VOTE: Manga Review of The Month (MROTM) - Apr. 2016

Please vote for your fav review. Remember, you get points for voting :)

Review #1

Manga title : Shinkuu Yuusetsu
Manga artist : Bikke
Manga cover picture :
http://img15.hostingpics.net/pics/54033385191l.jpg
http://img15.hostingpics.net/pics/54033385191l.jpg

Review :
What's love for you ?

Can we consider a close relationship between two boys without any physical relationship, like a true love?
Being dependent on a person, it's possible to falling in love with another?

For me, an unconditional trust between two young boys who didn't need words and justifications to understand, is the finest and most powerful form of love that can exist.
Shinkuu yuusetsu it that. This is not a boy's love, it's just the story of two boys dependent each other, their parents and their friends.

Through 3 volumes, the author skips steps in presenting us characters who naturally love each other for many years. Few surprises since we know that different couples are not in danger. Just a slice of life, and the discovery of these adorable boys, who have feelings of incredible purity.

An unconventional story, questioning the concept of attachment and affection, when in our universe, sex seem essential to a love life.

When you've been together with someone since you were a kid, how often do you really stop confirm feeling like love in so many words?

Review #2

Manga title: Pulse of a Dark Mirage; The Resurgent Reality; Genwaku no Kodou; Yami no Kodou; Ongoing manga! ^^
Manga artists: Yoshihara Rieko (Plot); Kada Michiru (Art)
Manga cover picture:
http://www.zupimages.net/up/16/15/84xd.jpg
http://www.zupimages.net/up/16/15/84xd.jpg


Review: For my first entry ever, how could I ever not present you this little jewel? Yoshihara Rieko, Ai no Kusabi’s author offers us here a REAL manga. She’s behind that great story and Kada Michiru gives life to this story with her unique art.

Summary: Strange things are happening all over town, and Amano Kouichi’s nightmares have started again. Several clans have been spurred into action as the past gradually resurfaces. Just what is going on, and how do the Amano brothers fit into the picture?

So… Why change a summary when it tells so little and so much at the same time? I did try but in the end, I decided to just leave like that.

“Strange things”. Two words and you already know that manga enters those categories: fantastic, horror, mystery, supernatural. Of course, it’s Yaoi and to add a little more, it’s a drama. When I said it’s yaoi, don’t hope for sex each and every chapters because you won’t find it. I think it’s more shonen-ai most of the manga but later there are actual sex scenes. One again, if you want some real graphic scenes. This manga is not for you.

“Several clans”. Beware the headaches because it may be confusing at some points with all the different characters. Luckily, at the beginning of each chapter, there is some kind of reminder to help.

“Past gradually resurfaces”. Warning. It’s not only one past and I’m not talking about only one person past.

Some may think that this story is slow but once you begin to read you just can’t stop. It’s like you’re a prisoner. You just want to know what will happen next chapter and you keep reading. You’ll never know what will happen!

NOTE from AF Staff: This review exceeded the 300 words limit so it had to be cut off.

I reminder to those who enter, that your entry can not be any longer than 300 words. I didn't get a chance to check review #2 before I had to leave for work but AlexiaLee seen it and edited it. Next time the entry will not be included and the entry maker will be notified and can edit it for the next round. I will be amending the rule to reflect this next month since staff shouldn't need to edit it if the rule wasn't followed to begin with.

So... 2 mangas I don't think I ever read there...
The two reviews are focusing on presenting the plot and what 'feeling' it gave them (not sure if I make sense here...), somehow, not much about the characters, the art, the style...
However, it is ok to give an idea and to see if I'd want to read or not...

Thanks for the reviews! :-)
I'll be checking Bikke's work. It seems it would suit my taste, the story and art.

I'll surely check them out! The first sounds really sweet, and the seconds sounds really interesting. Thanks for the reviews!

The second review seemed too long so I didn't read all of it... I'm also already reading that manga ^^"
I will check out the manga from the first review though. Think it was a nice short review.

Thank you for the reviews :)
I'll definitely pick up on Shinkuu Yuusetsu. Not only do I love her art, I get the impression the story is going to be worthwhile as well.
As for the second manga, I'm not entirely sure, but the cover features and art style I often ignore for some reason (o.O)

The 2 reviews were good in very different ways.

Though not having read it, I would guess that #1 captures the feel of its manga very well, along with its theme. Not a 'traditional' review with headings and something about multiple categories, yet still telling enough to get across if a reader should try it. (Yes, I need to read this.)

#2 had a different kind of heading style - taking parts of the summary and giving more detail. (Yet not to much to give away the whole story is how it felt to me, having not read this one yet either.) While that doesn't quite hit the headings fan in me, it is a unique approach and one that I felt worked well here.

Tough choice here, having to vote on just one, when both were good in different ways. I went with #2 in the end - because even unique headings are still headings, and that is something I enjoy in reviews.

Great work, both of you!