Hidden in the vibrant pinks and greens of Rainbow! Volume 1 contains a dark and challenging story about independence, identity and parental pressure. The creative duo, Gloom and Sunny, have worked together to create a story as impactful as contemporary YA webtoon adaptations like Alice Oseman’s Heartstopper or Suzanne Walker and Wendy’s Mooncakes Coin.
Join us today on Anime Corner as we review Rainbow!, Volume 1, by Gloom and Sunny, on sale March 5, 2024.
Our reviewers wanted to note warnings about alcoholism, addiction, and childhood neglect.
Enter the Pastel verse
Rainbow!, Volume 1, by Gloom and Sunny, on sale March 5, 2024.
Rainbow! has excellent artistry and immediately attracts your attention. With a limited color palette consisting mainly of blush pinks and vibrant greens, Rainbow! introduces us to pink-haired high school student Boo Meadows. Easily lost in daydreams where she becomes a magical girl, Boo tries to stay away from her crippling social anxiety and the difficulties of her family life. Stuck with an alcoholic mother who only plays parenting when it’s in her best interest, Boo has grown accustomed to lying about her health and life, erecting walls between her coworkers. at the local coffee shop.
When Boo meets blue-haired transfer student Mimi, she begins to see Mimi everywhere—and is attracted to Mimi’s confident nature. They may appear to be complete opposites on the outside, but as Boo gradually learns more about the outgoing Mimi, it becomes clear that they have more in common than initially expected, especially when it comes to family life.
Under neon lights
It is through this seemingly cheerful lens of bright pinks and greens that the darkness of the Rainbow! bleeding into the true story. Make no mistake, although there’s clearly a romantic angle brewing between Boo and Mimi, this is first and foremost a contemporary drama that offers a confrontational discussion about quitting. falling children. Boo’s mother is an alcoholic, barely functioning and largely a source of shame for Boo, and is abusive and overbearing when she is sober. It’s no surprise that Boo seeks a fantasy world to escape to—but Mimi provides a lifeline to the real world, a world that’s painful to face but undeniably her path. must walk.
Summary
Rainbow!, Volume 1 is a masterpiece of visual and narrative design, using a vibrant palette of unusual colors to contrast the darkness of the characters’ backstories, many elements of which will certainly make a strong impression on some readers. The transition from webcomic format to print layout was handled excellently and definitely earns our recommendation for anyone looking for a dramatic story about identity, the struggles of Childhood and youth self-determination. Rainbow!, Volume 1 is published under Scholastic’s Graphix imprint and you can pre-order a print copy here.
Thanks to Scholastic for providing an advanced review copy of Rainbow!, Volume 1.