A deviant mind with a penchant for kinky reads.
Currently obsessed with M/M Boys-Love-Boys books, Yaoi novel and manga.
Also an occasional Graphic Novel/Comic book and general manga reader.
~ Kynthos-the-Archer ~
Frustrating and Unsatisfying manga. I've been DUPED.
I have never before felt so UNSATISFIED with a manga that I have been fairly enjoying. This manga managed to capture my attention eventhough I have zero knowledge about the boardgame it was centralised around. Yet it is also one to let me down terribly.
I felt cheated since I couldn't even have a lick at that dangling carrot the mangaka had used throughout the story to command her reader's interest. Reading this manga has ZERO rewards since characters you root for wouldn't get the prize they rightfully deserved. And the long promised showdowns between important characters did not materialize. What further can I say? I felt duped. It's like telling the readers that hardwork is bullshit and unrewarding. Plus, geniuses can for fuck off!
2 Stars because I felt sad for Sai. What happened in book 15 is very unfair to him. It was like he is just a tool, a stepping stone to be discarded when no longer needed. Where is the reward? After waiting for a millennia and this is the answer?
I am glad Hikaru is in a slump now. He should be, as it serves him right since he dared to forget who brought him into the Go world in the first place, tutoring him and encouraging him all the way. I do agree that Akira could be the catalyst to rev up Hikaru's passion to succeed in the world of Go but without Sai guiding him Hikaru could not have attain such heights of success in such a short time.
Actually part of why I am reading this manga after I've finished with its Anime version was a tiny hope that the story in the manga would answer Sai's unresolved wish since the manga does continues where the Anime had left off. The other reason was simply because I am missing Sai very much.
Dark, dramatic and powerfully captivating. Absolutely not a typical sports manga.
Kokou no Hito is a unique manga experience with dark and complex storytelling combined with breathtaking artwork that captivates the mind and soul. Since this manga was a Seinen category, both the plot and the theme focused on heavy subjects which are intense as well as disturbing in nature. The story explores role of emotion, morality, rationality in human reason when pushed to to the edge of survival. The mountains is no place for the weak, the same goes for those below the mountains. Above or below, only the fittest will survive and prosper.
This riveting manga series was inspired by Kato Buntaro, he is one of Japan's famous solo mountaineer of the early 20th century. Buntaro began his winter solo moutaineering career in February 1928 in the Hyōnosen mountains and from then on he couldn't stop climbing until he drew his last breath on Mount Yari.
In Kokou no Hito we follow an extremely introverted protagonist, Mori Buntarou as he progress from high school climbing to professional high-altitude mountaineering and later as a challenger of the untrodden K2 East Face. K2 was known as the holy grail of mountaineering and also as 'The Savage Mountain' due to countless lives lost to it. Even though it was only the second highest mountain in the world, it was far more hazardous than Everest. Until now the eastern face of K2 was untrodden land because it has the hardest and deadliest routes.
As opposed to many other readers who finds it hard to relate to the protagonist, I am completely enamored by him for I truly admire his character and personality despite his shortcomings. I do believe he can't function well with people around him due to severe anthropophobia. This makes him a true loner and an outcast to society. And it is also one of the reason why is he drawn to the mountains all the time. I find him fascinating and quite a romantic person. Romantic not in the sense of being in relationships but the sentimentality of his being. His heartstrings quivers at the slightest provocation and sometimes this trait of his maddens me. I am torn between wanting to embrace and protect him from harm and wishing to knock some sense into him, hard.
Despite not being a sports fan myself, I was highly intrigued by the mountaineering technical details presented in this series. The mangaka did so well with it that a layman like me finds it easy to follow and appreciate the mountaineering aspect of the story. The realistic portrayal of mental and physical challenges faced by the mountaineers was insightful and eye-opening. Apart from that what makes this manga unputdownable was the thrilling conflicts sparked by feuds and controversies in Mori's life especially in the world of mountain climbing. When it comes to extreme sport like mountaineering, your life literally lies in the hands of your teammates and theirs in yours. Therefore mountaineering as a team could potentially turn into harsh trial of humanity where ethics and morality are stretched as thin as the air in high-altitude.
