Manga heroines wind up in the oddest places: the far-flung past, the shifting terrain of the human heart, demon-infested landscapes. In Ai Yazawa’s Paradise Kiss (Tokyopop), studious Yukari is thrust into the magical world of the fashion industry.
It might as well be another planet, as far as Yukari is concerned. She’s been operating on auto-pilot, grinding along through school and prep classes and trying to get into a good college. She doesn’t have any social life to speak of, and she pretty much lives in her school uniform.
That all changes when she runs into a group of budding designers from the Yazawa School for the Arts. They think Yukari’s tall, willowy frame and waterfall of black hair will make her a perfect runway model for their festival fashion show. But Yukari, with her college-prep pre-programming, dismisses them as a bunch of frivolous freaks. Sure, there’s a buzz in being judged favorably for her appearance, but she doesn’t take them seriously.
The first volume is devoted to the group (working under the name “Paradise Kiss”) ingratiating themselves with Yukari. They turn out to be a determined and irresistible group, and Yukari is won over by their creative passion. At the same time, she starts to realize that she’s been working like a dog towards a goal that isn’t really her own. She’s done what’s expected of her, and she’s never really thought about what she wants from life. The PK designers, unconventional education aside, know what they want to do in a very concrete way, and that’s a revelation to Yukari.
Yazawa does splendid work with the PK crew, using strikingly distinct visual design to support quirky, layered characterization. Miwako may look like a pixie princess, but she’s got a potent kind of emotional honesty that speaks to Yukari. Punked-out Arashi surprises Yukari with his blunt insights and his level of artistic commitment. Suave bisexual George couldn’t be more different from Yukari’s longtime crush, top student Tokumori, but he sets Yukari’s heart to thumping all the same. Regal transvestite Isabella isn’t as defined as her colleagues, but her serene presence is welcome all the same.
There’s real power to the emotional complications that arise. Yukari is befuddled by her feelings for George, even as her increasingly erratic behavior manages to finally catch Tokumori’s attention. Tokumori also has a history with Miwako and Arashi, starting as childhood friends and turning into a tense, somewhat sad triangle. The romantic twists hum along nicely, supported by smart, character-based comedy. (Yukari’s romantic inexperience results in some hilarious internal monologues and delightful emotional explosions.)
Paradise Kiss is visually glorious. In addition to the fine character design, Yazawa does nice work delineating the different compartments of Yukari’s world, from the sterile schoolroom to the arty studio. In fine shôjo fashion, Yazawa lets heightened emotions define the landscape, surrounding her characters with clouds of passion, uncertainty, and possibility. Everything and everyone is infused with a distinct style.
But, subject matter and visuals aside, style doesn’t overtake the substance of the story. It serves it, working as a metaphor for the personal journeys in progress. It’s glorious stuff, and it’s left me eager for more.