B.O.D.Y. 10
Posted: December 29, 2010 Filed under: B.O.D.Y. Leave a comment »Ao Mimori – Viz – 2010 – 15 volumes
Because Ryoko and Ryu are apart in this volume, it reads more like a regular shoujo manga. Nothing even remotely disturbing happens. It was a nice break after the last creepy volume.
Ryoko decides to give Ryu space, but after he vanishes without a trace, her friends push her into looking for him. She’s not sure how she feels, since he seemed so sure he didn’t want to be with her, but since she still likes him, well… you know. The search continues into the next volume.
The second half looks at Ryu, who now lives with his dad in a remote cabin while he blows off school. His dad wants him to chill out and get himself sorted before he goes back to the city. Ryu’s aunt and cousin come to visit, and a relationship is set up between Ryu and the cousin. The cousin doesn’t like to be touched by boys.
Okay, I lied. It is creepy. But in B.O.D.Y. terms, that cousin could just be the girl next door.
It’s a little easier to like Ryu and Ryoko after this, and Ryoko even stands up for herself a couple times (though she mostly lets herself get pushed around by her friends, who make all the decisions for her). Maybe… maybe they’ll get back together and be normal people. And maybe it’ll be all romantic and nothing else horrible or stupid will happen. Maybe B.O.D.Y. can pull it off.
I feel so bad about hating this, because Ao Mimori seems like a really nice person. Her side notes are entertaining, and they’re easy to follow since she talks about Animal Crossing and American television shows, along with silly things about drawing the manga and talking to Karuho Shiina, the mangaka of Kimi ni Todoke. Her author notes are often the best part, and I normally hate shoujo manga author notes. I just wish her manga were easier to like. It’s just… not. I’m sorry, Ms. Mimori.
