My thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha/Vertical Comics for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.

While this did have a cuteness to it that I can see many enjoying, I was not a huge fan.

I didn't like how the MC Human would grab the muzzle of the MC Dog when he was upset with the dog. I'm not a dog owner, never have been, but that seems a bit violent and harsh.

The artwork did nothing for me and the storyline was pretty boring, but if you enjoy stories from the POV of a dog, then this manga might be one to check out.

2, bored me but YMMV, stars.

**ARC provided by NetGalley for honest review**

Lovely Muco! 1 by Takayuki Mizushina was a lighthearted and fun dog manga from the dog's perspective as he lives his life at his owner's home and glassblowing shop. It's a pretty basic, but entertaining read with silly dog shenanigans that make you smile. I didn't have any problems with it, but there wasn't anything too stand out about it besides it being a dog and not a cat manga for once. ;-P

Would recommend for animal/dog lovers!

like a good “person and their pet” manga as much as the next person. Here, we have Kodansha’s Lovely Muco! a basic slice-of-life with a cute premise but not much else.

Lovely Muco! stars the titular Shiba Inu as she and her owner (the glassblower Komatsu) live in rural Japan. Most chapters are standalone stories with passing references with each other as Muco learns about the world around her. From getting a cold to participating in a photoshoot by Komatsu’s web developer friend Ushiko, there’s plenty of funny adventures! This two-in-one omnibus collects over 200 pages of Muco adventures with some fun twists here and there.

Look, I get gag manga can get away with quickly drawn styles (I mean, I love Pop Team Epic’s minimalism). However, Lovely Muco! feels like there’s a lot missing here. The backgrounds are nonexistent at times, and the gags are underwhelming. I do like the cute naivete of Muco and the relationship between her and Komatsu, but that’s really it. It’s an inoffensive goofy gag manga that doesn’t go anywhere with its story, and there’s a lot of room for improvement going forward.

The art style isn't as cute and pretty as I normally like. But as I kept reading I grew to like it. Muco is a bit stupid of a dog, but she made me smile a lot too. As a dog lover and owner some of the things she did made me think of my own dogs and smile. Some was so dumb I tilted my eyes.
The story is told from the dogs perspective which made it really fun. Her owner had an at home glass blowing studio and gallery. Seeing him work from her perspective was really interesting. Then there's the love muco has for her owner. It is so cute.

Over all it was a fun little story. Could be cuter though.

”Lovely Muco!, Vol 1” by Takayuki Mizushina is a read full of giggles.

Any pet lover will enjoy getting an insight into Muco's thoughts about her life with her much-beloved owner, Mr. Komatsu.

Her thoughts are very much dog, and in the beginning, it's difficult to understand what Muco's obsessions with her shiny nose and chewing her blanket are all about, but as the pages turn, you get a pretty clear idea of how much this dog just want to help Mr. Komatsu and how much she loves him.
Perhaps you might even get inspiration on how to understand your pet?

I love the stories about their daily life in the glass art studio in the mountains. Muco brings lots of joy and entertainment every day. I love especially when Mr. Komatsu misunderstands her needs.

This is a cute, relaxing, and full of-giggles read. Just what I needed.

This was a set of short stories about a dog and her owner. I really was hoping for more out of this. It's a cute premise, but I think it could have more depth to it.

I found this title to be cute and charming! Muco is a good dog! The approach to give her her as more maidenly personality over a of childish one was a welcome change. In general, you're in for a sweet read of small slice of life moments. If you or yours love animal or pet focused manga, give Muco some love!

Acting as a celebration of man's best friend, “Lovely Muco!” follows the titular dog and his owner through day-to-day activities. The series is presented as episodic, making for an easy-to-pick-up read, while carrying some elements of plot through each story. In exploring such relationships sincerity is always key, and Takayuki Mizushina's work resonates a deep love for dogs and the pet/owner relationship.

The emphasis, however, is on comedy, and compared to one of my personal favorite celebrations of pets “Doomsday With My Dog“, “Lovely Muco!” stays consistently upbeat and focused on the silly moments of dog ownership, avoiding some of the sadder truths. Consequently, pet owners who favor energetic breeds will find abundant value in the humor, with Muco being sporadic and prone to ‘bad behavior' that is difficult not to find adorable. Furthermore, Takayuki Mizushina captures those moments of confusion with dogs when they are uncertain of how to act but eager to please. Every chapter leans heavily into Muco trying to understand her owner, and it consistently succeeds in accurately capturing the nuances of that relationship.

