Manga Maniac Cafe For the Geek in all of us

Title:  Nosatsu Junkie Vol 4

Author:  Ryoko Fukuyama

Publisher:  TOKYOPOP

ISBN:  9781598166576

May Contain Spoilers

Naka and Umi find their careers taking different paths, as Naka is dropped by Junk after bombing an interview.  Instead, she accepts a job with Tsutsumi, and makes plans for a month long photo shoot with him in Okinawa.  While she’s off working on the photo collection, Umi is meeting his new partner for Junk, Mihane, who is also Tsutsumi’s ex-girlfriend!  Pretty soon, both Umi and Naka are struggling to stay focused on their work, distracted by thoughts of what the other is doing with their new partners. 

This is such a fun series.  Naka is a spaz, and she’s even worse now that she realizes that she likes Umi.  Ryoko Fukuyama has really given her a unique personality, as Naka stammers painfully from one panel to the next.  She is so hyper, and her killer mug isn’t the least of her problems.  Her ability to stay focused on her work, put Umi out of her mind, and not suffer from a heart attack are probably greater hurtles for her to overcome.

Umi, veteran model that he is, is having a tough time, too.  Still in disbelief that he’s fallen for Naka, now he’s consumed with jealousy every time he sees her with Tsutsumi.  With her off in Okinawa with the photographer, he’s just beside himself.  These glimpses of Umi’s inner turmoil are just as entertaining as Naka’s excitable antics.

Tsutsumi is turning out to be an interesting character.  He’s jealous of Umi because Naka only has eyes for Umi, even when they’re nowhere near each other.  On the shoot in Okinawa, Tsutsumi is frustrated because Naka is so distracted by thoughts of Umi.  He wants her complete attention, and he wants her to look at him, with eyes that see only him.  The scene on the beach really made Tsutsumi a more accessible character, and I can hardly wait to find out what happens next. 

 Nosatsu Junkie is a fun, lightning fast read with animated characters and insane situations. It’s gone beyond cross-dressing hijinks to exploring the relationship of two very different individuals, who really have nothing in common.  If Naka hadn’t learned Umi’s secret, he never would have given her a second glance.  Now this shared secret has bound them together.  This is good stuff!

Grade:  B

Rated for Teen 13+