Summary
This review contains SPOILERS for I Wanna Do Bad Things With You volume #1
Shōnen and shojo romance manga readers have been fortunate with recent hits likeKomi Can’t Communicatecommunicating positive messages to its readers, butWeekly Shōnen Sundayis having another delightful series localized. Courtesy ofVIZ Media,Kimi to Warui Koto ga Shitai,known locally asI Wanna Do Bad Things With You,is far more wholesome and sweet than the title suggests.
Much likeKomi Can’t Communicate,I Wanna Do Bad Things With Youdeals with a high school premise where male and female lead characters overcome their social standing and bond despite a cruel social structure, high school life.I Wanna Do Bad Things With Youis no copy ofKomi Can’t Communicate,as it had a concise run between 2022 and 2024, withvolume #1 first coming to North America on July 16, 2025.
The story follows Mamori Wataya, a tall, beautiful girl who is ostracized for her unusual height and resigns herself to looking and acting plain and withdrawn, and the formerly sickly Soshi Fuji, brother of the high school’s lauded “prince,” Koichi Fuji. While it’s predictable that these two bond inI Wanna Do Bad Things With You,their romance is based on teenage rebellion.
Spy x Family’s Yor & Komi Can’t Communicate Fuse in Adorable Fanart
In an adorable piece of fanart from Princess Hinghoi Lite, Yor from Spy x Family and Komi from Komi Can’t Communicate get an amazing fusion form!
Social Anxiety Is More Than Communication
Part of the appealing hook ofI Wanna Do Bad Things With Youis howMamori idealizes villains of her favorite tokusatsu series, namely her favorite fictional character, King of Darkness III,for never compromising their convictions. She finds herself under the thumb of more popular girls and resents things like being given demeaning tasks, including cleaning the school’s swimming pool. So when Soshi turns out to drain the pool out of an act of rebellion, Mamori is charmed by his impulsiveness and even more so by his steadfast commitment to move at the beat of his proverbial drum.
Mamori is constrained by social perception due to her height difference, which affects everything from dating prospects to friends at school. Soshi had a difficult upbringing, held back for years as the opposite of the school’s prince, his younger brother, favored as the heir to their rich father, and instead is resented as a black sheep and prankster. Yet, when Mamori witnesses Soshi’s rebellion inI Wanna Do Bad Things With You,she sees Soshi as her idealized “villain” archetype and quickly falls for him. Soshi takes strongly to her as well, as the two act out as perceived outcasts.
WhileKomi Can’t Communicatedeals with immense social anxiety and its titular character’s communication disorder, Mamori and Soshi communicate well inI Wanna Do Bad Things With You. How they handle how they believe others perceive them is an act of rebellion,with their destructive habits soon directed at hampering Soshi’s brother’s attempts at social advancement, such as becoming class president.Komi Can’t Communicate’sadorable momentsshow Hitohito Tadano helping Shōko Komi make 100 friends, butI Wanna Do Bad Things With Youpits Mamori and Soshi against the world as they fall for one another.
A Misfit Romance Sure to Melt Manga Reader Hearts
Soshi and Mamori Awaken the Best in Each Other
Mamori also discovers Soshi is just as desperate to enjoy life, evidenced by their “practice date” in chapter #6, where he immaculately plans an outing with her.
The best romance animeand manga have lately been good at understanding what makes an appealing pair of romantic leads, such as with gamer hooks inMy Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999or cosplay inMy Dress-Up Darling.I Wanna Do Bad Things with Youembraces similar initially opposite characters: a tall, beautiful, repressed young woman and a short, talented, scheming young man. As Mamori learns more about Soshi’s upbringing and stays in his orbit,she continues to harbor her crush on him as the pair make up for lost time and enjoy life in their way.
Soshi’s revenge schemes include hatching a plan for Mamori to make Koichi fall for her in chapter #3 or sabotaging Koichi’s school council speech in chapter #2.Mamori thrives on rebellion and sees everything she loves about a villain in this behaviorwhile finding a sense of agency for herself in the process. In doing so, Mamori also discovers Soshi is just as desperate to enjoy life, evidenced by their “practice date” in chapter #6, where he immaculately plans an outing with her.
Acting Out Is a Major Part of Growing Up
Soshi is the typical dense male lead, surprisingly perfect for Mamori yet seemingly unaware of his effect on her.
I Wanna Do Bad Things With Youis hardly free ofromance manga tropes;Soshi is the typical dense male lead, surprisingly perfect for Mamoriyet seemingly unaware of his effect on her. This includes his insistence on close contact with her, holding hands while on a pretend date, picking and purchasing outfits for their outing, and even painstakingly crafting a perfect bento box for her. Meanwhile, Mamori is subject to the typical shōnen trope of a buxom female lead, unaware or perhaps off-put by how her figure is perceived by men, which is sometimes used for fanservice.
Yet, the romance is intricately linked with Soshi and Mamori’s acts of teenage rebellion, contributing to their coming of age inI Wanna Do Bad Things With You.Soshi demonstrates a wide array of talents and makes up for previous lost years spent languishing in the hospital. At the same time,Mamori finds someone who indulges her escapism and discovers feelings that were previously not present.Mamori and Soshi discover and quickly realize they need each other inI Wanna Do Bad Things With You.
Yutaka Crafts A Solid Romance Manga for Teens
Readers Can Benefit From Characters With Bold Affirmations
Much of the messaging inI Wanna Do Bad Things With Youis not in teenage anarchy or rebellion but not allowing oneself to become complicit in a society that disregards its people. Beyond volume #1, this becomes quickly the case as Koichi invites Mamori to a surprise event as she spends time apart from Soshi; or so she believes. But as early as chapter #1,I Wanna Do Bad Things With Youhas some strong moments,including one especially good quote from Soshi where he coaches Mamori to handle school bullying:
Are you telling me you’re okay with everybody pushing you around all the time? If you don’t like it…if it pisses you off…if it frustrates you…Get mad.
-Soshi Fuji
It’s simple yet effective and a piece of advice that rings true with Mamori, allowing her to develop her courage to rise to the occasion, especially when defending herself or her loved ones. Much of the messaging ofI Wanna Do Bad Things With Youis about the two characters seizing back their agency, while discovering how strong they already are. This culminates in the most memorable panel in the volume in chapter #2, with Mamori carrying Soshi, surprised at her strength, while enticing her to spend more time with him inI Wanna Do Bad Things With You.
Review copy ofI Wanna Do Bad Things With You volume #1provided by VIZ Media.
