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Reviewed by Lisa Anderson Amid the innocent setting of a children’s sandbox, Keitaro Urashima made a promise with a very special girl. It is said that if two people who love each other go to Tokyo University, they’ll live happily ever after. Now 15 years later, a 19 year old Keitaro is a second year Ronin. After failing the Tokyo U entrance exams twice, things can’t seem to get much worse. Luck isn’t exactly an ally to Keitaro though, and his parents kick him out of the house, leaving the Ronin no choice but to visit his grandma - who just happens to be the owner of Hinata House, a hotel and hot springs. After arriving, Keitaro soon finds out that the hotel is now an all-girls dormitory…one where every resident wants their new landlord gone! Now he’ll have to stay on his toes, in order to avoid the swift wrath of the girls. On top of managing the dorm and trying to strengthen friendships with the girls, Keitaro also has to prepare for another year of testing for Tokyo U! Between studying and maintenance, he’ll be lucky to survive to even attempt the entrance exams. In general, Love Hina is one of those titles that many have heard about, even if they’ve never read it. After picking up the first volume, I expected a story that would grab me right away and leave me looking forward to following volumes. A Ken Akamatsu story, rampant fan service and a large cast of women was only to be expected. By the end of volume one, I closed the back cover with serious questions about how the series became popular. I couldn’t stand the lead female, a girl named Naru with a nasty violent streak. The other girls ranged from an over-greedy writer and quick-tempered kendo expert to a wide-eyed, innocent junior high student with a love of cooking. It was hard to really care about any of the characters, even Keitaro. After the tenth incident of him stumbling across some half-naked girl, then getting the tar beaten out of him, it left me wondering why anyone, no matter the reason, would stay and take such abuse. The artwork of Love Hina is rather well done, with detailed backgrounds and eye-catching surroundings. Despite a girl-heavy cast, each one has a distinctive personality and appearance. By the end of the first volume it was easy to remember who was who, by attitude and clothing even if not by actual name yet. In the end, Love Hina didn’t really catch my interest until I’d read almost half of the series. Once it did grab my attention, I understood why so many enjoy it. On the downside, a series should draw a reader in long before volume eight or volume five. It could just be that I’m not the type of reader the story is aimed at. Either way, with the amount of popularity behind Love Hina, I expected a story that reached a certain level from the start. If you’re looking for a romantic comedy that meshes both drama and comedy, Love Hina is a great choice. Just be prepared for a slow start and a lot of repetition. Eventually things pick up, hitting a high point that lasts until the end of the series. Like with any amazing view though, first you have to endure the long climb to the peak of the mountain. If you can survive the slow climb, Love Hina is definitely worth the view from the top. Comment on this review of Love Hina v1 on the Manga Life Forums. |
6 October 2009
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