Double Arts Review
by Komi Naoshi
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Quick Take
- Two people who must hold hands forever — or die — is the setup for a surprisingly touching adventure
- Cancelled after 3 volumes, but what exists is charming and worth reading
- By the creator of Nisekoi and I Told You So — recognizably his style
Who Is This Manga For?
- Fans of Komi Naoshi's other work who want to read his early career
- Readers who appreciate short, complete-ish manga experiences
- Romance-action fans who don't mind an open ending
- Anyone curious about brilliant concepts that didn't get to fully develop
Content Warnings & Age Rating
Age Rating: T (Teen) Content Warnings: mild violence
Please check these warnings before reading.
Yu's Rating
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Story Depth | ★★★★☆ |
| Art Style | ★★★★☆ |
| Character Development | ★★★★☆ |
| Accessibility for Non-Japanese Readers | ★★★☆☆ |
| Reread Value | ★★★★☆ |
Story Overview
A mysterious disease called Troy is killing people, and the only known treatment is the touch of Sister healers — but the Sisters themselves die slowly from absorbing the disease. Elle is a Sister who should have died long ago, but when healer-in-training Elraine touches her, something miraculous happens: holding his hand stabilizes her completely. They can never let go of each other's hand — but they can still fight, traveling together with a permanently joined grip, searching for a cure while protecting each other.
Characters
Elle is practical and direct — she's accepted her fate for so long that Elraine's refusal to give up on her is disorienting. Elraine is earnest and determined, immediately committing to her survival without fully understanding the consequences. Their relationship develops naturally within the physical constraint that defines them.
Art Style
Early Naoshi Komi — recognizable but developing toward the style that would make Nisekoi famous. The action sequences work well. The character designs are charming and the hand-holding constraint creates interesting visual compositions.
Cultural Context
The Sister healer system draws from Catholic religious imagery but is integrated into a fantasy world. The Troi disease and its supernatural properties are the series' core concept, left partially unexplored due to cancellation.
What I Love About It
Double Arts is a bittersweet reading experience because you can feel exactly how good the series could have been with more time. The core concept — two people who must stay in physical contact, building relationship through forced proximity, then learning to fight together as a unit — is genuinely original. What Naoshi Komi achieved in 3 volumes is more than most series accomplish in 10.
What English-Speaking Fans Say
Double Arts has a devoted cult following of readers who discovered it and wished it had continued. It's frequently mentioned when fans discuss cancelled Jump series that deserved more. Naoshi Komi's later success with Nisekoi brought new readers back to this early work.
Memorable Scene ⚠️ Spoiler Warning
Spoiler Warning: The scene where Elraine and Elle develop their first coordinated fighting technique — learning to move as one unit despite never having trained together — demonstrates exactly what this series was building toward.
Similar Manga
- Nisekoi — Naoshi Komi's successful continuation of his career
- I Told You So — His most recent work
- Soul Eater — Action-adventure with partner dynamics
Reading Order / Where to Start
All three volumes — read consecutively as one story.
Official English Translation Status
Status: Complete Publisher: VIZ Media Volumes Available in English: 3 of 3
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Exceptional concept
- 3-volume run is complete as a reading experience
- Naoshi Komi's charm is evident
- Action and romance balance well
Cons:
- Cancelled — story is unresolved
- Only 3 volumes means limited development
- Readers who need closure may be frustrated
Format Comparison
| Format | Link | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Paperback | Amazon | VIZ edition — all 3 volumes |
Where to Buy
You can find Double Arts on Amazon:
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*Affiliate link — I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Written by
Yu
Manga Enthusiast from Japan
I grew up in Japan and manga literally saved me during a tough time in elementary school. My English isn't perfect, but my love for manga is real — and I want to share it with you.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.