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少女革命ウテナ [Shōjo Kakumei Utena] #2
Revolutionary Girl Utena, Vol. 2: To Plant
Utena, a young girl who longs to be a prince, must fight the jealous Juri, but it will take a miracle for Utena to beat Juri's superior skills.
200 pages, Paperback
First published March 19, 1997
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January 15, 2025
⭐2.5
I always heard this series was confusing because they don't tell you exactly what is going on and you really have to analyze what you do see to see what is going on underneath.
but all this time I was reading I was like "DAMN DOES NO ONE ASK CONSENT BEFORE KISSING A GIRL, HOLY DAMN."
Let Utena and Anthy run away together and get away from all these men.
I will say, even though it is very confusing - there is something really clear in the story: this is a male dominated world/system, Utena is really the only women that is really rising up against that and trying to become the prince. These men are slapping and controlling the women around them, whether they be related to them or not. It's sickening.
And poor Anthy feels like she has no anatomy in this world as the Rose Bride. Saying she will go to whoever wins the duels and hiding all her true feelings. Even though she never says it, she always wants Utena to win because Utena is the single person that really loves her and cares about her, asking to actually learn more about her as Anthy, not the Rose Bride.
I always heard this series was confusing because they don't tell you exactly what is going on and you really have to analyze what you do see to see what is going on underneath.
but all this time I was reading I was like "DAMN DOES NO ONE ASK CONSENT BEFORE KISSING A GIRL, HOLY DAMN."
Let Utena and Anthy run away together and get away from all these men.
I will say, even though it is very confusing - there is something really clear in the story: this is a male dominated world/system, Utena is really the only women that is really rising up against that and trying to become the prince. These men are slapping and controlling the women around them, whether they be related to them or not. It's sickening.
And poor Anthy feels like she has no anatomy in this world as the Rose Bride. Saying she will go to whoever wins the duels and hiding all her true feelings. Even though she never says it, she always wants Utena to win because Utena is the single person that really loves her and cares about her, asking to actually learn more about her as Anthy, not the Rose Bride.
July 3, 2022
A badly written and modified retread of the anime plot. Characterization has been chopped up, plots are lessened by the weird increase in sexism (and this is considering it erased the plot where Anthy's dress was supposed to dissolve, as a cruel jealous bit of bullying). Utena is far more of a damsel than she was in the anime. The moments between Anthy and Utena are probably the best, at least when Utena isn't victim-blaming Anthy, but that's kind of it.
The art at least gets somewhat better than in volume 1, and the plot is slightly more interesting, anyway, for all it's still compressed, cut, with more throwaway non-con and bad writing. But it's still not as good as the anime and the film.
The art at least gets somewhat better than in volume 1, and the plot is slightly more interesting, anyway, for all it's still compressed, cut, with more throwaway non-con and bad writing. But it's still not as good as the anime and the film.
February 8, 2016
For being listed as a classic, this manga is not what I'd call fine literature. At this point I'm mostly reading just to watch Utena kick the asses of all the creepy assholes surprise kissing her and/or physically abusing her friend Anshi. Wouldn't hurt to see all of the crazy misogynistic side characters dig their heads out of their asses and stop defending the borderline rapists straight-up stalking them, either.
Seriously. This book makes me embarrassed to be a manga fan. I was all here for Utena throwing gender roles out the window and being the prince of her own story, but this bullshit is too much.
Seriously. This book makes me embarrassed to be a manga fan. I was all here for Utena throwing gender roles out the window and being the prince of her own story, but this bullshit is too much.
September 10, 2015
3.5. Still no answers, but at least the prince is mentioned a lot. The anime seems to have forgotten him.
June 26, 2024
I misteri si infittiscono in questo secondo volume: chi è Dios e perché la sua spada ha la capacità di rivoluzionare il mondo? Che cosa rappresenta il castello capovolto che è possibile vedere dall'arena dei duelli? Che cos'è questo Confine del Mondo che tira i fili del Consiglio degli Studenti? Perché Anthy Himemiya è così propensa ad essere considerata come un oggetto da usare piuttosto che una persona reale? Perché Tōga Kiryu si spaccia per il principe che ha salvato Utena, quando chiaramente non è così? E soprattutto... perché non ho recuperato prima questo manga?
