Skip Beat!

A shōjo unlike any other (and it feels fantastic!)

Get ready to laugh repeatedly!

Wouldn't Skip Beat be one of the most hilarious mangas out there? Honestly, I think so.

First, the synopsis. The protagonist, Kyōko Mogami, moved to Tokyo to follow her childhood friend, Shō Fuwa, whom she is in love with. Having become a famous singer in Japan, he manipulates Kyōko and tosses her aside like she was nothing. Put yourself in her shoes—what would you do? I'd probably cry. But Kyōko decides otherwise; she aims for revenge by becoming an actress and joining the rival company of Shō's, which produces stars like actors and singers. There, she meets the other main character, Ren Tsuruga—a handsome, talented actor recognized as one of, if not the best in Japan. He becomes her mentor and starts falling for Kyōko.

A love triangle like no other

Let's face it, I usually hate love triangles in shōjos—they're too cliché for my taste. Typically, the heroine falls for the brown-haired guy who loves her back but can't admit his feelings. Then she finds comfort with a kind, respectful blonde who's always there for her. Their story progresses until a plot twist where the brunette finally wakes up and wins her back after months, and the nice blonde lets her go. MY GOD STOP!

Skip Beat offers a completely different approach:

1) The heroine builds real relationships with both men, making us appreciate both bonds.

2) All three characters are charismatic, funny, ambitious, and slightly naive, giving them an endearing quality that allows the story to evolve further.

Over 250 chapters...

Skip Beat has been published monthly since 2002. The series is still ongoing with over 250 chapters/42 volumes (compared to 83 chapters/18 volumes for Ouran High School Host Club and 85 chapters/18 volumes for Kaichou Wa Maid-sama!).

Why isn't the story finished yet?

While we constantly wonder about the love story's progression, we remember that the main character is Kyōko—an intelligent, funny, ambitious, and beautiful heroine. She's not just chasing love; betrayed by Shō, she refuses to fall in love again. Her goal is to become Japan's greatest actress. The story invites us to follow her dream.

In summary

I've read many shōjos, and for now, Skip Beat is my favorite. I've reread it multiple times with the same enthusiasm. I recommend it to anyone tired of weak protagonists who don't take initiative. Kyōko Mogami sets an example for all shōjo heroines.

This tale weaves together elements of romance, drama, and notably, comedy.

The personalities of the characters in this manga come across as exceptionally lifelike, with the exception of the female lead's ghostly companions that serve up hefty doses of comic relief.

Throughout its entirety, the storyline oscillates dramatically between serious and comedic tones, featuring deeply evolved plot arcs across every chapter.

The romantic threads among the characters unfold at a gradual pace, making it suitable for audiences aged 13 and above without causing offense.

I give a strong endorsement to both the series and its anime adaptation; however, the manga offers richer content due to its greater number of chapters beyond what has been animated.

Some people might come at me with pitchforks after reading this review, but remember it's only my opinion and you can ignore it.

Story
I initially loved where the story was heading. It had a strong female lead who didn't wallow in self-pity when she was tricked. She was determined to show the world what she was made of.
However, I don't love the story anymore; I don't hate it either, but I'm indifferent. I find myself not caring much about what is happening right now (I've probably fallen several chapters behind because I stopped reading) and the story feels like it's dragging.

Art
The proportions can be very distracting at times. The art isn't consistent; for example, when Kyouko acts, not only do her facial expressions change, but her entire body structure shifts as well. However, I overlook this since I assume the mangaka is trying to emphasize Kyouko's acting prowess. The bishounen characters sometimes look like alien creatures with their elongated faces. Ren has never appeared attractive to me. Nonetheless, the art is not sloppy, and once you get used to the unusual proportions, it's tolerable.

Character
I used to adore Kyouko, but the way the story is progressing makes me want to cry. Without giving away spoilers, I'm not a fan of Kyouko and Ren's relationship. I understand wanting praise from a top actor senpai, but Kyouko's actions seem like she's seeking Ren's approval. While I acknowledge she deeply respects him, on the other hand, she seems almost scared of him (e.g., of his criticism or anger). Their relationship doesn't feel equal; it resembles more of a stern parent-child dynamic. In contrast, I feel more comfortable with Sho and Kyouko's interactions (throwing insults at each other), even though Sho is the antagonist (a.k.a. the biggest jerk).

