From the back cover: The crescendo builds as "Black" Riya becomes more dominant and, if he has his way, would erase "White" Riya from existence. But whichever personality surfaces, kind and compassionate Atsushi is ready to burst into a torch song for Riya, after realizing that he is in love with the confused young man. Upperclassman Kousaka, however, is set on derailing the … [Read more...] about Il Gatto Sul G. 2 by Tooko Miyagi: B
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Il Gatto Sul G. 1 by Tooko Miyagi: B+
From the back cover: Atsushi Ikeda is your typical "nice guy." He's so nice, he even has this habit of bringing stray cats home. But even he is quite unprepared for what turns up at his doorstep one day... a cut and bloodied young man. The injured boy turns out to be famous violinist, Riya Narukawa. Seeing the frail Riya arouses Atsushi's compassion for wounded creatures. He … [Read more...] about Il Gatto Sul G. 1 by Tooko Miyagi: B+
Eat or Be Eaten by Jinko Fuyuno and Yamimaru Enjin: B-
Masaki Ashizawa is employed by a management consulting firm and is renowned for rehabilitating struggling restaurants and persuading his clients to his way of thinking. His current project involves finding the perfect chef for a new French restaurant being secretly opened by Chef Yanaginuma, a big name in the business, and when Ashizawa tastes the cooking of Chef Tsubaki, he … [Read more...] about Eat or Be Eaten by Jinko Fuyuno and Yamimaru Enjin: B-
CUT by Toko Kawai: A
“Life is kind of a pain,” thinks Chiaki Sakaguchi at the outset of this exceptional one-shot. Chiaki is bored with school; it seems so trivial compared to the painful secret guilt he carries over his father’s death. In an attempt to dull that pain, Chiaki seeks out new pain, getting involved in an abusive incestuous relationship with his stepfather and resorting to cutting … [Read more...] about CUT by Toko Kawai: A
S 4: Afterglow by Saki Aida and Chiharu Nara: B-
Masaki Shiiba was a detective investigating the manufacture of illegal firearms and Keigo Munechika was his “S,” an informant who played a key role in Shiiba’s information gathering. At some point in the past, the two began a romantic relationship, but a powerful yakuza boss with a grudge against Munechika wants to see him suffer and so hires a hitman who’ll receive one million … [Read more...] about S 4: Afterglow by Saki Aida and Chiharu Nara: B-