I'm Kinda Chubby and I'm Your Hero Vol. 1

冴えない僕は、君のヒーロー | I’m Kinda Chubby and I’m Your Hero #1

by Nore, Philip Reuben (Translator), Molly Muldoon (Translator)

Lights, camera, Boys’ Love!

Ponjirou is a rookie actor trying his best to land a breakout role. He fears that his weight stands in the way of his dreams. One day, he gets some unexpected fan mail full of sweets. The package came from Konnosuke, a local pastry chef. Ponjirou has his first fan! Someone is supporting his work and giving him new confidence to face the stage with!

Genres: Manga, Romance, LGBT, Graphic Novels, Contemporary, Queer, Comics

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 3, 2023

Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars but rounded up, because it’s so refreshing not only to have some body size diversity in manga, but to also have that character not filled with self-loathing. There are a few mentions of the character losing weight, but it’s never really something the character internalizes or feels shame over. Anyway, this was so absolutely sweet featuring the beginnings of a romance between two men who each have their own passions (cooking and acting) and find strength and inspiration in each other. Ponjirou’s speech at the end was lovely. I’m definitely looking forward to more.

[Brigi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was really sweet - I'm glad we're getting some good plus size rep in manga!

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

An actor with self-esteem issues gets his first fan -- a secret admirer, even! -- and has some sitcom-ish misunderstandings on the road to a new friendship. It's all very low-key but very sweet in its simplicity.

I'll get the next volume, but I'm not sure if it is really even necessary or if this can be stretched out much further. Maybe it will turn toward romance or something?

[Steph ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was adorable. I loved it!

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not quite sure how I feel about this, but I think that's mostly down to the terrible title. The story itself is less weight-judgy.

[Trai · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was highlighted in one of the Book Riot LGBTQ+ emails last week and a few of the shops I follow mentioned stocking it in their new release posts, so I picked it up at Escape Pod Comics, my local shop.

Ponjirou is an amateur actor in a small theater troupe hoping to one day land a lead role, fearing his weight and his fumbling lines will stand in the way of his dreams. When he unexpectedly receives pastries from an admirer after a show, he realizes he has his first fan. Konnosuke, a local pastry chef struggling under the weight of others' expectations, has seen Ponjirou onstage and become captivated. If only he could get up the nerve to actually... talk to him.

This was SO sweet, and I'm actually very sad it's only going to be a duology! The characters were so endearing, and while there is some weight loss talk early on, Ponjirou is confident in his body, and his enjoying food is shown to be a great thing. His complimenting the sweets Konnosuke sends him ends up boosting Konnosuke's own faltering confidence in himself and his work. Some of my friends and I have discussed wanting more stories where romance comes about in a less allosexual way (i.e., things that are about feelings or emotional connection first) and this is definitely a story that's about the feelings of joy and confidence the main characters inspire in each other, which I loved. There's a sweet moment where a friend of Konnosuke's mentions how nice it is to see him being more open about the emotions that Ponjirou has brought out in him, and as someone who can be very guarded, I appreciated that a lot.

As far as this being a queer title goes, the story ends on a note of them just starting to really get to know each other, and agreeing to meet more in person as fans of each other's work. Even if there's no real direct acknowledgement in the first volume of sexuality, I still felt there was a lot of tenderness and affection in the interactions between the two leads, and it's nice to see a cast of supportive friends alongside them. It was great to read a light, fun story about charming characters, and I hope Nore writes a lot more serialized work in the future.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute. I liked every character here. The story moved quickly, yet there is still a lot of room for relationship development and character building. Nice little cliff-hanger right at the end. I'll definitely keep up with this series. The positive vibe is refreshing.

5*

[Elisabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sooo cute. Weight talk and minor fatphobia aside, this was a sweet and heartwarming manga with what I hope is hints of a blossoming romance between the two leads!!!

[Christina Close · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the fact that the main character in this book is someone on the bigger side of weight. Not may people want to write about us chubby people but I felt represented in this book.

Honjirou is a struggling actor who wants to be in a lead role spot but he's chubby. He really is struggling because he feels like his weight is what's causing him to have no success and no fans. one day he goes to his dressing room and there is a gift from a fan who is a chef.

Honjirou gains a little confidence because he finally has at least one fan who believes in him. I'm looking forward to seeing if he gets that leading role he's aiming for.

[Cédric · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chouette livre, davantage autour de 3,5 que de 3, mais peut-être un peu trop bonbon pour ce à quoi je m’attendais ^^*

Je ne suis pas certain comment continueront-ils l’histoire qui aurait très bien pu se conclure ainsi et je ne suis pas certain que je tienne à le savoir et teinté négativement ce livre.

