First, I want to echo what I posted in the anime thread this week. Happy Thanksgiving this week to all my fellow US residents. However, that means I am traveling and staying with family this week. Most importantly, I do not have regular access to the internet while I am here (neither a land connection nor a reliable cell connection). So, apologies in advance for my delayed/reduced posting this week.

I discovered a series this week that I have really enjoyed and wanted to share here.

• Oyacocco

I randomly came across this series in the updates page on Mangadex and decided to check it out. The description there is extremely succint:

Oyacocco centers around the relationship between a single dad and his child.

I have really enjoyed what I read so far (up through chapter 5), and thought it could do with perhaps a better synopsis. So, here is my (spoiler-free) take:

Takashi is called back to his hometown, along with his wife, after his father falls ill and is hospitalized. Having left his alcoholic, single father after growing up, Takashi is surprised at the emotions that invade his thoughts as he explores his old hometown and sees his father infirmed. Remembering his turbulent childhood as an adult gives him a different perspective on the relationship with his father, his hometown, and his past.

If you couldn’t tell from my version of the synopsis, prepare for emotions. The artstyle belies the very real and complex emotions being portrayed. One of my favorite things about this series is how the flashbacks are sudden and random, almost like intrusive thoughts. It is exactly like how old memories will come back to me suddenly and without warning sometimes from some kind of trigger. Also, the fact that he is going through all this while with his wife is fantastic. After just a couple chapters, the relationship that these two share is already very special.

Just one of real note this week:

Tensei Daiseijo no Isekai Nonbiri Kikou

Only 6 chapters on MangaDex, but it is available to purchase online in my region and I ended up buying the available chapters. 😊

It’s a super fluffy isekai of the classical overworked OL that gets reincarnated. She becomes a (super OP) saint apprentice that only wants to sleep. Totally relatable. 🫣

I thought A Complicated Sibling Relationship 4-Koma is completed, but it turns out there is a 10-chapter long epilogue. The twists in the epilogue are as wacky as the main story.

I also read the oneshot Tsun na Kanojo to Nashi Togetai which is really cute. In fact, the rest of the mangaka’s work look pretty cute too so I may just check them out. Edit: nah, only this one is good.

And finally, I picked up two series over the past week:

As the Hero’s Mother, I Became an Executive of the Demon King’s Army - It’s spin on isekai is that mother gets transported along with her son and the story focuses on her. It’s not a crazy premise, but it’s different enough to get me interested.

The Villainess Who Came to Marry Into the Frontier Noble’s Household is an Exceptionally Capable Wife, Isn’t She? - It’s a run-of-the-mill story of the MC getting reborn as a side character in villainess otomege world. I shall see how it goes.

Edit:

Almost forgot to mention An Angel’s Love At First Sight. It’s kind of depressing, but wholesome too.

Still busy, still not much happening manga wise. I can however share the latest chapter of A Story About Smoking At The Back Of The Supermarket which bursts with tons of adorable Tayama energy and it’s glorious.

Finished the 4th volume of Char’s Daily Life. I don’t have a copy of volume 5-8, so I’m gonna be paused on that one for a while. It felt a lot like reading Gintama, but with the main cast mostly filled out by people from UC Gundam’s One-Year-War (primarily Zeon characters). Garma and his dad are Buddhist priests. Kycilia got kicked out of her family because she believes she’s a priestess from Dragon Quest. Ramba Ral is a gangster. The important thing here is that as with the characters in Gintama they’re all certified losers except for arguably Sayla, who got dumber but insanely strong. I hadn’t realized this until now, but maybe the author really just wanted her to be Kagura. Lots of puns based on quotes from the original Gundam series.

Started reading Fullmetal Alchemist. I’m about 1.5 volumes in and it’s been fun so far. I was surprised at how short the arc with Nina and Alexander was in the manga; it was only 13 pages from

Even in Brotherhood it feels longer and hits harder. I’ve been enjoying it though. Come to think of it, I’ve got two excellent soundtracks to choose from. I should really listen to those while I read.

Among the stuff I’m keeping up with weekly, Blue Box stood out most this week. I guess I’ve got to avoid spoilers, so all I’ll really say is that the main character really showed us why he’s the main character. I’m definitely looking forward to next week.

Just finished the Evangelion manga recently.

I actually liked how it follows most of the original Evangelion but less tragic. It gave some important moments to the each of the cast members but the changes aren’t nearly as drastic as Evangelion Rebuild I think.

Between all the Evangelion endings, I still like The End of Evangelion the most. After reading the manga, somehow I kind of appreciate the tragedy in EoE more. I can’t imagine anyone walked out of the theater with a happy face during the original run lol

Now, to satisfy my unending thirst for Evangelion, I shall read Shinji Ikari Raising Project.