IT'S 2 AM AND THIS MANGA JUST KICKED MY ASS hholy shit oh my god!!! I love this manga so much. The art is STUNNING (worth reading for that alone tbh) and the story keeps up...well developed characters and a slow build to a REALLY good romance. Im just !!!! right now cuz dang this is exactly the kind of shounen ai I love to see...something that doesn't just feel good for the genre but is genuinely an excellent manga - like a really good novel featuring a gay romance rather than something you would find in the "gay romance" section of a bookstore. It's not complete either which I'm actually happy to hear because I love these characters and I want to keep seeing them! Anyway, sorry for this incomprehensible comment but I definitely recommend this!!

The atypical art—clean and expressive—drew me in. But I stayed for the plot. There's just enough mystery and subtlety that you're satisfied, but it always leaves you yearning for more.

Start with the art; stay for the plot.

Edit: I GIVE IT ANOTHER 10/10 FOR THE EXTRAS YES OH YES.

I'm crying. Even The Speaker is good. But it's much, much darker.

... Last updated on October 3rd, 2016, 2:44pm

Writing this with tears still flowing. Started this piece not knowing what to expect but I trusted the high ratings and here I am, overwhelmed with what I've read. Never thought I would call a manga (other than Saezuru Tori wa Habatakanai) a masterpiece, but this one really deserves the title as well. A roller-coaster of emotions and thoughts, I had to stop at several scenes just to take my breath and process my feelings. Really a story that makes you forget to breath. Surprising and unexpected events over and over and over. Can't wait to read what will come next. Just Amazing.

This is without a doubt if not The Best then one of the best yaoi, with the themes that it deals with, that I have come across. I even broke my rule of not reading a series if it's not complete; in fact I forgot to check whether this is complete or not. And now I despair because I don't see this ending, at least, before 5 more years.
The absolute control that ZAKK has over the genre, as he manages to blend different ones together and switch from one to another in a heartbeat, is absolutely stunning. Truly, spectacular. and it's not just the genre. ZAKK also shows similar aptitude with the art style, narrative, and characterization as well.

I adore v. 1-3, and the art style is just amazing.

I really like v. 4 but it is such a different story that is so much darker. The focus is not on the two main leads from the first three volumes, but on the guys who basically drew one of the main leads into a life of crime. Some of the things you'll read include:



and since it's basically another story/spin-off you don't actually have to read it, nor should you if you'd rather not explore those darker themes.

... Last updated on March 7th, 2017, 11:23pm

eventhough the art is mostly in western-style (not anime-style) but it's so great. the pace, the motion, the angle, and the panel are well-put with the plot so the emotion can be poured out. one of few shonen-ai manga which is deeper in emotion than regular yaoi manga.
nevertheless, it is a real nice manga with artistic touch!

Volume 1 through 3 are a lovely romance between a hat maker who takes in an ex-criminal, like he found a lost dog in the rain. There's a lot of emphasis on craftsmanship and what that means to people. The hat shop isn't a backdrop, but a setting that you really get a feel for. The author knows what they are drawing and they clearly love drawing it. The art style is lively and vibrant, the romance non-toxic, it's just very good.

Then the main story spins off into "The Speaker", which I'd describe as a psychological crime thiller. The tone is completely different, but the storytelling and art are still solid.

My one gripe is that I don't think these two stories should've been related. The organized crime part of "Dear Mr" was more confusing than it needed to be, because it was introducing elements of the spin-off rather than just telling a coherent and self-contained story.
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Edit: I somehow completely missed the fact that there's an english print edition! Now I own the first two volumes and can add that it's worth buying.

... Last updated on March 28th, 2023, 2:43pm

Story was sweet & interesting......two men from two different worlds. The art though...........Is absolutely incredible. Hands down the best yaoi art I have ever seen and some of the best art quality I have seen in a manga ever. Zakk has a unique style as well and this was so refreshing to me.
Story can get a little confusing? But it is still enjoyable.
I haven't read The Speaker yet though. not sure if I will.

I keeps coming back to it.

ate this story up real fast. has all the things i go for: romantic tension, gang-related backstories and skeletons in the closet, and humor. the characterization is done really nicely even though i don't know a whole lot about each character. for example, kutsuna feels very familiar even though i only know about his history with his dog, grandma, and his delinquent past. i know next to nothing about his past relationships or how he even got started with his hat-making quest (or his college years, for that matter). im looking forward to those details, if they do come, though.

great story! i'm looking forward to more!