Satomi Yamagata

I would rather give it a 3.5 than a 3 or a 4, but the rating system, ya know? I struggled with the stars on this one, but honestly, there's a lot of sex. Like, a good 80% of it is dedicated to sex scenes or necking scenes. And while most of them have purpose and serve to explain character flaws and motivations, that's so much sex. Especially when the quieter moments between characters sometimes were more poignant and intimate than the dirty stuff. It's a weird love triangle that ends up being like a love . . . square? Hexagon? Who knows. The art is stark and sketch-like and I like it muchly. Apparently, this is the semi-prequel to Fake Fur, which I haven't read - yet.… (altro)

Student Maki has been sleeping with his prep school teacher Haruji. Just for the fantastic sex, of course. Haruji, it turns out, also had a similar relationship when he was younger with Mizuguchi, who happens to be the OTHER teacher (from Maki's regular school) whom Maki has feelings for. Haruji seems to still be hung up on his former lover, and Mizuguchi might not be so different, either. What choice does Maki have in such a situation?

With the concepts of how people feel and love and interact I often see in yaoi, sometimes I start to wonder if Japan has finally started allowing middle schoolers to write and publish porn. Manic Love, though, is pretty clearly written by an adult. It looks at themes seen now and then in yaoi, like the relationship between sex and love, and the importance of allowing yourself vulnerability in a romantic relationship. But it does it with the mind of an adult rather than taking the kiddie paint-by-numbers route of a lot of yaoi.

Still, while I liked this manga, it fell a little short of what started to hope. Nothing too complicated, plot-wise or emotionally, really happens. Maki basically does the 'right thing,' whilst he wants to but is sad about it. The writing is good, but feels like it could use some tightening. It's a little TOO slow and meandering sometimes. We hear a little too often how sex with so-and-so is nice because it is fun or feels good or doesn't have to be more. I'm not sure how often Maki mentions the way he loves characters A, B, and C but isn't in love with them, at different times and combinations, in various but not all that variable wordings. Also, while this may be personal preference, I find it has the 'problem' of many more mature/realistic stories in that it is...unsatisfying. It's got that general sad, contemplative tone, and even when good things happen it still makes sure to feel kind of downer. I can like a story like that, but so many of the more mature yaoi choose this style that you have to do a little more to actually impress me with it.

The art here is nice save some weird proportion things here and there. Lines are thin and almost sketchy looking, but it comes off as more expressive than messy. Backgrounds are almost non-existent. It's not a style all will love, but I find it appealing.

This is in general a nicely written manga, even if a little loose at times, with a more mature feel and a plot that ventures from the usual boy meets boy story. If you like this sort of story, it could be a good read, though probably not one that would interest non-yaoi fans. With the tone/style choices and the vagueness of it all, I don't expect to love anything in this 'series', but I'm definitely interested in trying the sequel.… (altro)