ULTIMATE VENUS Vol. 1 by Takako Shigematsu(2008).
© Go! Comi
Mania Grade: B+
Manga Series: Ultimate Venus
Issue: Volume 1
Story and Art By: Takako Shigematsu
Themes: Shojo, Male Harem
Publisher: Go! Comi
Price: $10.99
Manga Series: Ultimate Venus
Issue: Volume 1
Story and Art By: Takako Shigematsu
Themes: Shojo, Male Harem
Publisher: Go! Comi
Price: $10.99
Manga Review: Ultimate Venus Vol. 1
By: Adrianne HessReview Date: Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Some people seek fortune but for teenager Yuzu Yamashita, fortune comes seeking her after the untimely death of her young mother. Left with no money and no one she can turn to, Yuzu decides to sleep in a playground. As she plans her future with almost delusional hope, Yuzu is both rescued and kidnapped by a handsome young man, Kagami Hassaku, who whisks her off against her will into a luxurious world provided by her maternal grandmother, Mitsuko. Only recently learning about her grandmother from her mother’s last dying words, Yuzu knows nothing about her and is hurt when during their introduction Mitsuko acts coldly towards her and calls her plain looking compared to her deceased mother.
Yuzu now lives in a mansion surrounded by dozens of hunky young men who work as servants to Mitsuko who is the president of the Shirayuki corporation. While it’s better than being homeless, life at the mansion has drawbacks for Yuzu, since her life is controlled by Mitsuko and her staff. Then there is the fact that many people are not happy that Yuzu has suddenly appeared as the possible heiress to the vast Shirayuki fortune, another hurtle for Yuzu in her new high society life.
Her handsome young rescuer, Kagami acts as her minder and guardian by refining her manners and posing as a student to protect her when she is at school. While he claims that he only serves Yuzu because of his unwavering loyalty to her grandmother, he does seem to have a soft spot for her as well. Kagami’s affection for her grandmother does make it appear as if they are involved, but only time will tell the true nature of their strange relationship.
Ultimate Venus is overall an enjoyable story of a likeable teenage girl adjusting to her new life. Yuzu is adorably clumsy yet resilient and manages to stay strong by recalling the rules for life taught to her by her mother. After settling in a little more into her new lifestyle, Yuzu remains down to earth and shows this by choosing her friends by who she likes rather than their status at her prestigious high school. The artwork is beautifully detailed with emphasis on the character’s faces. The first volume starts off as a fun “rags to riches” story with Yuzu as the unlikely heroine, but later falls into an unfortunate “damsel in distress” rut. While the plot can be predictable, Ultimate Venus is still a fun read and hopefully the next volume will bring back the Yuzu’s fire from earlier in the manga.
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