Another year has passed. I’m starting to discover the older I get, the more my tastes change. (Which is not a profound statement in the slightest; it’s just a simple fact of life.) Taste in fashion, taste in movies, taste in music, and of course, taste in manga.
But rather than grow more refined, it seems my tastes are all over the board. Last year, I started to realize that, at 28 years old, I’m definitely not the target demographic for a lot of the major series that are all over social media (read: series for kids). And honestly, that’s fine.
There’s a freedom that comes with age. I no longer feel confined sticking to one genre or pressured about reading certain things just because everyone else does. The world of manga is huge! Why limit myself? Plus, keeping up with all the discourse in the manga community about popular series can be exhausting. And I’m tired 24/7 as it is.
All that said, in 2022, I took the initiative to read manga that I simply thought looked cool. That’s it. There was no higher level thought involved; I’d just go to the bookstore or shop online for anything that seemed remotely entertaining. Here’s what I found!
Penguin & House
Author: Akiho Ieda
Publisher: Kodansha Comics
Age Rating: All ages
What’s it about? Pen the Penguin lives with his friend, Hayakawa the Human. Though they can’t exactly talk to each other, Pen expresses his appreciation for Hayakawa by taking over the household duties. Ever wanted to see a penguin carry a shopping basket and buy meat at the supermarket? This manga is for you.
What did I think? This is a prime contender for what I like to call the “animal roommate” manga category. Penguin & House reminds me of Gal & Dino and The Gorgeous Life of Strawberry-chan in that a cartoonishly cute creature takes center stage.
Pen is a lovable character that I want to cuddle and squish out of joy. I mean look at his face; who wouldn’t want to?! I nearly cried for Pen whenever he’d try and do something nice for Hayakawa, only for his efforts to go unnoticed. Hayakawa, you’re taking Pen for granted!
My Love Mix-Up!
Author: Wataru Hinekure (story) & Aruko (art)
Publisher: Shojo Beat
Age Rating: 13+
What’s it about? A brilliant romantic comedy begins because of a misunderstanding! Aoki has a crush on Hashimoto, the girl who sits next to him in class. He thinks he has a chance until he borrows her eraser and notices she wrote another boy’s name on it. That boy, Ida, then sees Aoki holding the eraser and thinks he has a crush on him. What is happening?!
What did I think? First off, I love Aruko, so anything she’s worked on is an instant buy. Her art style is so expressive and fun! As for the story, I’m glad that the drama wasn’t sparked by anything malicious. Rather, it was just about people being WAY too considerate to one another, which is much more interesting to me.
The reveal at the end of volume one is what really sold the series for me. If you read it, you know what I’m talking about. Poor Aoki, no matter what happens, I’m cheering you on!
See You Tomorrow at the Food Court
Author: Shinichiro Nariie
Publisher: Yen Press
Age Rating: 13+
What’s it about? Perceived unfairly by their classmates as a stuck-up honor student and a flashy gyaru, Wada and Yamamoto are unlikely friends. Every day after school, they meet at a mall food court to unload about school gossip, internet drama, and mobile games.
What did I think? Although a relatively short read at just 15 chapters, See You Tomorrow at the Food Court has a lot of personality. Wada and Yamamoto are two very distinct yet relatable characters that I think readers will find appealing. I especially sympathized with Wada as she struggled to pull an SSR character on her gacha game.
Plus, the interactions between them feel genuine. At times, it feels like you’re sitting right there next to them listening to whatever crazy story Wada’s trying to tell. That said, this manga is dialogue heavy, so be prepared for speech bubbles galore.
The Dangers in My Heart
Author: Norio Sakurai
Publisher: Seven Seas Entertainment
Age Rating: 13+
What’s it about? Kyotaro Ichikawa thinks of himself as an outcast. He spends his time daydreaming about all the dark things he’d do to his peers, especially the most popular girl in his class, Anna Yamada. But she’s not as normal as she seems! Will they become friends?
What did I think? I LOVED this manga! I ordered all the volumes as soon as I finished the first one. Norio Sakurai’s cartoonish artwork, especially her comic depictions of Anna scarfing down snacks, really stood out to me.
Ichikawa is precious. He feels so refreshing from other “edgy” protagonists out there. He’s actually a really considerate guy once you look past the doom and gloom. I liked seeing him try to solve problems for Yamada and his other classmates in his own weird ways.
The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You
Author: Rikito Nakamura (story) & Yukiko Nozawa (art)
Publisher: Ghost Ship
Age Rating: 15+
What’s it about? When he’s rejected for the 100th time, Rentaro Aijo prays for help, only to grab the attention of a god! Turns out, there’s a soulmate waiting for him—100 soulmates, in fact. Can Rentaro juggle the affections of 100 different girlfriends?
What did I think? This was an absolutely incredible spoof on the harem genre. It’s so bizarre and over-the-top, constantly breaking the fourth wall to make some great jokes. Plus, Rentaro’s relationships with his “girlfriends” is surprisingly wholesome. While the girls get jealous at times (who wouldn’t?), Rentaro does his best to ensure he gives them all equal attention.
