pluckaduck's manga / #Mafia(5)

ch20. so that receding hairline four-eyes IS more or less involved in his bro's death. but anyway, the fights and angle shots and mono colors and a relatively realistic storyline with a not-over-the-top end goal would be an interesting movie, or tv series ch54. man, i thought mc is like late 20s to mid 30s, didn't expect him to be 40 yo. the story isn't about a new exciting revenge-driven chapter in mc's life after his bro's death, well, it is, but it's more like stirring up chaos before retiring from the thug life, or dying. i really like the storytelling, it's not exhilarating, nor melodramatic. it's subtle, but still fierce and aggressive. it's kinda bittersweet that enemies or not, a lot of people want mc to win. and it's interesting that those people i thought were kind to mc were actually the culprits. and mc KNEW they were, but didnt go after them in the beginning

oh wow when they say sexual tension they actually mean it lol. absolutely love the art style and the muted colors and angle shots and shading- storytelling is just great, it delivers when it comes to conveying the right atmosphere, whether it's tense, sexual, or funny. the mc, he's very likable and pretty, he's no coward and is assertive when he needs to be. the ml... he's perverted, cheeky, a bit sadistic, and sexually harass mc with his words. he only gives mc special treatment, and ngl his chara visual makes me giddy...it feels juvenile to like his chara, but whatever. he's really hot man. and possessive/obsessive. it was unexpected but not surprising to learn he was the reason mc was kidnapped. all so he can capture him and put him on a leash (metaphorically). really reinforces how he's a "mad dog"

as i write this right now, im sobbing my eyes out. i came here expecting the two mcs to be canonically in love with each other, but it turns out ash is more like the protagonist, and eiji is more like his driving force that advances the story, and at best it's stated they perhaps loved each other like lovers, but that's just speculation. still, the story's fucking amazing, and the action is fast-paced, and ash is one of the most resilient mcs I've ever had the pleasure of reading about. i knew it was a tragic ending, and i was prepared to get teary-eyed, but i did not expect that ending. it just made it a lot more sad, bittersweet, and painful, the fact that he could've lived, but chose not to. the author really ripped my heart out in this one.