Aigan Shounen really fits a fetish niche in the manga market. Out of all the comments made so far, the best advice is that it is not for everyone. The story is dark, violent and unforgiving. Personally, it's not something I particularly enjoy. However, that still doesn't take away from the fact that the characters are so static and shallow. A good story of this nature really needs to develop characters in a deeper and more meaningful way. Because sadism and rape are very dark topics the characters need justification, a reason and rhyme to their actions. This manga does very little service to its characters, especially the protagonist.
On a lighter note, as always, the art is very well done. The dark, almost naive doe eyes of Seiji and the animalistic and hungry eyes of Baron Kuroba make a startling comparison. The dark and mysterious servant Godo somehow seems more alluring than the rest, dressed in a WWII military uniform and sporting a half-mask which covers a hideous scar. The doctor Kitamura is another attractive addition, even more so when he reveals his snide and ambitious nature.
Overall, if it weren't for the art and for the ambitious storyline, Aigan Shounen wouldn't really be worth reading unless you're partial towards S&M and gothic erotica. Take a look if you think you might be interested, but otherwise you're just going to give up or be disappointed.

... Last updated on October 26th, 2008, 6:09am

i like dark, i don't mind violence, and i can deal with cruelty, if the story is there to support all of those. i don't feel the story is there in this case (and the ending is completely hokey considering what went on before). i didn't care for any of the characters, and i would have needed some back story about the baron and his cohorts. random cruelty just doesn't work for me at all, and this seems all too random.

the art is unique; i love mizukami shin for that. except for the damn glowing genitalia -- that's got to be the worst way of censoring, right up there with pixelation. i'd rather not see any penises and just imagine them than having those ghostly things disrupt the beautifully dark art,

This manga is so beautiful in a very disturbing way. I always cry when I read it, and I don't usually do that. It is tru that it becomes very disturbing at times, and it's hard to read. If it weren't for the mangakas beautiful drawings I doubt I would appriciate the story as much as I did. She shows us how beauty isn't always pretty and that not even the worst of characters is as bad as one first thinks.

My heart cries everytime I think about this manga. Unlike so many others I'm actually happy and relieved that there is only one book. I don't think my heart would be able to survive another one!

I'm a big fan of dark manga and an even bigger fan of S/M series. I'm also a fan of several of Shin Mizukami's other works. So really, this should've been right up my alley. And yet... I find myself disappointed. There wasn't a single character I felt ANY kind of affinity for. The uke was a simpering fool, the seme a cruel and stupid man. The S/M style scenes were flat and empty. There was no semblance of sexiness to the scenes for me. They weren't over the top enough to be hot only for S/M sake, but they lacked any kind of emotional attachment to make them worthwhile sex scenes for sex's sake. Maybe I've been spoiled by Maia Tori's works... but this just feels like a failed attempt at S/M to me. The art was also a disappointment. For a character that is meant to be "unearthly beautiful" the baron just wasn't attractive to me at all.

In short, I went into this volume expecting to love it... and I'm just not moved. It wasn't terrible, mind you... but it wasn't something I'll want to re-read any time soon.

So many people love this, though - that you should definitely give it a shot if the subject matter sounds like something you might like. I mean, hey, someone's gotta dislike it, right? I guess that someone's me - but that doesn't mean you'll dislike it, too.

... Last updated on September 13th, 2010, 2:16am

It isn't often that you'll a find BL mangaka willing to delve into such dark and intriguing topics, without compromising the plot. A mixture of sadism, blood play, etc. and a varied and unique cast makes this a very interesting manga. Granted, it isn't as dark as some stuff I've read but those with a weak stomach or heart should stay away.

My only regret is that there weren't any further volumes to this title.

... Last updated on June 16th, 2008, 5:23am

I don't know. Am I reading too much BL? What movies have I been watching. I thought this is going to be 'omgeee so dark it will corrupt me' but turns out I'm already way to corrupted to feel any of this. I mean, gosh, whatever. Rape- ergh, could have gotten me but didn't. Bondage scene looked ridiculous as hell. Body fluids looked like a fucking emoji. The Baron was cringy! He was so over the top! NO PUN INTENDED. He didn't turn me on! Haha! But LOL. If I were younger and if this was one of the first ones that I read, then maybe just maybe it would get a rise out of me. But not now. Fucking timing sucks!

If you've read Mizukami Shin before then you'll get no new surprises from her here. As I like her work, and immediately recognise her distinctive art style (like an old friend) whenever I stumble over one of her works, I enjoyed this, even if I found the main plot a little bland.

The second story, as most people have commented, was the one that really stood out. Slightly out of character for her (at least, as far as I have seen), sensei has included quite a bit of humour, and even, ahem, fluffiness. The plot was sad, especially if you know about how it will end from the first story, but at times the interaction between the main characters was unexpectedly adorable. I was left a little confused at the ending special, but hey, maybe that's just me x

Obviously, if you don't like any form of BDSM or the fact that the uke is quite a lot smaller than the seme, then don't read this. But if you do, and have liked the rest of Mizu's works than please do, even if only for the last story (which contains nothing too shocking).

x

... Last updated on September 3rd, 2013, 7:33am

Mizukami has always been good at making the stories in her one-shots connectable. & even though I usually avoid one-shots, I have to admit that Mizukami does them very well. Aside from recommending everything else she's ever written, fans may enjoy Tori Maya's BDSM yaoi mangas.

Ignore anything anyone says about role reversal...It's merely suggested & never actually shown, & happens (offscreen) at the very end of the first story, so it doesn't really count.

The part about sadomasochism is also wrong because neither of the boys get sexual gratification from being beaten & humiliated...they only start enjoy the sex when they form a mutual emotional bond with their semes, who then stop being violent. I can only assume that the people who voted "agree" on it mistakenly think it counts if the uke happens to have been in love with a sadist from the get go.

... Last updated on February 25th, 2014, 3:20pm

It wasn't what I expected, really, and it was kind of gory, but it somehow managed to be sweet and sad at the same time. I cried during the second story, the one where it tells about Godo's past. Poor Kyose. :'(

If you're disgusted by violence and major yaoi scenes you really should stay away.No seriously, stay away.

Besides that i think this manga has a pretty decent plot and interesting characters.

... Last updated on April 29th, 2009, 9:59pm