Delcourt editions return this month with the new work of Mayu Minase, already known in France for Hearts to hearts, a manga in 8 volumes published by Doki Doki. With Sans expérience, the mangaka has fun brilliantly taking the opposite of the usual love stories!
The story
Kiyoshi Sumioka works in Tokyo in a small real estate agency. He is very involved and easily attaches himself to his customers, giving his all for them. Nevertheless, the young man finds himself absolutely disarmed and stammering in the face of women! His colleague and friend, Kurosaka, gently mocks his candor, which sometimes turns naïve. But internally, Kiyoshi feels lonely and depreciates himself a lot. He thinks he is unable to fall in love, just as he remains convinced that no girl, ever, will feel anything other than friendship or disinterest in him. However, these sad convictions are shattered the day Kiyoshi meets Sumi Asuma, an employee at his favorite bentō restaurant. Completely under the spell, the young man will burn all the conventional stages of romantic relationships by proposing Sumi in marriage! The slow and burning waltz of love is about to begin!
A subtle love story
Without experience offers us to read a romance as we are not used to. Indeed, the character of Kiyoshi does not hesitate to assume his fragilities and is sensitive and attentive, far from the archetype of the male hero wolf and sure of himself. His shyness is very touching, and makes you want to encourage him in his approach! The other characters, whether they are main like Sumi, or secondary, like Kurosaka or Sumi's grandparents, are not left out and bring a real depth to the story. We really want to know more about them! Throughout this first volume, Mayu Minase sows clues about her protagonists, going so far as to bring a touch of mystery. We think in particular of the telephone conversation between Kiyoshi and his mother: very intriguing!
A unique graphic identity
Mayu Minase transports us brilliantly in her story. Sans expérience makes us navigate smoothly between laughter and tears, between joy and tension, sometimes with a few touches of melancholy. The expressive and soft stroke of the mangaka adds to the emotional potential of this first volume. Some boards, full page or not, are simply beautiful, and their impact on the reader undeniable. The cutting is clear, fluid and dynamic. We feel that the author wanted to take care of every detail of her story, and she succeeds perfectly. Sans expérience has a wonderful graphics, from the first pages in color to the cover, which can be contemplated for hours! Without experience turns out to be a concentrate of positive emotions and sweetness. Love, friendship and humor mingle without a false note. But its potential actually goes much further! Thus, behind this seemingly clear romance, many themes are raised. Injunction to find "the right person" before a certain age, societal pressure, places and roles of women and men in a couple, feeling of inadequacy, pressure to perform (love, sexual …) … All these questions are woven into the narrative and inscribe it all the better in the reality of our time. The addition of all these elements make this first volume extremely rich and exciting. It then acquires several levels of reading, transcending simple romance to become a modern manga, complete and of general interest! In conclusion, Mayu Minase gives us, with Sans expérience, a rich, perfectly structured and mastered manga. We are really excited to see how the relationship between Kiyoshi and Sumi will evolve, flourish and blossom, and how the milestones laid here will be developed, with all the talent that this first volume foreshadows. Series available at Delcourt/Tonkam. Volume 2 scheduled for May 19, 2021. To read an excerpt, click here!
