MERMAID BOYS (Mamaido Boizu), by Yomi Sarachi. First published in 2016 and first published in North America in 2018.
PLOT:
Prince Naru has always been fascinated by the human world. Lately, though, he's been fascinated with a human girl named Nami, even more after he saves her from drowning. He's so determined to be with her that he trades his manly good looks to a sorcerer to become human, but Nami is far from the delicate maiden he presumed her to be. Will Naru be able to win her heart within a year's time, or will both he and his romantic dreams turn into sea foam?
STORY:
As if my intro didn't already give it away, I loved Mermaid Boys. It takes its fairy tale origins, strips it to its skeleton, rebuilds it into a lighthearted romantic comedy and manages to weave in some commentary to boot.
A big part of what makes Mermaid Boys work is Naru. He's doing double duty here as both protagonist and comic relief, which allows him to be both a smug weirdo, sweetly loyal, with a child-like sense of wonder about the world. It would be all too easy for him to overshadow his own love interest, but Nami is no slouch in the personality department either. While she's got some of the requisite sad past of a shojo heroine, she's also quite the athletic spitfire. If anything, the early chapters might overemphasize her temper a bit too much as their go-to gag tends to be her punching Naru out of the room Love Hina-style anytime he comes on too aggressively or forgets to wear pants.
Still, it manages to marry this zany take on a fairy-tale romance with your lackadaisical schoolroom content in a way that enlivens both. It also makes good use of the story being shifted to the Miyuki islands, which gives the story a sunny summer feel. Yet what stuck with me after finishing the volume is how it handles some of the negative baggage of its source material.
The moral of the original Little Mermaid (that is, the original Hans Christian Andersen story) was about self-sacrifice for the sake of others' happiness. His mermaid loses everything: her voice, her identity, her family, and ultimately her life, all for a man who will never recognize her love or efforts. Meanwhile, Mermaid Boys is focused not on sacrifice, but change.
As the story progresses, Sarachi makes it clear that Naru has to change more his tail to earn Nami's trust and affection. He has to set aside his ego, puffed up after years of fawning followers. He has to set aside his preconceptions not just of the human world, but of Nami herself. He has to change from the inside and become a better version of himself. The best part is that it's never stated outright, but instead it's woven quietly into the fabric of the story itself. It's a great lesson for the readers to take away from it, regardless of gender.
ART:
"Sunny" doesn't just describe Mermaid Boys' tropical setting, but the artwork as a whole. Sarachi's characters are both attractive and lively, regardless of whether they have tails or legs. She makes good use of the tropical island setting, incorporating real-world landmarks as well as loads of sunny beaches and unique architecture. Even the layouts are fluid and bright, making this a very breezy series to read.
RATING:
Mermaid Boys is as lighthearted and sunny as a day at the beach, bolstered by charming art, a great protagonist, and a healthy attitude towards romance. It's both an easy and timely series to recommend.
This series is published by Yen Press. This series is ongoing with 3 volumes available. All 3 have been published and are currently in print.
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