In the Walnut Love Awaits

I read In The Walnut (Yaoi)

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin (which now has an iPhone app).

Physical Attraction = Booty Call

I read Physical Attraction (Yaoi)

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin.

Reversible Offers Doujinshi Delights

I read Reversible Volume 1 (Yaoi)

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin.  This is a yaoi anthology collected doujinshi (self-published) manga.

9th Sleep for Nine Lives

I read 9th Sleep (Yaoi)

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin.

Vampire's Portrait Reveals True Faces

I read Vampire's Portrait Volume 2 (Yaoi)

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin.  This is the concluding volume.  Also, I see a touch of Tomb of Dracula here.

An "Our Kingdom" Extra

I read Our Kingdom - Arabian Nights (Yaoi)

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin.  Pretty art, but the story is soft.

June Manga Present Green Light

Press release from Digital Manga Publishing:

Green Light (Yaoi Novel)

Series Title: Green Light
ISBN: 156970158X
ISBN13: 9781569701584
Publisher: Digital Manga Publishing
Imprint Name: June
Price USD: $10.95
Writer: Yura Tamaki
Artist: Taishi Zaou
Release Date: January 27, 2010
Size: 4.25” x 6.75”
Format: Trade Paperback
Page Count: 200
Series Volumes: Oneshot
Recommended Age: Young Adult 16+
Genre: Yaoi, Romance, School life

Summary
Academy freshman Shotaro Izumi has a problem. That problem is his childhood best friend, Makoto Natsuki. Natsuki lives the life of a prince. Ever since elementary school, his perfect looks and sweet disposition have won the hearts of everyone around him and attracted a gaggle of fans. But Natsuki's burst into fame has plunged Izumi into hell. Five years ago Izumi's offhanded criticism of his friend earned him the hatred of all the girls (and boys) in school, and it's only gotten worse since. His friendship with Natsuki was destroyed over the incident, and the ostracism has seriously warped his personality. The more Natsuki becomes a star, the more Izumi becomes a bitter social outcast. So when Natsuki asks Izumi one day what he can do to make up for everything, Izumi flippantly says "Go out with me" just to get a rise out of him. But to his shock, Natsuki takes him up on the offer—and seems to take it very seriously...

Other works by creators:
Color (DMP: 9781569701126)
Living for Tomorrow (DMP: 9781569700846) [END]

June Manga Teaches "How to Seduce a Vampire"

Press release from Digital Manga Publishing:

How to Seduce a Vampire (Yaoi)

ISBN: 1569701377
ISBN13: 9781569701379
Publisher: Digital Manga Publishing
Imprint Name: Juné
Price USD: $12.95
Writer: Nimosaku Shimada
Artist: Nimosaku Shimada
Release Date: January 27, 2010
Page Count : 200
Recommended Age: Young Adult 16+
Genre: Yaoi, Fantasy, Romance, Supernatural

Summary:
Watanabe gathered up Mizuo's battered and bloodstained body, was forced to cooperate with the ensuing blood transfusion, and for his trouble was late for his part-time job, resulting in his termination. The mysterious Mizuo tells the now-unemployed Watanabe that he is a vampire, and offers Watanabe a position at his salon. Despite his feeling that Mizuo is a potentially dangerous partner, for some reason Watanabe cannot bear to be away from him... [END]

DMP to Publishing "How to Capture a Martini"

From Digital Manga Publishing:

How to Capture a Martini (Yaoi)
ISBN: 1569700826
ISBN13: 978-1-56970-082-2
Publisher: Digital Manga Publishing
Imprint Name: June
Price USD: $12.95
Writer: Makoto Tateno
Artist: Makoto Tatano
Release Date: December 16, 2009
Size: 5 x 7.25”
Format: Softcover
Page Count: 200pp
Series Volumes: Oneshot
Recommended Age: Mature 18+
Genre: Yaoi, Romance

Summary: He was my lover in High school, my upperclassman, beautiful, malicious Shinobu. He was also the one who took away everything, whether it was my first kiss, or my first time. Then, after the graduation ceremony, he completely disappeared. Four years have passed since then, and right when I thought I’d already forgotten all memories about him, he suddenly appeared in front of my eyes, more beautiful and charming than ever… Now, even though he’s willing to open his body for everyone, the only thing he gives me is his cruel words. But no matter what, I still want to be by his side… So I started working a part-time job at the bar where he’s working… Makoto Tateno’s super dry superior beauty capture method.

