Maison Ikkoku, Vol. 3: Home Sweet Home

Yusaku can't seem to make up his mind who he really likes. He loves Kyoko but she never really shows any interest in him. So his only current alternative is Kozue, and he's on the verge of breaking up with her, that is, if she IS his girlfriend. Ah, things are getting complicated. And just being in her company is sending Kyoko all the wrong signals. Speaking of wrong signals, in a moment of misunderstanding, the other occupants of Ikkoku tell Yusaku that Kyoko is getting married to the big hunk tennis coach Mitaka which might just cause a final rupture between her and Yusaku! Volume 3 of this funny but warm-hearted series is excellent and falls right in line with Takahashi's other masterful installments. The art has more of a western feel and should appeal to any reader. The characters are the real stars as usual and breath with humanity. Their reactions are obvious, and because of this, human. Great book. Great artist and storyteller!

The trials and tribulations of Yusaku Godai continue in the third "Maison Ikkoku" volume. Not quite a drama, not quite a romance, and not quite a comedy, Rumiko Takahashi's charming series is still a charming mess of romantic problems.The hapless college student Yusaku Godai is still trying to win the heart of the widowed manager Kyoko -- and a hunky, wealthy, charming rival called Shun Mitaka doesn't help his case, since Mitaka is as enamored of Kyoko as Godai is. Nor does the kitten he catsits, which happens to be called "Kyoko Baby," or the comical sports injuries he gets. But things take a nasty turn when Kyoko's parents begin nosing in her personal life -- her mom wants her to quit her job and remarry, and doesn't care that Kyoko likes her job and is still mourning her husband. Her dad doesn't want her to remarry at all. And when Kyoko encounters Godai and his sort-of-girlfriend, her jealousy begins to spin out of control."Maison Ikkoku" is the only one of Takahashi's long-running series to not include a fantasy/SF element, so it's more like a witty sitcom. The slapstick tone of the first stories has been toned down a little, and the more dramatic, intense stories start to shine through, like Kyoko saying that she wants to stay a part of Soichiro's family a little longer.Takahashi's artwork has become more polished by this point; it's not as polished as it now is, but the "Maison Ikkoku" style had settled firmly into its groove. She relies a little more on intentional comedy (a drunken Godai hugging Kyoko) than on slapstick, although she doesn't shy away from stuff like having Kyoko Baby wet Godai's bed.Godai's one of those young guys who are a little bit hapless and pathetic. He's nice and generous and loving, but a mildly wimpy type. He dreams of Kyoko, but isn't yet mature enough for her. Kyoko herself has experienced a lot more -- true love, loss, and now she's starting to love again. Previously-introduced characters like the pleasant rivals-for-love Mitaka and Kozue return, and there are a few new ones like Kyoko's pushy, obnoxious parents."Maison Ikkoku" starts to really blossom in the third volume, with more dramatic character tension and quite a few surprise twists. Highly recommended.