Aggretsuko: Metal to the Max

Aggretsuko is a show I really enjoy, so seeing that there's a comic, I was excited to read it.
It includes a few side stories, all fun in the same way the show is, and I really liked that. The art style is almost identical with the show, thus it doesn't feel like a rip-off.
I definitely recommend it to fans, while to people who have yet to see Aggretsuko, I think watching at least the first season before starting the comic would give some insight on the setting.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Oni Press for providing me with an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.*

Review to come September 30th on blog/goodreads.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.

SO HYPED! I love Aggretsuko series (though I would love Retsuko to be a bit more responsible in many ways) and I was delighted to see the comic series pop up on Netgalley. I already was eager to read it as several of my favourite artists talked about it on Twitter and showed the covers they made.

The book features 3 stories with awesome fitting name and Retsuko's frustration listed as well. I have written a short review per story.

Down With The Sickness: 4.5 stars Monday's suck. Literally in this one as apparently everyone is sick in the office. I had a big laugh at how the sick people looked and acted like zombies and how everything was also kind of handled that way. We get a small group of survivors, glass breaking, lots of running, lots of leaving behinds and more. I had a laugh that the virus was called C-virus, which stands for Carrier-Virus. Which is about people who should stay home because there are sick, but don't because of various reasons mostly to do with their carreers.
It was an exciting story and I loved the ending. Go go Retsuko! Shout out loud! Though poor her in the end, but I am happy with her decision.
The art by D.J. Kirkland was good. I liked seeing the characters in his style.

Mall Madness: 3.5 stars . In this one Retsuko is shopping when she meets Tsunoda. Yep. Our artificial and not always so kind girl. Retsuko kind of agrees to go with her instead of being honest about why she was in the store and getting some cute clothes for herself. And that is how a day with Tsunoda begins. A whirlwind of fashion, expensive clothes, perfume, and lastly a cup of something to drink. There were times I really liked Tsunoda... but there were enough times I wasn't happy. She is not one of my favourite girls, she can be quite mean towards people. The moments I did like is that she never pushed Retsuko to buy anything and when she opened up about her youth and how she got to love fashion and such so much. That was a nice moment.
I do feel for Retsuko, some people don't really care if their clothes are fashionable, they just need to look nice and fit comfortable.
I had a laugh at the ending, let it all out girl. Let it all out. Though next time? Maybe just tell Tsunoda your feelings honestly.
The art by Jarrett Williams was pretty OK. The faces didn't always work for me.

The Visitor: 4 stars. Karen from the sister office appears to make things better in the Japan office. Sorry, I just couldn't stop laughing that the girl was called Karen, the name has definitely been ruined due to the internet. And at points she really was a Karen. :P But I could also see she really wanted to help Retsuko... though she only made it worse for her with her ideas. But she tried, and I can imagine, given what we learn later on that she doesn't want to have Retsuko, and her colleagues to have a horrible job situation. I am glad someone is finally stepping up. Though I am guessing it will take a lot more to get rid of Ton or make him see the errors of his way. And we know he can be a good guy... sometimes.
The ending and that duet, that was just fantastic, I would love to see more of Karen now. Just like Retsuko. I hope that things will change, but for now motivational notes are the start of it.
Fantastic art by Brenda Hickey.

The short story at the end is all about Tsunoda and Retsuko getting a coffee. I felt for both girls. Tsunoda because there are indeed so many options at places, and Retsuko because she wants something easy and get back in time.

I absolutely LOVED the cover gallery with all the variant covers.

All in all, I had so much fun reading this one and I am happy I got to read it. I will definitely be adding this one to my collection, I am sure my hubby (who is a fan of Retsuko just like me) will love this as well. Happy that they finally collected 3 of the 4 comics to a bundle as I just cannot easily get the single issues here in my country.
Recommended to all who love the show!

I enjoyed reading this graphic novel! The characters are so cute, especially Retsuko. I also loved the illustrations, color, and setting of this story. I also liked that there are lessons embedded in this graphic novel such as prioritizing our health first before our work and standing up for ourselves in the office and not letting other people bully us. I hope to read more about this in the future.

Daniel Barnes and Brenda Hickey share an electrifying and energetic text, bright and vibrant work that is sure to engage readers. Lots of graphic novel fun.

Fans of the Netflix series will love this comic series. Aggretsuko is the perfect relatable main character I've always wanted. She is adorable, and feisty while still being flawed. She makes you laugh, cry, and rage all in the span of minutes.

I may be biased since I'm obsessed with her, and think everyone needs a little bit more Aggretsuko in their lives.

