Blue Box, Vol. 2 | By Kouji Miura | VIZ Media – Blue Box continues to strike a great balance between being a sports manga and being a romance. In this volume, Taiki is paired with Haryu-sempai for doubles and they end up doing well enough together and separately at the prefectural qualifiers to advance in their journey to nationals. Haryu has a manipulative side, but he also makes a point of complimenting Taiki’s work ethic and overall potential in Chinatsu’s presence. Taiki’s other friends do their part to help his romantic prospects, as well. His friend Hina, in particular, is emerging to be my favorite character, as she’s doing her best to root for him, but the more it seems like he and Chinatsu could really have something special, the lonelier she feels. She’s on her own journey to nationals, and I hope we see more of that going forward! – Michelle Smith
The Fox and the Little Tanuki, Vol. 1 | By Mi Tagawa | Tokyopop – It’s not hard to see why Tokyopop licensed this charming, kid-friendly title; though it isn’t a Disney property, it has a lot in common with Bambi and The Fox and the Hound, right down to its button-cute cast of talking animals. The story focuses on the improbable relationship between Senzou, an ancient fox demon, and Manpachi, a baby tanuki, who—natch—are temperamental opposites. Though it’s not hard for an adult to see how their dynamic will evolve over time, the story offers enough twists and tear-jerking moments to keep readers invested in this oddball relationship, especially as Manpachi struggles with the realization that his birth family has rejected him for being different. The illustrations are another plus, as artist Mi Tagawa has a flair for drawing expressive animal faces; I dare you not to sniffle when Manpachi pines for his mother. – Katherine Dacey
Hello, Melancholic!, Vol. 3 | By Yayoi Ohsawa | Seven Seas – In this final volume, Minato and Hibiki officially become a couple, but not before Hibiki pushes Minato into checking out a civic brass band that has attempted to recruit her, resulting in a bit of a squabble. Minato’s gotten better at being open about her feelings, but now it’s Hibiki’s turn to stop trying to steer Minato in the direction she’d like their relationship to go and just be honest herself. After this breakthrough, it’s a whirlwind, as Hibiki graduates, Minato’s third year happens off camera, and then they reunite at college. This series has been cute and pleasant throughout but I’m a little dazed and confused that it’s over so soon, particularly with the Sakiko and Chika relationship, which featured so prominently in volume two, still in its uncertain state. Oh well. Still recommended. – Michelle Smith
Kubo Won’t Let Me Be Invisible, Vol. 5 | By Nene Yukimori | Viz Media – Shiraishi is coming along. Slowly. That said, his face is still just a blank most of the time, because that’s what his character is, so there’s no denying that it’s more fun watching Kubo’s expressions. Whether she’s panicking imagining that another girl might possibly hang out with Shiraishi, or deeply traumatized when Shiraishi, in the mall with his brother, sees her buying a sexy bra. She also meets his mom, who clearly seems to love her, and we all know that it’s only the series’ popularity that is preventing them from hooking up. Heck, the series even has an anime currently running… except it’s been pushed back to April due to COVID-19. Luckily, we still have the manga. – Sean Gaffney
Toradora! Vol. 10 | By Yuyuko Takemiya and Zekkyo | Published by Seven Seas – Well, it’s been two and a half years, clearly it’s time for the next volume of the slowest-releasing adaptation ever. We are deeply in the ‘dramatic’ part of the series, with humor kept to a minimum, though there is at least some, as everyone tries to hide in the closet to avoid Ami and Minori’s confrontation. I feel bad for Ami here, who does not really have any problem-solving settings beyond “be a bitch till the problem is solved,” and that’s just not going to work here. As for Taiga and Ryuuji, he at least now knows she loves him, but has no emotional capacity to deal with it, and should be worried more about college, and how to afford it. Come on, just read the LNs. Don’t wait three more years. – Sean Gaffney
The Two of Them Are Pretty Much Like This, Vol. 2 | By Takashi Ikeda| Seven Seas – There’s not a lot of what you’d call forward movement here—this is a vibe manga. We do see Wako getting a decent-sized voice acting role, and the scenes where she tries to do publicity and not freak out or screw up are fun. She also meets her co-stars, who are in a fake relationship, which interests Wako greatly, given that she’s in a real relationship with Ellie. Ellie, meanwhile, has some lunch/dinner talks with another friend of hers who is clearly massively crushing on her but unwilling to do something about it given that Ellie is happy. Ellie even finds her neighbor is a huge fan of her work… her BL doujinshi work, that is. This is so relaxed and fun to read. I love it. – Sean Gaffney