Danica Davidson
January 10, 2025 
In BLEND-S, Maika is in a desperate search for a part-time job so that she can afford to study abroad. Ever since she was five, she’s been obsessed with foreign cultures, especially in Europe (and she developed a crush on a statue of Colonel Sanders). But there’s a problem: even though Maika is a nice girl, she has a resting glare face and scares people off. Time and again, she tries to get a job and fails.
Until she unexpectedly finds a job where her glare is an asset. A manager at a specialty café sees Maika on the street and wants to hire her. The café has its workers role play as character archetypes, like as a tsundere or little sister. Sweet, innocent but glaring Maika is hired as the Super Sadistic archetype, where she’s supposed to insult and harass customers. (And, yes, this is a real thing in Japan.)
Maika is mortified at having to be mean to people, but a job’s a job. Her manager, who is an Italian man living in Japan and obsessed with anime, totally digs her faked sadistic side, regularly getting nosebleeds. Maika is more interested in him just as someone who can talk about the bigger world. Her interest in foreign cultures also is often used as joke fodder, such as when she wants to stick a shampoo bottle with English writing on her family altar because she’s so in awe of it.
BLEND-S is set up in four panels and reads quickly. It’s a silly, goofy read, fun for a laugh. The sadistic thing is only part of the story, as a lot of it actually ends up concentrating on the quirky characters Maika meets at the café. There are a lot of otaku references of all different stripes, ranging from moe to doujinshi to yuri to video games. (The translation notes part is a bit on the lengthy side explaining the many references for those who need it.) There’s no strong plot here, as it instead frolics from one short story to another, concentrating on the oddball scenario and people. The manga is as quirky and amusing as its characters. There is also an anime adaptation available.
Story & Art: Miyuki Nakayama
Publisher: Yen Press
Translator: Sheldon Drzka
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Danica Davidson is the author of the bestselling Manga Art for Beginners with artist Melanie Westin, plus its sequel, Manga Art for Everyone, and the first-of-its-kind manga chalk book Chalk Art Manga, both illustrated by professional Japanese mangaka Rena Saiya. Check out her other comics and books at www.danicadavidson.com.
