Kaichou wa Maid-sama!
Maid-sama!

Edit

What would you like to edit?

SynopsisBackgroundAlternative TitlesPictureChapters/VolumesPublishing DatesRelationsTypeExternal Links  

This manga gets a lot of heat for being problematic, seen in the actions of the male lead, but before you reject it for these reasons, please know that this story goes far beyond what most realize. On the forefront, yes, the male lead’s behavior is today considered inappropriate, that is essentially the whole point. The part that makes this manga so different is that the two of them help each other to learn, grow, and become better people.

This manga brings you through the journey of two highschool kids who have experienced traumas and tragedies from their childhoods. On its face, the manga is silly ... and lighthearted, but it really goes so much deeper than that. They have both been scarred with unfortunate upbringings. They each had no one to rely on but themselves, and they each made a point of going through life alone because they knew nothing else. They showed each other what it felt like to be loved and cared for, and they both changed as a result. Because they both supported one another emotionally, the two slowly started letting more love into their life. They learned to love each other despite complications and bumps in the road, and they learned what it meant to fight for someone and something other than themselves. They both were able to revisit their childhood traumas, and learned to forgive their circumstances with help and patience from the other. They learned communication, and the importance of voicing how you feel. They brought meaning to each other's lives, and healed together. It is all very sappy to say, but this manga is probably the most emotionally discreet but impactful shoujos created in our time.

Seeing people deject this manga because of the male lead makes me upset, I admit, though I understand that it is a fair judgment to make. This manga isn't for everyone, obviously, but I am still pained to see people being so quick to judge. I really hope that in time, people, if only a few, acknowledge this manga for what it truly represents; the importance of allowing yourself to love, and to be loved, despite experiences you have been through to make you believe otherwise.

"Kaichou wa Maid-Sama!" does not offer much new to fans of shojo romance, but its playful take on common tropes with some nods to outside genres. The basic premise is familiar: two seemingly opposite types (a somewhat unpopular but lowkey cute and talented girl and an seemingly impossibly talented and beautiful boy) share a chance encounter and grow close due to their mutual interest or activities. I would highly recommend this manga to anyone with serious interest in the genre. That said, I had some reservations along the way which tempered my enjoyment of it, and prevented me from loving it as much as I ... could have.

The biggest issue is probably an overall lack of focus. It seems that many changes to the plot direction were made mid-narrative, which results in sometimes absurd and incoherent moments or arcs. The initial premise has promise, but isn't exactly riveting. Once the story begins to pick up some pace (with a notable influence from the superhero-esque physical abilities of the laudable Gokusen). The middle third of the manga really hits its stride with a mix of genuinely romantic moments, hilarity, and wonderful character interactions. This is also, unfortunately, where some of the biggest problems lie. Many secondary characters are introduced in the first half and two thirds of the manga, but most of them are discarded, or mishandled. Aside from a few central characters, it's tough to really say what the point of many of them are. It's hard to get behind characters' problems emotionally if they only seem to exist to establish a set piece that's used once for filler. The filler seems to have stemmed from a desire to keep to a certain degree of chastity. Where sexual innuendo and content was present, I thought it was very well done, and added nicely to the overall narrative. Much more of it, and more sexual (or more explicitly sexual) progression forward for the characters would have added a lot to the core romance.

I also wish the narrative had stayed a bit more grounded. There is a kind of commentary on class interactions and conflict, and it seems like there could be a solid political statement here, but it is ultimately confused and weak in its wholly unrealistic resolution. From about the halfway point on, it seems that character motivation (something well established and realistic in the first half) is discarded in favour of a "but this is convenient for the set pieces" mentality. So although I did quite enjoy Kaichou wa Maid-Sama!, I found myself increasingly skeptical as it entered the final arcs and conclusion. I also found that the way the ending was handled (while cute, and pleasing) was not to my tastes at all. This is a matter of particular personal preference, but I wish it had been wrapped up in a different way.

All of this said, I will reiterate that the manga is worth reading for fans of the genre, but that I was a bit disappointed with some of the artistic choices regarding the narrative and themes.

Kaichou wa Maid-sama was definitely not a great manga. I have nothing more to say about a manga with repetitive events, cliche plot, and hopelessly dull characters.

The art was just average, and nothing special, if you ignore the overused usage of sparkles, wilted flowers (that's how they look to me), and weird doily-like designs around ALL of the characters, at one point or another.

I don't have anything against a good shoujo manga with a cliche and common plot, as long as it is decent, or somewhat cute. However, for me, Kaichou wa Maid-sama did not fulfill any of those requirements. Sorry, but no matter how ... hard the mangaka worked to make it a cute story, it really didn't get through to me.

I would not have given such a harsh review if the manga was so bad, that, at the very least, I found some enjoyment out of reading it and laughing at the stupidity of it. This manga couldn't get me to laugh at any part of the story, and I laugh pretty easily.

At chapter sixty, or whatever, when Misaki shouts, "You perverted ALIEN!" and slaps Usui, and Usui just smirks, with wilted flowers and doilies all around him, I just knew that this manga wasn't for me.