SKIP BEAT

This story involves romance, drama and, more notably, comedy.

The characters' personalities presented in this manga feel incredibly realistic, minus the female lead's apparitions which provide intense comedic relief.

Overall the storyline leaps from one extreme to the next (serious-comedic, comedic-serious) and has incredibly developed plot series throughout all chapters.

The romance among the characters is a slowly developing plot point, and I would label it as unoffensive to ages 13+ at this point in time.

I strongly recommend this series, as well as the anime, however the manga will prove to be more fruitful, as it includes many more chapters than have been aired.

"Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned."

As most manga shoujos, you always see the typical tsundere, moe, megane, etc.. but nothing compares to our dearly loved Mogami Kyoko-chan. While the plot may seem not THAT interesting at first, the flow of the story is wonderful. I will try my best not to include spoilers for this manga though I'm sure people have already read and seen the anime.

Kyoko-chan is what you would call "Yamato Nadeshiko." Kind, loving, caring, sweet, etc... the kind of woman that Fuwa Sho finds boring and disappointing. Little did he know what was in store for him when he broke our Kyoko-chan heart. Seeking revenge on Kyoko-chan goes to tremendous lengths to show Shotaru how wrong he was to have played with Kyoko-chan's heart.

The manga revolves around Kyoko-chan who wants to ruin Sho (aka Shotaru) career but along the process of seeking revenge she meets the ever gorgeous Tsuruga Ren who complicates plans or gives her the chance to love again. Though the story has some holes (Kyoko-chan's parents), the progress of Kyoko-chan's escapades in the idol world has been enjoyable.

The art is lovely as ever. If can I can put my hands inside the monitor/manga and pull them out in real life. I have many favorite scenes (ex. Angel Kyoko-chan) where the mangaka has put the effort to show Kyoko-chan's beauty.

Character wise, I love how Kyoko-chan and friends have lost hope in love and are doing their bes to block-out all emotions or events that my trigger the feeling to come back. I also love how Kyoko changes slowly from hate to love, though NOT the romantic kind but love for work and friends.

Overall, this manga is worth the long series and wait. Though with the recent updates, it has been a little bit dragging but nonetheless still fun. I would recommend this to all the girls whose hearts has been trampled and have survived or anyone who just wants to read a new kind of heroine who doesn't succumb to love easily.

Do you like love stories, with a bit of humour and drama, well developed characters and lots of reasons to keep reading? Well, Skip Beat has all and a little more.

The story develops in such a way that allows the manga to keep going on; it doesn´t move around only one aspect of a character. In every volume (more or less) you have one main idea and many small ones that go along it, and become important in the following volumes: that way, it can never be boring.

The characters have a complex construction, and they act and talk according to it. Along the story (so far) the main character makes new friends, experiences many things, tests herself.

However, one recommendation: if you don´t want to become addicted to a manga that´s ongoing, hold on a little, wait for a few more books to come out, because it can get out of control!!!

I was a little apprehensive to start this to begin with. My friend was pushing me to read / watch it constantly, and has been doing so for the past year. Having just finished one of my favourite mangas of all time - Kare Kano, and watching my favourite anime of all time - Ookiku Furikabutte, I was reluctant to start something which frankly, from the blurb, didn't sound all that exciting or original.

Kyoko, obsessed with her friend Sho since childhood, has sacrificed everything for him. She has juggled jobs, quit school, learnt the art of a proper hostess, got to be loved by the parents, supported him in his dream of becoming a singer, and anything else he has asked for on the way. But when Sho gets that first, addictive taste of stardom, he ditches her for the much hotter girls and the much more inticing lifestyle. This acts as the catalyst, and Kyoko becomes bitter - determined that she will beat Sho in showbiz.

The basic plot seems... well, pretty basic. Typical shoujo, she'll try and beat him, he'll find redemption, they'll fall in love, and live happily ever after right? It is a shoujo after all!
WRONG. The friend who pushed me so hard to read this often says "Rather than looking at it as a romance-with comedy, look at it as a comedy-with romance. You'll enjoy it much more."
And she was right. True it's a long winding plot which, at 166 chapters translated, still hasn't reached anywhere NEAR a conclusion, so the die-hard get-to-the-confession-and-make-it-soppy shoujo fans probably won't get a kick out of this humourous, if not romantic story.

