It’s Christmas in camp!
Creative Staff:
Story/Art: Afro
Translation: Amber Tamosaitis
Lettering: D. Kim
What They Say:
The Outdoor Exploration Club is going camping on Christmas, and the more the merrier! Naturally, Nadeshiko, Aoi, and Aki will be there…but joining them are Rin, her greenhorn friend Saitou, and even a new club adviser! As the girls enjoy the winter season, one question remains: What’s the perfect meal to complement their relaxing Christmas adventure?
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers)
This volume’s entire contents comprise of the planning and execution of a Christmas camping trip for the Outdoor Exploration Club, including a new club advisor in Toba-sensei, the drunk they found on one of their previous expeditions.
The entire outing really encapsulated what is so enjoyable about Laid Back Camp on whole. There’s a lot of cute character moments going on, like Rin willing to pick up the firewood, but not quite willing to overburden her bike to carry all of it, or her willing to go to the convenience store to get some more gas for their grill. Or Nadeshiko being convinced to play with the dog because she’s kind of doing to be in the way otherwise.
But at its heart, this manga is just about camping and enjoying the experience of camping. Whether that be by hanging out by the fire, setting up the tent, or…getting very drunk drinking beer or hot chocolate with rum or sake or wine or more beer. All of these avenues through which to enjoy camping are equally valid.
I don’t know how I’m continually amazed by it, but Laid Back Camp really makes me want to go camping, and I am not a huge fan of the outdoors. I very much like bonfires and tending to them in a general or habitual sense, but not really anything beyond that. I think the real appeal is to just hang out with your friends, having a few drinks like Toba-sensei (but fewer than her…), and enjoying the views that only the outdoors can provide. Laid Back Camp does an exceptional job at capturing that.
In Summary:
This volume was, well, laid back, but that’s what the best part about Laid Back Camp on whole is. You can just sit back with a volume and let the entire experience wash over you. There are few, if any stakes, but the moments of conflict are cute and funny, and most importantly relatable. We all have had moments where we forget or run out of something vital for a trip to go off without a hitch, and that’s only one example of what Laid Back Camp does great: captures the mundane and makes it entertaining.
Content Grade: A-
Art Grade: A
Packaging Grade: A-
Text/Translation Grade: A
Age Rating: 13+
Released By: Yen Press
Release Date: November 13, 2018
MSRP: $13.00
