Reviews

Nov 27, 2011
Preliminary (29/? chp)
***UPDATE 2: This review is up 'till the 29th chapter. I will update as soon as more chapters come out.

I came across Iris Zero by accident. I was in a desperate search for some new series to look out for, that involves school romances (believe me, I'm really just a sucker for those kinds of stories).

I was in for a shock with this manga. It defies all expectations of a school romance (my expectations, at least), and its flow of story actually gets me hooked. Serious tones balanced with school comedy and a hint of romance keep me interested in Iris Zero, and I am happy to say that this manga is part of those "hidden treasures" of manga--titles that aren't famous, but have much potential.

Iris Zero revolves around the male protagonist, Mizushima Toru, and his apparent mastery of solving certain mysteries and issues on campus with his friends. This alone differs Iris Zero from other school manga; its uniqueness, however, doesn't end there.

Part of its ingenuity as a series comes from how stories unfold within the manga. Despite being a school manga, Iris Zero gives off a feel of being a serious-toned problem-solving mystery manga--but don't let this turn you off. Like I said, it only gives a "feel;" running along this is comedic moments expected of a school manga, along with short romantic moments that just make you warm inside. The "feel" refers to how Mizushima Toru deals with the problems; it's as if he's a detective! To be honest, this manga is more or less a school-based Detective Conan comedy (without anyone dying, of course).

Another key factor in this manga's potential is its romantic aspect. Being an Iris Zero, our main protagonist is under daily stress, being discriminated and all from the rest of the people with Irises. A chance encounter with Sasamori Koyuki, however, will change his daily life for who knows how long. The slowly unfolding story of a budding romance between these two characters left me warm inside, for the author expertly delivers emotions of mutual feeling between a school idol of sorts and a social introvert cast away by his peers.

With this, Iris Zero leaves room for great expectations and improvement. And with its already existing potential, it comes as to no surprise for me when the day comes that this manga hits the spotlight.

Story: 10/10
What captivated me the most was the story: it starts off easy, and eventually goes on deeper. With how events flow within the manga, readers won't even notice that the stories already took a serious turn until they notice the change in drawing style. This, along with moments of comedy and heartwarming bits of romance between Mizushima Toru and Sasamori Koyuki (along with other character pairings, of course), make a great story worth looking into.

Art: 8/10
Art is neat and tidy, which is a plus for me. I guess you won't need much detail for a school manga. But art style teams up with story development to give a unique reading experience, in which the art style itself delivers some story and tone. Another plus for me is the absence of fanservice. For once, I don't see panties and bras within a school campus. And in the case of Iris Zero, it doesn't really need fanservice anymore; the story is enough to catch your attention.

Character: 9/10
The manga is 27 chapters in, and I must say that I'm not in any way disappointed at how the characters are described within the storyline. The group of friends Mizushima has has now expanded; all members of this group are explained in sufficient--if not great--detail. We get a diverse group of people, all with background stories to boot. The stories explain pretty well their current situation and the reasons behind their mannerisms. It surprises me, however, that the author managed to give color to the characters in a way that they don't seem any different from Mizushima. Our main protagonist is the only Iris Zero on campus (so far), but somehow, his peers don't seem too different from him. If the author was trying to show that all people have burdens, no matter who they are, he is definitely doing a good job at it.

Enjoyment: 9/10
I really enjoy reading this manga. Art is pleasing, story is excellent, and characters are quite vivid (the character part is already a tedious task, given the number of characters currently active in the storyline). Overall, Iris Zero gives a colorful reading experience with its own twists and turns. It's sad, however, that the release of each chapter is quite slow in terms of pace. It also gets inconsistent at times. The story it gives, however, is enough to cope for its faults.

Overall: 9/10
Fellow lovers of school romances will be in for an unexpectedly enjoyable read with Iris Zero. Those who are just looking for a good read won't be disappointed, either; this manga delivers great stories, and it does so with style. I will certainly keep Iris Zero in my watch list for manga.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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