Comics / Manga

The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi-Chan Volume 2

By Chris Zimmerman
May 2, 2011 - 10:24

At this point it probably wouldn’t be an understatement to declare The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya one of the most popular franchises to sweep Japan. The light novel series exploded in popularity upon first printing and has since produced two anime seasons, a feature length movie, two mangas, some games, and a hoard of cosplayers. While the quality of each varies, each of Haruhi’s successive media incarnations delivers something different to the table.

The Melancholy of Haruhi-Chan is the second manga adaptation of the franchise and takes a different approach than a standard translation. The series is a gag manga, featuring a mix of four paneled story-telling and one page chapters. The usual hijinks of the characters is taken up a notch and as one would expect, hilarity and mayhem ensues.

The volume see’s the usual brand of craziness fans have come to expect from the franchise. Haruhi’s thirst for adventure never rests and so the rest of the cast is constantly busy with several activities to appease her. This volume features them heading out to the beach, hiking, and wearing the mandatory bunny outfits. It’s all random and the norm for a series such as this. There is a ton of fanservice to be found here, though it should be noted it’s nothing lewd but rather the girls in their swim suits and bunny costumes.

If you’re a fan of the Haruhi Suzumiya franchise, this probably already on your pull list. Like the original series, the cast is energetic and their personalities infectious. Think the original, just even more over-the-top and nonsensical. If you’re new to the franchise, this isn’t the best place to start (that would be the novels or anime), though it is worth trekking back to after having experienced the full zaniness of what Haruhi has to offer.

Rating: 8 /10

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12