If you buy only one manga starring a dimwitted young brawler whose dreams of romance are undone by supernatural forces, make that manga Tuxedo Gin (Viz). If you buy only two, there’s always Ranma ½ (Viz). If you insist on making it three, you’re on your own, because I can’t recommend Midori Days (Viz).
Like Mike Sterling, I’ve been rather fixated on this title, at least prior to publication, because the premise sounds so creepy. Maybe I hoped it would transcend the ick factor of its premise – luckless thug wakes up one morning with his right hand transformed into the upper body of a girl with a crush on him – and become something amusingly absurd. But for me, at least, ick prevails.
Seiji, the protagonist, is unlucky in love. Girls won’t go out with him because he has a reputation as a dangerous thug (merely because he’s always beating people up). He wishes for a girl who loves him, and his wish is granted in the form of Midori (or at least a miniaturized half of her, extending out from his right wrist). Midori, it seems, has had a crush on Seiji for years and dreamed of being close to him. Midori is elated, Seiji is freaked, and voila!
In fairness, I’m not exactly sure where I think Kazurou Inoue could have gone with this idea that would have made it work for me. As it is, things veer between goofy and creepy. On the goofy end, there’s Seiji taking Midori to an action figure shop to try and find her some clothes. On the creepy end, there’s the scene where a spirited classmate of Seiji’s gets threatened with a variety of horrors when she stands up to some bullies. (In the midst of this, a female classmate notes, “She got her due!”) Hovering somewhere in between the two states are scenes (yes, that’s plural) where Midori offers to help Seiji urinate and incidents where Midori accidentally gets felt up.
What’s creepiest for me is how happy Midori is about all this. Her grief-stricken family and friends think she’s in a coma, and she’s literally become an appendage to a boy she barely knows, but her current state is a source of nothing but delight. She gets to be close to her Seiji and can help him with housework, school, and urination, and that’s all that matters. That’s a level of ick that no amount of absurdity can overcome.
***
Over at Comic World News, this week’s column focuses on one of those titles that just can’t seem to find an audience.