Komi Can't Communicate, Vol. 35

古見さんは、コミュ症です。 [Komi-san wa, Komyushō Desu.] #35

by Tomohito Oda, John Werry (Translator)

The journey to 100 friends begins with a single conversation.

Socially anxious high school student Shoko Komi’s greatest dream is to make some friends, but everyone at school mistakes her crippling social anxiety for cool reserve. Luckily she meets Tadano, a timid wallflower who decides to step out of his comfort zone in order to help her achieve her goal of making 100 friends.

Komi’s final year of high school is going great! She led her class to victory at the culture festival (i.e., their ramen was a hit and nothing burned down), and she’s getting close to her goal of 100 friends! But her younger brother Shosuke isn’t having the same luck. Recently a menacing new group led by Tadano’s sister has started to target him, and they’re determined to make him smile!

Genres: Manga, Romance, Contemporary, Young Adult, Fiction, Humor, Comedy

192 pages, Paperback

First published October 18, 2024

About the author

ODA Tomohito
Name (in native language): 小田智仁
Associated Names: オダトモヒト

Tomohito Oda won the grand prize for World Worst One in the 70th Shogakukan New Comic Artist Awards in 2012. Oda’s series Digicon, about a tough high school girl who finds herself in control of an alien with plans for world domination, ran from 2014 to 2015.

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

With two volumes to go, Komi and company do their usual business this volume: meander all over creation in search of a joke or two to squeeze out of this scenario before we wrap it all up.

I’ll admit that I’ve been punishingly miserable to this series lately, but it also hasn’t been especially good or funny. I wouldn’t say that this is particularly hysterical or anything, but it’s definitely a step up (guess what? No Yamai either!).

I think lacking the wordplay of the original Japanese and getting no notes related to same does hurt this story. Even with that, however, it’s more of a chuckle than anything hilarious. You’ve seen all these characters do all this stuff before and better.

Now, if you still love this? Don’t fret - it’s good enough. There are even a couple of dramatic or more serious moments that come across pretty solidly. It’s not a bad volume, I just haven’t especially been interested for a while.

The volume leads off with a karaoke bit that works because of increasingly integrated antics of the person who’s on duty. This is followed by a couples contest that has some amusing turns, plus Naruse shows just how much he cares for and considers Ase, which I’ve always appreciated.

Manbagi’s relationship gets more development than Komi and Tadano, which is reasonable since the main couple are not overly exciting (Tadano does get a good moment at the end, points for that). I won’t lie - the weird bit with the breath mints is actually very amusing, along with an appropriate dig at cliffhangers.

Elsewhere, finding out the secret of Komi’s brother, or not, makes for an interesting little twist. Shosuke as a kid is markedly different from how he is now and Tadano’s sister probably has him dead to rights, or not. Their bizarre non-relationship has its moments and this is one of them.

So, yeah, I wouldn’t call this great by any stretch, but it’s certainly one of the most readable volumes I’ve gone through in a bit and it didn’t make me feel like I’d wasted my time. That’s good enough.

3 stars - two volumes left and that’ll be that. I don’t have any issue with finishing this out, but I don’t think I’ll be reading this ever again. Okay fare that doesn’t land with me much.

[Rod Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

This once-beloved series continues to limp toward the finish line with just two more volumes -- and three more friends -- to go after this.

After last volume's cultural festival wraps up, we're given a side story with Komi's brother and Tadano's sister. Wasted pages, in my opinion.

Next up is a short arc with Rumiko Manbagi meeting her boyfriend's father that's sort of sweet, sort of dumb.

The last forty pages finally give us some time with the main couple as they realize they have one final hurdle to consolidate their college plans, setting up what I hope is an extended bit of one-on-one time next volume. But no, we'll probably be forced to deal with 42 other characters first again, like this time.


FOR REFERENCE:

Contents: Chapters 456-473 -- Bonus

[Zuli · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5✨

[Rebecca Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

[Ciel Dahlberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was adorable. I especially loved the chapters about the brother.

[Othy · Rating 3 out of 5]

An unfortunately poor showing. Somehow, there seem to be fewer goofy antics, not are there great moments between characters. There are two stories here that cover multiple chapters, but one (with Manbagi) is just kinda boring, and the other (with Shosuke) is poorly told. Both could have used a bit more space for development. It's really unfortunate, because this series still has some steam even after 35 volumes. The material is just poorly utilized.

