Krystallina: After Kuroe kissed him while she was in Harugon form, everyone wants to know the connection between Harugon and Minami. Especially someone in particular who is hoping for a happy ending between man and monster.
And by someone, I mean Manatsu, for her and Harugon.
Yes, Manatsu continues to stun everyone with her devotion to the Godzilla clone. She’s angry Minami seems to be getting closer to Harugon than she is, but Manatsu then realizes she should be working on her own progress. So when she invites Rairi and Kuroe on a beach vacation, it’s really so she can prepare to confess to Harugon! Kuroe juggles not hurting her friend and protecting her secret, but the island they visit holds it own mysteries. Kuroe notices some glowing pieces and large drawings left on the island, but she doesn’t dwell on it for long. But when Mom later goes out on one of her adventures, she confirms this place is connected to Kuroe.
The fact we now know where Kuroe came from is only part of volume 4’s developments. Volume 5 may finally bring truth to light, but it may also come with some potential love rivals. Now that Minami’s popularity is rising, an older actress who was pushed aside by the media has her eye on him. Whatever that woman is planning is one thing, but Kuroe’s secret is in jeopardy, if not already exposed! A random tall guy has seen Kuroe spitting fire and sprouting a tail, so I don’t think he’s going to be easily fooled like Minami has been.
Writing this out, volume 4 seems like all it is is a setup for volume 5. But reading it — and heck, rereading the whole series — made me realize how much I like Kaiju Girl Caramelise. Manatsu, for instance, should be banished to the looney bin for crushing on a kaiju. But hearing her talk about her emotion, and the relatable feeling of longing for something different, is just so gosh darn adorable. If Kuroe’s condition is akin to puberty, then Manatsu’s longing is an extreme version of the so-called middle school syndrome. And the fact that she can afford to literally design a set and have her servants ensure the lighting is perfect makes for a hilarious contrast to that pureheartedness.
That’s just the kind of manga this is — one where we see Kuroe clutching the phone full of excitement as a grotesque hand holds it. And with Aoki’s art, the duplicity of beauty and absurdity just shines so brightly, like with Kuroe’s reaction to Manami asking to cuddle. I’m not sure the manga needed a guy and a gal who are bound to cause jealousy issues in our leads right now, and I was hoping to find out more about what’s Koutarou’s deal. But I sure as heck look forward to every volume of this series.
Krystallina’s rating: 4 out of 5
Rai: To be honest, I don’t have the best track record when it comes to keeping up with ongoing manga series. Despite this bad habit, I’ve managed to read all of Kaiju Girl Caramelise so far, and I’m glad I did because, whereas Volume 3 was a little disappointing, Volume 4 was a treat. Instead of focusing solely on side characters and beauty advice, it dove back into the things that interested me: kaiju monsters, the relationship between Kuroe and Minami, and more kaiju-ness.
At the end of Volume 3, Kuroe turns into Harugon (her Godzilla-like form) while her class is on a school trip. While parading as Harugon, she gives Minami, her boyfriend, a little kiss… in front of her entire school. So, of course, everyone takes pictures, and the photos go viral. Fast forward to Volume 4 – Minami has unwillingly become a social media sensation, where seemingly all of Japan is gushing over him, lovesick girls and TV producers alike. Sudden fame can put stress on any relationship; to make things worse, poor Kuroe is in the middle of a kaiju identity crisis, not to mention she has self-esteem issues. As Minami tries to dodge the relentless paparazzi, the couple distances themselves a little, and Kuroe decides to accompany Manatsu to a so-called “Kaiju Island” in pursuit of Harugon.
In case you’ve forgotten, Manatsu is the monster-crazed girl who is “in love” with Harugon to the point of obsession. She does not know that Kuroe is actually Harugon but guesses that they’re somehow connected. I’ve mentioned in my other reviews that I’m not crazy about Manatsu because her character is extremely over the top. She was still borderline insane in this volume, but she was slightly toned down. I laughed at her antics, such as dressing up in a sexy Harugon costume, and only cringed a couple times. The audience also learns why she’s so enamored with Harugon, which makes her behavior more understandable and bearable. Her backstory isn’t anything deep – then again, nothing really is in this super silly manga anyway.
During their visit to the island, the audience also gets some insight about Kuroe and her powers’ origin. It’s about time. Kuroe’s mother also reveals a bit of important information about her daughter’s past, although I admit I’m kind of annoyed at the mom for keeping it all a secret. Why not just tell her something, even if it’s not everything? (I understand Spica Aoki is trying to draw things out to make the series longer, but I think she could have done a better job at sprinkling information throughout the story so far.)
Still, learning about Kuroe – even if it was scraps of info – satisfied my curiosity, making this volume more enjoyable. My main issue with Volume 3 was its lack of focus on Kuroe and its almost total attention on Rairi. In the fourth volume, I liked seeing more of Kuroe and Minami’s relationship. Between running away from newfound fans or appearing on variety shows, Minami did find some free time to hang out with Kuroe, who still gets incredibly flustered around him. Their relationship is moving very, very slowly, but I think the pacing is suitable since Kuroe always has to hide her kaiju attributes when she gets too excited. Things are moving along, though, and as they progress, Kuroe needs to try even harder to suppress her inner kaiju, which I find hilarious. Luckily for her, Minami is as oblivious as ever when it comes to Kuroe’s secret (and, truth be told, in general).
Speaking of hilarity, I need to comment on Kuroe’s facial expressions and reactions. Again. Because oh my god. They are the funniest thing. The art continues to be one of my favorite elements of this manga. It’s a mix between flowery, bubbly, shoujo-esque art, and realistic, scary kaiju moments. The contrast is perfect.
Altogether, this volume of Kaiju Girl Caramelise was one of my favorites. Its overexaggerated characters and art make it endlessly entertaining while the kaiju elements give it a unique twist. The adorably awkward love between Kuroe and Minami is a cute touch as well. I’m looking forward to the next installment so we can see what happens in their relationship and learn more about Kuroe’s kaiju powers. And as a bonus, now I’m even more excited to watch Godzilla Vs. King Kong!
Rai’s rating: 4 out of 5