Shin Mizukami has done it again: She has reaffirmed to me why she is one of my favourite mangakas. Mizukami-sensei is the best oneshot writer and illustrator that I have tumbled blissfully upon. She seemingly effortlessly manages to create characters that I immediately connect with and root for! She always has an element of darkness to her stories that I have a passion for and she delves in with such a deft hand of illustration and perfectly paced words. Her stories aren't for everyone: They do have non-con and manipulation. They grab my stomach and put it my throat. If I am going to remember and be affected by a BL story, it is usually one of hers!
I enjoyed all of the stories in this anthology. Chapter 1 is the highlight of this volume to me. Although short, the oneshot Silently, Give Yourself To Me, packs a punch. Fukami, the older brother, is constantly bossing and criticizing Hiromu, his younger brother. He also guilt trips him because he has taken over the 'family' responsibility since their parents' death. Takigawa, the friend of Fukami, comes over and the atmosphere immediately changes with his good nature and eager smile. He is thankful, appreciative and complimentary to Hiromu. Thus, we come to the most amazing shower denial scene and then the most stunning in-the-dark, fondling a belonging of the man he loves and then .....Dum Da DUM: Kitchen release scene! The very last scene is so funny! WOOHoooooo.
Chapter 2 is Strike Song and chapter 3 is It's Okay To Love Me or As Long As You Do It With Love. They are both captivating, but not as tense, oneshots. The first one is about a boy who 'sells' himself out to a baseball shop owner because he lost his team mates' money to buy new equipment. The second one is the younger brother of an irresponsible 'friend' of a cafe owner. When he 'borrows' $30K from the cafe owner, the little brother is left as collateral. Although not as dynamic, memorable and shockingly HOT as Silently, Give Yourself To Me, these stories still have amazing drawings. Mizukami's ability to infuse eyes and postures with emotion is outstanding. The story lines were all very simple, but still engaging.
The Dictatorial Archangel series of three stories was wonderful! The first story was the best: The relationship developed with great sexual tension and also some depth, with the Col. teaching the little brother like an older brother or father-figure would. The rest of the stories weren't as amazing, mostly because they were 'humourous' takes and I'm not a big over-the-moon fan of humour in BL. As far humour goes though, both The Archangel's Bride and Colonel Rosenberg's Diary did make me laugh!