Reviews written by TheAngelHecate

Basic plot summary:

It has been a couple years since Taki and Goh retired from their lives as "snatchers". Now a former client is forcing them back into the business.

Review (no major spoilers - not that there's really anything to spoil):

This review covers the first volume of the English-release of Yellow 2 by June. This volume—the first of a three part series—is only a chapter long. If you've read the first series then you already know the routine. Taki and Goh get handed their job. They look for clues. They find clues. They steal what they were hired to steal. That's the basics of it. This being only a chapter long there really isn't that much too it. We do get a few mentions of what some of the secondary characters are doing now. Besides that, there's very little else.

Honestly, this just feels like an epilogue chapter that could have been tacked on to the end of the original series. It should have been an epilogue chapter, in my opinion. However, it has been publish as its own separate series which changes how it is to be perceived. As a simple epilogue it's okay. As the start of a new series it falls flat. Maybe the other two releases will add something new to the tale, but for the most part this first volume seemed like every other "snatch story" we saw in the first series. Very disappointing.

Like I said, nothings changed. The basic plot is the same and so are the characters. There is about a five year difference between Yellow and Yellow 2. During that time Tateno's art style hasn't changed much (not that that's a bad thing). The drawings are still nice to look at. The volume does come with a pretty color insert...of the same picture found on the back of the volume... >_<

The original Yellow had its flaws, but I still enjoyed reading it. So far the sequel is a let down in the fact that it's suppose to be a sequel, yet doesn't bring anything new to the table. If you have read the original and really loved it, then you might like this one too. Beyond that I can't really recommend this to the casual reader. I hope the next volumes are more entertaining.

Basic plot summary:

The East Forest clan is starving because the Lakeside clan has claimed all the good hunting territory. What is Chief Yuni to do? Why not dress up his pretty son, Yuuen, in women’s clothes and see if he can't persuade one of the sexy Lakeside members to give him food? Sounds like a good idea to me!


Review (no spoilers):

First I just want to say that I like this story. It's fun and it's sweet. Wild Rock is only a single volume long (it would have been great if this had been a series) and is set during the prehistoric era, which I found pleasing simply because not a lot of yaoi manga utilize this particular setting (and I'm not sure why not; a bunch of toned men in loincloths? seems obvious to me). The main story is about the relationship between Yuuen, the heir to the East Forest clan, and Emba, the heir to the Lakeside clan. Yuuen is your stereotypical large-eyed, cute, girly-uke. He's a sweet kid, who drawls in your pity with his lack of self-confidence in his abilities as a hunter. Emba is your typical tall, dark, and handsome type of seme. He's nice, and is protective of Yuuen to the point where he is willing to let himself get hurt to save his beloved. I really enjoy a seme who isn't afraid to show his uke he loves him and that's just the kind Emba is. The growing relationship between them is charming and engaging. There are many elements in play against them and you find yourself hoping very hard they can end up together in the end.

There's a second story, only a chapter long, about the two warring clans' chiefs. There's Yuni (Yuuen's father) and Selem (Emba's father). The story takes place in the past when they were younger. Both fathers share similar features with their future sons: Yuni being the pretty uke and Selem being the sexy seme. This story is also nice and sheds a little more light on why the chiefs act the way they do in Yuuen’s and Emba's story. I wish I could tell you more about it but I wouldn't want to spoil anything.

The art is good. There's a lot of eye-candy. I greatly enjoyed ogling Takashima's seme characters (just take a glance at the cover and you'll understand what I'm taking about). There is sex. It's tastefully done, focusing more on the romantic side. In other words, this isn't pointless porn. These characters make love and it feels that way. It doesn't suffer from IPS (invisible penis syndrome), but I want to add that there are only a couple actual penis shots, anyway. It's graphic, but not too graphic. Like I said, it's tastefully done.

I recommend this to anyone looking for a love story, or to those wanting a taste of something a little different. I really wish more yaoi mangaka would use the prehistoric setting. There is just so much potential with all those men running around in loincloths...but no. For some odd reason every other manga has to take place in a high school. *tear* So sad.

Basic plot summary:

At the start of the story Randy "Ryo" Maclean joins the NYPD's 27th precinct, where he meets Dee Laytner, his new partner. Together they work to solve a variety of crimes, including murders, kidnappings, drug trafficking, and even bombings. Meanwhile, Dee has no problems letting Ryo know of his growing feelings for him, but can Ryo overcome his own uncertainties and return his partner's affections?


Review (no major spoilers):

Sanami Matoh knows how to tell a good police story, and even better, she knows how to handle romance. As far as yaoi mangas go Fake has one of the best written character driven plots. If you are looking for a yaoi where the main characters meet and five pages later are messing around in bedroom, then this is not the book for you. Fake focuses a lot on developing the characters and letting the plot unfold around them. The romance between Ryo and Dee happens gradually, in a more realistic way than love is normally depicted in yaoi. You really come to know the characters and care about them. Ryo is soft-spoken and polite. While Dee is more in your face and won't hesitate to say what's on his mind. None of the major characters in Fake follow your typical stereotypes because Matoh does her best to flesh them out and make them feel like real people.

Matoh's unique drawing style allows some pretty good facial expressions on her characters, especially with the eyes. Very few mangaka are able to have a character act and say one thing, but let the reader know that they are actually thinking something completely different just by the look in their eyes. Also Matoh-sama knows how to draw men. No little pretty-boys here. Dee and Ryo are guys who look like guys.

The sexual content in Fake is mostly mild until the last volume, but the constant sexual tension between Dee and Ryo throughout the series does more than make up for the lack of actual sex. Also there are many steamy make-out scenes involving the two. As for the sex scenes, there are no directly graphic depictions of genitalia and the scenes only last for a page or so. To a hardcore yaoi fan the sex may seem rather tame, but for someone just stepping into the wonderful world of yaoi Fake is a nice place to start.

Do understand, though, that Fake is not the kind of BL manga you read for the sex. There are plenty of other mangas out there that are nothing but one gratuitous sex scene after another. If that's what you want then you'll have to look elsewhere. However, if you are tired of the same shallow clichés and are searching for something with good plot, fleshed out characters, and a well developed loving relationship, then I highly recommend Fake. Seriously, I can't recommend this enough. This is one of the best character driven stories out there in the BL market. Do yourself a favor and give it a try.

Basic plot summary:

The story centers around partners Taki and Goh, and their growing attraction for each other. They are "snatchers" which means they get paid to steal drugs and other such illegal contraband from dealers and mobsters to handover to the police.

Review (no major spoilers):

Yellow is often compared to "Fake" by Sanami Matoh, but actually the two have little in common besides the obvious crime drama atmosphere and partners who fall for each other.

There is no clear "top" or "bottom" in Yellow. Both Taki and Goh are strong male characters who know how to take care of themselves. They are both young men who are drawn to look like young men. The art is pretty good. The thing that stood out for me was the clothing the characters wear. Makoto Tateno definitely has a good eye for fashion. However, she does like to used the same story elements over and over. Most of the chapters involve Goh hitting on Taki while the two work undercover or search for clues to where to find the drugs they've been hired to snatch. That's about it for the plot until later on when it shifts to focus more on Taki's past and we get a break from the "snatchers" routine.

Goh is openly gay, but Taki is a self-proclaimed heterosexual (guess he hasn't realized he's in a BL manga yet). If you prefer your yaoi couples to be with each other and ONLY each other then this might not be the story for you. A lot of their undercover work involves Goh sleeping around with different pretty-boy ukes and Taki with women. Keep in mind, though, that this is before the two actually get together as a couple. As far as yaoi content goes there is a lot of sex and hot guy-on-guy kissing, but nothing explicitly graphic. Don't get me wrong, it's still graphic, but you will not be seeing any erections or actual penetration. This doesn't distract from the scenes however, which are still very hot.

The interactions between Taki and Goh, whether they are fighting, kissing, or just chatting, are very entertaining. They have great chemistry together, and it's always nice to see a BL couple who you can tell are falling for each other.

I recommend this to any yaoi fan who's looking for a good read. The plot repeats itself sometimes and some of the scenarios the guys get themselves into require a stretch of imagination, but besides that it's fairly good.

Quick Note: This review is done with the English-language release by 108media and contains no spoilers.

Basic plot summary:
Bond(Z) contains four different stories. The first one (from which the manga gets its title) is about two friends named Tomo and Keita who got drunk and ended up spending a passion filled night together. In spite of the fact that both of them have girlfriends the two decide to continue with the relationship to see where it will lead them.

Review:
This is a very hot story. I wish I could describe a couple of the more "interesting" interactions Tomo and Keita share, but that would be spoiling it. All I can say is that one of them involves piercing and the other deals with Keita talking on the phone with his girlfriend while Tomo is sitting on his chest. This story is highly recommended for any yaoi fan. Another plus is that this story doesn't suffer from IPS or "invisible penis syndrome", and that both boys look like young guys, meaning neither has that stereotypical uke girly-look.


Basic plot summary:
The second story is called Situation. It centers around Yoh and his goofy but lovable friend, Akira. The main focus of the plot is how some bigoted words from Yoh's youth still haunts him and prevents him from seeing his true love for his friend.

Review:
The story is kind of sweet. Although Akira can get annoying sometimes, it's amusing to watch the two main characters interact with each other (and with Yoh's siblings). Again, like with Bond(z), both are drawn to look like young guys. However, unlike Bond(z), there is no sex in this story. The only sexual scene (besides some kissing) is a brief shower seen with Yoh. I don't really have much to say about it besides that it was an okay read. I did like the underlining theme of love overcoming the prejudice of others.


Basic plot summary:
The third story is Kitan (Fairy) Garden. It's about the gardener, Daichi, and the prince, Fiona who lives in the roses that Daichi tends. Having fallen in love with him, Fiona makes a wish to meet Daichi and is granted to spend the rest of the blooming season with his love.

Review:
This story does seem out of place when compared to the rest of the tales in this manga. Whereas the others seem to be grounded in reality this one is more along the lines of fantasy. Don't get me wrong, though. I really enjoyed this story. Fiona is very girly in appearance, but cute and sweet. Daichi is also nice and likeable. The story has a bittersweet romance feel to it. It's nice to see Daichi and Fiona together, but you know that it can't last forever. Once the blooming season is over Fiona must return to his world within the roses. In spite of this, the story doesn't end on a sad note. In fact it might even leave you with a hint of a smile on your face. This is more shonen-ai, than yaoi. There is a sex scene but it is more about artistically implying things. Kitan Garden is for those who are looking for something with that "warm and fuzzy" feel to it.


Basic plot summary:
The fourth and final story is called Sakura. It is about the businessman, Yuuichi Ayatsuji, who is forced into taking the chairman's grandson, Ren, into his home to have him "experience poor life."

Review:
"...Can I pass for the comment on this...?"
That's taken directly from the mangaka's own author's notes and I wish I could agree. Sakura isn't a bad story, it's just not anything special. "Blah" would be a good word for it. I didn't like it, but I didn't dislike it (if that makes sense). Ren, being sheltered and cared for his whole life, means that he doesn't even know the everyday basics, like boiling water for food or tea. Some of these scenarios are amusing. Mostly though, I think this is one of those stories where you'll read it, then about an hour or two later forget most of it. This just wasn't a good story to end the manga with.


Overall Review:

This is a 108 release so you know that with this publisher you are getting a quality manga. There are no typos or misspellings. They even left in the "chan" and "kun" suffixes when the characters use them. There is also a page in the back with some minor translation and editor's notes. As for Toko Kawai's art, it falls on the side of average. It's not bad, but there's nothing that makes it pop out at you. However, the drawings in Kitan Garden do seem to be done a little better than the rest. I personally liked the designs for Victor and the Black Pearl. As a whole I do recommend this manga. Even if you are just looking for some hot yaoi I still recommend at least reading the first story (I never knew that getting a piercing could be so erotic). If you are looking for something lovey-dovey and more shonen-ai, then read the rest. Overall, the manga is a good read, but the last story does drag it down a little.

Basic plot summary:

Four boys. Four penises. One bad bus accident and suddenly everyone's penis is possessed by another penis or soul. And apparently now they (the penises) can talk!

Review (no major spoilers):

I can tell you right now that I'm going to have fun writing this one.

Okay, if you couldn't tell by the brief summary above then you should know that this story is pure crack. There is nothing serious about it. It's just one long, hilarious ride. The main characters are okay. They all follow your basic manga stereotypes but you get so drawn into the story (it's very hard not to when you have boys constantly addressing their penises) to care. I especially liked the growing relationship between the bookworm, Iwabuchi and party boy, Kamiya, who have ended up switching penises with each other. There's also Ayase, your typical pretty uke, who's penis is possessed with the soul of the unconscious Toride. It is kind of hard to feel the connection between the two since Toride is in a coma most of the time, leaving Ayase with no one to bond with except his possessed appendage.

The art is very good. The way the mangaka draws the penises makes them look--dare I say--adorable. I wish I could say more, but besides the main joke there really isn't much depth to the story or the characters. However, reading through the story I never once found myself bored. You would think that after a while the boys talking to their penises humor would get old, but it doesn't.

This manga is nothing but a good laugh, so don't expect more from it. I highly recommend this to anyone seeking some craziness to brightened their day.

Basic plot summary:

Secret Connection (a.k.a., Noodle Shop Affair) is about Ukyo Tatsumori, heir to the Tatsumori family (a yakuza group) who falls in love with Kakeru, the son of a ramen shop owner. However, the ramen shop has come under some hard times and is frequently harassed by a rival yakuza gang. This has caused the young Kakeru to hate all yakuza. What's the poor Ukyo Tatsumori to do? Well nothing wins the heart of the one you love like dirtying yourself up and pretending to be a homeless beggar! The naive Kakeru, not recognizing "Ukyo" for the yakuza he really is, lets him take a job at the shop.

Review (no spoilers):

This review covers volume one of the English-language release by Deux (titled "Noodle Shop Affair"). Although the story does contain some dark elements (kidnapping, bloodshed, etc...) the overall atmosphere is very lighthearted and mostly comedic. The majority of the plot can be summed up in two scenarios: 1) "Ukyo" working beside Kakeru and dealing with his suppressed desire, and 2) Ukyo Tatsumori showing up at convenient times to save Kakeru's cute little butt from harassing yakuza.

Noodle Shop Affair doesn't add anything new to the yakuza genre, but does have some amusing moments. The characters are likeable. Kakeru is your typical slender, pretty uke who's a little (okay, a lot) on the naive side. However, there is a mix of sweetness and bite to his personality which keeps his character from getting annoying (which can sometime happen with these types of ukes). Kakeru doesn’t want to play the part of the maiden in need of rescue. If he had it his way he’d save his father’s shop all by himself. Ukyo in his beggar persona is rather goofy and a bit shy. As his normal yakuza self he's a smooth, tough guy, following more along the lines of the stereotypical mobster/seme.

In the end you find the characters growing on you and hope for the best for them. The art is good. Not the best, but still good. As for sex scenes, there are none in the first volume so I have no clue how graphic this story will be later on. There is some minor nudity, a flash of butt here and there. Nothing extreme.

Overall, the manga doesn't take itself too serious. If you are looking for a story that's more on the side of cute and funny with the occasional fight scene, then I recommend this. Just keep in mind that some of the scenes do require a small stretch of belief. Even in the author's note CJ Michalski mentions her "liberal" take on the yakuza. So look for this title if you are in the mood for something with a mafia theme that's not too heavy, and will leave a smile on your face.