But anyone open to brilliant arcs, hilarious moments and lovable characters will thoroughly enjoy this, I guarantee it. From a obstinate die-hard slush or seinen fan, I've now come down with a serious case of Skip Beat addiction. I'm only up to volume 15, but can guarantee I'll reach the stage where I'm waiting impatiently for the next chapter to be scanned.

Thinking back, so far I can't remember a plot line previously used in another shoujo. I think the fact this is a COMEDY with romance rather than a ROMANTIC comedy gives it an edge. There are (so far) no love rivals, no trivial troubles arising between the star-crossed couple (to be honest, there is no couple as of yet - so it's not even possible). Because it is so far from a typical shoujo, the plot lines are so original.

You can almost tell the mangaka, Yoshiki Nakamura, has thought this all out (although, maybe she hasn't and is just a phenomenal story-teller), only tidbits of characters past being fed to an avid reader.
It has the funniest story lines I've ever read in a manga - my mother thought I was mad when she'd hear me in utter hysterics (Kyoko in a chicken suit - SB readers will understand this.)

All in all, this manga will make you laugh, make you cry, make you fall in love with the characters and find yourself immersed in the crazy world that is Skip Beat, and never want to leave.

Quite frankly, do not start reading Skip Beat! Well, not until it's finished anyway.

Skip Beat! is a very well written manga. The art is clean and very detailed at times, not including anatomy unfortunately. It has a total of 203 chapters at the moment and is updated every month. I strongly recommend that you wait until it is finished because it's so good! Having to wait an entire month for a chapter is nerve-racking and can get very tiring.

But still! This manga is a must read. It's cute, but not overly cute. It has amazing character development and its fair share of cliffhangers. The storyline is very detailed and the pacing is perfect.

I can honestly say that this is one of the best mangas I've read. I strongly recommend this to everyone. It's an amazing, comedic, yet sophisticated manga about self-discovery, and overcoming of the past in a showbiz setting. This is definitely one of those mangas where you cannot wait until the next update.

When I first tried reading this, I admit that I didn't feel that this story was all that great: mainly because I thought Kyouko's reason to joining showbiz, and her rather... odd, and overly enthusiastic personality. YET shortly after, I began falling in love with the story and the characters itself.

Nakamura Yoshiki is an amazing author. Unlike some authors who "jump right into the action" in the first chapter, she slowly and skillfully builds tension.

Her skillfully story telling enable readers to really sympathize with the characters from SB, and as I said, "fall in love" with her characters. She does an amazing job: from introducing the characters, to developing their complex personality and background. It never fails to amaze me how much more there is to learn about every character after every chapter.

The art, I can state without a doubt that it has improved SIGNIFICANTLY since TCP. This manga has giving me so many surprises when it comes to the design of the characters, especially Kyouko and Ren. It's amazing to see the beautiful, yet completely different Kyouko and Rens throughout the manga, as they take on one role after another.

If I wanted to, I could go on and on about how great this manga is, but I won't (Since this is long as it is). To sum it all up, this manga is one of a kind: I do not believe you can find another with a similar plot and more developed, and enjoyable as this one. I rarely give full marks, but I will say this manga definitely deserves an overall mark of 10 out of 10! :)

the manga is amazingly epic. it's so crazy and hilarious you never want to stop reading!!! I was captivated when I read the first chapter nuff said! read it and get your fill because this may be thee best manga that has ever been written!...in my opinion it is! it's so funny you'll laugh a lot more than you'll cry so please be sure to make regular bathroom breaks...i learned the hard way!

Some people are going to come at me with pitchforks after reading this review, but remember it's only my opinion and you can ignore it.

Story
I loved where the story was going. It had a strong female lead who didn't mop around and do nothing when she was tricked. She was going to show the world what she was made of.
I don't love the story anymore; I don't hate it, but I'm indifferent to it. I could care less about what is happening right now (I'm probably several chapters behind because I dropped it) and the story is dragging itself.

Art
The proportions can be very distracting sometimes. The art isn't consistent as in when Kyouko is acting, not only her facial expressions change, but her whole body structure does. However I overlook this fact because I guess the mangaka is trying to emphasize how great Kyouko's acting is. The bishounen's of this series are sometimes look like alien creatures with their elongated faces. I never once thought Ren looked attractive. However the art is not sloppy and once you get used to the strange proportions it's alright.

