The latest work from veteran manga artist Chikae Ide follows her common theme of romance and relationships, but “Poison Love” is quite different than her previous pieces.
First of all, it is based on a true story about a lovestruck woman in an international romance who gets swindled out of 75 million yen ($523,200).
And secondly, the protagonists are Ide herself and a man she believed was Mark Ruffalo, the Hollywood actor who plays the Bruce Banner-Hulk character in the “Avengers” films.
Ide, 74, is known as “the queen of ladies’ comics” for her dozens of works targeting women.
She says she hopes her latest work, a confession of sorts, will help others avoid being scammed in online international romances.
FLATTERY ON FACEBOOK
It was February 2018 when Ide found a message written in English on her Facebook account sent by someone claiming to be Ruffalo.
Ide only half-believed that the award-winning actor would be contacting her, but she responded.
Using a translation function on her personal computer, she introduced herself in English as a 70-year-old comic artist and attached a picture of herself.
“You look pretty cool with your job,” the poster replied.
Ide was flattered by the enthusiastic praise.
When she was in her 30s, Ide married a violent man who led a life of debauchery.
She was the breadwinner in the family, and she also raised their three children practically by herself before she divorced him.
Ide…
