“God Bless the Mistaken” vol. 2 synopsis from Yen Press: “Middle schooler Kon and his landlord, Kasane, live in a world where periodic exceptional phenomena, more commonly known as bugs, are part of everyday life. They range from troublesome to inconsequential, with building interiors turning into elaborate labyrinths or stripes appearing on water fleas—whatever the case may be, Kon is quickly learning to roll with and even enjoy each new occurrence as it comes. To Kasane, however, Kon's existence itself might be the most wondrous marvel of all…”
Buy This Title
on Amazon by clicking on the image below
Nio Nakatani is an unheralded mangaka in the West, primarily known for her girl's love series “Bloom into You.” While well respected in the genre, the series has not seen her acknowledged outside of that niche. Consequently, the inaugural volume of “God Bless the Mistaken,” a slice-of-life with fantasy elements, is a welcome switch-up. Casting a wider net to help introduce readers to Nakatani's sincere approach to character-building and expressive visual style, the second book in the series proves Nio's skill beyond the genre that saw her gain some notoriety.
Follow us on Twitter by clicking on the image below
Keeping to the same episodic approach, where every chapter sees the residents of a small town deal with anomalies, “God Bless The Mistaken” pushes forward with a light dramatic flair. Notably, Kon and Kasane's friendship faces a peculiar challenge, which won't shock readers but certainly adds longevity and deeper themes to be explored. For those who appreciated the two's initial connection, this twist only gives the reader a greater reason to be invested in seeing how it will develop. It does not derail the wholesomeness that first made it so appealing.
As with the first volume, the varying anomalies add much of the comedic flair. One instance sees a world that does not need sleep, causing unintended chaos as people start overworking themselves with the luxury of 24-hour days. In addition, readers get more insight into Kasane's role as a government researcher and how the anomalies function. There is enough repetition of a successful formula with slight reveals that the manga still perfectly hits those comforting notes you want from slice-of-life series but has enough intrigue to string readers along. “God Bless the Mistaken,” at two volumes in, has already become the perfect comfort read to pick up between other titles.
The art of Nio Nakatani is not overly impressive, but it suits the story and vibe well. This is primarily thanks to her knack for capturing character expressions and eccentricities in a way that makes her subjects instantly endearing. Her work also has a certain softness, which works in the GL and slice-of-life genre. The only minor caveat is that the fantasy elements could use more visual flair, with this one lacking the appearance of a fantastical creature that made the previous entry slightly more pronounced and intriguing visually. Still, the visuals of “God Bless The Mistaken” are warm, uplifting, and wholly enjoyable.
“God Bless the Mistaken” is perfect for slice-of-life fans and those who love comforting, light-fantasy works. Moreover, with the series set to conclude after its fourth volume, it is a perfect highlight of Nio Nakatani's prowess as a storyteller and visual artist in an easily collectible run.
