elijahmwh's review against another edition
4.0
A manga artist's journey to where she is currently.
As my first autobiographical manga, I was really impressed with the emotions it managed to make me feel. I felt in tune with her life as she went through school, failed in school, spent time with friends in college, and painted with her Sensei. I was saddened by the ending, but still very thankful for the story she decided to share with her readers.
After having both read this an some of Princess Jellyfish, I can really understand her mission as a mangaka (manga creator). Was a very good read
As my first autobiographical manga, I was really impressed with the emotions it managed to make me feel. I felt in tune with her life as she went through school, failed in school, spent time with friends in college, and painted with her Sensei. I was saddened by the ending, but still very thankful for the story she decided to share with her readers.
After having both read this an some of Princess Jellyfish, I can really understand her mission as a mangaka (manga creator). Was a very good read
mrs4ctive's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
tense
medium-paced
4.25
artmushroommoth's review against another edition
5.0
“Every day in life…we tell little white lies, and the next thing we know, we’re adults. And as adults, we just keep telling more and more and more little lies. We try so hard to be careful of other people’s feelings just like other people are careful of ours. We live in a world where it’s impossible to tell the lies from the truth anymore.”
Princess Jellyfish stole my heart when I read it for the first time. I would sell my soul to read that for the first time again. It had such a beautiful dream of a plot that kept my little self to be encourage and inspired about my hyper fixations (I also went through a marine biology and jellyfish phase). To read such an intimate autobiography in Akiko’s strength of manga is such a creative idea- especially the way she portrayed it.
+1 Star for the cultural context. I appreciate the little side notes about how art schools, art exams and school life were for Akiko, versus me in America in 2023 reading it now. It helped me understand the stress and pressure that she was under for those tests.
+1 Star for the DELICIOUS art style. It’s just different enough from Princess Jellyfish that it looks like a whole new style. Yet little things caught my eyes (the way Akiko draws exaggerating expressions and comical lines of dialogue) that reminded me of one of the favorite manga series I own.
+1 Star for the printing and style of book. Seven Seas Entertainment is a great company and I’m so glad Akiko stuck with it for this book. The manga opens nicely; better than any I’ve read. Not quite hardcover but there is a lovely difference in the printing.
+1 Star for keeping the comedy alive. I love the way that I can understand 90% of the jokes because they are written so well, and I don’t need cultural context for them most of the time!
+1 Star for defining the struggles of an artist, no matter where they come from. That was such an important part!
Princess Jellyfish stole my heart when I read it for the first time. I would sell my soul to read that for the first time again. It had such a beautiful dream of a plot that kept my little self to be encourage and inspired about my hyper fixations (I also went through a marine biology and jellyfish phase). To read such an intimate autobiography in Akiko’s strength of manga is such a creative idea- especially the way she portrayed it.
+1 Star for the cultural context. I appreciate the little side notes about how art schools, art exams and school life were for Akiko, versus me in America in 2023 reading it now. It helped me understand the stress and pressure that she was under for those tests.
+1 Star for the DELICIOUS art style. It’s just different enough from Princess Jellyfish that it looks like a whole new style. Yet little things caught my eyes (the way Akiko draws exaggerating expressions and comical lines of dialogue) that reminded me of one of the favorite manga series I own.
+1 Star for the printing and style of book. Seven Seas Entertainment is a great company and I’m so glad Akiko stuck with it for this book. The manga opens nicely; better than any I’ve read. Not quite hardcover but there is a lovely difference in the printing.
+1 Star for keeping the comedy alive. I love the way that I can understand 90% of the jokes because they are written so well, and I don’t need cultural context for them most of the time!
+1 Star for defining the struggles of an artist, no matter where they come from. That was such an important part!
ashs_ephemera's review
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
I LOVE books that follow “artists journeys” so I had high hopes for this one and it definitely met them all. Higashimura’s illustrations and storytelling come together beautifully to tell an engaging memoir!
jandi's review against another edition
4.0
This is a review for all 5 volumes. Part autobiography, and part a personal letter to her art instructor, the author describes her journey into art, from the naïveté of her last year of high school until the early stages of her career as a published mangaka. Higashimura's instructor showcases some brutish teaching techniques, particularly early in the series, but more nuance is provided as the characters develop. The art is gorgeous, with distinctive character designs, and the narration strikes a great balance between comedy, grief and regret. And while the story is pretty sad, its also steeped in hope. Just draw.
erictb's review
dark
informative
reflective
tense
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying and Physical abuse
kristellab's review
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced