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Reviewed by Ysabet Reinhardt MacFarlane High School Debut doesn't have the most original premise ever: Haruna, a manga-loving tomboy, decides that she wants to change her focus from softball to romance when she starts high school. Unfortunately, all that shojo's gone to her head, giving her some unrealistic expectations about how she should go after her new dream of going through high school with a shiny new boyfriend at her side. She has no real strategy for getting what she wants--her one tactic for meeting guys is to stand around looking good and hope to catch someone's eye, which is a bad enough idea even before factoring in her disastrous fashion sense. And worse, she hasn't put any thought into what kind of guy she might be interested in. She's not a boy-crazy heroine, though. Instead, she's a determined hopeless romantic who's way out of her depth, trying to change herself into something else without really understanding what that "something" actually is. Enter Yoh, a guy her age who has no interest in romance but seems to have a knack for knowing how girls can play to their strengths, and for predicting who's likely to be popular. Haruna first sees him when she's out unsuccessfully trying to meet someone, and when she later runs into him at school, she immediately sees his potential: not as a boyfriend, but as a coach. Reluctantly, Yoh lets her badger him into guiding her through the uncertainties of "what boys want"; his one condition is that she has to promise not to fall in love with him. High School Debut is a romance/drama, but what Haruna's efforts really bring to light isn't so much the appeal or necessity of having a high school relationship, but the process of trying to change yourself and discovering who you really are instead. Even when she's trying her hardest to change, Haruna is completely unable to suppress her real self--while her overly-trusting nature gets her in trouble (whether she's trusting in fashion magazines or in guys' intentions), she also makes friends easily with Yoh and his friends as soon as she relaxes around them. I like several things about this title: the art is very focused on the characters (with a bit less background detailing than I prefer, but there's enough that you always know where they are), and the characters are enjoyable. The overall plot is headed in a somewhat predictable direction, but there are some nice moments along the way; likewise, Haruna and Yoh fit the "spunky, pure-hearted girl" and the "brooding but good-hearted guy" molds that have shaped so many shoujo protagonists, but they play their parts well. Interested in writing for MangaLife? We're always looking for talented reviewers and columnists, so drop us a line! Charles Webb Editor-in-Chief, MangaLife.com |
1 September 2010
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