#IReadsYou Review: YARICHIN BITCH CLUB: Volume 1

YARICHIN BITCH CLUB, VOL. 1
SUBLIME MANGA/Gentosha Comics Inc. – @SuBLimeManga

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

MANGAKA: Ogeretsu Tanaka
TRANSLATION: Satsuki Yamashita
LETTERS: Mary Pass
EDITOR: Hope Donovan
ISBN: 978-1-9747-0832-1; paperback (November 2019); Rated “M” for “Mature”
266pp, B&W, $14.99 U.S., $19.99 CAN, £9.99 UK

Yarichin Bitch Club is a yaoi manga from popular mangaka, Ogeretsu Tanaka (Escape Journey).  Yaoi manga is a subset of boys' love (or BL) manga, which depicts amorous situations between male romantic leads.  Yaoi manga usually features explicit depictions of sex between those male leads.  Yarichin Bitch Club is set at an all-boys school where a new student accidentally finds himself a member of a lascivious boys' club.

As Yarichin Bitch Club, Vol. 1 (Chapters 1-6) opens, hapless Takashi Tono transfers to “Mori Mori Academy,” an all-boys boarding school located deep in the mountains.  The first student Tono meets is Kyosuke “Yacchan” Yaguchi, a soccer player, who recommends to Tono a club he might like to join.  It is the “Photography Club.”

What Tono learns too late is that the Photography Club is also known as the “Yarichin Bitch Club” (or simply “Bitch Club”).  The club's main extracurricular activity is providing sexual services to the rest of the student body and also to some of the faculty.  Each member has to provide “sexual relief” to the student body five times a month.  If a member fails that quota, his fellow club members will “gang-bang” him at the end of the month.

Tono isn't interested in having sex with any male students, but he does find himself attracted to fellow transfer student, Yu Kashima.  Or maybe, Tono likes Yacchan...

[This volume includes bonus content:  an illustrated “Afterword,” four-panel comics, bonus manga, and illustrated “Character Introductions.”]

The Yarichin Bitch Club yaoi manga has a title that immediately forces you to pay attention to it, dear readers.  The back cover copy will also pique your interest, or maybe even make you aroused...

Yarichin Bitch Club Graphic Novel Volume 1, unfortunately, does not quite live up to its title.  Creator Ogeretsu Tanaka draws sex scenes that are way too busy and are filled with what I see as excessive line work and too many sound effects.  This art is the kind of distorted composition that creates static in the graphical storytelling.  Letterer Mary Pass does not do anything to alleviate the static interference.  It is not that her work is of low quality; it is that she adds to the sound and fury that sometimes results in overwrought and muddled storytelling.

Satsuki Yamashita's English translation finds some nuance in the characters and in the character drama and development.  Yamashita focuses on the potential of the characters, and this manga does indeed have an interesting cast.  This series does have potential, and quite frankly, at this point, I am more interested in the characters than in the jumbled sex scenes.

6 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

For up-to-date news and release information, please visit the SuBLime website at SubBLimeManga.com, or follow SuBLime on Twitter at @SuBLimeManga, Facebook at facebook.com/SuBLimeManga, Tumblr at http://sublimemanga.tumblr.com/, and Instagram at @sublimemanga/.


The text is copyright © 2020 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Yaoi Review: FOURTH GENERATION HEAD: Tatsuyuki Oyamoto

FOURTH GENERATION HEAD: TATSUYUKI OYAMATO
SUBLIME MANGA (Shinshokan) – @SuBLimeManga

MANGAKA: Scarlet Beriko
TRANSLATION: Christine Dashiell
LETTERS: James Dashiell
EDITOR: Hope Donovan
ISBN: 978-1-9747-0710-2; paperback (August 2019); Rated “M” for “Mature”
232pp, B&W, $12.99 U.S., $17.99 CAN, £8.99 UK

Fourth Generation Head: Tatsuyuki Oyamato is a yaoi manga from creator Scarlet Beriko (Jackass!).  Yaoi manga is a subset of boys' love (or BL) manga, which depicts amorous situations between male romantic leads.  Yaoi manga usually features explicit depictions of sex between those male leads.  SuBLime Manga recently published Fourth Generation Head: Tatsuyuki Oyamato in English as a standalone graphic novel.

Fourth Generation Head: Tatsuyuki Oyamato (Chapters 1 to 8) introduces 24-year-old Tatsuyuki Oyamato.  He is the fourth generation heir of “the Oyamato Syndicate,” Japan's largest yakuza organization.  Tatsuyuki, however, is not interested in being a yakuza boss, but enjoys being a playboy.  After Tatsuyuki has an erotic encounter with a masseur, Oyamato Syndicate retainer, Asoda, decides to send the wayward heir on an “adventure” to the city of Fukuoka.

