A fun, engaging story combined with a wonderful art style! A cute slice-of-life manga that touches on real issues and also the importance of elevating your friends.

2.5 stars

I finished the whole volume, but I didn't enjoy myself as much as I was hoping to.
This volume follows Tadano as he tries to help Komi make friends. Komi finds it very hard to communicate verbally with others, but as she is pretty, people at school feel that she should be better than them or above them.
I did not like that Komi's issues were played for laughs. (Not my laughs, but you can tell that's what the manga was trying to do.) There is also a character named Najimi who dresses like a girl, but Tadano thought they were a boy in middle school. This is another element that is supposed to be humorous, but I did not enjoy that it seemed like they were making fun of LGBTQ people.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was really happy when I found out that I was accepted to read this book. It's been on my radar for a while and I wanted to know what the book was like. From reading the summary, I thought that it would be a bit like A Silent Voice, Vol. 1 or ひだまりが聴こえる, and I feel like it is but the shonen version. A Silent Voice is shojo and I Hear The Sunspot is yuri. All the books focus on one of the main characters being unable to communicate and having someone else get to know them and help be their voice. I loved the anime of A Silent Voice, I need to read the manga asap, and I loved I Hear The Sunspot, and I was hoping I would like Komi Can't Communicate and I did! I'm so happy that this manga managed to live up to my expectations. Especially when the other mangas had the same(ish) main storyline. So if you are a fan of those mangas then I would recommend Komi Can't Communicate.

In terms of the plot of the manga, there is a clear goal once Tadano and Komi become friends. That goal is to get Komi to have 100 friends and you start to see Komi work towards that goal even though she hardly talks. One of the most interesting thing about this manga is the fact that everyone loved Komi even though she doesn't talk. She is seen as incredibly beautiful, and when students and teachers talk to her, her aloof appearance make people revere her more. In addition of Komi being incredibly shy, she has to get passed that perception that everyone has of her in order to make friends.

In regards to the characters, Komi is the star of the book. Tadano acts more of a guide to Komi on how to make friends. Whilst the story is told more from his point of view, the focus is on Komi. Komi is definitely my favourite character, but we don't know a lot about her or the other characters introduced in this volume.

My favourite thing about this manga was the humour. The humour was definitely more mature than what I was expecting, but that is what I liked most about this manga. I can see why this manga is targeted towards boys from the humour. Also from the artwork of Komi.

The only negative aspect I want to mention about this book is the representation. I tagged this manga as LGBT+ as there is trans representation in this book but I do worry about how that is represented in the book. I think the representation shown is problematic but I am not a good judge as I'm not a trans person.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. I would recommend this book to people who I know would appreciate it but not necessarily everyone. I would recommend more mature teenagers pick this book up as well.

This was a particularly enjoyable read. The characters are eccentric but relatable and the artwork is done well. The author takes care to snare that ambiguous expressions (which Komi is full of) are explained, and the character interactions are engaging and lead you to root for Tadano’s success. Well done, I hope to see more of this in the future.

Komi can't communicate is an adorable 4-panel manga, where each group of 4 doesn't have its own mni-plot (the mini-plot is usually contained within each chapter), but each group of 4 panels DOES have its own joke or punchline or little quirky moment. Komi has crippling social anxiety that makes it impossible for her to talk to her fellow classmates. Or anyone, really. Meanwhile, her high school peers see her as the beautiful but aloof queen of their school, everyone thinking themselves undeserving of her attention and therefore no one approaches her.

Then on the first day of high school, wallflower Tadano-- despite swearing to fly under the radar for his high school years-- ends up alone in the same room as Komi. And realizes she's not aloof-- just very, very shy. They communicate through Komi's notebook-- which proves a struggle with anyone other than Tadano as Komi cant' do anything but shake violently with anxiety-- and Tadano promises to help her make a hundred friends before their high school years are finished.

The art style is very chibi at times, and even when it isn't, it's still very cute. The side characters all have small side-plots of their own, and both Tadano and Komi are very interesting characters. The relationship between them feels very organic and is very sweet.

I got this book for my 12 year old twins (boys). They love graphic novels/mangas so I though we would give this one a try. Their thoughts: It was great, I finished it in about an hour. The story was funny and kept me interested. The pictures were awesome and there was no swearing or anything bad. I can’t wait to read the next ones. We would both recommend it (weather you are a girl or a boy).

Okay, this was just way too cute. I've heard so many good things about it, and while it's generally difficult to review manga for most people this is one I'm going to recommend to pretty much everyone looking for something just to relax with. It's adorable, and really wholesome and relatable in ways that you don't expect. I'm definitely gonna be on the hunt for more volumes of this, this one's amazing.

