There are a lot of comics out there, but some stand out head and shoulders above the pack. With “Don’t Miss This,” we want to spotlight those series we think need to be on your pull list. This week, we look at the Shojo-comedy about love, the entertainment industry, and revenge, “Skip Beat!”
Who’s This By?
“Skip Beat!” is written and drawn by Yoshiki Nakamura (“Tokyo Crazy Paradise”).
What’s This All About?
Kyoko Mogami, a high-schooler, follows her childhood best friend and crush, Sho Fuwa, to the BIG CITY, doting on him the whole way as he attempts to make his name known in the Japanese entertainment industry as a singer. Imagine her surprise when she finds out that Sho, her friend, is actually the biggest douchebag in the world and sees her as nothing more than a nuisance he can take advantage of. Needless to say, this does not end well for him.
Kyoko, having now locked her heart away beneath an impenetrable wall of rage and vengeance, leaves Sho and goes off to get her revenge by becoming so big, she’ll be able to lord it over him forever. From there, hijinks ensue and tears are shed as she learns the realities of the industry and climbs ever towards her goal. . .and possibly a few other goals along the way.
So, Why Should I Read This?
Plain and simple, “Skip Beat!” is one of the funniest, non-gag manga out there while also being a fantastic story about the trials and tribulations of redefining oneself and learning how to reckon with the past. It’s a balancing act, trying to make sure the comedy doesn’t undercut the seriousness of certain scenes while also making sure that the dramatic moments don’t impede the flow of the comedy. Weaving these modes together is a challenged faced by many series, not just Shojo ones, and while it’s not done seamlessly at the start, as the series progresses the laughs become harder, the romance becomes more dramatic, and the serious moments become all the more arresting.
Kyoko, as a protagonist, is perfect in her imperfections. She’s brash, stuck in her own mind, stubborn but determined, and endlessly anxious about what others think of her as well as what she thinks of herself. Her confidence is low, despite her faux-cheery attitude, and her motivations, at the start, are more about hurting someone else than pleasing herself. It makes for effective drama and comedy, depending on the situation.
Nakamura also blurs the lines between Kyoko’s mental fantasies and projections with the real world, personifying her feelings and sometimes allowing the over-the-top, obviously fantastical comedic asides to bleed into reality. Most of the time it’s in the form of the grudge ghosts that follow her around. Other times it’s scenes like the ones in chapter one, where she drives a bike at mach speeds to the CD store, crashing it into the wall above the cashier’s head in order to get a poster she failed to get earlier in the day. Or when she chases down Mr. Sawara’s taxi on her bike, keeping pace like a ghost who’s doomed to curse him until he gives her the audition paperwork. The antics in the story are all wildly over the top, making the mundane dramatic and they acts as a unifying factor and a thematic touchstone for the series, both for the comedy and the more serious moments.
What sells many of these scenes is Nakamura’s style shift. She’s very adept at portraying intense emotions, especially evil laughter, using screentone and heavy amounts inking lines to heighten the intensity & absurdity of a panel, depending on the situation. There’s one panel, near the end of volume three, where Nakamura inverts the image, turning the outlines and Kyoko’s shadow white. The sound it evokes is that of a shattering window and marks a turning point for the chapter. Before it, there was a playfulness to Kyoko, even when others were putting her down. Her personality shone through via her asides but once that panel happens, the tone of the events change, much like she does. It’s palpable and it becomes hard to look away. You want to know what happens next, why did she change? What about the comments got to her? And what will she do next? The answer is usually. . .something quite out there.
Continued belowThere is an inherent absurdity to the basic conceit of “Skip Beat!,” too, one which isn’t lost on Nakamura. Of all the side characters, the one who embodies this the most is the President of LME, the talent agency. His introduction is gaudy and ostentatious, complete with dancers and an outfit that cannot be comfortable. Each time he reappears, it’s in an increasingly ridiculous fashion wearing increasingly ridiculous fashion. Yet he is perceptive and the catalyst for many of the comic’s more dramatic moments. His character is multi-faceted, more than just a gag or a plot device, and the same can be said for all the main and supporting cast members. The more you read, the more invested you become in their struggles and relationships. It’s the beauty of a long-running series but also the talent of the creator, who is able to keep the narratives moving forwards while also allowing the characters to grow and change.
What keeps me coming back to this series, volume after volume, is this growth that Nakamura has shown as an artist and a storyteller as well as the growth of the characters. Many of it’s best arcs are the ones which further Kyoko’s character and her understanding of her own emotions and desires. As with any good story, there are layers to every character that are both born out of who they are and what the past, and present, has made of them. A lot has happened over the course of this series and there is still a ways to go until we reach what seems to be the ultimate goal. This won’t be everyone’s cup of tea but for those who want to get out and try something different, this is a good place to start. Join in on the fun, you never know when you’ll need it.
How Can You Read It?
“Skip Beat!” Volume 41 releases today and you can get it at your local bookstore or comic book shop. For digital fans, this volume, and all the previous ones, can be found on Comixology.
For those of you who are looking to catch up at a decent price, Viz has released twelve 3-in-1 editions, covering the first 36 volumes. Otherwise, the other 41 volumes are still in print and available to order from wherever books are sold. . .or see if you local library has the individual volumes.
