Akuma to Candy by Kana Matsu

Akuma to Candy by Kana Matsu

Art and story (c) Kana Matsu

Genre: Schoo Life Shojo
Length: One Volume - 3 Chapters

The art is modern but there isn't much detail to really look at in the clothes, backgrounds, or hair. The expressions were really good though. Kind of sparse, but it is not off putting, really not much to say here.

Naomi confesses to the boy she likes but he wants to know why when they've never spoken before. His blunt and, frankly, rude behavior causes Nami to call him a devil,

but is really as bad as all that? It's not as though Nami can stop liking him so suddenly, either.

Cute but rather generic, as in its just another school shojo. I like this type of relationship, and it made me smile but from the boy giving her cough drops to her being rejected, I've read it all before. Plus, it's really short so it doesn't have a chance to break away from the mold much. Sometimes I hate this genre and some times I love it, this story falls somewhere in between. It doesn't have a hook but it's cute to read, it wasn't a waste of time, either.





3/5 I won't say don't read it because it is adorable.

Melange! by Keiko Nigushi

Genre: Shojo

Length: One Chapter - 40 Pages

Art is... shojo, really that is about the only way to describe it. Lots of shojo from this time look like this, pointed chins and big eyes. Clothes are good, but don't have a lot of variety. Expressions are the same. The 'art' element of the story is basically just tones on square canvas so don't expect to see much. It's professional looking, and there are sufficient backgrounds to not look bare.

Art and story (c) Keiko Nigushi

Kumayoshi likes black and nothing else but black, other colors just don't interest him in any way. So when he meets a high energy girl who likes to use every color in every painting she creates, he finds himself exhausted just looking at her work. All th he same, she wants to work together?

For a boy meets annoying girl shojo one-shot, this one is interesting and different enough to pass as original. I know my assessment of the art sounds bad, but Melange! has enough of a look to be on its own. I mean, if you are afraid of seeing generic and stylized art, shojo manga is not the place for you. I really liked it, despite the fact that the 'art pieces' they create is only tones, the characters are fun and cute. The mangaka maybe related too much on Kumayoshi thinking to explain things but he gets a pass for being a dork.

3/5 As far as one-shots go, amusing, but probably not worth a reread.