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神クズ☆アイドル [Kami Kuzu Idol] #1
Phantom of the Idol, Vol. 1
Yuuya, one half of the boy pop duo ZINGS, may be the laziest performer in the Japanese music industry. His partner is out there giving 110% every night (and, thankfully, he's quite popular), but Yuuya's half-assed, sloppy dancing, and his frankly hostile attitude toward the audience, has the fans hating him and his agent looking for any excuse to cut him loose. The career of a pop idol just isn't the path of easy leisure and adulation Yuuya expected…
After a particularly lifeless concert appearance, Yuuya meets a girl backstage. She's dressed to the nines in a colorful outfit, she's full of vim and vigor, and all she wants from life is to perform. There's just one problem: She's been dead for a year. This is the ghost of Asahi Mogami, the beloved singer whose time on the stage was tragically cut short, unless… If ghosts are real, is spirit possession really that much of a stretch?
After a particularly lifeless concert appearance, Yuuya meets a girl backstage. She's dressed to the nines in a colorful outfit, she's full of vim and vigor, and all she wants from life is to perform. There's just one problem: She's been dead for a year. This is the ghost of Asahi Mogami, the beloved singer whose time on the stage was tragically cut short, unless… If ghosts are real, is spirit possession really that much of a stretch?
194 pages, Paperback
First published June 25, 2018
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234 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
May 12, 2022
3.5 rounded up for a few truly excellent gags. Our hapless hero is the world's laziest, least enthusiastic idol who one day meets the ghost of a girl idol who died before fulfilling all of her dreams. Their solution? She'll possess him so she gets to live out her idol life while he just sort of hitches a ride and gets the cash he wants. It's got some great moments skewering the idol industry and its fans although the art can be too busy for easy reading.
June 4, 2022
My gratitude to Kodansha Comics and Netgalley for providing me with an advanced reading copy of this series in exchange for an honest review.
Yuya Niyodo is a grumpy, anti-social, lackadaisical idol who's about to get fired at work. He just wasn't cut out for this and a lot of fans hate him already. It's only a matter of time before his partner goes solo and shines on his own. After all, Niyodo doesn't appear to care at all and is only on the show business, because he is scouted and told he'll earn easy money because of his looks. But everything's about to change its course when he met a sprightly ghost who's willing to switch places with him—the phantom of the mega idol Asahi Mogami. Hot 'n fresh! Phantom of the Idol takes us to the sweet , colorful days of fan culture with a ghostly twist in this hilarious series.
The cliffhanger was everything! I have to wait for the next volume!!
Yuya Niyodo is a grumpy, anti-social, lackadaisical idol who's about to get fired at work. He just wasn't cut out for this and a lot of fans hate him already. It's only a matter of time before his partner goes solo and shines on his own. After all, Niyodo doesn't appear to care at all and is only on the show business, because he is scouted and told he'll earn easy money because of his looks. But everything's about to change its course when he met a sprightly ghost who's willing to switch places with him—the phantom of the mega idol Asahi Mogami. Hot 'n fresh! Phantom of the Idol takes us to the sweet , colorful days of fan culture with a ghostly twist in this hilarious series.
The cliffhanger was everything! I have to wait for the next volume!!
July 9, 2022
~ Thank you Netgalley and Kodansha for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review ~
This was absolutely adorable and so funny. We follow an idol who only got the job because he thought it would be easy work. Due to his lacklustre and bored expressions during performances, his is very unpopular with the fans, putting his job on the line. Luckily he meets the ghost of an idol who can possess his body and make his performances sparkle! This is hilarious guys. I enjoyed every page, the art is cute, the expressions are wonderful, and the plot is wholesome. I really loved the art style and think it worked well with the vibe and general feel of the plot. I cannot wait to continue on with this, I think it's going to be a fun series that will put a smile on my face.
~ Also reviewed in this video on my channel, skip to 25:40 ~
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIipl...
This was absolutely adorable and so funny. We follow an idol who only got the job because he thought it would be easy work. Due to his lacklustre and bored expressions during performances, his is very unpopular with the fans, putting his job on the line. Luckily he meets the ghost of an idol who can possess his body and make his performances sparkle! This is hilarious guys. I enjoyed every page, the art is cute, the expressions are wonderful, and the plot is wholesome. I really loved the art style and think it worked well with the vibe and general feel of the plot. I cannot wait to continue on with this, I think it's going to be a fun series that will put a smile on my face.
