▪	RELEASED BY:		DIGITAL MANGA PUBLSHING
		▪	AUTHOR / ART:		SATOMI YAMAGATA
		▪	FORMAT:		JAPANESE/ B&W
		▪	PAGES:		200
		▪	RATING:		M
		▪	RELEASE DATE:		09/22/2007
		▪	REVIEW DATE:		10/08/2007
		▪	REVIEWED BY:		HOLLY ELLINGWOOD

Manic Love is the prequel to Fake Fur, and displays the same depth and complexity of human interaction as Fake Fur succeeded in doing. Focusing on three people, the story is primarily told through the relationships of Maki, an intelligent and sensual young man who explores the truths of human emotions through sex with them. He gets involved intimately with his summer school tutor, a man named Haruji, who has ties to a man Maki had seduced previously – his old teacher. Through his relationship with Haruji, Maki comes to learn of the unrequited love between these two men, two men he has feelings for. In a world where people are afraid to show their weaknesses and love can be seen as vulnerability, can these three men learn the courage needed to reach for what they truly desire and who they really need?

This is an exceedingly moving story, with complex characters and strong emotional storytelling. Each person is given a chapter that offers insight into their characters, the journey though is the most fascinating. Maki steals the story by his enigmatic style, gentle manner, and compassionate perceptiveness.  He’s a fascinating blend of pragmatic hedonist and searching philosopher. By the end, we see his meeting with Reni, the man we see him with in Fake Fur where their story continues. In the instance for every character in this story, it is an exploration of their hearts. Each character expresses his love somewhat differently, each person is afraid of being hurt, each person harbors their own sadness and loneliness, and each comes to a realization before the end of this manga.

This manga has a unique and immersing style both in storytelling and artwork that stands out from the average yaoi. It is very explicit throughout as Maki uses sex as a method to know and understand the people he cares for and wants to understand fully. The story and the style are both unusual and show a rare perceptiveness of the human heart.

IN SUMMARY:
Manic Love is a moving story with a sophisticated and mature exploration of love and the human condition.