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comicbookchick25's review
4.0
Junjo Romantica
3.5-4/5 stars
I'm still not completely sure on my feelings with this one.
The plot
Is complicated to explain but Junjo Romantica was definitely the better of the two storylines featured in here with the boy who falls in love with the guy who is in love with his brother. Like I said, it's a hot mess but I love it, and if I ever pick up another volume in the future it'll be to see what happens with them.
The Junjo Ego one was good but complicated and felt like a confusing copy of the secondary story in The Worlds Greatest First Love and of the first story of this book.
I also want to point out the unique art style. It was a mixture of the classic manga art and a kind of Frank Miller style where the limbs were sometimes odd and large/boxy, I highly enjoyed it, especially considering since it felt like such a fresh pace from any other art from the other manga that I have read before.
Overall-
Was slightly average, but good enough that I'll at least pick up the next volume to see for sure how I feel about the series.
3.5-4/5 stars
I'm still not completely sure on my feelings with this one.
The plot
Is complicated to explain but Junjo Romantica was definitely the better of the two storylines featured in here with the boy who falls in love with the guy who is in love with his brother. Like I said, it's a hot mess but I love it, and if I ever pick up another volume in the future it'll be to see what happens with them.
The Junjo Ego one was good but complicated and felt like a confusing copy of the secondary story in The Worlds Greatest First Love and of the first story of this book.
I also want to point out the unique art style. It was a mixture of the classic manga art and a kind of Frank Miller style where the limbs were sometimes odd and large/boxy, I highly enjoyed it, especially considering since it felt like such a fresh pace from any other art from the other manga that I have read before.
Overall-
Was slightly average, but good enough that I'll at least pick up the next volume to see for sure how I feel about the series.
reginaexmachina's review
4.0
A hilarious m/m manga series involving a younger man falling for an older man who writes gay romance novels. The scenes where Misaki reads exerts from Usami's novels and realizes he's using their love-making as inspiration is so hysterical. It was also turned into a rather well-done anime too.
bunny_herondale's review
3.0
Ok, Junjou Romantica es mi más reciente obsesión, don't judge me.
Cabe aclarar que hay varios puntos tóxicos en las parejas aquí plasmadas y no romantizo ni normalizo dichas actitudes.
Cabe aclarar que hay varios puntos tóxicos en las parejas aquí plasmadas y no romantizo ni normalizo dichas actitudes.
ladydewinter's review
3.0
[Review written after reading this for the second time:]
When I read this for the first time, I gave this book three stars. And in all honesty, it's about all *this* volume deserves - but since I feel like I'm rating the series as a whole here, five it is.
It's a rather superficial series, sure, but it's really funny and just wonderfully entertaining. I love reading this during my breaks at work because it genuinely cheers me up. And yes, 99% of the time it's absolutely ridiculous, but you don't read this sort of thing because you want to find enlightenment or something.
I have to say that after rereading the first book, I remember why I had mixed feelings about Usagi and Misaki. This whole dub-con thing just makes me feel seriously uncomfortable. And Usagi reads a lot "darker" here than he does later, or at least that's how it felt to me.
But! Hiroki and Nowaki were as delightful the second time around as when I first read this. They're by far my favorite couple of this series - Hiroki is adorable in his gruffness and - it's just really cute and romantic, okay? <3
[Review written after reading this for the first time:]
This was mostly enjoyable although I found the art rather confusing at times. Once I got used to it, it was okay though. This collects two story lines/romances, and I have to say I liked the second one a lot better than the first. I have yet to figure out what's so appealing about one guy forcing the other to have sex with him. Although now that I think about it that sort of thing also used to happen in those Harlequin books I used to read as a teen - there the good looking hunk also tended to forcefully seduce the heroine more or less against her will. Not that it makes it any better, but I get the mechanics behind it. ANYWAY. That aside, the first storyline was sort of amusing and cute, but the second one, with Hiroki and Nowaki, was a little more angsty and dramatic (and also contained a lot of seemingly random shouting), which I liked better. So it didn't blow me away or anything, but I enjoyed it and I'm going to read more, I suppose.
When I read this for the first time, I gave this book three stars. And in all honesty, it's about all *this* volume deserves - but since I feel like I'm rating the series as a whole here, five it is.
It's a rather superficial series, sure, but it's really funny and just wonderfully entertaining. I love reading this during my breaks at work because it genuinely cheers me up. And yes, 99% of the time it's absolutely ridiculous, but you don't read this sort of thing because you want to find enlightenment or something.
I have to say that after rereading the first book, I remember why I had mixed feelings about Usagi and Misaki. This whole dub-con thing just makes me feel seriously uncomfortable. And Usagi reads a lot "darker" here than he does later, or at least that's how it felt to me.
