Oreimo, Vol. 1

An average high schooler has a gorgeous 14-year-old younger sister, Kirino, in this manga. She despises him, until he finds out about her secret stash of geeky anime (most involving younger sisters, which raises disturbing implications). Then she turns him into a confidante, rebuilding their relationship on grounds that make him uncomfortable. Like the protagonist, readers may also find themselves uncomfortable, due to the focus on Kirino’s attractiveness, including panty and cleavage shots. She’s thrilled at having someone to share her fandom with, but he doesn’t get the appeal of the focus on cute little girls, and the obvious contrast with Kirino’s own behavior is sledge-hammered at the reader. At the same time, readers are encouraged to indulge their own “little sister” fantasies. The series is being promoted as “hilarious,” but there’s not much humor. Instead, the book requires a tolerance for both scenes of extreme discomfort and implications of incest. The manga is based on a light novel series and anime, which may explain why the art is basic, sparse, and uninspiring—except for the body parts, which are given loving focus. A thoroughly unpleasant work, it’s the kind of series that gives manga a bad reputation. (Sept.)