There are two universal truths in today’s rapidly changing comics industry. The first is that Dog Man is the defining comic of our era. The second is that more people are reading manga and Webtoons (aka vertical scroll comics) than ever before. Therefore we at Comics Beat have chosen to embark on a new venture: Beat’s Bizarre Adventure. Every other week, we’ll have three writers recommend some of their favorite books and series from Japan, Korea and elsewhere. This week we have a villainess struggling to change the narrative, a nanny with a gun, and, for the first time, a prose novel.
Not Your Typical Reincarnation Story
Writer: Lemon Frog
Artist: A-jin
Adaptor: DOYOSAY
Publication: WEBTOON
“Not all villains are evil.” This intriguing concept sets the stage for Suna Choi’s journey in Not Your Typical Reincarnation Story, a captivating webtoon adapted from romance fantasy author Lemon Frog’s eponymous web novel.
Suna is reborn as Edith Rigelhof, the villainess from her favorite novel. Despite her kind intentions, she faces mistrust and hostility, especially from her husband, Killian Rudwick, who is in love with the original protagonist and views Edith as an enemy. The plot thickens as Edith navigates family feuds, love triangles, and the harsh reality of her rival family’s enmity. Her ultimate goal is to break free from the author’s predetermined narrative, a task complicated by mysterious restrictions and conditions she must fulfill without knowing what they are.
Despite a familiar start, Not Your Typical Reincarnation Story is a propulsive read that keeps you wondering what will happen next. The story is akin to Villains Are Destined to Die, emphasizing the heroine’s fight against her predetermined role. The art (courtesy of A-jin) is a feast for lovers of fantasy romance.
What sets this comic apart is its unique twist on the reincarnation trope. Edith’s journey is fraught with challenges, from navigating her husband’s mistrust to deciphering the cryptic conditions that will set her free. This adds a layer of suspense and keeps readers invested in her fate.
However, the story does have drawbacks. Many characters are irritatingly antagonistic, which can make the narrative feel repetitive and exhausting at times. The trope of the female lead falling for a male lead who initially mistreats her might also put some readers off. Despite these flaws, the first season shines in its exploration of Edith’s struggle against fate. Her interactions with Killian, who is torn between his preconceived notions and the reality of Edith’s transformation, add depth to the story. The mystery surrounding the three conditions Edith must fulfill keeps the plot engaging and unpredictable.
Not Your Typical Reincarnation Story is a must-read for fans of isekai and enemies-to-lovers tropes. Its blend of survival, mystery, and emotional complexity will captivate fans of romantic period dramas and reincarnation stories. — Ilgin Side Soysal
The Mafia Nanny
Writer: Violet Matter
Artist: sh00
Platform: WEBTOON
Give Mary Poppins a gun and the mind of a hacking genius and you get Davina from The Mafia Nanny. Written by Violet Matter and illustrated by sh00, The Mafia Nanny follows Davina’s first assignment as a new graduate from The Elite Nanny Academy. She is chosen by the mafia underboss Gabriel Angelini to be the nanny to his son Mikey. Although wary, Davina has no choice but to accept the assignment when she hears Angelini’s name. The Angelini family, after all, is tied to the fire that killed her parents.
The Mafia Nanny is advertised as a romance and the recent chapters have hinted at Davina and Gabriel’s growing attraction to each other. But it wasn’t their romantic tension that hooked me, but the found family trope. Davina and Gabriel both see their younger selves in Mikey. They do not want him to live amidst uncertainty and danger.
The characters and their interactions are the comic’s strong point. Mikey adores his father and wants to be strong enough to one day protect him. While he tries to act older than his age, his obsession with ducks reminds you that Mikey is just a little kid. Gabriel is all business at work, but puts all of his energy outside of it into Mikey (hence “Pool Day.”)
Mikey is standoffish when it comes to Davina; who wouldn’t be if a stranger inserted themselves into your life? But Davina proves to him and Gabriel that she isn’t somebody to mess with. When push comes to shove, she wouldn’t hesitate to lay her life on the line for Mikey. As a result, when he’s with Davina, Mikey feels safe enough to act like a real kid. — Hilary Leung
Kiki’s Delivery Service
Writer: Eiko Kadono
Artist: Akiko Hayashi (First Release), Yuta Onodo (Latest Release)
Translation: Lynne E. Riggs (First Release), Emily Balistrieri (Latest Release)
Publisher: Annick Press (First Release), Yearling Books (Latest Release)
Studio Ghibli’s film Kiki’s Delivery Service needs no introduction. What I present to you here, though, is the original story strung from the mind of Eiko Kadono. It is very different from the version we are all familiar with.
In both the novel and the film, Kiki travels to a new town to define herself as a witch. Where the novel differs is that each chapter follows Kiki and her cat Jiji dealing with a new delivery or problem over the course of a year. Kiki meets the people in her town, makes friends and enemies, and learns to cope with loneliness and adolescence. It’s an anthology of stories told in chronological order and organized around Kiki’s personal growth.
Tombo’s role in the book is a bit different, as is Ursula’s. Her and Jiji’s adventures range from fantastically whimsical to more down to Earth. Sometimes they are quite sad. All of them, though, are a joy. I had such a delightful time with Kiki’s Delivery Service that I read it all in one sitting. I don’t want to spoil the fun by giving too much away if you have only seen the film. There’s a lot to discover here if you’re willing to give it a chance.
Annick Press released the first English edition run of Kiki’s Delivery Service in the early 2000s, with the lovely cover art that you see above by John Perlock. It retained the original 80s internal illustrations by Akiko Hayashi. Eventually that went out of print. But in the early 2020s, a new edition was published stateside with art from Yuta Onodo and an updated translation. The version in print today is from Yearling Books. It’s also available as an audiobook.
There are eight other books in this series, with the latest one coming out in Japan in 2022. Unfortunately, only the first of these has been published in the United States. Thankfully it tells a complete story. By the time I finished it I didn’t feel like I needed more, though I would love to read them. — Derrick Crow
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