~ Also reviewed in this video on my channel, skip to 25:40 ~
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIipl...
June 6, 2022
First off let me start by saying thank you to NetGalley and kodansha comics for giving me early access to this in exchange for my honest review!
Yuya is about to get fired from his pop idol group ZINGS if he doesn’t get his act together. You see Yuya is the opposite of what you’d expect from a pop idol, he’s lazy and antisocial. All he really cares about is getting paid, if he could get paid to sleep he probably be doing that. After one lackluster concert he meets a girl backstage who says she’s an idol as well, who loves to perform. She’s basically the epitome of what an idol should be but there’s only one problem, she’s been dead for a year. The two shortly come up with a plan that will benefit them equally.
This was super funny and cute, I really liked the concept of this. I’m not a huge fan of Yuya but I’m hoping he has some good character development as this progresses.
The panels did seem a bit jumbled occasionally, there would be a lot going on and it sort of made this a pain to read at times.
About 80% through I figured I probably wouldn’t be continuing this just because it didn’t really grasp my attention the way I thought it would, but then the ending hit me in the FACE. I really want to know what’s going to happen next, but personally for me I think I’d like this better if it were adapted into an anime!
Yuya is about to get fired from his pop idol group ZINGS if he doesn’t get his act together. You see Yuya is the opposite of what you’d expect from a pop idol, he’s lazy and antisocial. All he really cares about is getting paid, if he could get paid to sleep he probably be doing that. After one lackluster concert he meets a girl backstage who says she’s an idol as well, who loves to perform. She’s basically the epitome of what an idol should be but there’s only one problem, she’s been dead for a year. The two shortly come up with a plan that will benefit them equally.
This was super funny and cute, I really liked the concept of this. I’m not a huge fan of Yuya but I’m hoping he has some good character development as this progresses.
The panels did seem a bit jumbled occasionally, there would be a lot going on and it sort of made this a pain to read at times.
About 80% through I figured I probably wouldn’t be continuing this just because it didn’t really grasp my attention the way I thought it would, but then the ending hit me in the FACE. I really want to know what’s going to happen next, but personally for me I think I’d like this better if it were adapted into an anime!
December 7, 2022
A promising introductory volume to what I expect to be a spectacular and devastatingly heart wrenching manga series.
August 11, 2022
the characters annoyed me and there was no romance so this was meh for me
June 4, 2022
This manga was absolutely bonkers and I loved it! A 5/5 star read and I definitely want to continue along!
The main character Niyodo is a lazy, uninterested idol who is on the brink of being let go from his talent agency. He just doesn’t give a crap about stage presence or fan feelings and isn’t really connecting with his audience. He just wanted easy money. After a rather disappointing live event he’s sitting on a bench and is approached by a girl named Asahi. She’s cute, energetic and an idol as well! And oh, did we mention she’s been dead for a year? She and Niyodo concoct a scheme where she inhabits his body to perform (but only sometimes!) which helps boost his popularity. The story proceeds from there.
The art style is cute and detailed. The colour artwork on the cover at the art at the beginning are bright, perky colours that really caught my eye. The font is easy to read and the translations appear to be very well done. The storyline like I said above is bonkers but definitely fun! Asahi and Niyodo work well together in a weird way, even though they’re total opposites. The cliffhanger of volume 1 is leaving me on the edge of my seat!
I’d recommend this for lovers of idol culture, cute stories and good quality manga art! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
The main character Niyodo is a lazy, uninterested idol who is on the brink of being let go from his talent agency. He just doesn’t give a crap about stage presence or fan feelings and isn’t really connecting with his audience. He just wanted easy money. After a rather disappointing live event he’s sitting on a bench and is approached by a girl named Asahi. She’s cute, energetic and an idol as well! And oh, did we mention she’s been dead for a year? She and Niyodo concoct a scheme where she inhabits his body to perform (but only sometimes!) which helps boost his popularity. The story proceeds from there.
The art style is cute and detailed. The colour artwork on the cover at the art at the beginning are bright, perky colours that really caught my eye. The font is easy to read and the translations appear to be very well done. The storyline like I said above is bonkers but definitely fun! Asahi and Niyodo work well together in a weird way, even though they’re total opposites. The cliffhanger of volume 1 is leaving me on the edge of my seat!
