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Description
From Serenus Dreamers:
Asuka is a guy who has likings for girly things like shoujo manga, baking, and sewing. However, his mother forbids him being so and wants him to grow up manly. He starts learning kendo and karate and grows up to be stoic guy. But can he fight the urge of falling in love and hiding his real identity?
Type
Manga
Related Series
N/A
Associated Names
オトメン オトメン(乙男) 乙男 粉紅系男孩 오토멘 Chàng Trai Hoàn Hảo Maiden Man Manlady
I had really high hopes going in to this manga; especially as - due to what some other reviewers has mentioned - I was expecting the female lead to be as "boyish" as Asuka is "girlish" (something like a female banchou/delinquent) thus making it a really interesting and unique concept.. but not only is the female lead pretty stereotypical (how many shoujo manga feature cute girls who can't cook - that doesn't make them any less girlish) with nothing particularly special about her, she's not boyish whatsoever.
This was the major letdown for me because I envisioned a really captivating love story between two androgynous characters with clashing personalities that found themselves drawn to one another. I guess I should really learn to take the tags listed with a grain of salt. It was only later that I even realized that the 'love story' was a weak and minor part of the 'action' at best.
Asuka - or the concept of him, and not how he actually turned out - had potential too, but all in all it seemed to skim over everything too quickly and lacked any kind of depth or real characterization. I couldn't connect or feel anything for any of the characters (I would have liked to like Asuka, but he had such a bland personality) and just ended up boring me to tears very quickly.
On another note: A couple of times, at least in the parts I read, it almost seemed as if it could drift off into a BL (which could only have been a good thing) but even that quickly turned out to be a bland old tease.. sigh..
I ask my library to get every volume. I love the characters, interactions, difficulties, resolutions, and the new elements added just before things get stale.
For a while it looked like it was going to start focusing less on the main characters and more on the "new elements" ensemble, but it actually was a set-up for the latest US volume, #12. And, I teared up. Yes. Yes I did. Unabashedly, and later in front of a friend when I caught him up on the volume.
The story has returned to the core events with more impact than ever, without letting up on the humor. And, if like me, you
Spoiler (mouse over to view)
come from a "broken" family,
there are two full-page door images that, when contrasted, will make you feel the distance that can be so stupidly difficult to close.
When i first starting reading this manga i didn't see the appeal, i mean sure the guy is incredibly girly and the girl is incredibly manly its ACTUALLY pretty cliched. The execution at the start was pretty great even i have to admit, but there was always something missing, i was only reading because i was bored. Also then throw in the impossible situations and then the really quick love confession and this manga lost me. I'm not trying to throw you off this manga, its cute, the drawings are amazing, i love asuka but it just wasn't for me.
The first few volumes were amazing and the art was gorgeous, but lately it seems to be going kind of downhill. In the beginning, the plot seemed to be focused equally between Asuka's being an Otomen and his relationship with Ryo, but as of the last release (vol. 11 ch. 44....which aren't listed here for some reason), she has been largely absent and more of an afterthought than anything else.
Instead the manga is now mostly focused on the Asuka's struggle with his girly interests and his opposing mother and once in a while Ryo will come out to remind everyone she still exists. And for how often we're reminded of their "love," we rarely see it in action. They go out on a few awkward dates, but after 11 volumes there's only been one hug and nothing else, if I remember correctly. So I think the Romance tag might be a bit misleading. It's more like just shoujo/comedy with a sprinkling of heavy blushing and confessions, but minimal actual romance. And with no signs of the series ending, who knows how much longer we'll have to slog through to really get to any of it...if we ever do?
Add to that, the art has gotten noticeably sloppier, which is disappointing The biggest difference is in profiles/noses, where before they were more defined and now it looks like she just swooped through in one shot. They all look too flat and pointy and the result is that the different characters are starting to look too similar.
I'll give it a 5 because it's still funny and pretty cute, but I hope it can bring itself back closer to where it began by the time the series ends.
Despite myself, I really enjoy reading this series. The art is my favorite part I think (beeeaaauuutiful), and it's always cracking me up too. I can't help but love the characters, though at some point you realize there are too many bishie otomens in this series to be even remotely realistic. Actually, it gets a little ridiculous. They're all otomens, in one way or another, whether it's make-up, flowers, shoujo manga, or stuffed animals--or all of the above and then some. But hey, this is shoujo manga, so what can I really say? It's just a fun, silly series where the handsome manly men all have tender hearts (Well, maybe not Tonomine lol) and a taste for the painfully cute. Also the romance between Asuka and the tomboy Ryo is frustratingly slow, but cute and innocent.
i started reading this because i think japan, and especially shoujo, needs manga in which people break through gender barriers, and it sure can't hurt westerners either. this is a true gender bender; not as in body swapping or pretending to be a boy/girl, but as in stretching the meaning of gender beyond its standard perceptions. i am glad i didn't put it down after reading the first 2 volumes in scanlation, which is truly terrible; not just in minor areas, but important bits are translated with the wrong meaning, and it generally makes the manga seem like crap. if you can only read english, do yourselves a favour and get viz's version, which is actually quite good; viz has improved a lot. beyond the translation, the manga itself is uneven. the lead character is wonderful, the supporting cast is fun, the love interest is at least theoretically great (though i'd like to see more of her personality). the plot is ... there seems to be no plot, and i think there needs to be a bit more structure if the gender stuff is to be more than just a gimmick. it would be very disappointing if that's how it ends up being. the whole fiancee arc was just a stupid waste of time. IMO the live action adaption is considerably better at this point; it takes what's good from the manga, arranges it better, and leaves the truly bad parts out. ryou has more personality too. watch it; it's worth it.
there are absolutely no "shounen ai" undertones so far (v05), unless you want to see slashy undertones in everything that has pretty boys (me, i am all for it -- but don't mislead other readers); it's just a modified harem (modified because they're not all after the female lead).
This manga is adorable, character and plot-wise that is. The art is gorgeous and distinctive. No real plot as of yet, but if you love shoujo like I do, then it's worth the read. My only complaint, however, is that the love interest, Ryo, has close to nothing resembling a personality whatsoever. I mean, she's cute and all, but I find a few of her reactions very boring, compared to the rest. Other than that, this being a shoujo manga doesn't need to be taken too seriously, just read for fun
such a refreshing manga to read the art is well drawn but the live action is much captivating. main guy heroine is good-looking and well, the girl is pretty cute she look a little bit of Toda Erika which i kind of like for some reason. though its a slow scanlate progress its a good thing there's live action.. though i prefer the jdrama i had a go reading the manga... xx
The story started out really nice but lately, the chapters have been a little random and no real story is going on. I am up to volume 4 by the way. I know it's slice of life but it's not something that I look forward to reading and finding out what will happen next. The art is a 10; absolutely perfect. I just wish the story would match. Oh well.
OMG. I can't believed it. Is this manga for specially me? DX It just soooooo cute. I just love this Asuka-chan. I can't help it imagining him to be my future lover because, i don't know cooking or girly stuff but know karate xD
Omg, very much worthy this shoujo manga for all shojo lover girl! ^_^ you eventually develop love to this manga character because : - 1. there's Asuka ~ chan! xD 2. very cute drawing and character >.< 3. Not any other shoujo manga, the main cast lead is a guy who is like a girl~ 4. ... because it's tooo cute~
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