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Apr 2, 2018
Before I wrote this review, I looked at the recommendations and it was blank. I laughed.
There's literally nothing similar to this story. It's absolutely WTF, but somehow enjoyable.
Story: 5
Don't bother. Sure, there's a central story and all, but every twist and turn seems to happen for NO APPARENT REASON. Shit just happens...because. Bad guys, good guys? NO CLUE. The ending is also meh compared to how daring the rest of the plot was.
Art: 7
Good and also bad. Too much detail at times makes some parts confusing and even unreadable, but the feelings, tone, and emotions do come through. Lots of blood and stabby stab
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over-the-top-ness.
Character: 8
Not memorable but definitely unique and distinct. A little bit of character inconsistency throughout, although this isn't necessarily a bad thing as it fits with the crazy feel of the plot. Even the MC goes cuckoo after a while.
Enjoyment: 7
For some reason, it was a fun read, in the sense that it was so ridiculous that it's good. A great breather after reading a lot of serious stuff. Not for fans of sappy or light-hearted series.
Overall: 7
Don't expect ANYTHING from this series. Just hop on and go along for the ride.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Apr 1, 2018
Gan-Kon is a fun series. There are cliches, sure, the plot isn't revolutionary, the art isn't breathtaking, but it was worth the pick up.
Story: 9
Fun is the word that best describes this action comedy ecchi romance. This is actually pretty difficult to achieve for manga of this type, since they usually degrade into a shitty fan-service piece or tension filled drama, losing the idea of "comedy" along the way.
The premise of Gan-Kon is decisively fresh. It uses the old idea of "pokemon-partners," monster guys and girls who get contracted to humans to fight one another for some goal. But, it does this well with the
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twists to the rule, especially the major one around the middle that allows it to both provide fan-service and yet stay true to the plot (without being annoying).
The entire story is also decently paced, with enough fillers to avoid speeding but also manages to satisfy key plot points. It plays out quite like an RPG in fact, with clear "story quest" arcs and "side quest" arcs that occur simultaneously. There's no random "hey, let's just go to a hot spring for no reason."
Most important point: It's funny. The humor is pretty crude, but for a shounen piece, it does the job. I found myself laughing a lot reading this.
Art: 8
Standard, average, pretty girls, wacky looking guys, fit for gods and goddesses. Characters are distinct (except for a couple gods that look alike) and sharp. Background and tone is done adequately, although I didn't get any emotional responses from this series.
Character: 7
Quite average. The MC has guts and perseverance, but relies on plot armor a whole lot. He's also rather dense, but at least he stays true to one girl. Most of the supporting cast are unremarkable. Token glasses braid unrequited love. Token jealous/pesky animal companion. Isana's not "dere" enough. Character growth is rather invisible though. They do get better physically and mentally, but it doesn't feel like they did much to get there.
Enjoyment: 9
Read it from beginning to end. Felt pretty immersed, laughed a lot, got a couple kicks out of a couple action scenes, rooted for the main couple. Wished the ending could be a little better though, especially for all the crap that happened.
Overall: 8
It was fun, but nothing I'd re-read anytime soon.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Apr 1, 2018
***SPOILER ALERT***
This is a great example of a manga that did everything well until the very end.
Warning: Will contain spoilers about the ending, which I will discuss at the end.
Story: 7
Very sweet and cute story. Giant girl's definitely a different take on the monster girl genre (even though the idea's been done before, it's not common). It's also done well in the sense that it doesn't focus heavily on cliche fanservice. The story is lighthearted for the most part, but does get somewhat dramatic in the final arc. Even though I'm not a fan of drama, I'd still recommend reading it to the end to
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truly feel the romance.
That said, there are some issues with the story that prevented it from getting a 10. First, if you're not a fan of non-sexual NTR, you'll have to skip a couple chapters. You'll know it when you see it. While these chapters are crucial to the development of a major supporting character, and it does take a turn for the better, the NTR feels a bit unnecessary and downright melodramatic.
Second, the story gets a little difficult to follow as the final arc picks up. New characters get introduced, shit starts happening way too fast and for no apparent reason, and you will feel incredibly lost for a few chapters. The story is still interesting enough to keep a reader going, and everything is wrapped up at the end, but the ride there gets a bit rough and frustrating.
Third, there's not enough fillers. It's rare to see a giant monster girl (bigger than 10m), and it would have been nice to see a little more of the awkwardness (and darn adorableness) between Mana and Makoto in a more slice-of-life manner. It feels like after chapter 12 or so, it became an action-fest, with one arc following another without respite.
Art: 9
The art. It's not anything special, but yet it's great! The background and shading in this series is done well so that it brings out the emotions of the characters during tense scenes. Especially in Ch. 29, you can practically feel Mana's intense sense of loss. When a character's happy, you practically feel them beaming at you from the pages. Now that's good art for a manga, especially one centered around romance.
Character: 10
It's been a while since I've read a piece where the characters felt relatable and ALIVE. The characters are fairly unique, and although their character developments are rather cliche and predictable, it was nice to see them follow through. A lot of the characters are "strong," including the supporting cast; bluntly put, they have initiative and gall. Even though they didn't truly get their own true arcs, they have developed backstories that makes sense for their role as supports for the main duo. All of these traits, plus the fact that the characters are super expressive (especially Mana), makes for a great and especially immersive read.
Enjoyment: 8
It was an incredibly worthwhile read for a relatively obscure series. Sure, there were times when it felt a little frustrating, but it definitely wasn't jarring. The relationship between Mana and Makoto was so well-developed and sweet that it carried the entire story. You can't help but keep reading to see their struggles to be with one another, and in the hope that they will finally tie the knot (or something similar).
YET, *SPOILERS* and here's where my enjoyment of the manga plummeted sharply, THEY DIDN'T. There was an intense buildup in the final arc, with a lot of pain and effort exerted by everyone, but especially by the main duo. Everything, including the author, pointed to a satisfying happy ending. Dead people are revived (somewhat miraculously, but that's okay), people come back, and then....fizzle.
The author pulled a twist: Memory loss. Had the final arc not had such a serious overtone, it would have been acceptable. But, because of all the action and tension and effort in the final few chapters, it felt like a complete cop-out for cheap gags, and invalidated ALL of Mana's and Makoto's suffering and struggles. It tried to play it off as a happy ending, but the bitter aftertaste was anything but. Mana forgot EVERYTHING about Makoto, meaning EVERYTHING was absolutely in vain. In fact, Makoto had to confess to HER because she even forgot the fact that she loved him. There's no epilogue where she recovers. It just ends. She could end up falling for someone else, she could reject him, anything could happen. Now, think about all that, and then go back to the page where she cried over Makoto dying, begging for someone to save him. All of that, gone. Pointless. Just because the author wanted a cheap gag of ending the story in the reverse.
Overall: 8
If you made it this far, I still recommend the manga. Just make up your own ending, it'll probably be better.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Mar 31, 2018
While on the surface this might be your typical action harem, there are several key differences that ultimately make for a more enjoyable series than expected.
Story: 7
Pretty standard demon girl-type story. Human comes across demon, somehow gets hitched with it, works to save the world, has ecchi and romantic encounters along the way. Plot twists are pretty obvious, lots of plot armor, etc. Overall, the story isn't anything to cheer about. The ending is also rushed to hell compared to the rest of the story.
Art: 7
Standard to sub-standard. Designs on main heroines are inconsistent at times. The girls are decent-looking, but short of pretty or
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sexy. Sometimes the art feels slightly incomplete for a main character. Best-looking/interesting character is actually a common antagonist grunt (the church soldiers).
Character: 8
Not the most memorable, and actually a rather stereotypical cast. Token sexy main heroine, token glasses sub-heroine. Token annoying frenemy duo. Even the main character is an unremarkable token latent-talent human for the most part.
What DOES set this series apart from others like it though is that characters have initiative, actually bother to think, and aren't morally black and white.
1. Initiative: The characters don't sit around and play silly mind games. When they resolve to do something, they seek out the necessary people and items and get it done, fast, rather than wait for shit to happen. It also helps that there aren't tons of filler chapters that makes you question the plot: "Wait, there's an impending demon attack and you're...at the beach?" (there is a beach chapter though, ha.)
2. Thought: The MC is the best example, especially during fight sequences. Rather than charging in blindly, substituting courage and plot armor for skill, the MC takes some time to plan his actions, and the author actually cares to show this.
Side characters do this too in the sense that they don't fret over small details, especially during ecchi "aftermaths." Sure, the offending MC will get his due punishment, but they understand what was an accident and what wasn't, and they know when NOT to bring down the hammer, e.g. while the enemy's right there. They also don't go over the top about it.
3. Grey Morality: This isn't one of those "let's defeat evil" kind of universe. If you like the idea of enemies becoming friends and vice versa, you'll feel right at home. There's no clear "bad guy," and a lot of characters are doing things for their own interest, whether good or bad.
