There are two universal truths in today’s rapidly changing comics industry. The first is that Dog Man is the defining comic of our time. Second, more people are reading manga and webtoons (aka vertically scrolling comics) than ever before. Therefore, we at Comics Beat have decided to embark on a new venture called Beat’s Bizarre Adventure. Each week, three writers recommend their favorite books and series from Japan, Korea, and other countries. This week we have food comics, disturbing spirits, and of course, memes.
Eating delicious food makes you happy, not love!
Writer/Artist: Fumi Yoshinaga
Translator: William Flanagan
Publisher: Yen Press
I’m not much of a gourmet myself, so I’m not really interested in gourmet manga for entertainment. However, with Thanksgiving recently celebrated in America, I thought it would be a good time to tell a story that is a little outside of my comfort zone. A story about food.
The work, which spotlights Fumi Yoshinaga’s restaurant, follows the self-insert character “F-mi Y-naga” and a rotating cast whose lives intersect around F-mi’s love of food. Whatever drama surrounds these characters is usually resolved or discussed through lovingly detailed dishes, then dissected in incredible detail through mouth-watering dialogue.
Although the book claims that any resemblance to the real-life characters is mere coincidence, Yoshinaga’s apparent love of food is not. All the restaurants and all the food (served at each restaurant) are authentic, and the end of each chapter includes the restaurant’s name, location and address map, opening hours, and information on whether there is parking nearby has been. There are also additional comments from Mr. Yoshinaga himself about each store.
This book was published in Japan about 20 years ago, so I can’t guarantee that all the restaurants are still open, but you can hope. I didn’t Google it. When traveling in Japan, be sure to bring a copy and look for these spots. I’m sure Yoshinaga-san will be happy too.
This is also a great book, but there is only one volume left. Especially if you like gourmet manga, please read it. — Derrick Crowe
Takahashi who overslept
Writer/Artist: Agrokouki
Translator: Frank J/E Spinelli
Lettering: Cristina Dela Cruz
Publisher: Manga Plus
Nebou Takahashi is a new manga series by Koki Aguro that has been serialized on Shonen Jump+ since July 2024. The story is derived from a hugely successful one-shot that received over 1.5 million views and is now being developed into a full-fledged series. At its core, this comic is a mix of romance, comedy, action and exorcism tropes, creating a fascinating and unique story.
This story is about Takahashi, a laid-back student who is known for always being late to school. But beneath his sleepy exterior lies a hidden identity with ties to the supernatural world. Introducing Megumi, a cheerful classmate who is determined to lead Takahashi into love and give him a taste of normal life. The story balances its elements with unusual charm as the two navigate the exorcist’s battles and budding feelings.
“Nebo Takahashi” is characterized by a novel perspective on the exorcist-themed manga. While much of the genre is deeply rooted in dark action and intense combat, this series feels like a romantic comedy set against the backdrop of an exorcism. The lighthearted humor and friendly characters create a welcoming and refreshing atmosphere. I love the characters in this series, especially the ghosts. My favorite is the cute and silly argument cat. Even if you’re not normally drawn to Exorcist comics, you’ll probably find something to like here.
The dynamics of the characters shine in this manga. Megumi’s tsundere antics and motivation to help Takahashi add a unique layer to their interactions, making it feel balanced despite the romance being the focus. The second chapter in particular does a great job of developing both leads, showing Megumi as independent yet loving and devoted to Takahashi.
Artistically, Koki Auro combines sketchy illustrations, chibi-like expressions, and beautiful details. The villains in particular exude coolness. Small gags, such as the ghost mask flying off, and big jokes sprinkled throughout are the comedy highlights. While the action scenes lack the dynamism of a top-notch battle manga, they more than make up for it with charming humor and heartwarming moments.
If you’re a fan of romantic comedies with a twist, or you’re just looking for a feel-good series with a supernatural edge, Sleep Over Takahashi is worth adding to your list. A fun mix of humor, romance, and quirky exorcisms, it’s perfect for anyone looking for a break from the usual routine. — Ilgin Said Soysar
Ki Sisters
Writer/Artist: Bumbe
Platform: Webtoon
WEBTOON memes don’t often go viral in the West. The “Skeleton Soldiers Couldn’t Defend the Dungeon” meme is spreading, such as “I have an armor lock, so you can’t hurt me.” But today we have the now infamous Queen Never Cry meme. It became independent thanks to a webtoon known as Ki Sisters.
After finding the source of this meme, I started reading The Ki Sisters. That alone increases my expectations for this story. Does it meet the stated expectations? Oh really, and more! The series revolves around the titular Ki sisters, consisting of the eldest son Jang-nyeo, second son Salgyo, third son Jaerim, and Jenny. They live in a house with dark colors and old furniture. They are all also goth girls with black hair, black lipstick, black clothes, and eyeshadow that contrasts with their white skin. The Ki sisters’ looks are heavily inspired by Wednesday Addams from The Addams Family and characters from Tim Burton’s films.
In each episode, the sisters tackle new dilemmas in strange and quirky ways. These include Jenny, who is looking for a boyfriend by starting with intense eye contact. I’m looking for my father who looks like a crow. And Jenny goes to school to be with the person she loves. Each scenario may sound simple, but the sisters and their actions lead to interesting and memorable panels.
Bumbe’s art is outstanding. Despite clearly using 3D assets and easily recognizable Clip Studio Paint brushes that sometimes don’t blend well with their artwork, they push the characters’ expressions to elicit the right emotions from the reader. Know how to sell. On-site. Words can’t describe how Bumbae gives Sister Ki different emotions. But it’s their expression, combined with detailed line drawings and designs, that pays off in memorable memes like “The Queen Don’t Cry.”
For those wondering, this viral meme takes place within episode 34 of the original version of Naver. As of this writing, the official English version of WEBTOON has reached episode 20. It’s almost there! What I’m wondering is why WEBTOON doesn’t push this series and promote it. We saw that banner during the launch a few weeks ago, and the official WEBTOON X/Twitter account cited the meme but didn’t specifically mention where it came from. It would have been a great opportunity for WEBTOON’s marketing team to promote Ki Sisters. But that hasn’t happened yet, so I’ll do it. — Justin Guerrero
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