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A review by chamomiledaydreams
Yotsuba&!, Vol. 2 by Kiyohiko Azuma
3.0
This volume felt much shorter than the original, for some reason. Perhaps I'm just getting used to the style and pacing, but either way, I read this manga in one sitting, and each chapter was a bit of a hit-or-miss for me.
I didn't like the water park episode, because of its attitude towards women in swimsuits. I was willing to overlook Jumbo's crush on Asagi (the oldest daughter), because I don't actually know how old they're both supposed to be. But then Fuuka (the middle daughter) made a point to show off her figure to prove that she was worthy of having an older man ogle at her, and that made me very uncomfortable. It's one of those cases where I don't blame the characters individually, but instead direct my anger towards the person who wrote them that way. It's such an insidious trend in modern culture (rating teenaged girls bodies when they're in swimsuits), so it's frustrating to see that in a series I turn to for lighthearted comedy.
The other chapters in this volume are nice, though. I especially enjoyed "Vengeance," where Yotsuba goes around attacking her friends with a water gun. I like the childlike logic of, "You're dead; you can't talk!" immediately being amended to, "Actually, you're only half-dead. Tell me where everyone else is. Okay, now you're full-dead." I also enjoyed the introduction of a new character (Miura) and the entire scene with a frog in it.
I plan to continue with this series, so long as my library has the books for me to check out!
I didn't like the water park episode, because of its attitude towards women in swimsuits. I was willing to overlook Jumbo's crush on Asagi (the oldest daughter), because I don't actually know how old they're both supposed to be. But then Fuuka (the middle daughter) made a point to show off her figure to prove that she was worthy of having an older man ogle at her, and that made me very uncomfortable. It's one of those cases where I don't blame the characters individually, but instead direct my anger towards the person who wrote them that way. It's such an insidious trend in modern culture (rating teenaged girls bodies when they're in swimsuits), so it's frustrating to see that in a series I turn to for lighthearted comedy.
The other chapters in this volume are nice, though. I especially enjoyed "Vengeance," where Yotsuba goes around attacking her friends with a water gun. I like the childlike logic of, "You're dead; you can't talk!" immediately being amended to, "Actually, you're only half-dead. Tell me where everyone else is. Okay, now you're full-dead." I also enjoyed the introduction of a new character (Miura) and the entire scene with a frog in it.
I plan to continue with this series, so long as my library has the books for me to check out!