wick created a topic of Kill Me Now

It feels more like a work of art than a storytelling medium. Normally I wouldn’t like it when an artist pays no attention to background/setting, but it works really well considering how masterfully the characters are drawn and framed. I love the grayscale with an accent colour, and I love the way there’s attention drawn to the characters and their psychologies. Since that is the focus of the story, the lack of background doesn’t bother me at all. It’s very sensual and ‘mysterious’ as well, I like the dialogue and how a lot of things are left unspoken for the reader to interpret. I think in general I don’t like it when an author assumes their audience is stupid and doesn’t leave things up for interpretation, which I don’t get from this at all. I might be a little biased because I have a total crush on hot women, so take my opinion with a grain of salt, lmao.

wick created a topic of Codename Anastasia

I didn’t like the characters from the beginning, but I stayed around for the plot, which I thought was interesting. There’s an overcommitment to making Zhenya the “cool guy” that just makes him look like an asshole. There are ways of being unbothered and cool without being invasive and a dick. I still like the plot, though, the elusiveness of Anastasia is actually what keeps me around. I sense a plot twist about what the “weapon” may actually be. The art is okay, you can tell that the author has not a lot of love for settings and backgrounds (which is fine), there’s a lot of focus on the characters instead. Truthfully I don’t know how much longer I can stand Zhenya. His behaviour is unlikeable and I grow very tired of authors trying and failing to make a character cool, because they end up making them a total douchebag instead

wick add manga to list summer nostalgia

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  • Author: Kakki,Hwoal
  • Genres: Webtoons / Shounen Ai / Historical / Mystery

The plot isn’t exactly suited to the list, but it has a wonderful atmosphere that comes across really well with the art and usage of color. It’s beautiful and pays attention to the setting and scenery instead of focusing on characters and dialogue. You really get a sense of context for the story. I love the setting and the way it’s drawn, and I feel like the correlation between summer and youth is depicted really well. 4/5

wick created a topic of Count Tachibana

despite the formatting issues, you can tell this is really carefully and lovingly written. I like the attention to detail with being historically accurate, the small additions of resistance against Japan’s colonization of Korea is not the main focus but its existence adds another layer of complexity that constitutes an interesting setting and context. I find the art very appealing. It has a summery atmosphere and the colors are vivid, which I’d normally think was unsuitable for the tone/plot, but manages to work really well. In the most recent chapters the sense of urgency was translated really well, the author is pretty good at setting the mood of scenes. I don’t really have any criticisms of the plot so far, it feels a little too early to have an opinion. It’s still a great start, though, and I’m hoping it keeps going in this direction.

wick created a topic of My Dear Lass

I really like how the art compliments the way the story is told. It’s very soft and dreamy in a way that makes me think of picture books and bedtime stories from childhood. I love the kind of romance that is a little gentler and more hesitant that comes across really well in this. I’m just so charmed by the overall atmosphere and vibes, the characters are sweet, and there’s a kind of longing to experience this kind of falling in love. It tugs more and more at my heartstrings as I read. I really like it

wick created a topic of Northranger

I can always appreciate something made with good intentions and a genuine desire to tell a good story, but it is just so cliche and the whole thing feels like a giant anti-bigotry advertisement for preteens. The characters are given whole speeches preaching equality in a way that wasn’t just unrealistic, but made me cringe so hard my teeth nearly fell out. I don’t like feeling as if a story is trying to teach me a lesson, which this one made abundantly clear over and over again. It probably could’ve had something when it came to the plot, but the characters were utterly unlikeable, and the dialogue was ridiculous. There are ways of pointing out bigotry and making social comments against it without shoving it in the audience’s face like the author is assuming their readers are idiots that can’t interpret subtext. Overall it feels childish and cliche. Just my opinion, obviously, but not worth reading unless you want to feel like someone is preaching about anti-bigotry to you for 30 minutes. To each their own.