Character
I loved Kyouko but the way the story is advancing right now just makes me want to cry. I know reviews are not supposed to contain spoilers, but I'm not a fan of Kyouko and Ren's relationship. I mean I can understand you want to be praised by a top actor senpai but the way Kyouko acts seems as if she is trying to get Ren's approval. I get she deeply respects him, but on other hand she seems almost scared of him (e.g. of his criticism, getting him angry). I don't feel as if they are equals in this relationship; it feels more like a stern parent-child relationship for me. Heck I feel more comfortable with Sho and Kyouko (throwing insults at each other), and Sho is the antagonist (a.k.a biggest asshole there is) here.

Enjoyment
Though my harsh words, I do (or did) enjoy reading Skip Beat!. It was nice to read about a shojo character who was not such a pushover for a change. I loved how a lot of the time the manga was focused on Kyouko's growth as an actress. How she developed with each acting gig. However ever since the pigtails and lip piercing (trying to avoid spoilers here; people who have read you know which acting gig I'm talking about) I just... can't. The only enjoyment after that was Sho & Kyouko's bickering, that's it.

Overall
It's a good read with some faults.

Skip Beat isn’t your classic Shoujo, The cover is deceiving, on the outside it looks cute and fluffy, you open it up expecting a pleasing little love story with the usual clichés of a cute protagonist and her knight in shining armour.
But Skip Beats protagonist is not a mere Mary sue… Not at all, she’s dark, vengeful lacking in essential emotions such as love and her knight in shining armour Shoutaro, is an egotistical user.

Story: I first started reading this manga after being dumped in a foreign country for a local Thai girl, so for me this was like medicine… I could really relate to the character, and laugh with the story as it puts light on a dark subject.
It isn’t fun being used by the person you love, but instead of Kyoko rolling up in a hole she deside’s to get her revenge on Sho by entering his scene, the entertainment world.
The only possible down side to the story line could be the length, if you like the couple to be together within the first five chapters, Skip Beat might not be for you. But I found in this Shoujo I didn’t need them to be together for this to be one of my fav’s. Factors such as the humour, the characters personalities, and the story arcs all make up for this.

Characters: it’s a pleasure to read about these Char’s, Kyoko may be on a mission for revenge but her char grows throughout the story, she’s abit of a dork and lovable, you’ll be laughing during every chapter.
All the chars do advance during the story, at first you see Sho as the bastard he is… But later on he starts to grow on you… and the reader starts to forgive what he had done.. Its an emotional journey when you start to feel bad for the villain.

Art: To be honest, I did not like the art so much at the start.. (This proves how good the story line must be.) But I find now… I really like it… Why…. Well… I think her drawing is flawless in that style. It isn’t exactly a style I see a lot, but she can express things so well in the story. Hand actions, facial expressions, I even find the main man Ren quite attractive. This is Strange seeing as I didn’t like the art style to be gin with… I deduce that It must grow on you. But something I loved right from the start was her chibi’s! They are so very cute!

I really like the story, my only problem is the pacing or the art. One of the best plots I've read in awhile actually, which is a shame. The MC comes of dumb even for her age, but as the story goes on you realize you sold the story short by not thinking of it in a more complex way and just accepting it as you read it. Well at least on my part, and I can say I was pleasantly surprised in that aspect. The character development is great, and no one seems like someone who's just there to be there.
When I was on the last few chapters regarding fully catching up, I found myself getting disappointed because I felt we should be further along in the story. With the fact that chapters are only updated once a month, I decided to not read any more of it until it is completely finished so I don't torture myself further.

Skip Beat, by far, is the best manga I've read. The story is filled with romance, drama, and huge amounts of suspense. Even if you don't normally like shoujo, I'd recommend at least checking out the first few chapters. Most of my favored anime/manga is shonen, but Skip Beat is the exception to this. If you want to enjoy a new, original storyline, Skip Beat is the manga for you! Maybe it seems like some frilly, girly story from the cover, but seriously, give it a chance!

Story-10~
The story gets a 10 because it's filled with nonstop action, romance, drama, suspense, and plot twists! *taken from Wikipedia* ( Skip-Beat! is about Kyoko Mogami, a wistful yet cheery sixteen year-old girl who loves her childhood friend, Shotaro, but is cruelly betrayed and thus seeks revenge against him.) Instead of crying over her heart being broken though, she takes a step up and decides to fight back. He can't just treat her like this! She was practically his maid for years, only wanting love, and then Sho ditches her like she's nothing and goes to his fangirls like nothing happened. He is popular in show business/singing and therefore, doesn't need her anymore. Sho pretty much dragged her all the way to Tokyo from Kyoto, just to use her and ruin her life! Kyoko goes into acting to try and outshine him so that he will see that she isn't going to be his weak, love-seeking maid anymore.

