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Posts Tagged June

Review: Love Training


Manga-ka: Tatsumi Kaiya
Publisher: DMP/June
Rating: Mature (18+)
Released: February 2008

Synopsis: “Koji’s mother just married up in the world and now this average boy is finding it hard to adjust to a school where nearly all of his peers have grown up wealthy. Meanwhile, Taiki is a playboy who insists that he doesn’t want to go steady… until he meets the adorable rent-a-boy, Makoto! And how will the charming Romeo – the French-Japanese Kotaro – keep his innocent little Juliet away from rival suitors? Some boys will find true love in Sakurajo School while others won’t.”

Love Training is a story that takes place in your classic prestigious all-boys school. From character to couple, it follows several students as they get used to life at the facility and learn to get along with each other, among other things. While one is a love between stepbrothers, another follows a game of lovers gone further.

Read more…


Review: Waru


Manga-ka: Yukari Hashida
Publisher: DMP/June
Rating: Mature (18+)
Released: May 2008

Synopsis: “Diagnosed with a life-threatening disease, Joe figures that the last chance he has of ever making a name for himself is to kidnap a politician’s son, demand an insane amount for the ransom, escape to the South Sea Islands with the money and die partying with booze in one hand and a beautiful babe on the other. But can you say “Stockholm Syndrome?” Things don’t turn out as Joe planned when the kidnap victim, Yuushi, begins to develop feelings for him. Which one is the captor and which one is the captive?”

The synopsis had me hopeful that this would an interesting book so please take a moment to read it above. Got it? Alright. Now while this much of the plot is true, it’s all over by page fifty-six in this book, and if you’re thinking that it doesn’t sound like a whole lot of development time, you’re exactly right.

Read more…


Review: Love Recipe (Vol. 02)


Manga-ka: Kirico Higashizato
Publisher: DMP/June
Rating: Mature (18+)
Released: July 2008

Synopsis: “Young manga editor Tomonori Ozawa slaves over the steamy scripts that makes boys love the hottest magazine on the rack. But one-shot stories and office gossip aren’t the only things on Ozawa’s mind. When the talented yaoi creator Sakurako Kakyoin steps up the pressure both at work and after hours, Ozawa must decide whether to keep their relationship professional or punch the clock for overtime! And will a mysterious new artist only spell trouble for these secret lovers?”

Love Recipe volume two takes readers back to the story’s lead: the young but enthusiastic Tomonori Ozawa, who has his dream job as Editor at a large publishing firm. What he didn’t expect when it all began was to be put to work at a boys’ love magazine. Since then he’s gotten involved with the magazine’s number one artist, Sakurako Kakyoin, who is secretly a man, and made his sole editor. In this volume, deadlines are tight, making it hard for the two secret lovers to find time for each other. On top of that, it’s the busiest time of the year for the boys’ love magazine and Tomonori is pulled in every direction by work, Kakyoin and a new artist whose trying to find his place in the magazine with Tomonori’s guidance.

Read more…


Review: Necratoholic


Manga-ka: Maguro Wasabi
Publisher: DMP/June
Rating: Mature (18+)
Released: April 2008

Synopsis: “Sakuya is a noble vampire and a master of seduction, but there’s one detail that truly sets him apart from his neck-biting brethren… he no longer craves blood! Sadly, the lone object of his lusty affections – the elusive dhampir Atsumi – loves to bait his prey and run away. Is Sakuya’s loss of appetite really a matter of the heart? When the hunter and the hunted decide to make love and war; there’s no telling how the tug-of-war will end!”

Necratoholic is a story of vampire and hunter turned lovers (of sorts), while the game of cat and mouse between them continues. After an assault by Atsumi leaves the great vampire, Sakuya, unable to drink human blood, he searches high and low for the born-and-bred hunter, seeking to lift the ‘curse’ upon him. But in the meantime, he works as an S+M queen in his Victorian-style mansion!

Read more…


New from BLU, Not Just For Us Canadians

MadnessA couple more new listings have popped up on Amazon.ca today, suggesting a few more licenses to go along with those I pointed out from Digital Manga the other day.

First off though, I wanted to remind my readers that while Amazon listings are a good indication of a company’s intent to release something, it is not a sure thing. Also, as brought to mind by Snow over at Fujoshi Librarian, it hadn’t occured to me that there’d be confusion for people over why Amazon.ca has these listings while Amazon.com does not.

Simply put, listings on different countries’ Amazon merely reflects who updated first. Each site is, as far as I know, managed differently and updated seperately. In my experience, Amazon.ca tends to have its new listings up much faster and more frequently than its American counterpart, Amazon.com. So, along with where I go to order some of my books, it’s also the first place I look for new listings. It does not mean that “only Canada is going to get it!”. It’s just a matter of what site posted the new information first.

That said, here’re a few new-to-my-knowledge titles:

Madness (BLU)
Shimotsuki Kairi

Liberty Liberty! (BLU)
Hinako Takanaga

Taimashin Demon Hunters (DMP)
Hideyuki Kikuchi/Shin Yong-Gwan

There’s also listings for two OEL books. First from DelRey is Ben 10 the Manga, based on the television show and illustrated by the artist of Tokyopop’s Gyakushu, Dan Hipp. It was originally announced back in Sepetember 2008. (Second OEL book has been removed by publisher request).

BLU’s apparent new titles definitely excite me the most, but that might have something to do with the fact I’m a huge Hinako Takanaga fan and someone who’s waited a long time to read Shimotsuki Kairi’s Madness. It’s also nice to see that DelRey is going through with an original Ben 10 manga as they originally planned instead of just sticking with the screenshot-cut-and-paste version that’s due out a few months before it.


More Boys’ Love Winter to Winter

How to Capture a MartiniAmazon.ca has a handful of new boys’ love listings today, most previously announced titles and a few new ones.

Some older Digital Manga licenses listed now are How to Capture a Martini and 9th Sleep by Makoto Tateno. 9th Sleep was originally slated for release in December 2007 but returns now with a listing for December 2009. Other titles include the 801Media title Kiss Your Hair by Duo Brand, Great Place High School – Student Council (second volume of the Great Place High School series) by Naduki Koujima, Love Skit by Rie Honjou and The Devil Inside (originally licensed under the name The Devil Within) by Rico Fukiyama. Awaken Forest by Yuna Aoi also has a listing, and I’m pretty sure it’s a previously announced release (though where it was announced escapes me currently).

The titles below, to my knowledge, are new:

Wagamama Go-Man (Light Novel)
Naduki Koujima (Artist), Kyoko Waktatsuki (Author)

Our Kingdom – Arabian Nights
Naduki Koujima
(Connected to the currently DMP-released, Our Kingdom series)

I’ve Moved Next Door To You
Fuuri Misasagi

Reversible (Vol. 01)
Various Artists

Reversible (Vol. 01) is the first release in a series of short stories by a variety of boys’ love artists new to English publication.

Other boys’ love collections to look forward to for the next holiday season come from Yaoi Press with several new bundles of their previously released series, such as a collection of Dany+Dany’s works, the Gothic Yaoi Bundle; the Yaoi Gems Bundle, which includes Stallion, Saihoshi and the first two volumes of the Yaoi Anthology series, and, my personal recommendation of the bunch, a Winter Demon Bundle containing all four volumes of the series.

Most of the books and bundles linked to here are slated for release in winter of next year (gross thinking of next winter while we still suffer this year’s nasty winter bite though isn’t it?).


Review: Where Has Love Gone?


Manga-ka: Ryoku Tsunoda
Publisher: DMP/June
Rating: Mature (18+)
Released: January 2009

Synopsis: “Takayama hides the fact that he’s gay from his co-workers, but finds it difficult to avert his eyes whenever he’s around Ishikawa, his pharmaceutical sales company’s top dog. When a coincidental meeting outside of work “outs” Takayama to Ishikawa, complications arise. Even though Ishikawa is straight, he can’t resist the lure of blackmail and forced sex where Takayama is concerned. In an office affair such as this, can a purely physical relationship ever be enough?”

Takayama is a hardworking businessman for a pharmaceutical company, who for simple reputation’s sake, hides the fact that he’s gay from his fellow employees. Unfortunately for professional relations at work, he’s found out one night by fellow worker, and company top dog, Ishikawa. But instead of an awkward confrontation or dirty look, Takayama finds himself at the literal receiving end of Ishikawa’s stress release.

