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コンプレックス・エイジ [Complex Age] #3
Complex Age 3
IDEALS AND REALITY
Now that her parents have discovered her secret, Nagisa is faced with a choice: continue to do what she loves, or take this opportunity to give it all up. Meanwhile, Aya is learning to make her own costumes, and running full steam ahead down the road to cosplay stardom. But is she ready to handle the risks?
Now that her parents have discovered her secret, Nagisa is faced with a choice: continue to do what she loves, or take this opportunity to give it all up. Meanwhile, Aya is learning to make her own costumes, and running full steam ahead down the road to cosplay stardom. But is she ready to handle the risks?
208 pages, Paperback
First published February 23, 2015
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32 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
February 4, 2024
Me identifico mucho en muchas cosas con Nagisa😩
Siento que todavía toi chiquita y me sorprendo viendo a mi generación casándose o teniendo hijos, cuando todos ya tenemos 25 años o más
Siento que todavía toi chiquita y me sorprendo viendo a mi generación casándose o teniendo hijos, cuando todos ya tenemos 25 años o más
December 30, 2016
I love this series!!
August 13, 2017
Like many cosplayers’ lives, Nagisa’s is filled with drama — but she’s hardly ever the instigator. As Nagisa continues to wonder if she should stop cosplaying, she speaks with her mother about her own past while watching friends fall deeper in and further out of the scene.
Nagisa’s life continues to move on in spite of all of these frictions, but another obstacle appears in her way in this volume. Nagisa is convinced to go to a school reunion and there she reunites with a classmate who appears a little too eager to get a girlfriend — especially one who doesn’t immediately tune out when he talks about the Magi-Ruru game he’s been working on. Nagisa is perfectly happy to go on a few dates but it seems like she and this classmate, Senda, have different expectations about the relationship, and Nagisa’s cosplaying gets caught in the crossfire once more.
The world is giving Nagisa more and more reasons to stop cosplaying but funnily enough, these are all external forces. It’s clear that Nagisa still loves making and wearing cosplay, that she’s a good cosplayer, and that she’s able to capture the characters really well. Nagisa’s complicated feelings towards Aya being an even “better” cosplayer than she is are ones that I think a lot of cosplayers have had, especially when they see someone with only a couple of years under their belt already churning out incredible craftsmanship and stunning photos. In that way Aya is a bit of a Mary Sue; the implication is that it’s not even her posing, charisma, make-up or craftsmanship that draws the “camera-kos,” it’s literally that she just has the perfect face! It’s especially funny because Nagisa herself is drawn in a very anime-like way, and this is clearly all on purpose. Aya is essentially the greatest challenge a cosplayer like Nagisa can face: Can you still love a hobby that takes so much effort for a fickle audience?
I do think Nagisa will find her answer in the end, but I am curious what the second half of the series will bring. Nagisa’s family issue was resolved suspiciously neatly, in a way that feels like it was both resolved and not, and it looks like Nagisa will be hearing back from her former coworker soon as well. Complex Age is far more sympathetic to cosplayers than I expected; it doesn’t judge anyone for why they do or don’t continue to cosplay, but simply tries to show their feelings — all I could hope for and more.
Nagisa’s life continues to move on in spite of all of these frictions, but another obstacle appears in her way in this volume. Nagisa is convinced to go to a school reunion and there she reunites with a classmate who appears a little too eager to get a girlfriend — especially one who doesn’t immediately tune out when he talks about the Magi-Ruru game he’s been working on. Nagisa is perfectly happy to go on a few dates but it seems like she and this classmate, Senda, have different expectations about the relationship, and Nagisa’s cosplaying gets caught in the crossfire once more.
The world is giving Nagisa more and more reasons to stop cosplaying but funnily enough, these are all external forces. It’s clear that Nagisa still loves making and wearing cosplay, that she’s a good cosplayer, and that she’s able to capture the characters really well. Nagisa’s complicated feelings towards Aya being an even “better” cosplayer than she is are ones that I think a lot of cosplayers have had, especially when they see someone with only a couple of years under their belt already churning out incredible craftsmanship and stunning photos. In that way Aya is a bit of a Mary Sue; the implication is that it’s not even her posing, charisma, make-up or craftsmanship that draws the “camera-kos,” it’s literally that she just has the perfect face! It’s especially funny because Nagisa herself is drawn in a very anime-like way, and this is clearly all on purpose. Aya is essentially the greatest challenge a cosplayer like Nagisa can face: Can you still love a hobby that takes so much effort for a fickle audience?
