manga: St. Dragon Girl Vol 1-2

[meganbmoore]

Momoka is a martial artist who is a member of her school’s kenpo club. She has a crush on her childhood friend, Ryuga, who can pretend the future and cast binding spells, or something. When Momoka accidentally stumbles into one of Ryuga’s spells, she becomes bonded to the dragon spirit he was summoning to save Shunran, his cousin and Momoka’s best friend. Momoka remains bonded to the dragon spirit, whose power she can only use when Ryuga unseals the spirit.

I glanced at this series when it first came out but passed on it because it looked like Momoka spent most of her time worrying about if Ryuga liked her and never got to save the day. Sadly, I was right. I mean, for all their problems, at least Arina Tanemura* and Clamp would let the heroine actually be the heroine most of the time, you know? But I have review copies of volumes 3 and 4, so I figured I should check the first two volumes out first.

I’d like this book a lot more if Momoka was in charge of when she used her power, had any control over her power, didn’t essentially need Ryuga’s “permission” to use it, and actually got to save the day every once in a while instead of Ryuga showing up at the last moment no matter what the situation is. Not to mention the fact that she’s constantly worrying about whether or not he returns her feelings. He pretty clearly does, but mostly just teases her about things. Actually, their relationship would be pretty cute if it weren’t for the annoying parts with him controlling everything about the power and her never getting to save the day.

In short, not terrible, but if I didn’t have review copies of more, I’d sniff disdainfully in its general direction and rewatch Princess Tutu, reread Cardcaptor Sakura or read more Kamikaze Kaito Jeanne the next time I had yen for this type of Magical Girl Shoujo. Actually, they all sound like good ideas anyway.

*Not including The Two Titles That Do Not Exist. (If they existed, they’d be titled I.O.N. and Short-Tempered Melancholic. But they don’t exist.)