The Bottom Line
Now that she's introduced her main characters, Fumi Yoshinaga introduces another classmate to her high school ensemble that kicks the comedic chemistry up a notch. By adding an aspiring manga artist to the group, Yoshinaga gains another surrogate that she can use to skewer story clichés and rabid otaku fandom.
Thankfully, Yoshinaga's wicked sense of humor and her knack for clever character development saves this story from being a manga insider's rant-fest. Watching shy Sumiko develop into a confident comics creator is especially satisfying when she tells off otaku misogynist Majima in a delightfully profane way.
Pros
- With the introduction of manga artist Sumiko, the story kicks into comedic high gear
- Yoshinaga develops the relationships between her characters in satisfying ways
- With two subplots about making manga, there are lots of industry in-jokes from this veteran manga-ka
- As in Antique Bakery, Yoshinaga shares in her love of cooking and even a recipe for pumpkin cake
Cons
- Lacks translator's notes that would help novice readers understand the cultural context
- Requires a working knowledge of manga and otaku culture to really enjoy her jokes
- Includes more profane language than Volume 1
Description
- Original Title: Furawa Obu Raifu (Japan)
- Author & Artist: Fumi Yoshinaga
- Publishers:
Digital Manga Publishing (DMP) (US)
Shinshokan Co. Ltd. (Japan) - ISBN: 978-1-56970-873-6
- Cover Price: $12.95 US
- Age Rating:
OT – Older Teens, Age 16+
for strong language, mild sexually suggestive situations
More about content ratings. - Manga Genres:
- Josei (Women's) Manga
- Comedy
- Cooking / Food
- Drama
- Otaku Culture
- Slice of Life / Reality-Based
- US Publication Date: February 2007
Japan Publication Date: 2005 - Book Description: 176 pages, black and white illustrations
- More Manga by Fumi Yoshinaga:
Guide Review - Flower of Life Volume 2
With Volume 2, Flower of Life kicks into high gear, as we see Yoshinaga really get into skewering manga stereotypes. The shy girl, the school play and the teacher / student crush plotlines are all here, but Yoshinaga gives them wickedly subversive twists that's pure comedy gold.
In Volume 1, we met upbeat Harutaro, cheerful and chubby Shota, and hardcore otaku Kai Majima. But with the introduction of aspiring shojo manga artist Sumiko Takeda, the ensemble really starts to gel in fun and unexpected ways.
Sumiko is a shy girl who hides her face behind a veil of long black hair. When Majima finds her notebook filled with pages of her original shojo manga story, he can't help but meddle with her creation. Once again, Yoshinaga uses Flower of Life as her satirical soapbox to make fun of yaoi manga fandom as Majima art-directs Sumiko's historical romance into a modern boys love comic that's so far afield from her original creation, it's almost unrecognizable.
But what makes it all completely satisfying is seeing Sumiko blossom from a timid loner to a confident creator. As her manga gets rave reviews from her classmates, Sumiko finds the courage to become the leading lady in a play based on her story. She even tells Majima off once or twice to hilarious effect.
By comparison, the subplots about Shota and Harutaro's efforts to co-create an original manga, Harutaro's friction with his sister and Saito-sensei's romantic travails aren't as interesting – but it's all building up to Volume 3, which is also well worth picking up.
As in Volume 1, the translator's notes are still lacking. Nevertheless, this is my favorite volume of Flower of Life. With so many scenes that made me laugh out loud, this is the one that sealed the deal, and had me clamoring for Volume 3 and beyond.