[Nicolo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Now that the end of this series is imminent, the author has had a mini revival of sorts as they wrap up their story threads.

The return to the form that made this series a great read these past several years, even if it is just a glimpse, is welcome. The last serialized chapter has already been released, and the Viz English editions will wrap up in two more volumes. This way the series can end on a good note.

This volume has a few short arcs, like the Komi karaoke with friends and the closing ceremonies of the last school festival Komi and Tadano will attend as high school students.

The standout though would be the other Komi and Tadano tandem that expound the origin of why Komi's brother doesn't need to communicate.

Bring on the last two volumes. If Komi has to end soon, let us at least celebrate the milestone.

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 2 out of 5]

Third to last volume, and I am just flipping the pages. Only three friends to go to get to Komi's goal of 100! But who cares? It was a dumb goal. Why achieve more friends ratherr than better? Is that the solution to social anxiety?

We don't really hear much about Tadano and Shoko, as they are sort of a passive couple, we are not going anywhere physical with them, there's no real jealousy factor anymore, so ho hum. We do spend some time with them, at least, so will they go away to school together? What will happen? That's the last question. There's a short bit about Tadano's sister and Shoko's brother, but I forgot it already. Rumiko Manbagi, a series fave, has a little story, but eh.

[anastasia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Banger volume back to front, we’re clearly picking up momentum in this third-to-last volume. Like injecting sugar straight into your veins, it’s so dang sweet. So much good character work, particularly for Shosuke, Hitomi and Tadano! Gonna be bummed when this series ends but wow everyone’s come so far TT_TT

The panel of Tadano and Wakai giving a bro hug did make me giggle, bless these kiddos

[Evalynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love this whole series, so I am collecting all of it, BUT: I am so beyond sick of the demeaning titty jokes, especially when it is not only coming from peers but a peer's father. It is disgusting things like this that remind me I am glad the series is ending so it cannot continue to get worse. It is really time for it to end, and it may have gone on for too long.

[Chloe · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series is getting a little harder to read through. I don't know if it's because of a lack of quality or because I'm just losing interest in it, but either way I don't look forward to reading these like I used to. I felt that a couple of stories that were supposed to be important didn't have quite the impact I felt they should have, but nevertheless I still smiled and laughed reading them.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25/5
This volume has less longer arcs and more smaller moments and chapters. There is some really cute chapters with Wakai and Manbagi when he takes her home to meet his dad. The end of the volume also sets up the next arc as Komi offers to have a study camp with Tadano.

[Siobhan · Rating 5 out of 5]

bebby shosuke and shoko! also this series is coming to an end which is so sad :(( i started college when komi first came out and now ive graduated. komi was an important part of my becoming more social and I'm really proud that we both grew up and changed 🥹🥹

[R · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this volume! Karaoke, more friends made, and relationships blossoming. I love learning more about Shosuke and adore Hitomi Tadano! This has so many characters I love doing things that make me smile and laugh.

[Ady Weasley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me encantoooo.

Es tan raro ver a Shouske de pequeño y ver que su forma de ser no siempre fue serio. Pero el motivo detrás es más lindo...en serio esa Hitomi es medio rara pero muy perspicaz.

Mangabi y Wakai son tan lindos...como que no es una petición?!!

[Trent · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

[Ari · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked the addition of shosuke’s backstory, and I liked how this book was kind of written to wrap up the series since there are only 2 books left.

[Jacqueline · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Paris · Rating 4 out of 5]

nooo, it's almost over 🥲

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 stars

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one definitely overcame some of the challenges from the previous 2 volumes and got back to the things that make reading Komi fun.

[Katie❄️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this series will be wrapping up soon. 3 more friends till 100.

[DJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished My Hero Academia, I am not prepared for Komi to finish. I love this series (even if it annoys me sometimes), it is amazing and I am not ready for the end.

[Josh · Rating 3 out of 5]

A few odd moments still but as the series sets its sights on graduation, focus is shifting back a bit to some of the core plotlines and I'm very curious where this whole journey is headed.

[Carabella Pang · Rating 4 out of 5]

not bad but not good

[Q-Q · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5 stars

[Reed Benson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Shosuke story is five stars alone.

[Lindsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Shōsuke chapters were thiiis close 🤏 to bumping this volume to four stars, but everything else dragged it down.

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 friends to go! I liked the side story of Shosuke when and why he stopped smiling.

[Mara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 3.75/5.00 Stars