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One of the best series out there Apr 29, 2008
reviewed by Michelle
Kodocha is an incredible series. I picked it up years ago, and I still reread every volume all the time.
It's a romantic comedy about a child star named Sana Kurata and the class bully, Akito Hayama. Akito is initially Sana's arch nemesis, but she later realizes that rather than hating him, she feels sorry for him.
Every character is well developed. Even the minor characters have defined personalities, which I find is pretty rare among other series. No character seems two dimensional or flat, which is so refreshing and makes for a wonderful read. Sana and Akito's friends and family members each have stories of their own, and while Obana does create sub plots and brings each character to life, she always sticks to the main storyline, so never once was I bored.
The dialogue is hilarious. Sana and Akito are both such likable characters, so I found myself really caring about what happened to the two of them as though they were real. I have never found a series with such a wonderful balance between humorous and serious, and all cultural jokes that an American reader like me wouldn't normally understand are explained, which is really a nice feature.
The art is just flawless. Every page is stunning, and I could really tell Obana put an incredible amount of effort into her work. Nothing looks rushed, and all the time I find myself stopping to really appreciate her artwork, because it's truly very beautiful.
Nothing about this series seems old, tired, or boring. The plot never dies or feels repetitive, and each characters' personality stays consistent and is well defined. This is my favorite series and always will be, and Kodocha is an absolute must for anyone who enjoys shojo manga.
Michelle also recommended: Skip Beat, Marmalade Boy,
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