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Archive for March, 2008

Review: Invisible Love

By Lissa Pattillo on Sunday, March 16, 2008

Manga-ka: Rie Honjyo
Publisher: DMP/June
Rating: Mature (18+)
Released: November 2007

Synopsis: “Inori is a popular guy amongst the ladies in his university, but lately he keeps getting dumped. Cause unknown, Inori decides to drink away his troubles with his good friend Senou. With the beer flowing, Inori finds himself drawn to Senou. But when sobriety hits, will his feelings remain the same?”

Invisible Love is a collection of short stories following multiple couples coming about their inevitable hook-ups. That’s all there really is to say on the matter.

Categories: June, Manga, Reviews, Yaoi/Boys' Love |

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Review: Love Me Sinfully

By Lissa Pattillo on Saturday, March 15, 2008

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Manga-ka: Mio Tennohji
Publisher: DramaQueen
Rating: Mature (18+)
Released: August 2007

Synopsis: “Yuu Ono has been waiting impatiently to have the house all to himself while parents to Guam for a weekend trip getaway. But no sooner do they board the plane than Yuu bumps into a man who whisks him away to an opulent hotel where he comes face-to-face with… himself?! Pressed into becoming the body double for the Crown Prince of Qurd, Yuu’s life is suddenly thrown into peril but Yuu can’t help but trust the handsome bodyguard who swears, “I’ll protect you, even at the cost of my life…””

Worth noting for Love Me Sinfully is that the title story lasts a mere 46 pages of this 178 page graphic novel. Though this is not necessarily a bad thing, it’s worth knowing ahead of time to avoid the inevitable surprise of the discovery.

Categories: DramaQueen, Manga, Reviews, Yaoi/Boys' Love |

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Review: Voice or Noise (Vol. 01)

By Lissa Pattillo on Friday, March 14, 2008

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Manga-ka: Yamimaru Enjin
Publisher: BLU
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Released: November 2007

Synopsis: “When Shinichiro’s beloved dog, Flappy, starts acting up and disobeying commands, his trusted bet gives him a strange and unexpected referral; he sends Shinichiro to his long-time friend, Narusawa, a college professor who can apparently communicate with animals. At first Narusaea denies that he has this special skill, but a snarky, talking black cat gives away Narusawa’s secret and reveals that Shinichiro may have this special gift himself…”

After a trip to the vet warrants no help for Shinchiro’s dog and his sudden strange behavior, a referral leads the concerned owner to Narusawa, a cold and unconcerned college professor. Shinchiro learns that Narusawa, despite his standoffish attitude, has the amazing ability to speak to animals. Shinchiro wishes to have this power as well and learns that it may actually already possess the talent. He wants Narusawa to teach him to understand animals but doesn’t realize that it may not be that simple.

Categories: BLU, Manga, Reviews, Yaoi/Boys' Love |

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Review: I’ll Be Your Slave!

By Lissa Pattillo on Thursday, March 13, 2008

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Manga-ka: Miki Araya
Publisher: DMP/June
Rating: Teen (16+)
Released: March 2006

Synopsis: “Moriya is in charge of finding a model for a new product commercial for a big jewelry brand; but, nobody matches the ideal of perfection he has in mind… That is, until he meets Itsuki Ouno. Itsuki is not just perfection incarnate, he’s like royalty, and incredibly spoiled. And he may well be the one person destiny put in Moriya’s way to fulfill his need to adore and serve.”

I’ll Be Your Slave follows Moriya on his quest to find the perfect model for his company’s upcoming project. After hundreds of unsuccessful candidates are tossed aside, he worries he’ll never find the perfect face. Then Moriya sees Ouno, the attractive and dangerously aloof student, and immediately knows he’s found what he was looking for.

Categories: June, Manga, Reviews, Yaoi/Boys' Love |

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Review: Prime Minister’s Secret Diplomacy

By Lissa Pattillo on Thursday, March 13, 2008

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Manga-ka: Youka Nitta
Publisher: 801Media
Rating: Mature (18+)
Released: January 2008

Synopsis: “Yoshinaga’s genius and his gift for political maneuvering have helped him ascend to the higher spheres of the Ministry of Foreign affairs at an early age. As for Shiraishi, the prestige of his family as well as his dedication to his job has also led him to an early career in diplomacy. Yoshinaga is Shiraishi’s future brother-in-law as he is soon to be married to his sister. When the two meet in Thailand, a stunning tale of love unfolds.”

The Prime Minister’s Secret Diplomacy follows Yoshinaga, Thailand’s Japanese minister and Shiraishi, a young up and coming politician, as they weave together a tangled web of politics, lust and something that resembles love.

Categories: 801Media, Manga, Reviews, Yaoi/Boys' Love |

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Review: Nabi the Prototype

By Lissa Pattillo on Thursday, March 13, 2008

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Manga-ka: Yeon-Joo Kim
Publisher: Tokyopop
Rating: Teen (13+)
Released: October 2007

Synopsis: “A young girl is kidnapped by her father’s political enemies… a bride-to-be embarks on a journey to her new home, but her escort has other plans… and a tough boy falls for the orphan girl he’s supposed to protect… In these moving, poetic stories, people are often not what they seem, while love comes from where you least expect it.”

