Apr 11, 2023
In my journey as a reader, I try to discover artists more different than the others. My meeting with Kyoko Okazaki was a shock because I was never used to read something like that. I immediately fell in love with her work, especially because she had a disconcerting ease to tackle important subjects. Rock is one of the last manga I read from her. It is still a work that deals with relationships, a little in the same theme as Pink but here it really questions the life of a couple.
"Rock" is a manga first published in 1990. This work features a 17-year-old girl
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who, after being taken in by an unscrupulous model agency director, falls in love with a young, casual and carefree man. The two protagonists get married the day after they meet but their relationship is put to the test as they face multiple difficulties, including their lack of direction and desires in life.
As I said before, the manga deals with strong themes, such as modeling, malnutrition, sexuality, and the difficulty to find one's place in life as a young adult. What I particularly like is that Kyoko Okazaki manages to depict in a realistic and sensitive way the life of these characters in search of themselves. The night scenes of drunken parties are particularly striking and show a lost youth, without real reference or ambition.
Okazaki's drawing is recognizable among all, with a light, round and sketchy line that skillfully mixes European and Japanese influences. The characters are expressive and their emotions are accurately transmitted to the reader. The layout is also very well done with boxes of various sizes that give rhythm to the story.
Although "Rock" is not the most outstanding work of the author, it's still successful and pleasant to read. Okazaki manages to deal with serious subjects in a light-hearted way and to convey deep emotions thanks to her unique line and her sense of direction. If you like sentimental comedies with a touch of seriousness this should be a good entry for you to discover the author.
I sincerely think that Rock is an interesting and successful manga, which deals with strong themes with accuracy and sensitivity. I completely loved it, I felt amazed when I read this work. Its worked layout and its recognizable drawing make it a work apart in the manga landscape. If you are a fan of the author or if you are looking for a touching story about self search and relationships, you should really check out Kyoko Okazaki's work. Her other mangas are all great, like Pink or Helter Skelter.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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