Kyoukan Astro

Synopsis

This 4-panel school story takes the formula popularized by Azumanga Daioh and grows it up just a bit, focusing on the school faculty rather than the students. Expect to see lots of adults behaving badly! Subculture jokes abound: one teacher tries to hide her boys’ love obsession from her coworkers; another agonizes over her lesbian crush on a homeroom teacher. Failing productivity results when a fascination with portable videogames sweeps through the faculty room and wireless racing battles ensue. The humor ranges from slapstick to subtle, and there’s even a touch of actual romance! Vol. 1: There are many manga out there about school life, but those are mostly about the students. Here is the first about the young female teachers. S.S. ASTRO follows the adventures - romantic and otherwise - of a group of young teachers working to make ends meet. Fun doesn’t have to end after high school! (Source: Yen Press) Going where no four-panel has gone before, this light-hearted school manga focuses on the serene trials of teachers as they go about their every-day life. Not many gags, but plenty of gimmicks to keep your interest. (B-U)