Not long after arriving, Tatsuyuki is practically kidnapped and raped by a man who claims to have a past with him.  But who is this Nozomi Koga?  If he did know Tatsuyuki in the past, was Nozomi different?  And just how connected to Tatsuyuki and Nozomi's pasts is the loan shark, Uichi Roga?

[Fourth Generation Head: Tatsuyuki Oyamato includes extra material, including an illustrated “Afterword;” the manga short story, “Personal Space,” and another manga, “Bonus.”]

One thing that I can say with utmost confidence is that the Fourth Generation Head: Tatsuyuki Oyamato manga is intense.  The second thing I can say confidently is that this manga depicts dirty, crazy lust.

Fourth Generation Head: Tatsuyuki Oyamato features sex – rough and passionate and consensual.  Sometimes, the story does present that kind of romance novel did-not-say-yes-but-did-not-say-no lovemaking.  I guess it's kind of rapey.  The truth is that Tatsuyuki and Koga have so much personal baggage from their respective childhoods that it would make sense that creator Scarlet Beriko would have her lead characters be a little troubled, both in personality and in attitude.  But they grope, thrust, hump, lick, and suck their way to happiness and happy-ever-after.

I have to be honest.  The yakuza angle and subplots don't really work.  It all seems forced and contrived, but translator Christine Dashiell makes the best of it in English.  Still, I cannot call this some kind of romance slash crime-drama.  It is a yaoi manga.

Beriko's compositions are loose and fluid, sometimes shifting and impressionistic.  Her art fits this story of mercurial personalities and conniving liars.  James Dashiell lettering perfectly conveys the secrets and lies and the cries and whispers... and the sounds of sex.  “Pant,” “thrust,” “slap,” and “Ha” make frequent appearances as sound effects.

Fans of truly explicit yaoi manga and of highly melodramatic boys' love with want to read Fourth Generation Head: Tatsuyuki Oyamato.

A
8 out of 10

https://www.sublimemanga.com/

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You'


The text is copyright © 2019 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.

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Review: FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST: The Complete Four-Panel Comics

FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST: THE COMPLETE FOUR-PANEL COMICS
VIZ MEDIA

MANGAKA: Hiromu Arakawa
TRANSLATION: Lillian Diaz-Przybyl
LETTERS: Jeannie Lee
EDITOR: Hope Donovan
ISBN: 978-1-9747-0617-4; paperback (March 2019) Rated “T” for “Teen”
136pp, B&W, $12.99 U.S., $17.99 CAN, £8.99 UK

Fullmetal Alchemist is a shonen manga written and drawn by Hiromu Arakawa.  The manga was serialized in Japan's Shonen Gangan magazine from 2001 to 2010 and was collected in 27 tankobon (trade paperback) volumes.  VIZ Media published an English language edition of the manga in North America as a series of graphic novels.

Fullmetal Alchemist's story focuses on brothers Edward & Alphonse Elric.  The duo engages in a forbidden alchemical ritual in an attempt to bring their late mother back to life.  However, the ritual goes wrong, causing Edward to lose a leg, while Alphonse loses his entire body.  Edward grafts his younger brother’s soul into a suit of armor, a process which also costs Edward his right arm.  Edward replaces his own missing flesh with “auto-mail” limbs, and he eventually becomes a state alchemist in service of the Amestris state military.  Edward searches for the legendary Philosopher’s Stone, the one thing that can restore the brothers’ bodies.

Like many manga, Fullmetal Alchemist included with the main narrative what are called four-panel comics.  Four-panel comics are generally gag comic strips that play with a series' characters, plots, stories, and settings in a humorous manner.  They are usually four panels in length and are printed vertically.

Fullmetal Alchemist: The Complete Four-Panel Comics is a new single-volume paperback book from VIZ Media.  It collects the four-panel comic strips from Hiromu Arakawa’s original Fullmetal Alchemist series.  In a addition to the four-panel strips from the Fullmetal Alchemist graphic novels, this book publishes the four-panel comics that were included in the DVD collections of the Fullmetal Alchemist anime (including the “Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood” series) and other Fullmetal Alchemist related products.  This book also includes some never-before-published bonus comics.

My VIZ Media representative sent me several volumes of the Fullmetal Alchemist manga during the series' original North American publication.  He also sent me Fullmetal Alchemist: The Complete Four-Panel Comics.

I won't kid you and say that all these Fullmetal Alchemist four-panel comics are great, but many are funny, in fact, surprisingly so.  Fullmetal Alchemist can be such an intense narrative, so it is nice to see so many of the characters, especially Ed and Al (Edward and Alphonse Elric) in a funny light.  Honestly, there were points during my reading of this book in which I thought that these four-panel comics were making a convincing argument that there are at least several chapters worth of humorous manga to be mined from the world of Fullmetal Alchemist.

