Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun
Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun

Edit

What would you like to edit?

SynopsisBackgroundAlternative TitlesPictureChapters/VolumesPublishing DatesRelationsTypeExternal Links  

Hands down, my favorite manga.

If you ask for the epitome of gag manga, I’ll point straight to Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun. This manga excels at what it does best—delivering consistent, well-timed comedy. Since it’s a gag manga, you don’t have to worry about following a complex plot; just pick it up and enjoy a good laugh every time. After all, the story thrives on its characters and their interactions.

That said, don’t expect romantic progression, or any progression. It exists purely for the sake of the jokes. Every now and then, we might get a tiny bit of development, but at the end of the day, it’s ... all about the comedy.

Content (Story): 7/10
As mentioned above, the story exists purely for the sake of the jokes. It’s neither bad nor exceptional—just a straightforward, cliché setup you'd find in any typical romcom. It follows students enjoying their high school years and interacting with each other, serving as a simple yet effective backdrop for the comedy. This manga is all about the "now".

Content (Character): 10/10
Like many other reviews, I want to separate this part from the content because the characters are the true stars of the show. The story progresses mainly through their interactions, and it’s these dynamics that keep things engaging. While the characters may have basic foundations, what makes them so interesting is the way they act. Throughout the story, rather than feeling like you’re learning something new about them, it’s more like their personalities are building upon themselves. It’s a process of exploration rather than discovery, and that’s what makes it so compelling.

Style: 9/10
While the art style isn’t the most stunning, realistic, or breathtaking, it perfectly suits the manga’s tone. It follows a traditional romcom aesthetic with cute character designs, which complement the lighthearted and comedic nature of the story. I really like how the art style enhances the overall experience, making the humor land even better.

Personal Enjoyment: 10/10
I can’t count how many times I’ve read this manga and watched the anime since I first discovered it about 10 years ago. Whenever I feel stressed or can't find a good romcom, GKSN is always the go-to. What makes it such an excellent choice is that I don’t have to start from chapter 1 each time. I can pick up any chapter, whether forward or backward, and it’s still enjoyable. It’s the perfect comfort pick!

Monthly Girls Nozaki-kun is one of my favorite anime, and I finally decided to give the manga a shot. Because we are never getting a season 2... which still is sad. As of writing this I am in volume 5 so my perspective may change as I get fully caught up. I do enjoy the manga, but what surprises me the most is how much the anime added that was not in the source content. Also what they decided to cut out. Nozaki's brother is not even in the anime, and I actually agree with the decision to leave him out. For the 13 episodes ... randomly dropping him towards the end of the season would feel weird. Especially when he does not even have a romantic interest. He is just a different out of the main story comedy character. I don't dislike him, but he does not really do much of note either.

However one thing the anime does that I really agree with is to cut out Nozaki's former editor to barely even being present. If I remember correctly he is only present in flash backs for the anime, but in the manga he gets a pretty focused chapter every volume at least. Honestly I do hate his character since his gimmick is simply that he is annoying. He just drags down any chapter that he is in. For some reason the author seems to find him amusing though. I pretty much skip any chapter he is heavily featured in now. The anime's decision to give him very little presence was the right call. Outside of him everyone else is pretty good.

This series is carried by it's very eclectic cast of characters. Nozaki's job as a shojo Mangaka is constantly used well to set up different situations for our characters to get into. Nozaki's research into how high school romance works by observing and occasionally testing things out on his friends is pretty amusing. However this is a series where the romance is not at the fore front but instead comedy. Chiyo who often feels like the main character instead of Nozaki in the anime does not seem like she will ever make any real progress. We have a few different odd couples to root for, but I am not sure if the author has any real plan on how to get any of our couples together. I hope I am wrong, but I am not fully caught up yet. If you are looking for a romance series with a definite conclusion this may not be it. However Nozaki-kun is a very enjoyable 4 panel series that can bring a lot of enjoyment to the reader. I only hope that we get a satisfying ending. Also a season 2 of the anime of course

It's bad, boring, legitmately overhyped. I felt the same way 10 years ago as I do now, so it's a constant, not a matter of taste or age. I gave it way more chances than it was worth - same hot garbage in 2024 as it was in 2014.

The author is far too preocupied by the 4 komas format instead of conveying any sort of coeherence. The story begins suddenly and everything just... happens. There are no intentions, no inner thoughts, no elegance. Very boring honestly.

Waste of a cute af girl design and worst of all, waste of my time.

2/10 because it's not quite the ... grossest/worst executed thing out there. But its score definitely deserves to be taken down a few notches.