Oh My Goddess!, Volume 13

Adult/High School-In this addition to the series of Japanese comics, college student Keiichi lives with three beautiful goddesses-his true love, Belldandy; her older sister, Urd; and her younger sister, Skuld. In a sitcom, wacky hijinks would ensue. To some extent, that's true here. For example, in "The Queen and the Goddess," Urd orders an angel's egg but receives an anki egg instead, and the wicked beastie attaches itself to Sayoko, the campus beauty. It feeds on her trust, causing her to doubt the motives of others. If it continues to grow, it will eventually crush her. The cure is for her to believe in something, but displays of Belldandy's and Urd's powers only end up causing Sayoko to doubt her own existence. Her salvation comes from Belldandy's heartfelt plea for her to believe in herself. The strength of "Oh My Goddess!" lies in this juxtaposition. The otherworldly elements are never allowed to overwhelm the plot or the characters. Indeed, as much time is spent on Keiichi, and the Motor Club of which he is president, as on the goddesses. Even stories that focus on them, like the triptych of tales about Skuld, have little to do with her supernatural abilities. Instead, she deals with a first crush, learning and growing up like any other girl. Crisp black-and-white art, appealing character designs, and romantic stories livened with humor add to the book's charm.-Susan Salpini, Fairfax County Public Schools, VA Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.