Jun 24, 2023
Was not expecting the twists and turns this story led.
To address the other reviews that have already appeared, the second chapter when we do see a case of sexual harassment between two characters, in parallel to the enjoyment the main character feels in reverse bullying poses a very realistic look at gaining such immense power immediately after wishing to be something else. It felt like it makes sense when a weak character gains a power and starts doing the very things that we as an audience condemn them to do, causing us mixed feelings because our underdog, who we were once rooting for, has
...
now become the very same malicious mess that was maybe thrust onto them. To this end, I appreciate the non-good/morally flawed queer characters we were presented with. Rich guy is still a rich asshole, teacher is still rather bigoted and traditional, main character still might be hiding their queerness strategically and has committed several morally bad acts... we are in the beginnings of their stories with a long road ahead to a recovery or constant state of choosing to do better.
I enjoyed the deeply flawed and twisted characters we were presented, the twists and turns of how these teens and adults navigate their lives upon gaining access to a strange power, the prejudice we might feel or grew up with, that which we might rebel against... all combined with great art and an interesting concept, I think this deserves greater attention, allowing us all to form our perspectives on what we read. We should read problematic media, because then we can form opinions through experience and not just through the grapevine manner of hearing something is problematic. I point to Jose Esteban Munoz's theories on disidentifications where we can acknowledge someone's/something's problematic aspects while still noting or attaching to their benefits, lessons, or concepts we may deem useful.
Glad we got to see non-romantic elements of queer manga, though one can infer or hope the continuations after the text ends. The case of the trans man, the two gay boys, and the brief glimpse of the other teacher at the school in the very last chapters... these human-kaiju hybrids carry a weight and depth to them I quite valued in reading this. Complex issues and internal monologues are implemented nicely with the dialogue, and really the only reason I'm not giving a 10/10 is because I do feel like there was something more I wanted, maybe continuation, maybe acknowledgement of other kaiju happenings, but I take the author's work as is and say that I recommend this story.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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