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Monday, 26 February 2007 |
 | | ▪ | PUBLISHED BY: | | TOKYOPOP | | | ▪ | ART/AUTHOR: | | YUN KOUGA | | | | ▪ | FORMAT/COLOR: | | JAPANESE FORMAT/ BW | | | ▪ | PAGES: | | 200 | | | ▪ | RATED: | | 16+ | | | ▪ | RELEASE DATE: | | 02/13/2007 | | | ▪ | REVIEW DATE: | | 02/27/2007 | | | ▪ | REVIEWED BY: | | HOLLY ELLINGWOOD |
Still not healed, Soubi is confronted by a new Zero team, that of Koya and Yamato. Ritsuka gets to him but Soubi is badly hurt and seeing him so leaves Ritsuka shaken. It makes Ritsuka face, at least in part, his new life as a team with Soubi. In desperation, he asks the Zero unit of Natsuo and Yoji to teach him about what it means to be a Fighting Unit and Sacrifice. Next time a Zero Unit attacks Soubi, Ritsuka intends to be ready…
Loveless is a psychologically and emotionally complex and provocative series. With Ritsuka’s new determination, it will be intriguing to see where it leads him and how it will affect his evolving relationship with Soubi. Much of this volume focuses on the Zero team of Koya and Yamato, showing the suffering of a Zero’s existence. It made for an emotionally compelling read and touched on a deeper lesbian relationship which fans of yuri will most definitely not want to miss. Between the murder mystery of Seimei and the strange and alluring BDSM relationships between the Fighter and Sacrifice, there exists an immediacy to the emotional anguish of the characters that is ever compelling. With these latest chapters, some disturbing hints to Seimei’s character are alluded to, truths that may unsettle Ritsuka or leave him completely unhinged.
The artwork is breathtaking. It has such a beautiful fluid grace in every panel that it is mesmerizing, especially with the added emotional layers of the story. There is a bonus story at the end which has a childhood classmate of Ritsuka appear. This side story reveals the childhood innocence that still exists within Ritsuka.
IN SUMMARY:
Loveless is hypnotic. From the graceful art style to the deeply intriguing story, it is utterly captivating. This volume sees a pivotal change in Ritsuka as well as a few hints as to who is older brother truly was. |
