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Yaoi Novel Review: Gentle Cage

Gentle Cage
Written by You Shizaki
Art by Kumiko Sasaki
Published by Juné, imprint of Digital Manga, Inc.
ISBN10: 156970712x
ISBN13: 9781569707128

Review by Linda Yau

For nearly eight years, Itsuki Hashimoto existed as the living human pet of famed artisan Yamabe-sensei. However, prior to this he was the friend of Masatsugu Tokiwa, a student of Yamabe. Forced by family circumstances though, Itsuki accepts Yamabe’s offer of shelter in exchange for obedience, and also to cut Tokiwa out of his life. Eight years later, Yamabe sends Itsuki to see Tokiwa about returning to visit him on his deathbed. How should Itsuki respond, when he suddenly gets stranded with Tokiwa for two weeks following an accident at Tokiwa’s remote home?
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Comic Review: Korgi: The Cosmic Collector

Korgi: The Cosmic Collector
Story and Art: Christian Slade
Published by Top Shelf Productions
ISBN-10: 1-60309-010-x
ISBN-13: 978-1-60309-010-0

Review by Kris

Korgi Hollow is the home for many magical creatures, namely Mollies and Korgis. Mollies are fairy-like creatures and they work with magical Korgis. Korgis are like Welsh Corgis (you know the dogs that the Queen of England raises) that are able to breathe fire. Things are peaceful in Korgi Hollow, until a strange creature starts collecting Mollie wings. Ivy and her Korgi cub Sprout decide to investigate.

While Ivy and Sprout are out investigating we meet out wing collector, and he not of this world. Black 7, the outer space visitor, has his eyes set on Ivy and her wings. Once he has her wings he takes off back home to proudly display his treasure. Thanks to the help from Lump and Scarlett, Ivy and Sprout were able to find Black 7’s makeshift home. It is filled to the brim with Mollie wings and robot toys. Will Ivy and Sprout be able to get her wings back?
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Manga Review: Blank Slate vol. 1

Blank Slate vol. 1
Story and Art: Aya Kanno
Published by VIZ Media
ISBN-10: 1-4215-1924-0
ISBN-13: 978-1-4215-1924-1

Review by Kris

“He” is the most wanted man in the country. You’re probably wondering who I mean. His name is Zen. Zen is the most violent, soulless, criminal in Amata. He takes no prisoners. He gets what he wants and leaves bloody battle in his wake. After taking the Army General’s daughter and her companion hostage he sustains a nasty injury and is sent to a doctor who treats criminals, terrorist, and so on. This doctor is in a neighboring land that is fighting for freedom from Amata. Dr. Hakka made it his mission to save lives no matter what their status in society is. As soon as Dr. Hakka and the villagers learn that this new patient is the one and only Zen they decide to kick him out because they don’t want the army invading their land.
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The National Communication Association Convention 2008

So, I went down to San Diego see Dr. Kelly S. Taylor, who was attending the National Communication Association Convention at the unfortunate Hyatt Hotel. Being communication experts, the NCA did issue a strongly worded explanation of why the convention was going forward at the Hyatt, mainly because the convention which was booked five years ago for this meeting and there were many excellent protests by communication experts at the hotel. Many of the meeting rooms were empty because as many panels as could be moved to other venues were moved to other venues. It’s really a shame the manager of that Hyatt, the swine, is such a hater because it’s a very nice hotel. So I was in there, but didn’t buy anything.

Well, onward.
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Comic Review: Johnny Boo: The Best Little Ghost in the World

Johnny Boo: The Best Little Ghost in the World
Story and Art: James Kochalka
Published by Top Shelf Productions
ISBN-10: 1-60309-013-4
ISBN-13: 978-1-60309-013-1

Review by Kris

Johnny Boo is not only the best little ghost in the world, but he’s also the cutest. In Johnny Boo: The Best Little Ghost in the World he and his pet Squiggle have some pretty crazy adventures. They meet an ice cream monster and Johnny Boo has to save Squiggle because the ice cream monster accidentally ate Squiggle along with the ice cream. I guess that’ll happen when you get a little excited when someone opens up a vat of your favorite food. Thanks to Johnny’s special “Boo” power he is able to save the day!
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Yaoi Review: Lovers and Souls

