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Megumi Amatsuka, a rough-and-tumble nine-year-old boy, always dreamed of becoming the "manliest man on earth." After rescuing a sorcerer from a group of local thugs, he received a magical book. Using it, Megumi summoned a genie to grant him a wish. However, due to a cruel twist of fate, the genie turned out to be evil, and Megumi ended up as the "womanliest woman on earth"!
Six years later, Megumi is now the most desirable girl in school. Despite her hot-mama facade, deep inside she remains the same trash-talkin', punk-stompin' boy.
Originally published in English as Cheeky Angel by VIZ Media from July 7, 2004, to January 8, 2008, the series has since been republished digitally under the VIZ Select imprint starting May 12, 2015.
Tenshi na Konamaiki (Manga) 8/8/8/8/8
First things first. My "reviews" system is explained on a blog entry. Which can be found through my profile.
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✦Story
This is another one of those "gender bender" stories that isn't really about gender bending, but the approach to this aspect was executed superbly. The story itself was humorous and very endearing. It had numerous twists, character developments, changes, and so forth. The relationships were adorable, with plenty of moments for fans to enjoy, and the story flowed smoothly overall. A satisfying finale was a great addition.
The biggest weakness of the story was its repetitiveness in certain areas, and some characters' actions eventually became quite annoying.
✦Art
Old but good. Enough said.
✦Character
The manga featured many enjoyable stereotypes, surprisingly offering substantial progression and development. While the main female character's personality could get rather irritating at times, she was generally adorable.
✦Enjoyment & Overall
All things considered, it was an adorable romance manga with a surprisingly enjoyable flow of characters and plot points.
TL:DR
A decent romance with likable characters and an unexpected amount of action.
Story: 7/10
First off, this isn't a fetish manga as I initially feared from the gender-bending premise. Surprisingly, there's no fanservice. The gender-bending aspect is handled seriously rather than for laughs. It explores masculinity/femininity and challenges traditional gender roles, which is interesting but not groundbreaking for modern Western readers, though likely novel for Japan in 1999.
The main couple's relationship starts antagonistically. Initially, I thought it would be a "bad boy" fantasy, but that quickly changes, and the love interest becomes more likable. The romance develops naturally without feeling forced by the author. As they get involved in the manga's events, their bond strengthens organically.
The main group's friendship evolves realistically. They start as strangers and gradually form bonds. Their initial connection revolves around Megumi, but after spending time together, the male characters develop relationships among themselves. This feels authentic since they had no prior connection and were initially wary of each other.
There's a surprising amount of intense action, making what could have been a routine romance more unique. The fights have real stakes, though I wish some of the focus was shifted more towards romance and character development. The manga might have run a bit too long, with some parts that could have been cut without losing much, but overall, it doesn't overstay its welcome.
Characters: 7/10
Initially simple, the characters reveal hidden depths over time. They're memorable but not exceptionally complex or unique.
Megumi, the protagonist, gets most of the character development and has a fun personality. Her arc is more intricate due to the gender-bending element. She's the best character, though her violent reactions can be irritating.
The other main cast members fit into clear archetypes: Genzo the punk, Hitomonji the samurai, Ichiro the average guy, Miki the princess, and Yasuda (we'll discuss him later). Despite fitting stereotypes, they're well-written and contribute to an enjoyable dynamic.
Genzo starts as the "bad boy" archetype but mellows out, becoming more likable. He grows significantly and is one of my second favorite characters.
Hitomonji is the least realistic, behaving unlike any typical teenager. However, he's well-written and stands out among the male cast.
Ichiro follows the "average guy discovers inner strength" trope but his arc is well-paced and believable.
Miki contrasts Megumi but lacks individual development. I'd have liked to know more about her.
The recurring antagonist feels underdeveloped. His motives are believable, but his actions seem inappropriate. He raises the stakes but isn't a strong character on his own. However, his story arcs bring out the best in the rest of the cast.
Yasuda is the worst character: the designated pervert. Everything he does revolves around this trait, which is annoying. He grows the least and only has two cool moments, both rushed at the end. At least he's easy to ignore.