Nabi the Prototype is a collection of six short stories, most of which are all directly connected to each other. The thing that maintains this as a collection of short stories over a continuous story with a couple shorter ones tacked on is that though directly connected, the bulk of the stories are not presented in chronological order. Upon first reading, this may seem a little odd to readers but it’s a unique way of keeping readers interested, if not at least a little confused at first.

Categories: Manhwa, Reviews, Tokyopop |

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Review: Love Is Like A Hurricane (Vol. 03)

By Lissa Pattillo on Thursday, March 13, 2008

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Manga-ka: Tokiya Shimazaki
Publisher: 801Media
Rating: Mature (18+)
Released: December 2007

Synopsis: “Since being informed by student council President Asuma that they’re going out, Mizuki has somehow managed to be led into the relationship. Despite how often Mizuki voices his adamant protests, before he knows it he always finds himself falling in step with whatever Asuma says. “But is that really such a bad thing?” The long-awaited third volume of the ever-popular high-school love comedy series commences!”

It’s more trouble for Mizuki when an aphrodisiac leaves him lusty but also under threat of being taken by his schoolmates. Where’s Azuma when you actually want him? A notable twist to this dilemma is the side effect: Mizuki wakes up the next day as a child! What follows is a sneaky shota (visibly underage individual) slip in so a bit of warning to readers. Soon it’s back to business as usual; school, studying and… vibrating sex toys? The sexual antics continue in volume three of Love is Like a Hurricane.

Categories: 801Media, Manga, Reviews, Yaoi/Boys' Love |

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Review: Yume Kira Dream Shoppe

By Lissa Pattillo on Thursday, March 13, 2008

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Manga-ka: Aqua Mizuto
Publisher: Viz
Rating: Teen (13+)
Released: September 2007

Synopsis: “They say that any dream can be made true in exchange for something dear to you. The Yume Kira Shoppe flies through the dusk sky as Rin the shopkeeper listens for wishes that travel on the wind. With the help of his assistant Alpha, Rin uses the magical wares of the Dream Shoppe to make desires a reality… but at a price.”

Yume Kira Dream Shoppe takes a plot that seems more suited to a horror story, reminiscent of mangas such as Petshop of Horrors, and gives it a fluffy shoujo twist. It’s a collection of short stories all strung together through the characters’ connection with the mysterious Yume Kira Shoppe. It’s shopkeeper, Rin, hears ‘wishes on the wind’ and grants them in exchange for something he deems equivalent.

Categories: Manga, Reviews, Viz Media |

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Review: Princess Princess (Vol. 05)

By Lissa Pattillo on Tuesday, March 11, 2008

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Manga-ka: Mikiyo Tsuda
Publisher: DMP Books
Rating: Teen (16+)
Released: November 2007

Synopsis: “Thought Akira would have no competition in the election? Think again! A new face has come to town and he’s dead-set on winning the Presidency. Transfer student Mitaka has declared war and is steadily rallying the support of more and more students. Even the support of Mikoto? But Akira’s die hard supporters Tohru and Shihoudani have a secret plan to ensure Akira’s success. The tale of our beloved princesses has finally come to an end!”

Five volumes of cross-dressing later and Princess Princess has come to and end. Mikiyo Tsuda pulls together all that made previous volumes entertaining for one last get together with this vibrant and diverse cast.

Categories: June, Manga, Reviews |

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Bye-bye YaoiSuki?

By Lissa Pattillo on Sunday, March 2, 2008

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Jen and Jordan of YaoiSuki.net have posted a sort of goodbye message to fans. With real life getting in the way (as it often does! Curses.), they’re stepping down from their yaoi news posting positions on the popular, YaoiSuki.net. As a fan of their quick reporting, con coverage and occassional book review, I give to them my thanks and farewells!

Categories: Misc |

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News Worth Repeating

By Lissa Pattillo on Sunday, March 2, 2008

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ANN reported back on Friday (via animeanime.jp) that Fumi Yoshinaga’s character driven manga, Antique Bakery, is getting made into a 12 episode anime series. It’s currently planned to hit late night television in Japan in July.

I know I for one am psyched by the news. I’m a huge Yoshinaga fan and look forward to seeing how her work is translated over to the world of moving pictures. With so much of her stories’ power protrayed in subtle facial expressions and an excellant sense of pacing, can an anime keep the same charm? I’m certainly looking forward to finding out.

Categories: Anime, Manga |

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Review: You & Harujion

By Lissa Pattillo on Saturday, March 1, 2008

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Manga-ka: Keiko Kinoshita
Publisher: DMP/June
Rating: Teen (16+)
Released: March 2006

Synopsis: “Haru Akaishi’s father has just died, leaving him an orphan at age 17. His father was in a lot of debt and took out some shady loans, and just when the Yakuza-esque creditors come to collect, a mysterious lawyer named Yuuji Senoh appears and says he’ll deal with the matter personally. As it turns out, Mr. Senoh was someone Haru befriended many years ago as his mother ailed in the hospital, but Haru has forgotten about him. When the bank takes back the mortgage on his house, Haru takes Mr. Senoh up on his offer to live at his apartment.”

You & Harujion begins in the wake of Haru’s father’s death. When debt collectors show up at his father’s funeral demanding payment for his dues, they are chased off by You, a lawyer who claims to be friends with Haru. What develops through the book from here on out is Haru finding in You someone he can trust and love while You wishes to repay the young boy with the courage he gave him so many years ago.

Categories: June, Manga, Reviews, Yaoi/Boys' Love |

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