Comics / Manga

Ai Ore!: Volume 3

By Leroy Douresseaux
November 1, 2011 - 11:18

Ai Ore Volume 3 cover image is courtesy of Anime Castle Books.

Rated “T+” for “Older Teen”

Mizuki Sakurazaka is the female “prince” of the all-girls school, St. Nobara Girls Academy.  People mistake Mizuki for a boy.  Akira Shiraishi is the male “princess” of his all-boys school, Dankaisan Boys High School, but people mistake him for a girl.  Mizuki is the lead guitarist of the rock band, Blaue Rosen.  Akira joins the band to romance Mizuki, who absolutely does not like boys, but she may learn to love this one.

In Ai Ore!: Love Me, Vol. 3, Akira has a rival for Mizuki’s affections.  It’s another pretty boy that looks like a girl, Tsubasa Hanazono, who is determined to win Mizuki by hook or crook.  Also, Yuya Matsuoka and his band “Not Found,” steal a date from Blaue Rosen, but he’ll give it back if he can get a date with Akira.  Later, desperate to get Mizuki to say those words, “I love you,” Akira makes a drastic decision.

THE LOWDOWN:  My first impression of Ai Ore! was, “Bishounen, Goth-Loli, emo, frilly, punk, shojo manga:  I’ve been there, done that, and it’s called Nana!”  Unlike Nana, however, Ai Ore! is a slapstick, romantic comedy, and it is surprisingly good.  A breezy, entertaining read, I flew through this plus-sized edition (it’s the size of two regular manga graphic novels) and enjoyed the androgynous rom-com.  Ai Ore! is beautifully drawn, and creator Mayu Shinjo is obsessed with pretty, but this slightly risqué high school, teen love comedy is more than just surface cute.

POSSIBLE AUDIENCE:  Readers looking for “Shojo Beat” off the beaten path will want Ai Ore!

A-

 

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12