I’d recommend this for lovers of idol culture, cute stories and good quality manga art! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
Read
June 7, 2022Thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha for a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
tl;dr
A genuinely funny look into the world of idol culture with high energy artwork and a fast-paced story. One of the leads can be frustrating at times.
About
Yuya is the lazier half of idol group Zings, and his extreme laziness is about to get him dropped from the group. But a chance meeting with the ghost of idol singer Asahi Mogami might give them both the solution their problems. If Asahi possesses Yuya for his performances, she can continue the dream she had in life of being an idol, and Yuya won't have to work hard at anything. Surely nothing can go wrong?
What I Liked
Yuya and Asahi are a great odd couple representing the toxic extremes of idol culture: Yuya in it only for money and attention, and Asahi's identity so tied to serving the fans that she cultivates dangerous parasocial relationships. The story treats this with a light touch (so far), allowing the leads' attitudes to play mostly as jokes rather than getting too mired in the darker side of idol culture. The back and forth between the leads is refreshing and fun, as they banter about their differing ideals without devolving into fighting. Although still budding, their friendship feels very stable, and I enjoy it. Typical drama moments about a guy and a ghost girl living together are skipped altogether, with a 4koma in the back of the book even poking fun of the expectation. Yoshino is a great supporting character, and I do hope that he gets his time to shine as well. The best portion of the stories is the fans themselves: sometimes passionate, sometimes despairing, always relatable. Artwork is very high energy and dynamic with a lot of great expressions, and Asahi's design is my favorite. A scene in the middle where Asahi and Yuya attempt to remake Yuya's image is genuinely hilarious.
What Wasn't For Me
The front half of the story moved at a breakneck speed. I wouldn't have minded giving our leads a little more time to figure each other and themselves out through their first few performances before introducing in other characters or plot points. Yuya's attitude can be grating, especially when it comes to how he treats Yoshino. If he were a real idol, his label would've dropped him ages ago, no matter how good his looks. Anatomy in the artwork can sometimes be inconsistent.
tl;dr
A genuinely funny look into the world of idol culture with high energy artwork and a fast-paced story. One of the leads can be frustrating at times.
About
Yuya is the lazier half of idol group Zings, and his extreme laziness is about to get him dropped from the group. But a chance meeting with the ghost of idol singer Asahi Mogami might give them both the solution their problems. If Asahi possesses Yuya for his performances, she can continue the dream she had in life of being an idol, and Yuya won't have to work hard at anything. Surely nothing can go wrong?
What I Liked
Yuya and Asahi are a great odd couple representing the toxic extremes of idol culture: Yuya in it only for money and attention, and Asahi's identity so tied to serving the fans that she cultivates dangerous parasocial relationships. The story treats this with a light touch (so far), allowing the leads' attitudes to play mostly as jokes rather than getting too mired in the darker side of idol culture. The back and forth between the leads is refreshing and fun, as they banter about their differing ideals without devolving into fighting. Although still budding, their friendship feels very stable, and I enjoy it. Typical drama moments about a guy and a ghost girl living together are skipped altogether, with a 4koma in the back of the book even poking fun of the expectation. Yoshino is a great supporting character, and I do hope that he gets his time to shine as well. The best portion of the stories is the fans themselves: sometimes passionate, sometimes despairing, always relatable. Artwork is very high energy and dynamic with a lot of great expressions, and Asahi's design is my favorite. A scene in the middle where Asahi and Yuya attempt to remake Yuya's image is genuinely hilarious.
What Wasn't For Me
The front half of the story moved at a breakneck speed. I wouldn't have minded giving our leads a little more time to figure each other and themselves out through their first few performances before introducing in other characters or plot points. Yuya's attitude can be grating, especially when it comes to how he treats Yoshino. If he were a real idol, his label would've dropped him ages ago, no matter how good his looks. Anatomy in the artwork can sometimes be inconsistent.
June 22, 2022
Thank you so much to the author, Kodansha Comics, and NetGalley for the complimentary ARC!
This review contains my honest and unbiased thoughts and opinions. 🌸
This manga was interesting but did lose my attention at times. The male MC is an idol but doesn't really care too much and doesn't give it any kind of effort. He comes across this female idol who is the complete opposite, she comes alive on the stage and absolutely loves performing. One small detail... she's a ghost! Their encounter leads to her being frustrated by his laziness when it comes to being an idol so she possesses him and becomes the idol she thinks he should be while on stage.
