to celebrate, i made a list with favorites mangas (and one manhwa) of mine that covers different feminist themes and, in some way or another, left a mark in me
this list is more of a compact one because i wanted to select manga that really hit me in different ways, stories that stayed with me. it is indeed a more personal list, but all of these have different feminist approaches that should be celebrated and explored even more
i've read only 3 volumes, but i already love gene bride
It isn't a revolutionary work and it isn't a revolutionary manga for feminism, but it really says something that I think should be shared, even if it's just representing reality.
I like how it represents the patriarchy and its "normalcy", bc these are things all of us have gone through or had someone close go through
These are comments we hear, situations we live, fears we have
It happens when we are kids, with adults we should trust or even when we are the adults
It's terrifying, it's infuriating
But what touched me the most is Edo's story and Ichi's memories and reflection of it
Boys kept disrespecting Edo bc of her looks, but when she was paired with the "leader" of the guys she was left alone
She is constantly belittled and objectified, but when society is what enforces those attitudes... what can you do?
You try to escape, somehow, someway, to forget this is how we live
Until something really serious happens and laugh won't save you
It makes me really want to cry, bc they were really JUST KIDS. Adults are the ones that failed them
But i know this is a kind of guilt that will never go away, even if you would never blame a kid in your position, forgiving yourself for letting things happen is so difficult
I understand Ichi's anger in such a visceral way, bc i was in her position as a teenager (I think a lot of us were) and as much as you understand it wasn't your responsibility, the regret stays and consumes you
That's why i also like a lot Ichi's attitude with Adzuru, it doesn't matter what he does, he will always be a perpetrator, Edo and Ichi will always hurt bc of his actions
He doesn't deserve nor forgiveness or salvation
And at the end of the day, after all those years, after every experience. All there is, is rage.
Ichi Isahaya is fed up with men, a woman navigating a world where she's underestimated at work because of her gender and sexually harassed. But when her former classmate, Masaki, unexpectedly shows up, everything changes. He claims to be the other half of her "destined pair" from a junior high school event called "Gene Bride," where genetic information matched students into couples for a day. While Ichi barely remembers the event, Masaki's sudden reappearance sparks a journey of rediscovery and buried secrets.
There are so many this time. A lot are short but so good! You should read them! Also a couple of very old yuri for yuri day.
Thoughts and ratings under the cut but please check out Queen's Quality and Gene Bride!!
Tales of the Tendo Family 8/10
I'm only caught up with the physical releases (thru volume 6), but I hear good things about the future chapters!
I think the greatest positive of this manga is the main character! She's a young girl with nothing left to live for after her grandfather's passing. Not only that, but she doesn't know her or her grandfather's real names. Her greatest goal is to sacrifice herself for someone else, so she ends up saving a girl named Ran from drowning. But it turns out Ran was trying to escape an arranged marriage. So main girl takes her place.
Our Ran is now marrying into the dangerous Tendo family and starts to learn more about their dark past. The family drama is intriguing and kinda complicated but the most compelling part to me is Ran figuring out who she is, especially as she finds out more about who her grandfather was before he took her in.
Anyway tentative 8/10 because there are a lot more chapters to go. And I didn't realize the next physical volume comes out NEXT YEAR 😭....
The Heiress and the Chauffeur 6/10
I got it bc it's from the same mangaka as Prince Freya <3. It's only 2 volumes and it was cute! My greatest criticism was I wish the characters were 17 and 22 or 24. Like it's historical so I always feel slightly more lenient but like he couldn't even just be 20? 😔
The Agents of the Four Seasons: Dance of Spring 9/10
SO GOOD. I picked it up semi-randomly because I knew it was a currently running series in Lala magazine and I was so pleasantly surprised. Chapter 1 alone was incredible and I would have loved it as a one-shot. I love the characters. I love the modern fantasy setting. And it's setting up intrigue for the future. Only 2 volumes right now but I love it!!!
It's about an alternate Japan in which the seasons are controlled by humans. There are 4 representatives who have to physically travel the country to change the seasons through dance. But the Spring representative, Hanagiku, has just returned after being missing for 10 years. I love Hinagiku I love her retainer Sakura and I want them to be together 😔 but they won't I think. Would be 10/10 if it was yuri.
There is a light novel that's further ahead and genuinely I will probably pick it up next time I'm at Barnes and Noble.
Queen's Quality 10/10
Read Queen's Quality right now!!!!!! Actually go read QQ Sweeper because the story started there. But Queen's Quality is maybe the best manga I've ever read? Oh my god.
On paper it's about a girl named Fumi who has a dangerous potential to become a "Queen" who can control other people's minds. But it's so much more that I can't explain.
But primarily I love the messages. It's such a kind and empathetic manga while also encouraging controlling your negative thoughts and feelings. Fumi is such an incredible main character (and the romance is very cute as well.) I cannot recommend it highly enough or explain how good it is.
