More Girls Who Pwn

So I haven't been very good about blogging, but I will spare you my lame explanation as to why I haven't because there really isn't an explanation.

BUT! I have been reading a lot of manga recently and a lot of it is...crap. Some of it, though, is pretty amazing.

I want to write about 1/2 Prince, a Chinese manhua by Yu Wo and Choi Hong Chong. It's the story of my life.

If you have ever played MMORPGs like WoW or Second Life, you will appreciate the references.

Basically the story takes place in the year 2100AD. Feng Lan is a university student who makes a bet with her brother that she can succeed in this brand new fantasy MMORPG (also called Second Life) without using her female wiles. No getting a free ride from burly strong male players by batting her pretty eyelashes. Detail: it seems players are fully immersed in the game's universe, so they feel what their characters feel (Can you imagine having to lug around that sword or mace forrealz?). Anyway, Feng Lang manages to be the first player to log into the game, and as a reward gets to have a wish fulfilled. She wishes to play as a male character (which isn't allowed- no gender bending, according to the rules of the game) and thus becomes "Prince," an Elf.

As Prince Fen Lang basically pwns the game. She is ruthless, immune to the charms of female players, and slowly makes a name for herself, acquires quite a fan following, and inevitably runs into people she knows in real life...

I've been enjoying this a lot because I enjoy gaming and I find Feng Lan/Prince funny, engaging, and the relationships and friendships formed amusing and sweet. It reminds me of the old saying, "Sometimes you have to lie to tell the truth." Feng Lan is at times over her head, but through Prince she helps people in all kinds of interesting ways.

It's an ongoing manhua, so I am waiting to see what'll happen next...

Prince, aka The Blood Elf is really...

adorable Feng Lan...

A Manga for the Sweet Tooth

I've just started reading a very adorable manga that I am thoroughly enjoying.

Kitchen Princess is the story of an orphaned girl, Najika Kazami, who is able to cope with her grief thanks to two things: her love of and talent for cooking and the cherished memory of a little boy who showed her kindness during the darkest moment of her young life.

Brought up in an orphanage in Hokkaido, Najika has always been cherished and well-loved among her friends and the orphange director, who writes a personal recommendation that gets her into the prestigious Seika Academy in Tokyo. I liked this portrayal of her childhood- while the loss is very present in Najika's life, there are moments of warmth and joy, and kindness. It is an idyllic situation, of course, but I like that she wasn't someone who was mistreated and unloved during her childhood. The nurturing she received at the orphanage made her strong- and she will need that strength for what awaits her in Tokyo.

Enter that annoying trope: the petty and jealous girls who immediately resent Najika because she captures the attention of the school's two most fabulous guys...who are brothers (of course). The petty girls do not understand why she is placed in Class A, along with the most talented and impressive students. They don't realize that Najika has an incredible talent: she knows how to cook very well. Not only that, but she understands the importance of good and satisfying meal, and all the pageantry associated with the ritual of eating well (ambiance, presentation, etc.). At Seiko she hopes to find the boy who showed her so much kindness years ago (she suspects he is there because years ago he gave her his flan dessert along with a silver spoon with Seiko Academy's crest), but while she searches, she shares and develops her culinary talents further.

I've just started this manga, so I'll report back when I finish reading, At this point, Najika reminds me so much of another manga heroine with a culinary gift: Fujiwara Momoe, from Oishii Kankei, one of my favorite mangas ever. She has an inner radiance and joy that give her grit and strength to move forwards. I really like it when manga heroines are stronger, determined, and have other goals in life other than falling in love and dedicating their lives to their beloved one...

 

Najika, I blame YOU for making me need a serving of flan right now.