I would highly recommend this manga to matured readers especially to those with broad-minds and appreciative of visual metaphors. I am glad to learn that Kokou no Hito won an award at the 14th Japan Media Arts Festival in year 2010. This exceptional manga absolutely excels in terms of its fine artwork, amazing character arc, compelling storyline and its great sense of place. There's also good balance between the sport and slice of life aspect, both elements blended really well together. I wish I could watch a film adaptation of this manga in the near future. I already felt like I am missing out because I couldn't read the original novel of this story by Jiro Nitta sensei as it was in Japanese and there's no translation for it at the moment. But I do count my blessings for the existence of this manga in English scanlation. I vow to own the entire series in paperback should one day Kokou no Hito was ever licensed in English. It is totally worth collecting.
BOOK DETAILS: Title: Kokou no Hito (The Climber) Associated Names: 孤高の人 / 孤高之人 / 고고한 사람 / Ascension / Koko no Hito / The Climber Mangaka:Shinichi Sakamoto Author:Shinichi Sakamoto (art and story from volume 4 onwards), Yoshiro Nabeda, Hiroshi Takano Publication Date: 2007 Type: Serialized Manga (17 Volumes) based on the novel by Jiro Nitta Genre: Seinen, Sports, Drama, Slice of Life, Contemporary Tags/Keywords:dead friend(s), death, accidents, suicide, deliberate loner, guilt, hiking, loneliness, loner protagonist, rock climbing, mountaineering, soul searching, social outcast, time skip, tragedy, mature
Description:
On his first day of transferring to a new high school, a loner named Mori Buntarou, is cajoled by a classmate into climbing the school building. Despite knowing that one misstep could send him spiraling to his death, he moves forward, and upon finally reaching the top, Mori experiences a sense of fulfillment. That feeling, which seems to be telling him, "You're alive!" gives birth to an adrenaline for rock-climbing.
*From volume 4 on, Sakamoto Shinichi has done both story and art.
Read from January 18 to 23, 2014 — I own a copy, read count: 1
This has got to be the oddest book I've ever read. I am truly lost as to how to rate it. The book was engrossing and I did enjoyed it. Yet it does have its flaws. Do I love that retractable cock and balls enough to rate it beyond 3 stars?
I am going with a 3.5 stars since I am very much infatuated with micropenises now. And I find that I enjoyed the blue balls feeling caused by the high amount of sexual frustrations within the book, although I do lack the proper equipment to really feel that sweet agony. I love it. Love, love the frustrations.
Romance? What romance? It's lust baby. This story is about pure unadulterated L.U.S.T. of horny teenagers. And it's freaking hot in my opinion. You'll get mouthful eyeful of cocks and balls of different sizes and variation attached to young sexy guys frolicking in the shower room. I guarantee you lots of ogling voyeuristic opportunities as there are countless locker room group shower scenes.
THE MC AND HIS QUIRKS
Mitchell an 18-year-old hormonal high schooler is plagued with constant worries over his undeveloped under-develop male package. His peen and balls is so small he could easily be mistaken as a girl. His boyfriend says it looks much like a nipple especially when Mitchell is scared or cold. This is because his mini peen and balls would retracts itself back into his body in such situations. By the way, his boyfriend adores his unique genitalia. Actually his boyfriend is borderline obsessed with it just like I am right now. I loved that he got (view spoiler @ GR). It makes him so sexy, I felt like I was going to get a cardiac arrest from lusting over his peen him. Suddenly fellatio sounds appealing to me again.
Being a teenager, Mitch has boundless sexual energy and he is of course often horny. Hell, he practically has a hard-on 24/7 that he rationalise as a necessity to fill his empty briefs pouch. Personality wise, Mitchell is immature, conflicted and has very low opinion of himself. His self worth is so low that he is practically asking everyone to step all over him making him the perfect target for school bullies. Even his own swim coach abuses and belittles him. Things at home wasn't a bed of roses for him either although he did have a family that loves him.
