Bring It On!, Vol. 5

By Baek HyeKyung
Yen Press, 192 pp.
Rating: 13+

On the eve of Seung-Suh’s birthday, a surprise party guest threatens to turn everything upside down and split up Mi-Ha and Seung-Suh in the process. Eun-Yang, the classmate that cost Seung-Suh everything, returns to tie up loose ends with a small wager: whoever Mi-Ha chooses to go out with on the allotted date is declared the winner. Unfortunately for Seung-Suh, the unwitting Mi-Ha is on a quest for the truth about his past–and the only way to get it may be a conveniently timed outing with Eun-Yang.

It’s difficult to explicate the appeal of Bring It On!, given the series seems to be yet another romance/school life/comedy hybrid when laid out on paper. Much of it, however, may be explained by what the series does right in comparison to its shojo brethren: it keeps the right elements in check while still allowing for equal parts comedy and drama. Gone is the angst and over-the-top obsessing typical to the genre, replaced instead by a well timed sense of comedy and an upbeat vibe. The even better news is that much of the comedy is genuinely funny, and never has to resort to the romcom standard of a few side character zingers or character flailing to merit the designation.

Perhaps the rarest–and thus most awe inspiring element–of shojo is genuinely good characterization. Too often is the central relationship focused on the big reveal, the discovery that (surprise!) the lead couple reciprocates each others’ feelings. Thankfully for Bring It On!, there is a sense of growth and naturalness to both Mi-Ha and Seung-Suh. Both carry trace elements of character archetypes within them, but there’s no one name that can be clearly pinned upon either of the two- or any of the supporting cast, for that matter. Characters frequently feel like paste-ins for roles, so it’s a refreshing change to have them feel more like, well, people.

With a strong lean on comedic paneling, it’s clear that Baek’s artistic strength lies in cartoon-esque, often outlandish poses and action. Her grasp of tone is equally admirable, as it avoids lacy, sparkly overabundance while simultaneously managing to not over darken or out gradient the action at hand. A good balance and a keen eye for usage go a long way towards ameliorating the otherwise standard schoolyards, cities and room interiors that seem to comprise most of the volume.

It’s difficult to imagine a series with more amiable charm than Bring It On! While it seems assembled around the usual shojo scaffolding, a decidedly welcome set of adaptations propels the title into a realm above much of its brethren. Infinitely approachable and far too overlooked, the series should prove an unexpected delight, especially to those familiar with other girl-oriented offerings. Simply put, if you’re a manga fan with an inclination towards good, underloved titles, bump this one to the top of your list.

Volume five of Bring It On! is available now.