Dokuhime 8/10
2000s Josei time 🔥
The mangaka was a very influential figure in the growth of gothic lolita fashion! And that is reflected in her gorgeous art.
Dokuhime is about a "poison princess". She's a trained assassin from birth who has been fed so much poison that her very presence is poisonous. She's sent off to kill a king and gets involved in a political plot by the king's sons. There's also a really fun prophecy plotline that I loved.
I think the later part drags a little and I'm torn on the ending, but the middle where we dive into each prince's past was such a fantastic run of chapters. And I love the protagonist so much!
Gokusen 9/10
I love Kumiko!!!!!!!!!!!
Gokusen is about a girl from a yakuza family (Kumiko) who wants to be a teacher. And she ends up at an all-boys school full of troublemakers who don't respect teachers or even show up to class. And get in lots of fights. But over time they really come to respect Kumiko and she really loves her students!!
It's genuinely such a funny manga. It started in 1999 and has some real problematic moments. But if you can look past that the ensemble cast is so loveable and the story is so fast-paced and funny. And I love Kumiko.
Unfortunately Kumiko DOES end up with a student after he graduates. Luckily it happens in the very final chapter, and even then she doesn't actually accept his confession. They get together in bonus chapters. So I was able to overlook it while reading. I just wish it didn't end like that.
Wanted! 5/10
It was fine 😭 idk not much to say. It was short and it was fine.
Claudine 8/10?
I love Riyoko Ikeda!! If Dear Brother has no fans then I am dead. I'd been wanting to get my hands on Claudine since I found out it had an official release and I seem to have gotten the last copy on B&N's website 😭
Claudine is about a trans man in 20th century France throughout his life. From his mother taking him to a psychologist to try to change him, to his first love, to the woman he wanted to spend his life with, and unfortunately to his death as well.
The manga is narrated by the psychologist and he spends the majority of the story misgendering Claudine. I wondered for a long time if that was a translation choice because the translators were misgendering Claudine, or if it was intended in the original. And it turns out it was intentional as one of the final scenes is the psychologist affirming Claudine as a man. This was honestly so cathartic (even though this man's opinion doesn't actually matter to Claudine's identity!!) it was just nice for both someone in the story and the story's narration itself to finally affirm him. Anyway it has a tragic ending which was difficult for me. I wish it didn't. But I do appreciate Claudine for what it was for it's time. And the story does care about Claudine himself!! And so do I. Also shout out to Claudine's childhood friend. She was the first to affirm him even if he didn't really believe her.
Shiroi Heya no Futari 8/10
The original yuri manga (more or less)! I'd been planning to read it for a while but I read it for yuri day.
I was honestly really pleasantly surprised. The main love interest was such a fun character. I loved her. I like how confident and open she was about loving women. She was so funny too. This one also has a tragic ending though!! So warning if you do read it.
Maya no Souretsu 7/10?
Directly inspired by Shiroi Heya, this manga adds a horror/thriller twist. The characters are very similar to those in Shiroi Heya at first, until you find out the love interest is killing people.
Very melodramatic very fun. HOWEVER unfortunately there is an incest reveal. This isn't used to de-legitimize the girls being gay, if that makes sense?? The whole story the mother character has been denying the girls' love because "surely they see each other as sisters" and when they are revealed to be sisters, she takes that as confirmation that these girls can't be gay. But the story reaffirms that the girls love women. So like... mixed bag here. Idk I still liked it.
I would honestly really like to see this get a modern movie adaptation, I think it has a great atmosphere and could do really well with some modernizing changes.
Also, I feel like it's pretty likely this had some direct influence on Ave Mujica.
Tamaki and Amane 9/10
A collection of connected stories that always feature characters named Tamaki and Amane. Each story takes place in a different time period and generally end in the separation of the two characters. Really touching <3 it spans a lot of settings and a lot of themes. My personal favorite was Chapter 2, it really resonated with me. Definitely check it out, it's only one volume.
Gene Bride 10/10
Oh my god!!!!! There's only one volume out and I'm hurting for the next one. It started strong and continued strong and then had a major reveal at the end and said "the real story starts here" I'm going crazy.
The story is set in a world that initially seems pretty close to real life, but it keeps hinting at odd sci-fi aspects. But for the first volume at least it's mostly about a woman who is sick of being looked down upon and harassed by the men at work and in her daily life. I think it does a good job portraying how much of a toll misogyny takes on women.
What about the "Gene Bride" title tho. Well, in middle school they did a program to match pairs based on genetics. One day a man shows up to MC's job claiming to be her soulmate because they were matched then. She's not interested, but they do end up spending time together as he helps her with work. And I love him so much.
Anyway I don't want to say more because I don't want to spoil the end of the volume and I don't know much of the wider lore anyway! But definitely give this one a shot.
