Archive for the Rakuen Le Paradis Category


Rakuen Le Paradis, Volume 13 (楽園 Le Paradis)

March 17th, 2014

Rakuen Le Paradis, Volume 13 (楽園 Le Paradis) is more of the very pleasing same.

We get the usual adorable stuff from Mizutani Fuuka and Kowo Kazuma, and the usual creeptastic stuff.

We get a deeper look at the mismatch that is Takako and Shinobu in “Collectors.”  Each has such a unique perspective on life that they can’t even give directions that make sense to the other.

In “Kakera no Omoi,” we have indeed turned our attention from Mayu and Mika, to the eternally suffering best friend with an unrequited love, Saki. Unfortunately for Saki, her conversation with Mika about Mayu is overheard…by Mayu. Now Saki’s worst fear has come true – Mayu knows her feelings. What will Mayu’s reaction be? Tune in and find out. What would yours be if you found out that your best friend was in love with you?

And in “Au,” Nishi Uko tells the story of an entire relationship from meeting to breakup and makeup in art and words in the “-au” verb form.

And filling out the Yuri in the lineup is Harumi Chihiro’s “Hankagoto” in which school girls learn they are on the same page after all.

Ratings:

Overall – 8

I love this magazine. It hurts, it’s weird, it’s wacky, it’s adorable and it’s lovely in equal measure.

 





Yuri Manga: Omoi no Kakera, Volume 2 (想いの欠片)

September 13th, 2013

One of the three titles I chose for 2011’s Top Yuri Manga was Omoi no Kakera, Volume 1 by Takemiya Jin.  Specifically, I very much enjoyed our introduction to Mika, a confident, self-aware young lesbian.

In Omoi no Kakera, Volume 2, Mika’s relationship with underclassman Mayu develops significantly. Where in Volume 1, Mayu begins with distaste that develops into a crush, in Volume 2, Mayu starts to genuinely care about Mika…and Mika learns that she’s developed some affection for the younger girl. After the coffee house owner lays it out to Mika, that her insistence that she prefers older women is merely a way of clinging to her past, Mika tells Mayu the whole story of her first love. Mayu’s reaction is very sweet. And for the first time, I have some confidence that they could, possibly, become a healthy couple, maybe. Just as they reach this place, it appears that Mika’s past has indeed caught up with her.

The main story has a few Intermissions. Under “not really a couple and, so, not unhealthy, but wtf?” comes the coffee shop owner and her roommate. I have no idea what the deal is with them. ^_^;

The Intermissions include a short, really cute story about Mayu’s brother (who we know from the early chapters of Volume 1, is gay) and his crush, a male classmate.

The book also contains a short story called “Love & Piece,” which has a rough start in some hideous stereotypes and a really bad set of choices, but ends in a good place.

I have saved the best/worst story for last.

As Mayu has manages to get closer to Mika, her best friend Saki has taken a lot of hits over the years. When Mayu expressed disgust for gays, Saki was unable to admit that she was a lesbian. But when Mayu needed her, she was always there. Now Mayu is falling for Mika, and Saki’s lonelier than she ever thought possible. Saki’s story is heartbreaking, but very well told. I can only hope that Volume 3 brings her some happiness.

I love this story. It is full of the hormonal, irrational, high/lows of teenage life, and full of gay kids who are still finding themselves. Mika, Harada-kun and Saki are not alone, but we all have to reinvent the wheel for ourselves to some extent.

Ratings:

Art – 9
Story – 10
Characters – 10
Yuri – 9 / Lesbian – 9
Service – 4 for “Love & Piece”

Overall – 10

Takemiya-sensei tells a damn good story.





Rakuen Le Paradis, Volume 12 (楽園 Le Paradis)

August 27th, 2013

Volume 12 of Rakuen Le Paradis (楽園 Le Paradis) gets off to an excruciatingly sweet start as Kazu and Kanata warm each other up on cold days with a comfy embrace in  Mizutani Fu-ka’s “14-sai no Koi.”

Nishi Uko’s “Collectors” was laugh-out-loud funny, as it plumbed the depths of Takako’s wardrobe during changing weather (she bought a new jacket when it went a little chily) and why Shinobu got a cold in the first place (she ran home through the rain to protect a book, because she didn’t have money left to buy an umbrella.)

Kurosaki Rendou’s “yue lao” is more of his signature sloppy sex Yuri.

And “Omoi no Kakera” reaches a climax in a stunning chapter, in which Mika faces her past and realizes that it’s not all about her. She looks at her old tutor, sees that she’s very happy with what is clearly a new lover and realizes that she does not want her to be unhappy. Mika leaves her past behind her and is able to reassure Mayu – and accept her relived hug. It was an awesome chapter. Mika is an incredible character. I really hope the story will continue to surprise and please me. There are certainly some surprises left – Mayu’s friend Saki is going to have to deal with her feelings for Mayu.