wick created a topic of ENNEAD

I have to admit I don’t care for the romance in this, but I’m much more interested in the ancient Egyptian mythology and culture, as well as much more humanized gods. I found the title interesting, as it seems like a reference to Vergil’s Aeneid (also translates to Ennead), which is about the founding of Rome. The Aeneid is essentially about Roman supremacy, and is very critical(/racist) of the Egyptian culture, which I found strange considering the story is literally about the Egyptian gods. I liked the stylistic choice to make the anthropomorphic gods ‘wear’ their respective animal heads instead of actually being anthropomorphic, and I’m a little bit in love with the character design of the sun goddess. I’m hoping that the title Ennead implies that there might be at some point an inclusion of the Roman gods, even though that’s probably just a stretch. I think it would be really cool to see another ‘cast’ of gods, just because I love the artist’s design of the Egyptian ones. Unfortunately I can’t be bothered with the romance, but I’m so in love with the execution of the idea and all of the art/design choices in the story.

wick created a topic of Love Thy Neighbor

It’s impressive how the author can take a cliche and unrealistic premise and make it unique and believable. I never liked the concept of letting a stranger live inside your house as the start of a romance, but somehow it works. There is focus on the interpersonal relationships as well as the plot itself without favoring one or the other. I find the characters very dimensional and require effort to understand, which is a nice change of pace from most romances that rely on the relationship instead of the individuals. I thought the title was inspired as well. It’s really well written.

wick created a topic of SMILE

I actually liked the quality of the art and how nearly every panel went into extreme detail. It had great use of lighting and color that showed the artist is very adept and knowledgeable about art, I really loved the scenery and every panel that focused on landscape (I felt the human figures were a little stiff, but that’s just me nitpicking). I was really taken aback when reading the afterword by the author, and the statement that they “hoped there was something more than just sex between gay couples.” The plot itself was typical, but relatively realistic and pretty heartfelt, so I was completely surprised to see the author was pretty much under the assumption that gay couples were fetish content. It kind of left a bad taste in my mouth after I read it, which is a shame, because it genuinely had a lot of good things about it. I understand the intentions were to demonstrate feelings and non-sexual attraction, but it feels crazy for the author to assume that this is an exception (or uncommon). It’s okay if you liked the story, it is pretty good. I just find myself disappointed by the author’s preconceptions.

wick created a topic of Itsuwari no Marigold

it’s a unique and bittersweet story. There’s something really heart-wrenching about taking your brother’s place and leaving your own identity behind for the sake of another person. It’s a beautiful concept, setting, and general atmosphere, I find the small elements of a woman’s role during the time period and how it affects the main character to be very interesting as well. It’s very ambitious to make it clear from the beginning that the story will most likely not have a happy ending. I’m still not discouraged from following along to see how it goes.

wick created a topic of Immoral Parody

there’s already a certain moral dilemma that offers really interesting insight into both characters; I imagine it must feel horrible to sleep with the daughter of the person you indirectly killed, and vice versa. Right from the start, the element of guilt and unwanted pleasure from such an awful moral situation is an inspired way to keep the reader hooked (that is, in my experience). I do like ethical gray areas in stories - I don’t like immorality for the sake of making an “evil” character more evil, but as the consequences of real feelings and actions. I’m looking forward to seeing how this develops

it feels as if the story doesn’t know whether or not to commit to focusing on a romance or on a plot. I found the beginning to be pretty interesting, there was an effort to immerse the reader in the world and focused on small details like the method of telling time and the currency which I really enjoyed. As for the romance, I thought using sexual intimacy as a “cure” for magic sickness was not just incredibly lazy, but unromantic. It feels as an easy segue into a relationship, but not one I can get invested in at all. I’m certain there are hundreds of other options that the author could come up with that would cure magic sickness in a way that’s much more romantic than essentially meaningless sex. I really like the concept and the world building, I just wish the romance was different from the beginning. I find it hard to get invested now that it started in a way that feels off.

wick add manga to list summer nostalgia

"It seems like I'd like someone like you.""You're really like a little pony...