[Francis Dominic · Rating 4 out of 5]

SO CUTE AND SO PRECIOUS! It’s very pure and wholesome. ~FANS~ of each other?! I just think that’s the sweetest thing.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a precious manga volume! I’m absolutely obsessed 💖

Ponjirou and Konnosuke are some of the cutest characters I’ve read about in a while! The two of them are so sweet with each other 💖😭💖 I just love how they cheer each other on. They both need encouragement for different reasons, but they find what they need from the other. It warms my heart.

I can’t wait to read more manga about these two. I just know they’re going to make me melt with how wholesome they’ll be. I want to keep seeing them both succeed and root for each other.

I highly recommend picking up this manga! It’s marketed as bl, but it’s looking like it will be a slowburn. I’m all for that 👀

P.S. I love that our chubby mc (Ponjirou) wasn’t forced to lose weight and was comfortable with his weight. He’s conscious about what he eats, but not to an extreme. It’s all about balance, and he’s not about to deny a tasty sweet from Konnosuke ✨

[Gordon Ambos · Rating 5 out of 5]

the fact that a story like this exists in this world makes me so happy I could cry

[Ayxan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so cute!!
Both of them are so sweet (no pun intended)!

What's really great about this story is that he doesn't have body-dysphoria. It's nice reading a book where the protagonist doesn't hate themselves or their body. Especially when it doesn't fit the norm.
He does have some worries and isn't over-confident or anything, but that's kept to a minimum and also not related to his body at all. He even says he doesn't mind being chubby! And there's not fat-shaming from others either. <3

Lovely and comfortable volume, really recommendable.

And gaahh it ends on a cliffhanger! TwT
I need more of them, now!

Tags: hopeful, inspiring, lighthearted, relaxing, medium-paced
Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

[Brandee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love that this ended in a cliffhanger. Off to read book 2!
Such a cute and wholesome story!! Great themes of following your dreams and supporting those around you.


July 12, 2024 – page 11
7.64% "Already my heart is breaking. I don't like my weight either and I find myself relating to our main character so much already"
July 12, 2024 – page 21
14.58% "Okay, these presents are adorable. I really hope it is from a real person and not someone playing a trick on him"
July 12, 2024 – page 37
25.69% "PLOT TWIST!! This is getting more and more adorable with each page!!"
July 13, 2024 – page 55
38.19% "Inari is so cute!! And did Ponjirou just figure it out??"
July 13, 2024 – page 83
57.64% "Okay that back story is so adorable. Sometimes it is the imperfections that make the mark."
July 13, 2024 – page 104
72.22% "YES!!!! OMG...how will Pon react???"
July 13, 2024 – page 110
76.39% "Yay!! I was a little afraid that Pon would be taken aback or even disappointed but I am glad that the two see how they inspire each other"
July 13, 2024 – page 127
88.19% "What a beautiful quote!! "I made it to where I am today because you were there for me.""

[Imanewreader ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

a baker and an actor. one is an anonymous fan, and the other is a clumsy performer.
baker loves the clumsy acting, and the baker adores the sweets he keeps receiving.

they are each other's fans !!
this was so cute

[Readingmanga · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a cute story! 🐝

[Frank Chillura (OhYouRead) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ohhhhhhhh! This was absolutely delightful! I don’t know if this is boys love or if this is just about a guy who’s fangirling over a local actor that he loves, but I hope it’s the former. I pick up most manga with the hopes that it’ll have the gay stuff in it! 😂

Ponjirou joined an local acting troupe after he saw a sign posted saying “no experience needed.” When he gets on stage for his first role, it’s obvious that he has presence up there, but he stumbles over his lines, which makes him second guess himself.

He watches as girls bring presents for his costar that’s playing the lead role and wishes that could be him too… and then a secret admirer starts leaving him presents from a very exclusive patisserie. They have lines around the block and it’s very hard to get anything from them, so his other cast mate surmises that it must be an employee.

When Pon goes to the patisserie to see if he can figure out who his admirer is, he makes an assumption that it’s the girl who works out front, but as the reader, we find out quickly that it’s the shy boy who works in the kitchen.

I really do hope that this turns into a (not so) slow burn boys love romance. I need to know how it continues ASAP!!!!

4.5 ⭐️

[Sarah Meerkat · Rating 3 out of 5]

It started to go the weird diet route but then gave that up. This is very cute not much romance in it at all maybe more in the next volume

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m Kinda Chubby and I’m Your Hero is the first volume in a two volume series. Ponjiro is a chubby actor who doesn’t have confidence in himself. He wishes he was like the heartthrob actor he costars with in his latest performance. Suddenly, Ponjiro starts receiving pastries left backstage from a fan. He starts to investigate who this mystery admirer is.

