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Mangaka HERO is internationally known for her series Horimiya, which was created in collaboration with Daisuke Hagiwara and also received an anime adaptation. In "Ako and Bambi", as the series is originally called, HERO is responsible for both the story and the drawings.
Mangaka HERO has been publishing the series in Asahi Shimbun Publications' Sonorama+ magazine since January 2020. The work has now been completed and will comprise a total of eight volumes.
How was it?
Bambi, an aspiring writer, lives alone in a modest apartment that he was able to get hold of at an affordable price. The reason for the low rent was a tragic incident: a suicide took place in his apartment and it has allegedly been haunted ever since. This detail hasn't bothered Bambi until he suddenly starts seeing the ghost girl Ako. She can neither remember her death nor her life.
The unexpected appearance of Ako sparks a new creative inspiration in Bambi. He decides to write a ghost story based on Ako. His work attracts a surprising amount of interest, especially from a reader who apparently knows more about the mysterious inspiration.
Mangaka HERO is a familiar name to those who know Horimiya, as she is the author of the original story, which originally appeared as a 4-koma webcomic before being adapted as a manga by Daisuke Hagiwara. "Ako and Bambi" is the second story from HERO to be published in English translation. This time in 4-panel format.
The 4-panel style means that a lot of story can be packed into one volume; the panels are a fixed size, so you can fit two rows on each page and the story progresses very quickly. In the first volume of "Ako and Bambi" we have already learned a lot, but I don't want to go into too much detail, otherwise there could be major spoilers.
In this series, HERO presents a supernatural mystery story. The opening volume hints at a complex connection between Bambi and two women named Ako. One is alive, the other possibly dead or a strange variation of the first. An intriguing mystery unfolds that permeates the characters' personal lives.
In contrast to a typical dark ghost story, HERO focuses less on suspense and more on character development. This gives the manga a softer tone, even though it deals with serious themes.
This impression is also partly created by the illustrations. Visually, "Ako and Bambi" is too simple and pared down to offer much flair. HERO's style is very simple and reduced to the essentials in the small panels. Unfortunately, sometimes so much so that it's easy to confuse them. However, by choosing a color palette of black, white with a mix of light blue and purple, it manages to create a bit of atmosphere and small differences. The contrast between two important characters is also highlighted by the choice of different colors.
"Ako and Bambi" suffers in some respects from the limitations of the chosen format, but in my opinion HERO has still managed to create a story that could appeal to fans of quiet, character-driven stories in particular. Despite the eight panels per page, the story is easy to follow and fluidly told. There is a slight familiarization phase, but after that you get along very well and your reading flow is no longer extremely disturbed. Even if, in the end, it certainly depends on the reader how well they find their way around this rather unusual format for the Western manga market. It is also worth noting the relatively high proportion of text.
Yen Press publishes the series in large format.
Conclusion
"Ako and Bambi" is undoubtedly a series that will not appeal to everyone. However, it could be a worthwhile discovery for those who are looking for a quiet manga and are willing to embrace the 4-koma layout. The story offers an interesting plot and manages to entertain well.
Ako & Bambi GN Vol 01
€16,50
When amateur novelist Bambi moves into a new, cheap place, he's shocked to find it's already occupied-by the ghost of a high school girl. With one amnesiac ghost girl Ako haunting the apartment, the stories practically write themselves! But as… read more