I do think Nagisa will find her answer in the end, but I am curious what the second half of the series will bring. Nagisa’s family issue was resolved suspiciously neatly, in a way that feels like it was both resolved and not, and it looks like Nagisa will be hearing back from her former coworker soon as well. Complex Age is far more sympathetic to cosplayers than I expected; it doesn’t judge anyone for why they do or don’t continue to cosplay, but simply tries to show their feelings — all I could hope for and more.
September 1, 2023
La historia ha ido evolucionando a mejor con cada tomo, la verdad es que está súper bueno y me ha encantado, aquí le meten una pizca de romance que me tiene *enamorada*, es difícil porque siempre hay el mismo problema: aceptación.
Para Nagi es una pasión mientras que para los demás es una burla o una etapa pasajera. Me encantó que haya congeniado con alguien, pero me rompió el corazón que no se sintiera completamente comprendida y apoyada.
Para Nagi es una pasión mientras que para los demás es una burla o una etapa pasajera. Me encantó que haya congeniado con alguien, pero me rompió el corazón que no se sintiera completamente comprendida y apoyada.
May 8, 2017
This series deserves red hot status among cosplayers/otaku and I am confused why it's not a much bigger hit. Anyone who's ever covered up their personal interests for fear of being mocked/judged/harassed should glom onto this series like manna from heaven.
July 24, 2017
Cosplay is fun and games until some jerk with a camera takes a dirty picture. So to all the cosplayers out there: PLEASE BE CAREFUL!
On another note: Nagisa got a boyfriend~ Nagisa got a boyfriend~ And he's pretty cute~
This series has 6 volumes.
On another note: Nagisa got a boyfriend~ Nagisa got a boyfriend~ And he's pretty cute~
This series has 6 volumes.
April 14, 2023
In this third volume, finally, there are some issues which I can take serious. At the moment this problems appear, I felt really involved in the lecture at the point that I need to read the next ones. I just hope all this conflict can play out like it deserves.
August 8, 2019
I really love this series.
January 17, 2022
I’m just not feeling this series that much? I guess because her experiences are so far removed from my own.
July 29, 2024
Esto es súper tierno, quiero leer mas
March 16, 2017
The struggle of being an older cosplayer turns to dating in this volume. Again, another volume that hits all of the right spots.
February 1, 2017
Loved this volume! It covers Nagisa and her mom coming to terms over cosplay, younger emerging cosplayers, dating as a cosplayer, and more. There was an emotional scene about ideals and realities getting further and further apart. As someone who's been cosplaying for 10+ years and is in her mid-twenties, I get that. There's always the fear that you won't be able to represent a character well enough because their either too young or cute or different from yourself. Nagisa's dedication to the hobby really shines through though. Also I loved the scene where . Girl, you keep cosplaying as long as you want.
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March 21, 2020Still good, but lacks the punch of the first two volumes
I still find Complex Age to be an interesting story overall, but I wasn't as invested in the events of this volume. I found the chapter about her mother to be a bit of a cop out, and I really don't care for the guy involved in the romantic subplot (although I guess that's the point.) However, the book ends on an interesting cliffhanger so I expect the story to pick up again from here.
The artwork was still decent but not especially great. It gets the job done.
I do really enjoy reading all of the little notes at the end of each book - you can tell the translators put a lot of thought into it.
I still find Complex Age to be an interesting story overall, but I wasn't as invested in the events of this volume. I found the chapter about her mother to be a bit of a cop out, and I really don't care for the guy involved in the romantic subplot (although I guess that's the point.) However, the book ends on an interesting cliffhanger so I expect the story to pick up again from here.
The artwork was still decent but not especially great. It gets the job done.
I do really enjoy reading all of the little notes at the end of each book - you can tell the translators put a lot of thought into it.
January 9, 2017
So good! I love this series!
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews