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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
I loved the anime Barakamon, it was really cute, so when this series, about Handa the caligrapher, came out about his high school years I decided to give it a try. This first volume has me chuckling out loud many times at just the sheer silliness of some of the situations Handa-kun gets in. But if it continues in the same vein, the same gag over and over again, it's going to get stale real quick.
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Art was fabulous but the story didn’t quite make it.
This really had promise. I was super excited to read this when I picked it up from the library. One of the things I didn’t realize before I started it was the genre. This is a contemporary comedy. (And here I was thinking I stumbled onto a shojo.)
A lot of the time when the jokes were cracked or whatever, it wasn’t really funny. It was pushing the joke too far. The premise is great but the execution wasn’t.
I did enjoy the art. It’s more simplistic than the cover (another thing I didn’t realize) and leans more towards the satire manga art style.
All in all, it didn’t hit all my checkboxes, but it hit quite a few. Give it a shot!
This really had promise. I was super excited to read this when I picked it up from the library. One of the things I didn’t realize before I started it was the genre. This is a contemporary comedy. (And here I was thinking I stumbled onto a shojo.)
A lot of the time when the jokes were cracked or whatever, it wasn’t really funny. It was pushing the joke too far. The premise is great but the execution wasn’t.
I did enjoy the art. It’s more simplistic than the cover (another thing I didn’t realize) and leans more towards the satire manga art style.
All in all, it didn’t hit all my checkboxes, but it hit quite a few. Give it a shot!
Normally high school misunderstanding stories get an eye roll from me but this is weirdly over the top while still being fairly believable in this world. I find it more amusing than most of this story type. I dig it.
~3.5/5
Being a big fan of Barakamon at this point, of course I wanted to pick up the spin-off/prequel.
Handa-kun is currently in high school, and he is very misunderstood. He is convinced that everyone at school hates him, that they’re always glaring at him, and think he’s a freak. Whenever someone talks to him, he’s convinced that they’re playing a prank on him, that the punchline will be coming soon. He’s terrified of his classmates.
When, in reality, his classmates all admire him. They think he’s so aloof, and that he’s mature way beyond them, too mature to get into any of the high school drama. When a girl tries confessing her love, he thinks she’s calling him out for a duel. When he’s so intensely practicing calligraphy during class, they think he’s too smart for class. Even gangs are terrified of him, because of all the misunderstandings regarding his reactions.
I love most seeing his interactions with Kawafuji, because Kawafuji finds how everyone reacts around him hilarious, and how Handa pretends not to know Kawafuji “for his own good”. It’s hilarious. I also like the comic strips about what Miwa, Tama, and Naru are doing at the same time, so young and adorable.
I’m looking forward to the next one.
[Read more at my blog, Geeky Reading!]
Being a big fan of Barakamon at this point, of course I wanted to pick up the spin-off/prequel.
Handa-kun is currently in high school, and he is very misunderstood. He is convinced that everyone at school hates him, that they’re always glaring at him, and think he’s a freak. Whenever someone talks to him, he’s convinced that they’re playing a prank on him, that the punchline will be coming soon. He’s terrified of his classmates.
When, in reality, his classmates all admire him. They think he’s so aloof, and that he’s mature way beyond them, too mature to get into any of the high school drama. When a girl tries confessing her love, he thinks she’s calling him out for a duel. When he’s so intensely practicing calligraphy during class, they think he’s too smart for class. Even gangs are terrified of him, because of all the misunderstandings regarding his reactions.
I love most seeing his interactions with Kawafuji, because Kawafuji finds how everyone reacts around him hilarious, and how Handa pretends not to know Kawafuji “for his own good”. It’s hilarious. I also like the comic strips about what Miwa, Tama, and Naru are doing at the same time, so young and adorable.
I’m looking forward to the next one.
[Read more at my blog, Geeky Reading!]
Comedy of Errors is a perfect way to describe this new series. Everyone has a different interpretation of what is going on, especially on who the real Handa-kun is. Unfortunately Handa-kun doesn't even know what a fierce reputation he has, leaving him under the impression that everyone hates him. Can't wait to see how this goes.
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes