BondZ Hot

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.