Originally posted July 26, 2009
By REBECCA P.

My thoughts
Girls sneaking into schools pretending to be guys is not a new idea. However, Haruhi never intended to be mistaken and that gives a fresh taste to the girl pretending to be a boy genre. It’s also a somewhat twisted Harem manga only with a girl surrounded by cute guys (as opposed to a guy surrounded by girls). Luckily, Ouran Host Club isn’t what you fear it’ll be. It’s something that overcomes clichés and inputs new and fresh ideas.

This of course, wouldn’t be possible without the person Haruhi is. She doesn’t think too much of her situation or having to pretend to be a boy or of being surrounded by the six host club members. Other girls would blush, be awe-stricken or react well … normally. Haruhi is unfazed by all of it and that’s what makes her such a unique character. She’s not your typical heroine and is a memorable one.

Bisco Hatori truly has a good sense of humor. Host Club is one manga that’s easy to laugh with. There are times when the manga makes fun of itself and its “stereotypical” characters who end up revolting and show a lot of character depth. The story is really kept up by the personalities of the characters. Few of the characters are 2-D and the author sets up a lot of points for deep character development in the future. The story is plain, but with characters like the host club members and the patrons themselves this is no dull affair.

As far as art goes, it’s Bisco Hatori, the same woman who did Millennium Snow (she dropped it for Ouran Host Club) and Please Save My Earth. I feel like the art style is Host Club’s greatest flaw. It’s not bad and I wouldn’t say it’s average; it’s good, but at the same time unique. It’ll be either a hit or miss with the reader and when I initially read Ouran High School Host Club, I wasn’t too keen on the art style. The characters are a little plain and bland, but at the same time still attractive. I give particular notice to Haurhi’s design. Looking at her, she looks like she could be a boy or girl with her hair cut with huge doe eyes.

If you’re looking for a manga with a good dose of humor and some characters who’ll make the manga, Ouran Host Club is a manga you’ll enjoy. I should mention too it’s a standard shojo title and might not be of interest to some guys (some elements might put male readers off). That being said, Ouran Host Club is a solid read. The art style isn’t perfect and the story has been done, but not in the way Bisco Hatori is doing it. It’s with that, that I have high hopes for future books.