Week two in trying this out! it has been quite interesting actually trying to put our thoughts into words well not only interesting its also fun! without further ado, what did we read this week?
Firstly Usotsuki Kitsune Tsuki. Likely the bad translation but i didn't get into the story much. There are aspects i like such as kuramochi being called a liar with how it relates to him and his relationship with futaba but i just cant give my best opinions when the tl is specifically this bad. Would be one of those works I would revisit when i can read japanese. But the visuals are pretty good i especially liked the onomatopoeias (definitely would've liked it if the scans left it alone) again bad typesetting definitely makes the experience on the whole worse especially since the parts i liked are the typesetting of the onomatopoeias. But i suppose overall if you can read japanese or some other scan team decided to redo this(not likely) i think its worth your time from a visual standpoint and a serviceable one from a story standpoint.
I also finally did what i should have done 3 years ago... reading medalist! i have already put out our thoughts on it here but i will re read it in the future and ill definitely say more in the future.
Another is Dining Bar Akira and yeesh i'm not sure how to explain my feelings on this so I think ill explaining it in way like someone is specifically asking whether i think its worth your time or no and no, its not. There is a fairly cute oneshot but the main story is weirdly paced to me be it because of the scan or its just like that originally. I like aspects but I cant fully get into unless i do another reread and thats not happening anytime soon with how many manga i want to read. Low, low priority on the yamashita tomoko scale be it you're a bl fan or a general manga fan.
This one is quite close to my heart, That Time a Gangster Was Reincarnated into a Historical Era. I hate this. Ok from the beginning. Back when i discovered this back in 2023? i absolutely loved it the tension and cliffhanger are great and especially as you get to chapter 20 where he isekaid back to his time but this is where it starts to crack. A major emotional core of this section is ranmaru's relationship with his dad but it doesnt bring the emotions at all and at the time i ignored this because there are 2 other chapters that are GREAT. The emotions about how 11 years has passed in nobunaga's times and the betrayal he felt and i do think what happens 2 or 3 chapters or so are good but eughhh ok so i dont really read the last few chapters i just read the raws and google translated it but it sucks. Ok not sucks but the ending is a heartfelt convo between the two of them having to separate to their own times and accepting nobunaga's death and moving on but..... sighs... in the last chapter ranmaru met the reincarnated nobunaga. The ending is all in all pretty open ended but the idea its even an interpertation is dissapointing to me. I know the idea that the lover you've lost can comeback in a different time is a comforting idea to read in fiction to some but the failed emotional moments with the dad and my absolute hatred for this trope soured this work to me.
This last one is another close to me which is Gerard to Jacques. We have read Gerard to Jacques so many times it feels like ive said everything i have to say about it but i havent really talked about it much in public let alone write down my thoughts so this is my attempt at identifying what i love about it to the point it being one of our most reread manga. I think it can be distilled into the fact that its a great drama comedy. The comedic and dramatic elements work together to amplify each other. The satire of the aristocrats and the french revolution with the serious drama with their backstories and relationship really gels together in a great way. And I would be remiss to not mention how great yoshinaga is at making wordy manga that is still very engaging to read. The wordiness of the manga makes alot for this great comedy but it isnt just wordy. Solemn moments sometimes follow the electrifying banter with little to no words and the characters in a statuesque position that really highlights the emotional moments of the story. These together makes for one of my favorite bits of manga ever. All around it makes one of our favorite bls and it would be our favorite from Yoshinaga if antique bakery isnt such a step up in terms of this drama comedy bl.
And that's all we've read this week! I think im getting better! Here's to a more mangaful tomorrow and forever!