As I've said, Mitchell is a horny kid. He's highly voyeuristic and was having the time of his life ogling his swim teammates aside from spending half of his time fantasizing being taken especially by a group of guys. Furthermore, he harbours a potentially dangerous kink... (view spoiler @ GR) It makes me cringe at the stunts he pulled just to sate this kink of his. He is such a lusty, kinky and self-absorbed kid. There are times I felt like giving his ass a firm kick when he is being a total jerk due to his turbulent mood swings (very much like PMS). It's not an easy task trying to figure him out. His characterisation is a little bit wonky. At times his sudden switches between the hot and the cold attitude annoys me - his fickle-mindedness drives me up the wall. It's a wonder how his boyfriend could stand him. Then again, I would forgive him of anything when I think of how cute his compact package is. *swoons*
READERS DEBATE AND POINTS TO PONDER
Some readers doubted the plausibility of what the boys did in the school locker room showers. While I agreed that Mr. Young might have over exaggerated it, but this is erotica so what's hot has got to be on the page right? So yea, cum on me with your horse dick all you want, we are in the shower anyways. There is one think I am most curious of during the shower scenes, is that whether it is normal to get a boner when sharing a communal shower with the same sex? Or is it a taboo? Would it trigger raining of fists?
SUMMING IT UP
Yes I am happily soaking up all the hotness and kinkiness of this story not particularly caring about the dramas or romance, especially the romance since there isn't much of it to speak of. I maintain that it's all lust not love. This book is so not for the fluff readers.
I believe I am seeing and appreciating this book for what it is. In my view, it has achieved its goals to titillate me. I do wonder if I am the only one that looks at this book from the erotica angle?
If you are pervy and thinks like a dude, you might just enjoy this book as much as I weirdly did.
Sharing a few of my favorite scenes here. Those that made me hot and bothered and gets stuck in my head:
Spoiler:
1) Frankly I find most of the locker room showers scenes to be hot. Sexy soapy guys sliding and bumping against each other. *sighs contently*
2) The wet dream Mitchell had.I mean how can one forget such a strange dream where every boy looks like they got sexually nullified? And then you get to put on someone else's penis and ball?
3) Mitchell's first time sex with his horse-hung boyfriend.
4) The fisting scene. It was stimulating yet I felt scared for Mitchell cos I thought his boyfriend had accidentally torn something with the amount of pain Mitchell was going through. O.O
5) That freaking hawt fellatio by his boyfriend on his minipeen*experiencing massive blood lost from a gushing bloody nose*
6) The last scene in the communal shower with the swim team. I wanna be there groping him too.
ABOUT THE ENDING
There's a part in the book where Mitchell has a weird wet dream. I think that's the gayest dream ever! I am bringing this up because what happened at the ending was close to the events in that crazy lusty dream of his. It's like a dream comes true for Mitchell. I wanted to be there too, enjoying his erotic body.
Lastly, I must add that the ending was abrupt and it left quite a few unresolved issues. Nevertheless it was an unconventional ending and I do appreciate such endings.
Mitchell has a problem. He’s a little too small where it counts. The guys on the swim team have started calling him Jumbo — a cruel joke — and meanwhile he’s in love with his best friend, Luke. But when Mitchell starts receiving love letters in his locker, can they really be from Luke? Or are they from someone big enough to love him just the way he is?
Recommended for:those who enjoyed intense battle-outs akin to Bleach of Tite Kubo.
Read from October 06 to 08, 2013, read count: 1
This is a review for all 42 volumes of Tennis no Ouji-sama manga series
4.5 Stars for the adrenaline pumping goodness!
I totally enjoyed the feel-good adrenalin rush this series gave me. So high!
What I love most about this manga is the passionate drive to win and excel shown by most of the characters especially the protagonist. Even the antagonists has such intense fighting spirit too. It totally showcase the spirit of sportsmanship. Apart from this I am also fascinated with the tactical aspect of this game. I didn't know tennis needs that much brain power and a good poker face to win. I had so much fun watching the players trying to outsmart each other and analyzing their opponent's moves then try hard to counter it just like in a chess game.
In a way Echizen Ryoma is like a wild card for the Seigaku Tennis Team. It was such pleasure watching Echizen's journey from a rookie tennis player to an awe inspiring national tennis player. Although he is small in stature and only a first year in his new school as a transfer student from America, he speedily earned the respect from his seniors (sempais) for his unshakeable tenacity towards being the best tennis player. He just does not have the word 'defeat' in his dictionary nor would he take a beating in tennis laying down. To him all the talented players and challengers out there are just 'stepping-stones' for him. Yes he is a cocky one but I love him all the more for it, for I admire his strength in mind, spirit and body. He is the embodiment of a true athletic. By the way he is just 12 years old kid and like his father Echizen Nanjirou, he's a prodigy in the tennis world.