All of these things said, I might be overthinking because I'm biased against typical action ecchi harems, but I found these points refreshing.
Enjoyment: 8
I enjoyed it. It was a fun read that never got frustrating thanks to the characters' sense of initiative. The story felt a bit rushed, the characters felt a little shallow, and the universe could have been expanded a lot more, and the ecchi scenes felt a little forced into the story, but not once did I feel like dropping the series or rushing to the ending. There are worse out there if you're looking for an action ecchi harem.
Overall: 8
Try it!
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Mar 28, 2018
I'm usually a fan of cutesy romcom, especially ones with good art, but Momokuri just doesn't seem like my cup of tea, and here's why.
Story: 4
Slow. Ridiculously slow. Without any real reason for it to be slow. That's one of the biggest frustrations I have about the series, especially after reading series half its length that do a better job. If you're looking for a series that focuses primarily on trying to be as cute as possible, then you might enjoy it. Otherwise, it'll wear you down. Cute is good, but it's not after taking 40+ chapters and not even getting past understanding the basics
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about one another, let alone holding hands or kissing. And that's when the couple's already been established in the beginning.
Plot elements, especially conflicts, are introduced seemingly purely to keep the story dragging on, rather than as a natural progression. A lot of the conflicts are also really light, which I usually like. In this particular case though, it just makes the issues seem childish and forced.
Many times, conflict is introduced and doesn't get resolved. It's especially frustrating when the conflict introduced, though little in nature, actually could have major repercussions for a relationship in the long run, like the stalking issue. Yet, the author just brushes it by for a long time after addressing it for a second every now and then, and then going back to the cutesy aspects. It may be a small exaggeration, but it feels like 80% of the series is this person or that person telling another character how cute someone or something is.
Singular perspective. You'll be reading this story through a single lens of a cute-obsessed girl. It'll try to address other characters' points of view, but every single one feels the same. Their approaches to solving an issue are all very similar, which is to say, nonexistent.
Art: 9
The only saving grace of the series. It's in full color, which is a nice deviation from standard manga, and it's drawn well. It utilizes moe elements properly, including chibiforms of characters. However, it still has the same primary issue as its story line: Excessive focus on cutesy. The color choices in Momokuri makes the entire manga feels very ephemeral and bubbly. While I suppose it matches its overall tone and theme, I didn't like having to sit through pages and pages of that after a while. Don't expect any dramatic moments drawn super well or meaningfully. It's all tease.
Character: 4
They look different, but they feel the same. It doesn't feel like any of the characters actually have different personalities from one another. Norika is literally the only exception and probably the best character in the series, even though she's your token "scornful best friend" type. Not to be sexist, but every character feels like a girl. Even the character that's supposed to be "prince-like" feels absolutely like a girl. 0
New characters don't particularly do much for the story either, except maybe jump onto the cutesy bandwagon or introduce pointless conflicts. One example is Rio, who literally exists only to flame the jealousy of both Momo and Kurihara. The author then tries to introduce a pitiful background to try and elicit sympathy for her as a character, but it just seems to make her even more desperate. When side arcs are introduced, it feels just as forced.
The MC has about as much initiative as a roadside rock, and the heroine has the brain of a T-rex, which means situations that should have been "spicy" often ends up in both of them backing off, and practically nothing happening.
They're supposed to be high-school students, but their maturity's about the level of an elementary schooler, in all aspects.
Enjoyment: 5
I smiled for the first 5-10 chapters. It was cute, that it does well. After the 11th chapter, my patience started running out page by page. It's the same feeling as putting too much sugar in your coffee, and the sugar just keeps coming. After a while, you want to pour the thing down the drain because there's nothing else but numbing sweetness. Mind you, the sweetness in Momokuri isn't really anything relationship-sweet either. It's mostly clumsiness, just like the series itself.
Overall: 6
Being generous, since I can see why some would like the series if they're looking for these exact specs. I personally didn't like it, and I personally don't recommend it for any romcom fans. If you want to read a series with a similar premise, you'll be 1000% better off reading HajiOtsu.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Mar 27, 2018
A typical action harem.
Story: 6
Very typical story, with a slightly different twist on the "contract girl" premise like in Sekirei or other works where the MC subjugates a bunch of superhuman girls. Superheavy plot armor. Plot twists pretty obvious.
Art: 8
The art's probably the biggest selling point. Characters were cute, distinct, clean. Fighting scenes are flashy, but detailed. Art conveys the majority of the humor in this series, if any.
