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jukebox_csi) wrote2007-11-29 06:24 pm
jukebox_csi) wrote2007-11-29 06:24 pm
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Review Corner: Prince Charming
Another offering from June
Title: Prince Charming
Mangaka: Akemi Takaido
Publisher: June
From the back cover of volume 1: Asahina-sensei isn't a very good teacher or a role model. The epitome of a letch, he spends his nights cruising the town, hooking up with one woman after another - he's even been known to stumble into class drunk - but Asahina's sordid lifestyle has finally caught up with him. When Yuasa, one of his students, finds a video of Asahina having sex in a love hotel, the proof of his degenerate behavior is clear for all to see (frame-by-frame, in super slow-motion). Yuasa promises to hunt down the master tape and keep Asahina's secret - for a price of course. It turns out the love-struck underachiever isn't interested in money or a passing grade, but has had eyes on Asahina-sensei all along... From Akemi Takaido comes a charming tale of blackmail and extortion. With love as Yuasa's payment of choice, will Asahina be able to meet the asking price?
The summary on the back cover is actually a bit misleading. I didn't interpret Asahina-sensei as a letch. Instead, he seems more of a pathetic, loser-type that has lost his way. He picks up different women and sleeps with them because he is in denial regarding the fact that he is not attracted to women at all. The image he had of his life - getting married, having kids, growing old - is a shattered illusion, and he listlessly drifts from one affair to the next and one beer to the next as a way to escape. He is not a very likeable person, being quite jaded for his young age. Nevertheless, Yuasa has a crush on him and seeks a way to be with his teacher. When Asahina is secretly filmed in a love hotel having sex with a woman, and fingering himself in order to actually be able to complete the act, Yuasa sees his opportunity. He actually goes with Asahina to attempt to retrieve the master tape, but he doesn't really plan to use it as blackmail in the long run. The story follows both the teacher and student, as well as two of Yuasa's gay friends Nagai and Kagami, as they introduce sensei to the other side. Asahina slowly begins to accept a lifestyle he has been trying to deny. Asahina is an unhappy man, but Yuasa's personality is strong as he forces Asahina to take care of himself and find worth in his life. Despite Yuasa's best attempts, however, it's hard to see anything other than sex between the two. Yuasa's friends seem like they are along for the ride, but in actuality Nagai has more than friendly feelings for Yuasa. And there seems to be sparks between the lecherous, free-going Kagami and Asahino. As the story progresses, these facts are brought to light; Yuasa learning of Nagai's feelings and a drunken Asahino hitting on Kagami. But, what to do? A complex love triangle, or perhaps quadrangle, seems to be forming with an unknown resolution. After all, "everyone longs to hold their own prince charming."
The artwork is rather simplistic; there seems to be very little shading. These characters are not pretty bishonen as seen in other BL mangas, but rather 'average Joe' looking characters that lean towards the attractive side of the spectrum. Although the hairstyles help the reader to tell the characters apart - and I must admit that I hate sensei's hairstyle that hangs like greasy strands in his face - for the most part, the faces all look similar with their sharp, pointy chins, long noses, and almost crystal clear eyes due to lack of shading. But, they aren't unattractive either, and do not hinder the enjoyment of the story.
Considering the dialog is as simple as the art, not too in depth but still enjoyable, June does make a few grammar mistakes here and there. But overall, the book is presented well with it's nice sized margin, clear page numbering, and fairly clean panels. There is also a slip cover. Unlike some mature June releases I've seen in the past that confuse me over their rating system due to the tame nature within those books, Prince Charming actually earns its mature rating. There are quite a few sexual scenes, and even one erotic panel that shows a side body shot of Yuasa rimming his teacher. Still, none of those scenes are overly explicit.
Though the story is probably a recurring theme - boy falls for teacher, teacher resists, etc. - it is still an enjoyable book. I plan to purchase the next volume, if nothing else so that I can see who winds up with whom as the final pairings in the story.
Title: Prince Charming
Mangaka: Akemi Takaido
Publisher: June
From the back cover of volume 1: Asahina-sensei isn't a very good teacher or a role model. The epitome of a letch, he spends his nights cruising the town, hooking up with one woman after another - he's even been known to stumble into class drunk - but Asahina's sordid lifestyle has finally caught up with him. When Yuasa, one of his students, finds a video of Asahina having sex in a love hotel, the proof of his degenerate behavior is clear for all to see (frame-by-frame, in super slow-motion). Yuasa promises to hunt down the master tape and keep Asahina's secret - for a price of course. It turns out the love-struck underachiever isn't interested in money or a passing grade, but has had eyes on Asahina-sensei all along... From Akemi Takaido comes a charming tale of blackmail and extortion. With love as Yuasa's payment of choice, will Asahina be able to meet the asking price?
The summary on the back cover is actually a bit misleading. I didn't interpret Asahina-sensei as a letch. Instead, he seems more of a pathetic, loser-type that has lost his way. He picks up different women and sleeps with them because he is in denial regarding the fact that he is not attracted to women at all. The image he had of his life - getting married, having kids, growing old - is a shattered illusion, and he listlessly drifts from one affair to the next and one beer to the next as a way to escape. He is not a very likeable person, being quite jaded for his young age. Nevertheless, Yuasa has a crush on him and seeks a way to be with his teacher. When Asahina is secretly filmed in a love hotel having sex with a woman, and fingering himself in order to actually be able to complete the act, Yuasa sees his opportunity. He actually goes with Asahina to attempt to retrieve the master tape, but he doesn't really plan to use it as blackmail in the long run. The story follows both the teacher and student, as well as two of Yuasa's gay friends Nagai and Kagami, as they introduce sensei to the other side. Asahina slowly begins to accept a lifestyle he has been trying to deny. Asahina is an unhappy man, but Yuasa's personality is strong as he forces Asahina to take care of himself and find worth in his life. Despite Yuasa's best attempts, however, it's hard to see anything other than sex between the two. Yuasa's friends seem like they are along for the ride, but in actuality Nagai has more than friendly feelings for Yuasa. And there seems to be sparks between the lecherous, free-going Kagami and Asahino. As the story progresses, these facts are brought to light; Yuasa learning of Nagai's feelings and a drunken Asahino hitting on Kagami. But, what to do? A complex love triangle, or perhaps quadrangle, seems to be forming with an unknown resolution. After all, "everyone longs to hold their own prince charming."
The artwork is rather simplistic; there seems to be very little shading. These characters are not pretty bishonen as seen in other BL mangas, but rather 'average Joe' looking characters that lean towards the attractive side of the spectrum. Although the hairstyles help the reader to tell the characters apart - and I must admit that I hate sensei's hairstyle that hangs like greasy strands in his face - for the most part, the faces all look similar with their sharp, pointy chins, long noses, and almost crystal clear eyes due to lack of shading. But, they aren't unattractive either, and do not hinder the enjoyment of the story.
Considering the dialog is as simple as the art, not too in depth but still enjoyable, June does make a few grammar mistakes here and there. But overall, the book is presented well with it's nice sized margin, clear page numbering, and fairly clean panels. There is also a slip cover. Unlike some mature June releases I've seen in the past that confuse me over their rating system due to the tame nature within those books, Prince Charming actually earns its mature rating. There are quite a few sexual scenes, and even one erotic panel that shows a side body shot of Yuasa rimming his teacher. Still, none of those scenes are overly explicit.
Though the story is probably a recurring theme - boy falls for teacher, teacher resists, etc. - it is still an enjoyable book. I plan to purchase the next volume, if nothing else so that I can see who winds up with whom as the final pairings in the story.