I enjoyed the storyline but did get easily distracted and didn't stay completely focused/in the story. Normally, I finish a manga in just a few hours but this one I actually set aside and finished a few days later.
Interesting enough I will definitely continue with Volume 2.
This review contains my honest and unbiased thoughts and opinions. 🌸
This manga was interesting but did lose my attention at times. The male MC is an idol but doesn't really care too much and doesn't give it any kind of effort. He comes across this female idol who is the complete opposite, she comes alive on the stage and absolutely loves performing. One small detail... she's a ghost! Their encounter leads to her being frustrated by his laziness when it comes to being an idol so she possesses him and becomes the idol she thinks he should be while on stage.
I enjoyed the storyline but did get easily distracted and didn't stay completely focused/in the story. Normally, I finish a manga in just a few hours but this one I actually set aside and finished a few days later.
Interesting enough I will definitely continue with Volume 2.
June 27, 2022
Rating: 5 leaves out of 5
Characters: 5/5
Cover: 5/5
Story: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Genre: Comedy/Paranormal
Type: Manga
Worth?: Hell Yes!
Hated|Disliked|Liked|Loved|Favorited
First want to thank Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this in exchange for an honest review. HOLY. CRAP. I downed this book in a few hours and wow... I want more. I originally picked it up because I like expanding my manga reads and wow... I was NOT disappointed. This manga is funny as hell and entertaining. The art was good but what really pulled me in was the freaking amazing story line. And the ending was left on a CLIFFHANGER! Oh boy how I am hanging on. I really hope to read the second volume soon!
Characters: 5/5
Cover: 5/5
Story: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Genre: Comedy/Paranormal
Type: Manga
Worth?: Hell Yes!
Hated|Disliked|Liked|Loved|Favorited
First want to thank Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this in exchange for an honest review. HOLY. CRAP. I downed this book in a few hours and wow... I want more. I originally picked it up because I like expanding my manga reads and wow... I was NOT disappointed. This manga is funny as hell and entertaining. The art was good but what really pulled me in was the freaking amazing story line. And the ending was left on a CLIFFHANGER! Oh boy how I am hanging on. I really hope to read the second volume soon!
June 13, 2022
I received an arc from netgalley.
I have to read more. This was delightful. Where's the sequel?
You have the Zings idol duo which is comprised of Yoshino-kun, a happy-go-lucky guy, and then Niyodo, dead-eyed and unenthusiastic. Niyodo, who is on the cusp on being fired, comes into contact with Asahi Mogami, a ghost who used to be a top idol. Hilarious hijinks ensue.
Niyodo's fans are also very funny. I love that his whole idol persona is "hot mess." Truly an original idea for an idol manga. This manga doesn't just rely on being funny either, there's a plot that's being introduced, and I want to see where it goes. I really can't wait to read more.
I have to read more. This was delightful. Where's the sequel?
You have the Zings idol duo which is comprised of Yoshino-kun, a happy-go-lucky guy, and then Niyodo, dead-eyed and unenthusiastic. Niyodo, who is on the cusp on being fired, comes into contact with Asahi Mogami, a ghost who used to be a top idol. Hilarious hijinks ensue.
Niyodo's fans are also very funny. I love that his whole idol persona is "hot mess." Truly an original idea for an idol manga. This manga doesn't just rely on being funny either, there's a plot that's being introduced, and I want to see where it goes. I really can't wait to read more.
August 8, 2023
I LOVED this so much omg. It had me laughing from beginning to end, but it also has heart and the plot is so much more than expected. It’s about a lazy idol who is really only in it for the money and is on the verge of being fired when he meets another idol who is actually a ghost (that’s in the blurb). They make a deal that benefits the both of them and a lot of great shenanigans happen. I immediately ordered volume 2!
August 3, 2022
Uhmmm, I expected to like it. I really did. But I guess I had my expectations too high. Let's see, it wasn't that bad, several pages made me laugh a lot, but in others it was all meh.... So it got kind of heavy for me.
I liked the characters, but the scenes where I wanted to explore more about their personalities not so much, so it was complicated.
Still, it has interesting ideas about what it's like to be an idol and how that can change your personality.
