It’s been a while since the first volume of Gleam, and the one aspect that still stands out to me is this being one series where the protagonist knows everything and readers know little. Salia, princess of a kingdom, goes to Japan for a purpose, but we know very little about her mission. So my one hope for this volume was that Salia would give us a little more insight on her plan and why she has chosen to fight alone. (Although she’s unintentionally gathering allies — young, hot men.)
But I was a little surprised to see such a different cover for Gleam. Volume 1 had bright, almost primary colors, with Salia looking determined and confident. Here, the whole atmosphere is softer, almost melancholy. Would my hope come true?
Well, good news on that front: we do. Which may be a little surprising since so much of this is focused on Yuza and Shuri being torn between their respective countries and their budding feelings for Salia.
Yes, the reverse harem aspect is in full swing here. It’s not just those two either. CIA agents Lei and Tomo also have moments with Salia. While Yuza and Shuri struggle between having a personal versus political relationship with Salia, Lei and Tomo spend much of their time scolding the princess about taking too much on her shoulders. It’s a lesson that she surely needs. Although she is a very capable person, surely someone as smart and talented as herself can find other smart and talented people to help her out. Gleam is not really a romance yet, but once things calm down, Salia will have several potential suitors who all play off of her in different ways.
And her internal walls are breaking down: the princess who can pull out a gun doesn’t realize she’s about to be kissed. But don’t worry if you are concerned Salia is losing her edge: she’s tough as nails. But like I mentioned earlier, her internal and external thoughts in this volume create a fuller picture of her, from the incident with her mother to her eyes sparkling at the thought of a ninja village.
This also leads into a better understanding of the situation in her country, the center of all the drama. Certain nobles make moves against her wishes. But Steliol isn’t the only country keeping a close watch on Salia. Yuza’s and Shuri’s homeland, of course, have an interest in the princess, but there’s also a mysterious pair that hint at a deeper plot. Even as part of the picture becomes clearer in regards to Salia, the action and mystery heats up. The volume felt a little long, but in a good way. Explosions, gunfire, and hints of magic keep the story at a steady pace. A lot happened, and I was much more intrigued by Gleam this time around.
The color inserts are no doubt the best part of the art, and I wish the characters looked as individualistic in the actual manga as they did there — mainly Shuri and Yuza. I can still get tripped up if I’m not following closely. I also wish there was another prominent female character to add a little more variety, but perhaps the female member of the not-formally-introduced-yet antagonists will be a foil for Salia.
Gleam volume 2, while playing up the reverse harem aspects with moments with each guy, takes a significant step forward in being a political action thriller. Salia’s plan may be going astray, but this is leading to a better story for us readers.