Introverted Mangaka + Extroverted Mangaka = Love
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Warning:
This review will contain spoilers for the manga and anime series Comic Party Wonder Love. While the manga may vary slightly from all other forms of media, it may have similar story elements and could be considered spoilers.
Content Warning: There may be references to self-deprecation, slut-shaming, homomisia, breakups, excessive drinking, dubious consent, depictions of sextortion (in the context of a manga a character has imagined), depictions of gang rape (in the context of a manga a character has imagined), mentions of nonconsensual porn, overwork, death threats, obsession, stalking, prejudice, strained familial relationships, and light BDSM, as they appear in the manga.
Synopsis:
Raizo Hatake is a famous BL mangaka, and he is proud enough of his work to even write under his real name. While at a convention where he sells doujin and meets fans, he runs into a particularly creepy individual. He is a fan, singing Raizo’s praises, though he consistently follows it up with wishes that Raizo would ‘go to hell’. Still, the strange man seems enthusiastic about Raizo’s work, and that’s all that really matters. Raizo wishes him well and sends him on his way…
But then he finds out this person is none other than TOS.
TOS, though not as popular as Raizo, is one of Raizo’s most beloved mangaka. The two couldn’t be any more different. For one, though Raizo comes off as bright and affable in person, he writes dark BL, many of which do not end in happily-ever-afters. TOS, on the other hand, though gloomy and aloof in person, writes some of the fluffiest BL one could find. Raizo is just as big a fan of TOS as TOS is of him, and this could end up being a match made in heaven. But Raizo doesn’t believe in happy endings. Can TOS change his mind?
Review:
Note that in the Japanese release, the original series Comic Party Wonder Love was two volumes, and a single-volume sequel, Comic Party Wonder Love Love, was released. The English release has the sequel under the original series title as a third volume, instead. This review considers all three volumes, which include the sequel, based on the English release.
The faces are nice, and you can tell the artist puts a lot of time into them. But the hands. The hands are super inconsistent and often very awkwardly posed. It is distracting, to say the least. And, oddly enough, by the time we get to the third volume, I think even the faces start getting wonky. It certainly isn’t the prettiest thing you’ll ever see, which is ironic since this is a story featuring mangaka, but it isn’t the ugliest, either. My art snobs may find this to be a tough read, but for those less concerned with art, I wouldn’t worry all that much. It is perfectly serviceable.
Beyond the art, the story is ultimately really nice. This is meant to be a comedy, and while I wouldn’t say it is a side-splitting read, it did get some giggles from me. TOS, in particular, being his adorably pitiful larva self, really speaks to me. If you are a creator, you will probably appreciate each of the main characters’ worldviews, as TOS definitely speaks to me as someone who struggles to stay ahead of deadlines. Meanwhile, Raizo is who I strive to be, and have been in different parts of my life. He is months ahead of his deadlines, and his life is just much more put together than TOS’s (or mine, for that matter). This opposites attract setup is where this really shines.
But it is their differences in their work that we see the main point of conflict for this story. TOS writes fluffy stories with guaranteed happy endings, while Raizo’s work rarely features happy endings and often explores the darker side of BL. Their choice of content is informed by their lived experiences, or lack thereof. One of Raizo’s most formative memories was back when he would draw BL for his sister to enjoy, and when he brought up the possibility of him being attracted to men, she reacted poorly. This solidified his belief that two men could never have a true happily-ever-after. On the other hand, TOS has little to no experience with relationships, with men or otherwise, so he has a very idyllic, innocent outlook on them. This works in TOS’s favor, as he has no qualms with going out with Raizo, and ironically opens up the extroverted Raizo to true, happy romance.
It is a very powerful plotline between the two, but with the introduction of the third volume, it loses some of its strength. As I mentioned earlier, the third volume, while tied in with the main series in the licensed English version, is formatted as a sequel or spin-off in Japan. Not treating it as a separate volume really weakens the entire series, as it has to be considered alongside the first two volumes. The third volume introduces Raizo’s sister, who also led him to question his relationship with TOS. I would’ve loved it if the focus had been on exploring Raizo and his sister’s relationship within the context of the trauma he experienced from her response to their relationship, but that is almost entirely ignored. Instead, she is only used to force TOS to finally be proud and accepting of Raizo’s love, where he once felt undeserving of it. It was superficial, and a very weak ending to what had been a very strong series.
Results:
This was such a strong series. The main story in the first two volumes had just the right amount of depth for the length and tied everything in a nice little bow. However, the poor decision to turn what was formatted as a single-volume sequel into an additional third volume of the series made the entire thing fall flat. I would recommend reading the first two volumes and just enjoying that story for what it is, then read the third as a separate, one-off sequel; otherwise, you will probably be disappointed in the entire thing. The main story is fun, but this is hard to recommend as it is in English.
Have you read Comic Party Wonder Love? If so, what do you think? Do you agree with my assessment? Do you not? Let me know, and comment below!