I liked the characters, but the scenes where I wanted to explore more about their personalities not so much, so it was complicated.
Still, it has interesting ideas about what it's like to be an idol and how that can change your personality.
June 6, 2022
Interesting premise, but hasn't really hit its stride yet. The characters are likable, but a little all over the place. More volumes will likely flesh them out more and have them gel together as a cast.
Cautiously recommend in hopes of future improvement.
Cautiously recommend in hopes of future improvement.
June 7, 2022
This manga was cute. Very different from other idol things I've seen/read, but I'm here for it. I think this manga would do better as an anime, but that's neither here nor there.
The style of manga is nice, I like it a lot. The story seems like it's going to get interesting, but the middle part of this volume specifically was a little slow. I think that this could evolve into something cool. For not, it's cute enough!
The style of manga is nice, I like it a lot. The story seems like it's going to get interesting, but the middle part of this volume specifically was a little slow. I think that this could evolve into something cool. For not, it's cute enough!
June 16, 2022
THIS IS SO BORING!!! I usually like mangas involving Idols and stuff but omg this is so boring the characters are so 1D the story does not move in all the chapters, and the motivations are so meh I don't know this manga was not for me at all nothing entertaining except the ghost part
June 16, 2022
(Arc)
This was wacky in the best way. A dead idol possesses another idol to make him better? Fine comedy.
This was wacky in the best way. A dead idol possesses another idol to make him better? Fine comedy.
June 17, 2022
Oh my god I love it ! It’s so funny !
October 28, 2023
3.5 stars
February 5, 2024
This was hilarious and so much fun. Will be back for volume 2
June 5, 2022
Has an interesting premise but I am not a big fan of the lazy protagonist, Yuya. The artwork is pretty good. I doubt I will be continuing with this series.
July 15, 2022
Rating: 3.5 stars
I like the premise of this manga - a pop idol who died too soon possesses the body of an idol who's only in it for the paycheck in a sort of symbiotic relationship. Some of the plotlines and weird gimmicks Mogami comes up with are pretty ridiculous, and I thought this would be rather one note. BUT THEN! Right towards the end there's some INTRIGUE thrown in with another character, so I'm looking forward to volume 2 to seeing what their deal is!!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are unbiased and my own.
Like this review?
Check out more of my reviews on my blog, Elley the Book Otter
I like the premise of this manga - a pop idol who died too soon possesses the body of an idol who's only in it for the paycheck in a sort of symbiotic relationship. Some of the plotlines and weird gimmicks Mogami comes up with are pretty ridiculous, and I thought this would be rather one note. BUT THEN! Right towards the end there's some INTRIGUE thrown in with another character, so I'm looking forward to volume 2 to seeing what their deal is!!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are unbiased and my own.
Like this review?
Check out more of my reviews on my blog, Elley the Book Otter
June 20, 2022
The artwork is really nice however the plot was a bit of a miss for me and I couldn't really get into it. The male main character is not likeable and the female main character is a tad annoying.
October 17, 2023
this made me giggle so much i love how unserious it is
November 13, 2023
It's honestly... so funny. The two main characters are extreme opposites of each other, and it's wonderful. Plus, I relate to Yuya so much. He's so lazy, me too bud... me too...
June 10, 2022
This is the first volume of a supernatural J-pop inspired manga series. In this volume, we meet Yuuya (Yu) who is one half of a pop-duo called ZINGS. Yu lacks motivation and expected this J-pop gig to be passive income with his duo partner doing all the work. However, when his boss has had enough and threatens to fire him, suddenly the answer to all his problems appears! Literally, in the form of an apparition is the spirit of a beloved singer Asahi who agrees to help Yu make it to the top…as long as she can possess him every now and again.
This was a such a cute and fun read! I really liked the characters in this, although I feel like I need more development of Yu to really understand why he is so incredibly unmotivated. Asahi was amazing and I loved how well-rounded she felt as a character. I also really appreciated how in the Translator’s note there were definitions for some of the J-pop fan terms and that the storyline itself includes specifics to J-pop and fan culture. It felt informative without being too overdone - still lighthearted and fun to read.
