Title: Look Back
Author:
Tatsuki Fujimoto
Literary
level: Intermediate
Rating: 5/5
Released in July of 2021, Look Back
is a single-issue manga published by Shōnen Jump+, authored and illustrated by
Tatsuki Fujimoto. Jealousy grabbed Fujino when her fourth-grader classmates
compared her newspaper manga panels to the shut-in Kyomoto. Out of spite,
Fujino decided to learn as much as possible about art and draw better. Two
years had consumed her, ignoring most of her friends, until graduating from
sixth grade. A professor asked Fujino to hand the diploma de Kyomoto, which
lead to them meeting for the first time, Kyomoto admiring her work. They grow
up being inseparable friends creating manga. Once they graduated high school
they went there in different directions, Fujino continued being a mangaka,
while Kyomoto left for an art college. In a tragic turn of events, a massacre
occurred at Kyomoto’s college, and her being one of the dead. The last pages are
Fujino lamenting, grieving, and coming to terms with the death of her artistic
soulmate.
Yeah, yeah, another Fujimoto review.
I like his writing, sue me. Well, I liked this one unusually more than his
other works. Growing out of your shell in order to be with someone you like or
admire is not easy for some but when you can or find that one person you care
for you would do anything for them regardless of any situation. Agoraphobia and
social anxiety are not easy to overcome, however, taking the leap can be that
instance that changes one person. It can be Platonic love as well, not every
connection has to be a romantic one in order to bond with someone, and that is
what’s beautiful about this short manga. I highly recommend this short read.