“Thought if I asked, you'd take her. And so! She's all yours. With those words, Souichiro Kudou's life was changed forever. Suddenly, he has a four-year-old daughter named Kiki, thanks to his late friend Haruki. And it only gets more complicated when he proposes to a total stranger… Husband, lover, father, and friend—only time will tell whether Kudou can reconcile his past with Haruki and learn to fill these roles for the new people in his life. Luckily for him, Kiki and his new spouse, Fusako, are ready and willing to figure it out alongside him!” (Yen Press)
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“Adults' Picture Book New Edition” is a difficult series to quantify, as the manga asks the reader to accept several peculiar circumstances while being purposely vague. Thrust into the role of fatherhood, Souichiro's choice to take on the young Kiki in memory of his friend is more cemented in honoring his friend as opposed to an emotional need to fill that role for the young child. It is difficult even to say if Souichiro is a capable or good father, with his whim to ask a woman to marry him and his cold veneer making everything seem transactional; he is a man doing what he knows he needs to do, not because he wants to. Oddly, it is a bizarre family dynamic that works despite leaving more questions than answers.
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The lack of emotion and a focus on duty could change throughout the series, but as an initial draw, it does more than intrigue the reader to try to piece together how this odd family of three came together. There is a naive innocence to the characters that is utterly endearing, and the minimal push to reveal their reasoning gives the story an almost serene flow. As such, “Adults' Picture Book New Edition” almost feels better suited for cinema than comics, as one would gain more from viewing the pauses and mannerisms than trying to piece together both Souchi and new mother Fusako as individuals. Specifically, why they may have willingly taken on parenthood despite both having a cold exterior could be hinted at in subtle actions towards Kiki.
While a different medium for the story may offer more clarity, that is not to say it is lacking. In fact, more stories of this ilk would be welcome in the genre. The second volume will establish whether the series has that staying power and if it can stay in that space of uncertainty to string the readers into a grander story. The only caveat for not checking out “Adults' Picture Book New Edition” is that it leaves a lot of unknowns; the series could fall flat, but this would undersell how strong a story Kei Itoi presents in the inaugural volume.
Thriving in ambiguity can also be applied to the art of Kei Itoi, which, on one hand, feels overly simplistic to a fault. However, as the manga establishes the story, a certain wholesome charm manifests to the benefit of the art. There is an undeniable sentimentality in having Fusako connect with her new daughter, with the panels switching between the child's view and the woman's warm smiles. Small moments like these, particularly when looked through the eyes of a child, feel genuine. While not overly detailed or flashy, the art perfectly complements the story Kei Itoi aims to craft.
“Adult's Picture Book New Edition” is a rare title that resonates with a genuine warmth that is difficult to relay; I was entranced by the story but struggled to pinpoint why. The series will certainly benefit from additional volumes, as it leaves too much unanswered, but going on intuition on what little is on offer, “Adult's Picture Book New Edition” has the potential to be something truly unique and great. It is, undeniably, a series that will entice readers looking for titles with a unique voice and approach.
