Gunjo, Chapters 10-13

August 6th, 2009

I haven’t talked about Gunjo (new spelling courtesy of the editors of Morning 2 magazine) in a while. It’s not because it stopped running, although there was a hiatus for a bit of the spring.

It was because, simply, I couldn’t. I could not write about what is arguably the most amazing story I have ever read, bar none.

I tried to verbalize why this was yesterday to the wife and began to cry, because I just couldn’t talk about it.

I last left you after the two protagonists spend a night of loss, love, passion and pain, after we get a glimpse into the lives they’ve put behind them, and watch as the blonde’s former lover is forced by her sheer misery to come out to her parents – who kinda knew and, really kind of liked the blonde.

That’s when this story went from really amazing to sublime. And that’s when I became incapable of writing about it.

The morning after, the protagonists, whom I have given the horrible nicknames BL (Blonde) and BN (Brunette), walk away. I mean that literally. They take a look at the blood they’ve left on the sheets and the towels, and the destruction they’ve caused in the room during their various tantrums, and they drop their purses, and every yen they have on the bed…then they walk away. And almost immediately, a policeman sees them and calls out after them.

They run. They run hard, suddenly realizing that they want freedom…and, when a train nearly hits BL and BN leaves even her shoes behind to run fast enough to save her, they realize that they want to live.

They spend the night wandering in the cold rain. BN is shoeless, and getting a cold as the night wears on. Almost immediately, before they’ve even been able to taste it, their freedom swirls away down the sewer. This was a 72 page chapter – it was indescribable. I felt utterly exhausted and breathless after reading it. They are clearly at their end of their very short ropes, when BL finds a coin and uses it to make a phone call.

She calls her brother. He’s amazed to hear from her and comes to get the two of them. As it happens, it’s her nephew’s birthday so, while BN huddles miserably in the car, BL spends a few happy hours with her brother’s family, coming out to him and his wife. “What’s it like, being a lesbo?” he asks, then apologizes.

BN, filled with misery and self-loathing and a head cold wants out. But BL is driving them both – somewhere.

And here we are, waiting on what will probably be the penultimate or ultimate chapter. I still don’t know how this will end, but I have no doubt that it will be epic. And beyond that, I await – as I hope you do – the collected volume with bated breath.

This really is not Top 10 for 2009 material – this is Top Ten for my entire life material. I’ve never loved such loathsome people so much.

Ratings:

Art – 8
Story – 10
Characters – 9
Yuri – 9
Service – 1

Overall – 10

9 Responses

  1. Anonymous says:

    Any chance we’ll have the opportunity to read this in English?

  2. If you’re asking about scans, I can’t (and wouldn’t) answer that. If you’re asking about a license, if I hear anything, I’ll be sure to let you know.

  3. Anonymous says:

    You know, I think I’ll buy the tankoubon based on your recommendation alone. I might not read it before a translation is available, but sales matter, especially for a young artist. And even if it isn’t my cup of tea for whatever reason, I’m pretty much certain I won’t think it’s *bad*. Such high praise makes me curious.

  4. Anonymous says:

    Figures … the Japanese always keep the good stuff to themselves. XD

  5. Anonymous says:

    Wow I really love dark series like this.

    straihgt, Yuri, or yaoi!

    What do you mean by loserfanboy by the way? Do you mean BL’s brother?

  6. Anonymous says:

    Whenever this series is available either in original japanese or transalted to english PLEASE PLEASE LET US KNOW

    I really want to read this series!

  7. massinha says:

    I really wanna buy it, but my japanese are no more than 200 words unf, So please let us know anything.

  8. dorilys says:

    hey, I tried to buy the Tankoubon, but the shipping to Brazil was nore than 50$$ at amazon jp, do you know where can I find it with a more affordable price? I´ll would aprecciate your help.

    thanks for your work.

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