Guru Guru Pon-Chan

    (Del Rey, 2005-2006)
™ and © 2005 Satomi Ikezawa
Black and whtie graphic novel series; read right to left.

Puppy Ponta is happy living with her family until she starts chewing on the Guru Guru bone created by Grandpa to give dogs the power of speech. It turns her into a toddler who’s saved from a speeding car by handsome high-schooler Murai. Now desperately in love with her rescuer, Ponta won’t stop chasing Murai until he loves her back.

Six months later (dogs aging differently than humans), she transforms into a teenager and in spite of being unable to speak and being no smarter or better mannered than your average dog, goes to Murai’s school. It’s assumed she’s a “returnee,” someone who’s spent time overseas. (Gee, foreign travel equals being developmentally challenged; how flattering.)

This is supposed to be a cute, sweet romance but it’s hard to decide which is more grotesque: Grandpa inexplicably cross-dressing as Helen Keller’s teacher Anne Sullivan to help Ponta become more human or the frequent appearances of excrement. Eventually, Ponta will go into heat and I don’t want to be anywhere near this manga when that day comes.

— S.A. Bennett
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#2


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