Artist and Artist: Akimoto Aki
Publisher: Yen Press (Print & Digital)
Translation: Eleanor Summers
Lettering: Iranagamin
Publication date: August 26, 2024
Rating: Teen
Genre: Manga (JPN), Lifetime, Action and Adventure, Comedy, Romance
Mechanical Marie by Akimoto is the first manga by a creator to be published in English. It was also recently announced that the anime adaptation will debut in Crunchyroll in the fall of 2025. Therefore, there is no suitable time to become familiar with the source material. Anyway, we all need to read more Shojo Manga!
©Yen Press, 2025
Arthur Louis Zetes hates people. I know some of us can be involved. But he has every reason to be vigilant about them. Others have always approached him with impure motives, as they are Zetes’ conglomerates and heirs of wealth that shock your core. He was relieved when an automaton maid named Marie was assigned as help.
With explosions and combat-powered Army trembling, Marie proves that Arthur needs him the most. catch? Marie is actually a human! She is just an excuse and considered a martial arts genius, but from a disadvantaged background, she is ready to do anything for money. To do that, she becomes a live-in maid slash bodyguard and does her best to guide this secret to her grave.
©Yen Press, 2025
This volume is so high above, but… is it a pleasant way? Wait, don’t close the tab. Let me explain.
Arthur’s unnecessary “fans” are always ready to jump to his throat. Whether he’s going to a seminar, or simply sleeping in bed. There is no moment when he is not in danger and it becomes his “normal.” He was accepted as a result of his position. This volume introduces a number of life-threatening cases that will help build a relationship between Marie and Arthur. She slowly becomes a pioneer of his protection squad, but also a safe haven where he can ultimately drop his guards into its minutes at the end of the day.
Of course, this means more work for Marie. She is eager to continue this job for financial reasons, and then Arthur’s immense disgust towards those who lie makes it impossible to become clean. She can only eat when Arthur gets outside, and she must suppress any reactions that may impart humanity. These situations are the source of humor that I kept turning the pages along with how stupid Arthur is sometimes!
©Yen Press, 2025©Yen Press, 2025
Mechanical marry is familiar, so it’s also comforting. A lead with a secret/unexpected aspect is one of the most basic ratios with so many variations. Mechanical Marie’s disputes or dangers are not dragged over for a long time and are resolved quickly. So, aside from Marie’s secret, the stakes are never too high.
But the chemistry of Arthur and Marie is off the charts even in these early chapters, and they are so funny together that they carry volumes with just these adorable characters. Knowing that the main story is completed in volume 6, you will see that the jokes are not too thin. From what I understand, there is a spinoff to the main story currently being released.
Character designs and panels do a good job of broadcasting comedy tones and highlighting emotional and soft moments when necessary. The panels are mostly backgrounds filled with close-ups of the character’s reactions or actions in which the panels are being made. This isn’t a big miss considering what the series wants to focus on. Animation adaptations may fill those blanks.
©Yen Press, 2025
Mechanical Marie can safely be said to be a sweet take that entertains the path you walked before. But it’s paved like you’re at a street festival full of eye-catching food stalls and funny games, so despite going through it many times, you’re still for fun. And you definitely won’t spend time on these two! I look forward to the next volume that will be available in February next year. But it’s too far from the future! I need time to pass a little earlier!!
I would recommend Mechanical Marie to anyone looking for a relatively short series to invest in. It is a balanced mix of action, fun and romance, offering all readers what they look forward to!
An early copy of Mechanical Mary was provided by Yen Press in exchange for an honest review.
Aki Akimoto’s Machical Marie will be printed digitally from August 26, 2025 on the Yen Press website and other retailers.
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