Reviews

With all respect to the small but dedicated fanbase who keep this nearly 50 year old series alive, “Dear Brother” is in many ways a forgotten, or rather overlooked, classic that offers a unique and exhilarating view into the formation of Shoujo as a serious method of storytelling. Drama and Romance at its best is not only its situations but rather its characters which drive and react to said situations, and “Dear Brother” excels at just that with not only an interesting and charming protagonist who has an intimate understanding of herself and her desires but also an even more impressive background cast capable of striking fear into the reader as well as garnering affection. This subtly anti-authoritarian story is conveyed rather excitingly through Ikeda’s (still) avant-garde panel layout and dramatic framing, and is an inspiration I would very much like to be pulled from in the future of manga and comics as a whole. Unfortunately this use of the medium can also be a weakness, as it is overused. Characters are so often overtly expressive and strikingly framed that it can be difficult to tell what are meant to be passing reactions from genuine devastation, making the tone feel a bit one note.

“Dear Brother” is in many ways emblematic of more troubling and problematic aspects of Shoujo and Yuri, but I would argue that while many topics are handled imperfectly there are many scenes carried out with far more tact than what I am accustomed to today both within and outside these genres. The character Rei Asaka’s substance abuse can feel like a parody of itself at times, but I am also hard struck to give multiple examples of modern media that treat teenagers’ addictions with the severity such situations require, something “Dear Brother” is not afraid to do. I would also argue that “Dear Brother” succeeds as a Yuri even before the expectations of the genre were set in place. Nanako is willing to explore her feelings towards Rei not only within the confines of the relationship, but even outside of it, and it is very easy to assume that Nanako will continue to experience attraction to women even after the events of the manga. I am by no means arguing that “Dear Brother” is a pure and revolutionary expression of gender and sexuality, but I would argue that it does outpace many modern stories with similar themes because of Ikeda’s passion and authenticity.

Overall I would really like to see more manga fans engage with “Dear Brother” on a serious level, regardless of whether or not they have interest in Shoujo and Yuri, and for that reason I would recommend this series to anyone who is willing to delve into its darker subject matter.