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Taboo romances in shojo manga: analyzing age gaps
It’s pretty widely known that many couple dynamics commonly found in shojo manga would be extremely problematic in real life. Whether it’s step-siblings who fall in love, or…
How to make a best friend, shojo manga-style
In a throwback to an early tongue-in-cheek blog entry listing some of the best romantic tips shojo manga has to offer, I thought I’d write a similar post…
Daytime Shooting Star: why I didn’t root for Mamura
[Note: there are many spoilers for the series ahead] Whenever I read romance manga, I always wonder if there are any scenarios where the main couple could have…
A fresh female lead: exploring Akari in Love Me, Love Me Not
Most main female characters in shojo manga have little-to-no experience with romance. They’ve never had a boyfriend, have never been kissed, and often have never even had a…
Yes, I still love shojo manga
So it’s been awhile. Actually, it’s been more than nine years. I had to stop blogging because of some difficulties in my living situation, which took a long…
In case you were wondering…
Sorry I haven’t been posting recently, guys! I have to take a bit of a break from blogging for now, but I hope to get back to posting sooner…
Happily ever after for everyone! – beta couples in shojo manga
One of the most common elements of shojo romantic-comedies is the presence of beta couples. Beta couples are secondary romantic relationships, which often serve as a contrast to…
From Far Away volumes 1-14
There are many spoilers in this review, so please read with caution! One of my favorite types of shojo series tell stories about girls who get sucked into other worlds.…
All I want for Christmas is you
In the world of shojo manga, Christmas can only mean one thing: romance! Whether a couple goes on a special Christmas Eve date, or the heroine gets a…
Gakuen Alice, Itazura na Kiss, Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You, Lovely Complex
One hit wonders…in America (take two)
When I wrote my last list of great shojo manga authors who have only had one work brought to North America, I knew the list was incomplete. So…
The pseudo-feminist shojo lead
If there’s one gripe that fans have with shojo manga, it’s the pervasiveness of weak female leads. Most readers are turned off by female protagonists who are romance-obsessed, average…
Kaibutsu-kun, Maid-Sama!, Ouran High School Host Club, My Little Monster
The flow of time in shojo manga
There are many things shojo manga does extremely well. Crafting multi-layered characters, engrossing romances, and addictive melodrama are all staples of the best shojo on the market today.…
Power and gender in Kamisama Kiss
There are many problematic power dynamics presented in shojo anime and manga. Too many series feature weak, passive girls in romantic relationships with jerky or outright abusive boyfriends, often…
Shojo around the blogosphere
Hey guys, I just wanted to let you know of a few recent shojo-inspired pieces around the blogosphere. First is part one of a comic entitled “Shojo Reactions,” a very relatable story abo…
The art of the matter
Normally, I don’t care much about whether a series has great art or not. I’ve written before that it bothers me when fans ignore great series because they…