Teenager's struggles and communication disorder shown in a wholesome way: Komi's story. · Waifora

Introduction

Name: Teenager's struggles and communication disorder shown in a wholesome way: Komi's story.
Item: Komi Can't Communicate
Rating: 85
Author: CrystavEXP

Komi-San Can’t Communicate (from now on Komi-San) is going to have an adaptation on October 2021, so I decided to spit my thoughts about its manga source and how I received its (so far) 301 chapters.

As a little summary I’d say that Komi-San is a fun and wholesome manga that can be easily enjoyable, that portraits in a sweet way how teenagers struggle with their social struggles. Even though if you are expecting a lot of romance, evolution and a lot of things happening, well, this might not be your best read. I’m gonna deepen a little bit more about all of this in their respective categories but, in general, I could say that Komi-San can get relatively easily repetitive. That being said, let’s start talking about Komi-San parts!

The plot: Does it's job, but not a deep one

The plot isn’t a strong point in this manga (so far) and it’s made on purpose: the story is centered towards our main protagonist: Shouko Komi. It’s, in fact, the definition of a slice of life. And don’t get me wrong, that’s not a bad thing, it simply makes the plot not as important as it could be in another shows.
As I said, the plot in Komi-San is simple but still does its work. It consists on Komi’s view of life (most of the time) and how she tries to make friends while she has to fight herself and her communication disorder. This all starts with her meeting the other main protagonist, Hitohito Tadano. Since this point we’re living the daily lives of Komi (and sometimes of some other character) with not too much twists on it.
Little twists occur, and to comment them I have to spoil a little bit. First spoiler is related to first part of the manga:

Spoiler, click to view

Those twists are obvious if you have read Komi-San but are, of course, the romantic feelings she develops for Tadano. I can empathize with Komi and she being shy with her crush, having not enough guts to confess either to try to make him confess. I can say that’s an absolutely relatable situation, even more if you have some serious communication disorder beyond being shy.

Now, the next one is about chapters, approximately, 170 – 301 (chapters so far released when I’m writing this!):

Spoiler, click to view

I said that the plot develops slowly, and a prove of this is the late introduction of our third most important character on this manga: Rumiko Manbagi. She starts distant to the other characters but easily gets along with them. She’s the most outgoing of the three of them (Manbagi, Tadano and Komi) and ends up developing feelings for Tadano (and confesses in chapter 301!). I don’t really know how it’s gonna finish the triangle but I think that it will be very difficult to have a satisfactory ending (having in mind I like both Manbagi and Komi). I have to trust Tomohito on doing it well…

In general plot is okay and does its work, but lacks some development and fresh new ideas. I like it, but it’s not the strong point of this manga.

Characters: Lights and shadows

Characters on Komi-San are, in my opinion, very unbalanced. While most of them are enjoyable (hmm hmm Yamai Ren), the vast majority are pretty much the same through all the 301 chapters I've read. The best example of this is Najimi, pretty much the same as the beginning. Having this said I'm gonna highlight the characters with most development (oh, surprise, they are the protagonists!) and why I like them better or worse:

1- Shouko Komi: The absolute protagonist and proabably best character of the manga. She has a communication disorder and we can see how she struggles to overcome it. In the very first chapter she can only communicate via a chalkboard and with time we can see her big little steps on this. She's absoultely kind, friend-caring and honest, and one of the characters with better development. I can really understand her and watching her progression makes me happy. The spoiler ahead is for chapters 200-301:

Spoiler, click to view

I, at this point, don't know what is she gonna do with Tadano's possible confession, but her development in this last 100 chapters is pretty impressive. She talked with Manbagi about their feelings, and both have been pretty mature and nice friends. It surely has been very difficult for Komi, but she evolved to achieve it and it's a very good point of this manga

