Pretty Face Review: The Body-Swap Premise That's Kinder Than It Has Any Right to Be

He woke up with a girl's face. The surgeon reconstructed from a photo. The photo was of the girl he loved.

Quick Take

• A Shonen Jump comedy about a martial artist who wakes from a coma with a surgically reconstructed face that looks exactly like the girl he has a crush on — and is immediately mistaken for her missing twin sister
• More warmly conceived than the premise suggests
• 5 complete volumes in English (6 in Japanese)

Who Is This Manga For?

• Shonen comedy readers who want fast-moving, good-natured romantic comedy
• Readers who enjoy cross-dressing/gender-bending premises handled with more heart than usual
• Fans of Kano's other work (Mx0)
• Anyone who wants a short, complete comedy romance from the Shonen Jump catalog

Content Warnings & Age Rating

Age Rating: T (Teen) Content Warnings: Cross-dressing situation, comedic violence, gender identity played for comedy and occasional sincerity

The gender situation is mostly comedic but the manga occasionally acknowledges its emotional dimensions.

Yu's Rating

Category	Score
Story Depth	★★★☆☆
Art Style	★★★★☆
Character Development	★★★☆☆
Accessibility for Non-Japanese Readers	★★★★☆
Reread Value	★★★☆☆

Story Overview

Randoh Masashi is a delinquent with a talent for fighting and an unrequited crush on Kurimi Yuna, the girl next door. A bus accident puts him in a coma. A well-meaning but catastrophically inaccurate surgeon reconstructs his disfigured face using the only photo available — a photo of Yuna.

He wakes up looking exactly like Yuna. Her family, believing their other daughter Rina (who disappeared years ago) has returned, immediately identifies him as her. He can't correct the misunderstanding without revealing his actual identity to Yuna, which would expose his feelings. He decides to live as "Rina" until he can figure out a way to resolve the situation.

The story follows his attempts to maintain the disguise while attending school, navigating Yuna's family, dealing with his own feelings, and encountering situations that test both the disguise and his character. Kano runs the premise with consistent comedy energy and occasional genuine warmth.

Characters

Randoh Masashi / "Rina" — The core joke is that a rough delinquent is now presenting as a gentle, feminine girl, and his old instincts keep breaking through. The comedy works because he's not changed by the face — he's still himself, trying to operate in a new context.

Kurimi Yuna — More thoughtfully drawn than the standard "object of affection" — her feelings about "Rina" and what the returned sister means to her are given real space.

The Kurimi family — Their genuine joy at the "return" of their daughter creates the emotional weight that keeps the comedy from feeling hollow.

Art Style

Kano's art is clean, expressive Shonen Jump with the specific skill required to make a male character readable as convincingly feminine while maintaining the comedic undertone. Character designs are attractive and distinct. Action sequences are brief but clear. The facial work — crucially important for a manga where two characters share a face — is handled with actual care.

Cultural Context

Cross-dressing and gender-bending in shonen manga has a long tradition — from Ranma ½ through various modern entries. Pretty Face occupies the lighter end of that tradition: the premise is played for comedy and romantic complication rather than identity exploration, though the manga doesn't entirely avoid the emotional implications of its setup.

The Shonen Jump context is relevant: the series is built for speed and readability, with enough gags per chapter to satisfy weekly serialization and enough emotional groundwork to make the eventual resolution feel earned.

What I Love About It

The scene where Yuna finally understands that "Rina" has been protecting something about their relationship this entire time — and her response to that realization — is where the comedy pays off emotionally. Kano sets it up slowly enough that it doesn't feel rushed. The punchline is sweet rather than clever.

What English-Speaking Fans Say

A pleasant mid-tier Shonen Jump comedy remembered fondly by readers who found it. Kano's art is praised. The premise's comedic execution is considered successful. The five-volume length is seen as appropriate — the concept is used fully without overstaying. Not a landmark series, but a solid one.

Memorable Scene ⚠️ Spoiler Warning

The moment when Randoh has to choose between his disguise and protecting someone — and chooses correctly, breaking the disguise in the process — is where the manga reveals its actual values. He was always going to be that person. The face didn't change what he was.

Similar Manga

Title	Its Approach	How Pretty Face Differs
Ranma ½	Gender-switching comedy romance	Ranma is longer and more elaborate; Pretty Face is shorter and more focused
Ouran Host Club	Cross-dressing in romantic comedy	Ouran is more elaborate and shojo-focused; Pretty Face is more action-comedy
W Juliet	Cross-dressing and romance	W Juliet is more emotionally focused; Pretty Face is more comedic

Reading Order / Where to Start

Volume 1, straight through. The premise is established and deployed immediately.

Official English Translation Status

Viz Media published 5 volumes in English (the Japanese series has 6). The English release is essentially complete for the core story.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• The premise is deployed with genuine comedic skill
• Randoh's character stays consistent across the disguise
• The Kurimi family dynamic gives the comedy emotional grounding
• Short and complete

Cons

• English release is technically one volume short
• The premise requires readers to not think too hard about its logistics
• The gender themes are handled with less depth than they could be
• Not distinctive enough to be essential outside the gender-bender comedy genre

Is Pretty Face Worth Reading?

For Shonen Jump comedy readers — yes. A fast, warm read with more heart than the premise implies.

Format Comparison

Format	Pros	Cons
Physical	Complete core story in 5 volumes	One volume short of full Japanese release
Digital	Convenient	—
Omnibus	No omnibus available	—

Where to Buy

Read the first volume. If it doesn't hook you, put it down. It'll hook you.

Start with Volume 1 →

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