Eve: The Beautiful Love-Scientizing Goddess (Eve: Koi wo Kagaku suru Uruwashiki Megami, The Love Science Story, イヴ 恋を科学する麗しき女神), 2008-2009, Nabeshima, Masaharu (Story), Hanakouji, Yumi (Art), Manga Sunday

STORY: 6

Meet Dr. Maria Eve, a brilliant professor in behavioral studies. She is gorgeous, has an IQ of 183, an assistant with big breasts (which is reminded to us throughout the manga) and is the leading authority in ‘Love science’. Follow her as she solves the relationship problems of her cases. The arcs are entertaining, the characters have some presence, but, with its superficial vision of love, this manga is certainly not going to change your view of the world.

ART: 6

Lines are neat, I like how the author draws mouths. Characters are a bit interesting even though all women come in one unique pretty shape. Curiously, the presence of many flowers, elaborate clothing, and breasts that are not stupidly high on the chest all hints at the author being a woman!

POLITICAL POTENTIAL: 5

Dr. Eve solves her cases using her knowledge of psychology. The manga portrays her as smart and modern. She can recognize when people are being taken advantage of in their relationship, or can lecture a man who collects women as trophies because he did not get love as a child. But, there’s never anything deep and the psychology insights feel a bit cheap. At least, it’s nice to see all those people trying to create or improve a relation with others.

FEMINISM: 4

For her first case, Dr. Eve tells her patient that “when it comes to meeting people, quantity is better than quality” and behaves like a pick-up coach: she proceeds to have him stop 100 women, in the streets, to ask them for a date. With that technique straight from the manosphere (he even asks high-schoolers out), I got serious doubt that the author was a woman.

It all adds up in the end: it’s a woman that did the art and a dude did the story. These—sadly predictable—gender stereotypes seem to explain why there is not much in the story in terms of feminism. One could have expected better since the focus is on an expert in men/women relationships. But each arc remains shallow, and, there is a feeling of naivety due to the author probably not having much clue about what patriarchy is. For example, the subjects of domestic violence or harassment are present, but are treated very lightly. There is also no wonder why we get a freaking lot of male gaze for a manga following a scientist.

In the end, you will feel frustrated to read the conventional thoughts of a male writer about love, through the character of a supposedly talented and modern female character that challenges the establishment.

CONCLUSION: 5

A modest manga trying to be smart talking about relationships, but lacking the knowledge to do it in depth. Too bad Dr. Eve didn’t attend gender-studies class before getting her PhD!