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IDOL×IDOL STORY! #2
IDOL x IDOL STORY! Vol. 2
POPSTARS FIGHTING FOR SURVIVAL ON A REALITY TV SHOW!Mimi and Ibuki have advanced to the evaluation stage of the new pop idol audition. The first evaluation is a ranking based on the candidates' assessments of each other, and with only two hours to complete the task, the pressure is on. The candidate with the lowest rank will be going home, so it's everyone for themselves! Will Mimi be able to stay unbiased when it comes to Ibuki?!
- GenresManga
212 pages, Paperback
Published July 15, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 17, 2025
Boy, this is one hell of a level up from the mangaka’s previous story, New Game!. At least the shambling beast that it turned into, at any rate, as it was really decent for the first few volumes.
Taking on an idol competition with a (hopefully) pre-set casts lets some actual characterization come through, plus it also gives the author his huge set of characters to juggle (look, he seems fond of them, is all I’m saying).
There are few punches pulled in this one and it skirts the line right up to melodrama without going hardcore over it. The two sisters are, well, not only a fantastic example of an actual medical condition (yay research) in a manga, but have a delicious twist at the end when the true nature of one of them becomes eye-openingly apparent.
I was not expecting to find that so engaging as I did, and I also enjoyed, albeit a bit less, the desperate Karin, whose sole reason for wanting to be an idol is, of all things, to get her mother’s attention. She’s got skill, but no heart, and there’s no indication she wants to change.
As for Mimi and Ibuki, they handle the awkward situation they were thrust into last time very neatly. I felt this was worked out in a strong, if understated, fashion, although it immediately puts them in an alternative awkward situation right after that has them separated.
It’s good for the drama and also, yes, the yuri, as this one volume is more absolutely explicitly gay than the entirety of New Game!’s entire run. It might just be a sign of the times, one can hope, but it was really nice to see it unequivocally stated how Ibuki feels (which turns into a fun gag as she instantly “cheats” via no fault of her own).
As I said before, I think Girl Crush does movement better, but this is shaping up to be a cracking take on a competition manga in its own right. Aria as the ur-idol running the thing is bluntly honest and pragmatic to the point of near cruelty and I like that take on her character too.
Getting all these idol wannabes into the spotlight is taking some time, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out the gorgeous full colour pages at the end of the volume that give details on every one of them. It’s a great way to shine a light on everybody, even those who don’t have a prominent role this time out.
Don’t read this for the yuri; read it because you want an idol competition story that has some interesting characters, a fun plot, and throws a few curveballs at everybody to deal with. It’s a great time if you like that sort of thing and the art’s solid too.
Oh, almost forgot, big shout out to the author’s notes, where we see what he tried before settling on this series. I love seeing the creative process and how this didn’t just erupt from a pen fully formed. It’s the perfect bonus.
4 stars - really strong, really fun, and it’s slowly making me care about what happens to everybody and not just our two leads. That’s a good job done in my book.
Taking on an idol competition with a (hopefully) pre-set casts lets some actual characterization come through, plus it also gives the author his huge set of characters to juggle (look, he seems fond of them, is all I’m saying).
There are few punches pulled in this one and it skirts the line right up to melodrama without going hardcore over it. The two sisters are, well, not only a fantastic example of an actual medical condition (yay research) in a manga, but have a delicious twist at the end when the true nature of one of them becomes eye-openingly apparent.
I was not expecting to find that so engaging as I did, and I also enjoyed, albeit a bit less, the desperate Karin, whose sole reason for wanting to be an idol is, of all things, to get her mother’s attention. She’s got skill, but no heart, and there’s no indication she wants to change.
As for Mimi and Ibuki, they handle the awkward situation they were thrust into last time very neatly. I felt this was worked out in a strong, if understated, fashion, although it immediately puts them in an alternative awkward situation right after that has them separated.
It’s good for the drama and also, yes, the yuri, as this one volume is more absolutely explicitly gay than the entirety of New Game!’s entire run. It might just be a sign of the times, one can hope, but it was really nice to see it unequivocally stated how Ibuki feels (which turns into a fun gag as she instantly “cheats” via no fault of her own).
As I said before, I think Girl Crush does movement better, but this is shaping up to be a cracking take on a competition manga in its own right. Aria as the ur-idol running the thing is bluntly honest and pragmatic to the point of near cruelty and I like that take on her character too.
Getting all these idol wannabes into the spotlight is taking some time, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out the gorgeous full colour pages at the end of the volume that give details on every one of them. It’s a great way to shine a light on everybody, even those who don’t have a prominent role this time out.
Don’t read this for the yuri; read it because you want an idol competition story that has some interesting characters, a fun plot, and throws a few curveballs at everybody to deal with. It’s a great time if you like that sort of thing and the art’s solid too.
Oh, almost forgot, big shout out to the author’s notes, where we see what he tried before settling on this series. I love seeing the creative process and how this didn’t just erupt from a pen fully formed. It’s the perfect bonus.
4 stars - really strong, really fun, and it’s slowly making me care about what happens to everybody and not just our two leads. That’s a good job done in my book.
January 1, 2026
Quite enjoyed it, still quite a bit going on at the moment so it's a little hard to keep track of everyone. I'm enjoying Mimi and Ibuki's dynamic, all they end up separated here, how will they fair?
May 8, 2026
I like stories of characters persevering, fighting for something they want badly with the currently running manga ‘Medalist’ my favorite. I’m enjoying the competition aspects with each girl having levels of talent and how they get along. I know there’s the Yuri element that some may want to see more of; I’m hoping it’s not going to be highlighted and a distraction. Paint the Yuri with a light touch here and there and I’ll be happy.
August 26, 2025
This volume feels a bit random, given the number of characters.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews