A review by endemictoearth
Boy Meets Maria by PEYO

challenging dark sad tense

2.25

This single volume manga is trying to do a LOT, and I don’t think it’s very successful. There is a pretty horrifying depiction of the rape of a child in the middle of this pastel covered manga. Arima/Maria was born a boy and raised as a girl by his famous (former?) actress mother, which has led to some gender dysphoria in the young child. We meet Arima and Taiga when they meet each other in an acting class. The latter is very enthusiastic and idealistic, and he blunders into his admiration of Arima. Their relationship is kind of adversarial, but only bc that’s how Arima operates with everyone.

In a kind of unbelievable twist, Taiga’s detached father turns out to be the man who saved Arima from castration by his pedophile teacher (I’m telling you . . . it’s really rough and the description didn’t really prepare me.) I think it was too much for this tiny volume to tackle, and the ending seems a little forced/rushed. I think Arima needs some intensive therapy, not a boyfriend. 
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