Cutie Honey was such a disappointment.

I was watching the 1973 anime and quite enjoying, so I decided to take a look at the manga.
While I've appreciated Go Nagai's other works, especially during my childhood, this one reveals itself to be disrespectful and disturbing.


Honey's mission is your typical avenge tale, but it could have developed some interesting implications. However, it takes a step back to leave space to Nagai's need to make some of the most idiotic jokes I've heard since I was in middle school.
The manga seems to want not to take itself seriously, but it ends up showing a lack of respect towards its own story and characters.

First of all, Honey is reduced to an empty shell, a beautiful statue to be admired and almost never a real person. She is but an object, unfortunately.
Towards the later chapters, there is an occasion where she shows actual emotions and attachement to people but that's where it ends. A shame, really, especially comparing it to its anime counterpart.

Her schoolmates and teachers' sexuality is always used to ridicule them, as well as their appearance. Nagai shows absolutely no tact towards them, probably hoping to be funny.
There are themes of abuse, but, again, it's just the mangaka trying to be funny and looking for an excuse to show more nudity (because why not).
The reader ends up not caring at all about them, since they are so absurdly mean, and when something happens, the scene carries no impact at all.

Regarding the artstyle, there's not much to say.
It's your tipical, fun Go Nagai characters (complete with sideburns, of course) and it is pleasant to look at, although the proportions bend themself to the fanservice, sometimes.


Overall, I really wish I could have liked it.
This is definitely the least sensible side of Nagai's work and I do not recommend it (unless you want to spend a couple of hours cringing).
You're better off watching the anime, with its fun fanservice and uniqueness.