Manga Mondays #143: Skip Beat vol. 30 by Yoshiki Nakamura

Manga Mondays Meme

I've been doing Manga Mondays every week since I started my blog 2 and a half years ago. It's always been a personal feature, but now I'm going to try turning it into a meme. There are quite a few people who do Manga Mondays. I don't claim by any means that I owned or created the idea of Manga Mondays - it's an obvious choice given the alliteration. I think a meme would be a good way for everyone to publicize their own Manga Mondays and get a little more publicity.

The linky will be below my review.

Skip Beat vol. 30 by Yoshiki Nakamura

Summary

Kyoko Mogami followed her true love Sho to Tokyo to support him while he made it big as an idol. But he's casting her out now that he's famous! Kyoko won't suffer in silence--she's going to get her sweet revenge by beating Sho in show biz!

Ren’s new cast mate Taira Murasame used to be a biker, and he sees show biz as just another gang to get to the top of. Normally Ren would have no problem dealing with a punk, but his role as BJ requires him to tap his darkest depths. When Murasame and Ren have to fight on camera, can Ren remember that it’s only acting?! (courtesy of Goodreads)

Review

*Warning: Potential spoilers. My manga reviews tend to be more of a summary than a review. I find it hard to review manga in the same way I do regular books.

How long is too long for a manga series? That's what I'm starting to wonder with several of the series that I'm reading right now. It's not that Skip Beat is languishing exactly. Kyoko has finally figured out that she likes Ren - but it took 28 volumes to get there! I fear we're going to have another 28 volumes before they finally get together.


At least the plot is still changing. It's not necessarily moving forward, but things are happening to keep me entertained. Kyoko and Ren are fully immersed in the edgy Heel sibling roles, both on and off screen. Kyoko is the scantily clad, much pierced little sister of Cain Heel. They've quickly managed to antagonize and intimidate Ren's co-stars, particularly a juvenile delinquent turned actor.

Ren and the former Yanki (Japanese term for juvenile delinquent) push each other's buttons. The Yanki (I can't remember his name) thinks too highly of himself and is sure Ren/Cain Heel is all show. To his surprise, Ren is not all show. He's a skilled and experienced fighter. Meanwhile, Ren is fighting himself more than anyone else. We learn that Ren has a somewhat violent past as an American teen. Acting is an opportunity to truly become a different person. But it's a constant battle between Ren and Kuon.

On a side note, I miss Sho. I really hope he shows up in upcoming volumes.

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