Other works by creator:
Red Angel (DMP: 9781569707241)
Angelic Runes (DMP: 9781569701225)
Happy Boys (DMP: 9781569700884)

I Reads You Review: LOVE SHARE (YAOI)

Creator: Aoi Kujyou

Publishing Information: June Manga, paperback, 198 pages, $12.95 (US)

Ordering Numbers: ISBN: 978-1-56970-759-3 (ISBN-13); 1-56970-759-6 (ISBN-10)

Boys’ love (or “BL”) is a genre of manga for women, although some stories are appropriate for teen readers. BL depicts love between two male characters. Boys’ love has two subsets: shounen-ai stories depict romantic love; yaoi also portrays romantic love between males, but is generally graphic in its depiction of sexuality.

Love Share is a yaoi manga from creator Aoi Kujyou. This story of ex-lovers does feature depictions of both romance and sexuality, but I’d call those depictions more rowdy than graphic. The two leads seem caught in a storm of passions, and like a passing storm, Love Share ebbs and flows in its powers to be engaging and gripping.

Love Share is the story of Matsuyama Kazushi and his on-again, off-again love Izumi Ogiwara. Kazushi has always been level-headed and hard-working. Izumi came into Kazushi’s life when he was still in high school, and while Kazushi may never have wanted his life to be taken over by the carefree rogue, he couldn’t resist Izumi. However, Izumi likes to run away when things get serious.

As the first chapter begins, one of Izumi’s lovers has confronted him, which Kazushi, now Izumi’s ex, witnesses. Suddenly, Izumi seizes the opportunity to be back in Kazushi’s life, and Kazushi reluctantly, at first, allows the fires of their passion to burn again. After a strange phone call, Izumi disappears again, but this time there seems to be more to it than just Izumi’s need to leave before a relationship turns serious. Kazushi is determined to solve the mystery, because if he doesn’t, he believes that whatever is troubling Izumi might make him leave for good.

It’s nice that Aoi Kujyou is willing to take a basic plot – a young man restarts a relationship with his ex-lover – and turn it into something more – the reason for the lover’s failure to commit are not shallow. The problem is that Kujyou isn’t willing to engage the potential in her story. She might establish motivation, but she executes the story in a way that conveys impressions rather than character and drama.

It’s even in the graphix (sequential art as storytelling). Kujyou draws vistas in which figures morph into cityscapes into sketchy close-ups of the characters. There are pages in which the individual panels look like stills from a flashy music video, depicting a torrid love scene. Love Share features elegant graphic design and the compositions emphasize style over drama. Love Story is as pretty as it could be, but it is not all it can be.

B- is the grade for Love Share (Yaoi)

Unsophisticated and Rude in the House

I recently read and enjoyed the manga, Unsophisticated And Rude (Yaoi).

These stories are neither sophisticated nor groundbreaking, but creator Momoko Tenzen is so good at executing the familiar in a way that grabs a reader's imagination. The 10 lovelorn boys in these stories are unsophisticated and rude, as they stumble around trying to initiate their first true deeply involved relationships with their male friends. It's a minefield, and it's a good read.

Review: A STRANGE AND MYSTIFYING STORY Volume 1

A STRANGE AND MYSTIFYING STORY, VOL. 1
JUNE MANGA/DMP BOOKS

[NOTE:  A Strange and Mystifying Story is now published by VIZ Media boys' love imprint, SuBLime Manga.]

CARTOONIST: Tsuta Suzuki
TRANSLATION: Sachiko Sato
ISBN: 978-1-56970-717-3; paperback w/dust jacket; Rated “M” for “Mature Audiences 18+”
216pp., B&W, $12.95 US

In the two-part tale, “A Strange and Mystifying Story,” Akio Yamane has fallen ill to the same mysterious disease that has killed his family bloodline.  He’s determined not to fall victim to this tragic family curse, but then he suddenly turns ill and is coughing blood.  He makes a desperate wish and inadvertently summons the spirit of a strange man-beast.  With the tail and ears of a wolf, Setsu has protected Akio’s family in the past.  Now, Akio learns that with a kiss, Setsu can draw the disease from his body.  He’s repulsed by Setsu’s probing tongue and fiery touches… or is he?

In other stories:  a young teacher finds himself drawn to a sullen pupil who cleans the school map room in “Nylon Vinyl.”  A master tool smith arrives home to find that a stray has wandered into his shabby one-room dwelling.  When he learns that the kid has a way with sharpening and polishing tools, he takes a liking to him in “Is There No God or Buddha?”

THE LOWDOWN:  In his yaoi manga (a genre that features love between two male characters, often explicitly), A Strange and Mystifying Story, Vol. 1, manga-ka Tsuta Suzuki masters the slow burn.  He makes unrequited love and the anticipation of consummation entrancing.  Suzuki casts a spell with these love stories, but the fantasy infused title story would challenge Danielle Steel on the prose fiction bestseller list.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Yaoi fans who like stories featuring love between humans and fantastic creatures will clutch this to their bosoms.

A-
7.5 out of 10

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


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