Mechanical Marie Volume 1
Writer and Artist: Aki Akimoto
Publisher: Yen Press (print & digital)
Translation: Eleanor Summers
Lettering: Aila Nagamine
Publication Date: Aug 26, 2024
Rating: Teen
Genre: Manga (JPN), Slice-of-Life, Action and Adventure, Comedy, Romance
Mechanical Marie by Aki Akimoto is the creator’s first manga to be published in English. It was also recently announced that the anime adaptation will debut on Crunchyroll in Fall 2025! So, no better time to get acquainted with the source material. We all need to read more shojo manga, anyway!
©Yen Press, 2025Arthur Louis Zetes hates people. I know some of us can relate. He has every reason to be wary of them, though. Being the heir to the Zetes conglomerate and to riches that would shock you to your core, others have always approached him with ulterior motives. He’s relieved when an automaton maid named Marie is assigned as help.
Unflinching at explosions and with fighting abilities that’d leave an army quivering, Marie proves to be the thing Arthur needs the most. The catch? Marie is actually a human! She’s just inexpressive and considered a martial arts prodigy, but coming from an underprivileged background, she’s prepared to do anything for money. That includes becoming a live-in maid-slash-bodyguard and doing her best to take this secret to her grave.
©Yen Press, 2025This volume is so over the top, but in a… comforting way? Wait, don’t close the tab. Let me explain.
Arthur’s unwanted “fans” are ready to jump at his throat at any given time. Whether he’s on his way to a seminar, hosting a party, or simply sleeping in bed. There’s not a moment when he isn’t in danger and it has become his “normal”, something he accepted as a consequence of his status. This volume introduces a lot of life-threatening incidents one after another, which help develop the relationship between Marie and Arthur. She slowly becomes not only the vanguard of his protection squad, but also a safe haven where he can finally let his guard down at the end of a day with a packed schedule down to its minutes.
This, of course, means more work for Marie. She’s desperate to keep this job for monetary reasons, and then, Arthur’s immense disgust towards people who lie makes it impossible to come clean. She can only eat when Arthur’s out, and she has to keep down any reaction that might give away her humanness. These situations, together with how gullible Arthur is at times, are the source of the humor that kept me turning the pages!
©Yen Press, 2025
©Yen Press, 2025Mechanical Marie is comforting at the same time because it’s familiar. Leads with a secret/unexpected side to them are one of the most basic tropes out there, with so many variations. The conflict or danger in Mechanical Marie doesn’t drag on for long and is resolved quickly; thus, the stakes are never too high, save for Marie’s secret.
However, Arthur and Marie’s chemistry is off the charts even in these early chapters and they’re so funny together that these adorable characters alone carry the volume. Knowing that the main story is completed in 6 volumes tells me that the gag won’t be stretched too thin. A spin-off to the main story is being released now, from what I understand.
The character designs and paneling do a good job of relaying the comedic tone and underlining the emotional, tender moments when necessary. There are barely backgrounds in the panels, and either close-ups of characters’ reactions or the panel is filled with the action that’s taking place. This isn’t a huge miss considering what the series wants to focus on. The anime adaptation might fill in those blanks.
©Yen Press, 2025I can safely say that Mechanical Marie is an entertaining and sweet take on a path walked before. But it’s paved like you’re at a street festival, full of eye-catching stalls and amusing games, so despite having experienced it numerous times, you’re still in for fun. And you definitely won’t be bored spending time with these two! I, for one, am looking forward to the next volume that’ll be available in February next year. It’s too far into the future, though! I need time to pass a bit more quickly!!
I recommend Mechanical Marie to everyone who is looking for a relatively short series to invest in or is in need of a recommendation to start their shojo manga journey. It’s a balanced mix of action, fun and romance, offering something to look forward to for all readers!
An early copy of Mechanical Marie was provided by Yen Press in exchange for an honest review.
Mechanical Marie by Aki Akimoto will be available digitally and in print on Yen Press’ website and other retailers starting from August 26, 2025.
English (US) · 