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divineblkpearl 's review for:
Maison Ikkoku Collector's Edition, Vol. 1
by Rumiko Takahashi
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Review: ‘Maison Ikkoku’ Collector’s Edition, Vol. 1 is Rom-Com Goodness!
Rumiko Takahashi’s classic romantic comedy about finding your path in life back in print!
But here’s the thing: Maison Ikkoku is magical. In its own way. It’s rom-com goodness and I’m so grateful to be able to start reading the series now and appreciate it for what it is. It is a story of a run-down building of people all eccentric and noisy tenants and the new landlady, Kyoko Otonashi who is young, beautiful, and technically single and who brings new life to the party. One of the tenants that has a bigger spotlight is Yusaku Godai who didn’t get accepted into college on the first try, so he’s studying to retake the entrance exams.
But living in a dilapidated building full of folks who nickname him “Ronin”–poking fun at his status of being a failed student who just hasn’t gotten enough purpose of footing in life–he finds it hard to study in peace and gets the results he wants. Now that a beautiful woman has moved in to become the new resident manager, Godai is driven to distraction and so is the rest of the house.
This manga is funny, light-hearted, and a slow-paced read. Very much slice of life–as there aren’t huge stakes like saving your kid sister from becoming a monster or saving the earth as we know if from menaces from outer space–the true conflicts come from the everyday lives of the folks living there like Akemi the young lady who works at a bar and often walks about at home in her nightgowns and underwear, usually hungover from a night’s work. There’s Hanae, the middle-aged married woman with a young son, who is the biggest gossip in town. Yotsuya is another resident of the shared building who is perhaps the biggest pest and mysterious one–not much is known about him.
BUT he’s always catching Godai in the strangest situations like peeping through an actual crack in the wall in their room and pushing dirty magazines in when the struggling student is expecting guests. Like I said there are personalities for days and with Kiyoko, the young, unmarried woman who is the new landlord–she finds that she’d fodder for the gossip mill, and someone new to be entangled in their lives. It is all jokes and silliness and then as I read on I found a really, endearing portrait of the different types of relationships present in the world, defining what the world family means and most importantly: figuring out your own path in life. Whether you’re considering what next to do career wise or considering starting a new romantic relationship with someone.
At more than 300 pages, the first volume is a two in one, perfect for long time fans and new fans alike. The Viz website notes that the rating is “Teen+”. Manga published by them in that category usually is more suitable for older teens and adults. For example, may contain intense and/or gory violence, sexual content, frequent strong language, alcohol, tobacco and/or other substance use. While there isn’t BERSERK level of gore and violence there’s a spot of nudity and lots of slapstick humor and situations that lean more towards adult humor. Certain humorous situations did not age well due to the slapstick comedic effect of male characters being slapped for their lecherous words and actions. Remember how exasperated you felt reading and watching Inuyasha‘s Miroku? YEAH. You’ll feel a bit of that exasperation here too.
A romantic comedy that blends in a little bit everything by Legendary manga creator Rumiko Takahashi, who was finally honored with an induction into the Eisner Hall of Fame back in 2018 means manga fans today get a taste of this veteran’s brilliance. Who is this manga for? The rom-com lovers, the “vintage” manga lovers and most certainly fans of Rumiko Takahashi.
Read more of my review here: https://blacknerdproblems.com/review-maison-ikkoku-collectors-edition-vol-1-is-rom-com-goodness/
Rumiko Takahashi’s classic romantic comedy about finding your path in life back in print!
But here’s the thing: Maison Ikkoku is magical. In its own way. It’s rom-com goodness and I’m so grateful to be able to start reading the series now and appreciate it for what it is. It is a story of a run-down building of people all eccentric and noisy tenants and the new landlady, Kyoko Otonashi who is young, beautiful, and technically single and who brings new life to the party. One of the tenants that has a bigger spotlight is Yusaku Godai who didn’t get accepted into college on the first try, so he’s studying to retake the entrance exams.
But living in a dilapidated building full of folks who nickname him “Ronin”–poking fun at his status of being a failed student who just hasn’t gotten enough purpose of footing in life–he finds it hard to study in peace and gets the results he wants. Now that a beautiful woman has moved in to become the new resident manager, Godai is driven to distraction and so is the rest of the house.
This manga is funny, light-hearted, and a slow-paced read. Very much slice of life–as there aren’t huge stakes like saving your kid sister from becoming a monster or saving the earth as we know if from menaces from outer space–the true conflicts come from the everyday lives of the folks living there like Akemi the young lady who works at a bar and often walks about at home in her nightgowns and underwear, usually hungover from a night’s work. There’s Hanae, the middle-aged married woman with a young son, who is the biggest gossip in town. Yotsuya is another resident of the shared building who is perhaps the biggest pest and mysterious one–not much is known about him.
BUT he’s always catching Godai in the strangest situations like peeping through an actual crack in the wall in their room and pushing dirty magazines in when the struggling student is expecting guests. Like I said there are personalities for days and with Kiyoko, the young, unmarried woman who is the new landlord–she finds that she’d fodder for the gossip mill, and someone new to be entangled in their lives. It is all jokes and silliness and then as I read on I found a really, endearing portrait of the different types of relationships present in the world, defining what the world family means and most importantly: figuring out your own path in life. Whether you’re considering what next to do career wise or considering starting a new romantic relationship with someone.
At more than 300 pages, the first volume is a two in one, perfect for long time fans and new fans alike. The Viz website notes that the rating is “Teen+”. Manga published by them in that category usually is more suitable for older teens and adults. For example, may contain intense and/or gory violence, sexual content, frequent strong language, alcohol, tobacco and/or other substance use. While there isn’t BERSERK level of gore and violence there’s a spot of nudity and lots of slapstick humor and situations that lean more towards adult humor. Certain humorous situations did not age well due to the slapstick comedic effect of male characters being slapped for their lecherous words and actions. Remember how exasperated you felt reading and watching Inuyasha‘s Miroku? YEAH. You’ll feel a bit of that exasperation here too.
A romantic comedy that blends in a little bit everything by Legendary manga creator Rumiko Takahashi, who was finally honored with an induction into the Eisner Hall of Fame back in 2018 means manga fans today get a taste of this veteran’s brilliance. Who is this manga for? The rom-com lovers, the “vintage” manga lovers and most certainly fans of Rumiko Takahashi.
Read more of my review here: https://blacknerdproblems.com/review-maison-ikkoku-collectors-edition-vol-1-is-rom-com-goodness/