Enjoyment
Despite my harsh words, I did (or do) enjoy reading Skip Beat!. It was refreshing to read about a shojo character who wasn't such a pushover. I appreciated how much of the manga focused on Kyouko's growth as an actress and how she developed with each role. However, ever since the pigtails and lip piercing incident (trying to avoid spoilers here; those who have read will know which acting gig I mean), I just... can't. The only enjoyment I found afterward was in Sho and Kyouko's bickering.

Overall
It's a good read with some flaws.

When I first came across Skip Beat, I wasn't initially one of its enthusiastic fans based on the summary alone. Honestly, after reading the brief description, I scoffed, "Pfft, what's so special about this? It doesn't seem original at all! And the art isn't even that impressive!" and walked away.

The reasons I eventually started reading it were quite simple:

1) I had just finished my favorite manga at the time,

2) I was incredibly bored, and the series was ranked pretty high.

I know, those are terrible reasons, and honestly, I didn't think I'd enjoy Skip Beat at all. In fact, I couldn't understand why so many people loved this series.

However, after the first chapter, I was completely hooked. The main character initially seemed like any other typical protagonist, but the comedy, sarcasm, and meticulously drawn eyes caught my attention. Plus, the plot that I originally thought lacked originality began to feel much more intriguing. After that, I devoured every single chapter up to 139 in about three days.

Story: While not groundbreaking in terms of originality, as I can name a few stories with similar revenge plots, the narrative becomes quite distinct and captivating post-introduction. Even if the plot is somewhat cliché, it still makes you eager for more. What matters most is that good characters can elevate even an unoriginal plot. That's why I rate this aspect a 9.

Art: Yes, the bodies are exaggerated and elongated to emphasize their beauty, which initially put me off before I read the manga. However, I learned to ignore the body proportions and focus instead on the facial expressions and eyes, which are stunning. They convey emotions and feelings perfectly. Since you can grow accustomed to or even come to appreciate the exaggeration, I give the art a 10. If you can't get past it, it might be more of a 9 since you can't deny that most shoujo manga art is beautiful.

Characters: Characters are just as important, if not more so, than the plot. No matter how unique your story is, without compelling characters, it won't succeed. Skip Beat compensates for its lack of originality with exceptional characters. Without giving too much away, as you read, you'll find each character's inner thoughts easy to identify with. Told from Kyoko's perspective, you'll laugh at her antics and sympathize with her misfortunes. Truly, she's an interesting main character.

Enjoyment: It's fantastic. You laugh, empathize, cry, and get angry right along with Kyoko. It's remarkable when a manga can evoke such strong reactions. This manga is genuinely great and can be enjoyed by even the harshest critics, like myself.

Overall: 10. Simply (almost) perfect. A must-read!

(Wow, that was long! But I hope it helped someone out there!)

When I first heard about Skip Beat, I was skeptical. "What on earth is this?" I thought. "Is it even a good manga? Whatever, I should just read it so I can write a review."

Upon reading the summary, my initial impression was that it seemed like any other typical shoujo manga. However, as I delved deeper, I realized it wasn't just another simple romance comedy; it deserved appreciation. Initially, I found the premise somewhat silly. After reading a few chapters, Kyoko, the main character, reminded me of other characters from different stories. While I'm not a fan of characters feeling derivative, as the story progressed, it made me reflect deeply. Sho fits the mold of the classic bishounen, and Ren embodies the mysterious quiet type with an enigmatic past. The plot seemed fairly standard at first, but as I continued, I found myself eagerly anticipating each new chapter. Each scene had a way of making my heart skip a beat, which led me to wonder if that's why the manga is titled "Skip Beat."

I remember thinking, "What was I thinking when I dismissed this as not being a good story? I was way off!" I laughed at my initial judgment and understood why this series has such high ratings. Without a doubt, I believe this manga deserves a perfect 10 score.

