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The standalone volume "My Gemini" or "Boku no Gemini", as the manga is known in Japan, was published in the shojo magazine Asuka from May 2018 to November 2020. On the US market, the license is held by Yen Press.
Mangaka Yuu Morikawa is relatively new to the manga market, but with "Mr. Villain’s Day Off", she already has an internationally known series under her belt. The series, published by Square Enix, has been released in English since September 2023 and also received an anime adaptation.
How was it?
John can hardly believe it: he, the once insecure teenager who seemed unable to find his place in the world, is now the best friend of the Stevenson twins, Jekyll and Hyde, the undisputed stars of the school. And even more astonishingly, he is the only one who can see through their masquerade when they swap roles. But suddenly, tragedy strikes: Jekyll dies in an accident, leaving his brother and John alone, both deeply grieved. Yet, with each passing day, John grows more doubtful, wondering if it wasn’t Hyde who died on that tragic day…
Even for those unfamiliar with classic literature, it quickly becomes evident which work Mangaka Yuu Morikawa drew inspiration from for her standalone volume “My Gemini.” The manga is loosely based on Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1886 novella “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” and is a peculiar, dreamlike reflection on loss and identity.
The manga tells the story of two twins who look so alike that even their parents can't tell them apart when they playfully switch roles. Hyde was always cheerful, outgoing, and approachable, while Jekyll seemed more serious and somewhat darker.
At first, the volume seems to focus mainly on grief, as the remaining Stevenson brother and John try to find their way through the loss. The author sensitively describes how difficult it is for a twin to cope with grief. However, she avoids any pessimism and instead reminds readers of the beautiful moments the twins shared with their best friend. We dive into the daily lives of these middle school brothers who loved to impersonate each other through reports about them. As the chapters progress, things become increasingly complex, and the mangaka introduces a psychological dimension. Jekyll and Hyde had a complicated relationship even in their childhood. Jekyll was jealous of Hyde’s carefree personality and his ability to always get what he wanted. Hyde eventually suggests they switch roles to counterbalance this inequality.
Over time, they developed almost artificial personalities: “Hyde” wore his hair in a particular way, “Jekyll” in another. These were “Hyde’s” behavior patterns and those were “Jekyll’s.” Both personalities became costumes that each twin could wear at will, bringing them closer together as one soul in two bodies while isolating them from the rest of the world. Only John could always tell them apart, but when one twin dies, even he begins to doubt his own perception, and the identity of the Stevenson brothers becomes increasingly unclear.
Yuu Morikawa succeeds in planting doubts both in John and the readers, who begin to question the identity of the surviving twin due to John’s justified doubts. We doubt at every moment, just like John, wondering which twin we are really facing. And while we doubt, we empathize with the boy who lost the person closest to him.
The book raises interesting and profound questions. The inclusion of a third person, namely John, who narrates much of the book, offers a diverse perspective and underscores the twins’ allure to others. The brother’s friendship with the gentle boy and the strong emotional bond between the twins are sincere and complex. Moreover, and most importantly, the characters' problems are never dismissed as childish follies or simplified. It’s about self-confidence, inferiority complexes compared to others, but also strong friendship and, of course, difficult grief.
The vibrant drawings of the mangaka use a clear line and often intricately designed backgrounds to effectively stage the story, perfectly fitting the Victorian-gothic world created by Morikawa. Additionally, she excellently portrays the pain and emotions of the teenagers.
However, in my opinion, it is unfortunate that the manga's narrative structure at times prevents the title from achieving the full depth it certainly could have reached, and thus it doesn’t resonate as long after reading as other titles with similar themes have. One or two additional volumes would have certainly helped the mangaka to realize the full potential.
Yen Press publishes the manga in a large format, including a color page at the beginning of the volume.
Is "My Gemini" Worth Reading?
"My Gemini" may not be one of the most unforgettable titles in my collection. From my perspective, it needed one or two more volumes to truly delve into the depth. Nevertheless, it is a really well-crafted standalone volume that I can recommend. It offers a touching and thoughtfully constructed plot.
My Gemini GN
€16,50
Plain, red-headed, and freckled John has nothing going for him, except his two friends who are incredibly popular at school-twins Jekyll and Hyde. The twins, indistinguishable from each other, have always enjoyed taking each other's places for fun. But when… read more