Read more…


Review: Tricky Prince


Manga-ka: Yukari Hashida
Publisher: DMP/June
Rating: Mature (18+)
Released: January 2009

Synopsis: “Brilliant young Eugene has to hit the books both day and night! After all, as an impoverished scholarship student, he’s got to keep his grades high or he’ll get expelled. Too bad he’s attracted the attention of the school’s most sought-after guy…the incredible Prince Willis! Why is a royal hunk obsessed with a scrawny, fussy nerd?”

Tricky Prince started out on a fairly entertaining note. The flamboyant Prince Willis has set his sights on the studious Eugene, spurring him into a determined pursuit of the uninterested scholarship student. Using every mean at his disposable, the Prince continuously find new and more inventive ways to get Eugene’s attention after their unexpected meeting late one night.

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Review: Hero Heel (Vol. 03)


Manga-ka: Makoto Tateno
Publisher: DMP
Rating: Older Teen (18+)
Released: December 2008

Synopsis: “The final scripts for ‘Trans-Dimensional Warriors Airguard’ are ain, and cast and crew of the hit TV show realize that time is short. Soon, filming will end and everyone will go their separate ways. As they near the special, 2-part series finale, prior romantic tensions between co-stars Minami and Sawada appear to have faded. But, as in any larger-than-life drama, appearances can be deceiving.”

It’s the final volume of Hero Heel as the television production that Sawada and Minami star on is coming to an end. But while the show’s end will bring some sadness and relief to its staff, there remains the undeniable tension between its two stars who remain at stubborn odds with their own feelings.

Read more…


Yaoi Minis for January 24th

Always lots of yaoi

Some boys’ love links of interest tonight:

BLU forums are pointing the way to Tokyopop’s site where you can view some preview pages for the upcoming and long-awaited fourth volume of Black Knight. Pretty artwork awaits you!

Some exciting news over at the Yaoi Generation forums where the staff had this to say:

“We’re also wrapping up a couple new licenses! Yay! We’ll be announcing it soon… well, soonish… hehe.. It’s not one of the suggested ones though. We’ve been working on getting these upcoming licenses since middle of last year, and it’s finally nearing completion, so we’re very excited!”

So much for waiting until the end of their first series, breath, before diving into others. But who am I kidding, I’m happy. Here’s hoping they handle it well and we get some more quality work. I was impressed with their first release and hope to be with future ones.

Deb Aoki’s Best of 2008 manga polls continue, including Best New Yaoi/Shonen-Ai Manga of 2008. It’s down to a race between the global boys’ love title ANIMA by Dany&Dany, and Ayano Yamane’s A Foreign Love Affair. Personally, I voted for Future Lovers, no contest my favourite on the list. Head over there and vote for your favorite and definitely check out any titles there you haven’t read yet. There’s some good ones for sure!

A new title from Kitty Media? Sense and Sexuality, with a release date listed for April 2009 (Edit: update). And how about a potentially new title from Deux Press? Have some Spicy But Sweet, a sequel to their already licensed Naughty But Nice. And from DMP, The Lonely Mgoytist (this one seems familiar to me but I can’t find news on it before my head hits the desk from sleepiness so apologies if this is repeat news).

Y!Gallery, aka YaoiGallery, the biggest online art community revolving around men, men and men on men, has recently had a big overhaul of their Rules and Terms of Use. One of the biggest changes includes the return of ‘furries’. Characters with strong animal characteristics were originally banned due to user complaints and a blurred line of beastiality. Site users are now given the option to filter their accounts so that furry art doesn’t show up for them. Other rule changes include no copyrighted material or work taken without permission being used for literature thumbnails (saving people like me a hundred headaches for clicking on what looks like really well done fanart only to find one of a million fanfics).

And finally, Tina Anderson and MTCopyright’s full-colour webcomic Whore of Turfan continues to update weekly with lots of shiny drama to look forward to every Friday! (Whoops, how’d this plug get here? ;) ) Seriously though, a strong start for the series from two talented individuals and I can’t wait to see where its going.


Take me back to the top!