But! Hiroki and Nowaki were as delightful the second time around as when I first read this. They're by far my favorite couple of this series - Hiroki is adorable in his gruffness and - it's just really cute and romantic, okay? <3
[Review written after reading this for the first time:]
This was mostly enjoyable although I found the art rather confusing at times. Once I got used to it, it was okay though. This collects two story lines/romances, and I have to say I liked the second one a lot better than the first. I have yet to figure out what's so appealing about one guy forcing the other to have sex with him. Although now that I think about it that sort of thing also used to happen in those Harlequin books I used to read as a teen - there the good looking hunk also tended to forcefully seduce the heroine more or less against her will. Not that it makes it any better, but I get the mechanics behind it. ANYWAY. That aside, the first storyline was sort of amusing and cute, but the second one, with Hiroki and Nowaki, was a little more angsty and dramatic (and also contained a lot of seemingly random shouting), which I liked better. So it didn't blow me away or anything, but I enjoyed it and I'm going to read more, I suppose.
ladydewinter's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting - when I decided to finally start following through with my "rerating/reevaluating my manga" plan I found that I had initially given this three stars, but then decided on five because it was "funny and wonderfully entertaining". Well, it's back to three now.
Why? Well, one reason is the reason for my "rerating my manga" plan in the first place - "Junjou Romantica" was one of the first manga series I read, and back then I simply was missing points of reference. And these days it would be wrong to say that I like this as much as, say, Hyouta Fujiyama's "Dear Green" or Shiho Sugiura's "Silver Diamond". And even compared to Shungiku Nakamura's other series, "Sekaiichi Hatsukoi", "Junjou Romantica" doesn't measure up.
But let's start with the positive reasons for me giving this three stars: there's a lot of humor in this series, And especially in the details, and it does make me laugh out lout at times, and it is entertaining.
There's also a definite emotional involvement in these characters - for me, Hiroki and Nowaki just push all sorts of buttons, and I can't help but loving them. The other Junjou couples, however, less so - which means that in a direct comparison to "Sekaiichi Hatsukoi", where, if you count Yokozawa/Kirishima (and I most certainly do!) I have three couples I like, "Junjou Romantica" definitely loses. "Terrorist" never managed to interest me, and "Romantica" - well. With them, I have several problems.
The first is the fact that, like so many BL stories, it starts with a rape. And while it is a common trope in the genre, it's the one I like least of all, and at this point I have read enough BL stories where it isn't used that I can no longer just go, "Oh, hey, whatever, it's just how it is". It's always made me uncomfortable, obviously, and I still go into reading and new and unknown story with some trepidation, expecting some degree of - let's call it "dub-con" -, being happily surprised when it doesn't happen.
But even if you say that the initial sexual encounter has to happen like that, where the experienced and aggressive seme ravishes the poor uke, which, yeah, is a common trope blah-di-blah - if it's still like that even after years and years and countless sexytimes have occurred, it just really doesn't work for me. And so we come to the biggest problem I have with the series, namely that Misaki never really changes and after 14 volumes that's annoying as hell. I mean, if this was a serious story about sexual abuse and being trapped in an unhealthy relationship all his issues would maybe make some sort of sense, but seeing how this series is supposed to be a romantic comedy of sorts, it's just really, really grating.
So yeah. As it is, I still reread this occasionally, just skipping to the good parts (Hiroki/Nowaki emotional porn). And I admit one tends to be a bit biased in favor of long BL series, just because there aren't that many of that. Three stars is a fair rating for a series that you shouldn't take to seriously and that can be fun, and emotionally involving, but which compared to others just isn't that good.
Why? Well, one reason is the reason for my "rerating my manga" plan in the first place - "Junjou Romantica" was one of the first manga series I read, and back then I simply was missing points of reference. And these days it would be wrong to say that I like this as much as, say, Hyouta Fujiyama's "Dear Green" or Shiho Sugiura's "Silver Diamond". And even compared to Shungiku Nakamura's other series, "Sekaiichi Hatsukoi", "Junjou Romantica" doesn't measure up.
But let's start with the positive reasons for me giving this three stars: there's a lot of humor in this series, And especially in the details, and it does make me laugh out lout at times, and it is entertaining.
There's also a definite emotional involvement in these characters - for me, Hiroki and Nowaki just push all sorts of buttons, and I can't help but loving them. The other Junjou couples, however, less so - which means that in a direct comparison to "Sekaiichi Hatsukoi", where, if you count Yokozawa/Kirishima (and I most certainly do!) I have three couples I like, "Junjou Romantica" definitely loses. "Terrorist" never managed to interest me, and "Romantica" - well. With them, I have several problems.
The first is the fact that, like so many BL stories, it starts with a rape. And while it is a common trope in the genre, it's the one I like least of all, and at this point I have read enough BL stories where it isn't used that I can no longer just go, "Oh, hey, whatever, it's just how it is". It's always made me uncomfortable, obviously, and I still go into reading and new and unknown story with some trepidation, expecting some degree of - let's call it "dub-con" -, being happily surprised when it doesn't happen.
But even if you say that the initial sexual encounter has to happen like that, where the experienced and aggressive seme ravishes the poor uke, which, yeah, is a common trope blah-di-blah - if it's still like that even after years and years and countless sexytimes have occurred, it just really doesn't work for me. And so we come to the biggest problem I have with the series, namely that Misaki never really changes and after 14 volumes that's annoying as hell. I mean, if this was a serious story about sexual abuse and being trapped in an unhealthy relationship all his issues would maybe make some sort of sense, but seeing how this series is supposed to be a romantic comedy of sorts, it's just really, really grating.