Art-8~
The art is pretty good, but definitely isn't the best. Even so, it's bearable and shouldn't interfere with the story too much. Despite having bad points, there's good points with the art too like the eyes and the facial expressions. It definitely gets anyways.

Character-10~
As for characters, they deserve a 10. Skip Beat's characters all have unique personalities which draw you in even more than the story does. Without the characters, Skip Beat would honestly just be another boring shoujo (well ok no but still not as good).

Enjoyment-9~
Enjoyment gets a 9 just because I don't like waiting 2 weeks to a month between chapters, it is cruel. I really do enjoy reading this manga.

Overall-10~
Overall, Skip Beat gets a 10. I love love love this manga and I'm so happy that I decided to check it out. For a long time, it seemed like total crap that wasn't worth even looking at...DON'T JUDGE THIS BOOK BY ITS COVER! D:

I would like to say first that I scorn most shoujo manga. When a shoujo manga captivates me, it is because that manga is not predictable in the least, the characters are not one-dimensional, and the protagonist is not a klutzy damsel in distress (or a magic girl). This manga has captivated me.

I would like to say, first of all, that what caught my attention after the synopsis was the art. I had read a manga by this author before (Tokyo Crazy Paradise) and was shocked to see not only the difference in quality, but the difference in style. Tokyo Crazy Paradise was a shonen manga with romance, and the art reflected that. Shoujo manga needs to give off a different feel from shonen, and I believe Yoshiki Nakamura purposefully elongated bodies and used thinner lines to show his (her?) mastery of style. However, I will admit that the elongated bodies do make me wince every once in a while. The eyes and expression are of great importance to this mangaka; every expression speaks to the reader.

The main characters are very well-rounded. Kyouko is not one-dimensional... she probably has an infinite amount of different personalities lying within her, waiting to be untapped. She is unpredictable, like a tornado. Shou is very much so a human being-- he casts Kyouko away when he does not need her, yet he begins to truly fall for her. He is often confused, and though I despise him, I will admit that he is a better character depth-wise than Ren. Ren seems to be more of the good-looking-with-hidden-darkness type than anything else, which makes him a little predictable and ultimately, a little boring.

The story, though a little plain-sounding, speaks to many girls of the world-- wanting to get revenge on a guy. The characters morph, learning to accept one another, and it begins to change the focus of the manga.

Overall, Skip Beat is a very accomplished manga; very solid and very good; one of my favorites (:

Skip beat! is one of those stories that just grabs you from the get-go. I originally read it on a whim, I had finished catching up to all of the manga I was reading and had enough time left to read for at least one more hour, when I happened to stumble upon it. At first I wasn't too intrigued by it, the plot sounding pretty typical for a shoujo, but then I reached the end of chapter one and could not wait to read the next. I spent all of my free time after that night catching up with all of the available chapters, waiting patiently for the next one to come out every few weeks. Before I knew it seven years passed and I'm still as much in love with this series as I was the first time I read it.

Story: Skip Beat! is very well paced, allowing the characters to develop without it seeming awkward. I always feel excited after every story arc, knowing that the next one will be better and more exciting than the last. The humor doesn't feel forced, like it does in many other shoujo, and has its moments where I will literally laugh out loud from the sheer ridiculousness. it is over the top yet subtle at the same time, and even when they add humor to the more serious moments it doesn't seem off putting or out of place. The only gripe I have with the story is the way it lags in-between chapter updates, which is understandable.

Art: Truth be told I wasn't exactly a huge fan of the art style when I first started reading, and in a way it still bothers me at times, but it grew on me and honestly I can't imagine the style being any different. The expressions are handled really well and its easy to tell how a character feels without them having to speak.

Character: The characters in This manga are what really surprised me, being so lively and colorful and unique. Every character, no matter how short their appearance, leaves a big impact. There is plenty of character development, always a big plus in any series, and despite kyoko being the main character the side characters are never forgotten, even if they do tend to disappear for certain amounts of time.