I really want to see if this series is daring enough to introduce all 100 girlfriends. Imagine the chaos. Good luck, Rentaro. You’re gonna need it.
Rent-A-(Really Shy!)-Girlfriend
Author: Reiji Miyajima (story and art) & Yuka Kinami (art)
Publisher: Kodansha Comics
Age Rating: 16+
What’s it about? A Rent-a-Girlfriend spin-off! Sumi Sakurasawa has a paralyzing fear of socializing, so much that even ordering a donut is an ordeal. But she wants to change! To face her fears, Sumi becomes a rental girlfriend. After all, there’s no better way to improve her people skills, right? Well…
What did I think? RaRSG gives you the cute antics of the main series’s female cast without Kazuya’s annoying presence. Well, mostly. He does make some appearances, but he’s not nearly as irritating here. (I hate him, if you weren’t aware.) We get to see more of the rental girlfriend world from the women’s perspective, which is neat.
The story does seem repetitive at times: Sumi is put in A Situation, gets flustered, cutely tries to overcome her fears, etc. If you’re a big Sumi fan, need to know more about the RaG universe, or just like the shy girl trope, then you’ll enjoy this series. If not, you might find Sumi’s story a bit lacking.
Devilish Darlings: Portal Fantasy
Author: Minoru Mitsuba
Publisher: Ghost Ship
Age Rating: 17+
What’s it about? Businessman Keitaro finds himself transported to a fantasy world! His first point of contact: Nia, a bubbly half-devil intent on having his children. Will Keitaro fall for Nia’s charms? Will he find his way home? Will he even want to go home after Nia and fellow demon Rosette have their way with him? Find out in this one-volume story!
What did I think? Overall, I thought this was a cute little narrative, even if it was pretty simplistic in plot. But let’s be real, we’re not here for the plot, we’re here for hot demon babes. And we get that and more, including uncensored boobs. Exciting!
Don’t expect to see much else though; Devilish Darlings is tame compared to a lot of ecchi manga on shelves today. (It’s rated 17+ for a reason—no crossing the line into 18+ territory!) This is a good starter book for someone who’s looking for more mature works but doesn’t want to jump right into the deep end.
Sex Ed 120%
Author: Kikiki Tataki (story) & Hotomura (art)
Publisher: Yen Press
Age Rating: 18+
What’s it about? Thinking the current curriculum is lacking, high school health teacher Naoko Tsuji makes it her mission to teach her students the real facts about sex. Each short chapter covers a different aspect of sexual health and wellness with a surprisingly educational flair.
What did I think? I can’t speak for every American student, but my high school’s sex-ed curriculum was laughably inadequate. If I had a teacher like Naoko, maybe I’d have actually learned something.
It’s a shame this series received an 18+ rating and the dreaded parental advisory label, because I think teenagers would benefit from reading it. Younger audiences are exposed to a lot of unrealistic sexual content nowadays, so it’s important that they understand the truths of sexuality and health. Naoko’s lesson are both funny and frank, a winning combination that ensures readers remember what they learn.
JK Haru is a Sex Worker in Another World
Author: Ko Hiratori (story) & J-ta Yamada (art)
Publisher: Ghost Ship
Age Rating: 18+
What’s it about? It starts like any other isekai story: After getting hit by a truck, Haru and her classmate Chiba are transported to another world. In order to survive in this super misogynistic society, Haru begins working in a brothel, while Chiba becomes an overpowered adventurer. The series follows their contrasting lives in this fantasy setting.
What did I think? This is a welcome entry into a genre that doesn’t have the greatest track record for portraying female characters. JK Haru was originally a web novel aimed at female readers, which is clearly reflected in this adaptation. Haru is an incredibly strong character who’s trying her best in a bad situation. As I learned just how far she’d push herself to survive, I couldn’t help but root for her.
Because we’re seeing the world through Haru’s eyes, most of the sex scenes didn’t feel gratuitous or drawn with the sole intent of titillation. There are moments of sexual violence, so if you’re sensitive to that kind of content, it may be best to avoid this series as harassment and assault play a large role in the story.
Kowloon Generic Romance
Author: Jun Mayuzuki
Publisher: Yen Press
Age Rating: 18+
What’s it about? Set in the famous Kowloon Walled City, this series explores the lives of Reiko Kujirai and Hajime Kudou, two real estate agents. Reiko keeps up with Kowloon’s latest trends, while Hajime prefers the city’s nostalgic past. But as days go by, Reiko slowly finds herself falling in love with Hajime, much to her confusion.
What did I think? First off, I love Jun Mayuzuki’s distinct art style. There’s a retro cool feel in the way she draws characters and expressions, which plays well with the manga’s themes of nostalgia and progress.
Now, the story. Like the title suggests, Kowloon is a romance tale, but so much more. Without spoiling anything, there’s a twist at the end of volume one that introduces an unexpected mystery element. I remember getting to the last page and actually saying “WHAT JUST HAPPENED” out loud. Needless to say, I eagerly picked up volume two as soon as it went on sale. This is a series I plan on following until the end!
What manga did you read in 2022? Watch any good anime? Let me know in the comments!
Hakutaku 
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