Walkin' Butterfly, vol. 3

The story: After Michiko's manager has a health scare, Michiko recommits herself to her career aspirations with gusto. She finally finds a way to have fun while modeling, on her own no less, and grows even more as a character. She also shares some surprising moments with Mihara.

Reaction: I came to really appreciate Michiko's attitude in this volume. It's like she finally found herself -- her self-confidence, maturity and determined mindset really shine here. As far as the rest of the story goes, I enjoyed watching Michiko's relationships deepen with the supporting cast of characters, including Mihara. After seeing her with Mihara in this chapter, I found myself wondering if Michiko and Mihara could get along as more than professionals. Since Mihara's admiration looks like something nearly imposible to obtain, I was intrigued by his reactions in those moments he shared with Michiko.

Unfortunately, I was also really disappointed when Michiko took another step towards her old ways by running away. I felt like shaking some sense into her, telling her that she needs to stay steadfast to her goals and to not tie her success to whether or not she can be more than friends with Nishikino. As far as frustration went, I was glad to see she found her determination and love of modeling again.

Deep thoughts: I loved the last chapter in this volume, "Michiko in Wonderland," as it drew parallels between Michiko's story and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Going all the way back to the first volume, Michiko, much like Alice, is bored with her life. After a passing interaction with Mihara, Michiko finds herself trailing after him in journey of exasperation, excitement and adventure. Of course, in the end, Michiko's story isn't entirely a dream and she realizes the possibilities that await her.

Artwork: Again, the outfits really shine here and we observe Michiko's transformation not only in her mannerisms, but in her clothing, as well. We see her in an elegant kimono, a fun cocktail dress outfit, modeling various outfits (from beach clothes to businesswoman) and more. By doing so, Chihiro Tamaki visually illustrates how Michiko has changed her self-image and how much more comfortable she is in her own skin. The one thing that got to me were the repeated suprised close-ups by Michiko and Mihara. Then again, maybe it was a visual plot device to portray their increasing parallel torylines and attitudes toward one another.

The verdict: Highly recommended. Ah, knowing that there's just one volume left after this has made me impatient to see just what is in store for Michiko. Will she make it to the show? And, even if she does, will she be able to walk in it? And what will happen between her and Mihara -- will she win the battle or not? Walkin' Butterfly is available in the U.S. from Aurora.

Walkin' Butterfly, vol. 2

I'm not sure if I mentioned this before, but I'm rereading this series as I await publication of the fourth and final volume.

The story: In this volume, Michiko starts making *some* headway towards becoming a professional model. Unfortunately, her method amounts to "two steps forward, one step back." While she's found a manager, she's still very much a work in progress, as we see her self-defeating behavior rear its ugly head from time to time. We also get a glimpse into what drives Mihara and see some covert and not-so-covert moments between him and Michiko. It's also a little heartwarming to see Michiko's persistence and how it affects Mihara.

Reaction: My favorite elements in this volume were those in which Michiko was interacting with others. From learning more about her manager, Kyo Tago, a washed-up former model, to her moments with Mihara, Michiko begins to shine in this volume. However, Michiko still has "the fear" and lets her self-doubt get the best of her.

Deep thoughts: Michiko's character growth begins in earnest in this volume, as does Mihara's. Their parallel journeys are less of a protagonist/antagonist and more of the hero/anti-hero as Mihara's decision to stay true to himself creatively makes him more than just an ordinary villain. This volume also reveals what Mihara's had to fight in his past in order to earn the success he has thus far.

Artwork: The artwork in this volume is slightly more refined than the first -- there's less of that erratic sketching quality and I think it reflects Michiko's newfound sense of self. She is less of a volatile personality and the artwork reflects that in small ways. It may also simply be the fact that the artist herself "pinned down" her style in this volume. My only gripe is the similarity between two middle-aged male characters, Samejima and Gotoh. Gotoh is a passing character, so his doppleganger-esque qualities can be overlooked for now.

The verdict: Highly recommended. I still really like where this is going -- we're given glimpses of what Michiko can become if she simply perseveres and believes in herself. The continuing parallels with Mihara show how both characters are changing for the better. Walkin' Butterfly is available in the U.S. from Aurora.

Walkin' Butterfly, vol. 1

The story: Michiko is 19, tall, awkward and lost in life. She despises her gangly body, and jumps from job to job, unhappy and dissatisfied all the while. When she is mistaken for a model one day, she finds there is more to life than what she's known. She's also given purpose in avenging her embarrassment at the fashion show she "crashed" and miserably failed at. Of course, she also finds that, just maybe, her body isn't something worth hating.

Reaction: I felt a lot of empathy for Michiko, but her pessimistic and, at times, just plain rotten attitude at life makes her really unlikable. But, that's what also draws you in as a reader. We've all experienced "stinkin' thinkin'" at one point or another, but Michiko really takes it to another level. However, by wearing her emotions on her sleeve, she comes across as very real and honest. Despite everything that happens, Michiko's saddest, truest moments are those in which she's guarding herself from love -- of herself and of her friend, Nishikino.

Deep thoughts: While this book focuses mostly on Michiko's internal struggle, it's interesting to see the juxtaposition of Koh Mihara, a brilliant, but arrogant, fashion designer. On one hand, Koh dismisses her easily, telling Michiko she's not cut out for modeling because she's just an "ordinary amazon" and can't see her true self. On the other, he finds her "interesting" and seems momentarily intrigued by her passion. It's this dichotomy that makes this story about more than just Michiko and her quarter-life crisis ; how will one, already successful, and the other, a showcase of pure, amplified emotion, affect each another as this story goes on? Their parallel also makes for an interesting motivation -- much like Skip-Beat!, Michiko also wants to become a model simply to prove a point to Mihara.

Artwork: Chihiro Tamaki's sketchy artwork kind of fits Michiko's aggressive and erratic personality. While scenes are given just enough detail to make them recognizable, this story being about modeling and fashion, Tamaki's real focus is on figure drawing and clothing. Much attention is paid especially to clothing designs of characters, giving them another layer of personality: Michiko's boylike outfits and jumpsuits do nothing for her lean figure and match her internal image of herself, while Nishikino's cable-knit sweaters and track suits make him the perfect "boy next door." Her sketchy nudes of Michiko between chapters are simple and screentoned, while the more elaborate watercolors at the beginning of the volume beg to be brought to life with color pages.

The verdict: Highly recommended . While I'm re-reading this series and know more interesting things happen, I really did initially like this volume enough to keep reading. Many people can relate to some degree of what Michiko's going through -- from the unhappiness with our bodies to mere frustration at life to confusion and fear towards love -- the reader can empathize with her. Then again, this series is only four volumes as well, making it a smaller investment (especially since the publisher has a fan appreciation sale through the end of May). Walkin' Butterfly is available in the U.S. from Aurora.