I love Aggretsuko! Ever since I first laid eyes on her Netflix show, I was hooked! This has led to purchases of funko pops and pyjamas bottoms adorned with her face.

Metal to the Max is a great companion to the show, all the usual suspects are there - her horrible boss Ton, Fenneko, Tsunoda, Haida and the fabulous ladies Washimi and Gori. It has several stories including the dreaded lurgy coming to the office, an annoying shopping trip and a work visit that plans to increase morale.

There is plenty of Karaoke and dry humour plus it is as fun and colourful as the tv show.

A definite for fans!

I enjoyed the stories in this comic! I enjoyed seeing Aggretsuko in situations I hadn't seen before. And the writer and artist keep the look and feel of the series. A must for Aggretsuko fans!

I love the show Aggretsuko and this just felt like a couple new episodes! The illustrations are exactly like the show. Just a great quick read!

I love the Netflix show so this was wonderful. Incredible illustrations and just overall incredibly fun to read.

I loved this so damn much. I absolutely love the anime series and was so surprised to see this available on the read now list that I snapped it up immediately. And in true Aggretsuko fashion it did not disappoint. It was funny, cute and hinted on current global topics. I had such a great time reading this graphic novel.

A fantastic compilation of mini stories set in the world of Aggretsuko! I absolutely love the character and her office shenanigans! I highly recommend this book if you want a light, fun read!

I watched Aggretsuko expecting to just superficially enjoy it. I was seriously surprised at the depth this show has. I think it speaks for a lot of workers out there that feel used and abused by their jobs. The show continues this trend in the comic. I enjoyed reading these unique stories that still accurately represent the current toxicity of the workplace. For those that feel unheard and ignored, I recommend Aggretsuko; she has some important messages to share.

I particularly loved the show because it talks about workplace realities and societal expectations for women. Who wouldn’t rage with all that happening? It’s a satire and comedy of our every day life. We laugh at it when we watch it, but deep down inside, we laugh because we know it’s our reality.

Now, I was ecstatic to see Aggretsuko: Metal to the Max on Net Galley because of my love for the show. I squealed. Once I was given an ARC, I read the graphic novel in one sitting. I’d like to thank Oni Press for giving me this opportunity to share this metal novel.


Aggretsuko: Metal to the Max is created by Daniel Barns and Brenda Hickey and published by Oni Press. It includes 3 shorts: “Down with the Sickness”, “Mall Madness” and “The Visitor”.

”Down with Sickness” was written by Daniel Barnes and illustrated by D.J. Kirkland. Aggretsuko tries to survive the attack of the C-virus when her workmates begin acting like zombies and infecting everyone along the way.

“Mall Madness” was written and illustrated by Jarrett Williams. Aggretsuko tries to go shopping after an awkward chat with her workmates. She ends up going with Tsunoda on shopping for really expensive clothes for a charity ball.

”The Visitor” was written and illustrated by Brenda Hickey. A visitor from Canada comes to the Japanese division of the company, a.k.a. where Retsuko works, due to a low employee satisfaction rating on surveys.


THOUGHTS

Mall Madness struck me the most because of the way it dealt with the ways people aim for clout and fame instead of being genuine and authentic. It showed how women are always expecting other women to do something or look like something because that’s what society expects of them.

On the other hand, “Down with Sickness” has mentioned how work was getting Retsuko feeling tired and sick (instead of the actual C-virus) and “The Visitor” was a reality we all dread. In the latter, we see how people stay because they feel they need to earn a living there no matter the conditions. It was more depressing but at the same time, it would relieve you to know someone out there understands your struggles.

Overall, I love the art and stories. They were able to retain the original voice of the anime.The graphic novel didn’t seem to struggle in keeping up with the themes Aggretsuko addressed. Yes, it isn’t the same without hearing the drums and the heavy bass of songs from the series.

However, for first-timers who aren’t familiar with the anime, they wouldn’t understand the backgrounds and relationships between these characters. We didn’t see much of Fennuko, Haida, or now what was the deal with Tsunoda and everyone else in this world. The stories were told as if straight from Retsuko’s perspective. I’d love to see the upcoming volumes feature stories or perspectives from Fennuko and the other characters with more interactions with Retsuko.

THE VERDICT

5 Stars – – nearly perfect for my Aggretsuko fangirl mind.

Should you read it?

If you’re new to Aggretsuko, I suggest you watch the first season before reading the graphic novel. It will definitely help you to understand the characters, their relationships and circumstances before you jump into the graphic novel.

If you’re a fan of the show, YES. Need I say more?