However, I did have some issues with the overall cohesiveness of the story. There are a lot of different stories in this one volume and things felt a bit disjointed at times. I understand this is the first volume, so we may see some further development of these storylines and themes in later volumes. Yet, many of them felt more like filler content that was half-developed for a quick side scene. I think this became especially noticeable in the second half of the story where there’s significant a significant jump to a fan service storyline that felt out of place during what was such a pivotal point in the story. The story still made sense, but I just needed a bit more foundation laid in some parts. I think more of a focus was needed on bringing these stories together a bit more cohesively so it felt like a more natural progression from scene to scene.
For the majority of this story, I felt like it might be a 3 star read for me; meaning I enjoyed it, but it didn’t especially stick with me. However, that ending - WOW! That was a plot twist that has definitely made me want to continue on with this series because now there’s an entirely new layer to this story. Therefore, my final rating is rounded up to 4 stars because it was such a fun and enjoyable reading experience where I can see myself continuing on with the series after that surprise ending!
Thank you to Netgalley and Kodansha Comics for an e-copy in exchange for an honest review!
This was a such a cute and fun read! I really liked the characters in this, although I feel like I need more development of Yu to really understand why he is so incredibly unmotivated. Asahi was amazing and I loved how well-rounded she felt as a character. I also really appreciated how in the Translator’s note there were definitions for some of the J-pop fan terms and that the storyline itself includes specifics to J-pop and fan culture. It felt informative without being too overdone - still lighthearted and fun to read.
However, I did have some issues with the overall cohesiveness of the story. There are a lot of different stories in this one volume and things felt a bit disjointed at times. I understand this is the first volume, so we may see some further development of these storylines and themes in later volumes. Yet, many of them felt more like filler content that was half-developed for a quick side scene. I think this became especially noticeable in the second half of the story where there’s significant a significant jump to a fan service storyline that felt out of place during what was such a pivotal point in the story. The story still made sense, but I just needed a bit more foundation laid in some parts. I think more of a focus was needed on bringing these stories together a bit more cohesively so it felt like a more natural progression from scene to scene.
For the majority of this story, I felt like it might be a 3 star read for me; meaning I enjoyed it, but it didn’t especially stick with me. However, that ending - WOW! That was a plot twist that has definitely made me want to continue on with this series because now there’s an entirely new layer to this story. Therefore, my final rating is rounded up to 4 stars because it was such a fun and enjoyable reading experience where I can see myself continuing on with the series after that surprise ending!
Thank you to Netgalley and Kodansha Comics for an e-copy in exchange for an honest review!
February 9, 2024
I received a copy from Kodansha Comics through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Yuya Niyodo is one of the grumpiest and laziest idols to ever exist. He’s phoning it in. Hard. He’s totally out if it means he has to put any effort in. Meanwhile, his musical partner, Kazuki Yoshino, is extremely popular with their fans. He’s giving it all, but he can never go solo with his intense stage fright. Everything changes when Niyodo meets the ghost of a former idol who passed away in a traffic accident. She wants nothing more than to be on the big stage again while he can’t wait to get off of it. When it turns out she can possess him, they strike a deal: she can possess him for his idol performances. He gets to keep his job while she gets to live the idol life!
This turned out to be as funny as I thought it would! I wasn’t really into it for around the first 25% of it. There were some things that didn’t make sense, and others that were just hard to believe, on top of Niyodo being an unlikable character. I found it hard to believe that Asahi Mogami would skip moving on to continue idol life, especially when it wasn’t like she and Niyodo had become friends. Then the story started picking up and became enjoyable.
It was ultimately a fun read. I really liked Mogami and Yoshino, but Mogami really carries the story. There wasn’t a whole lot of character building, but I appreciate that sacrifice in the name of setting up the series. There’s a lot bubbling under the surface of each of the characters, so it’ll be fun to see them develop throughout the series. We already started seeing more of the character development by the end of the book, so I’m looking forward to this.
All in all, it was mostly hilarious. I really enjoyed the artwork and how it lends itself to the humorous plot points. The entire opening had me thinking this wasn’t a series I was going to get into, so I’m really glad it quickly picked up and showed a lot of potential. It’ll be fun to see where this goes as well as how that ending pans out!
