BL Reading List: Dog Style Volume 1
US Title: Dog Style Volume 1
Original Title:
Author: Modoru Mitoni
Translation by: Kitty Media
Published by: Kitty Media
ISBN-10: 1-59883-125-9
ISBN-13: 978-1-5988-3125-2
Dog Style is often a confusing mess, difficult to follow and doesn’t clearly indicate who is speaking the dialogue. In this instance, it works because the characters are often a confusing mess and difficult to follow. That is part of what makes Dog Style special and unique. As in real life, sometimes it’s difficult to understand what motivates the two main characters, Teru Chiaki and Miki Terayama. Much of the time, they don’t understand themselves, like most adolescents.
The volume opens when Teru comes across Miki kissing the older brother or his friend Kashiwa. Teru is struggling with his relationship with the younger Kashiwa because younger Kashiwa has a new girlfriend who is very demanding of his time. Kashiwa is doing the normal teen behavior of dumping his friends to be with his girlfriend, and Kashiwa’s friends don’t appreciate this. This group of friends often gets into fights with other groups of boys, and to them, Kashiwa is abandoning them when they need him to fight. Teru’s feelings are more confusing and he often sticks up for Kashiwa.
Miki and Teru share an abandoned building close (a hideout they do not disclose to the Kashiwa brothers) close to the river, taking the building on alternate days so they don’t see each other. Both are lonely and going through emotional issues about the Kashiwa brothers, and start to interact. Miki refers to Teru (mostly calls him by his last name, Chiaki) as a stray dog, abandoned and alone. Teru and Miki have a connection, Teru cannot even sense Miki, although he can sense others almost instantly. Miki and Teru begin having sex at their hideout, event though it’s painful and not that great.
Miki and Teru begin their relationship, sharing angst about the brothers, then turn into sex friends. It’s apparent that they have a deeper connection, but neither is read to admit it yet. Miki escorts both men and women on the side, while he has confusing feelings for the older Kashiwa. Teru still hangs out with his friends and spends much of his time with the younger Kashiwa breaking promises to meet Teru in favor of being with this girlfriend, who is mean and possessive. Somehow, Miki and Teru are drawn to each other, with Miki referring to him as a dog.
What also makes this story interesting is the humor. Miki is much taller than Teru and as the bottom, this sometimes makes sex difficult. This becomes a running joke between them, as well as Miki’s references to Teru as a stray.
This is a very unique and action packed story. Miki and Teru both are confused about their feelings, but are drawn to their building and to each other. There is humor, fighting and even sexual assault as Miki is attacked by one of his customers who is stalking him, but Teru intervenes. Both boys tell the stalker where to go and it’s funny. Can’t help but love both of these characters.
Strengths: Unique characters, unique plot, real life teen problems.
Could be better: The way the dialogue bubble are drawn, it can be confusing figuring out who is speaking.
Original Title:
Author: Modoru Mitoni
Translation by: Kitty Media
Published by: Kitty Media
ISBN-10: 1-59883-125-9
ISBN-13: 978-1-5988-3125-2
Dog Style is often a confusing mess, difficult to follow and doesn’t clearly indicate who is speaking the dialogue. In this instance, it works because the characters are often a confusing mess and difficult to follow. That is part of what makes Dog Style special and unique. As in real life, sometimes it’s difficult to understand what motivates the two main characters, Teru Chiaki and Miki Terayama. Much of the time, they don’t understand themselves, like most adolescents.
The volume opens when Teru comes across Miki kissing the older brother or his friend Kashiwa. Teru is struggling with his relationship with the younger Kashiwa because younger Kashiwa has a new girlfriend who is very demanding of his time. Kashiwa is doing the normal teen behavior of dumping his friends to be with his girlfriend, and Kashiwa’s friends don’t appreciate this. This group of friends often gets into fights with other groups of boys, and to them, Kashiwa is abandoning them when they need him to fight. Teru’s feelings are more confusing and he often sticks up for Kashiwa.
Miki and Teru share an abandoned building close (a hideout they do not disclose to the Kashiwa brothers) close to the river, taking the building on alternate days so they don’t see each other. Both are lonely and going through emotional issues about the Kashiwa brothers, and start to interact. Miki refers to Teru (mostly calls him by his last name, Chiaki) as a stray dog, abandoned and alone. Teru and Miki have a connection, Teru cannot even sense Miki, although he can sense others almost instantly. Miki and Teru begin having sex at their hideout, event though it’s painful and not that great.
Miki and Teru begin their relationship, sharing angst about the brothers, then turn into sex friends. It’s apparent that they have a deeper connection, but neither is read to admit it yet. Miki escorts both men and women on the side, while he has confusing feelings for the older Kashiwa. Teru still hangs out with his friends and spends much of his time with the younger Kashiwa breaking promises to meet Teru in favor of being with this girlfriend, who is mean and possessive. Somehow, Miki and Teru are drawn to each other, with Miki referring to him as a dog.
What also makes this story interesting is the humor. Miki is much taller than Teru and as the bottom, this sometimes makes sex difficult. This becomes a running joke between them, as well as Miki’s references to Teru as a stray.
This is a very unique and action packed story. Miki and Teru both are confused about their feelings, but are drawn to their building and to each other. There is humor, fighting and even sexual assault as Miki is attacked by one of his customers who is stalking him, but Teru intervenes. Both boys tell the stalker where to go and it’s funny. Can’t help but love both of these characters.
Strengths: Unique characters, unique plot, real life teen problems.
Could be better: The way the dialogue bubble are drawn, it can be confusing figuring out who is speaking.