Enjoyment: One of the few shoujo that I can say has captured my heart, skip beat! has everything I wanted and more. I'm not a huge fan of the shoujo genre, mainly because the plots are so over-used and cliche lately, but this has remained consistently surprising in a way I didn't think was possible.

Overall: There isn't much about this series that I can say I have an issue with, just a few things here and there but that's being nitpicky. Any person, whether they like shoujo or not, should give this series a chance because, hey, you never know, it could be an instant hit.

The manga itself is really fun to read. I'm normally not one to read something like this, but I couldn't stop reading until I'd read every chapter out, and now I fervently await the next one >.<

The storyline is very original, making the enjoyment of reading it heighten! The art is great, and the characters are so diverse that it adds to the story and enjoyment. The manga is something just about anyone can enjoy. Hopefully the anime will be good too, so far, I like the Japanese voice actors.

I first heard about this manga from a friend of mine. I was excited since she is really harsh and critical so she must know what is a good read...
but then I read the synopsis. I was so let down, "this is so used theme!". I didn't like the main character and her original attentions and reasons. I avoided the series...
Up until I accidentally payed a crunchyroll membership I forced myself to take a good use of it and came up with Skip Beat. I decided to give it a shot... Before I knew it I had binged the whole anime. I instantly switched to manga where it was left off and so far I have always read it when I got the chance.

It's great. It's one of the best "shoujo"s out there and it has great comedy. I recommend the anime too since it did a great job at giving so similar feel and soul as the manga did, and that's rare. I often hate the anime adaptations no matter what.
It has romance, but it doesn't get boring. the characters seem pretty real with mixed emotions and unsolved feelings. This series won't start with romantic stuff, actually quite the opposite.
*possible spoiler* The main protag holds her grudge against love for a very long time. She eventually grows as a person and she gets better goals in life, (I'd say that's not exactly a spoiler since it's kinda expected of her, but sorry anyways) but you have to follow her undevelopmend-ness for a long time - but this time it's not a problem. I often get annoyed by shoujo series rushing their stories. *spoiler ends*
But sometimes even I get bothered by how little the characters and feelings develop against each other - and I have given a nickname to this series "cocktease". I actually feel like a schoolgirl once again when I'm reading this manga and something "romantic" happens, no matter how small and insignificant it is to me in reality, I blush when it happens in this manga. A lot. And that's a really nice feeling. It doesn't rush itself and I really get the feeling that the mangaka values more her characters than the whole "tell a love story" -concept. I ended up hating and loving everyone in this story.
I adore the comedy in this, like I said before. It's not some cheap moe or pervy-humour all over the place. Most jokes comes from the characters and their interaction. There is some characters though that don't seem as "real" or are somehow unnecessary - but some of them have had their excuses and reasons come up as the story progresses, some.
But.. I do have a complaint regarding the art. It's really beautiful and detailed, especially the eyes. I love how Kyoko's eyes have been made both in the anime and in the manga. But like I said the art... I'm not a big fan of extremely long leg -manga style. Sometimes it broke my immersion when there was a whole body shot and the legs were so damn long. Every now and then males had too thick neck too and sometimes the hand palms were too big too... I don't want to complain about something so little, but for me it did break the immersion. It could be a stylistic choice but it's a style choice that ticked me off. It's just me. But like I said the art is otherwise very well done and beautiful. It just suffers from the barbie- syndrome (long legs) like many other Shoujo -mangas, and it just happens to bother me. You might find it attractive and it's okay.
But I have another complaint too... And it's about the art. (I'm sorry). I sometimes had a hard time understanding where everything was. But it can just be me not paying attention. I just wish a little bit more background art.
Now that I've criticized so meanly the art I have to praise it a little bit more. I loved how the mangaka saw extra effort to some simple things like belt rings or buttons on a phone. I especially love the presidents mobile phone, I want one like that! So what I mean to say is that the art has some nice details.

I've actually awakened some desire to act within myself while reading this. A lot of the acting problems and settings seem somewhat realistic. If you're an actor you might consider picking this one up - but I don't know how realistic it is since I'm not an actress after all so don't blame me if I it's not realistic.

What can I say? It's a manga that exceeded my expectations. The idea and the synopsis are really simple, but within there is a nice story and a manga that hooks you up.
Actors are cooler than I thought.

