2022 in comics - Part two
Here comes part two of the yearly comic summary. Writing this made me debate doing a monthly update next year. That way I can share a more nuanced impression of each comic instead of relying on my shoddy memory. And you won’t have to wade through these long winded posts. What do you think? Let me know in the comments if you’d be interested.
How Do We Relationship? Vol 1
Let’s pretend to be partners, it’s just a joke of course. Unless… Apparently this is a common trope in romance comics. I have to admit this is the very first time I came across the premise of two people entering a sort of mock-up of a relationship, only to sincerely fall in love with one another down the line. This being an LGBTQ manga made me both intrigued and hesitant. There’s no denying LGBTQ manga can be quite problematic, filled with harmful stereotypes and outdated behavior towards queer characters. But I’m nothing if not willing to give it a shot. Sadly “How Do We Relationship” didn’t quite do it for me. The male characters acts entitled at first, as if it’s their right to impose on the female characters. One of the female characters is addresses as annoying just for being more reserved and not willing to go all the way. It sends a lot of mixed messages and eventually end up feeling rather heteronormative. However I will mention a positive side; the lesbian couple was never ridiculed or made to feel gross by their close friends for being gay. That’s refreshing when it comes to manga.
Galaxy The Prettiest Star
I went into this comic knowing next to nothing, beside the fact that it’s illustrated by an art mutual, it handles struggle with identities and it’s a DC pride comic. Discovering it was part of the DC canon, I suspected it would relate to the other superheroes and in a very vague way it does. As someone who cares nothing for DC/Marvel stuff, it’s still not an issue. In “Galaxy The Prettiest Star” we follow Taylor, a pretty, sporty and all around likeable guy. But Taylor doesn’t like himself, because he has to hide his true nature in order to remain safe on Earth. Since I am not trans myself, I do not wish to go deeper into some of my struggles with this story, as it’s not my complaints to make. The art is so rich and colorful and carries the narrative wonderfully.
Chainsaw Man Vol 1-2
Unless you’ve lived under a rock or you care next to nothing about popular media, this titled has been unavoidable in 2022. Much to the fact that it’s now received an animated adaptation. As the hipster I am, I prefer to check out the comic version over the animated one, since anime in particular has a tendency to wildly deviate from the source material. In a world similar to our own, Devils are born from human fears. Most Devils pose as a threat, but it’s also possible to form a contract with them and utilize their abilities. This is what the main character, Denji, ends up doing before he’s forcefully hired by governmental devil hunters called the Public Safety Division. The concept is wacky and the character designs are over the top. It’s a shame it’s completely overshadowed by a poorly written character we’ve seen way too many times before. Denji is obsessed with the opposite sex and it’s his only driving factor (at least in the volumes I read), because as long as he gets to touch some boobs, it’ll be worth it. Sure, there’s 100% going to be some pretentious deeper message along the way where he learns the true value in people and blablabla. But personally I’m over suffering these kind of male protagonists. Do better.
Thieves
Now this was endearingly refreshing, both in art style and narrative. Two classmates get in touch after a party gone off the rails. Ella wakes up in her apartment with an assortment of items she’s apparently stolen in a drunken stupor from the party. Desperate to deliver it back to Madeleine, she discovers that her crush may have a deep seethed problem with kleptomania. This is a touching tale of two young women learning to know one another as well as confronting themselves. The characters’ age bracket makes their behavior a little unrelatable for an older audience, but there’s some absolutely stunning paneling and pacing of the story. I recommend picking it up.
My Wandering Warrior Existence
Ever since I first picked up Nagata Kabi’s “My Lesbian Experience With Loneliness”, I’ve been deeply invested in how she documents her life in a manga format. Yet nothing she’s released since her breakthrough debut has quite reached those heights for me. Perhaps it’s too much to ask that something big and interesting is constantly happening in a comic centered around day to day life. But it also makes me wonder if this comic is truly necessary? A lot of it feels like repetition where several pages are spent dwelling on the same topic. It’s a very interesting format and the art style is whimsical and cute. Will I pick up whatever she releases next? Of course. But will it ever beat the first release? Probably not.
Drum roll please! We are finally at the last comic from this year and I saved my favorite for last. If you’ve visited my streams at all lately, chances are you’ve heard me rave about this manga.
She Loves to Cook and She Loves to Eat Vol 1
The praise I could sing this warm delight of a story. As previously mentioned, LGBTQ manga doesn’t carry the most trustworthy legacy, but the blurb alone made me immediately order and read this gem. And boy did it pay off.
Here’s said blurb:
”Cooking is how Nomoto de-stresses, but one day, she finds herself making way more than she can eat by herself. And so, she invites her neighbor Kasuga, who also lives alone. What will come out of this impromptu dinner invitation...?”
If you’ve read a lot of manga, as I have, you’re familiar with the unfortunate habit of ridiculing and pointing out “the other.” This “other” may be someone who’s queer, fat, extremely tall, a person of color or in any way different than the accepted norm of the country where manga originates from. Countless times have I read comics or watched anime where the people I found the most interesting, were also the butt end of a joke. It sends such an unfortunate message. The first time I experienced this being addressed and challenged was in “My Love Story” written by Kazune Kawahara and illustrated by Aruko. Here the main character is an intimidatingly large guy (how he’s portrayed and received by strangers in the world of the comic) with an even larger heart. But instead of villainizing him and giving him a background spot, the story elevates him because of who he is.
“She loves to cook and she loves to eat” gives me the same kind of warm feeling. Kasuga is tall and large by Japanese standards and she eats a lot food for being a woman. Yet this is exactly what Nomoto gravitates towards. The two women share meaningful and down to earth interactions together and Kasuga never feels ridiculed by the author. Both characters are treated with respect and compassion in this narrative, even when challenged by outside forces (toxic men, queerphobia etc). Volume 2 is set for release March 2023. Is it March yet?
Did you enjoy these brief summaries and reviews? Please let me know and don’t hesitate to share what you read and enjoyed this year!
These reviews have been really great for getting me back into researching comics, thank you. A couple on your list I was hesitant to pick up but have now ordered!