“Discover a variety of stories about women's love, starting with Iori: twenty-eight-year-old office worker who sets out to drown her love and job sorrows in booze. When she wakes up next to someone, she can't believe her partner was Minami, a worker at the bar who doesn't want to forget what they have!” (Yen Press)
Not one to shy away from the complexities of life and dating carrying past trauma, Mikanuji's “Assorted Entanglements” is a mature josei title that finds a complimentary balance between challenging subject matter and lightheartedness through exploring the strong bonds between Iori and Minami. While told episodically, the series' greatest appeal lies in painting a broader picture of the tribulations the two face and how their devotion to one another builds a strong foundation that allows them to tackle any adversity.
Moreover, the book is approached with sincerity for the characters so that the dramatic elements that seem slightly beyond normality stay grounded in Mikanuji's understanding and respect for her characters. This does help the less approachable subject matters, like abuse, become palatable, as they reinforce the strength of its protagonists as opposed to a means to create drama around them. At the core of the book is an admirable relationship between two competent, yet realistically flawed women who are able to overcome anything life throws their way through devotion to one another.
Mikanuji's art is cute and expressive, a style that favors dealing with the complex subject matter by giving the book a lighter edge through its upbeat visual direction. Furthermore, the comedic timing is wonderfully captured in the depiction of facial expressions and mannerisms. The release from Yen Press is in a slightly larger format which does further give the quirky visual approach of the mangaka a chance to impress.
Where “Assorted Entanglements” is limited in its appeal is its episodic nature, which comes from the title being originally released through Mikanuji's Twitter account. While this form of release has resulted in a plethora of notable series, in this case, it breaks up larger story arcs with rather abrupt ends. Consequently, there is a modicum of confusion within the quick cuts that result in engrossing story arcs concluding before reaching their full potential. Mikanuji's strengths in comedy and creating sincere human connections, arguably, would be better suited for a series with a natural narrative flow as opposed to mini-segments strung together.
Despite an awkward flow that leaves the reader wanting more, “Assorted Entanglements” is a sharp and witty series that fills that ever-desired role of exploring mature relationships. Furthermore, Mikanuji does not shy away from difficult subject material to give a layer of realism that conveys the potential complexities surrounding both relationships with previous baggage and the societal problems lesbian couples face in Japan. Ultimately, readers will come away with respect for the mangaka's ability to navigate the complexities of adulthood romance–a worthwhile pickup for readers looking for just that.
