“Ever since a lifesaving blood transfusion, Haruka Kuze has been indebted to Maruna Rinjou. The only problem: How do you show your gratitude to someone who barely gives you the time of day? So when he finds out she's actually a witch, Haruka swears he'll do whatever it takes to help her graduate from magic school-even if it means cross-dressing as a girl! But does Maruna really hate him, or is there another reason she gets so flustered when he's around?” (Yen Press)
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Working with familiar tropes and plots, Ato Sakurai's “If Witch, Then Which?” shows how strong talent can trump a formulaic narrative structure. Consequently, the manga does not present something original but offers up a fun ride with a riotous comedic tone.
However, the first aspect that is bound to draw in the audience is in Sakurai's visual approach. Able to transition between kawaii (cute) to stunningly gorgeous, Ato has a strong command of form, movement and design. As a result, it is easy to get lost in her panel work, and the quick transition in style wonderfully sets up the humor. The first volume by Yen Press contains many pages in full color which adds to the visual appeal of the release.
The narrative, while being formulaic, excels in character building, giving the reader reasons to connect with the protagonists within the first volume. Haruka carries a sincerity with him that makes his motives admirable and Maruna is adorably awkward while being admirable in her drive to succeed. Additionally, the friends the pair begin to meet at the witch academy compliment the dynamics between the two.
While “If Witch, Then Which?” is as formulaic as they come, mangaka Ato Sakurai proves to be a master of the format. I found myself audibly laughing and spending extra time admiring her illustrations. Additionally, I am excited to see how the relationship will develop in future volumes. Playful, funny and beautifully illustrated, the release is bound to please fans of the romantic-comedy genre.