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August 13, 2019its wild that a bunch of the reviews are like 'this doesn't make sense' and i can't tell if it DOES make sense because i know where this is going or??? stop waiting for the castle in the sky to make sense. it doesn't. thank you.
June 17, 2025
Que dire ? C'est original ? Mais on sent bien que c'est un Shojo de l'époque, les relations femme/homme sont horribles
January 15, 2022
Jury Arisugawa lacks the complexity, mystery, and depth of character she possessed in the anime when she first blazes forth from the manga’s pages. Nor is her conflict with Utena as layered and highly charged with chemistry. Jury’s infatuation with Touga, her hot temper, and strictness weren’t as interesting as the rigid self-discipline and dignity with which she protected herself. Her conflict with Utena in this is more of a romantic rivalry and jealousy akin to what Kozue shows in this volume. Kozue isn’t nearly as duplicitous, secretive, and cunning as she was in the anime. Much of the mystery is gone, leaving her with raw, unchecked jealousy she often expresses. Or perhaps I should say all of the complexity, mystery, duplicity, and depth evolved in Jury and Kozue later since the manga existed before the anime. Touga carries the burden of beauty, mystery, and duplicity while pursuing Utena and his goals. Poor boy. I’m not sure how sarcastic I’m being. Just how deep is Touga in with World’s End? Utena is only just beginning to learn how deep Anthy is involved. Is she orchestrating the fate of those involved with the duels along with World’s End? Is Anthy a victim or a villain? Just why does the Rose Bride do what she does? Why is she bound to the dueling game? Are her goals changing due to her contact with Utena? It was great watching Wakaba explode when Anthy said she belonged to Utena. The key’s to Anthy’s heart is still her brother, something she hints at. Utena and Miki did look adorable together in the various ways they were drawn. It was cute seeing Miki crush on Utena, who may be a little gentler with him than Anthy was in her passive aggressive sweetness and relentless devotion to the rules of the Rose Seal. Nanami is nothing but a pretty picture with no appearance beyond that, leaving Chu-Chu with much more to do and more mischief to get into. Just think curry. Some of the mishaps which Utena and Anthy got into gave them insight into each other’s hearts even though they have much to learn. The artwork was stunning. Saionji manages to be both lovely and ridiculous. Jury leaps from the page in full splendor, radiating beauty and poise even if her character doesn’t quite embody them as much as in the anime. (Excellent job in fleshing her out in the other medium, Saito-sensei and Be-Papas.) Miki and Kozue are quite adorable while Utena rules every page with her beauty, force of character, and charming naiveté. Anthy, on the other hand, makes it quite a challenge to spot any glimmer of emotion behind her glasses and ever-present smile. Every once in a while it shows or does it? She’s perhaps one of the most interesting femme fatales in manga or anime with her low-key approach and cunning. Sometimes I wonder if her enemies have her more accurately pegged than Utena ever did. Utena’s innocence and her concern for Anthy as a person may be the key to Anthy discovering that she is, indeed a person. This is one of the most compelling themes in the series which continues to play out. Utena, however, is bound by her own code as a prince, her desire to be a prince, and a desire to see her prince again. These desires can be used to manipulate her, something Touga, World’s End, and perhaps Anthy herself are learning to take advantage of. I’m rediscovering all of these things as I read, delighted to rediscover them. This series holds a special place in my heart. It once showed me how magical, mind-bending, and gender-bending storytelling can be. It reminds me to keep to pushing at the edge of possibility.
June 14, 2017
OMG, Utena and Anthy (and probably all the other characters) are only 13-15? Whut? That makes some scenes in these 2 volumes pretty dang creepy.... So I will just pretend I haven't seen their real ages and see them as what I think are their right ages, 15-17.
This was yet another fabulous, exciting, squee volume. Lots of action, excitement, new characters, 2 duels, and some cute moments.
We get a few bits of answers, nothing complete yet, and I also have yet some more questions. So many questions! Hopefully in the end everything will click together and we will find out everything there is about all the duelling, about Dios, about World's End, how the Rose Bride is selected. Also will Utena find her prince (since I don't believe anything about that cliffhanger in this volume).
Utena is sure getting all the boys after her (first Touga and now Miki) + all the girls. Which is just hilarious as she has no clue how to handle all the attention.
