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Ikeno Koi: Tokimeki Tonight ~ Hoshi no yukue
Tokimeki Tonight is the longest running series of Ribon magazine, and one of the longest shojo manga ever. It began serialization in Ribon in 1982, and concluded in 1994 with 30 volumes of tankobon. It was one of the very first shojo manga I ever read, and to this day, it holds a special place in my heart.
This is a supplementary volume to the 30 other volumes, so to speak, and contains the true ending of the Aira episodes, plus a few epilogues about the more minor characters of the series. The deal is that Ikeno began to draw the manga version of the magical girl anime Nurse Angel Ririka SOS in 1995, and she was forced to end Tokimeki Tonight in a manner she hadn't intended it to.
So, as a Tokimeki fan, I had to read it. I've never hid the fact that the Aira episodes weren't my thing, and I also think Ikeno's art style was much better around Tokimeki volume 15 or so, but all that aside, I think this was a satisfactory end to the series. Most of the loose ends about Aira, Kairi, and Shinjo-san are tied up, and some of the epilogues are quite funny (especially the one with Mumu and Leon). I also adore King Aron! But of course, it nowhere compares to the two climaxes of the Ranze episodes ... Agh! Shut up about that all ready, myself! There's no sense in comparing it to a masterpiece of a shojo manga from a decade ago!
Ahem. All in all, I think it's great that Ikeno got the oppotunity to finish her work as she wanted to. But no matter how much new Tokimeki she may draw, my Tokimeki Tonight ended when the Ranze episodes did. I really can't say much more.
Category: Shojo/ladies | Posted by Alicia at November 1, 2004 11:54 AM