Published by Viz Media and available April 15, Tokyo Alien Bros., Vol. 2 is the middle part of a three-volume series now being published in English. I previously reviewed the first volume and found it an intriguing start. The series is mostly slice-of-life, like the author's current series Hirayasumi, with a few moments of sci-fi. The titular alien brothers are scouting out Earth for an invasion, and their base of operations is Japan. Volume 2 sees the less-assimilated brother, Natsu, blending in a little better by getting a job and (almost) getting a girlfriend; and both brothers trying to come to grips with the human emotion of love -- something they're not even sure they can feel. I think this series is progressing nicely and I look forward to the final volume.

In Volume 1, TOKYO ALIEN BROS. introduced quirky brothers Fuyunosuke and Natsutaro. While the former is living the good life, the latter can't seem to blend in. On the one hand, this is understandable because they're literal aliens; on the other, that's a problem (for the brothers at least). As Volume 1 came to a close, Fuyunosuke discovered that Natsutaro was secretly the "barometer" for his species's mission: if the most incompetent among them could blend in among humans, then the invasion of Earth could commence.

With the initial hook of alien weirdness having done its job, the series moves on to deeper introspection. Natsutaro's goalpost is set, though he doesn't know it: he must get a job and find a mate. He's accomplished the former, though his position at a penny candy counter leads to curiosity from the local kids (one of whom, quite rightly, believes he's an alien). The second will prove more difficult. But when Natsutaro does find a girl he likes, and who seems to like him back, Fuyunosuke finds himself experiencing a strange new emotion: envy.

Keigo Shinzo's art and writing continue strong in this first volume—if anything, the latter gets even stronger. TOKYO ALIEN BROS. never lets itself become a one-trick pony, introducing real emotion and real stakes in this second volume. The quirkiness that could have been dismissed as human strangeness gives way to very real reveals. More than once, the brothers' cover is blown. And, thanks to their newly emerging human emotions, even a simple cover-up will leave them feeling conflicted and wounded. The manga's meditations on what it means to be human continue to grow deeper. What is "love" in its many forms. Should we change ourselves to find a partner? What happens when love ends? It's a magnificent second outing for the brothers, and for Shinzo, with the tension of the mission still hanging in the air as the volume closes.

This is such a funny and interesting look at humanity through non human characters. These characters are growing up and it's an interesting view of how they react to things that we kind of take for granted. I'd recommend this as it's an interesting concept!

This series is so funny and I can't wait for more! In this volume we revisit our silly alien brothers and follow them on their quest for jobs and romance. Of course, hilarity ensues. I highly recommend this to anyone who likes funny manga!