This manga is everything to me! I can relate so much to the main character who is Kyouko. After being betrayed, she doesn't believe/want to love again. To try to get revenge on the person who betrayed her, she will also go into the showbiz and try to win that person. You WILL laugh and there will be time s in which you will cry (or at least almost cry). This is also not your average love story, it will take a while for kyouko to find love and love for many other things. Main characters are Kyouko, Ren, and Sho! You will fall in love with many of the characters in this manga! Please Enjoy! :)

Skip beat! is a manga that has been sitting on my top 10 for quite a long time, but just recently dropped off of it. Don't get me wrong, this manga is awesome and I have followed it since forever. It dropped for a minor reason, as in I've been reading other stuff waiting for it to update. Ok, lets get on with the review.

In my opinion, and it's very arguable, but to me the one thing that puts the whole manga on it's back is--- drum rolls --- the character Kyouko. She is the single most interesting, fun, and likable character I've encountered in any manga, and without her, I don't think this manga would of been nearly as good. Reason being, I just can't seem to care about other characters when she's around. She takes up all the panels and then some. She is the very definition of crazy, which is why I love her. BUT, this does have it's problems. It makes it where I just can't find myself caring about any of the other cast.... even when they do get a fair amount of development and screen time. They give you this display of a character - Kyouko, and show you just how many layers and complexes they can give a character, then they try to do it with the rest of the cast, but it just doesn't work. Of course, this is all opinion based, and others may have a different favorite, but that person is pretty rare, to be honest.

Now, the art... there's not much to say, it's a very distinct art style, which some may like, but I particularly find it somewhat annoying. BUT, over time I grew accustom to it, so no beef with it really. This is just me being nit picky about anatomical structure.

The manga as a whole is astounding, and the flaws of the manga are actually necessary to the story. These being (and these are all personal) --- I found the slumps that Kyouko would go into to be somewhat annoying, not that I minded her having slumps on how to get into character, just sometimes these dragged on for what seemed like forever --- The shounen-esk moments of the manga made me cringe a little, but I know they were using it to show that she has natural talent, so some might not mind. --- And, as mentioned, the flaw with the characters. Now, I know people are just going to be like "this is just you being biased to Kyouko", and I would probably agree with you, but to be honest if she wasn't in this manga, I would not be nearly as interested in it. WHY? Because the comedy and story are all revolved around her craziness, so lets be honest, she makes most of the manga, if not all. Don't get me wrong, though, the other characters are good, just fail to catch MY (emphasis on MY) interest, not saying for others they won't.

OK, so this manga is a definite read for any of those looking for a manga with good comedy, romance, and character building. There are many memorable moments to be had that you will not soon forget.

Later!

It's always a shock when you start submerging yourself in a story that you don't think will be that interesting and suddenly find yourself completely lost in it. Being a big fan of stories about the underdog, I'd have to say, Skip Beat! definitely captivated me; you're pulled in and can't stop reading wondering what will happen next.

The characters themselves are very unique and well developed. The main character turns out to be a young heroine, Mogami Kyoko, probably one of my favorite characters. Her natural frankness and unsurpassed perseverance makes you just want to root for her even though the way she was introduced into the entertainment world is so unusual. Despite being undermined and looked down upon, it's just amazing how much she achieves and shines. Besides Kyoko, there are so many characters that you meet in the story, each with their own complex story and background. The characters are so dynamic, each in their own way that it just makes you want to know more about every single one of them.

It's no surprise that the characters themselves are so well developed since even those characters have to try act out other characters within the story, almost like a story within the story. The main storyline is quite simple, but the complexity lies within the background of each actor, each character. As you read on, you find out that everyone has a secret that they don't wish to be revealed, and that must be how it is in the entertainment industry.

As far as art is concerned, I must say that I have no complaints at all, although the author does tend to "chibi" forms a lot probably because of the difficulty and detail involved with each character. However, when it comes to the crucial moments, the expressions and looks on the faces of each character are amazing. When a character looks angry, it sends chills down your spine. The author certainly breathes life into each character. A smile can be from genuine to cruel to down right evil.

Overall, I loved the characters and the story development of Skip Beat! If you enjoy stories about the underdog, someone with a little bit of talent and a lot of perseverance, then I definitely recommend giving Skip Beat! a read.

Skip Beat! is the one and only manga that I have followed religiously. And I truly mean religiously. Every month, I check for the latest chapter as if it were a ritual ingrained in me. And having been a dedicated fan for over a decade, I now invite you to join the cult. So settle down, my friends, as I sing the praises of the masterpiece that is Skip Beat!

