The bestselling manga rom-com reaches it conclusion in My Dress-Up Darling Vol. 15. After multiple twists and turns, trials and tribulations, it’s official: Marin and Wakana are dating! While neither their families nor their friends are surprised by the announcement, the happy couple are eager to celebrate their mutual feelings with a heap of outdoor activities! Eventually, the two find themselves back on the beach where they made a fateful promise one year ago. What new vows will they exchange under the shining sun in this final volume?
Beginning its English language release in 2020, My Dress-Up Darling quickly captured the hearts of manga readers for its enduring leading characters, reverence of cosplay and stylish art. Its subsequent anime adaptation in 2022 would lead to the series exploding in popularity – with Marin Kitagawa becoming a mainstay amongst cosplayers at conventions. Alas, all good things must come to an end as this closing volume brings the series to a more than satisfying conclusion.
In a genre that is packed with more tropes than you can shake a stick at, Shinichi Fukuda has created a manga romcom that will stand the test of time. Whilst not afraid to be risqué with her storytelling (her background is in adult manga afterall), she has taken a very sincere approach to her leading characters when it comes to hobbies and romance. Both the art of cosplay and crafting of hina dolls have been intricately researched throughout the series whilst being treated with the upmost respect. That being said, it has never been too proud to gently poke fun at some of the more eccentric parts of fandom and pursuing hobbies.
This closing volume brings all this to the forefront but also shows how far Wakana has come as a person. As stated, none of Marin and Wakana’s friends and loved ones are surprised at all that they have ended up together, but it is Wakana’s journey of finding acceptance for his hobby and realising he doesn’t have to automatically assume that people will judge him for his interests that is most satisfying. Fukuda creates some great moments between Wakana, his classmates – and later on – Akira who has overcome her own insecurities. In many ways, this final volume is a victory lap.
Fukuda has always been strong when it comes to the artwork of the series. It is a tricky to balance the stylishness and occasionally raunchy content with the heartfelt tone that runs through My Dress-Up Darling but she succeeds with flying colours. The scenes when Marin and Wakana revisit the beach in particular are packed with all the charm that fans have come to expect.
This is a touching ending to a classic manga that will be a fan-favourite for years to come. If you were ever curious about what made this series such a hit, now is the time to check it out.
My Dress-Up Darling 15 is out now from Square Enix Manga (9781646094998, p/b, £13.99)
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