Lovers and Souls
Story and Art: Kano Miyamoto
Published by the Deux Press Imprint of Aurora Publishing, Inc.
ISBN-10: 1934496405
ISBN-13: 978-1934496404

Review by Kris

One thing I’ve noticed about Kano Miyamoto-sensei is that she has a huge online following. Her fans are also rabid and obsessed. I’m not saying that is a bad thing, believe me there are a few manga-ka that I am rabid and obsessed with. At the back of the manga sensei mentions that Lovers and Souls was her first manga and it kicks off the Rules universe. The first two-thirds of the manga features the story of Shinomiya and Matsuoka. The last third is the completely unrelated story about Kai and Nozaki.
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Book Review: Deadville

Deadville
Written by Ron Koertge
Published by Candlewick Press
ISBN10: 0763635804
ISBN13: 9780763635800

Review by Linda Yau

Ever since his younger sister died of cancer two years earlier, Ryan has sleepwalked through his life. He hangs out with his slacker-stoner drug-dealing friend, Andy, listening to music, and rebels against his yuppie-ish Middle aged parents. Everything changes though when popular High school senior Charlotte Silano has an accident and is in a coma at the hospital.
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Manga Review: Black Lagoon Vol. 1

Black Lagoon: Vol. 1
Art and Story by Rei Hiroe
Published by Viz Media
ISBN10: 142151382x
ISBN13: 9781421513829

Review by Linda Yau

Rokuro Okajima is an ordinary Japanese salaryman, with an ordinary life. He certainly didn’t expect to be held hostage by three mercenaries. Still it was this experience that led him to joining the ship of Black Lagoon. The purpose of Black Lagoon is to deliver cargo for the Russian Mafia group, Hotel Moscow. This had led them to be at odds with the other crime factors in the Southeast Asian seas. Follow the beginning of this exciting series with equally violent gunfights and physical action.
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Yaoi Review: Stop Bullying Me!

Stop Bullying Me!
Story and Art: Natsuho Shino
Published by the Juné Imprint of Digital Manga, Inc.
ISBN-10: 1-56970-591-7
ISBN-13: 978-1-56970-591-9

Review by Kris

Teasing the one you like is nothing new, at least if you are in elementary school. Bullying the one you like, that’s a different story. I find the title Stop Bullying Me! to be a little misleading. When I think of bullying I think of overly large boys threatening smaller kids for lunch money and stuff. In this story the “bullying” looks more like teasing to me.
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Yaoi Review: Romantic Illusions

Romantic Illusions
Story and Art by Riichi Hiiro
Published by: Juné Imprint of Digital Manga, Inc.
ISBN10: 1569705771
ISBN13: 9781569705773

Review by Linda Yau

Yu as a shy part time florist has about three issues in his life that he wants to move past. One of them is to not be an eternal masturbator. Two is to handle his growing feelings for Sugo, a regular customer at the flower shop. Three is dealing with Ryo: an avid street-walking playboy, and Kaname: a cool-headed defense attorney. One major problem though, they all share the same body. Yu suffers from a multiple-personality disorder after childhood trauma forces him to create personalities to love him. As the main personality though, Yu now falls in love with Sugo, and must deal now with the jealousy of his two side personalities.

Romantic Illusions was an enjoyable quick read. I have never read of anything like this before in bl-manga, so I was pleasantly surprised. In the past, I have been fascinated with reading about cases of MPD’s, so this book fit the bill. There are funny moments, such as when Kaname criticizes Sugo for his lack of foreplay towards Yu, and there were moments that were like… “Hmm….” such as how Kazami/Dionysus turns how to be. Normally as a patient heals from his trauma, the personalities disappear, and this book was not the case, as Ryo and Kaname end up having lovers and relationships of their own. At the end of the book, there was a funny short dealing with the stamina and stress of Yu, with three extra lovers.