Story: Meet Kyouko Mogami, a young girl pouring her heart, sweat and blood into supporting her childhood crush Shoutaro so that he can fulfill his dream of becoming a top celebrity. Turns out he’s a narcissistic jerk who’s been using her all along for his own benefit, without a word or hint of gratitude towards her sacrifice. Upon realizing that her pure feelings have been trampled upon, Kyouko decides to destroy Shoutaro’s career by one-upping him and making him fear the terrible wrath of a woman scorned. In the strangest and most hilarious way anyone has entered show business, Kyouko weasels her way into a top talent agency called LME which sets into motion a series of life-changing experiences. Thankfully, the manga does not remain fixated on the initial hook and instead focuses on Kyouko’s journey into the unfamiliar world of acting, where she seeks to regain her lost self-confidence and hope and sense of self-worth, nor does it allow you forget Kyouko’s painful history or make you feel that her fixation with revenge is shallow or unwarranted. So don't be fooled into thinking that the synopsis offers a full picture of what Skip Beat! has to offer.

There is a wonderful balance struck between the light-hearted humor of a romance comedy and some of the more somber elements of a dramatic narrative. Every arc adds more complexity and depth to the story and the characters. The author, Nakamura-sensei did a superb job using flashbacks, supporting characters, and different jobs to highlight and draw out the various layers of the protagonist. I’m constantly blown away by the storytelling. No detail goes unnoticed, for one or two panels may be subtly foreshadowing the events of a chapter that will come out months or even years later.

Art: Nakamura-sensei has been working on Skip Beat! since 2002 so you can imagine that her style has evolved over the years. The art is clean and is a credit to the mangaka's skill. I admit I was put off by the men at the very, very, very beginning but the mangaka's style improves considerably. I can say that they contend as some of the hottest manga characters in shoujo manga. Another visual treat is Kyouko's many transformations according to her roles.

The expressions are stunning and lend authenticity to the characters' conflicts. The eyes are particularly captivating and every emotion is perfectly captured by the images alone. Chibi art is often incorporated alongside the more detailed anime profiles in a seamless and amusing manner. Although the art is gorgeous, it doesn't rely too much on the surroundings. Instead, the manga focus on gestures and convey a sense of "movement” that exists within the pages.

Character: This is easily the manga’s greatest feature. There are no flat characters in the world of Skip Beat! and you’d be hard-pressed to describe Kyouko as a Mary Sue type. Rather, the protagonist can be scarily obsessive about perfecting her voodoo doll-making skills at one moment and then gushing over pretty, fairy-tale related paraphernalia the next. Kyouko is equal parts innocent, crazy, dense, clumsy, funny, friendly, eager, elegant, polite, perceptive, hardworking, professional, intelligent, confused, sensible, vengeful, loving, and ambitious. Readers can quickly empathize with the many facets of her personality. Her acting career draws all of these traits because her roles require a process of self-discovery. Kyouko has a natural affinity to method-acting and the characters she plays essentially “possess” her once attained. At one point, she is described as the eternal butterfly, an actress that nobody recognizes because she disguises herself in the personas that she creates.

Even obnoxious fleas like Shoutaro aren’t discarded after the inciting incident. He is further developed (while still retaining his childishly-possessive nature, because the essential element of his character profile is that he is the World’s Biggest A-Hole) and continues to serve various purposes. This is a relief to me, because I would have easily forgotten him otherwise and would wonder why Kyouko hadn't. I hate to say this, but Sho's existence is actually important. The pain of his betrayal is enhanced as readers slowly learn about Kyouko’s complicated childhood in increments. After all, it is their history that serves as a catalyst for Kyouko’s rise to stardom.

And speaking of complicated pasts, allow me to introduce you to Ren Tsuruga, the actor who has captured the admiration of every woman in Japan. This fully applies to the readership - I have rarely seen another 2-D character ooze so much charisma. At first, he seems to to be just another handsome gentleman the world of fiction has to offer. But our protagonist has developed a phobia of two-faced male celebrities. Upon Kyouko’s first encounter, he is quickly judged to be yet another detestable rival to defeat because of his condescending attitude towards her modus operandi. But even the coldest of hearts cannot help but be melted by his many charms, and Kyouko eventually comes to admire him as a senior and a mentor. Unfortunately, Ren struggles with the cardinal virtue of sincerity. Occupational hazard of being an actor? Not quite. The reader will be exposed to the darkness within Ren over the course of the story and come to the realization that he is the perfect counterpart to our protagonist. He is afforded as much depth as Kyouko and his personal growth is just as crucial to the manga.

