Her Majesty's Dog Vol 9

[meganbmoore]

So, I’m detecting a trend here. Namely, that the mangaka has a habit to kind of forget about characters for a while. Or am I the only one who noticed that Aoi just randomly disappeared after locking Ateko and Amane up in the storehouse and didn’t show up for the rest of that story (about ¾ of the volume.) Less of a complaint than Ateko disappearing, as he’s easily my least favorite of the fine main characters. But again, less annoying when off doing things with Ateko.

I’m glad-very glad- that we’re back to demons and life and mythology. What with that being a major early draw of the series and all. It was also nice to see some focus on Ateko and Amane’s friendship. Sometimes I forget that I can count on more than Skip-Beat and Wallflower (and Mars and W Juliet while they were still going) for actual female friendships getting attention in shoujo romance. (One of the many things that really, really makes me wish Nana had clicked with me.) Also fun was more background on Hayato.

Not as much fun was the Amane/Hyoue stuff. Which, considering how great they usually are, is a pity. I can’t help but think the manga has gone a lot longer than Takeuchi originally planned, so she fell back on “we can’t be together, I must sacrifice our love” romantic wangst. I…I really hope not. Once a shoujo starts annoying me in the romance department, there’s just no recovery for me (as they tend to be centered around it) no matter how much I like the series. Not even Ouran High School Host Club or Hana Kimi were safe from that. I do like, though, that even though she typically seems far less aware of such things than anyone else is, Amane still has the “no mixing between humans and koma-oni” awareness, even though she usually disregards it. 

 

Comments

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Have I recommended tramps like us to you? Because while the main focus is romance, there is noticable progress and multiple different relationships through out the series, and there is a strong female/female friendship that gets a decent amount of screen time.

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

For some reason, I can't really seem to get into josei. For obvious reasons, this kinda depresses me. Kinda like with Nana.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

That is strange. Is it because not enough else is happening? Or is it something stylistic.

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

I'm not really sure. It's not the art, because unless it's truly hideous, art doesn't distract me from stories and characters I like. The content...well...I watch kdramas and read romance novels and shoujo fluff. I'm not really sure what it is, but should try to figure it out. It may be that all the ones that've come out here are "office lady finds love with younger man." Though, I've seen and liked the live action adaptations of both Tramps and Suppli...

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Huh.

I can understand not going for the 'office worker + younger man' but it makes me curious that you like the live action but don't go for the manga. *ponders*

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

It likely helps that both have really good, likable leads. I'd also seen both guys before(Matsumoto Jun played Momo...he was the main guy in both Hana Yori Dango and Gokusen...Kame played the lead in Sapuri/Suppli, though I don't know if you've seen anything he's been in: Nobuta wo Produce, Gokusen 2, Tatta Hittotsu no Koi, One Pound Gospel) and like both as actors.

Also, I think I often watch less deeply than I read. Like, I subconsciously interpret anything printed as deeper and more important, and viewing as lighter entertainment(though there are, obviously, many exceptions to that.) I think my needs in the two mediums are a little different. I know I could never tolerate most kdramas if I were reading them, instead of watching them with the FF button handy for the less-great parts.