This manga falls into the genre of Boys’ Love which is about homosexual romances for women by women. This manga doesn’t include any graphic nudity or acts; it is suitable for all ages. Though there is a definite gay subtext, the relationship is not easily defined as romance (at least not in this volume.)

This book is as sweet as the pastries made by Inari. The two heroes of this story are so lovely that I’m rooting for them in the next volume. Ponjiro falls a bit into the tropes of the unconfident fat person, but it’s grounded in reality. I was happy to see a fat person depicted in a manga, especially a gay story like this. If you’re looking for a manga or something for a young person in your life, definitely pick this one up. The second volume is available in June. (I’ve already preordered.)▪️

[suvi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was - good? Maybe it's just me but I feel like the story was very short and we didn't have the chance to really get to know the characters? I picked this up from the library shelf and was like,, huh, you don't have many pages? What kind of story do you tell in these pages? And I actually timed myself and I read this whole thing in 18 and half minutes.

I know this is only the first volume, I hope we will get more into the characters in the next one. My library doesn't seem to have that one though, and I am not sure if I care enough to take the time to hunt it down.

I enjoyed this but it did not change my life? I don't know why I even try putting my thoughts into words when I am known to be absolutely terrible at that!

I think this is the first time I have ever read a manga with a plus size main character - or at least one where the whole story isn't just about them hating themselves for it. I really enjoyed that part!

[Peace Love Plan & Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ponjirou is a local actor hoping for the big time. He doesn’t feel anyone notices him, until some amazing baked goodies turn up at the stage door for him from a local patisserie. But who is this fan writing anonymous notes for him?

This is a cute bromance type story about two guys routing for each other and supporting dreams. I thought it would be a romance but is isn’t and it seems volume 2 isn’t either so I’ll probably not continue but it’s a sweet read in the main.

I didn’t enjoy the fat shaming (which wasn’t really resolved at any point) which is another reason I wouldn’t choose to continue, even though I don’t think the author intended it to come across that way given the focus of the story.

[ℂ ✧ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pel títol i la coberta m'imaginava una trama grassòfoba i ridiculitzadora, però sorprenentment no ha estat així. Un actor amateur grassonet i amb una autoestima força baixeta descobreix que per primer cop té un admirador secret, tot i no ser l'estrella de la companyia. Aquest fan és un pastisser tímid que li regala dolços sense revelar la seva identitat, però sí el lloc on treballa, fet que ocasiona un petit malentès. Finalment, tot es resol d'una manera molt emotiva i pura el dia que s'estrena com a actor principal de l'obra de teatre. Amb ganes de saber si aflora l'amor en el segon volum i bé per la representació d'altres cossos :3

[Sammy Higgins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This manga is so cute, wholesome and so dam fluffy! Ponjirou is an actor in a theatre troupe. He starts getting presents left for him, and they are always from the same patisserie. The presents and notes encourage him to do his best. Inari is the one sending him the notes and presents. It is so sweet when Ponjirou finds out. I especially love what he says at the end of his play; he is such a sweetheart. There isn't much romance in this one, but that may change in the next volume; I can't wait to read it!

[Audrey S · Rating 3 out of 5]

if all the diet comments had been snipped out - this would have been way better and much more wholesome. I'd say the first half is much more fatphobic/internalized fatphobia even if he does say he's never had an issue with himself. As soon as we move onto their relationship and getting the main role in a play, it gets so much better. but as its stands, it has promise but flails too much in the beginning.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

First 5 star of 2025! (It never happens this early! If ever!)
But I really adored this. So cute, bringing together two of my favorite things: theater and bakeries! And, as a plus-size person in the theater myself, I resonated a bit with Ponjirou! I have never felt like Leading Part material, so it was very sweet to see him given a shot and to hit it out of the park. Can't wait for more.

[Cassandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really liked the art. The characters were very easy to tell apart and just cause they aren’t skinny don’t look ridiculous which seems to be how fat/overweight people are portrayed in manga.

However, this was boring. Which made me really sad. Usually a book this long is like 45 minutes of reading, but this took much longer.

[nik drake · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so cute and whole it was wonderful. You should go read it.

If this wasn’t going to be a continuing series I would be really annoyed about where it ended. But it’s a really good stopping point in terms of a first installment or like an opener.

[Zilliz · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
A really cute and feel good type of story! However, the title is horrible...it says nothing about the book. It's not really about the main character's weight at all, which is refreshing to see.

[Megan | The Mood Read Queen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable! They didn't progress as much in any sort of relationship, but I liked the quietness of the story and the potential for them to be more. I will definitely check out the second volume!

Also, let's go diverse body representation. 👏