VOTE: Manga Review of The Month (MROTM) - October 2014

[aarinfantasy]

Please vote for your fav manga of the month. You get 2000 points for voting.

All submissions will be archived at: Manga Reviews (from monthly contest)
so that everyone can read all reviews.

Review #1:

Manga title: A Ruler Wearing a White Coat (Hakui no Shihaisha)
Manga artist: Kabutomaru Chouko
Manga cover picture: http://joyofyaoi.files.wordpress.com...shihaisha3.jpg



Review:

A Unique BDSM Romance

Mood: Spicy. Today I’m craving a BDSM story filled with hot, very explicit sex and all the kinks. But I’m torn, because I’m not up to slogging through the angst or darkness that tends to crop up in BDSM yaoi. Today I’m really looking for a consensual romance. What’s a girl to do?

Story: “My true self is deeply hidden away from others.” Thus begins the story of timid Moriyasu, a medical supply salesman, and Nobuaki-sensei, a highly respected surgeon who sees through his secret.

Mangaka: Kabutomaru Chouko has written a number of BDSM stories, but this volume strikes me as the least cliche, with the most substantial relationship development. Kabutomaru-sensei’s art is only moderately attractive overall, only occasionally pretty, but she is skilled at drawing expressive faces and emotion-filled eyes. She doesn’t hold back on showing us all the details in her sex scenes, and for some reason the graphic images in this manga haven’t suffered the cruel erasures of censorship.

My experience: I enjoy that this story’s dom-and-his-sub dynamic isn’t weighed down by twisted drama. The romance is built piece by piece in a way that engages me, the bondage and toys are fun as ever, and today’s desire for sex, sex, and more sex is sated. For today's mood, Hakui no Shihaisha was exactly what I was looking for.

Review #2:

Manga title: Lost Boys
Manga artist: Kaname Itsuki
Manga cover picture:

(taken from here)

Here is a one-shot BL story, and as the title indicates it’s based around idea of Peter Pan, the Lost boys, and Neverland.

I’m all for that sort of thing, except for the fact this was…boring. The “Peter Pan character” named Air essentially kidnaps Mizuki to be a father for the Lost Boys. You could say the content is very fluffy and cute because nothing bad really happens in this. There is virtually no conflict in this; any conflict that did happen was resolved quickly with little consequence. The conflicts act more like a cheap way to show exposition while including conflict at the same time, but it doesn’t work if it’s only good use was exposition (whether it was for backstory or introduction of other characters). A conflict should be a form of obstacle for the characters to overcome and become better characters from it. It technically did happen but it felt really anti-climatic.

I know my personal views shouldn’t completely sway my opinion on a work’s quality…but I do not understand these characters. I can’t even grasp a form of understanding for their reasoning. “Why do you feel that way? Why are you doing this? What? That’s not a good reason…”

The characters feel very flat, and their development is equivalent to me watching a low production children’s cartoon or movie attempting to teach a lesson. It takes you by the hand and walks you through the story instead having you fall into this world and exploring it and the characters on your own because they’re worth exploring.

I will say that, again, it does classify as something very cute and fluffy. I also took amusement with the Captain and his first mate. They were more fun and engaging than the main characters in my opinion.

Review #3:

Manga title: Maiden Rose (Hyakujitsu no Bara)
Manga artist: Inariya Fusanosuke
Manga cover picture:
Link: http://i.imgur.com/ETu559Q.jpg?1
Review:

In the midst of fierce fires and countless battles between three nations, two soldiers found themselves hungrily longing for each other. One was a beautiful entity leading his army with such elegance and charm, but was forced to hide his real emotions behind a stoic mask; the other labeled as a “Mad Dog,” thought of as someone not trust-worthy, wild spirit and arrogant, and yet caring and loving inside, and showing respect solely to his master: Taki Reizen and Klaus von Wolfstadt stood against the enemies of their nation while fighting their own war against each other.

This manga is, no doubt, one of the most popular titles under BL fandom. Despite its mature and deep theme about war and such, the author, Inariya Fusanosuke-san perfectly mixed this theme with delicious Klaus x Taki moments and I am so in love with this idea. The story itself has its own uniqueness; although there are also war-themed manga titles around, you can definitely tell that this is somewhat different. The characters are also a plus factor. Taki and Klaus are so cool with their uniforms on. I have to admit, though, that I somewhat feel weird when strong-looking Taki becomes a perfect sex doll for the brute Klaus. I also feel so sad whenever Klaus ends up raping or hurting Taki despite the fact that they do love each other. But the real nosebleed is the smut. Rape or not, those scenes are oh so sexy, any fan would actually beg for more. No one can tell from the manga cover alone (that really looks like a Shounen Jump-ish cover because of the cool uniforms) that there are lustful explicit scenes inside it.

I believe it’s a perfect read for mature readers who seek for less lovey-dovey pinkness, more action and a serious story. Not to mention the doujinshi, with chibi cats, dogs and a wolf. Yes, chibi.

Review #4:

Manga title: Hakuyou Ayakashi Gatari
Manga artist: Ichijou Lemon
Manga cover picture: imgur: the simple image sharer

Review:

Anyone here likes bishi with long white hair? It is always a plus though. This manga is about Hakuyou, whom is actually a demon wolf, born as a white wolf. Sadly, everyone in his clan is born as black thus making him alienated by his clan. He was abandoned by his parents and left alone. And by the time he reached the age of 18, he can no longer ingest food but only essence.

Sadly, no one wants to be with him. And he left his land to the land of the humans.
Left for death, he was found by Shouji. After Shouji took care of him, and got his essence stolen, Hakuyou ran and left him alone. Unfortunately, they met again.

The art is light and adorable. And the story is cute too. It does not contain yaoi but only shonen-ai implications. Even so, it is a light read and has a good flow in the story.

For those whom are interested in something fast and light, I would recommend this.
Though the translation is till on the way, I think there is good potential for this manga.

~

[Yuuri Kirito]

Good luck to this month's participants too~

[laketica]

Oof! These are some damn good entries... kudos to all the writers! Title #1 has me the most excited I'm about to go read that myself... and I've always been curious but wary of Title #3 although it's so damn famous I'm just not sure... does it end well? Or does it end at all? DID it end yet? (Someone please tell me the answer if you know it... VM or PM haha)

But in the end... I picked #2. I'm not sure if I've read this title before, but I think the review gives me a very good sense of what to expect. Which is nothing much.

Great job to everyone though! Loved reading the reviews.

[frano]

Thanks for all the Manga-Review´s, I read all and voted.

[takaakisan]

Very interesting titles and good reviews. My preferences go for both #1 & #3. Anyway......voted!!!

[angerbda]

I voted for a review, not really the manga. My vote went to #1 for the review is concise, clearly summarised and detailed. It gives pros and cons, on an objective presentation. The addition of the reviewer impression is a plus.
Basically, an objective description plus subjective impressions is a good mix for a review. It leaves the reader more room to assess if the book would be for them to read or no.

[kerlyness]

The manga reviews really are getting better and better. For both content and format, I went with #1; the section titles made the review easier to read and to know what areas were being reviewed.

I know we only get one vote, but I wanted to add a strong "2nd vote" to #2. Reviews don't have to like the manga to be good reviews, and this review actually discussed the reasons, which is much more helpful than the "don't like" that are found on other sites.

[ryla]

I voted for #2. The reviewer's candidness resonated with me.