In “.925” a proposal is turned down during a night in a hotel.

I haven’t mentioned Otsuki Yuko’s “kanojotachi no saishuteri” before, but the sleazy manipulative teacher who seduces the creepy loser kid, is herself  seduced by an equally creepy sleazy female student.

And as adorable, warm and fuzzy as the opening story was, the end story, “Ivan Gaulier” is a horror-fest full of nightmarish things.

Another “interesting” volume of Rakuen Le Paradis. ^_^

Ratings:

Overall – It’s the best of manga, it’s the worst of manga.  Square root of 33.7





Rakuen Le Paradis Manga, Volume 11 (楽園Le Paradis)

June 20th, 2013

Rakuen Le Paradis (楽園Le Paradis)  is the manga equivalent of Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans.  There’s just no other way to describe it. For every story that makes me feel “ahhh” there’s a story that makes me go “ewww.”

In Volume 11, there are a few “ahhs.” Because Hayashiya-sensei’s Seijukuki Jinmei Vega   has just been completed and collected into a volume,* (with Drama CD and without) there is nothing from her. But there is another chapter of Nishi UKO’s “Collectors” which, as always, plumbs the depths of obsession, as we learn that Shinobu uses a barcode reader to catalog her books and Takako would rather die than wear a pair of Shinobu’s sneakers. ^_^

Takemiya Jin’s “Omoi no Kakera” builds toward a climax. Mayu rescues Mika from having to deal with her first lover, an older woman who still holds too much power over Mika’s emotions. Mayu really steps up here, putting the whole story together in an instant and taking decisive action. Mika tells Mayu the truth and determines to not cede control of her life to this person who hurt her so badly.

And, exceptionally amusing is Nishi UKO’s “Up and Down” in which a new neighbor unintentionally plays havoc with a woman’s feelings. I don’t know why, but I just love stories that end up with happy families. ^_^

Ratings:

Overall – Variable doesn’t cut it…let’s try spasmodic

The stuff that’s bad is, in places, *really* not to my taste, but the stuff that’s good is so wonderful I find myself dipping into the jar over and over. ^_^

*Yes, I caught the news about Hayate x Blade ending this AM, thanks. Since it’s another magazine entirely, it’ll keep for the YNN report. ^_^





Yuri Manga: Collectors, Volume 1 (コレクターズ）

February 14th, 2013

In honor of Valentine’s Day I can think of no better candidate for review than Nishi UKO’s Collectors, from the pages of Rakuen Le Paradis magazine.

Nito Shinobu collects books. Kanzaki Takako is interested in fashion and collects clothes. The two of them love each other very much but, as they both consider their future together, their competing use of space could make living together awkward. ^_^;

With their friend Naomi and “the other one,” the unnamed friend who makes up the fourth in their group, Shinobu and Takako’s life together is detailed in amusingly realistic 4-koma strips or chapter-long stories.

From how they met, to Shinobu hiding from her students at a book store, to going away with friends, to bickering and moments of intimacy, their lives look remarkably like a real life that a real couple might have, rather than the melodramatic extremes of so much manga. For me, Collectors is a refreshing, realistic, fun look at a relationship between women who love each other. Weird huh? I mean really weird. Because there is hardly any manga like this.

Here’s my favorite scene – Shinobu, standing with Naomi and the other one (Okay, let’s just pick a name for her. Put your suggestions in the comments section and I’ll pick one, and send it to Nishi UKO-sensei as a suggestion. ^_^) waiting for Takako to arrive, when  Shinobu says Takako is heading towards them. Naomi asks where, as a woman walks up to them. Takako’s changed her hair color, but Shinobu knows it’s her from meters away. ^_^

They snipe at one another about each other’s collection habits, they have tender moments with hands entwined in each other’s hair, they live and they love. Just like me and my wife, just like you and your girlfriend, just like lesbians whose relationship does not end with a kiss or graduation. This is what after the happily-ever-after really looks like.

Whether you collect glasses, boyfriends, books or clothes, Happy Valentine’s Day from myself and everyone at Yuricon & ALC Publishing!

Ratings:

Art – 10
Story – 10 Life. What could be funnier, more poignant or more interesting?
Characters – 10
Yuri – 10
Service – 1

Overall – 10

As I read this book before bed, I look fondly over the multiple piles of books-to-read next to my bed and smile. I’m on Team Shinobu. ^_^

Go ahead and put your suggestions for Takako’s friend’s name in the comments. ^_^