Wow, this is a very unusual manga indeed! I am sure people with the same problems can relate to the characters. To be honest, I knew little to nothing about IS, and I think it means a lot that the mangaka brought this issue among people to the surface. This manga mainly proves that there are a lot of people with problems, how big or small the problems may be, accept the way you are and those around you. You're fine the way you are.

The subject of this manga is interesting and the first short stories were good. But the main story (Haru's) went on for too long, got too repetitive, and it's... not the best at portraying many things.

For example, despite this manga's message of people being different and that being okay, it's so painfully heteronormative and supports rigid gender roles right until the end.

The portrait of young people with disabilities was also iffy.

In spite of that, IS has its good moments, of course, and that's what kept me reading until the end, but I've mixed feelings about it.

... Last updated on July 20th, 2018, 11:07am

Never has a manga made me cry more than IS has. It does an incredibly good job at what it sets out to do: raising more awareness for intersexuality (and, consequently, more desire to learn about intersexuality).

While it's true that the story is a bit simplistic and some parts work out a little too well... but, for its topic, it really is doing the best it can. And rather than drama for drama's sake, it really uses the drama to its advantage, and every time something happens, the characters grow and develop and learn from their mistakes.

The whole thing is just so intensely touching, really, and while it is definitely not a perfect piece of work, even its imperfections are beautiful to see.

I see this as one of the greatest manga I've ever read in terms of story and plot. It excels in charater and also provides an ongoing theme that revolves around the hardships of being intersexual. Sadly, JanimeS dropped the manga when it was at a high point.

In terms of the characters, each person has a distinct personality and is not a copy and paste like other manga out there. Even the side characters are fleshed out with their own background story, yet still contribute to the main plot. In the first volume, they're unrelated stories, but I think they contributed by setting up the overall theme of I.S.
Though I would have to agree it gets a little preachy, volume 2 and onwards makes up for that.

By volume 2, a story is set up about a life of an intersexual. The plot is very well paced and as said earlier, still maintains an ongoing theme. It's absolutely a wonderful manga that provides an unique experience to many. I highly recommend this manga if you're looking for a manga that's different and touching(and also much more)

Edit: I forgot to mention that it is very realistic

The subject at hand, intersexuals, is an interesting topic. I believe that this will be a very satisfying read for most everybody. The first volume is two stories about two I.S. while from volume 2 through 8, it is about the life of an I.S. named Haru and the individuals around him.

The mangaka does a great job fleshing out the story, and I grew attached to the characters. The plot is engaging and solid (though some people will probably find the character-with-conflict, solve conflict, jump to another character-with-conflict, solve, etc. a little dull). There's a lot of deeper meaning behind the actions of the characters, and for me, this has made me want to cry more than a few times. The characters really grow, and the struggle to rise above society's either-or notion for gender is well-thought out.

The art is a little simplistic compared to some other manga but I find it refreshing and fitting for the manga. This all depends on your personal preference, of course; just browse through a few pages to see.

I.S. is a very realistic read; it's easy to imagine this happening in real life. If you're looking for a good deep read regarding a group of individuals that are the most overlooked in our society, this is for you. The manga carries a very strong message and tells it beautifully. If you're looking for a light shoujo, I say it's probably a waste of your time.

I'm a little disappointed with JanimeS decision to stop scanlating after volume 8, and all I can hope for is a group to pick this back up. Nonetheless, I highly recommend this.

... Last updated on December 10th, 2008, 9:31pm

When I was 25, there was a person in love with my boyfriend. This newly He told me he was in love with him. He was formerly a girl. I was never able to understand why they became male (operation) and fall in love with a man.

This manga gave me a little bit of understanding. Thanks. I will try to be more open minded in the future.

... Last updated on September 2nd, 2012, 3:50pm

I don't understand why I keep reading about the need to be "open minded" in order to enjoy this. This is a strong, well-written story with a very important message. Anyone who could read this and not sympathize is not merely closed-minded, but ignorant, insensitive, elitist, and downright hateful. These are strong, human characters and the conflicts dealt with in this manga are very real. I applaud the author and the publisher, and highly recommend that anyone read this, especially if you have little/no understanding of inter-sexuals.

Mmmm nothing to say.. but a pretty good manga.
and its pretty intersting..
^^ its kinda like .. Mmmm forgot the title "My two wings" something..
haha..anywaiz..
a pretty good manga.good story,nice artwork..
*thumbs up!

... Last updated on November 9th, 2006, 9:59pm

This is very nice! I checked it out of curiosity, and it paid. I recommend it to you all. There are some sugar-coated parts, but it's well built on the whole and drawings are cutie nice. Janimes started off with volume 2.

At first I thought this might be some sort of yaoi manga in disguise but it's not. It seems to be pretty good so far