Characters: 7
Standard fare harem characters. Token childhood friend, token tsundere loli, token brocon imouto, and token cannot-be-more-generic chosen-one-heroine. The only good thing about them is they contribute to the growing world/genre of monster girls, featuring: Nephilim,
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ghoul, red dragon, and TBD(?). Nothing else about them is memorable.
Main male lead is slightly decent. He doesn't hesitate, he does his best, he isn't super duper dense or perverted, and he's OP but doesn't boast. Sadly, he comes off as really cheesy. Super cheesy. Because of how short the series is, no rapport is built between the reader and the MC, making him feel like a try-hard even though he's not designed to be.
Enjoyment: 7
As much as you'd enjoy eating a fast-food burger. It's trash but it tastes good. It was nice to see a harem where the girls love and care for the MC, and don't pull melodramatic crap or overdo jealousy wars. It was also really nice to see most of the heroines don't have chests that look like they'll pop at any time; that shit gets suffocating after a while.
Overall: 7. Read it, don't think too much about it. You're here for the pretty girls anyways.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Mar 27, 2018
Although this was by far a generic sword action harem, it was entertaining enough to keep me reading until the end.
Story: 7
As generic as you can get. Main male lead is an underdog with a special trait/hidden ability/unique circumstance. Male lead enrolls in some academy/contest to reach/find a dream. Male lead encounters pretty girls who falls for his strength/character. Plot twist/conflict occurs and male lead has an epiphany of some sort, resolves the conflict, and then swears to work towards the future for a new dream. Similar premise and feel as Rakudai Kishi, Seirei Tsukai, Juuou Fafnir, Absolute Duo, etc.
The story doesn't end conclusively, but
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does wrap up the arc. The romance element is existent, but not very impactful. Feels rather forced and random compared to similar works of the same genre. The fanservice cannot be more generic.
Art: 8
As average as they come for a sword action harem, which is to say, not bad. The characters are distinct, the girls are pretty and detailed, but the costume design is generic. For a series focused on swords and swordsmanship, the design for the swords are pretty average and similar to one another. Tone and shading is used well to portray danger, climax, dread, etc.
Character: 7
Token "childhood friend"/main heroine who's some sort of high-ranking member of society and strong in her own right, but weaker than the male lead. Token superior/mentor to male lead. Token shy glasses girl. Token amnesia maid/servant girl.
Probably the only different thing about this series' characters compared to others is the male cast. The MC is quite blatant about his perverted tendencies. He's straightforward, also plays mind games well, and doesn't bother with a "holier than thou" or righteous attitude. He's not afraid to kill or hurt people just because he's the MC, and it's also not clear whether he's on the side of justice, which is a refreshing change. He's also pretty acknowledged by the world, even for a supposed underdog.
The existence of a strong supporting male character, who isn't trying to chop the MC to pieces, is also very rare, and refreshing to see.
Other than that, the only saving grace for the female cast is that the lead heroine is sensible enough to not beat the MC up just for breathing, and acts like a proper shy tsundere instead of a violent you-know-what.
Enjoyment: 7
It was fun to read. The story goes into detail about the world, so it has a lot of potential. It also seems to be pretty consistent, also the plot armor is real. Don't expect closure with this series, but if you just want to see a badass MC chopping up people without being a wuss, this is a pretty good pick-up.
Overall: 7
Would not reread though.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Mar 26, 2018
A superb, adorable, and funny school SOL. If you like super-helpful, OP main characters, then this is for you!
Story: 9
Premise of the story is fairly unique, but simple. Nanige is an entity in the school who helps people out when they are in trouble, no matter what kind of trouble. She also does it well...for the most part. Hilarity ensures.
Even though it's an SOL, there's a subtle yet complex story line in Tonari no Nanige-san. There are aspects of romance, as expected of a school-life story, as well as many other themes like conflict between siblings, self-appreciation, obsessive love, etc. They're never an overwhelming part
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of the story, but they're steadily developed all the way to the end.
The special attention to detail and continuity in this series is also amazing. Even though it's a 4-koma style, issues that are brought up in the previous page actually gets mentioned in the following page(s), most of the time. Details that are established in previous pages also persist, even the gags. At the end, the reader truly feels that the school as well as the students and community are transformed by Nanige-actions. Can't ask more from a 4-koma.
Art: 7
Simplistic art style. It works, and it's cute when it needs to be, but it definitely could be more. A little bit more focus on color tones and shading wouldn't hurt. The characters are distinct, but it doesn't feel as if special care is taken to draw them. That said, it's not an art-focused manga, so it does the job.
