Not Your Idol, Vol. 1

Thank you to NetGalley and VIZ Media for the free copy of this manga in exchange for an honest review. My opinion was not affected by the free copy.

As a survivor of sexual abuse, this sort of story is very important to me. It has to be handled correctly and so far it feels like the manga is doing just that. The way the topic is discussed both through the dialogue and the visuals makes me feel like it's going in the right direction. I've already decided I'll be buying this when it comes out and will be looking for the next volumes in the future.

Usually I do my criticisms first, but there isn't anything I can think of to be critical of. I was initially concerned about the "dresses as a boy" storyline, since that's done a lot, but it's handled well and Nina's reasons for doing it make sense for what she's been through. The way the other characters react to it and her feels realistic. I don't know much about Japanese culture but the judgment others place on her resonated with me. I was also a little wary of the hints at romance, but so far it feels like that's being paced well. Nina's trauma is still very much present in her mind; her wariness of Hikaru and doubts about him are done well and-- at least from my perspective-- are never played up as her being too sensitive or cold or whatever.

On a technical level, the art style is lovely. The shading and angles, the expressions are all done well. Another reason I want to pick this up when it's out is so I can read it without the watermarks. It wasn't distracting but some of the dialogue was hard to read because of the marks.

There's an uncomfortable atmosphere throughout the volume, especially in the ways men talk about and objectify women. But I like it's not completely one-sided-- there are certainly moments when girls are objectifying men and deeming them "ugly" or not because of their body shapes. It often reads like the manga is just holding up a mirror to how society thinks. There's also foreboding in the air since Nina's attacker is still out there and unidentified.

My only regret is that this doesn't even come out until May, so I have a long wait before I can read what happens next. I do think this manga is going in the right direction, though. It's a topic that needs more exposure and I hope this brings more awareness to anyone who reads it.

I was not expecting this book to turn into a psychological thriller, but I loved it. It does deal with assault so if you are recommending it as reading material, make sure you inform the person ahead of time. There were a couple of quirks that felt odd, such as a girl who is in hiding purchasing an expensive/flashy apartment and someone who is timid suddenly standing up for herself after one pep talk, but these were minor issues. I can't wait for the next volume.

A fantastic manga that deals very well with difficult issues surround assault and violence. Nina, a former idol, has gone into hiding by changing her name, cutting her and dressing in men's clothing after being assaulted at a fan event. As an American, what I find especially interesting  are the culturally specific ways that harassment is shown  but that are still easily identifiable as coming from a patriarchal society and mindset. The author also shows the nuance within this as women are shown reinforcing harmful ideas as well and the main male character fights back against them (while still sometimes being unaware to how he may make someone uncomfortable). Overall, I am very excited to see where this story goes. 

Highly recommended to any audience of mature teens and older.

I would rate this 4.5 stars!

Not Your Idol attracted me because I am a fan of both manga and Kpop. Not Your Idol follows a member of a female kpop band who was attacked at a fan event and thus quit the band and went into hiding because she couldn’t cope with what happened. She tried to minimise her femininity as much as possible and keep to herself. She slowly begins to talk to one of the boys from high school judo squad at her new school and begins to open herself back up again slightly. The illustrations used in this manga were stunning, but the watermark applied by NetGalley was a bit distracting at times.

This manga addresses the very current and common issue of sexual assault in a realistic but gentle way. There is a lot of talk about young women getting groped, raped, and being an idol for anyone to stare at. It’s the harsh reality that many women, young or old, face each day.

The approaches to gender blaming, victim reaction and other myths surrounding sexual assault draws awareness to and opposes this false view society has created. Not Your Idol highlights realistic aspects of Asian culture and of the kpop industry, making the manga more enjoyable and real to read. Kpop stars are attacked by fans and thousands of men and woman are sexually assaulted daily, all around the world. Not Your Idol explores these issues in a gentle but, in my opinion, successful way. 

I loved Nina as a character and how brave she was. She had her days where it was all too much, but she stuck up for those who wouldn’t or couldn’t on their own. The manga’s approach to her flashbacks was clever and well executed albeit a little confusing and hard to follow at times.

There is a twist about three quarters of the way through this volume that I did not expect at all! The volume ended on such a cliff hanger as well! Now I see why the manga is described as a psychological suspense thriller. I need the next volume as soon as possible to find out what happens!

This book isn't not graphic with the visuals or description surrounding the topic of sexual assault, but please be aware that it is very emotional and could be triggering to those with similar experiences. 

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book to read and give my own, honest opinion.