otakulys's manga / #Twisted(143)

It's too short to be as impactful as it could be, and it's kind of confusing, but you get the gist of the plot.

Definitely messed up and sad. Seems to imply that the leader was in love with him all along, but clearly had some serious mental issues. It's so brief and abrupt that it's hard to get into, so it reads as torture porn, essentially. It's just there for the cruelty. I wish they'd done more with the concept instead of just ended it there. Also, this artist clearly has a pee fetish, based on her other work.

I hate the animal death. So gross. But it was there for a reason, at least. Unsurprisingly miserable story, but it's an interesting little back story for Itou-san, which was a fantastic manga. For that reason, I'm giving this a four star rating. Definitely upsetting, though, for many reasons. Also, watch out for pedophiles galore.

This is the only kind of incest I can read--the type that acknowledges how sick it is and approaching it with that twisted, psychological perspective. When it's treated as an everyday thing in a story, it weirds me out. (To each their own, of course! It's fiction. Just not my thing.) The story was interesting and well done, and I just love her art. But I'm not sure I buy the twist. The fact that people said there was a twist at all clued me into what it probably was, so I read the story with the assumption that... well, no spoilers if you can't guess. Anyway, I was right, and I feel like it was kind of reaching compared to the other complex stuff. I was a little disappointed that it tried to be extra twisted when it was one of the few stories where a rape victim flat out accuses their attacker of rape. It's like no one wants to use that word in stories, and half the time the victim ends up comforting the attacker. But that's yaoiland for you, I guess. Regardless, it was definitely a creepy, twisted, sad, and interesting read. I enjoyed it, even if the twist was kinda meh for me. It's a messed up story, and it *knows* it's messed up. The intention is never to paint any of this as normal or all right. (The violence, manipulation, and games, I mean.) So yeah, 4.5 stars.

Lol, guess there's a fine line between butterflies from a crush and adrenaline from being assaulted and facing your death. She should write a book about relationships. So romantic.

Hmm... I was first exposed to this mangaka in an anthology where she'd written a oneshot. At the time, that was all that she'd had published, and I lamented that fact as I absolutely adored her short story. It broke my heart into a million pieces--like ugly crying, swollen eyes, blubbering mess--but it was so beautiful and perfect. I rejoiced when I saw, some time later, that she'd released more work. However, I'm on the fence with this. I love her art, but I'm really over the whole "my brother raped me but secretly I'm in love with him, so it's okay" bullshit. It's sad that his brother is like that, but I hate when that sort of thing is just brushed aside, like the rapist's feelings are what's most important. I can tolerate that mindset in a story that knows it's messed up. I'm concerned that the mangaka thinks this is somehow sweet or justified. I don't even know. They clearly have a complicated relationship. I'm hoping that it breaks the typical expectations and gives us something fantastic, but I'm bracing myself for more of the same. I hope her other stuff isn't marred by yaoiland logic. She's obviously talented.

WTF. This is so screwed up. ...But I like it. I'm just glad that one part was a fake out, or I would have had to rage quit. That's like the worst kind of violation of the bros before hoes code. Like, seriously? No piece of ass is worth letting someone eat your best friend. XD Anyway, this is obviously a kinkfest for the mangaka, as it squeezes in so many fetishes that aren't particularly common in yaoi. Not that I'm complaining, as a few of them are kinks of my own that I so rarely see. This story is definitely odd, and the cruelty of it is kind of getting to me, but I'm intrigued.

These were all really weird and mostly disjointed, though the twist at the very end of the first story made me chuckle, and the final exchange of the second one made me laugh a little, too. Each oneshot involves a psychotic person, usually more than one, which is played for comedy in the first two, but takes a messed up turn in the third. I got the feeling that we were still supposed to be laughing, but it was so sad and mean. Like, moral of the story, never be nice to anyone. After that, though, it doesn't seem to follow any sort of pattern other than the "no happily ever after" theme. Mostly unrequited love throughout, though the mood really changes. That final story made me cry, despite my best efforts. It was just so pointlessly sad. Is this guy not aware that gay men can also have children? Adoption isn't an imaginary thing. Anyway, sad and weird, rather abrupt, pretty uncomfortable. Mixed with strange humor? That about sums it up, haha.

Kaori Yuki is all about twisted romance. This was pretty confusing and jumbled, though. Would have been better if it were longer and actually had some character development, etc. Oh well. Vampire dude and manipulative boyfriend have a confrontation that suggests maybe they need some couples counseling.

ANIMAL TORTURE WARNING! Not as graphic as the human stuff, but graphic enough. That being said: SUUUUUUUUUUUUUUPER messed up. I don't believe another yaoi title can top this one. I've read some messed up crap--horse rape, cannibalism, a guy getting cut in half while another dude fucks his loose intestines--but this really takes the cake. It's sad and disturbing, definitely a miserable story. It's fucked up from beginning to end, with no relief, and it's hardcore to boot. I was disappointed in a few elements, mostly along the lines of nothing truly coming to a head with the case, and the ending felt too much like a final jump scare for me, especially when it's just a flash of him still as miserable as ever. Definitely not for the faint of heart or weak of stomach. No happy endings here.