Characters: 8
The characters, while never explicitly named or introduced, feel like a central element of the series. It's clear who the main and supporting cast are. The characters are also consistent, and they grow subtly over the course of the series.
Each character has their own "arc" in relation to Nanige, and these arcs are mostly resolved by the end, making the manga feel very complete even though no explicit story is introduced. The main character herself also receives a proper, realistic conclusion, all the while maintaining her feel as a mystery.
Do the characters do amazing feats, have epiphanies, or transform themselves and the world? No. Do they contribute to a highly amusing and heart-lifting manga? Definitely. But, don't expect to bond with the characters as much.
Enjoyment: 9
It's drama-free, and it's good.
Even though it's only 20 chapters, I've taken much longer to enjoy this series than others, not in a bad way. For how simple it is, each panel takes a much longer time to process because of its attention to detail and continuity. Many times, the panel refers to a previous setting or condition that you end up recalling with a smile. It also helps that each chapter is 30+ pages.
Overall: 9
Would I reread? Maybe not, compared to SYD, but it's definitely worth the first run and for its uniqueness! Recommended for any SOLCom fans.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Mar 25, 2018
This story is exactly what Nisekoi would be like if Raku and Chitoge were reincarnated. Not only are their names similar, they bicker all the time. But, that's as far as the similarities go.
Story: 9
Very nicely paced. The romance progresses well in this series, at least on the part of the heroine. The story itself is very cute and sweet, and definitely a good pick-me-up after some heavy drama. The only issues I have with this series are: (1) Sometimes, the story advances a little too quickly, so that it feels almost unbelievable. In a way, the author "timeskips" what should be important thought processes
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in the characters' mind in favor of plot advancement, which leads to a slightly unfulfilled feel. (2) The story slows down too much near the end in comparison to how fast it advanced in the beginning, and the MC suddenly...becomes a wuss. It feels rather melodramatic, and I believe that things could have been storyboarded differently to mitigate that.
Art: 9
The characters are distinct for the most part (except maybe in one case, but it's debatable), and the heroines are very adorable. The background matches the characters' and situations' tone and mood. The scenery isn't special, but fits the style of this manga. It's pleasing to the eyes for sure, and feels "modern."
Character: 9
The characters, especially the main duo, have character. They're able to get what needs to be done, done. The side characters are supportive and likable. The characters do show growth, with the exception of the MC who seems to de-mature slightly before maturing again towards the end.
Enjoyment: 9
Definitely enjoyable. Will make you gasp, laugh, go "aww," but maybe not cry. You might feel slightly frustrated at the MC, but it won't be anything compared to the OTHER Ichijou. Would I reread? Maybe. Am I glad I picked it up? Without a doubt.
Overall: 9. Would love to give a 10, but it does leave a slightly unsatisfied feel at the end.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Mar 25, 2018
This series isn't for everyone. If you're looking for some deep story progression, interesting plot twists, or drama, this is not for you. BUT, if you're just looking for a nice, standard romance with light conflict to enjoy, then it's highly recommended.
Story: 7
Very predictable if you've read a LOT of romance manga, but also at the same time not. While it's clear who the MC ends up with at the beginning, the leading up to it still leaves plenty of room for surprises, mostly pleasant ones. The conflicts introduced in this series is often quickly resolved, and usually with little effort, so you can rest
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assured it won't be some uphill battle (although that can be boring for some). The plot armor is real, but not overwhelming.
Art: 7
The art fits the "country life" theme of the series. The characters are distinct, the girls are relatively pretty-looking. Don't expect too much shading or background in this series. Don't expect characters' emotions to show very well either. While this worked in the beginning, it does detract from the enjoyment of this manga in the long run.
Character: 7
Typical characters, not really memorable. Not the fanservice stereotypes, but nothing special either. The leads are strong enough to push the story along rather than stagnating it, and the supporting characters perform their roles as "true" supports. Because of the pacing of the manga though, it did feel as if the characters were very manufactured for the explicit purpose of helping the romance along, rather than being standalone.
Enjoyment: 10
If it fits the bill, you will enjoy it. I was looking for a light-hearted romance, and it delivered, properly. The ending is said to be axed/rushed, but it ended well and conclusively, and won't leave you with a bitter aftertaste or wondering. It tied up some loose ends as well. All in all, a well-bundled manga, as long as you don't expect too much of it.
Overall: 9.1 - Better than many other romances that have a crappy story and crappy end.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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