Kaguya-sama: Love is War (2018)
[かぐや様は告らせたい ～天才たちの恋愛頭脳戦～]
Volume 8
Author/Artist: Aka Akasaka
Publisher: Young Jump Comics
Synopsis:
After her misunderstanding during the underwear incident, Shinomiya enacts a plan to ensure Shirogane's fidelity.
Story/Characters:
They're not dating yet, but Shinomiya wants to make sure our boy Shirogane doesn't stray (based on what she thinks are his preferences in underwear—refer to the previous chapter). I like Hayasaka's blunt analysis. Shinomiya has a promising future as a masseuse... in Turkish prison or something. Next, Shirogane tries to better integrate the newest member into the student council and Fujiwara decides the best way to do that is by getting Iino to break some rules and loosen up a bit. The results are as amusing as you'd expect. After that, we've got a sappy shoujo manga that's got everyone in tears, leading to Shinomiya seeing the world through shoujo manga-tinted lens. Once that settles down, Iino pushes for the student council to collect Bell Marks (think along the lines of box tops). Then we have Kashiwagi's boyfriend in the doghouse with Love Detective Chika on the case to solve the problem (cuing the birth of a new love expert). Speaking of romance, Fujiwara ropes Shinomiya and Iino into some girl talk. It quickly goes off the rails, but it has some great character building for Fujiwara. After that, we have Shirogane and Shinomiya trapped in a storeroom together. Will this classic scenario play out the way you expect? What series do you think you're reading?
Things seem to be going well, but then Shinomiya collapses in the student council room. Now, it looks like we're being set up for a well-worn romantic trope, but by now you should know better than to expect the expected. We're introduced to "God Hand" Tanuma, who rivals the Ramen Kings when it comes to bit characters I enjoy. We close with Iino consulting her friend about quitting the student council based on her impression of it being a den of depravity. Said friend tries to help her reason out her misunderstandings, only taking her rather fertile imagination in an all new direction.
Art:
Shirogane's reaction shots from his ever so gentle hand massage are great. The art shift for Shinomiya's shoujo vision is pretty amusing. I also find it interesting how Dr. Tanuma is drawn in a more realistic style, but it ends up looking a little derpy. Also, evil Kaguya is amazing.
Other:
We get Iino's profile. Interestingly, she's listed as "deuteragonist" just like Ishigami, basically pairing the two of them the same way Shirogane and Shinomiya are paired (while Fujiwara is off in her own world as the "heroine").
Conclusion:
While I've been amused by the series from the start, the comedy in this volume can't be understated. Adapting these chapters was a big contributor to the second season of the anime being so enjoyable. You know the drill. Add this one to your collection.
Rating:
Own It