The romance in Skip Beat is wonderfully complex. It baffles me how Sho could possibly have feelings for Kyoko and why Ren worries so much about her. I feel the artist could provide more detail while maintaining the current storytelling style. The progression of the story is truly remarkable, and I give immense credit to the artist. Although, I think the romance could be slightly enhanced.

The story incorporates various genres: romance, shoujo, comedy, and more. The plot is engaging so far, but I'd love to see a female character who complicates things between Ren and Kyoko. That's just my personal preference. I also think Sho should appear more frequently and in ways that leave readers amazed.

Overall, the story is incredibly captivating. If you're looking for a straightforward, comedic shoujo manga, this one is for you. Don't judge it based on its summary alone. Read it and appreciate it based on your own perspective. It offers a unique glimpse into the celebrity world and makes you realize that fame isn't always glamorous. Everyone should give this manga a try.

I highly recommend it to people of all ages and genders. Who wouldn't enjoy a simple story that makes your heart skip a beat with every scene?

Story
I have to admit, it's uncommon to find a plot in manga where a girl goes all out for revenge against a guy she thought she loved. Fuwa betrays Mogami, who then does a complete 180 on him. That’s essentially the gist of it. While the story has various events, they all somehow revolve around Mogami seeking revenge by becoming more popular than Fuwa. It's straightforward enough to understand the characters, which can sometimes be overwhelming in Shoujo mangas.

HOWEVER, while I might enjoy parts of the story, it has its flaws. Skip Beat starts off incredibly slow. So slow that you may feel compelled to stop reading. Honestly, I only continued reading because I was curious about what would happen if Fuwa and Mogami met again. I don't care much for anything else because the pacing is inconsistent and there's nothing really holding your interest. The connection between Mogami and Fuwa and their actions are what keep me engaged. Unfortunately, the plot itself feels rather inconsistent, which disappoints me.

Art
Nakamura Yoshiki has a very unique art style. She doesn’t usually sharpen the chins of her male characters, so their chins look like parabolas. Compared to her previous work 'Tokyo Paradise,' her art has significantly evolved. However, when you see how she draws side profiles, it’s quite different from her front-facing character designs. Another distinctive feature of her art is the torso-to-leg ratio. In full-body drawings, the legs appear incredibly long, with the torso being half the size of the legs. Sometimes this looks out of place, but overall, her art is amazing.

Character
I absolutely adore Mogami. In the realm of Shoujo manga, female heroines are often somewhat useless. Mogami is one of those rare exceptions who doesn’t cry over everything and can actually defend herself. Plus, she has these mini demon versions of herself representing her thoughts.

Skip Beat fans, or at least the majority of them, LOVE Tsuruga Ren. He’s handsome, an actor, and a model. It’s also hinted that he’s American with some personal issues. People pair him with Mogami because a) ___________________ and b) _______________________ (spoilers). But I don’t like him. It’s not because I’m a Fuwa-Mogami fangirl; it’s just that he’s not my ideal character type. He’s the typical guy who hides his true feelings (not quite tsundere though) and is every girl’s dream. Even after learning about his backstory, I still don’t appreciate him as a character.

I know people will hate me for saying this, but I prefer Fuwa over Tsuruga. He’s an arrogant jerk whom you can both love and hate. The chemistry (if you can call it that) between him and Mogami is captivating. You wonder what they’ll do next time they meet or how far Mogami will go to surpass Fuwa. Sadly, Fuwa doesn’t get as much "screen" time as everyone else, which makes me sad. But he’s a decent jerk, and if Mogami weren’t so thickheaded, the story would’ve turned in my favor.

Note: Mogami is driven by hatred. She has common sense but lacks any sort of emotion when it comes to Fuwa. She’s naturally naive and ignorant, but not like Misao from Black Bird. Also, she’s fairly gullible.