I haven't even commented on the plethora of supporting characters. Nakamura-sensei breathes to life an endearing cast that truly feels like a diverse community. Every new opportunity brings Kyouko into contact with new people who feel real and contribute to her growth in unique ways. You can’t miss eccentric characters like President Lori, or the capable manager Yashiro, who provides both solemn advice as well as a true-fangirl’s commentary and thereby establishes himself as the de facto voice of the readership. And there are plenty of other colorful individuals, so I recommend you read Skip Beat! to meet them all.

Enjoyment: Surely, you’ve gotten my opinion by now. If I actually comment on this category, I’ll exhaust the thesaurus of positive connotations that can be related to Skip Beat! ;D

The binge-ability of this manga is extremely high. The only complaint I can bring to the table is that once you’ve caught up, it will be agonizing waiting for the next installment. Sometimes it feels like the story is dragging on for months before you take the time to revisit previous arcs and realize that the pacing is in fact quite excellent. Don’t expect a quick resolution and savor each chapter as they come. I pray and hope that Nakamura-sensei will write the conclusion before I die, but I’ve learned that the most fulfilling of relationships take their sweet time.

Overall: Skip Beat! and its adaptations are one of the main reasons people haven’t lost hope in the shoujo genre. It is a genuine flagship comparable to Akatsuki no Yona, Glass Mask, Yamato Nadeshiko Shichihenge, Ouran High School Host Club, Fruits Basket and Akagami no Shirayuki-hime. If you haven’t read it yet – or any of these other titles, really – put in your top priority.

Re-readability is also very high, for all of those who have already had a taste. I fell in love with this manga the moment I picked it up over a decade ago and continue to love it with the same amount of zeal. I’ve read and re-read all the chapters that have been published so far and have seen the anime and the drama adaptations too many times to count. The story manages to stay refreshing and enjoyable no matter how many times I revisit it.

Parting Remarks: Thank you for somehow reaching the end of this long rant. I apologize if the review wasn’t as substantial as it ought to be but I’m just one advocate out of many. Don’t just take my word for it. Go and find out if you will love Skip Beat! as much as the rest of the fanbase. (And if anyone tries to tell me that Yashiro isn’t a princess amongst us – then you better be ready to step outside because imma fight you.)

Upon rewatching the anime, it's not as interesting or engaging. It's not something I really look forward to every month. It's become more of a romcom involving whether Ren and Kyoko will get together.

After the Dark Moon saga, my enjoyment has been waning. The acting challenges haven't been as exciting as they initially were. I have read every chapter. Luckily, the chapters themselves are quick page turners. I think the focus has been more on Ren, who I think is frankly boring. He becomes interesting/more tolerable when he is with Kyoko. I'm talking about chapters of chapters focusing more on Ren. I'm not invested in his "dark past" in America. It just seems too contrived.

-Kyoko technically meet's Ren's dad. I think those chapters were done really well.
-Kyoko gets the role of Natsu.
-Kyoko and Moko get more roles to work together in a period piece.
-Kyoko's mom's backstory gets revealed. Again it's ok.
-Kyoko and mom reunite sorta.
-More chapters where Kyoko meets Corn/Kuon. Is she that dense that she can't figure it's Ren's voice at least?

It initially started as more of these characters have to overcome their acting challenges, but now the focus seems to be more heavily when Ren and Kyoko will get together.

For the last couple of years, the Cain/Kain siblings arc entered. I really didn't like any of those chapters. They seemed like an excuse for Kyoko to dress skimpy and tease the Ren Kyoko shippers. Kyoko didn't have a part in that movie. She was just there... There didn't seem to be much development, other than Kyoko rescuing Ren from his darkness. Thankfully that's over. But I felt it really sucked the enjoyment out of me.

Ren gets mad at Kyoko because she was literally talking to Sho. What so she can't even see or speak to him? Then the two get into another misunderstanding. Rinse and repeat.

So what happened to the focus on acting or has acting been moved to the background?

Pacing has been boring and all over the place. I am actually looking forward to the upcoming chapter. The ship is starting to sail at long last. I honestly wanted them to get together at Dark Moon arc.