Anthy... I like the girl but I want to hear her own opinions about things happening. But instead she all about Rose Bride following x and that she is just following y. Come on girl! Speak up, Utena is fighting for you as well. :|
I am not sure what to think of Kozue, she is a bit too clingy and I think she needs to learn to let her brother live his own life.
I am just flying through this story, I can still read volume 3, but the other 2 (plus adolescence) will have to wait until tomorrow!
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
This was yet another fabulous, exciting, squee volume. Lots of action, excitement, new characters, 2 duels, and some cute moments.
We get a few bits of answers, nothing complete yet, and I also have yet some more questions. So many questions! Hopefully in the end everything will click together and we will find out everything there is about all the duelling, about Dios, about World's End, how the Rose Bride is selected. Also will Utena find her prince (since I don't believe anything about that cliffhanger in this volume).
Utena is sure getting all the boys after her (first Touga and now Miki) + all the girls. Which is just hilarious as she has no clue how to handle all the attention.
Anthy... I like the girl but I want to hear her own opinions about things happening. But instead she all about Rose Bride following x and that she is just following y. Come on girl! Speak up, Utena is fighting for you as well. :|
I am not sure what to think of Kozue, she is a bit too clingy and I think she needs to learn to let her brother live his own life.
I am just flying through this story, I can still read volume 3, but the other 2 (plus adolescence) will have to wait until tomorrow!
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
September 19, 2022
Today’s post is on Revolutionary Girl Utena, Vol. 2: To Plant by Chiho Saitō. It is 200 pages long and is published by Shojo Beat. The cover is an illustration of Utena and Touga. There is no foul language, no sex, and mild violence in this book. The intended reader is someone who likes classic shoujo manga, deeply philosophical stories, and great art. There Be Spoilers Ahead.
From the back of the book- Utena gains entry to the Ohtori Academy's inner circle -- the sword-fighting student council. Destiny seems to have brought her together with council leader Touga, but is she merely a pawn in his mysterious scheme?
Review- Utena learns more about the world she has chosen to be part of but there is still so much that she doesn’t understand and no one is trying to explain it to her. In this volume it is more about Utena and her new relationships with the other Rose knights. They all have received letters that led them, like Utena, to the World’s End and to duel there. But the other duelists soon see that Utena is special because a glowing man comes from the castle to help her fight and win. But the volume ends with Touga pretending to be Utena’s prince and I am curious about how she is going to handle this and what she is going to do to him when it is revealed that he is lying to her.
I give this manga a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money.
From the back of the book- Utena gains entry to the Ohtori Academy's inner circle -- the sword-fighting student council. Destiny seems to have brought her together with council leader Touga, but is she merely a pawn in his mysterious scheme?
Review- Utena learns more about the world she has chosen to be part of but there is still so much that she doesn’t understand and no one is trying to explain it to her. In this volume it is more about Utena and her new relationships with the other Rose knights. They all have received letters that led them, like Utena, to the World’s End and to duel there. But the other duelists soon see that Utena is special because a glowing man comes from the castle to help her fight and win. But the volume ends with Touga pretending to be Utena’s prince and I am curious about how she is going to handle this and what she is going to do to him when it is revealed that he is lying to her.
I give this manga a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money.
August 31, 2025
Continuing on with this bit of nostalgia for me...
Now that Utena has solidified herself as the new dueling champion, she finds herself a target! Saionji will do anything to get Anthy back from her, Juri sees Utena as a threat to Touga, and forces beyond their control set up Miki as the next challenger! And all the while someone known only as World's End pulls the strings...
WOW I did not expect this to condense the story so much! But it is also kind of nice. We get to meet Kozue earlier and develop Miki more, Touga's a bit more fleshed out, and they cut out all the weird Nanomi filler which I don't miss (and the curry episode is way better being about Chu-Chu instead!). I also feel like it's easier to follow exactly what the power of Dios does and why it's so important in the manga vs the anime.
I don't like how Juri's character/back story is different. I think it cheapens her character a lot. Also, more slapping! Good grief, people relax! One thing that bothered me about the anime, which bothers me about the manga too, is how little Utena and Anthy's relationship is developed. We have a little bit here, but the two live together! And we hardly see any interactions between them! Anthy's character suffers as a result, which I hope gets fixed in the next volumes. We shall see, I guess!
