Does anybody know of a manga with a power couple? You know, where both romantic partners are equally powerful (either in terms of status, or money, or political power, or skill). For example, a couple in which both are star lawyers, or high-flying executives, or tennis players, or excellent scholars, or formidable warriors. Basically, not a couple where one "leads" the other, but in which they play off of and excite each other's talents. (In and out of bed...)

I'm tired of reading manga in which the woman is whiny, unintelligent or otherwise less powerful than the guy - conversely, where the guy is stupid, a slacker or the kind that succumbs too quickly to "feminine wiles." I want to read about a power couple. Where both partners have standards. They don't even have to be heterosexual! Shounen, seinen, shoujo, josei, yaoi, yuri - it's all good. Gay and lesbian couples are welcome. But I'd prefer recommendations that are NOT hentai or ecchi, please! The point is the romance, not the - er, smut. I just want to read a convincing romance between two equally powerful people, even if they're powerful in different ways and in different lines of work. (Like maybe a top restaurant's chef with an influential food critic! Or a deviously clever hacker with an equally clever detective. Or a chess champion with a concert pianist. Or even a demon with a demigod!)

I wonder why so much romance is based on power inequalities in manga? I mean, it's not like that in real life! (Okay, so maybe that's why... If manga is supposed to be the stuff of fantasy, then it makes sense. But I think that manga is more than that.) Most of the people I know tend to go for others who are in similar social positions or who have comparable achievements - partly because they feel more compatible with someone who can appreciate their approach to life, and partly because you just end up meeting within your power group, since that's how social circles work. An executive is more likely to meet and therefore date another executive, than she is likely to date a repairman or a country's president. I'm not saying that exceptions don't occur, or that they're wrong when they do occur, but isn't it more likely that people will have relationships within their economic, social and behavioral strata? Just statistically speaking.

So I guess that realism is one of the reasons I'm looking for a power couple! I can believe in the romance better that way - plus, it doesn't irk me the way it does when there's an obvious power inequation in a relationship. I swear, that stuff just creeps me out. When I see a homely, wibbly, weepy girl with no career prospects teeming up with a guy who is super-intelligent, stern and cold, I feel more like I'm witnessing an abusive relationship than a romantic one - or maybe just a really bizarre relationship! Same goes for when a guy with the brawn and relative intelligence of a brick pairs up with a brilliant tactician who can probably twist him around her little finger. Yikes. That's not romance, in my book! It's more like THE BAD TOUCH.

Any recommendations will be greatly appreciated. I've gone nuts, flipping through one manga after another in search of this...

Many thanks and blessings,

Atlanta

P.S. I'm totally not dissing people who do enjoy power inequations, by the way. I'm just saying that power couples entertain me more!

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Read manga with the following themes...
Politics
Power Couples
Pure Subtext

Jun'ai Tokkou Taichou! -> toughest guy and girl in the school
Skip Beat -> actors.

Sort of:

Kodocha -> well they don't do the same thing, but at least imho this is a very balanced couple, there isn't a lead between the two. And if i understood right, this is waht you're looking for.


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What I like in Trivial Pursuit style. Pick your category:

Jun'ai Tokkou Taichou! I second this one. ^_^
Charisma Doll Both characters are famous singers.
M to N no Shouzou Both characters have.. err.. psychological issues?
Aishiteruze Baby Both characters are equal in looks & popularity, I guess.
Kimi wa Girlfriend Both characters are weird & unpopular.
Stroke Material kind of?
Nadeshiko Club The two characters are in the same club and about equal.

(it's all shoujo, by the way, but they're all very good series)

Angel Densetsu

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This signature was recovered from Hades to serve in my rotting armies.

Thank you SO MUCH! I love you all! Needless to say, there is much reading ahead of me... <3

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Read manga with the following themes...
Politics
Power Couples
Pure Subtext

Nana not from the start....but eventually

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(yaoi)
Haru wo Daite Ita
Koi ga Bokura wo Yurusu Hani
Hero Heel
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Jun'ai Tokkou Taichou!
Nodame Cantabile
Eternal Sabbath
Utopia of Homosexuality
Miriam
Purikyu
Tokyo Crazy Paradise
Threads of Time

Last edited by _silent_ at 12:12 am, Aug 1 2008

superior ones a demon lord and the others the hero, there both equally strong. I recommend it it's really good =D
I like how you brought up god and demigod, I'm a fan of those kind of things =D

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Your mom goes to college.
1. Superior
2. Gintama
3. The bride of the water god
4. Chevalier D'eon

ES The romance is a subplot, but it is equal and realistic
Auto Focus
[m]Jun'ai TokkouTaichou[/m] third that
Kaichou wa Maid-sama! a little odd, but the characters are on the same standings
Nadeshiko Club second that


Last edited by blackrosevirus at 12:19 am, Dec 5 2009

I know a bunch, but can't exactly remember them right now so I'll add them into this post overtime; XP

Perfect Girl Evolution <== surprised this wasn't already mentioned...
Mel Kano

edit:
Seven Days - Monday→Thursday
Gokujou no Koibito

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Ayashi No Ceres..maybe
kamikaze kaito Jeanne


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You know, you love me

Tokyo Crazy Paradise Maybe. Girl is a bodyguard for a yakuza. There both really on equal power levels.

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Forever lurking...

[m]Max Lovely[/m] - They're even tied in rock, paper, scissors...
Crash! - Singer X Manager with weird talent.
Crimson Hero Volleyball Player X Volleyball Player.
My Girl Model X Popular guy
[m]Uwasa no Midori Kun![/m] Soccer Players
Time Stranger Kyoko God X Demon or something like it