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A review by waldkauzz
Ran and the Gray World, Vol. 1 by Aki Irie
2.0
I went into this pretty much blind and I think I wouldn't have read it otherwise. I expected this to maybe be a whimsical urban fantasy story about growing up starring a young witch. This is true to some extent? The difference is that the main character, Ran, is actually a 10-year-old child using magical sneakers to turn into an adult woman? The catch is that, even if doing so enhances her magical capabilities, she still has the mind and impulsiveness of a child.
The setting is fairy tale-like and whimsical, and with one exception, all the characters are endearing or intriguing - and wow, this is one of the prettiest mangas I've seen in a while. The character expressions? The panel flow? Absolutely stunning.
My problem with this work is that I don't like how sexualized the adult version of the main character is at times. This, especially in combination with one side character, Otaro, who is a rich playboy and into the mature version of Ran (who is secretly as we all remember, of course, just a 10 year old) seemed...child groom-y.
I'm sus continuing the series. Depending on how the author deals with those two will determine if I DNF the manga. I've read in reviews that Otaro's behavior isn't condoned and it is portrayed as unsettling, so I'm at least hopeful at the moment.
Edit:
I skipped to the later part of the story to have a look at how some plot lines develop.
This series is a definite DNF for me.
The setting is fairy tale-like and whimsical, and with one exception, all the characters are endearing or intriguing - and wow, this is one of the prettiest mangas I've seen in a while. The character expressions? The panel flow? Absolutely stunning.
My problem with this work is that I don't like how sexualized the adult version of the main character is at times. This, especially in combination with one side character, Otaro, who is a rich playboy and into the mature version of Ran (who is secretly as we all remember, of course, just a 10 year old) seemed...child groom-y.
I'm sus continuing the series. Depending on how the author deals with those two will determine if I DNF the manga. I've read in reviews that Otaro's behavior isn't condoned and it is portrayed as unsettling, so I'm at least hopeful at the moment.
Edit:
I skipped to the later part of the story to have a look at how some plot lines develop.
Spoiler
Regarding the rich playboy Otaru plot line, the lesson for Ran shouldn't have been You can't save everyone. It should have been Let's get rid of sexual predators.This series is a definite DNF for me.