Many thanks to Yen Press for sending a review copy.
About the Mangaka
JinHo Ko is the artist for Croquis Pop as well, however beyond that I couldn’t find anything out.
About the Manga
What can I say, I really got into this volume and found what I disliked about the previous volume wasn’t an issue in this volume.
While it’s true this volume gas some minor fanservice, it wasn’t overboard like the previous volume.
I also found I liked the art more than the previous volume. Looking at the two volumes I think the cover of volume one really hit how bad I felt about the volume. This cover was better drawn, and not as crap looking, and thus I was more open to the inside art.
JinHo’s art is greatly improved from his previous work, Croquis Pop, in fact it’s rather scary at times how much his art has improved.
The other thing worth noting is the similarities at times with character designs by this and his previous volume. However, unlike Croquis, I really like the character designs in this volume, though admittedly they still have some flaws to them.
What really sets this series, and this volume, apart from Croquis, and volume one, is that the characters in this series are more personable. I found myself becoming more attached to the characters, liking, hating, and generally all the emotions a good series should invoke.
The story also takes a rather surprising twist and improves immensely over the previous volume. It’s almost as if he realised the odd style he had previously wouldn’t carry the series and sat down and got into it.
The way this volume plays out is pretty good, it starts off pretty funny and soft, then gets steadily harder and and darker as it goes. The way it flows through is really well done with no jerky sluggishness to it.
What I really like is that we get a lot of information about the ‘mirror image’ which is good. I’d hate to have to carry on without knowing who and what she was. This volume sets her up a bit more as things about who she is and how she got there is revealed.
I really liked the way that Noh-a starts to fall apart a bit, as her missing memories start to haunt her as nightmares. We get hints as to events that took place between her and a friend, possible links to Jack, and a rather dark hint towards how she died. Sadly, this could have been handled better, and while the hints are dark, they lack a creepy atmosphere; so it doesn’t really unnerve the reader in the same way as say Higurashi.
We also get some more information about Jack, though it’s all innuendo and subtle hints, which is great. Rather than just dumping everything on us we get hints to draw us in and spark interest.
The ending is set up perfectly for the next volume and done in such a way as to draw the readers in, a great improvement over volume one and his previous work.
As always Yen Press do an exceptional job, some minor guttering but it’s not to bad. Good set of editing and placing of text, and only a few minor gripes about the SFX’s, especially the english next to the original.
Truthfully I’m really impressed with this volume and am now more interested in it than ever. I’m looking forward to the next volume, though still not sure if I’ll add it to my Essential Read list.
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