Komi Can't Communicate

The manga ended this week but there's a final 500th chapter coming in the volume, but I won't be able to read that, so I'm writing my review now. This manga is full of wacky, kooky characters. It becomes bigger than it feels like it will be when you read the premise. There's something for everyone and sometimes something that's not for everyone, but I appreciate the mangaka's commitment to creating so many different and unique characters for a premise that could be boring and pedestrian if other mangaka tried to write it. It was fun to meet all the weirdoes and watch them maturethroughout high school together. That said, this is also why I marked my review as mixed feelings because I think people who have trouble with characters that have questionable quirks might not like some of the characters or how they're presented in the story. That said, the story is interesting, but I think the anime has a better way of approaching the presentation. The manga is cute though and worth the read. If you liked the anime, the magna is definitely worth checking out. If you're looking for a cast of wholesome characters that aren't too weird, then you might be disappointed.

I want to note that despite my "6" rating, I do think the series was fun when I started to read it. But after a bit of time away, and having to find the 500th chapter online, I have to say it wasn't the BEST romcom I've read. But it does have its strengths. I will be talking about the characters (specifically the main leads), the story, and how it was released during its final year. Starting with the characters, it was fun. The series follows Hitohito Tadano, a guy who starts the series wanting to be "as normal as possible", and Shoko Komi, a characterknown in the series as "the most beautiful girl in the school". Their dynamic shines through in the first chapter, where Tadano learns that Komi has a communication disorder that makes it hard for her to speak. But this idea gets thrown out by the end of their second year, as Komi starts to speak. BUT this makes their dynamic "interesting," but I think that it ruins it a little bit. Not out of a "knight helping a damsel" sort of thing. But it's because I do think that this could have worked better if this had been done more gradually. But to give credit where credit is due, it did make their dynamic less boring. In terms of the story, it's where I think it loses the most points. This is mostly because it was a series that went from day one of their high school experience to their senior year of high school. (There's also the fact that in chapter 500, Komi and Tadano are in Uni, but we don't see enough of this to let me judge.) As the series progresses, Tadano and Komi have gone from friends to romantic partners as they help Komi get a total of 100 friends. I think that the goal of 100 friends is interesting. But the reason why this makes me feel like it hurts the series is just because of how it feels like it could have been a more "grand" goal. Not to say that the goal is "bad' just because of it. Buy it could be grander. Within the final year, there were a few weeks that released two or even three chapters. This could have happened during previous years, but I only got around to reading it through the last year of serialization. This was what made me knock down the series from a 7 or even an 8 to a 6. The two or the chapter weeks were short chapters. I don't hate the idea of short chapters for this sort of series (again, a RomCom), BUT the reason why it dropped so low was because of how I would have enjoyed 1 longer chapter over multiple shorter chapters in a single week. Overall, I enjoyed the series. Would I argue that the series is bad? No, not. I would just say that it's "fine" at best and at worst. Is it for you? Who's to say? But would I recommend it? ONLY if this series sounds like something you'd like. But keep in mind, there's likely better RomComs out there.

Honestly, this manga is just plain impressive. The premise is stated outright early on and follows al the way through to the end, stays consistent, and actually manages to pull a solid series of slice of life stories while doling out character growth to the main cast and somehow managing to make a shocking number of the 100+ side characters at least recognizable after their introductions. The whole cast is frequently weird in a campy, charming way, and the interplay between the huge range of personality types/gimmicks is often surprisingly good and enjoyable to read. It's silly with plenty of hijinks, but it also doesn'tlet that get in the way of choice down to earth, humanizing moments. I can't place how good of a depiction of social anxiety or communication disorders it is, but what I can say is that if you read Komi (and honestly a bunch of the rest of the cast) as autistic, then everything starts making quite a bit of sense (after the buy-in to the silliness of the universe, of course). It's fun, silly, charming, heartwarming, sad, and altogether a celebration of the oddities that make us human. It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it's a solid read for just about anyone who grew up being just a little weird.

Komi-san is a really great series by Tomohito Oda as it conveys a lot of hassle when trying to befriend someone, the main character is a person that has a difficulty communicating, she doesn't have any friends in middle school, despite being a school beauty that everyone is adoring. I first watched the anime, and then got hooked so I read the manga. This is one of the best romantic sub-plot manga in my opinion, the main goal is not to become a thing with Tadano, it's to get 100 friends, because of this every characters in this manga is unique, they have their ownpersonalities and hurdles in live. Though, when the time is right, the romance aspect of this manga could get really good, it's the type of manga where you don't see progress often but when you do you'll love it! It's romance done right. Give this manga a read, 500 chapters might seem a lot, but it's packed with a lot of stories, 3 years of high school in Komi-san felt longer.