A dramatic high school romance, following two high school students that are able to find solace in each other in a dark world.
You can check out a sample of this series for yourself below!
Author
Genre & Tropes
Info about this series (ongoing)
This special edition is ongoing, with just one omnibus volume currently released.
Official synopsis (Kodansha)
Kira’s life has been marked by pain. Gang violence took her father when she was young, and her mother’s remarriage only inflicted even more appalling scars. She has no trust left to offer the world, so when a ravishingly handsome boy asks her for directions one day, she draws a map and hands it to him without a word. On the other side of the map is one of her drawings, which catches the eye of the boy, a motorcyclist named Rei. When the two end up in the same class, an outrageous incident will bind them together—Rei promising to model for Kira, in exchange for more of her art. But Rei has also suffered a family tragedy that has worn down his temper to a short, flashing fuse. Can these two damaged souls with nowhere else to turn heal each other, or will they burn themselves out first?
My thoughts on this volume (Spoilers!)
Though I’m a shoujo fan, I’m actually not all that familiar with the classics! Besides Sailor Moon, I think the oldest shoujo series in my collection came out in the 2010’s. I’ve been working hard to change that, so when Kodansha announced they were doing a special anniversary edition of MARS, I knew I had to read it. The Kodansha team was kind enough to offer to send me a review copy before I had the chance to purchase it, so I want to send another big thank you their way.
This is one of the more dramatic series in my collection, following a quiet, art-loving high school girl. Her counterpart is a thrill-seeking, sports loving boy. As the story starts, they’re depicted as two people from completely opposite worlds—she’s quiet while he’s loud, he has friends while she doesn’t, he’s a womanizer while she’s rumoured to be scared of men. As the two of them find themselves in the same class they begin talking, and are instantly drawn together.
Throughout their story we learn that while they seem very different on the outside, they both have suffered a great deal of trauma. While all of the details are still unclear come the end of volume one, it’s clear they both find solstice in a kindred soul. Watching the two of them realize they have more in common than they thought was done absolutely beautifully. I’m not sure if it’s something found commonly in series from the 90’s but it’s done in a very dreamy, fast but not-too-fast style.
There were times I was worried the drama would go too far, but it always managed to stop before becoming unpalatable. This doesn’t come as any big surprise, as some of the dangers that are present are shown to us in the very first chapter. Be they physical or mental, this series doesn’t shy away from showcasing what darkness the real world can bring. This is one reason I enjoyed this volume so much—while it’s incredibly dreamy, it still feels grounded in reality.
About the book itself
It’s no big secret—I typically dislike omnibuses. I find them heavy, and my arms tend to fall asleep before I can finish reading. Surprisingly, I didn’t find myself feeling frustrated at all while reading this volume. While it is a larger, hardcover book, it’s really not heavy compared with my other omnibus volumes! On top of that, the cover has a beautiful metallic finish, complimenting the artistic themes found inside the book.
As I’m not involved in printing I’m really unsure of the logistics, however I have also noticed Kodansha’s Mushishi omnibus volumes are similarly light enough to feel comfortable reading. Trying to read my hardcover Junji Ito books always leaves me with pins and needles and a feeling of frustrations. It really seems like Kodansha has cracked the code when it comes to printing in omnibus format.
In my opinion, I think omnibus books should always be in hardcover. They’re bulky enough that reinforced structure becomes an absolute necessity. Here’s hoping that more omnibus series follow this format.
Maddies Manga 
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