Fans of Fullmetal Alchemist will want to experience the sunny side of Fullmetal Alchemist: The Complete Four-Panel Comics.

B+
7 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2019 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.

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Yaoi Manga Review: JACKASS! Volume 1

JACKASS!, VOL. 1
SUBLIME MANGA – @SuBLimeManga

MANGAKA: Scarlet Beriko
TRANSLATION: Christine Dashiell
LETTERS: James Dashiell
EDITOR: Hope Donovan
ISBN: 978-1-4215-9644-0; paperback (October 2017); Rated “M” for “Mature”
242pp, B&W, $12.99 U.S., $17.99 CAN, £8.99 UK

Jackass! is a yaoi manga from manga creator, Scarlett Beriko.  Yaoi manga is a subset of boys' love (or BL) manga, which depicts amorous situations between male romantic leads.  Yaoi manga usually features explicit depictions of sex between those male leads.  Jackass! is a romantic comedy about the love and lust that ensues when someone accidentally puts on a pair of pantyhose.

Jackass!, Vol. 1 (Chapters 1 to 6) introduces Keisuke, an ordinary high school student living with his older sister, Akiko.  Keisuke has a best friend named Shinoda Masayuki, who is handsome and carefree, and who is also from a wealthy family.  In fact, Masayuki is so stunningly handsome that he can (and often does) have any girl he wants.

The trouble starts one day when Keisuke accidentally wears a pair of Akiko’s pantyhose to gym class.  Suddenly the hot friend Masayuki is rubbing his hands on Keisuke’s pantyhose-clad legs!  Has Keisuke unwittingly unleashed a secret fetish that will change their relationship forever?  Masayuki certainly thinks so.

[This volume includes the bonus story, “The Shino-Hara Household” and an “Afterword” in manga form.]

Wow.  I have read quite a bit of yaoi manga, and I have come across numerous unusual scenarios.  Pantyhose as the impetus that turns friendship into romance:  no, that is new.

Jackass! Volume 1 is truly a romantic comedy, however.  Creator Scarlet Beriko seems determined to offer humorous sexual situations, and she does not rely only on sexual innuendo.  In addition to the Keisuke-Masayuki relationship, Jackass! presents other promising romantic relationships and entanglements, including one between a teacher and a student!

Don't think that Beriko denies her readers depictions of sex.  The main story ends with a bang:  condoms, mutual masturbation, fondling, and more.  On the back cover, one of the characters is wearing a t-shirt with a slogan – the kind of slogan that promises a yaoi manga of wild fun.

A
8 out of 10

For up-to-date news and release information, please visit the SuBLime website at SubBLimeManga.com, or follow SuBLime on Twitter at @SuBLimeManga, Facebook at facebook.com/SuBLimeManga, Tumblr at http://sublimemanga.tumblr.com/, and Instagram at @sublimemanga/.

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2017 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Review: BLANC ET NOIR: Takeshi Obata Illustrations

BLANC ET NOIR: TAKESHI OBATA ILLUSTRATIONS
VIZ MEDIA– @VIZMedia

ARTIST: Takeshi Obata
EDITOR (JAPAN): Masahiko Ibaraki
TRANSLATION: Tersuichiro Miyaki
DESIGNER: Yukiko Whitley
EDITOR: Hope Donovan
ISBN: 978-1-4215-8627-4; hardcover-slipcase, (May 2016)
132pp, Color, $99.99 U.S., $119.99 CAN, £65.99 UK

Takeshi Obata is a Japanese manga artist known for his work as the illustrator in collaboration with a writer.  He first gained attention and acclaim for drawing the manga, Hikaru no Go (1998–2003), which was written by Yumi Hotta.  Obata also drew the manga adaptation of Hiroshi Sakurazaka's science fiction novel, All You Need Is Kill, with Ryōsuke Takeuchi writing and providing storyboards.

Obata's best known collaborations are with writer, Tsugumi Ohba.  This duo produced two manga, Death Note (2003–2006) and Bakuman (2008–2012).  Death Note is hugely controversial and notorious.  Originally published in Japan's Weekly Shonen Jump, Death Note follows Light Yagami, a high school student who discovers a supernatural notebook belonging to Ryuk, a Shinigami (a death god).  The notebook grants its user the ability to kill anyone whose name and face Yagami knows.

VIZ Media, which has published English-language editions of several manga drawn by Obata, is releasing a limited edition art book focusing on his work.  Entitled Blanc Et Noir: Takeshi Obata Illustrations, it is part of the “Art of Shonen Jump” line and is limited to a print run of only 10,000 copies.  Blanc Et Noir is a hardcover book with dimensions of 10.25” width and 14.75 in length (like a folio edition).

