People who read Naki Shoujo No Tame No Pavane

勇気 (Yuuki)

I actually think this is one of Kobe's most genuine works and it caries a lot of potential. Despite Kamichama Karin and Pita-ten's fame, this series' equally eye-catching, grim tale of a boy who is indentured to the will of misfortune itself has receive little attention over the years by Western audiences. I have given this story five stars because of its very innovative execution and concept. I have certain expectations for shoujo artists to be "cookie-cutter-fluffy:" Kobe was a quintessential example of this until she decided, with this series, to throw everything she mastered out the window. Much like Junko's jump from BL(yaoi - a subgenre of women's comics) to Shoujo(young girls' comics), or Takarai Rihito's jump from BL to Shounen(young boys' comics), Kobe with Pavane For A Dead Girl (naki shoujo no tame no pavane) is pushing her limits as a storyteller in the young girl's demographic. Hibiki Wataru has been doing the same with Oiran Girl, and Arina Tanemura also helped the trend a few years back with Gentlemen's Alliance Cross. I enjoy this trend of more gritty shoujo. Props to Kobe for assisting it.

Unfortunately, because of the legacy created by Pita-ten and Kamichama Karin, there is little sympathy from her fans for the genre this work is classified in. Most shoujo scanlation groups would think twice about translating this because of its storyline that is obviously headed toward something beyond the demographic for young girls. But Josei (women's comics) groups most likely wouldn't think to look to Kobe for a story of this caliber, so we've been stuck in limbo waiting for the 7 volume series to gain attention.