An Unexpected Pregnancy with the Fake Husband’s Child

You know that feeling when you're trying to savor a delicious meal, but there's a fly buzzing around you incessantly and you just can't shoo it away? That's exactly how it feels reading this manga. Right off the bat, in the first chapter, I was hit with a distasteful gay predator joke and introduced to an insufferable male character who, I can already tell, will be a constant presence throughout the series. So, I've decided to stop reading it because I have better ways to spend my time than subjecting myself to this self-inflicted torture.

The one positive thing I can mention is that Mikami's character is pretty cool, and the artwork carries a unique charm that only 90s manga can offer. Nevertheless, any enjoyment I might have had from the rest of the first chapter was drastically diminished by the author's ridiculous choice to incorporate the perverted female character into the main cast.

I truly believe this manga could have been much better if the perverted character had been eliminated by firing squad in the very first chapter. But since that didn't happen, I've completely lost any hope for this manga ever being worthwhile.

What a cool old manga! When I read it, my heart can't stop racing! It's such a simply-complicated plot! Haha... I mean, the content isn't too heavy for teenagers, but the storyline is quite diverse. It includes romance, friendship, old and modern culture, a few dirty jokes (oh no!), yet it's filled with action scenes and the supernatural! However, I can't go on about it much longer; this manga is pretty awesome to me. Ohh, I highly recommend this manga for those who love supernatural and action anime. Don't worry; the jokes pop up often!<br />  
Maybe it's wishful thinking, but I hope that someday this manga series and its anime will continue. I really hope so... hahahahahaha!  

<p>

In short, this manga is fantastic. From start to finish, it remains engaging, unlike many others in the same genre where my interest tends to fade as the story progresses. If you enjoy this style of manga, you won't go wrong with this one.

Expanding on that, the story reaches its peak around volumes 36-37, and it feels like that could be the end right there. However, it continues for a few more volumes without attempting to reach another peak, which often leads to disappointing endings in other manga. This one maintains interest throughout, with well-paced action sequences that never feel rushed or dragged out. The balance between serious and comedic moments is spot-on, preventing the tone from tipping too far in either direction for too long. Additionally, this manga boasts what might be considered the perfect ending for this type of story. The only reason the story isn't rated a perfect 10 is due to a vague dissatisfaction I can't quite pinpoint.

Regarding the art, it complements the manga beautifully. There are only a handful of instances where I thought the artwork could use improvement, but these are rare.

As for the characters, it's challenging to label them as bad, yet they're far from perfect. Okinu is the sole character with significant growth, while the male protagonist shows some development, particularly noticeable towards the end. However, the main female character lacks substantial growth, except for two key moments (you'll recognize them when you encounter them).

This manga strikes the perfect balance between lightheartedness and seriousness, offering a great contrast to the comedy. The interactions between characters, along with the growth of at least one, and the overall presentation make this a must-read for me. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys this genre, and even if you're just curious about whether you'd like it, picking this up would be a wise choice.

Well, this manga is quite intriguing. It revolves around a girl who's deeply fascinated by money and dresses in provocative outfits, paired with a perverted man who essentially acts as her slave. To spice things up, there's also a sweet ghost added into the mix. The manga doesn't follow a fully developed storyline, but it doesn't need to. Similar to most others I've reviewed before, this one focuses more on case files rather than an overarching narrative. Some chapters are fairly short while others may span seven chapters all dedicated to a single case. It depends on how quickly the case is resolved.

The stories don't unfold as you'd expect but always seem to end up comical without really intending to. It's akin to people working for a serious company but being full of jesters. There isn't much drama unless you consider the many characters that occasionally pop up. You can pretty much assume that the characters will come out fine, except maybe their wallets and a few scratches, so you don't really worry about that. What you do end up wanting to know is whether they're actually making money from their jobs. I can compare this manga to a Sci-fi anime I watched before, Outlaw Star. The Ghost Sweeping business is a lot like a starship; both require a lot of money to maintain operations. This is evident when Mikami talks about just how much money a single talisman is worth. So basically, the main story of the manga is to earn enough money to get to the next job and keep Mikami happy.

The characters are... well, strange. The extra characters almost always make life harder for the main characters. We have a crybaby with shikigami that go crazy when she cries, a woman who uses voodoo magic as Mikami’s rival, a crazy alchemist who has lived forever but almost everything he does ends up blowing up in his face, and tons of other various 'colorful' characters. They all come and go as they please, making it interesting when they actually show up. Unlike Ranma (thankfully), these characters aren't love rivals, although the girls usually catch the perverted eye of Yokoshima, only for him to end up getting harmed by them either because they go through him to get to Mikami or due to his own stupidity. Unlike many characters that would fit their stereotypes, these characters do grow slightly, and I think the one that grows the most would be Yokoshima. I consider him more the main character of these mangas than Mikami just because he seems to grow the most. I can't really say how much he grows because it's really hard to do so without spoiling some of the events happening, but trust me, you'll notice it.

