365 Days of Manga, Day 210: Missile Happy!

MISSILE HAPPY! • Miki Kiritani • Tokyopop • 13+
Mikako Saeki, a third-year middle-school student, learns that her big sister has met with a prospective marriage partner. Feeling protective, she concocts a plan to move in with him to check him out, only to discover that he is Rou Kitajima, a handsome young man only two years older than she is! Love blossoms, the big sister finds somebody else, and Mikako and Rou end up as a couple, although apparently they only kiss once in their first five months of living together. A young girl’s fantasy about how great it would be to grow up and married right away without having to wait, Missile Happy reads like a PG-rated Harlequin romance novel. (Heroine: “It’s doomed because I found the one I want at age 15?” Big Sister: “It’s not wrong to know at 15–it’s amazing!”) The story reads as if it was written as a one-shot and subsequently dragged out past its logical conclusion; there is no drama, and the chief obstacle to the heroes is Rou’s father’s disapproval. (Rou’s dad wants him to become CEO of the family business, but Rou wants to become a medical doctor–what a rebel!) Meanwhile, Mikako spends her time looking for good luck charms to help Rou make it into college. The art is nice, but the story is a chore to read. (Review by Jason Thompson – originally printed in Otaku USA magazine. This review is based on only the first volume of the series.)

After much airline peril and complications, I’m back from my trip overseas and ready to resume 365 Days of Manga! Thanks to everyone for your patience!
While I was gone, I set the reviews to auto-update, but I wasn’t able to reveal the really important thing: the contest winners. Now, to the shock and surprise of all assembled, I will reveal the lucky soon-to-be-recipients of… MANGA. Gentlemen are advised to hold their monocles in place and ladies to prop themselves up by their hoop skirts lest they swoon in excitement.
* Jason K. of Wisconsin
* Robert C. of Pennsylvania
* Teresa D. of California
* Brittany F. of Arizona
* Matt G. of Florida
* Andrew W. of Utah
* Erik S. of Michigan
* Mekaela S. of California
* Diane A. of New York
Congratulations, everybody! Sorry I have to call you out all in a big mass, but I’ll be sending you your manga ASAP, so I hope it’s cool. And now for more reviews to get us caught up!