2- Hitohito Tadano: The main male protagonist of the series, a total wallflower. He hasn't evolved pretty much like Komi has done, but still has a fair amount of development and it's a pretty relatable character. He wants to get unnoticed but at the same time wants his friends (aka Komi) to be happy and comfortable. He's pretty much the only one who can understand Komi in this manga (with Manbagi's permission) and he makes a good tandem with her. Again, the spoilers ahead are for chapters 200-301:

Spoiler, click to view

Yes, he falls in love with her. But he's so insecure about himself that he's not really aware of it until chapter 301. Manbagi makes him realize that sacrifizing herself (he accepted to go out with her!) because she love his two friends. That chapter is the one withj Tadano making the biggest step he has made in years with Manbagi's help. He doesn't develop very much until this moment, but it really demonstrates the struggles he has with his self-steem

3- Manbagi Rumiko: He appears late in the show but easily gets better and more important than most characters, showing it's evolution from a stereotypical Manba Gyaru to a pretty relatable person with the need of expressing herself but at the same time with lots of fears and unsecurities. She's the character who appears the last but still one of best evolved in the manga. Of course, the spoilers ahead are for chapters 200-301:

Spoiler, click to view

I pretty much commented why I like her, but I'm gonna repeat it. She falls in love with Tadano, gathers the courage to confess to him and, when he has accepted his confession, she makes him realize that he loves Komi. It's a pretty difficult situation for her, but still her pure heart overcomes any other feeling and worries more about her friends than about herself. Her evolution is portrayed in this 100 chapters and, again, is understandable but, maybe, too wholesome. At the end of the day the protagonist of this show is Komi-San and, probably, Manbagi is a catalyst for both Komi and Tadano. I really like Manbagi, but personally, I love Komi. It kinda makes me sad she's so kind that makes this last move, but I think that's the best for her.

4- Other Characters: I put the spoiler tag because it would be difficult to talk about more characters without mentioning details. Again it's for chapters 200-301:

Spoiler, click to view

Ase and Naruse are, probably, the best chartacters outside the big three protagonists. They both grow together casually, being the one with more development Naruse. He's self-centered but with Ase's presence he slightly puts his feet on the ground. Not a lot more to comment about them. Nakanaka is another character who, limitedly, does a little progression opening a litte bit to her friends and covering (sometimes) her chuunibyou side. Also a little mention to Tadano's sister, she's the real room-reader here!

In conclusion the cast is fun and enjoyable but beyond the main characters they are pretty much one-dimensional. This being said I like the protagonists a lot and they're the ones making this manga as wholesome and funny as it is!

Art: Appealing and clean

I'm not an expert on art (especially having read little manga) but I think that it appeals the show. It's clean art with the capability of doing little changes when it's necessary. I think it's perfectly adapted to the manga without making nothing outstanding.

Conlusion: My enjoyment

Concluding, I really liked this manga as a whole but lacks some details that could make it even better. The read is really, really fun if you're aware of its little general progress and development but want to chill a bit (or don't know anything about it and dive into it, like I did!).

Also I'd like to comment how this manga focuses in communication disorders and struggles. It's not a harsh one (like I heard Inio Asano does) because it does not try to do it that way. The definition of it is wholesome but even so portraying it in a decent way.

Personally, I think it's a good read if you have time and want to laugh and make simper smiles. Be aware of its little repetitive side, but I'd recommend it if you like slices of life!

Thank you for your time, and hope you enjoyed my review!
____

EDIT (updates on chapters after 301):

Spoiler, click to view

Well, this shit is going serious now. What they didn't do in all the 300 chapters is going on right now. Manbagi is a little piece of heaven, Tadano is finally having a clearer mind and developing guts and Komi is as cute as always but pushing herself a little bit. THEY'RE FUCKING DATING!!! I wanna see how is this gonna continue, but it's improving step by step. I felt their reactions so according to their personalities and I was fucking trembling. Gonna update my score, this manga is reaching its peak, and it's being better-written than I'd expect!