365 Days of Manga, Day 23: Family Complex

FAMILY COMPLEX (ファミリー・コンプレックス) • Mikiyo Tsuda • DMP (2008) • Shinshokan (South, 1999-2000) • Bishonen Comedy • 1 volume • 13+ (sexual situations)
The Sakamoto family has unusual issues: everyone is drop-dead gorgeous, with the exception of the youngest brother Akira, who’s just average. Each chapter is told from the perspective of a different Sakamoto–insecure Akira, genderless Natsuru, handsome Harumi, withdrawn 10-year-old Fuyuki–as they deal with constantly being fawned over, stalked by perverts and flashers, and (in Akira’s case) living in the shadow of the others. Tsuda’s plain art (you’ll have to take her word for it that the Sakamotos are good-looking) does little with the thin concept and frankly unsympathetic characters. The story takes place in the same universe as Tsuda’s Princess Princess and The Day of Revolution.
* 1/2 (one and a half stars)
Tsuda’s work leaves me cold. (Sorry Stevie.) I always come to each new series wanting to like it, but her characters act like they’re on life support, their systems nearly in flatline, barely mustering the energy to care about anything. I prefer manga which is more dramatic, more spirited, more emotional. (There’s an article here somewhere…)
Today’s winner is Noel R. of Florida! Congratulations, Noel! We also have another photo of a winner — J. Castro! Here is his photo!

You can see the rest of his post here. Thanks for entering, J.! I hope you like Suzuka, the manga. And I hope everyone likes seeing the truth that “365 Days of Manga” winners are real people, it’s notl a scam like the lottery in George Orwell’s “1984″ where the winners don’t exist. We guarantee that every winner is a living human being and not a persocom or a boomer or a replicant or a spambot! Although perhaps perosocoms are even now entering the contest, trying desperately to be accepted as human beings? I hope not. See you tomorrow on 365 Days of Manga!