Echizen's favorite phrase: Mada Mada Dane
(this is the English version of Mada Mada Dane. Sometimes he would quote it in English)
This is how others sees him (others describing Echizen):
*Sanpaku gan:- check out this phrase at the bottom of this review. It's Echizen's trademark look he would give to his challenger. Basically it's an intense glare with much smugness in it.
Echizen's bravery and never-say-die attitude made me a very proud fan of his. He might just be a chibi (shorty twink) in others eyes, to me he is manlier than any beefy muscly guys out there.
With all my fangirling about this manga one might think that I am naturally a sports fan which is quite the opposite of the truth really. I am not a sports person at all. Most of the time whenever lay eyes on any sports on the TV screen of anywhere else, I don't even know what those players on the field are doing. Clueless really. That's why I was surprised that I got hooked on Prince of Tennis after watching its anime adaptation and now reading it's manga series and loving it just as much. The anime stayed true to the manga's storyline really. In fact, I couldn't find any deflection from it at all. Both the manga and the anime got my adrenaline pumping just as hard. That only means Konomi sensei is really talented at creating not only a fantastic storyline but also very skillful at rendering the action scenes too. Not many people have that kind of skills to bring forth so much excitement in their readers for non moving pictures story-telling especially of the action genre.
Although please be informed that realism is not the aim of this manga instead it's best to take it as a fantasy-styled shounen sports manga. As the form of tennis played here could evolve in stages very much like those supernatural power showed in the famous Bleach manga by Tite Kubo. Then again, I do believe this is the very essence of what makes this manga so well received. Furthermore, I beg to differ from those who said the characters are all one dimensional and static because to me they all; especially the leading characters matured and evolved as they battle onwards to be the National Champions. Along the way they overcome their weaknesses, learned to be a better friend and team members, giving strong support to each others and also making news friends even from the oppositional teams.
I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND this manga to everyone even to those who think they wouldn't enjoy it due to lack of sports enthusiasm. The perfect team spirit successfully depicted in this series is well worth your attention and time.
Title: Tennis no Ouji-sama Alternate Names/Titles: テニスの王子様 / 網球王子 / 网球王子 / 테니스의 왕자 / Prince of Tennis / The Prince of Tennis / Tennis no Ouji-sama Related Series: Houkago no Ouji-sama (Side Story) / Shin Tennis no Ouji-sama (Sequel) Author/Artist/Illustrator/Mangaka: KONOMI Takashi Year: 1999 Type: Manga Volume: 42 Volumes (Complete) Genre: Action / Comedy / Drama / School Life / Shounen / Sports Categories: Adapted to a Musical / Adapted to Anime / Arrogant Male Lead / Competition(s) / Genius / Prodigy / Team / Teamwork / Tennis Tournament(s)
Description: Ryoma Echizen just joined the Seishun Academy's tennis team, which is known for being one of the most competitive teams in Japan. Its members are incredibly talented, gifted, and athletic. With rigorous and extremely intense practices, the upperclassmen of the team expect the very best from themselves and they expect even more from the new members of the team.
While most of the freshmen are on pins and needles hoping they won't get cut from the team, Ryoma Echizen is confident, cool, and collected. Some might even say he's cocky, but at least he's got the skills to back up his attitude. With his virtually unreturnable "twist serve," Ryoma is sure to make the starting team.
Join Ryoma and the other first years, as they train hard, make friends, and try to find a place for themselves on the team. And meet Ryoma's cute but chronically shy classmate Sakuno Ryuzaki. She's got a big crush on Ryoma, but will he ever notice her?
Ryoma Echizen is the Prince of Tennis. He may be ready for the Seishun Academy tennis team, but are they ready for him? (source: Mangaupdates.com)
My Status: Read from October 06 to 18, 2013 (all 42 volumes - Complete) Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ½
*Sanpaku gan (三白眼) or Sanpaku (三白) is originated from a Chinese term, as well as a Japanese term means “three whites” and is generally referred to in English as "Sanpaku eyes". The term refers to the iris being rather small, so that it only covers about two-thirds or less of the vertical axis of the eye; e.g. delineate an eye into four portions; the iris would only occupy one portion of the divided four sections; thus leaving the other three in white, hence "three whites". (source: Wikipedia)
