“Monthly Shoujo Sunday is a collection of 12 oneshots by the wonderful Momoto Makiru. Known for their alternative and sometimes experimental art, Makiru brings us unique stories that are both weird and enlightening.” (Star Fruit Books)
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Embracing the spirit of the underground, Momoto Makiru's “Monthly Shoujo Sunday” is a wonderfully eclectic mix of styles both visually and narratively. Across 12 mini stories, the mangaka works in parody, gross out humour, social satire and absurdism to capture that lovely nostalgia of infamous publications like “Garo” which became a source of inspiration in the West for fans of underground comics. For those familiar, the work echoes the playful narrative approach of Yoshikazu Ebisu, the cartoonish crass and sexualized wok of Hanako Yamada, and the wonderfully self aware parodies on shojou of Carol Shimoda. Thankfully, beyond conjuring some notable names of the underground, Mariku's cult stylings of “Monthly Shoujo Sunday” are accessible even without knowledge of those that came before her.
Notably, the comedic tone is wonderfully crass and self aware, reflecting a sort of mockery born from an understanding of the medium that can only come with love and passion for the craft. A prime example of this comes from “Eccentric Horror” whose first panel carries the ‘don't read this alone' warning, and the expressive scream of a Kazuo Umezu inspired protagonist captures those shocking panels while showcasing the subverted sexuality of the horror genre with her own subtle twists on familiar tropes. Other segments like Princess Ominitsu pokes fun on the escapism tied into historical romantic fiction by showing the lavish lifestyle to be the construct of a broken mind. Ultimately, the ability to break down various beloved genres for comedic effect makes the release an ideal love letter to the medium.
The art follows a similar flow, always willing to deviate into crude comedy to hit that laugh out loud comedic sting. This includes the panel below which gives a ‘memable' image of a distorted slurp in an over sexualized manner. Contrasting the crude exaggerated imagery with lovely images of shoujo beauties with large expressive eyes keeps the work in a constant tonal shift that is deliriously titillating. The playful visual aesthetic and the hilarious narrative certainly makes the release worthy of multiple visits.
Starfruit books, notably the work of Dan Luffey, Aidan Clarke, Dan Macaran, Meg Argyriou all deserve mention in bringing the project together under supervision of Matt Haasch. The layout is enjoyably playful and well executed in capturing the independent spirit of the original work. Specifically, the lettering will obscure the characters in moments of exaggeration or frustration, and the hand drawn English effects blend perfectly, making sure the comedic timing of the original work lands as intended. Giving the utmost care, fans should be excited to see Star Fruit Books further explore underground comics of this ilk.
Admittedly, it has been a while since I had this much fun reading a title, “Monthly Shoujo Sunday” is the perfect balance of bizarre and beauty. Looking at the work critically, it was hard not just to point to a series of panels that had me giddy and just go on about why each panel proves the prowess and skill of Momoto Makiru. The work should be essential reading for fans who embrace all facets of manga or have a fondness for underground comics.
“Monthly Shoujo Sunday” is a triumphant homage to underground manga worthy of celebration for those who embrace art outside of the mainstream.
