1. Hatsumi from Hot Gimmick – on the outset this had all the makings of a fantastic series.  Hatsumi covers for her maybe-pregnant younger sister.  In exchange for the secret, she agrees to become the slave of the boss’s son.  Sexy hijinks ensue?!?! Uh no.  The younger sister is not pregnant and Hatsumi is a moron.  What could have been a tension filled drama quickly becomes a cautionary fable of how to act like a spineless wimp.   From what I hear it doesn’t end at all the way fans wanted it to either.

2. Nobara from Crimson Hero – I like spunky but Nobara takes it to annoying. She’s so naive that you begin to wonder if she’s been huffing paint between games.

3.  Nana O. from Nana – I guess Nana O. isn’t technically “shojo”.  I started out loving her.  She was so cool!  But somewhere along the line she became a needy, selfish, entitled little girl.  Blech.  I hope she can come back and I love this series so I’m sticking with her but I’m also putting her on notice.

4.  Shakuya from Two Flowers for the Dragon – honestly, I don’t really know why I don’t like this heroine.  But..I just…don’t.  I will say that the artwork in this series is pretty great.

5.  Sakura from B.O.D.Y. – another case of naivete gone overboard.  Wake up!

What about you?  Did I put your favorite on the list?  Want to make a case for why I should hug instead of slap them?  Did I miss anyone you would like to slap?  Let’s get mean!

I really enjoy hearing what other people think of the monthly installments.  Sometimes it makes me go back and reread a series I may have ditched, like Vampire Knight.

For the most part I agree with Matthew Brady.  I really really enjoyed the preview of Kimi Ni Todoke. Mainly because the manga-ka didn’t shy away from making heroine actually look creepy! I can see why everyone runs from “Sadako”.  To often in manga I find myself with a 90210 complex of everyone pretending so and so is ugly when they are clearly gorgeous.  Plus, this series seems to have a sweet heart and it’s summertime so sweetness is in.

I still cannot get behind Crimson Hero. The semi-rape scene was too much.  There was nothing to suggest Kaz would take things this far and having Yushin bust in went beyond cliche.  Then there’s Nobara who’s naivete is just unbelievable.  Maybe a volleyball hit me in the face when I was a baby or something because I can’t seem to get past my hatred for this series.  All the terrible haircuts don’t help.

Sand Chronicles – I can’t add anything.  This was a really good assessment:

“This series has gone from a wonderful bit of recognition at the complexities of relationships to a painful observation of the things people do that can hurt themselves and others when they aren’t willing to move on from traumatic moments.”

It keeps getting more and more painful and yet doesn’t go overdramatic.

Honey Hunt and Honey and Clover are sort of boring me at the moment….