LOLI vs. is entertainment from a tween-age girl’s point of view.
The rules are simple:
- If LOLI wins–It means the object of entertainment was crappy, thus not worth her time.
- If the opponent wins–It means that the object of entertainment is worth pursuing, even if you’re a tween with limited money.
Ryuu Sasakura is a bartender, and a hell of one at that; in fact, his cocktails are the best that anyone has ever tasted. Anyone. After bartending in Europe, he’s back in Japan working in a small bar located in Ginza. The story is simple. In each chapter he solves the problems of his customer by serving them a beautifully crafted drinks (I know, right?) The idea is that the drink inspires the customer to quit being so damn sad, and this is done in a pretty episodic fashion, so you can start most anywhere without getting too lost. In a way, Ryuu is like your standard shonen fighter prodigy; except instead of kicking peoples asses, he gets them totally wasted.
Ryuu. Is. Awesome. His ability to make the perfect drink based on the customer and their situation is referred to as the Glass of the Gods. He also has nice hair. Seriously, his hair, I love it. This manga also has a certain power over the person reading. Much in the same way that Cowboy Bebop can turn even a Truth representative into a chain smoker, Bartender will turn you into an alchoholic. I’m almost, almost, thirteen, but this manga makes me want to drink. Everyday. All day. I am learning so much about alcohol–it’s ridiculous. My brother (who bartends) will most definitely be reading this, like it or not
The style is really consistent, and no one looks the same. Each character has their own personality and favorite drinks. Have I mentioned Ryuu’s hair yet? Most of the chapters revolve around old men, but there are a few women as well. For instance, the secondary character, Miwa. She’s pretty cool, and loves her hard liquor. At times you see Ryuu acting like a kid, which I loved. Other times, you’ll see his emotional side when he’s solving the issues of his customers. His words are so poetic, even when he’s teaching old men how to shotgun Tequila. There was one part when he explains what a bartender is, I wanted to cry.
Throughout the manga you see Ryuu temping in a few different bars, but the one fancier bar is the nicest arc so far. Who knew rich people had problems too, or (in the case of the character I’m referring to) psychologically rich old men? The story is amazing and I’m in love with the characters. I can’t really get anymore in-depth because the series is ongoing, but it’s great.
I’ve said this already, but it’s worth mentioning again: RYUU, YOUR HAIR IS AMAZING! A couple of times I almost cried, but that’s because every word out of Ryuu’s mouth is so damn elegant. Some sob stories, but they really didn’t get to me. In short, go read Bartender if you haven’t, and if you have, go mix yourself a drink or somethin’.
