Honey and Clover Volume 2

© 2000 Chica Umino

Newsletters & RSSEmail to a friendSubmit to Digg

Related Guide Picks

About the Manga: Honey and CloverReview: Honey and Clover Volume 1

Suggested Reading

Shojo Beat: Honey and Clover Manga PreviewHoney and Clover Movie Website

Most Popular

AX 2007 - Naruto cosplayDeath Note AnimeAX 2007 Bleach cosplayNYAF 07 - GaaraDeath Note Movie Poster

Honey and Clover Volume 2

Guide Rating -

Pros

• Volume 2 fills in more poignant details about Takemoto, Hagu and Rika's lives
• Includes delightfully bizarre scenes like "art school twister" and Hagu's weird cooking
• Handy character profiles in the back provide an easy-to-digest summary of the story so far
• It's great to see that there's more to Yamada than her unrequited love for Mayama
• As the story progresses, the relationships between the characters deepen in satisfying ways

Cons

• Still somewhat slow and meandering in its pace
• What on earth does talented tough gal Yamada see in self-centered Mayama?
• Midori-chan? That is one ugly poodle.

Description

• Original Title: Hachimitsu to Kuroba (Japan)
• Author & Artist: Chica Umino
• Publishers: Shojo Beat Manga / VIZ Media (US)
  
• Shueisha (Japan)
• ISBN: 978-1-4215-1505-2
• Cover Price: $8.99 US / $10.99 CANADA / £5.99 UK
• Age Rating: OT – Older Teens, Age 16+ for some mature themes, partial nudity
  More about content ratings

• Manga Genres:
  • Shojo (Girls') Manga
  • Josei (Women's) Manga
  • Comedy
  • College Romance
  • Slice of Life
• US Publication Date: June 2008
  Japan Publication Date: August 2002
• Book Description: 200 pages, black and white illustrations
• More Manga by Chica Umino:
  • March Comes In Like a Lion (Sangatsu no Raion)

Guide Review - Honey and Clover Volume 2

In the first volume of Honey and Clover, we met the five art school students who'll be the focus of this romantic comedy-drama. Now, in Volume 2, Umino gives more details about Takemoto, Hagu and Rika's past lives to better explain their fears and their insecurities, and sets up the two love triangles that will drive the drama and romance throughout the rest of the series.

For Takemoto, it's a long overdue trip back home that reveals the origins of his introspective personality. Meanwhile, Professor Hanamoto narrates two flashbacks that explain the tragedy that scarred Mayama's employer (and unrequited crush) Rika, and Hagu's younger days as her grandmother's companion. We also find out that Yamada is more than just a pretty girl who pines for Mayama.

But it's not all angst and tragedy here. In fact, Volume 2 offers one of the quirkiest scenes that Umino has offered to readers to date, the art school version of Twister. Romantic rivals Morita and Takemoto struggle to out-do each other on the homemade Twister mat, while getting stuck in increasingly awkward poses. And after the numerous meat-centric episodes in Volume 1, Honey and Clover's focus on food switches to Hagu's bizarre cooking. Grapefruit pilaf or Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream in a Baked Pumpkin, anyone?

Just in case you're a bit lost here, Midori-chan the poodle breaks it all down for you with her take on the silly humans in one of the two bonus stories at the end of this volume. This proves to be pretty helpful, since each episode in this volume shifts its focus from character to character rather than following one linear story.

All in all, Honey and Clover Volume 2 is a solid second installment that builds upon the basic plotlines established in the first, while providing some funny and poignant moments that make you care about these characters even more.