former girl idol trying to reclaim her agency after being attacked by a male fan. She leaves the spotlight and presents herself as a boy to protect herself from being hurt by men for being a girl. She blames herself for the attack because as an idol she willingly made herself a "toy," an unfeeling thing that everyone could have access to. Instead of blaming the system, she internalizes the shame of being such a girly-girl.

Nina, the main character, has PTSD from the violent assault, is being stalked by the assailant, and she and her female classmates are being targeted on crowded subways by a serial groper. There's victim blaming and slut shaming from the male and female characters. The students think that groping and rape happens to only pretty girls. In the story, there's a girl who gets groped every day on the train because she doesn't want to be labelled as the ugly girl who rides the women only car of the subway. The messaging in the book is wild. I'm hoping that as the story moves along, the author and illustrator does a better job of dispelling these troubling ways of thinking. There's not enough of an opposition to these stereotypes in the book. The story is just very triggering, and there is a mystery being set up that Nina's love interest may even be her stalker/attacker and she's willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. ( )

I was very impressed with this manga. It's a thought provoking take on idol culture and the complicated ways gender plays into both it and how those dynamics influence and are influence by the larger context in which they exist. I loved how it questioned the way girls are conditioned to be passive and demure even in the face of assault. It also brings up the question of how boys are absolutely clueless about this dynamic, even well-meaning ones. This ends on a real cliffhanger that threw me for a loop and I'm really curious to see the resolution of that in the next volume. This is such an interesting premise for a series and it's really neat to see it done in a very shoujo art style. I can't wait to read more.

I would definitely recommend this for anyone interested in a thoughtful, suspenseful manga that leaves you with something to think about. ( )

Chapters 01 - 03: This looks like it is going to be a really interesting story with complex characters and an intriguing plot. The story is a but darker than a lot of Shojo Beat stories but it is also classified as a drama & a mystery. I look forward to seeing what happens next and learning more about all the different characters. ( )

This is a funny little manga (not funny haha). I once read an article about the Japanese Idol culture. To this american it seems a little strange. Girls are picked to be in a girl group (think Japanses Destiny’s child) or some other entertainment industry. They are meant to be “for the people” and as such can not date or appear to date, and must remain “forever young”. I find the culture odd because it makes me think of legal pediphlia. But that is mainly because I don’t know much about it.

However this book has given me a bit of a different look. Our main gal doesn’t like to wear mini skirts or dress femine. She gets mad at other girls around her who just want to dress for the boys. Part of it feels backward to current American society where we are being more aware and accepting of gender fluidity. However in this book, that is not the case. She gets teased and ignored because she doesn’t look like or act like other girls. But she has a very big secret. She was once the main center Idol for Pure Club. She was the star. Until she was attached at a hand holding event. She feels, rightly so, that her body is her own and it belongs to no man, and no male has dominion over it. So when she sees girls who take grouping and other things for granted or think of it as no big deal, she becomes upset and defensive.

Of course there is a boy involved. He seems like a good guy. He sees the idol under the pants. But why??

While at times this story irked me for what feels backwater stereotyping of women’s roles in society, I need to know what happens next. I am curious. I am also curious, as this is a manga how long a run it will have. Will they wind up the story in 2 volumes or will it go on for 20-30.

Overall I enjoyed the read, but I didn’t love it. It makes me more curious about a society I know nothing about so that is a plus, and the story was entertaining. Was it great literature. No. Will people still be talking about this manga in 20 years? I don’t know yet. Right now I say no, but we will have to wait and see how the story progresses. ( )