  • Author: 特雷西胡
  • Genres: Yuri / Shoujo Ai / Romance / Slice Of Life

It has a lovely, beautifully summery feel to the whole thing that’s expressed really well through the washed watercolor style. I love the attention to the atmosphere. I feel like the art contributes to the tentative nature of this type of romance, it’s lighthearted and airy and just generally pleasant to look at. It’s also quite cute and heartwarming. 4/5

wick created a topic of A Second Goodbye to You.

Since murder-mystery type stories aren’t exactly my topic of expertise, I don’t know if I’m qualified to give an objective review, but I’m really impressed by this. There’s an element of horror and a general unsettling feeling that’s portrayed well without being over the top. I’d normally be put off by a sense of cliche, but at no point did I feel that way. The tone shift from what looked like a typical beginning into a murder mystery was really expertly done, in my opinion (I confess I didn’t read the tags or anything, so it took me by complete surprise). I’ve never been able to entirely predict what would happen next, which I like. I also find the obsessively artistic theme to be very interesting; there is a certain desperation that comes with making art that “matters,” and I thought using one’s own blood to paint was an extremely effective way of showing that desperation. It’s really well done, and I’m looking forward to the ending

wick add manga to list summer nostalgia

After recently moving to Onomichi, Hiroshima, high school student Tasuku Kaname is thrown into despa...

  • Author: kamatani yuhki,Kamatani Yuuki
  • Genres: Drama / seinen / Romance / Seinen / Slice Of Life

Although it does have elements of what’s typical in this list, it is much more. Realistic exploration of feelings and interpersonal relationships, illustrated in a very dreamy and beautiful way. Not packed with action, but still engaging and dimensional when it comes to thoughts and dialogue. I do get a certain nostalgic sadness throughout that really makes it for me. 5/5

wick add manga to list summer nostalgia

Koyukiya used to follow the chapters of the Tankoubon while I’ll follow the Magazine. There is...

  • Author: Tagura Tohru
  • Genres: School Life / Shounen Ai / Slice of Life

It’s paced in a way that feels incredibly realistic. The love-at-first-sight that you often see in romances are a very tired trope (in my opinion), and it’s really nice to read something like this that values friendship and non-romantic bonds even though it is a romance. The feeling that it invokes is a little sad (in a good way), and a little nostalgic. I really like it. 4.5/5

wick add manga to list summer nostalgia

When a rumor starts going around about Rikako and the school's notorious bad boy, Fujii, she de...

  • Author: Yoshida Akimi
  • Genres: Drama / Romance / Shoujo Ai / Shounen Ai / Slice of Life

I really like this author, and I’m not normally a fan of the older anime art style, but I find it actually charming in this. It’s romantic and tugs at your heartstrings, I can’t help but feel nostalgic when reading. 4.5/5

wick add manga to list summer nostalgia

Kyoutarou Kasuya is an elite businessman who caused a scandal at his company. As a result, he gets s...

  • Author: Harada
  • Genres: Yaoi / smut / comedy

Not usually my type of thing, but was really drawn to how the author creates the summery atmosphere. The chemistry of the characters is really great, too. It’s also incredibly hilarious. You’d expect it to essentially be porn, but I feel like it’s much more prominently a comedy. 4.5/5

wick add manga to list summer nostalgia

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  • Author: Huangh
  • Genres: Chinese (Traditional) / Webtoons / Shounen ai / Comedy / Romance / Slice of Life Chinese (Traditional) Webtoons Comedy Romance Slice of Life

The method of storytelling and art style are both eye-catching and unique. Though there doesn’t seem to be an actual overarching plot, I don’t mind at all. It’s cute and pretty lightheartedly funny. 4.5/5

wick add manga to list summer nostalgia

“If only I could be Yousuke’s boyfriend.”I’ve known Yousuke since I was youn...

  • Author: kotarou
  • Genres: Romance / Shounen Ai / School Life

Pretty cute and I think the pining contributes to the nostalgic feeling well. It’s not a particularly unique romance, but the atmosphere makes it much more charming. 4/5