By Kosuke Fujishima (Titan Books)
ISBN 1-84576-504-4
This is a fine example of a Japanese story genre which uses a fantasy framework and derives humour from embarrassment and loss of conformity. Nerdy science student Keiichi Morisato dials a wrong number one night and connects to the Goddess Technical Help Line. Beautiful and powerful Belldandy materialises in his room, offering him one wish, and he geekily asks that she never leave him. This traps her on Earth, and in fact she is unable to move too far from his physical proximity.
There’s plenty of scope for comedy when a powerful female seemingly dotes on an average male, and many jokes centre on her inability to part from him, increasingly disrupting his life. Think of it as a modern take on Bewitched or I Dream of Genie, especially since there’s a romance growing that both are incapable of admitting to.
The third volume settles into a formulaic pattern as the loons of his college Society, and Belldandy’s mischievous sister Urd continue to make life even more unpalatable for our nerd and his dream girl. The episodes include such traumas as final exams, being forcibly dressed in girls clothing – Keichii, that is – gambling, truth or consequences games, and even Go-Kart racing against the hateful Americans.
The biggest addition to the cast is the rich and sleazy Toshiyuki Aoshima, a serial lecher who decides that he must have Belldandy at any cost. Throw in the usual band of rivals, insane teachers and interfering entities and there’s still plenty of slap-stick fun to be found in this bright and breezy manga classic.
© 2007 Kosuke Fujishima. All Rights Reserved.
English language translation © 2007 Dark Horse Comics, Inc.