Othello Recommended

Publisher
Tanoshimi
Writer
Satomi Ikezawa
Artist
Satomi Ikezawa
Country of origin
Japan
Length
7 volumes
Year
2001

Othello vol 1-7

By John Huxley
30th Mar 08

If you’ve read my review of Satomi Ikezawa’s Guru Guru Pon Chan, you’d know that I wasn’t exactly expecting much when I first picked it up. Put that down to my preconceptions if you like, because I actually ended up enjoying it a whole lot. In fact it was one of my favourite comedy manga of recent years.

So Othello faces a completely different challenge. Now I’m familiar with the considerable talents of the author, my expectations are massive. And unless it delivers in a way that’s somehow differentiates it from Guru Guru Pon Chan (maybe I should shorten that to Pon Chan...or Guru Guru?), Othello runs the risk of being overshadowed by its younger sibling. I call that the Halo syndrome.

First impressions aren’t exactly promising. Ikezawa picks up from where she left with Pon Chan (yes...that sounds right), creating a scenario that’s similar to her breakthrough comic in several ways. Fist, there’s the obvious theme of duality. Not to get all psycho-analytical on you or anything...but the black and white cover pretty much spells it out. Othello follows the adventures of Yaya - a shy, introverted young girl who hangs around with a group of manipulative bullies she calls her ‘friends’. The phrase ‘door mat’ was pretty much invented for Yaya, and these ‘friends’ of hers (there’s a more apt term for them, and it begins with a ‘b’...) are well aware of it. Soon the pressure of this relationship and her school life begins to tell, and unknown to her she develops a severe case of multiple personality disorder. Her alter ego, Nana, is everything Yaya isn’t. Out going, out spoken and ready to kick the shit out of anyone who would try to take advantage of Yaya’s good nature.

See? See what I mean? There’s more than a hint of Pon Chan there. Only swap the dog with a bit of MPD. The supernatural element may have gone (and sadly any hint of bestiality with it...), yet the effect is the same.

And during the early stages of the comic, this really doesn’t play to Othello’s favour. Not only is it eerily reminiscent of Pon Chan, but there’s a distinct sense of the formulaic. Each chapter pretty much goes through the motions - Yaya’s friends do something bitchy, she bottles her frustration up inside until it boils over and Nana comes to the rescue. Without the kind of romantic interest that gave balance to Pon Chan’s story, there’s really not a lot here.

Well, I guess I might have fallen victim to the Halo syndrome there. In reality, viewed afresh without any prior knowledge of her previous work, Othello is actually pretty damn good. Even during these early stages the artwork really shines; an unusual and yet expressive mix that suits her odd sense of humour perfectly. And the Yaya/Nana combination works particularly well; at first eliciting sympathy with Yaya and then inspiring sweet revenge with Nana (her catch phrase ‘Justice is done!’ being the money shot). Pon Chan aside, it’s a good comic. A little formulaic, but still good.

And for the majority of the early volumes it seemed as if it would stay firmly lodged in Pon Chan’s shadow. But having given the chance to let Othello’s concept gestate, Ikezawa suddenly turns the tables on us. Somewhere around volume 3 or 4, out go Yaya’s ‘friends’ as the focal point of the story, and in comes a variety of new dilemmas for her and Nana to tackle...not least the introduction of a new love interest. This sudden change in direction (but not without first settling the score with her ‘friends’ once and for all) really breathes new life in to Othello. Ikezawa picks up the ball and runs with it, not stopping until she’s tied up all the lose ends in volume 7.

In a way, it’s a pity those early volumes didn’t really do Othello justice. Because it’s almost (not quite - there’s still no bestiality) as good as Pon Chan, and I’m afraid quite a few people might be put off before it really has a chance to get going. Still, at a paltry 7 volumes it’s a very easy series to collect and one that I found hugely rewarding. If you’re a fan of Ikezawa’s other work or not, I’d happily recommend Othello.

-- John Huxley 30th Mar 08