 | | ▪ | RELEASED BY: | | 801 MEDIA | | | ▪ | AUTHOR / ART: | | RIE HONJOH | | | ▪ | FORMAT: | | JAPANESE / B&W | | | ▪ | PAGES: | | 175 | | | ▪ | RATING: | | 18+ | | | ▪ | RELEASE DATE: | | 12/02/2009 | | | ▪ | REVIEW DATE: | | 01/10/2010 | | | ▪ | REVIEWED BY: | | RACHEL BENTHAM |
Comedy, seduction and soap opera drama occurs when tragedy begets a confusing situation for three men. Aoto’s parents died when he was young and his sister passed away recently, leaving him in the care of his brother-in-law Takashi. The problem is that 18 year old Aoto is in love with Takashi who is sending him all kinds of weird signals with them living together and Takashi missing his wife. Enter into the mix the suave Masayuki who takes an immediate liking to Aoto. Sure Masayuki is friends with Takashi, sure he’s older than Aoto, but he wastes no time putting the moves on the young man and offering him what Takashi won’t…or will Takashi change his mind? For all the tragedy in the past of these characters, the standalone story finds the fun in their current situation. Masayuki has a comical dogged determination to win over Aoto. When Aoto learns that Masayuki has a far more sensitive and serious side than he’s let on, it might put a crack in that at times violent defense he has going on. That persistence proves painful when Takashi offers to take Aoto overseas with him. This is when Masayumi shows how much he truly cares for Aoto. He’s willing to break his own heart in order to help Aoto be happy so if that means letting him leave unencumbered to Los Angeles, Masayumi will do it. Now if only Aoto would clue in to how dearly the guy feels for him! When he does clue in to the seriousness and depth of Masayumi’s feelings it makes for an erotic revelation for Aoto. The manga also has a chapter focusing on Aoto’s best pal Akira. Sure the guy has a weird hairdo, but he can beat down anyone coming at him, he’s that strong. He doesn’t like fighting but people try to pick on him. He’s one unusual guy. When delinquent Yu tackles him and loses, it’s love at first knock down. Yu tries to get closer to him and when he steals his first kiss with Akira, the other guy flees from him in embarrassment. Yu has no idea what to do but he gets some good advice from Aoto. Now he’s chasing down the love of his life. Even though he lost the fight, maybe he’ll win Akira’s heart. The final story finds Takashi mixed up over his feelings about Aoto. When he finds out that Masayumi has been having sex with Aoto it really throws things in the fire. He tells Masayumi to stay away while he decides what to do. Meanwhile Aoto has no idea what is going on and is mad at Masayumi for avoiding him. There are some bittersweet revelations in the final chapter with a sugary sweet dose of tenderness and happy endings. The yaoi is by the same mangaka that did Invisible Love. The character designs are nicely varied and the interactions as they are illustrated between Aoto and Masayumi are often super funny. Masayumi keeps pushing and gets slapped, punched, and kicked by Aoto so Masayumi often sports a new bruise or bandage every few days. It’s a nice bit of continuity that the artist keeps up with for the storyline. Although real domestic abuse is never funny, the more aggressive physical interactions that occur between these two men is rough housing and a comical courtship.
IN SUMMARY:
Love Skit is a curve ball in the lives of three men! |
