Comics / Manga

Fall in Love Like a Comic: Volume 2

By Leroy Douresseaux
December 18, 2007 - 14:02

Thanks to barnesandnoble.com for the image.

Fall in Love Like a Comic, Vol. 2 closes the shojo manga about a high school student who also creates her own manga, but still has time to worry about a boyfriend problems.

Rena Sakura may be a high school student, but she’s also a professional manga-ka (manga creator), known to readers for her risqué manga.  Although she fills her romance comics with steamy shojo (girls’comics) scenes, Rena had never been on a date until she met handsome fellow student, Tomoya Okita, who was also very popular with the girls.  The two started going out, and Rena began using the experience as reference for her manga.

Now, the romance looks like the real deal; at least, Rena hopes so, but sometimes she’s insecure and isn’t sure about Tomoya.  Rena thinks that taking the relationship to the next level (meaning a sexual relationship) is just what Tomoya wants and will cement their union.  But is she moving too fast?  Meanwhile, a relative of Tomoya’s and one of his old girlfriends are back in the picture, and Rena thinks that means Tomoya is going to dump her.

[This volume also includes a bonus Fall in Love Like a Comic story called “Hiroki’s Secret,” which gives fans a peek at Rena and Tomoya’s future.  “Nana and Mickey’s Heart-Racing Manga Lesson” is a section on manga creating.  Finally, Chitose offers an early manga short story that was pivotal to her career, “Bewildered Princess.”]

THE LOWDOWN:  Fall in Love Like a Comic is like most shojo romance.  It has handsome leads, romantic melodrama full of misunderstandings, arguments, and jealous rivalries, and the kind of pretty art with airy line work usual for romance manga.  What makes it stand out is the mixture of sentimental sweetness and occasional steaminess.  The risqué moments are jarring next to the juvenile romance, but somehow it works.  The success may be in how much is used or when it’s used, but the genuine sweet nature of this manga is winning.

POSSIBLE AUDIENCE:  Readers that want a little extra gumption in their “Shojo Beat” manga will find Fall in Love Like a Comic to be a nice momentary diversion – especially as VIZ Media has collected it in only two volumes.

B+

 

Last Updated: November 29, 2025 - 16:51