So, I'm socially awkward (but an extrovert, I like social situations I just have trouble interpreting social situations and contexts. Sometimes when I finish a conversation I can make myself anxious wondering if I interpreted the situation correctly) so when I read the summary for this I KNEW I needed to read it.

First of all, let me say I don't want to give too much away because I believe if you love graphic novels or mangas, you should read this. Anyway, Komi is super cute and relatable. I love how the author shows both Komi's perspective and how people see Komi. It made me realize that what you think is going on made not be what is actually happening or being thought. It was very great and refreshing. There is also Tadano, who is so perceptive and kind! He genuinely tries to help Komi makes friends and helps her whenever he can which I love.

The other characters are all the typically weird Manga types, yet are their own in a weird way. There are not many considering this is only vol. 1, and I expect as Komi continues to try to achieve her goal of 100 friends you will see more so I can't wait to see what characters appear.

Overall, I will continue to read this Graphic Novel and will now search for Vol. 2 because I just love Komi and her friends.

As someone with some serious social anxiety, I was immediately drawn to the premise of this manga.  I thought it'd be cute and fun and maybe a little reflective of what I go through now, even as an adult. 

Granted, my anxiety isn't nearly as debilitating as Komi's is, but I could still relate in a lot of ways.  That moment when the teacher calls on you and, even though you know the answer, you're paralyzed by the fear of saying something in front of the class.  That I totally related to.  

The way Tadano vows to help Komi is sweet.  I was worried in the beginning that he was doing it only to win her affection or that he'd push her too far, too fast, but I was surprised that he did neither.  Eventually, I'm sure they'll become a couple, but for right now, as much as he adores her, he's good being her friend.  He's also very understanding of her limitations, even if he doesn't understand them in the least.  

Najimi, on the other hand... I'm not sure what to say about her.  She's very much over the top and is everything I love in an anime/manga character.  I know I've mentioned this before but the thing that has always drawn me to manga (and anime) is how ridiculous the characters can get (and still be considered normal).  Since she's really popular and has no trouble making friends, she might be exactly what Komi needs.  Also, I think she might possibly be trans, which is amazing.  I can't say for sure because I'm old and out of touch and don't want to make assumptions.  

Agari is probably the one I relate to the best.  She's a very nervous, very anxious girl.  While she has these problems, she can get past them when she needs to.  There's a scene where she needs to tell her entire class something and it nearly paralyzes her.  In the end, she finds the strength to get it out and complete the task she was given.  

Komi Can't Communicate is presented in a series of short, quick chapters that slowly introduces you to all the characters.  As you move through them, you can see Komi - and the rest - making progress, each with their own personal demons.  It's a very fun and personal sort of manga and I can't wait to get the next in the series.

This was really good! I've heard great things from my friends who had read this and I'm so happy I was approved for it. I will definitely be picking up the next volume soon. I enjoyed the art style and everything else about this.
Thanks so much NetGalley!

I loved this manga and I can’t wait to read the next volume. I thought this manga was just so precious and heartwarming with Tadano helping Komi learn to communicate and gain 100 friends. I loved the artwork and the character’s personalities and expressions. This manga was made up of short chapters where something different happened every time like Komi makes a friend or she gets a cellphone etc. It was a really enjoyable quick read!

Komi-san can't communicate is absolutely one of my favorite slice of life mangas. It's wholesome, it's interesting, and has enough comedy to keep you going.

I enjoy the stereotypes that we have going on here -- Komi is super pretty, but she's got socialization issues, while Tadano is the most generic schoolboy in the world. I previously wrote about the series before it got picked up, and I think this really encompasses what I feel about this series:

"I’d call this a bite-size read that leaves you satisfied after every chapter, where you don’t feel pressured to pick up the next one because you’ll forget the story otherwise. It’s a comic where you can put it down and come back to read when you need a nice break (or procrastinating writing your essay *cough*).

A touch of fluffy, a touch of lewd but not ecchi, a touch of weird and a touch of comedy make this for a fantastic read."

*Thank you to the author and Netgalley for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review*

<b>2.5 stars</b>

I like the idea behind this book but it just didn't click well for me. The story felt choppy and didn't flow smoothly, which immediately created distance between myself and the book. It felt like the book kept shifting from children's to YA with the scenarios and language used and this left me a bit confused and some questionable dialogue meant I didn't like this one and won't be continuing the series.

Komi has extreme social anxiety, which incapacitates her from speaking and making friends. Despite this, her schoolmates revere and adore her; she is uber popular. When a new guy at school meets her, he alone realizes the fear of socializing in Komi. He agrees to help her make 100 friends. And so the series begins.

