No Match for Aoi-kun!’s greatest flaw is that it got The Axe™ only 11 chapters in. Still, what’s there is very enjoyable to read.

The art is just as cutesy and shiny as other stories of its kind, but it’s never once off model. This manga would never catch the ‘Meduka Meguca’ treatment. Its titular character sees the most development as one would guess, but three quarters of the main cast manage to get their own mini arc within this short timeframe... which unfortunately shafts Yamabuki quite heavily. To be fair, I don’t think there was any feasible way of giving him an arc in the story’s last four chapters without completely screwing up its ending, which was likely the point when the author was told they had to wrap it up.

As someone with social anxiety, I have to commend the author’s portrayal of it in this manga. Aoi is clearly uncivilised in regular conversation, too scared to share his interests in fear of judgement and complete isolation. This is contrasted with Yamabuki’s lively yet somewhat overbearing demeanour, confident and comfortable enough to be himself and Sumire’s placidness and supportiveness, the latter spurred on due to Aoi’s support.


If you grew up with magical girl shows and manga (or are still watching/reading them), then there’s a good chance that you’d love No Match for Aoi-kun!. Even though the ending kinda sucks, the number of good points that exist within this manga outweigh the desolate depression you’ll feel upon finishing it. It’s a surprisingly refreshing and mature take on the genre with excellent art, good character building for its time, and isn’t overly sadistic to its characters and readers like seinen takes tend to be.

... Last updated on August 9th, 2022, 10:20pm