Maniac Road

Haruna wins a raffle contest at a store for one night and two days at a beach resort in Izu so the gang is off for a little fan service and fun in the sun. But what is that giant black fin cutting through the water? Is this a scene from Jaws? It's up to Takezou and company to find out what exactly is cruising in the depths beneath their feet. Takezou's sister, Shinano, a fellow otaku, and his brother, whose mission it is to bring Takezou home, arrive at Maniac Road! And then a fire at the store might just bring all their dreams burning down. This final volume of Maniac Road has a little more drama, which isn't much, than the other volumes. We get glimpses of a romance between Aoba and Takezou, and also hints of Takezou's dark family secret. Volume 3 is very well written and seems a little more about plot than conveying the author's primary otaku interests. And it's still pretty funny, in a respectable way. Good series.

The final volume of Maniac road is almost as tight as the previous two books, but not quite. That being said, it is still a rather enjoyable read and the last few chapters are inspiring. All the otaku goodness is still there, but in a few forced storylines. A trip to the beach brings about the discovery of an antique submarine (the main subject of of otakuness after many pages of the girls in swimwear), Takezou's heretofore unmentioned brother, sister, and father all get page space (guest star, reoccuring regular, and cameo in respective order), and something happens that changes Maniac Road forever. It's a good book, and I'd buy it purely for more Maniac sweetness alone and the final chapter where everyone comes together in the end for the greater good. The only problem I have is bringing in all these extras, such as Takezou's brother, and making his sister a main reoccuring character when you're just going to end the series with this volume anyway. Wasted Potential. But, I guess that's what PRETTY MANIACS is for... in which his sister takes center stage at the store! Mwaaahahahaha. Good Marketing... but I want more Takezou/Haruna goodness (if that's where SK was leaning... towards the end there, it seemed like he was priming Takezou and Aoba for a little romance). Oh well... BUY IT!