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Reviewed by Do you hesitate when you try to take a chance with someone you like? Was there a moment that you try to do something for this person, but nothing comes out as you expected? Were the words you say to someone exactly you wanted to say from your mind? These social moments come gracefully from this promising teen-romance manga "I''s." I...like this manga, because I...like the things about this manga that feels close to life. Viz Media should be thanked for releasing this popular 15-volume Japanese series as part of Shonen Jump "Advance"...which for an "advance" title is no different than the original SJ line-up in any shape or form (presentation, sound effects, all similar). At least it still cost under $8 ($12 in Canada), and for a series like this, it is a great bargain. The main reason "I''s" is so good are the characters. Ichitaki is a regular angst student who has crush on a girl from his class named Iori, just after he saw her sexy photos from a recent issue of a swimsuit magazine. Ichitaki gets the chance that he's waiting for when a class teacher randomly chosen him and Iori to be a gender-tolerated committee to present ideas for the school. Needless to say, Iori came up with a group name for the committee called "I''s", pronounced as "eyes", a clever name due to the fact that both she and the boy's names have the same first letter...even though it's pronounced as "e" (Oh, the I-rony). With his goofy friend Teratani by his side, he's going to need some support when he tries to gain Iori's love, as outside obstacles and competitors get in his way from his desire. Let us not forget the experiences Iori have to go through. After she had her fun being in a swimsuit magazine for money, she eventually became the equivalent of Tiffany-Amber Thiessen, and almost every boy in high school wants a piece of her; even the winds would do anything to blow her skirt away (hurray for perverted gusts!). She is not type of woman that loves the attention, and all she wants was to move on and pursue her future career by all means, but she continues to be stalked and ridiculed. She was terrified of the events that happened to her, and she started hating men for their lewd actions. Ichitaki does his best to prove her wrong, and with much complications aside, they tried to earn trust with each other, though Ichitaki acts little different to the pervs. Any guy can relate to Ichitaki, and any girl can relate to Iori, one way or the other. That's what I like about this manga. Even though the characters cannot avoid their overzealous expressions, they are about as human as you and me, and humans are filled with anxiety and indecisiveness. While the romance manga is not too original, its modern values and righteous character development makes the manga seem fresh. I wanted to say there's little-to-no fan service in "I''s", but that is like saying "Sex and the City" has little-to-no intercourses: that's completely b.s. At least there's hardly any wacky conveniences that plagued other similar manga, like accidentally falling off of stairs to land at a girl's butt, or a chick filled with fury hitting a boy with an object heavier than her; if you wanted those moments, go out and read "Love Hina." For an "advanced" Shonen Jump manga made for older teens, it is weird that someone would decide to edit the manga. Yes, the "nipple edit" is a bother to many manga readers, but honestly, what do I care? I've seen hentai of the girls from "I''s in graphic sexual situations that can't be said here (even though it wasn't the original creator that drew 'em). Whether this was decided by the Japanese company or not, the stars-covering-the-nipples alter is the least of my concerns. It bothers me, but at the same time, the edits are not that severe and does not change the mood of the manga like, say, "Tenjho Tenge." Besides, it is from Viz, the company that tends to "make some manga look better for the audience." F1Rst REACTION: positive I...would hope to read more "I''s" soon, but I...dislike these three-month waiting periods for every volume. There's some things to expect from this manga, like Ichitaki's female childhood friend, Itsuki, coming back from America and the predictable "I" love triangle would develop...they always do. Although this is my first volume read from the series, my expectations became high. With all the annoying fan service it would bring in the future, this reviewer couldn't help but adore the manga's real situations and characters, and with such breathtaking art that fans of "Video Girl AI" can love, this manga might succeed in the long run. If this manga's alterations really irritate you, don't bother buying it, but if you can let that slide, you will find many things to love here. Let's hope that the rest of the volumes can hold up to its good intentions. Comment on this review of I"s v1 on the Manga Life Forums. |
28 April 2009
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