So yeah. As it is, I still reread this occasionally, just skipping to the good parts (Hiroki/Nowaki emotional porn). And I admit one tends to be a bit biased in favor of long BL series, just because there aren't that many of that. Three stars is a fair rating for a series that you shouldn't take to seriously and that can be fun, and emotionally involving, but which compared to others just isn't that good.
ter87's review
1.0
It'd be a 1 star but I had to give it one more start just due to my love for Hiro-san.
And btw, the art wasn't it, Soxx
Junjou romántica :1 star because I can't give it 0.
Junjou Egoist: 2 stars or so
And btw, the art wasn't it, Soxx
Junjou romántica :1 star because I can't give it 0.
Junjou Egoist: 2 stars or so
juani_fp's review
3.0
No me gusta criticar el arte de otras personas, porque cada estilo es completamente personal, pero en serio ¿qué clase de proporción es esa? Las cabezas son minúsculas cuando el cuerpo parece de un gigante de Shingeki no Kyojin. Los manos y pies son unas tres veces más grandes que las cabezas.
Fuera de eso, las tres parejas me gustan, pero con el tiempo empecé a ver ciertas conductas abusivas que no me gustan como el “eres mío” “quiero que solo pienses en mí” “te prohibo que veas a ese tipo” y, entre otras cosas, escenas donde el seme abusa del uke (aunque este no quiera denunciarlo porque se enamora y luego los dos quieren sexo, no solo uno de ellos, pero eso no justifica que en las tres primeras páginas ya haya algo así. No es bonito, no es romántico), sin mencionar lo INCREÍBLEMENTE CELOSOS QUE SON TODOS EN ESTE MANGA, EN SERIO, CÁLMENSE UN POCO. Yo no creo que los celos sean amor, creo que son falta de confianza. Si quitáramos esos aspectos y se dejaran de vender esas conductas al público como si fueran las cosas más románticas del mundo, este manga se llevaría cuatro estrellas.
I don’t like criticize other people’s art, because I think everyone has their own personal style, but I have to say this. The heads are super tiny while the body looks like an Shingeki no Kyojin titan. Hands are feet are three times bigger than heads. However, I like the story. It has some things that I don’t like, for example some abusive behaviors some of the characters have, like “you’re mine” “you only have to think about me” “I forbid you to see him” and other things like a sexual abuse in the first five pages (even if later they fall in love and the sex is consensual. Still abuse, not pretty, not romantic). I don’t think I have to mention how INCREDIBLY JEALOUS THEY ARE ALL THE TIME. Like, seriously, relax. Being jealous is not romantic, being jealous having issues trusting on each other. I’d love if we stop selling sexual abuse and jealousy like it’s the most romantic thing in the world.
Fuera de eso, las tres parejas me gustan, pero con el tiempo empecé a ver ciertas conductas abusivas que no me gustan como el “eres mío” “quiero que solo pienses en mí” “te prohibo que veas a ese tipo” y, entre otras cosas, escenas donde el seme abusa del uke (aunque este no quiera denunciarlo porque se enamora y luego los dos quieren sexo, no solo uno de ellos, pero eso no justifica que en las tres primeras páginas ya haya algo así. No es bonito, no es romántico), sin mencionar lo INCREÍBLEMENTE CELOSOS QUE SON TODOS EN ESTE MANGA, EN SERIO, CÁLMENSE UN POCO. Yo no creo que los celos sean amor, creo que son falta de confianza. Si quitáramos esos aspectos y se dejaran de vender esas conductas al público como si fueran las cosas más románticas del mundo, este manga se llevaría cuatro estrellas.
I don’t like criticize other people’s art, because I think everyone has their own personal style, but I have to say this. The heads are super tiny while the body looks like an Shingeki no Kyojin titan. Hands are feet are three times bigger than heads. However, I like the story. It has some things that I don’t like, for example some abusive behaviors some of the characters have, like “you’re mine” “you only have to think about me” “I forbid you to see him” and other things like a sexual abuse in the first five pages (even if later they fall in love and the sex is consensual. Still abuse, not pretty, not romantic). I don’t think I have to mention how INCREDIBLY JEALOUS THEY ARE ALL THE TIME. Like, seriously, relax. Being jealous is not romantic, being jealous having issues trusting on each other. I’d love if we stop selling sexual abuse and jealousy like it’s the most romantic thing in the world.
writtenbyatticus's review
4.0
I’ve originally found this series through the anime and recently decided to purchase some of the manga for it. As I’ve always loved the show, I decided to give the books a try. I had a hard time getting into it at first but that’s probably because I recently finished the show for a second time and it was fresh in my mind.
Reading on I was into it and didn’t put the book
down until I finished. The art style definitely takes some getting used to. I really like how you get to see more into how the characters are feeling and that there are small sections from Akihiko’s books in the story.
Reading on I was into it and didn’t put the book
down until I finished. The art style definitely takes some getting used to. I really like how you get to see more into how the characters are feeling and that there are small sections from Akihiko’s books in the story.