Chaotic Kiss Book One

Title: Chaotic Kiss
Issue: Book One
Date: 2010
Publisher: MKT Productions
Writer: Michelle Pinard
Artist: Michelle Pinard

Manga-format collection of the first five issues of Chaotic Kiss, a comic about transgender relationships set in Boston. Chaotic Kiss follows the adventures of Sydney, who has finished her male-to-female transition, and is embarking on a new start in life in Boston. There's a whole cast of otaku, fanboys, t-girls, nerds, and gothic lolitas, and a complex plot with a well-developed backstory. The Boston locations are fun, as are all of the subculture references. This comic is essentially a humorous soap-opera, and it succeeds at having plenty of twists and turns to keep the plot interesting while delivering some funny moments and clever dialogue. MKT Productions is very clear that they are doing this book to fill a need for transgender stories in manga, but while transgender issues are central to the story, they are never handled in a heavyhanded or preachy way, and this is first and foremost a good comedic drama.

Rating: 7.5/10

I met Michelle Pinard earlier today at the Queen City Kamikaze convention in Manchester NH and picked up Book One of Chaotic Kiss, which she signed for me. This was my only comic purchase at the convention, so it's back to the unread comics box tomorrow. We had a great time at QCK and enjoyed showing off our comics to all the fans in attendance.