Enjoyment/Overall
The series is still fairly decent. I am still reading it now, but the past chapters... well... I had to force myself through them. The story is moving very slowly at this point. You might ask, “Why not drop it?” Chapter 199 was just updated, and after going through all those chapters, I’m not just going to drop it. This manga is a ‘droppable’ manga, so if you don’t like it in the first few chapters, I HIGHLY encourage you to push through a bit more. It starts getting more interesting around chapters 20 and 30.

I've started reading Skip Beat after watching and immensely enjoying the anime. I just had to know what happens next in Mogami-san's turbulent life. The manga is good, I'll give it that much, but it's not great. In my opinion, there are too many chapters that are nothing more than fillers. To tell you the truth, I thought about giving it up altogether. However, I couldn't. It's all Mogami-san's fault!

Mogami Kyoko is one of the best female characters I've encountered in a shojo manga. She starts out as a passive, innocent-beyond-innocence-itself girl (read: annoying as hell). She loses that trait as she is betrayed and she strives to reinvent herself and regain trust in people and love. She becomes a rising actress, working her way to the top.

It's a rather new experience for me to keep reading a shojo manga because I like the female character so much. Don't get me wrong, I do like the male characters, Tsuruga-san and Fuwa-san, but the motivation behind my sticking like glue to Skip Beat is Mogami. She is fun and smart, and she gets herself into all sorts of impossible situations. Once a meek little lamb, she turns into a ferocious, unyielding girl. A worthy cause, which, unfortunately, gets a bit sidetracked as the manga continues on.

However, every once in a while, Mogami-san shines in all her ferocity and all is right with the world. It's actually somewhat easier to digest all the seemingly meaningless chapters, knowing that you'll get what you want.

Tsuruga Ren is, sort of, the main male character. I said sort of, because he gets fewer pages as the manga continues, which is rather irritating. I really like the fact that he is a nice guy, supportive, and ready to help when help is needed.

I believe Skip Beat is a manga worth reading. It's fun and witty, just like its main character, and although it sometimes wanders off to a place I don't understand or like, I think it's still worth going through that place. I know that the overall grade seems to be rather harsh when taking the review into account, but I just can't forgive all those boring chapters.

Skip Beat, without a doubt, stands out as the finest manga I've ever delved into. It's brimming with romance, drama, and an abundance of suspense. Even if shoujo isn't your usual cup of tea, I strongly suggest giving the first few chapters a read. While most of my favorite anime/manga fall under the shonen category, Skip Beat is a delightful exception. If you're on the hunt for a fresh, innovative storyline, this manga should be at the top of your list! Despite its seemingly frilly, girly exterior, it genuinely deserves a chance!

Story-10~
The story earns a perfect 10 for its relentless action, romance, drama, suspense, and plot twists! *excerpt from Wikipedia* (Skip-Beat! revolves around Kyoko Mogami, a hopeful sixteen-year-old girl who loves her childhood friend, Shotaro, but faces betrayal and seeks revenge against him.) Instead of wallowing in heartbreak, she decides to fight back. Sho can't just treat her this way! She had been his maid for years, yearning only for love, until Sho abandoned her like she was nothing, moving on to his fangirls as if nothing happened. Being popular in show business/singing, he no longer needed her. Sho essentially dragged her from Kyoto to Tokyo, only to use her and ruin her life! Kyoko dives into acting to outshine him, proving she won't remain his weak, love-seeking maid anymore.

Art-8~
The artwork is quite good but not the best out there. Nevertheless, it's tolerable and shouldn't detract much from the story. Despite some shortcomings, the art has its strengths, such as the expressive eyes and facial expressions. It certainly gets the job done.

Character-10~
Characters deserve a solid 10. The characters in Skip Beat each have unique personalities that draw you in even more than the story itself. Without these captivating characters, Skip Beat would just be another mundane shoujo (well, okay, maybe not entirely, but definitely not as remarkable).

Enjoyment-9~
I give enjoyment a 9 because waiting two weeks to a month between chapters is torturous. I genuinely enjoy reading this manga.

Overall-10~
Overall, Skip Beat gets a flawless 10. I absolutely adore this manga and am thrilled I decided to give it a try. For a long time, it seemed like something unworthy of attention... DON'T JUDGE THIS BOOK BY ITS COVER! D: