Gacha Gacha

(Del Rey, 2005-2006)
™ and © 2005 Hiroyuki Tamakoshi

Nice Kouhei likes pretty Kurara, who, naturally, treats him like dirt but returns from a Hawaiian trip a new person—or, rather, with a new personality: Arisa. Her sexual ethics are a lot more flexible than Kurara’s. (She calls Arisa’s behavior “erotic,” though “slutty” seems more apt.) Since she changes personalities spontaneously, to protect her honor, Kouhei “has” to stop her outrageous behavior “before anyone else finds out”—even when it’s he on the receiving end.

Rather than “nice,” Kouhei seems repressed; check out the way he eagerly laps up whatever attention, good or bad, Kurara-Arisa throws his way. And, although he refuses to take advantage of Arisa, this paradoxically earns him more contempt from Kurara. Ordinarily, multiple personalities would be the result of severe sexual trauma, but there’s a deus ex machina excuse in the form of Kurara’s trampy-looking super-scientist mom’s virtual-reality machine.

It’s a pretty, empty exercise that’s all tease and no sex, which doesn’t really deserve to be shrink-wrapped.

— S. A. Bennett

From the Publisher:

Kouhei is your typical Japanese high school student—he's usually late, he loves beef bowls, he pals around with his buddies, and he's got his first-ever crush on his childhood friend Kurara. Before he can express his feelings, however, Kurara heads off to Hawaii with her mother for summer vacation. When she returns, she seems like a totally different person… and that's because she is! While she was away, Kurara somehow developed an alternate personality: Arisa! And where Kurara has not time for boys, Arisa isn't interested in much else. Now Kouhei must help protect his friend's secret, and make sure that Arisa doesn't do anything Kurara would regret!

Jump to issue:

Notes

Writer

Artist

#4

Cover Price: $10.95
1 copy available for $29.99

Hiroyuki Tamakoshi