Now that Utena has solidified herself as the new dueling champion, she finds herself a target! Saionji will do anything to get Anthy back from her, Juri sees Utena as a threat to Touga, and forces beyond their control set up Miki as the next challenger! And all the while someone known only as World's End pulls the strings...
WOW I did not expect this to condense the story so much! But it is also kind of nice. We get to meet Kozue earlier and develop Miki more, Touga's a bit more fleshed out, and they cut out all the weird Nanomi filler which I don't miss (and the curry episode is way better being about Chu-Chu instead!). I also feel like it's easier to follow exactly what the power of Dios does and why it's so important in the manga vs the anime.
I don't like how Juri's character/back story is different. I think it cheapens her character a lot. Also, more slapping! Good grief, people relax! One thing that bothered me about the anime, which bothers me about the manga too, is how little Utena and Anthy's relationship is developed. We have a little bit here, but the two live together! And we hardly see any interactions between them! Anthy's character suffers as a result, which I hope gets fixed in the next volumes. We shall see, I guess!
March 6, 2020
Every female character introduced so far has been slapped. WHY IS THERE SO MUCH SLAPPING.
One of my things in literature is upside-down castles. I'm not entirely sure where this comes from. Maybe Castlevania: Symphony of the Night? Maybe Blood and Honor by Simon R. Green?
(side note, I am writing this in 2020 as we await the next expansion pack for World of Warcraft: Shadowlands. There is an upside-down castle. I FLIPPED THE HELL OUT when they showed the upside-down castle in the trailer. Will it actually be cool in-game? Probably not, but I am fangirl levels of excited over here.)
Anyway, the castle is cool, but the story is weird. Why exactly are 14-year-olds fighting for the Rose Bride?
One of my things in literature is upside-down castles. I'm not entirely sure where this comes from. Maybe Castlevania: Symphony of the Night? Maybe Blood and Honor by Simon R. Green?
(side note, I am writing this in 2020 as we await the next expansion pack for World of Warcraft: Shadowlands. There is an upside-down castle. I FLIPPED THE HELL OUT when they showed the upside-down castle in the trailer. Will it actually be cool in-game? Probably not, but I am fangirl levels of excited over here.)
Anyway, the castle is cool, but the story is weird. Why exactly are 14-year-olds fighting for the Rose Bride?
March 1, 2017
Me parece bien. La traducción hecha por fans me impide disfrutar del todo esta historia, pero debo conformarme hasta que pueda conseguir un ejemplar oficial.
Kozue debuta, curiosamente, antes que Nanami. Ella parece más apegada a Miki de lo que es en el anime. De nuevo, los duelos son más interesantes en movimiento, pero es curioso notar las grandes diferencias entre las historias.
Como Nanami aún no aparece (en persona, al menos), Chuchu es quien toma su lugar con el asunto del curry. Este capítulo es incluido como extra al final del tomo, cambiando por completo el ambiente que se tenía por como concluyó el capítulo anterior.
En cuestión del arte, en este tomo se pueden apreciar los primeros cambios realizados con similitud al anime: el vestido de Anthy sigue siendo blanco, pero ya no posee mangas, y la apariencia de Chuchu ha cambiado siendo similar al que vemos en la animación.
Escribiré la reseña del manga completo cuando termine el último tomo.
Kozue debuta, curiosamente, antes que Nanami. Ella parece más apegada a Miki de lo que es en el anime. De nuevo, los duelos son más interesantes en movimiento, pero es curioso notar las grandes diferencias entre las historias.
Como Nanami aún no aparece (en persona, al menos), Chuchu es quien toma su lugar con el asunto del curry. Este capítulo es incluido como extra al final del tomo, cambiando por completo el ambiente que se tenía por como concluyó el capítulo anterior.
En cuestión del arte, en este tomo se pueden apreciar los primeros cambios realizados con similitud al anime: el vestido de Anthy sigue siendo blanco, pero ya no posee mangas, y la apariencia de Chuchu ha cambiado siendo similar al que vemos en la animación.
Escribiré la reseña del manga completo cuando termine el último tomo.
April 23, 2025
In this volume Utena fight both Juri and Miki.
Juri is jealous of how much attention Touga is giving to Utena. She wants to sway his attention back to her. But Utena wins the battle.
Miki doesn’t want to fight anyone, but after is twin sister is kidnapped, he has to fight against Utena. Utena wins again, but Miki’s sister is also saved.
