Rebecca Aug 05, 2011
Honest, intelligent news and reviews for manga romantics
Hot Gimmick ran in Betsucomi from 2000-2005. The series was published in the states by Viz Media from 2003-2006. Hot Gimmick is a series aimed at shojo readers but contains adult topics. A submissive protagonist surrounded by guys who all need therapy makes for some entertaining but messed up relationships.
The Gist: Hatsumi Narita lives in company housing with her mom, dad, sister, and older and younger brothers. Social status among the members of the housing units is paramount, and at the top of the pyramid is the Tachibana family. The story begins with Hatsumi having to run a scandalous errand for her sister, Akane. Trying to keep a low profile so that no one in the housing will find out, Hatsumi accidentally crashes into Ryoki Tachibana, only son of the Tachibana family. Ryoki sees what falls out the packaging and blackmails Hatsumi into becoming his slave. Meanwhile, Azusa Odagiri, childhood friend of Hatsumi and her older brother Shinogu, has returned to company housing to live with his father, since his mother recently passed away. Working part time as a model, the girls at school are ga-ga over him, but he only has eyes for Hatsumi. Then there’s hard working, college attending Shinogu. He still lives at home but works endless hours because he feels that he has to pay back his parents for everything. When Shinogu realizes that Hatsumi has romantic feelings for Ryoki, he packs up and moves across town with no explanation. Hatsumi is surrounded with troubling circumstances, and it will take the help of all of these guys to reveal the truth of the matter and resolve the upsetting issues.
There are many emotional moments in this series and it is addicting to read once you get into it. However, the story ending is unsatisfactory and the characters are poor role models. But if you’d like to see how demented these characters get, because it makes you feel better about your own life, then you might enjoy this series.
I really enjoyed Hot Gimmick up until the end. It is unsatisfying and doesn’t do the series justice. I got really fustrated with Hatsumi by the last two volumes.