Crown of Love is a new shojo manga from Viz. The author/illustrator is Yun Kouga who is also known for Loveless.  Our protagonist is Hisayoshi Tajima, a 16 year-old boy who attends Hakuo High School, well known for its great music and drama programs.  He’s very popular with the girls, being nice to all of them. They call him “Kumi”.  The story takes off when he helps a girl avoid a bit of trouble. Not knowing who she is, he can’t stop thinking about her.

The path is a difficult one. Everyone involved knows it. We see a bit of that in Rima’s life and with her mother.  Being a star won’t solve all of Kumi's problems, in fact it sets up some unexpected obstacles, even with Rima. 

Already, even before he officially signs a contract, Kumi’s high school life is conflicting with his looming stardom. The ones he will leave behind don’t have big roles, but they are like the rest of us.

Overall

Especially in the beginning, the style of drawing isn’t something I like.  Kumi is supposed to be extremely good looking, but he has broad shoulders, an abnormally long neck and little head.  I know this is a common style in many shojo, but I guess what bothers me is that it doesn’t match the rest of the illustrations.  Other people are in regular proportion.  Sometimes the art work was unexplainably simple, and quality was inconsistent. Although this is a complaint, I didn’t find it overwhelming, the story and writing compensate for it.

There is something that bothers me and that is the brutal way Kumi’s father treats him and Ikeshiba.  No one in the manga thinks it is a big deal.  I don’t know if it’s just a literary tool to further the story or what.  It is something I will definitely be looking at in the next volumes.  It may have something to do with the underlying theme of one-sided or desperate love. It doesn’t seem at this point that anyone has return feelings for an admirer. I can’t wait to see who ends up with who.

An enjoyable read and engaging situations fills this book with layers of contents.  There is more than the teen crushes that coat the surface.  Taking a leap of faith towards your future is another topic to be explored. This first issue really seems to set up an interesting series to come.  There is a lot of room for character and story development. I look forward to see what is next.

ComicsOnline gives Crown of Love Volume 1 3 out of 5 pushy managers.