Strawberry 100% 7 cover is courtesy of barnesandnoble.com.

Rated “T+” for “Older Teen”

High school student Junpei Manaka spotted a beautiful girl lying on the roof of his school.  When he caught a glimpse of her strawberry-patterned panties, he knew that he had to have her.  The search for the mystery girl leads Junpei into a pack of girl troubles.

In Strawberry 100%, Vol. 7, Junpei learns that Tsukasa Nishino (whom he once believed to be the girl with the strawberry-print panties) gave him a box of her own home made chocolates for Valentine’s Day.  Tsukasa may go to a different high school, but she is on Junpei’s mind even when he’s in school.  Soon, a mission to Tsukasa’s all-girl Omi High School, to return a notebook, becomes a mission impossible with Junpei hiding in closets and in lockers to keep from being discovered.  Meanwhile, fellow classmate Satsuki Kitaoji (she of the hottest body in school) continues her conquest of Junpei.  He isn’t in love with her and just wants to be friends, but he can’t stop lusting after Tsukasa because her hips don’t lie.

THE LOWDOWN:  It’s the kind of raunchy comedy that has enough fanservice to appeal to high school age males, but Strawberry 100% is more than juvenile entertainment, although it can be quite juvenile, at times.  What makes it appealing to older readers is creator Mizuki Kawashita’s sly way of having it both ways.  Kawashita fills the pages of Strawberry 100% with so many beautiful and alluring young women – all skillfully drawn.  She also manages to internalize so much of the narrative in Junpei’s head, so that Strawberry 100% comes across as thoughtful.  It is a sexy, comic romp with lots of T&A, and the physical comedy often depicts Junpei with his face and head pressed against the firm flesh of his classmates.  But it’s so smartly done.

POSSIBLE AUDIENCE:  If the audience that enjoyed the movie Superbad read manga, it would read Strawberry 100%.

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