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Reviewed by Ysabet Reinhardt MacFarlane How time flies--I can't believe it's been almost three years since NANA started coming out in English, but here we are, over halfway caught up to the Japanese serialization. This is one of my very favorite series, so you'd think the time between new volumes would drag more. Maybe it works out because so much happens in each volume, or maybe I'm just placated by volume 11 being noticeably longer (about 40 pages!) than average. There's an influx of new characters right around this point, as Blast's agency moves the band into its "dorm" to protect them from the media firestorm following the discovery of Nana O's relationship with Ren. To Nana's displeasure, not one but two of their new neighbors show some interest in Nobu, but there isn't much time for socializing--their promotion schedule is overflowing, and the stress begins to take its toll on Nana's health. The pressure is building for all of the characters, really; the two bands are now connected behind the scenes in so many ways that one group's stresses infect the other, while Nana K's absence from the Blast members' lives is painful for everyone involved. Yazawa has such an incredible knack for showing the good and bad sides of the same relationship, and for making it clear that all the good intentions in the world don't outweigh bad results. And just as in real life, relationships--romantic or otherwise--never really end in this series. The people you've cut all ties with are still out there, and a chance meeting can bring all kinds of things to the surface. One of the most significant things in these volumes is that the flash-forwards to the present (some six years after the main events of the series) are becoming clearer and lasting longer. They're still only glimpses into what happens in the characters' lives, but there's enough information now to really spark readers' imaginations. I don't think I can recommend this series enough. It's brilliant. If for some reason you've read this far into my review and haven't ever checked NANA out, go to it! Each volume of NANA is sold shrink-wrapped, and includes the bonus "Junko's Place" story as well as The Family Times, a "newspaper" devoted to upcoming (at the time of Japanese publication) books/CDs/movies based on Yazawa's work. Review copy (vol. 12) provided by VIZ Media. Comment on this review of NANA v11-12 on the Manga Life Forums. |
1 July 2009
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