In the world of manga, it’s common for creators to weave their personal tastes into their artwork. However, when a reader criticized the heroine’s appearance, Ryo Matoba didn’t hesitate to step up and defend his artistic vision.
1. The spark from an awkward complaint
Ryo Matoba is the creator of the manga Genkai Dokushin Joshi (26) Gohan. The issue began when a reader commented that the heroine’s “assets” were excessively large without any clear reason. Instead of ignoring the remark, Matoba publicly responded on social media, sparking a lively debate online.
2. The creator’s fiery response
While promoting the fourth volume of the series, Matoba openly addressed the controversy with a defiant tone. He bluntly stated that he loves drawing characters with such voluptuous proportions. Shockingly, the mangaka revealed, “I originally planned to draw her even bigger than this!”
Matoba even jokingly invited the picky reader to “meet him on the rooftop” to settle their disagreement if they were unhappy with his character design.
3. Unexpected support from fans and peers
Contrary to expectations, Matoba’s bold comeback earned enthusiastic support from fans and fellow artists. Many peers felt that criticizing a creator’s personal aesthetic was rude.
Some argued that the character’s current size is perfect, a view Matoba fully agrees with. He emphasized that the version readers see now is actually a toned-down version of his original concept. When asked if anyone suggested making the character bigger, Matoba confidently replied, “That was my own idea!”