Anthy is revealed to be behind the kidnapping as she does whatever Dios / World’s End commands her to do.
More mysteries than answers in this volume, but Utena keeps showing that she is the strongest. And that she care about Anthy as a person and not just the Rose Bride
Juri is jealous of how much attention Touga is giving to Utena. She wants to sway his attention back to her. But Utena wins the battle.
Miki doesn’t want to fight anyone, but after is twin sister is kidnapped, he has to fight against Utena. Utena wins again, but Miki’s sister is also saved.
Anthy is revealed to be behind the kidnapping as she does whatever Dios / World’s End commands her to do.
More mysteries than answers in this volume, but Utena keeps showing that she is the strongest. And that she care about Anthy as a person and not just the Rose Bride
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 14, 2021
Where the hell did the monkey come from?!?!? This had little corlation with the first manga none of this makes sense😭😭😭 Utena literary met anthy's brother in vol 1 then acted like she never met him wth, in vol 1 they got out of the school then ended up in a theater now they are back in the school? The prince was dead in vol 1 and some reason being keep alive in well by the memory in Utena's heart and in order to get out of the school she has to forget about him so she dose but for some reason they are back in the school and he's still alive and well in vol 2?!?!?!
January 6, 2025
Honestly, I don't like the way they slap each other in 'To Till.' It's so gripping, though, that I worried I wouldn't enjoy manga as much as I enjoyed the anime. But now I'm hooked and can't stop reading manga! The only problem is that manga is expensive, and I'm not sure how I'll afford it.
'Revolutionary Utena' is fast-paced, and 'To Till' has a brilliant build-up. My only concern is that the relationship between Utena and Himemiya isn't being developed further.
'Revolutionary Utena' is fast-paced, and 'To Till' has a brilliant build-up. My only concern is that the relationship between Utena and Himemiya isn't being developed further.
April 15, 2021
This is still really silly but the artwork is magic. Somebody gets slapped like every ten pages but they're also constantly challenging each other to duels so I guess it makes sense?
I'll read another volume because this one was more fun to read than the first book but it's possible I'll sell the series before I finish.
I'll read another volume because this one was more fun to read than the first book but it's possible I'll sell the series before I finish.
December 30, 2020
The second volume I especially liked. It has shown a series of quite interesting evolutions in reference to the plot, the duels. The author keeps me intrigued by Utena's romantic situation. I think that the end of the volume with a comic chapter and with some drama has made him win a lot. I want more.
March 26, 2021
3.0/5
I still have a lot of questions about the plot, but I'm still interested. I do wish Anthy and Utena were friends, and we got to learn a bit more about Anthy in this book, but I enjoyed the crumbs we got.
I also really like the short little story at the end of this volume, super cute!
I still have a lot of questions about the plot, but I'm still interested. I do wish Anthy and Utena were friends, and we got to learn a bit more about Anthy in this book, but I enjoyed the crumbs we got.
I also really like the short little story at the end of this volume, super cute!
February 18, 2023
not to be rude, but why the FUCK isn't Juri gay in the manga, it was literally the most intense and nuanced part of the TV series. honestly I read all 6 of these books in 2 days and the only thing I remember for most of it is how shallow the whole thing is if Juri isn't gay
September 5, 2017
It's Utena so yeah.
May 21, 2018
Pending.
June 30, 2019
Chapter 2: duels with Juri and Miki. A bonus chapter about curry! We find out precious little about World's End, but Touga has been keeping secrets from the rest of the Student Council.
July 24, 2019
The entire time I felt like there was something lurking underneath the surface of everything else going on, and I couldn't tell what. It's unsettling -- and I'm living for it.
September 6, 2019
It's a lot better than volume one. It's not nearly as good as the anime, and the characters aren't as interesting, but it's still a good read.
December 7, 2019
2,5 stars
February 22, 2021
I love the art, I love the vibes, I love things.
March 10, 2021
Me estoy enamorando de Kiryuu y de Miki 🥰🥰🥰🥰
March 13, 2021
C’est le festival des baffes dans ce tome !! 😂
L’univers semble intéressant mais sonne un peu creux jusque là.
L’univers semble intéressant mais sonne un peu creux jusque là.
March 31, 2021
Muy bien
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews