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Average Customer Rating:

And now for something completely different...

Customer Rating:

This series is just a completely warped hunk of fun. That is, if you like BL manga that runs to the iconoclastic, original, and dark-edged, and that features challenging characters and storylines as well as plenty of deranged humor. If your tastes run to the softer side of the spectrum--i.e., if you want romance, a more conventional art style, and sympathetic characters a la the works of Makoto Tateno, Youka Nitta, Rie Honami, etc.--then this book probably won't do it for you. But for those of us readers who relish non-standard plots and guys-acting-like-guys characterizations (as opposed to the usual BL guys-acting-like-girls sort), Motoni's work is just the thing. If you're into authors like Kazuma Kodaka (espc. her Hana to Ryuu/Sex Therapist side) or Kazuya Minekura (espc. Wild Adapter), then you're likely to dig this. Dog Style is, moreover, the most accessible of Motoni's works. It's not as dark/violent as Shiikugakari Rika or as scattered/crack-ish as Poison Cherry Drive, but seems to take the best elements of both and wrap them in a high school story that's basically the anti-Gakuen Heaven. (I guess that would make it Gakuen Hell?) An added benefit is that she does a good job of conveying the schizo blend of angst, hilarity, hope, and frustration that for many people constitutes the high school experience. And did I mention that it's fun? If the first scene showing Kana or the little four-panel where Teru reacts to Miki pulling out his stashed water bottle doesn't make you laugh, then you're definitely in the wrong place. The translation's skillful and manages to capture the high school JD/yanki flavor of the dialogue, but it does result in something that's harsher in tone than the original and that makes Teru and Miki's characters seem a little more thuggish than they might have. But on balance I don't think it'll make that big a difference as to whether you'll enjoy the manga or not, which, judging from the reactions so far, seems to be more of an all-or-nothing thing in this instance than usual. If, taking into consideration the above caveats, you think you might like this book, I'd urge you to buy it. It's a solid addition to the BL A-ranks. And, finally, an open plea to Kitty Media: please please please use better paper? The art looks about ten times better when the book's not printed on groundwood...

Disjointed and Disappointing

Customer Rating:

I was looking forward to this title based on previous reviews, now I have to wonder if these people read the same manga I did! The characters lines were difficult to figure out, who was saying what? The story lacked anything a true yaoi fan desires. There was no real build up of sexual tension or emotion between the characters, nor any feeling other then apathy. There WAS smut, but even the sex scenes weren't satisfying, the main 'beautiful' character even complained that the sex hurt worse each time. What a let down! How can you get into something like that? Finally, no one else said it, but the art was terrible. The characters faces had impossibly wide mouths with puffy lips that all reminded me unrealistically of Gabrielle Anwar. Sure those lips look good on her, but not on all the characters in this book. Save yourself some $ and get Crimson Spell if you want smut with gorgeous characters and storyline, or Yellow if you want more in a series.

Dog Style

Customer Rating:

I find this story to be refreshing and a bit rough which is enjoyable(similar in someways to shounen manga) it isn't a girly romantic type yaoi like so many I have red before, and frankly I am hoping that they will both be switch hiters. The story is catchy and you find yourself falling in love with Teru and Miki. I hope kitty will continue to bring over more such manga and will license the second book in the series.

Great expectations but little return

Customer Rating:

From the other reviews I thought this might be an interesting yaoi manga, and from the premise stated, well...that seemed a novel idea so I bought it. I was disappointed. The characters lines were confusing and very hard to determine who was saying what, the main characters seriously seemed to dislike each other without any underlying attraction, and specifically as a first volume there was not enough background explained about the characters to make you like or dislike them, or tell why they were doing this or that. It was just irritating, and after trying to read every word to see if any helpful insight would be given, I started flipping through the pages to see if ANYTHING interesting was going to happen. Well, sure it did, after a passable chase scene, the two characters fell into a sexual collision, that though the drawings were good, still lacked passion or reason. The whole manga left me with a dissatisfied feeling, and certainly would not make me want to see anything more from the guys featured. Their personalities could have been more "fleshed" out, as well as the background of the other characters. Less monotony in repetition of the same issues "this guy is going out with this girl, I love him, thus I feel lonely" and the "you're a stray dog not a pet" line became downright annoying. Definitely could have been more positive interaction between Miki and Teru. I won't be adding this one to my library. And it's too bad when people rate your review as "not helpful" just because they liked the product and you didn't. That's not fair or accurate. Sorry if I like a good story line and consistency in anything I read whether its adult or not, and they obviously do not.

Dog Style by Modoru Motoni

Customer Rating:

I have to read this manga two times one soon after the other to decide if I like it and i have to say yes, I like it. Miki and Teru go to the same high school but Miki his older (and taller) of Teru. First time Teru sees Miki he is kissing a guy, who happens to be the older brother of Teru's best friend. And maybe also Teru is a bit in love with his best friend, or maybe he is only jelaous of his time with him, time that, since his best friend has a girlfriend, is very short. And when Teru discovers that also Miki has trouble with his best friend (the guy he was kissing) it seems natural and easy to hung out together. And from a joke and a stroke, the step to sex is short. But Teru has very few experience and the first (and second and third) time together is not very satisfying for Miki. It's very strange, the story is not a continuum, and so you happen to finish a chapter thinking to continue the scene in the next one, and instead the setting is changed and the time elapses is wide. In this first manga (cause I hope this is only the first one and we will see more of this story), Teru and Miki has only the chance to meet and connect, but they haven't yet build a strong relationship... The story, even if setting in an high school and with teen characters, a mix that usually led to a light and funny development, is instead pretty angst. For what we know, Teru and Miki don't have "real" problems, if not being young and uncertain of their future. And they are also having their first sexual experience, and maybe they are questioning what they really like in a partner. It's that time in life where you stop to go out with your best friend to see a girl/boy friend, but if it's you best friend you want as a boy friend, it could be a problem... The art is good, linear and "pure", quite hard, but never cold. The sex is good, but not too much graphic. I will see forward for the next volume in this series, also to know if Teru becomes a little more a "pet" instead of a "stray dog" and if he learns to kiss instead of bite...