Boogiepop Dual: Makeinu-tachi no Circus

Having just watched both anime series and developed a liking for Boogiepop, I decided to dive into this spinoff/side story while waiting for my Boogiepop novels to arrive by mail.

I didn't enjoy it. If I had to describe "Boogiepop Dual" in one word, it would be "dull."

The narrative revolves around Boogiepop, but instead of sharing a body with Touka Miyashita as seen in the main series, he inhabits the body of a boy named Takaya Akizuki. He also appeared in someone else's body in the past, but that's a spoiler. The antagonist's power was unclear to me, and I wasn't keen on re-reading it to figure it out. It seemed to involve exploiting cracks in his victims' hearts, making them feel like losers so they lash out violently. Everything turned out fine in the end, I suppose.

The artwork shares the same issue as the anime: everyone looks the same. During the climax, I tried to distinguish characters by traits like "long-haired girl" and "short-haired girl." A few scenes featuring Boogiepop in action were pretty cool, thanks to his sweet cape. Otherwise, there wasn't much to write home about. The backgrounds were standard fare: school rooftop, hospital, school nurse's office, someone's apartment. The story didn't demand anything more elaborate.

The characters were passable. The female teacher was somewhat interesting. I can't recall what the antagonist's motivation was, even though I read it last night. Boogiepop doesn't use his wires to grab things or decapitate people; instead, he shoots a bubble from his finger that makes people forget things. That’s what I think it does. There are several student-teacher relationships depicted, some sexual and one non-sexual but a bit unsettling.

It was only two volumes long, and I was intrigued enough to finish it, but I'll likely forget I ever read it within a week.

If you're desperate for more Boogiepop content and want something quick to read, you might find it enjoyable. Otherwise, it's probably not worth your time.

The story is captivating and intriguing, revolving around split personalities or perhaps a hero who disguises himself as a child when danger lurks. This manga will keep you on the edge of your seat.

I appreciate the art style, although some characters share similar facial features, which can be somewhat confusing. The character personalities are also impressive.

I thoroughly enjoyed this manga and fully recommend it. It's all about Boogiepop.

You'll find yourself eager to read more about Boogiepop and his adventures. :D