Stellar Six and M&N
6. 1 volume of The Stellar Six of Gingacho (キラメキ☆銀河町商店街, Kirameki Gingacho Shotengai).
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Written and illustrated by Yuuki Fujimoto
From Tokyopop
Mike, Kuro, Iba, Kyuu, Sato and Mamoru star as the Stellar Six, the children of various store owners of the Galaxy Street’s shopping center. Once inseparable childhood friends, the Stellar Six find themselves falling out of touch with one another upon starting middle school. But when a store on their home turf falls victim to vandalism, the Stellar Six come together again to help out, remembering the roots they share and the bonds that keep them close. In a story about the friendships that stay with you forever, six best friends growing up together learn to summon old feelings and to deal with new ones, all while surviving the day-to-day antics of middle school that make staying close difficult.
Some points:
- Borrowed from local public library
- I'm not very impressed with volume 1 so far. I guess I'm shallow and only wants angst and love story.
- I really like the chapter about granny Fuji.
- I like the friendship story, but the boys seem a bit forced somehow, I can't put my fingers on what bothers me, though. So when Mike called for all these deliveries, what happened to the goods and who paid for them?
- I probably like it better when they are in high school. I'm going to guess who's ending up with whom Mike/Kuro, Iba/Kyuu, and Sato/Mamoru
- The kids are cute, though.
Bottom line, on the fence, keep my eye out for 2nd volume from the library.
7a. 1 volume of Portrait of M and N (MとNの肖像, M to N no Shōzō).
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Art and Story by Higuchi Tachibana
From Tokyopop
Everyone in the world has a secret which cannot be shared...and Mitsuru and Natsuhiko are no different. These two lost lambs have one simple desire: to secure a peaceful school life. But as fate would have it, their secret identities are suddenly exposed to each other. "M"itsuru is an extreme masochist who finds great delight in brutal beatings while "N"atsuhiko accidentally unveils his over-the-top narcissism and one true pleasure of gazing at his beautiful reflection in a room full of mirrors. Will their dream of a trouble-free school life be possible for these poor souls?
Some points:
- borrowed from interlib loan.
- I read mixed reviews on this series so I've been on the fence and waiting to borrow from the library first even though I like Gakuen Alice very much.
- I got hooked by the opening "... I would like to tell you all ... the story of two lost lambs." Who couldn't fall for that? ;) I think another series started like this but I can't remember which one ....
- The author is a bit twisted and wanted to torture her characters, though, kind of like Ai Morinaga!
- I find M a bit like Sawako in Kimi ni Todoke. She's so lonely because of her secret and so grateful for any nice gesture towards her. Poor lamb, really.
- I didn't know what to think about Hijiri at first but he turns out to have his own secret :P Another poor lamb not as bad as the 2 main characters, though.
- The extra story is on border of creepy and sweet. I haven't decided which it is yet after reading a couple of time. I mean he's supposed to grow but he's really isn't still *violent* and doesn't know how to express himself. Well, at least he did intend to tell her but ... I know what bothers me, the cage image! I don't like the message that she can get used to being in the cage and fed good food - it's like she gets used to it because she can't escape - even though at the end he did give her a choice, though. Anyway, the cage image must go!
- He did think about her and what she wants but what's with the scene at his house: pushing her down and ask her let him do it - kissing or what? Ugh!
- I continue to borrow, but it looks like I may collect the series.
Bottom line, twisted story. If you have a chance, check it out.
- Continuing series: Manga all volume #4
- Professeur Eiji 4
- Ôoku: The Inner Chambers 4
- Itazura Na Kiss 4