Comic Corner Roundup: July

Comic Corner Roundup is a bi-monthly segment that compiles mini-reviews of comics, graphic novels, and manga that I’ve read recently. Here are my reviews for the month of July which includes an opposites attract romance, a brave warrior, and a tale of sisterhood.

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Everyone’s Getting Married, Vol. 1 by Izumi Miyazono (2016)

Successful career woman Asuka Takanashi has an old-fashioned dream of getting married and becoming a housewife. After her long-term boyfriend breaks up with her to pursue his own career goals, she encounters popular newscaster Ryu Nanami. Asuka and Ryu get along well, but the last thing he wants is to ever get married. This levelheaded pair who want the opposite things in life should never get involved, except…

Review: Since this is a josei series Everyone’s Getting Married is a manga about adulthood as much as it is about love and relationships. The two main characters, Asuka and Ryu, are at a crossroads in their career and love life. They excel in what they do but are also pressured into marriage. The juxtaposition comes when Ryu and Asuka start to fall in love after a few chance encounters. However, they both want something different in life.

It seems like a romance story that will have a lot of push and pull as they progress in their relationship. I enjoyed the first installment of the manga enough to continue with the series. I appreciated how the series opens up a discussion about adulthood’s obstacles. I can tell that Ryu and Asuka will be going on a true journey of self-discovery to find what they want in life.

Final Verdict:

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Broxo by Zack Giallongo (2012)

In this wildly entertaining fantasy debut we meet Broxo, the only surviving member of a tribe of barbarians who once occupied a now-desolate mountain. All alone in the world, Broxo spends his time on the mountain hunting and avoiding the man-eating walking dead that periodically drag themselves out of a fetid lake.

Everything changes when Zora, a foreign princess, arrives on the mountain seeking Broxo’s lost tribe. Can the two young warriors together defeat the living dead?

With accessible and beautiful art, killer fight scenes, and a story that mixes humor, romance, and classic high fantasy, Broxo is a tale you’re sure to enjoy.

Review: Broxo is an entertaining adventure story filled with warriors, zombies, and a bit of action thrown in. Readers journey along with Broxo and Zora as they try to defeat the undead. The vibrant but darker tropes of illustration give the story an ominous atmosphere that adds to the story’s suspense. I enjoyed the bond that is formed between Broxo and Zora as they rely on each other for survival and to find their way.

The graphic novel is a tad bit spooky, but I love some of the horror and ghostly aspects that come into play. The story has all the elements of a good fantasy tale: humor, romance, and worlds beyond our reach. While adventurous the story felt a bit simples and sometimes the pacing is slow. I had a few questions that were left unanswered but I still liked the novel.

Final Verdict:

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Ode to Keisha by Jamila Rowser & Trinidad Escobar (2021)

Ode to Keisha is an autobiographical comic about friendship, racism, and identity. In this 18-page comic, Jamila recounts her Kindergarten friendship with Keisha, and why this bond was fundamental in shaping her concept of sisterhood. Trinidad’s beautiful black and white illustrations tenderly convey how racism and shared culture impacted the budding friendship between these two 5-year old Black girls living in The Netherlands.

Review: Ode To Keisha is a short monochromatic autobiographical that is very powerful. It’s a meaningful story of friendship, shared identity, and racism. I as a black woman (and many other readers of color) saw a bit of my younger self in this story. I love how the story discusses how impactful sisterhood is as well as shared culture. People bond over common experiences and Jamila find solace in her friend Keisha. Especially since they are the only black girls in their class.

Though their situation was isolating it made their bond even stronger. It’s friendships such as these that help shape our lives and relationships with each other. I think that having the illustrations and lack of color for the comic only made the story more impactful.

Final Verdict:

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What comics, graphic novels or manga have you read lately? Share your thoughts in the comment section below. If you have any recommendations, feel free to share those as well.