Yuya Niyodo is one of the grumpiest and laziest idols to ever exist. He’s phoning it in. Hard. He’s totally out if it means he has to put any effort in. Meanwhile, his musical partner, Kazuki Yoshino, is extremely popular with their fans. He’s giving it all, but he can never go solo with his intense stage fright. Everything changes when Niyodo meets the ghost of a former idol who passed away in a traffic accident. She wants nothing more than to be on the big stage again while he can’t wait to get off of it. When it turns out she can possess him, they strike a deal: she can possess him for his idol performances. He gets to keep his job while she gets to live the idol life!
This turned out to be as funny as I thought it would! I wasn’t really into it for around the first 25% of it. There were some things that didn’t make sense, and others that were just hard to believe, on top of Niyodo being an unlikable character. I found it hard to believe that Asahi Mogami would skip moving on to continue idol life, especially when it wasn’t like she and Niyodo had become friends. Then the story started picking up and became enjoyable.
It was ultimately a fun read. I really liked Mogami and Yoshino, but Mogami really carries the story. There wasn’t a whole lot of character building, but I appreciate that sacrifice in the name of setting up the series. There’s a lot bubbling under the surface of each of the characters, so it’ll be fun to see them develop throughout the series. We already started seeing more of the character development by the end of the book, so I’m looking forward to this.
All in all, it was mostly hilarious. I really enjoyed the artwork and how it lends itself to the humorous plot points. The entire opening had me thinking this wasn’t a series I was going to get into, so I’m really glad it quickly picked up and showed a lot of potential. It’ll be fun to see where this goes as well as how that ending pans out!
March 20, 2023
Hello!
It’s been a busy month (it’s hard to believe it’s almost April)! But I have been trying to fit in as much reading as I can! I am really wanting to take some time this year to clean up my shelves, unhaul, refresh, and curate my books a bit more. In working towards doing that I picked up a pile of books that I wanted to read through soon, to see if I would get caught by them. One of those books was the manga Phantom of the Idol.
SPOILERS AHEAD
The pop band the Zings has a slight problem. One of their two members is just not that into being a pop star. They do not have the pop that is needed for the stage. They are often sleepy during shows and sometimes they even want to lie down on stage. They do not like interacting with fans and really do not put in any energy or effort towards changing that. But that all changes when a legendary Asahi, another pop star appears backstage one day. However, Asahi is not exactly there, she is a ghost. She tragically died not that long ago and now she wants to take over the Zings and make them a great band! She misses performing and the limelight so an agreement is made! But can they keep up this agreement and really make the Zings shine?
I was honestly not sure what to expect from this series. I made the choice to pick up the first two volumes and give it a try after seeing someone else reading it. I did enjoy my time with volume one enough to go on to read volume two but I will have to see what volume two holds before deciding if I am going to continue on. Overall, I had a fun time with this read and I really enjoyed the art style used in the manga. I plan to try volume two shortly!
Goodreads Rating: 4 Stars
It’s been a busy month (it’s hard to believe it’s almost April)! But I have been trying to fit in as much reading as I can! I am really wanting to take some time this year to clean up my shelves, unhaul, refresh, and curate my books a bit more. In working towards doing that I picked up a pile of books that I wanted to read through soon, to see if I would get caught by them. One of those books was the manga Phantom of the Idol.
SPOILERS AHEAD
The pop band the Zings has a slight problem. One of their two members is just not that into being a pop star. They do not have the pop that is needed for the stage. They are often sleepy during shows and sometimes they even want to lie down on stage. They do not like interacting with fans and really do not put in any energy or effort towards changing that. But that all changes when a legendary Asahi, another pop star appears backstage one day. However, Asahi is not exactly there, she is a ghost. She tragically died not that long ago and now she wants to take over the Zings and make them a great band! She misses performing and the limelight so an agreement is made! But can they keep up this agreement and really make the Zings shine?
I was honestly not sure what to expect from this series. I made the choice to pick up the first two volumes and give it a try after seeing someone else reading it. I did enjoy my time with volume one enough to go on to read volume two but I will have to see what volume two holds before deciding if I am going to continue on. Overall, I had a fun time with this read and I really enjoyed the art style used in the manga. I plan to try volume two shortly!
Goodreads Rating: 4 Stars
June 11, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!
