Garakuta Planet by Shiina Karuho

Garakuta Planet by Shiina Karuho

            Genre: Shojo (It has all of three kisses in it, you decide what that warrants)

            Length: One Volume – 3 chapters and 2 one-shots

            The art has good character, even though I've read a plenty of manga that look similar, I like that late 90’s early 00’s style so that didn’t bother me that much. The clothes are not particularly outstanding mostly baggy casual or, since the two one-shots take place in winter, puffy sweaters and jackets. I thought maybe I had read something by this mangaka before but none of the other titles look familiar. Like I said, it has a bit of a generic look.

            Mitsuru makes a wish on the Tanabata festival (celebrated on July 7, wishes, sometimes poems, are written on strips of paper and hung on a bamboo tree or wishing tree. The folklore behind it shows itself in many manga because of its star crossed lover’s theme. Read more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanabata ) to be more true to her feelings, though she does hide the wish high on the tree so no one in her family sees it. Little does she know that her wish has been chosen to be granted by aliens! It was an impossible wish to begin with and now Mitsuru has to deal with a pushy alien boy from Rock Planet who insists he won't leave until she confesses her love.

            I had a migraine while reading this manga so my memory is a little marred by that, but I still liked it. It’s very silly, just about any manga to do with aliens is, I mean Maekawa, the alien who wants to grant her wish, arrives in a ship that looks like a port-a-potty. Still, it’s got a good heart beneath all the humor, too. The two one-shots have the same heartstrings pulling action; I actually liked one of them best to tell the truth. All three have a bit of tragedy to it, so don't be expecting to have such warm fuzzies through the whole volume because you might actually shed some tears. (Though perhaps my migraine was at fault this time) Its only one volume so at least its a fast read if you decide you don't like it. In any case...

3.8/5 Worth a read but I'm not sure I'd recommend it.