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lovelymisanthrope 's review for:
Komi Can't Communicate, Vol. 1
by Tomohito Oda
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I had heard about this book on BookTube years ago and have had it on my radar to pick up ever since.
"Komi Can't Communicate, Vol. 1" is the introductory manga that follows Komi and Tadano. Tadano is an awkward wallflower that, much like the rest of his classmates, is enamored with the elusive Komi. Everyone thinks that Komi does not talk because she is a princess and too good for them. They hold her in the highest of esteem and all but worship the ground she walks on. Tadano, however, knows the truth: Komi cannot communicate.
I was really excited to read something that followed a character with social anxiety, because I feel like that is something that is difficult to represent well in the written form. Unfortunately, I was not impressed by this. I found most of the side characters annoying and unhinged, in a bad way.
Tadano seems like he has good intentions, and I love that he is trying to help Komi and simply be a good friend to her, but I think he is pushing her too much too soon. He has never really interacted with Komi, and now he thinks he knows what she needs to do to make her life better. I do not think he is a bad guy; I just think he has poor execution.
Najimi had so much potential, but I was disappointed in their portrayal. Najimi is gender-fluid, which was great to see represented in media, but oh boy did their character annoy me. Najimi was so quick to dismiss Komi as a friend and tasked Komi with things that were well outside of her wheelhouse. Why would you tell someone who is struggling to communicate that she has to get you a special, outlandish drink from a coffee shop, or you will not be her friend? I was outraged.
I found it odd that Komi's goal is to make 100 friends. Komi does not have any friends before the start of this manga, but now she aspires to have 100? That is an overwhelming amount of people, even for the most outgoing extrovert.
I will probably read at least one more volume just to see if I can get more into it, but I am not invested yet.
"Komi Can't Communicate, Vol. 1" is the introductory manga that follows Komi and Tadano. Tadano is an awkward wallflower that, much like the rest of his classmates, is enamored with the elusive Komi. Everyone thinks that Komi does not talk because she is a princess and too good for them. They hold her in the highest of esteem and all but worship the ground she walks on. Tadano, however, knows the truth: Komi cannot communicate.
I was really excited to read something that followed a character with social anxiety, because I feel like that is something that is difficult to represent well in the written form. Unfortunately, I was not impressed by this. I found most of the side characters annoying and unhinged, in a bad way.
Tadano seems like he has good intentions, and I love that he is trying to help Komi and simply be a good friend to her, but I think he is pushing her too much too soon. He has never really interacted with Komi, and now he thinks he knows what she needs to do to make her life better. I do not think he is a bad guy; I just think he has poor execution.
Najimi had so much potential, but I was disappointed in their portrayal. Najimi is gender-fluid, which was great to see represented in media, but oh boy did their character annoy me. Najimi was so quick to dismiss Komi as a friend and tasked Komi with things that were well outside of her wheelhouse. Why would you tell someone who is struggling to communicate that she has to get you a special, outlandish drink from a coffee shop, or you will not be her friend? I was outraged.
I found it odd that Komi's goal is to make 100 friends. Komi does not have any friends before the start of this manga, but now she aspires to have 100? That is an overwhelming amount of people, even for the most outgoing extrovert.
I will probably read at least one more volume just to see if I can get more into it, but I am not invested yet.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship
Moderate: Bullying, Mental illness
Minor: Sexual content