Idol Dreams: Volume 5 manga review

Idol Dreams Graphic Novel Volume 5 cover image

At 31 years of age, Chikage Deguchi believes that she has missed out on love and success.  During her high school reunion, the office worker is revealed to still be a virgin.  She is humiliated, but Chikage gets a chance to be 15-years-old again.  Thanks to weird science, Chikage can transform into a teen with the help of high school friend, Kanshi Tokita.  She takes the name “Akari,” and on her first day being a teen, a chance at stardom comes her way, but is Chikage really ready to change... everything?

As Idol Dreams, Vol. 5 (Chapters 21 to 25) opens, Chikage discovers that Tokita has been dating her coworker, Hinagiku “Hina” Hanami.  She learns at the same time that she and Tokita discover Hina being romantic with another man!  To complicate matters further, Chikage is in love with Tokita.  Meanwhile, her teen identity, Akari, faces off against a rival in a CD-sales contest that might determine Akari's pop idol future.

THE LOWDOWN:  As I usually say:  I really like the Idol Dreams manga... well, I love it.  The world of comics is in a good place when we have new comics from mangaka Arina Tanemura.

Idol Dreams Graphic Novel Volume 5 is another pivotal volume, like the previous volume.  First, the narrative focuses on the world of secret crushes and yearning in young love.  There is a lot of drama in this volume simply for the fact that our heroine Chikage is being dishonest about her feelings.  Creator Arina Tanemura also focuses on the creative struggles of Akari and delves into her songwriting struggles.

The English translation is quite good at capturing character nuances and drama in the chapters contained in this volume.  Idol Dreams is only getting stronger, and the soap opera is only getting more soapy.  That is a good thing.

POSSIBLE AUDIENCE:  Fans of Arina Tanemura are the target audience for the Shojo Beat title, Idol Dreams.

A
9 out of 10