While I’m all for people who are shy/introverted/nervous getting positive representation and modeling for how we can help them with their nervousness, there are two main things that bother me:
- Even though multiple people have difficulty speaking to others, none of them seem to realize that others have similar issues. I get it that they are teens and ego-centric, but it is just too much suspension of belief.
- The one new friend who wants to be Komi’s dog??? Maybe that’s something that is lost in translation, but it’s A) weird and B) demeans friendship, especially where one friend is popular (or rich or fits the beauty standard set by society) and the other friend is on the opposite end of the spectrum.

ARC Copy...probably the most fun part of the narrative is seeing the Komi's cold yet cool "goddess" as perceived by her classmate clash with her actual nervous-socially awkward personality and seeing the actual feeling highlight by her eyes suddenly popping out like a cartoon!

Komi Can't Communicate, Vol. 1, by Tomohito Oda is a young adult magna. The journey to 100 friends begins with a single conversation. Socially anxious high school student Shoko Komi’s greatest dream is to make some friends, but everyone at school mistakes her crippling social anxiety for cool reserve! With the whole student body keeping their distance and Komi unable to utter a single word, friendship might be forever beyond her reach. Timid Tadano is a total wallflower, and that’s just the way he likes it. But all that changes when he finds himself alone in a classroom on the first day of high school with the legendary Komi. He quickly realizes she isn’t aloof—she’s just super awkward. Now he’s made it his mission to help her on her quest to make 100 friends!

Komi Can't Communicate is a graphic novel about finding your place in school, and I really like that it shows how different the way people feel can be from how they are perceived by others. I think readers of all ages can identify with Tadano on some level. He just wants to get through school unscathed, but things are not all that simple. In real life they never are either. Befriending Komi might not be good for flying under the radar, but it does help her start toward her own goals for school. I really liked that we get to see multiple perspectives, which gives the reader a bit of room to wonder how much of the story might be different from another view, and how much of their own worries or fears are fueled by similar assumptions and misperceptions. Aside from all that heavy stuff, there was also a good deal of humor and funny moments, and I found the read engaging and entertaining. I enjoyed the artwork very much, and think the line work did a great deal to add to the emotion and overall story through out. I thought the cast of major characters was well done and fun, and I look forward to seeing more. I did find the ending a bit abrupt, like maybe the last couple pages and back cover were missing from my digital copy, but that could have just been a clever hook to make me want the next installment even more.

Komi Can't Communicate is a fun and engaging read. I think most middle schoolers through adults would find something entertaining and relatable in the read.

Review of 'Komi Can't Communicate, Vol. 1' by Tomohito Oda, received in ebook format from NetGalley.

I have no idea how this is still up for request on NetGalley because it was released last year but whatever.

First of all, this is such a unique storyline and the art style is adorable. I have no negatives to add except on page 63 there's a typo in the second-to-last panel (spelt 'did' as 'didi'). I will definitely read this series to the end. Loved Komi's character development in the first volume, and Tadano's as well.

5/5 🌟

Komi Can’t Communicate (Volume 1) by Tomohito Oda, 189 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. VIZ Media, 2019. $10.
Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Tadano has a plan to make high school better than middle school: don’t make waves. And then he meets Komi. Komi is popular and intimidating until Tadano starts to understand that she’s just too nervous to talk to anyone. Now Tadano has a new plan: help Komi to overcome her inability to talk and reach her goal of making 100 friends.
Overall, this story is cute, but it isn’t substantial. The whole book is a series of silly and awkward interactions as Komi attempts to learn how to be social -- or at least speak a word or two aloud. After finishing this volume, I’m just not interested in reading any more. The mature content rating is for suggestive dialogue and actions in a few panels.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

While I think the concept is interesting, I just couldn't get into the story. I wasn't a huge fan of the art style or the main character Tadano. I ended up dnfing this half way through. Sorry this one wasn't for me.

Komi Can't Communicate Vol 1 is a treat. Using high school as the backdrop, this is the charming story of friendship and having great goals and determination to better yourself. Tadano is a total wallflower, he's timid and usually always an afterthought. He comes into contact with Komi, the untouchable, beautiful classmates of his whom he mistakes for being super aloof and uncaring: the truth is--she's super awkward. Awkward to the point of being notoriously unable to make friends or even able to hold a simple conversation. Tadano becomes her first friend and thus the journey to open up, make small talk begins--she has a goal of making 100 friends! Again the story is super charming, the artwork is intense, the laughs are plenty. With this narrative, I'm sure it speaks to many readers with commentary on social interactions, anxiety, and yearning for more in life, and also growing up. With its minimal plot, I think this introductory volume would have been better served as a 2 in 1 volume or more backmatter and extras at the end to flesh out more of the story.