Steady Beat

(Tokyopop, 2005)
™ and © 2005 Rivkah

High-school student Leah Winters finds a love letter intended for her allegedly perfect older sister Sarai signed, “Love Jessica.” Instead of minding her own business, Leah goes into Nancy Drew mode. And, while investigating Sarai’s supposed secret life, she receives a mysterious phone call leading to a clandestine meeting with a stranger, where she’s hit by a car.

The promotional material would like to have this classified as an “explosive drama,” but it’s more a naturalistic coming-of-age story with only a single improbable complication reminding the reader that this is a manga. (Naturally, the guy driving the car is a gay veterinarian with a dishy black Jewish stepson.) Steady Beat has strong characters and is expertly told in an assured style straddling both American and Japanese influences, managing to be romantic without becoming overly squishy.

The only problem I have with it is the same one I have with many recent manga: I have no idea how the creator will keep a premise this slender spinning for even a mere three volumes.

— S. A. Bennett

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#1

October, 2005
Cover Price: $9.99
1 copy available for $7.99

Rivkah

#2

October, 2006
Cover Price: $9.99
1 copy available for $8.00

Rivkah