Title: Honey and Clover Vol 2
Author: Chica Umino
Publisher: Viz
ISBN: 9781421515052
May Contain Spoilers
Sometimes getting past the less than attractive art is tough with this title. Jen refuses to read it because she thinks it’s too ugly. I can certainly understand her point of view, what with the scribbly eyes and furious lines, almost as though Chica Umino was in such a frenzy to unleash the illustrations on paper that they took control of pen and pencil and ran wild across the pages.
Honey and Clover again follows an unlikely group of college students as they flounder through life, their personalities so diverse that they can’t help but get on each other’s nerves. Deep down they all care for each other, but showing it is something that they haven’t all figured out how to do. Both Mayama and Ayu are drowning in a wave of unrequited love and it’s eating away at them. Mayama is in love with Rika, who still mourns for her husband, Harada, who died in a tragic accident. Ayu is in love with Mayama, even though he’s made it clear that he has no interest in her. Each of them is harboring a love that is painful and seemingly hopeless, and it’s driving both of them to distraction.
I loved the chapter with the giraffe. Mayama terrorizes everyone with his comments about the cold, lonely creature, living alone until the end of its days. Supreme sadness! Mayama really needs to lighten up, because that’s just too depressing - just because he’s not finding success in love. Morita is traumatized, demanding that Hagu open her eyes and stare at the giraffe until it’s etched in her mind. For once, he’s thinking of something other than money!
The characters are slowly being given depth, as their pasts are teased across the pages. Rika’s guilt at her role in the accident that robbed her of her husband, Takemoto’s difficulty in accepting the new man in his mother’s life, Hagu’s adoration for Hanamoto - all of these and more, revealed with understated yet emotionally powerful episodes. Oh, and these guys play a really brutal game of Twister, too!
Grade: B
Rated for Older Teen
Review copy provided by Viz
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6:50 am
[…] Haridama Magic Cram School and Dick McVengeance critiques Maid Machinegun at Japanator. Julie reads vol. 2 of Honey and Clover at the Manga Maniac Cafe. David Welsh checks out two new titles from Go!Comi, vol. 1 of Kamisama […]
6:01 am
Sometimes the anime adaptation will clean up the artwork to the point that it becomes watchable. If H-and-C makes it to the States, I highly recommend giving it a try. The anime follows the manga closely (so far) and even though the character designs are the same, the art isn’t so… scratchy.
6:10 pm
Actually, Erik, I like the art style. It conveys emotions quite well, "scratchy" as it is. Sometimes I think it looks unfinished, but most of the time, it conveys a sketchiness, unclear and frenzied feeling that fits the college atmosphere of Honey and Clover well. I feel the art can breathe. It takes some getting use to. It’s not normal shoujo style. But I wouldn’t call it ugly. I’m not a fan of Hagumi’s childish appearance, and other things, but the simplicity and slightly slapdash art style is a refreshing change from the heavy heavy doses of tones and patterns. (I’m okay with that too, so as long as it’s edgy, has flair, and not totally overdone cough Arina Tanemura cough)
7:10 pm
@Miki - I agree that the art is not the typical shoujo style, and it does take a bit for it to grow on you. I also agree re: Tanemura - everything is just so busy - it makes me dizzy!
@Erik - I would love of see the anime. Are you settled in at your new digs?? How are the kitties?
4:22 pm
[…] Haridama Magic Cram School and Dick McVengeance critiques Maid Machinegun at Japanator. Julie reads vol. 2 of Honey and Clover at the Manga Maniac Cafe. David Welsh checks out two new titles from Go!Comi, vol. 1 of Kamisama […]