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Reviews
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Monday, 15 December 2008 |
 | | ▪ | RELEASED BY: | | DIGITAL MANGA PUBLISHING | | | ▪ | AUTHOR / ART: | | AYUMI KANO | | | ▪ | FORMAT: | | JAPANESE / B&W | | | ▪ | PAGES: | | 172 | | | ▪ | RATING: | | YA | | | ▪ | RELEASE DATE: | | 12/02/2008 | | | ▪ | REVIEW DATE: | | 12/15/2008 | | | ▪ | REVIEWED BY: | | HOLLY ELLINGWOOD |
Sea View is an immersing journey into one young man’s search for family, connection and his future. Kei has long ago admired his architect grandfather. He has chosen to even go to the school his grandfather taught at. There on the island he meets an exceptionally talented fellow architectural student named Michiru. However Michiru is withdrawn, as if he’s living in his own world…and Kei would dearly love to meet him there. As Kei searches for his missing grandfather, his only last tangible connection is a letter he received. His investigation brings him closer to Michiru and many discoveries, some sweet, others bitter. In the end, can he find the bond he’s always been searching for? The manga is a well done emotionally layered journey of two young men. The more Kei learns about Michiru in his attempts to get closer to the unusual and enigmatic young man, the more he seems to be inadvertently driving Michiru away. Just what is the secret Michiru is hiding that makes him have to keep Kei at arms length? When bad weather strikes and Kei goes to extremes to discover the truth, the two young men will have to at last face the past, each other, and decide their future. The only question left is if that will be alone or together. The story immediately involves the reader. The characters of Kei and Michiru are well developed and their story is both engaging and poignant. The art also helps draw the reader in, holding a beautiful style that is captivating artistically. It is much fuller and more detailed than the average shonen ai manga that has graced the shelves on the Western shores and helped humanize the characters even further through understated expressions and background nuances. A second story is included in the yaoi manga, revolving around a traumatized heir and a compassionate photojournalist. As the young man comes to understand what has scarred the aloof and fragile heir, he is moved to protect him, even if it costs him the photo opportunity of a lifetime. Both stories have subtle qualities and dramatic complexities to the evolving relationships that make them more deeply emotionally accessible tales than average. That combined with the outstanding art work makes it a poignant manga for fans to immerse themselves in.
IN SUMMARY:
Sea View is a beautifully rendered combination of stories about one young man’s journey of discovery and another one’s choice of compassion and love over money and fame. |
