Title: Mieruko-chan Vol. 1
Author: Tomoki Izumi
Publisher: Yen Press
Language: English
Format: Paperback
Pages: 146
Genre: Sci-Fi, Supernatural, Horror
Publication Date: November 17, 2020
The Story
Mieruko-chan is a manga by newcomer Tomoki Izumi whose only other work thus far was a 2-chapter manga known as Gemini. Judging by that work and this one, it is safe to say that Tomoki Izumi is a fan of horror!
As for Mieruko-chan, for a first volume, there really isn’t much to describe about the story. It follows a girl named Miko who can see the dead. It follows her throughout the day as she encounters the dead everywhere she goes. Her well-endowed friend Hana is along for the ride but she can’t see the things that Miko can.
That’s it. That’s all there is to the story.
While it doesn’t seem like much on the surface, the situations that Miko finds herself in are rather interesting. You get to see how just normal, everyday tasks can be interrupted or can become quite the chore thanks to the presence of the dead. Everything from going shopping, to getting butt buns to eat (yes, I said butt buns), to trying to find a home for a stray cat… all of it is haunted by the dead that follows Miko everywhere. Even school life is rather hectic as they haunt her during class, in the changing room, the infirmary, and all places in between.
However, I won’t lie. It was starting to get old pretty fast. The first volume was just page after page after page of the same thing happening in different situations. All the while, you wondered if she were going to acknowledge the dead, speak to them, etc. but she doesn’t. While it was interesting, I was wondering if there was going to be some sort of hook to keep this from being quite the mundane first volume.
Then the ending hit. It wasn’t something I was expecting to happen and while it didn’t really change anything as far as what Miko does, it ended up putting a huge spin on the whole perspective of things. The ending really put this volume over the top and it gives you a sense that things are going to change and get way more interesting as time goes on. So, while the story was rather weak in the introductory volume, it received a huge boost in the end that really spoke to the potential that this series has!
The Characters
Miko is just your average high school teenage girl. The only difference is that she can see the dead and she tries her best to ignore it. Sometimes, she’ll fake things such as having anemia, or some other excuse to explain her reasons for doing some things or hastily having to make an exit. Her character truly paints a picture of one who is trying her best to be normal but the dead are making it really hard for her to do so. She also doesn’t know how all of this came to be as it just started happening one day; however, once you read the ending to the manga, you can kind of get a sense of how it all started and what might be the catalyst for it.
That alone makes her an interesting character because it could open up a deep part of her psyche that makes her really stand out. I see a lot of potential with Miko and I can tell that things are only going to get interesting from here on out!
Hana is an amazing character. She’s busty in both her chest and her attitude. She doesn’t really seem shy about anything and comes off like a real tomboy. She’s always happy and positive which is then accentuated when the two of them go see a fortune teller and she sees a massive and bright aura surrounding Hana. This also makes her a huge attraction for the dead and it leads to some pretty hilarious (yet creepy) moments where the dead are clinging to her body and fondling her all over. Hana has no idea it’s happening, though as she can’t see, hear, or feel the dead. Miko can, though, and those are some of the moments where she’s kind of freaked out and realizes she needs to get Hana away from wherever she is. Still, Hana and Miko share a pretty strong bond and it makes you wonder if Miko will confess her secret to her one day.
Lastly, we have Kyousuke… Miko’s younger brother. There really is nothing special to him at all. He’s just a typical younger brother who is a bit on the sarcastic side but also seems pretty normal. He does get a bit jealous when he misunderstands a rumor about Miko finding a boyfriend. He swears that he’ll protect her which shows that he has a bit of a noble side to him as well. He’s a nice all-around character but really lacks anything that makes him stand out… for now.
Final Thoughts
This was a really interesting first volume! One of the things I’m sure people are wondering about is the art style. From the cover, this looks like your typical shounen style in which you wouldn’t be wrong. Your main cast of characters definitely has that young, shounen vibe to them but that’s where the comparison stops. When it comes to the artwork surrounding the dead, Tomoki Izumi really shows his skills as an artist.
The artwork for the dead is highly detailed, imaginative, creepy, and (dare I say) on the level of Junji Ito. It is such a stark contrast to the way everything else is drawn but, at the same time, it meshes together so well! It’s because it stands out that it forces you to draw your attention to it and makes you admire the craftsmanship that went into creating all of these dead characters.
So far, Mieruko-chan starts off pretty interesting but gets super repetitive fast. Hana really does a great job of keeping things interesting and just when you thought that this was going to get stale fast, the ending hits and puts a whole new perspective on things and really opens up a door to a ton of possibilities. I would say give this one a read and stick with it to the end. At 146 pages, it is a bit shorter than a typical manga volume but despite the repetitiveness, it does a great job of holding your attention. I can see this manga getting really good, really fast so I believe this is one series you may not want to pass up on!
Be sure to follow me on Twitter @JJPiedraTOH
You can also check out other The Outerhaven reviews on your favorite social media networks:
Subscribe to us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/theouterhaven
Subscribe to us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheOuterHaven
Subscribe to us on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/theouterhavennet
This item was provided for review by Yen Press