This over-sized art book is encased in a silver-stamped slipcase and is stuffed with 132 pages of full-color art, all printed on deluxe paper stock.  The book contains several massive foldout posters and 12 pages of artist commentary, including a “how to draw” section.  Blanc Et Noir also includes three large, double-sided laminated posters.  One of the posters with Death Note as its subject acts as the slipcase's “cover” image, because it can be viewed through the cameo oval of the slipcase.

Blanc Et Noir focuses on Obata's work from 2001 to 2006.  That includes cover art for magazines and comics, chapter title illustrations, poster art, centerfold galleries, and other color illustrations.  Blanc Et Noir features definitive illustrations from the manga, Death Note and Hikaru No Go.  Surprises include video game design (for Yoshitsune-ki), original works created for this book (including Death Note and Hikaru No Go pieces), and rare novel illustrations (for Kowloon).

Writer Nobuaki Enoki, Takeshi Obata's collaborator on the manga, School Judgment, refers to Obata as the “God of Drawing” and “Walking Artistic Skill.”  Blanc Et Noir: Takeshi Obata Illustrations makes an overwhelmingly strong argument that Enoki is right.

Obata's black and white manga art, which I assume is done with the aid of assistants, is a symphony of precision graphical storytelling.  Blanc Et Noir shows the purity of Obata's art, showcasing his skill as a color artist, character designer, costume designer, and master illustrator.  Obata's elegant crisp style is set afire with a kaleidoscope of colors that he uses like fuel.

I cannot imagine that any fan of Obata will want to be without this book.  The price, $99.99, is prohibitive (Amazon.com offers it for a little under $68), and if you can afford it, this is the art book book/collector's set to get.  The book, with its use of several different kinds of high-end paper stock, laminated posters, and, of course, lovely contents, is worthy of fans who love manga and the art of their favorite mangaka.

Yeah, my VIZ Media rep provided me with a copy for review.  If he had not, I was not above turning a few tricks for the extra cash I needed to buy this.  Seriously, Blanc Et Noir: Takeshi Obata Illustrations is the real deal.

A+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2016 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Seraph of the End: Lucal Wesker

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Toriko Vs Heracles!!

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World Trigger: Engage Thy Neighbor

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Seraph of the End: A Test of Shinoa Hiragi's Squad

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Toriko: Onward to the Gourmet World!!

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World Trigger: Outsmart Thy Neighbor

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Seraph of the End: More Power From Your Cursed Gear

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World Trigger: Repel Thy Neighbor!

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Toriko: World's Greatest Gourmet Hunter!!

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Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign - Hiragi Family

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Toriko: The Tiger's Tears!!

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Kimi Ni Todoke: White Day

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Review: 07-GHOST Volume 17

07-GHOST, VOL. 17
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

MANGAKA: Yuki Amemiya and Yukino Ichihara
TRANSLATION: Satsuki Yamashita
LETTERING: Vanessa Satone
EDITOR: Hope Donovan
ISBN: 978-1-4215-7794-4; paperback (July 2015); Rated “T” for “Teen”
216pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK

07-Ghost, the debut manga from creators, Yuki Amemiya and Yukino Ichihara, has come to an end.  The series is set in the Barsburg Empire and focuses on a slave boy who will save the world from a rogue god.

Once upon a time, the Barsburg Empire destroyed the Raggs Kingdom.  Teito Klein is a slave and a cadet at the Barsburg Empire Military Academy.  He discovers that his father was the late Weldeschtein Krom Raggs, the murdered King of Raggs.  Teito escapes to the Barsburg Church of District 7, where three bishops and seven legendary ghosts attempt to guide his destiny.  Teito hopes to uncover the secrets of the world's murky past, as well as his own.

As 07-Ghost, Vol. 17 (Chapters 96 to 99) opens, Teito tries to find a way to free himself and Bishop Frau from the scythe of Verloren the death god.  Teito's final confrontation with the death god will pit him against the personification of Verloren, his nemesis and former tormentor at Barsburg Military Academy, Chief Ayanami.  To save the world, however, Teito may have to make the ultimate sacrifice.

[This final volume contains the bonus story, “Seven Ghosts.”]

I read the first volume of the 07-Ghost manga in November of 2012.  A little more than two-and-a-half years later, the series has come to an end.  Series creators, Yuki Amemiya and Yukino Ichihara, have rewarded those who followed the series from the beginning with answers and a resolution.

Please, allow me to be the fly in the ointment.  07-Ghost Volume 17 is quite satisfactory, but I am usually ambivalent about the final volume and final chapters of a manga.  I find that the ends often feel incomplete, and 07-Ghost ends, with the hint that there is more.  In fact, those are the last words of the final chapter.  So I accept this closure and wait to see what comes next... if something comes next.

B+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux (Support on Patreon)


The text is copyright © 2015 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

Toriko: Hidden Strength!!

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