What happens when you want to mix a classic manga slice of life, based on the almost photographic reportage of a journey through the worldwith a touch of Boys’ love? We get exactly Our not-so Lonely Planet Travel Guide: a manga where pills of culture and customs of not so well known countries alternate with relationships between two traveling companions, for a first volume probably more original than one would expect.
- Original title: Bokura no chikyuu no arukikata
- English title: Our Not So Lonely Planet Travel Guide
- Japanese release: 2020
- Italian release: May 4, 2022
- Number of volumes: 1 (in progress)
- Publishing house: Star Comics
- Genre: Travel, Slice of life, Photography, Boys’ love
- Drawings: Sorai Mone
- History: Sorai Mone
- Format: Bossurato with dust jacket, 12.8 × 18, b / w
- Number of pages: 192
We reviewed Our Not So Lonely Planet Travel Guide via press volume provided to us by Star Comics.
Traveling makes you free
The plot is quite simple and widely exploited in fiction. We have two boys, Asahi And Mitsukiwhich depart from Japan to follow one of the most common dreams: to make a world Tour visiting as many countries as possible. A narrative that, however, is mainly carried out through images. Mitsuki is in fact a freelance photographer, therefore he has the opportunity to immortalize historic buildings, characteristic dishes and situations of everyday life day after day. It would therefore seem a normal journey, were it not for the focal point of all this first volume: the promise that the two boys have made.
Once back in Japan yes will marry! Thus begins a story through places that most of us have only been able to imagine, including teachings, atmospheres and situations that aim to show us how varied the world is, with different customs and cultures. A journey where the two boys will surely face some difficultyand only by continuing the work will we know if they will remain united until the announced ending.
Know the world to know yourself
The manga is therefore not a simple guide, as suggested by the title itself, although it must be said that it remains a strong educational component: the multiple images, photographs, cultures and characters investigated focus attention on the peculiarities of each country visited, as in a promotional trip worthy of a tourist agency. However, to each scene is added that strange tension between the two protagonists, due to the relationship that has been established between them, between moments of freedom, complicity, but also of embarrassment.
It is clear from the first pages how the focus of this manga is directed towards a Boys’ love: little by little they try to show difficulties and problems related to those who find themselves following a love not always accepted by society, and even by the protagonists themselves in certain moments: doubts related to showing oneself as one really is, not only towards strangers in public places, but above all towards friends and even old flames. Not to mention the difficulties, just touched upon in this volume, of the classic coming out towards parents, so as not to break the classic expectations of “when are you getting married?”, or “I recommend that we want a grandchild”.
Stop taking pictures of me!
If the story is good and the expedient of the pre-marital journey is nice for the topics covered, it is probably the drawings. The stroke may or may not be liked right away, but it will probably be difficult to digest for many due to the often sketchy characters, with little shading and almost flat, despite some details, such as the hair, are always treated. Also there body type then, elongated and angular, it appears several times out of context. A style that is therefore closer to the “old school” shojo manga than the more recent ones, and that I personally don’t love.
On the setting side, even the fills and backgrounds often seem absent, or with sketchy scenes, and yet it is precisely on the structures and on the food, when present, that the author seems to give the best of himself: for example, some buildings, even without the classic play of light and shadow, appear traced as in a pencil photographic filter where white is almost always predominant, and in their lightness they know how to capture the attention, so much so that you want to search Google the corresponding church or tower. As a greedy then, I was more than attentive to dishes presented, and I must say that I appreciated this abundance of references to their provenance and preparation, with related drawings. In conclusion, it is true that you may not like the style, but it almost seems to improve from the beginning to the end of the volume, and in any case it does not weigh on the reading.
The serious Asahi and the carefree Mitsuki might seem like a rather unlikely couple, but in reality they are very much in love with each other and have made a pact: they will go on a trip around the world and when they return to Japan they will get married! An exciting journey begins for the two engaged to countries all over the world, to discover different cultures and people, but also about themselves.
Buy Our not-so Lonely Planet Travel Guide following this link at the special price of € 6.18 (instead of € 6.50). Release scheduled for May 4, 2022. Support Akiba Gamers by purchasing on Amazon through this link!
The volume in question is the classic format with dust jacket, but not very common (Ancient Magus bride, Life as a Slimand of Star Comics. Inside you will find a preview illustrated in color, and a dozen or so final facades as extras dedicated to preparing your departure for this trip.
Now, let’s get to the hardest part for this genre: who should read it? For the way this first volume is presented, I can say one thing: the story dealt with is probably aimed at a wider audience than what it was advertised for. In fact, i fragments of landscapes, culture, art and food they are the masters, and even the issues of the LGBT world that are dealt with, such as that of confrontation with society or with parents, will feel an almost transversal closeness. Moreover, for now there is not nothing explicit, if not in words. Therefore, I would like to recommend this volume not only to whoever you want bring closer to the genre, but also in general, to those who want to read a manga that illustrates the wonders of the world. It remains a romantic title, however, so avoid it if you can’t stand some fuss.
Not lonely, but slowly
Our Not So Lonely Planet Travel Guide is definitely a good title to read during Pride Month. However, this is a theme that in Japan has never had problems being treated in manga, although these were then often censored in Italy, but it is precisely in this period that many publishing houses, including Star Comics, are recovering titles of the genre. to take to our shelves in the Queer series. The peculiarity of this manga, as well as a strong point, is however that of giving the right weight between sentimental situations and narration … nothing is imposed, but dosed, and this makes it, despite the various defects, a volume that is worth trying to to take. But above all, this photographic representation of the journey, among landscapes that encourage a slow search for novelty, involves: between a glance that lingers on a cultural curiosity, on the preparation of a dessert or on the architecture of a church, you will really be desire to embark on the same adventure.
A beautiful photograph of a changing world
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