Day 6 - K-On Vol 3&4

We have finally started to embark on the final review of K-On. I felt like it is a good idea to do reviews in bundles like this instead of every volume, since it be a nightmare for long series such as Naruto and some work better to keep an eye on story arcs within a series. This is the future idea for reviews, I will explain more in a less focused post. For now, let’s do the final review on K-On, unless I one day procure the other two mangas within the K-On universe.

The art has changed very little between each volume, there is not much more that could be added. I still enjoy the simple style and the colour pages every chapter, which is a nice bonus since it’s not common in the mangas I usually collect.

The story continues into the final two years of the four girls High school life while the first two years of Azusa, where it seems like she will be taking over the club in her fellow friends when they finally graduate into college. This seems to be just the same things as the previous two volumes but more of a stronger character development, seeing where they wish to go once they leave school and more lazy, funny antics as the club still tries to do band things together and enjoying a nice cup of tea and cake in their usual club activities.

A few comics I’d like to pick out is Yui song she wrote for when her sister was ill, it was very touching and sweet. Mugi when she discovers the joy of doing things cheaply and simply. The play where Ritsu and Mio are lead roles and I like where that has led. Favourite quote would be that “Juliet wears the pants in this relationship” since it made me laugh more than it should have. I also secretly think that Mio is very fond of Ritsu, maybe even more than friends but then again, my inner Mugi might be speaking.

Vol 3&4

Azusa has grown on me way too much in this series and her knowledge when it comes to music and care for instruments amazes me since I basically know nothing about it but clearly this shows her love and determination for something she loves. I love the manga for the fact it easily shows this theme within the limited panels.

Another character that has grown on me immensely is Mugi, sure she is the rich girl character but I find her way of thinking very interesting and her innocence when it comes to learning about simpler and cheaper things is amusing at how much she seems to enjoy the experience.

I do enjoy the other characters but oddly, between the volumes, they didn’t grow on me as much as the other two did but I still enjoyed their antics as much as I first did. My love for Sawaka has never changed since volume one being my all-time favourite character in the series since I enjoy what she does regarding the main characters such as dressing them up as maids and all.

I’m so glad about one thing about this series, I am so pleased to see them all graduating and getting where they want to go and that is oddly my favourite part of this series and I rarely be so happy to end a series like I have with this one.

The only con is that after a bit, I couldn’t read through it at a comfortable speed I usually do with most mangas and I couldn’t finish them in the time I hoped. Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoyed them immensely, but they are in the middle ground when it comes to my recommendations.

Day 2 - K-On Vol 1&2

K-On is a slice of life comedy of the four-panel variety, like other series such as Lucky Star and Azumanga Daioh which also revolve around a bunch of girls going through high school. In the case of K-On we follow the members of the pop music club and as they go through their daily lives, friendships and making music together. Yui has never used an instrument before but joins thinking it’s easy, only to find out that despite all the hard work she makes amazing and supporting friends in the shy Mio, energetic Ritsu and elegant Tsumugi, eventually the determined Azusa. Together they form Afternoon Tea Time and will face school and making music together.

K-On volume 1 (Loot Crate edition)  and Volume 2

Since they are small books, I decided it’s easier to review two at a time and I somewhat enjoy this series, since it’s comedic, super friendly and cute.  Sadly, I cannot relate too well to this sort of life, but I really enjoy and wish to have experience a friendship like this while in High School myself, but I do enjoy the story and growth of love and friendship between the groups of friends. This sort of manga amuses me to see certain things such as Japanese culture and school life being mentioned, as well as music notes and things I normally don’t get to experience daily.

I also enjoy the cute and simple art styles of this manga and especially the characters, mainly the personal growth and personality of each of the main characters and those around them. I feel like I can somewhat relate to them. I also find Mugi’s thought patterns amusing, as well as enjoy Sawa-chan’s antics when it comes to dressing up the girls in the club she advises.

Now the actual story is basically four panels that makes a small story within a larger overlaying arc where you watch a small group of friends starting of school and graduate from high school while bonding as friends and working together to form a pop music group. You see them go through many events such as Christmas, Culture Fests, Birthdays and other life-changing events while studying to pass the classes and seeing if they end up in the same class. Out of the two mangas I have read, a few small stories that stick out is when they convince each other to wear maid uniforms to Mio’s dismay or when Yui spent her new years under a kotatsu eating, which is something I’d like to one day do out of amusement. The addition of Azusa in book two onwards is a great since she adds in a determined character who is keen to practice and seem to light a fire under their butts, she is also adorable with the twin tails and cat ears.

Due to all their fun times, one wonders when and if they ever get around to making music? Who knows but one can’t help but enjoy and love all these characters. Soon, I shall finish 3 and then the final volume and possibly share a longer review about the series. Hopefully it’s not as boring as this review.