Of course, building everything off of capturing that interaction between pet and owner is bound to isolate those who lack or are uninterested in those bonds. Though the synopsis teases that it is for cat lovers as well despite having no cats, this book is, undeniably, aimed solely at dog owners looking for a quick dose of cute humor that validates their own love of their furry friends. Without this connection, it is unlikely the release will resonate with a general readership–particularly when looking at the visuals.


Visually, “Lovely Muco!” is overly simplistic with the focus on capturing the antics and cuteness of the titular energetic pup. Outside of Muco, characters are very crudely drawn and at times can look amateurish. However, this proves a rare case where the failings of the art to impress are inconsequential as the star of the manga, Muco, has an abundance of personality in this particular style. Furthermore, the rudimentary art doesn't interfere with the book's comedic beats, and its simplicity is, in a way, charming. Essentially, any observations of crude design melt away when Takayuki Mizushina puts Muco center stage (which is always). Kodansha's decision to print various chapters in color also goes a long way to elevating the overall visuals and the joy the book resonates.

Overall, “Lovely Muco!” is an upbeat comedy that will resonate with dog owners, particularly those who favor the rambunctious breeds whose personas are as chaotic as they are endearing. Those who don't share the same passion for canines, however, will likely find the series to be utterly underwhelming in all aspects, especially with the simplistic visuals.

cute fast read and I love books about cute animals! If you want a fast cute read about a cute adorable dog then this is a must read!

I'm a massive sucker for animal/pet manga, but this one didn't fully work for me. I think the combination of manic energy and the kinda-angry owner dude tried my patience more than once. I know plenty of people will love it, though.

If you are looking for the cutest, most adorable, and loveliest manga-style graphic novel with the most awesome dog in it, then you have found it! This book is it! This book gets all the stars just for being so, so cute.
Besides being just cute, this was a super fun book and it was filled with many laugh-out-loud moments, the book really brought so much fun into our household and brought out so many loud laughs and then some more snorts also! Even the portrayed everyday humdrum was cute in a very special way in this book.
We will be looking forward to Part 2 and then however other parts there might be! This book is going to be such a hit out there, I believe.
The only slightly confusing part was the colors. Some parts of the book were in full color, yet some were black and white. Other than that, the book was awesome.

(Full disclosure: I received a free e-ARC for review through Netgalley.)

-- 3.5 stars --

Muco is a shiny-nosed Shiba Inu who lives in the mountains of Akita, Japan with her human, Mr. Komatsu. Muco spends her days chewing up towels, sneaking dips in the pond, inventing new games, taking walks with Mr. Komatsu, and accompanying him on trips to town (preferably to buy kibble). She admires Mr. Komatsu's hand-blown glass art, but insists that her nose is shinier.

Sometimes the pair gets visitors - usually in the form of the gruff but lovable Mr. Oshiko, a web designer who finally convinces Mr. Komatsu to create a website for his business, Glass Studio. The studio gets little traffic, and on the days when this gets Mr. Komatsu down, Muco tries her best to raise his spirits.

LOVELY MUCO! is an adorable manga for lovers of dogs and snappy tees both (see the afterward, people). Muco is an adorable protagonist, and it's rather fun to view the world through her eyes (or try to, anyway). She is silly and warmhearted and loyal - a very good girl, 13/10.

My only complaint is that Mr. Komatsu has a habit of grabbing Muco's snout in his fist when he's annoyed with her. Though I don't think it's meant to come off as especially aggressive - I've done the same when fooling around with some dogs, as a display of affection - I think Mr. Komatsu's perpetually sweaty face makes it seem an angrier gesture than intended. (From the glass blowing, duh!)

A cute dog and her owner. We are taken through various adventures the and day to day life of Muco the dog and her owner Mr Komatsu.

As far as Muco is concerned one day her owner will turn into a dog and romp about with her. As far as Mr Komatsu is concerned he is a home owner with a glass blowing job and a pet dog and so they both exist, happily living together but not really communicating except through love.

It is a nice cosy read and very amusing with great artwork. If you like dogs and manga then this book will be a keeper for you.

Copy provided by Kodansha Vertical Comics in exchange for an unbiased review.

cute fast read and I love books about cute animals! If you want a fast cute read about a cute adorable dog then this is a must read!

Super cute! I love any manga with animals and this was cute and fun. Love Muco! She's a funny pup. Gets into some mischief but also wants to protect Mr.Komatsu. definitely wasn't to read more.