otakulys's manga / #stalker(17)

This is a very odd manga, but I actually kinda liked it. It's really dark and pretty depressing, but it's an interesting kind of twisted. There are four short stories, and only two of them are overtly BL, whereas the other two are sort of open to interpretation, I suppose. If you like dark, messed up stories, you should find these entertaining. It's definitely not for fans of a happy ending. This is more on the horror side than the romance side.

To be able to appreciate this at all, you need to put on your Yaoi Land glasses, where stalkerish behavior is romantic and rape is like a firm handshake. If you can get past that crap, the art is good, and the story is cute if not predictable. The seme is incredibly hot, which is my main reason for continuing reading. If you're bothered by things like easily forgiven rape or rape to love, don't bother with this story. But if you, like me, can occasionally set that irritation aside, it might be an enjoyable read.

Gorgeous art, and I'm intrigued despite the fact that I'm sure the unhealthy stuff will be painted as romantic, etc. Typical of yaoi, and it's pretty annoying, but beyond that, I want to see where it goes.

I like it. Very creepy and unsettling. I want more creepy yaoi stories where it's obviously meant to be horrific and doesn't end with love magically blossoming.

As usual, Miyamoto Kano's stories are kind of heartbreaking. I'm still rooting for Bun's happiness, regardless of what that means. I'm bitter about Daisuke, but it would kind of be nice if they ended up together, just because Bun loves him so much. But Daisuke would have to clean up his act first. That jerk. I feel bad for Satorou, though. He's so sweet, and Bun would have been better off with him. Hopefully Satorou finds happiness, too, though I doubt we'll ever find out for sure.

Interesting so far. Not sure what my rating will be later, but I like the build up at this point. Definitely creepily obsessed with his older brother, but it's sad that his brother changed a few of the things he used to do out of embarrassment. That little moment when he quickly drops his younger brother's hand... I hope it stays interesting.

Kind of jumps around awkwardly, but the art is lovely, and I like it so far. Fingers crossed for it staying awesome. EDIT: After more chapters came out, it quickly became fantastic. I'm really excited to see where this goes. This has so many things that I love and rarely find in yaoi. EDIT AGAIN: So, here I thought this manwha was everything I wanted. We had the dark past with the screwed up, obsessed, gangster lover. We had the new love and the main character moving on. When things went south, I loved it, and I thought this would be a thriller involving them trying to escape and the main character and his sweet boyfriend eventually being together. But the moment it suddenly stopped being about him just trying to protect his current boyfriend, I realized this was just like all the rest. It's rape porn with no real growth on the part of any of the characters. The least it could do was give us the ending these characters deserved. Instead, the main character decides he has to stand by the fact that, after hurting a sweet person, he is never allowed to be happy again, nor is his ex. So, the only way to do that is to get back together? Whatever, they should both just get hit by a bus. I'm so over this crap. It was beautiful art, and it had SO much potential, so I'm endlessly bitter. Why do these things never go a better way?

These were all really weird and mostly disjointed, though the twist at the very end of the first story made me chuckle, and the final exchange of the second one made me laugh a little, too. Each oneshot involves a psychotic person, usually more than one, which is played for comedy in the first two, but takes a messed up turn in the third. I got the feeling that we were still supposed to be laughing, but it was so sad and mean. Like, moral of the story, never be nice to anyone. After that, though, it doesn't seem to follow any sort of pattern other than the "no happily ever after" theme. Mostly unrequited love throughout, though the mood really changes. That final story made me cry, despite my best efforts. It was just so pointlessly sad. Is this guy not aware that gay men can also have children? Adoption isn't an imaginary thing. Anyway, sad and weird, rather abrupt, pretty uncomfortable. Mixed with strange humor? That about sums it up, haha.

Whaaaaaaaaaat, I somehow didn't see that coming. XD I should have, all things considered, and Harada's work is always so deliciously fucked up, but I've never seen her play with perspectives like this before. Of course, it wouldn't really be Harada if it weren't terribly twisted, right? Haha, I love her. I can't believe it took me this long to read this one. Twisted as can be, with an ominous, ambiguous ending. So calculating, right to the very end. Harada doesn't pull any punches. She knows her characters are sick and wrong, and the narrative doesn't make any apologies for it. If only more yaoi stuff didn't act like psychotic, abusive behavior could be fixed or forgiven. This was a great read with an ending that satisfied me. I don't know how else it could have possibly concluded without it being a bit irritating. (Though a more violent end to a certain someone would have been nice, but that'd sort of ruin what the story was going for, haha.)

Haha, very cute, but way too short! I wish there were more about these guys. I love the art, especially the way the uke is drawn. I guess I'll have to give this mangaka a look.