Other recurring characters have minor roles but add to the story.
Art
The art is excellent, combining expressive shoujo designs with cool shounen battle scenes. The manga balances cute and cool effectively.
Overall: 7/10
Cheeky Angel is a unique blend of romance, action, and comedy with a strong cast. It's thoroughly enjoyable, with well-done romance and characters, despite some flaws. Not a masterpiece, but definitely worth reading.
Recommended for romance fans seeking something different.
When I first read the description, I assumed this was a typical "gender bender" manga. However, as I delved deeper into it, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that it wasn't what I expected. Most gender-bending stories focus on characters transforming from male to female or vice versa, often for comedic effect during awkward moments, which can become repetitive and dull over time. This manga, however, takes a different approach.
This story revolves around Megumi, a girl who wants to be a boy because she used to be one before an evil spirit turned her into a girl. Years after her transformation, she still yearns to become male again. Even though she behaves like a girl, she has a strong preference for traditionally masculine activities, such as fishing, and shows no romantic interest in the opposite sex. The twist is that despite her wishes, she has become very beautiful and attractive, drawing attention from various men.
I would describe this manga as a "reverse harem." Instead of the usual scenario where one average guy is surrounded by multiple charming girls, here we have one cute girl attracting many unimpressive guys. Megumi is a fascinating character; it's hard to define whether she's truly a man trapped in a woman's body or simply a girl trying to live as a boy. The narrative is compelling, but there are a few minor issues. For starters, it's technically a comedy manga, yet I found most of the jokes and humor overall to be somewhat weak. Additionally, while I appreciate Nishimori Hiroyuki's unique artistic style, I noticed that some characters look quite similar due to a lack of detailed differentiation.
Despite these small criticisms, it remains a very good manga overall. I recommend giving it a try.
I always recommend this manga whenever someone asks me for suggestions. It was the anime's first episode that initially drew me to read the series, and I often point out how the anime's ending pales in comparison to the manga's, which was thrilling and satisfying. I haven't read Ranma yet, though people say it's great. After enjoying Tenshi na Konomaiki, I'm more inclined to give it a try.
Bushi is a common trope but an entertaining one. The exceedingly normal guy is a humorous character, and Megumi easily qualifies as BAE (before anyone else).
As a side note, the all-women competition was decently executed in the anime, but I remember having a fantastic time reading it, which greatly enhanced my viewing experience, especially during the scene at the old hotel. LUL
The narrative revolves around a boy's psyche trapped in a girl's body, transformed by a spell from an energetic little boy into the most wonderful woman in the world. His sole dream is to become the manliest man ever, even if it means pursuing this dream while living as a woman. In her quest for the book that might restore his masculinity, she enrolls in a regular high school and befriends a diverse group of males with colorful personalities. Through countless battles and experiences with these new friends, she starts to grasp what it means to be both a great man and a great woman.
Story:
Initially, I wasn't overly impressed. There are numerous "gender-bending" plots out there executed better (Ranma comes to mind). The underlying message of the story feels repetitive over 20 volumes and isn't particularly striking. The ending was somewhat disappointing... However, the plot does grow on you. Some arcs are well-crafted, emotional, or intense, but almost every arc concludes with pointless fights, the protagonist looking cool, and the love interest preaching about their "way of the man." It might have been more impactful if it were shorter.
Art:
I nearly gave up on this manga after the first chapter due to the horrendous art quality. Yet, after the initial few volumes, the artist improves significantly, making it at least bearable to look at. The battle scenes aren't very original, which is unfortunate given how often they fight in this series.
Character:
While not deeply developed or original, the characters are engaging enough. The protagonist Megumi undergoes significant changes throughout the series (though I won't reveal too much). Personally, I found Genzou (the lovesick punk) and Hitomonji (the serious samurai) to be standout characters. There's also a large supporting cast of memorable side characters, compensating somewhat for the story's shortcomings.
Enjoyment/Overall:
Though not the best comedy, romance, or fantasy, this series had its merits and made for a decent read to pass time during summer boredom. Just don't approach it with exceedingly high expectations.