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Reviewed by Ryan Lewis Fits awkwardly next to other titles in the Romance and Comedy genres. Love Roma came as a breath of fresh air, right when I was getting bored again with the manga that was being published in America. Viz and Tokyopop were putting out lots of generic titles. Del Rey had been having a really good streak with new series like Genshiken and Nodame Cantabile. So, on the strength of these other series, I tried out Love Roma. I bought the first volume after overlooking it repeatedly, and kicked myself for not picking it up sooner. Love Roma is a high-school romance manga that forgoes the usual shojo unreality and the shonen obsession with panty-shots and young girls with double-D boobs. The series starts with Hoshino (boy) walking up to Negishi (girl) and asking her out in the middle of the class. This straight-forwardness sets the tone for the entire series, and the backgrounds of supportive classmates (acting like an audience in a sitcom) makes each frame a joy to read. Many important steps in a relationship (holding hands, first kiss, honesty, etc.) are dealt with a bluntness that is almost hard to believe, but is always entertaining. Hoshino brings the comedy with his brutal honesty. Many times the couple mimics the boke/tsukkomi chemistry of Japanese comedians. Negishi is more of a normal tomboyish character who tries to hold Hoshino in line and keep him from saying embarrassing things in front of their class. The classmates, for their part, are almost always present when the couple is interacting, since Hoshino rarely seeks privacy before bringing up a serious issue with Negishi. The first volume mainly establishes the relationship with Hoshino and Negishi, setting the stage for hijinks to ensue in later volumes. It’s so refreshing to have a couple come together in the first volume of a manga (even the first chapter), rather than dragging it out for 20 volumes. It seems like this “getting down to business” will continue throughout the series. The artwork is another major plus. Apparently, Toyoda never planned for Love Roma to turn into a series; the first chapter was supposed to be a one-shot. Every chapter, it feels like he's put everything he has into it, as if it were his last. There's a definite style, influenced by a little rock-and-roll and possibly some Sanrio designs. Also, there is a strong DIY feel to a lot of his artwork, because you can actually feel and see the presence of the pen. It isn't hidden, like so many other slick manga (see Shonen Jump manga). Similar artists are Taiyou Matsumoto (Blue Spring, No. 5, Tekkonkinkreet), and Kiyohiko Azuma (Azumanga Daioh, Yotsuba&). Love Roma will be completed after five volumes. This is always a plus for the consumer, because you don't have to purchase 18 or 24 volumes just to complete a story line. Another great plus is the cute extras at the end of each volume, notes from the author, and funny yonkoma (four panel gag strips). All in all, Love Roma gets an A for being unique, refreshing, and putting a smile on my face. Postscript: Love Roma originally ran in the magazine Afternoon (published by Kodansha) in Japan. Other popular titles from the magazine are Oh My Goddess!, Seraphic Feathers, Eden, Gunsmith Cats, and Mushishi. Since finishing Love Roma in 2005, it seems the Toyoda has been taking a break. In the February 2007 issue of Afternoon, he published a one-shot, 40 page comic called Flip-Flap. At the end of the issue, he said that he was working on a new manga series. Let’s hope it’s published in English as well. You can check out Toyoda’s personal website here: http://members.edogawa.home.ne.jp/poo1007/ (click the red button to enter) 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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