I did not expect to like "Phantom of the Idol" as much as I did! I was originally drawn to it, because I saw the title, and laughed because of the obvious "Phantom of the Opera" joke. After reading the plot blurb for this manga, I knew I had to read it. I instantly felt drawn to our main characters and their colorful personalities. They're written in a way that makes it very easy to connect to both of them. Yuya's personality made me giggle, cause he is so relatable. Only taking an Idol job because he thought he could get paid well with minimal effort? That's an entire mood. Also, the way that he's just a bit oblivious to certain social cues for idols is played in a way that's legitimately funny. I also adore our female main lead, Asahi! I'm always a sucker for determined and peppy female characters, and Asahi is no exception. I also like that this story focuses on male idols, instead of the usual focus on female idols. Stories about female idols are fun, but I feel like stories about male idols are just a bit more rare. I don't want to stay more about the plot, because I don't want to spoil the story of this manga. The art style is really well done, and has great panel flow! I love that even panels are drawn in a comedic way still look great. The first volume ends on a pretty big cliffhanger, and I want to know what happens! I will totally be looking for the second volume when it comes out!
I did not expect to like "Phantom of the Idol" as much as I did! I was originally drawn to it, because I saw the title, and laughed because of the obvious "Phantom of the Opera" joke. After reading the plot blurb for this manga, I knew I had to read it. I instantly felt drawn to our main characters and their colorful personalities. They're written in a way that makes it very easy to connect to both of them. Yuya's personality made me giggle, cause he is so relatable. Only taking an Idol job because he thought he could get paid well with minimal effort? That's an entire mood. Also, the way that he's just a bit oblivious to certain social cues for idols is played in a way that's legitimately funny. I also adore our female main lead, Asahi! I'm always a sucker for determined and peppy female characters, and Asahi is no exception. I also like that this story focuses on male idols, instead of the usual focus on female idols. Stories about female idols are fun, but I feel like stories about male idols are just a bit more rare. I don't want to stay more about the plot, because I don't want to spoil the story of this manga. The art style is really well done, and has great panel flow! I love that even panels are drawn in a comedic way still look great. The first volume ends on a pretty big cliffhanger, and I want to know what happens! I will totally be looking for the second volume when it comes out!
June 18, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha for the early access in exchange for my honest review!
Yuuya is a part of the up and coming boy pop duo ZINGS. However, Yuuya is not pulling his weight on the journey of becoming an idol. He's just in it for the money and couldn’t care less about being a pop singer. Yuuya's apathetic stage presence leaves fans hating him, his stage partner concerned, and his agent looking for any opportunity to cut him loose.
After a disastrous performance, Yuuya has an odd encounter with a girl named Asahi. The energetic Asahi loves and wants nothing more than to perform. One problem, she died a year ago. Can these two pull a freaky friday possession act to get what the both want?
Phantom of the Idol (cleverly named btw) genuinely caught me by surprise. The concept of the manga is really unique. And I really love the artwork of all the panels. And the humor got me chuckling to myself at times. There are a few instances where the story gets a bit jumpy and hard to follow. But overall, I really enjoyed the story. I'm hoping in future volumes we can see Yuuya grow more and find motivation. I definitely see why people would find him annoying. Asahi is a good companion character to pull him out of his funk and I'm interested to learn more about her.
I will definitely keep up with this series and I recommend it. It is for sure a manga I can see being adapted to an anime. Phantom of the Idol Vol. 1 gets a solid 4 stars!
Yuuya is a part of the up and coming boy pop duo ZINGS. However, Yuuya is not pulling his weight on the journey of becoming an idol. He's just in it for the money and couldn’t care less about being a pop singer. Yuuya's apathetic stage presence leaves fans hating him, his stage partner concerned, and his agent looking for any opportunity to cut him loose.
After a disastrous performance, Yuuya has an odd encounter with a girl named Asahi. The energetic Asahi loves and wants nothing more than to perform. One problem, she died a year ago. Can these two pull a freaky friday possession act to get what the both want?
Phantom of the Idol (cleverly named btw) genuinely caught me by surprise. The concept of the manga is really unique. And I really love the artwork of all the panels. And the humor got me chuckling to myself at times. There are a few instances where the story gets a bit jumpy and hard to follow. But overall, I really enjoyed the story. I'm hoping in future volumes we can see Yuuya grow more and find motivation. I definitely see why people would find him annoying. Asahi is a good companion character to pull him out of his funk and I'm interested to learn more about her.
I will definitely keep up with this series and I recommend it. It is for sure a manga I can see being adapted to an anime. Phantom of the Idol Vol. 1 gets a solid 4 stars!
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