Reviews

Following six hyperactive roommates stuck under one roof, this tale brims with slapstick hijinks, misunderstandings and, possibly, love. An early work from popular manga cartoonist Takahashi (creator of the gender-bending Ranma 1/2 and alien comedy Lum Urusei Yatsura), its boy-girl flirtations, cheesecake humor, melodrama and solid comedic writing are reminiscent of the current hit Love Hina. Godai is a third-time college entrance exam flunk-out and has had enough of Maison Ikkoku's crazy residents. He decides to move out, but when the attractive new building manager, Kyoko, moves in, he decides to give Maison another shot. While Godai's affections toward Kyoko are obvious to the other residents, Kyoko's sweet on a mysterious gentleman named Mr. Soichiro, a name she's incidentally given her dog. As part of her duty as building manager, Kyoko agrees to help Godai pass his exams, an action interpreted by the other Maison residents as love. Eventually, romantic feelings arise between Kyoko and Godai amid the antics of Maison residents, themselves a crew of outcasts: the obnoxious and barely dressed barmaid; the Peeping Tom salaryman who appears to always be jobless; and other characters. While some of them vie for Kyoko's attention, others only create more drama by spreading rumors about Godai and Kyoko. However, even amid the commotion, Maison Ikkoku's residents function as an unlikely makeshift family. The art is caricatured and cartoony (much like Ranma 1/2) and densely packs up to six panels per page. The translated dialogue excellently conveys the humor into English puns and slang. (Nov. 2003) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

The hugely popular Takahashi is known for fantasy series such as Ranma 1/2 and Inu Yasha, but this wonderful true-to-life romance is among her finest works. Yusaku Godai is a struggling student, studying for college entrance exams he has already failed once and on the verge of moving out of his run-down rooming house to escape his interfering neighbors. But he changes his mind when he falls in love with the building's beautiful new manager, Kyoko Otonashi. This 15-volume series is the story of their relationship and the struggles, misunderstandings, romantic rivals, and crazy neighbors that stand in their way. This is arguably manga's premiere romantic comedy: funny, touching, heartfelt, and genuinely human. This new edition, in Viz's new standard smaller and price-reduced format, restores several episodes that were skipped in the original American publication of the series and is flipped back into the original Japanese right-to-left orientation. Originally aimed at a twentysomething audience in Japan and featuring some nudity and (in later volumes) sex, this is probably best placed in adult collections, though older teens will definitely be interested. This is highly recommended for all libraries and may well interest readers who don't normally read comics. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.