MJ Review: Flower of Life vol 2

[Jason]

Title: Flower of Life
Volume: 2
Mangaka: Fumi Yoshinaga
Serialized in: Wings (Shinshokan)
Genre: Shoujo
Licensed by: DMP
Price: 12.95 US


Volume one of Flower of Life introduced us to a cast of some very lovable - and some not so lovable - characters and the world in which they live. Volume two picks up in the middle of a sex education class taught by the requisite gym and physical education drill instructor, who shouts out information on gonorrhea and syphilis like he's calling for push-ups. (Ah, the fond memories of my own high school days... and the stories I could tell you about my history teacher and her obsession with syphilis... but not here.)

In such an environment, is it any wonder that our resident otaku, the arrogant and uselessly handsome Majima, starts looking for other things to pass the time? Just his luck, some hapless fool has left their chemistry notes in the desk he's sitting in... and even luckier, they've been drawing manga in the other pages of the notebook!

With this we are introduced to our next lovable character (and possibly my favorite), Sumiko Takeda. It isn't long before she becomes Majima's new obsession, and from there, the idol of her class. This has very little to do with Majima's influence; our dear friends Hanazono and Mikuni are more responsible for her rise to fame. D[b]espite Majima's best efforts (which include a long, detailed psychological analysis of exactly why yaoi is popular with girls), Takeda's artistic endeavors are soon so popular that one of her doujinshi is chosen for the material for the class play... and this is where the story gets interesting.

If the first volume was warm and amusing, the second is bright and hilarious. Aside from what is arguably the main story of Takeda's budding talent as a mangaka, Mikuni and Hanazono explore their own talents (and lack thereof) and the dynamics of their families. Again, Fumi Yoshinaga does a fine job of balancing her side-splitting humor with weighty seriousness and the every day drama of adolescence. One of her specialties, especially where this series is concerned, is the twists she throws in near the end of each volume. Volume two's own little plot twist is enough to make you sit back and blink, but be forewarned, it's nothing compared to volume three.

The physical quality of the volume remains as high as the others, and the storytelling manages to kick it up a notch. This is turning out to be a very fine series.

Reviewer: mjules
Proofer: Jiji
Editor: Firedog