The one thing that bothers me though is even when they try to be serious, they end up ruining it with some overused lame joke such as Yokoshima’s horniness or Mikami’s greed for money. It feels like the only things that happen end with these jokes, and when you're reading every single story and it ends with that, it sort of bothers me. Even though the main stories are delightful and have a really good creative flow, using the same joke as the ending to all the stories makes it feel uneventful. Here's another example of something that annoyed me. During a rather intense battle, one with a rather strong enemy, for some reason, as they fought, the enemy ended up slipping on a banana peel that had no reason to be there. Little things like that, though entertaining, break the feeling the manga had. There are other times where the characters talk about the author and discuss the series, breaking the fourth wall.

The style reminds me of Rumiko Takahashi’s work to some extent. At least the male looks like a slight rip-off of Ranma in the face. You can tell the personality of each character by how they dress, showing that the author was paying attention when creating the manga. You can identify the pervert, the quiet one, and the rather sexual and money-grubbing one. The artwork is pretty standard for its age, where most panels have just enough detail to convey what's happening but the artist didn't go any further than that. Comical scenes are very undetailed with characters exaggerated in a chibi style, squashed appearances, or other such features.

The clothing style of the characters and even the people in the background suggest a specific timeframe, reminding me of old American 1960’s fashion—rocker haircuts and jumpsuits, mini skirts with jean jackets, the occasional headband tied around the forehead. It's somewhat surprising that she chose to use that art style when it was done in 1991, but I believe part of that is due to cultural differences. When Japan tries to imitate America, they often lag behind in trends because of how fashion circulates globally. We might try to imitate Japan in some ways (well, most of us otaku fans) but we're behind in that. This serves as a good way to see it from the Japanese perspective, and I don't fault the author for creating this type of style in the manga, regardless of how much I sometimes question the fashion sense.

<p>

Context/Intro:  

This manga, which originated long before my time in the 1990s, was serialized in Shonen Jump. Given its era and original audience, it’s essential to approach it with that context in mind. Having watched the anime beforehand, I wasn’t entirely unfamiliar with the story, but this allowed me to better appreciate the differences between the two mediums. This review will remain spoiler-free.  

TL;DR:  

Recommended, albeit with a few reservations. It’s a solid supernatural comedy manga with shonen elements and endearing characters.  

Plot: (Not Great)  

The plot leaves much to be desired. Let’s explore why. Primarily a comedy manga, it incorporates shonen staples such as formidable villains and an overarching evil mastermind, yet it consistently leans into humor even as the narrative advances. Consequently, when comparing the start and conclusion, there isn’t significant progression. While an overarching storyline does emerge later, the manga remains largely episodic, with arcs rarely spanning more than a handful of chapters before resetting. The pacing is one of the plot’s most glaring issues—it’s erratic and uneven. The ending suits the comedic tone, though certain serious threads are left unresolved, which isn’t necessarily detrimental given the genre.  

Characters: (Good)  

Mikami, Okinu, and Yokoshima form the central trio. Though they aren’t deeply complex, their charm grows on you as the series progresses. Character development aligns with the manga’s comedic nature, often being exaggerated for laughs. That said, all three undergo growth, with Yokoshima exhibiting the most noticeable transformation. However, their core personalities remain largely intact by the finale. Despite the focus on humor, each character experiences poignant moments that resonate. The supporting cast is vibrant, though no more intricate than the main trio, frequently revisiting familiar gags and punchlines. Fans of yokai folklore will appreciate the one-shot villain designs. Interpersonal dynamics are surprisingly organic, showcasing a strong bond among the main trio and enjoyable interactions with secondary characters. Regarding romance, without delving into specifics, it remains lighthearted and never develops beyond playful teasing. This ambiguity preserves mystery but may leave some readers craving closure.  

Overall, the characters are the manga’s standout feature, compelling you to eagerly anticipate their next moves.  

Art: (Poor)  

It’s challenging to assess whether the art style or quality is commendable, and this isn’t solely due to the manga’s age. There is slight improvement over time, but it’s minimal. During emotional scenes, expressions can occasionally convey the intended sentiment, but only after reading the dialogue, making them inconsistent. Even in comedic sequences, the visuals fall short—while the gist is understandable, you’re often just skimming through. In pivotal moments, however, the art shines as one of the manga’s highlights, reflecting the author’s effort.  

The paneling is subpar; the flow feels awkward and noticeable, though you eventually acclimate. The design appears generic, and the art style doesn’t enhance the overall presentation. Backgrounds are lackluster, with none standing out, and some seem like hastily drawn or edited photographs. These uninspired backgrounds exacerbate the shortcomings of the characters and paneling.  

Recommendation:  

I highly recommend giving the manga a try for its humor and memorable characters. Although other aspects are underwhelming, I stayed engaged through all 390 chapters because the characters truly captivated me.

I loooooveeeeeee iiiittt

What Ashton is about to do to Percy will be a shocker for her.....lol.....it's the start of something new and I'm loving it

Wonderful story thank you