Nisekoi: False Love Vol. 1 TP
Publisher: Viz/Shonen Jump
Release Date: January 2014
Price: $9.99
Creator: Naoshi Komi
Format: 192 pgs., Black & White, Trade Paperback
Age Range: Teen
ISBN: 978-1-4215-5799-1
ICv2: Rating 3.5 out of 5 stars
This manga provides an unusual excuse for a high school love triangle, one that still leaves it plausibly in the Shonen Jump line of manga. Romantic comedy/high school/gangster stories are relatively rare.
Raku is the son of a higher-up in the Yakuza, but doesn't want to follow in the family business. A gorgeous girl transfers into his school, but they instantly dislike each other, for a variety of reasons. Then, it turns out that he and this girl have to pretend to be dating, in order to prevent a deadly gang war. Both sides have overly-protective violent criminals watching over the two teens. Talk about pressure on your romance! To add to the confusion, Raku has been trying to identify a girl who was briefly his childhood friend, with limited clues. Unfortunately, this new fake romance may have to last all the way through high school.
While the artwork is generic manga-style, the writing is interesting and offbeat enough to make the story worth trying. The gangsters alternate between deadly violence and slapstick comedy, which may not be to everyone’s taste, but you don't see the bloodshed, so it mostly works.
Many teens and a few adults will enjoy the comedic and romantic hijinks.
--Nick Smith: Library Technician, Community Services, for the Pasadena Public Library in California.
ICv2 Stars: 3.5 (out of 5)
Posted by ICv2 on January 28, 2014 @ 1:59 am CT
MORE MANGA
'Sound Loaders'
April 24, 2024
Bandai will release One Piece TCG Sound Loaders : card loaders for One Piece TCG with background music and sound effects from the One Piece anime.
People on the Move
April 23, 2024
ICv2 reports here on people on the move, with long-time VIZ Media Vice President Kevin Hamric moving on, an IDW Publishing Group Editor to Mad Cave Studios, and a new leader of comics at Kickstarter.
MORE COMICS
From Frank Miller Presents
April 25, 2024
Abrams ComicArts will publish book format products by comics auteur Frank Miller, from his eponymous company Frank Miller Presents.
'DC Versus Marvel Omnibus' & 'DC Versus Marvel: The Amalgam Age Omnibus'
April 26, 2024
Check out the final cover artwork by Jim Lee for the upcoming Direct Market editions for the DC Versus Marvel and the DC Versus Marvel: The Amalgam Age omnibuses.