365 Days of Manga, Day 362: Bound Beauty

BOUND BEAUTY • Mick Takeuchi • Go! Comi • 13+
Chiyako Goto was born with the power to see the “red threads” connecting people with their true love. Then one day she meets three handsome teenagers who explain that there are other kinds of threads; the “five colored threads” are based on the Five Chinese Elements (wood, water, fire, earth and metal), and the three guys—and Chiyako—are magicians, “tyers” who can manipulate these strings of fate. But in order to access the power, they must give up the thing they most desire, and oh no! What Chiyako most wants is to be an independent adult, so in return for gaining the power to manipulate threads and fight ghosts, she shrinks into a little girl who can trustingly fall asleep in the arms of the guy she likes. Mick Takeuchi (Her Majesty’s Dog) draws and writes well; her heroine is likeable, the monsters are creepy and the fight scenes are intense for shojo manga. On the downside, there’s too much exposition about how the characters’ powers work, and the male characters are all stereotypes, as much as the giggly women in any men’s harem manga. Nonetheless, Takeuchi’s art skills make it an entertaining take on the occcult romance formula. (This review of Bound Beauty volume 1 was originally printed in Otaku USA magazine.)
** 1/2 (two and a half stars)
Today’s winner is Jessica C. of Iowa. Congratulations, Jessica!

This small but functional photo was sent by C. Davila. Sorry it took so long for me to get it online! I’ll be sending you your new manga soon!