Review Corner: Hard Rock
Title: Hard Rock
Mangaka: Akane Abe
Publisher: June Manga
Grade: C
From the back cover: Sex, drugs and rock n' roll? Not in the case of THIS rock band. For Shouri, Nozomu, Ai, and Yumeji, it's more apt to say that their lives are full of angst, confusion, and uncomfortable romantic feelings towards each other. When temperamental lead vocalist Shouri urges the boys to disband, it marks the end of their playing beautiful music together. Suddenly, it seems they each need to go their separate paths. Shouri jokingly states he wants to be an F1 race car driver. Nozomu is busy trying to get into Tokyo University. Ai wants to go to the US to be a pro musician and Yumeji, well, he's just a big mass of confusion. With the four set to separate, where does this leave the budding love affairs? Nozomu has a crush on Ai, and Yumeji see his ex-girlfriend in Shouri. Will the one-time quartet separate into two duets? Set the stage, dim the lights and get ready for the show in Hard Rock!
This book isn't so much about a rock band, as it is about the lives of four schoolmates that have played together in a band for several years. It is divided into half chapters; chapter one, chapter one point five, chapter two, etc. The story begins with Shouri saying he is quitting. Never once does the reader see the group actually perform, rather the tale begins at the end of their time as a rock band. It's obvious from the start that Shouri and Ai hate each other. But, there is an impression there that perhaps there is more between them. This thought on the reader's part seems reinforced in the next part when Nozomu tells Shouri that Ai is planning to move overseas and become a pro bass player. Shouri actually cries and questions why Ai is so serious about playing now that they have disbanded. Shouri approaches a seemingly sleeping Ai in class the next day, and like some child throwing a tantrum, tells Ai there are way better bass players than him. There ends the first chapter. The next chapter begins with Nozomu spending the night with Shouri and asking if his friend has a crush on anyone. Shouri flashes back to a time in rehearsal when he and Ai get into yet another argument, as they seem to always be fighting. Again, the reader is being led down the path of the possibility of something more between the two combatants. So, it comes as a bit of a twist when, suddenly, the final part of the flashback shows Nozomu seeming to flirt with Shouri, telling him he loves his voice. Then the chapter concludes with Shouri staring at his sleeping friend and thinking how he does have a crush....on Nozomu. To add even more of a kink in the rope, the next chapter opens with Nozomu's point of view, and his pursuit and subsequent falling in love with Ai. Keep in mind that we have yet to see much of Yumeji. Two chapters move this direction, focusing primarily on the growing relationship between Ai and Nozomu. Until the reader arrives at chapter three, where the focus shifts back to Yumeji's point of view and his increasing, unrequited love for Shouri. At this point, my head was spinning.
As we move into the final chapters of the story, hearts are broken, love is discovered, and everyone moves on with their lives. An epilogue tries to tidy things up with a 'where are they now years later' scene, and it is here we get the one moderate sex scene. It shows nothing from the waist down, save possibly a thigh, and has me confused over the 18+ mature rating that this book has received.
The way the characters look on the front cover is pretty much the way they look throughout the book. Nozomu does do that fake smiling thing in several instances, but for the most part, morose and apathetic, with sporadic splashes of angry, are the general expressions on their faces. I didn't find a redeeming quality in any that would allow me to feel anything for them. The characters are attractive, but the drawing felt rough and sketchy. Of course, June Manga does a pretty good job with presentation. There is a glossy book jacket, as with many of their releases, and the size is their standard big which I always appreciate. The paper is a textured, almost bond like quality.
Others might appreciate the angst and depressing atmosphere. But overall, I found the book to be a rather dull read.
Mangaka: Akane Abe
Publisher: June Manga
Grade: C
From the back cover: Sex, drugs and rock n' roll? Not in the case of THIS rock band. For Shouri, Nozomu, Ai, and Yumeji, it's more apt to say that their lives are full of angst, confusion, and uncomfortable romantic feelings towards each other. When temperamental lead vocalist Shouri urges the boys to disband, it marks the end of their playing beautiful music together. Suddenly, it seems they each need to go their separate paths. Shouri jokingly states he wants to be an F1 race car driver. Nozomu is busy trying to get into Tokyo University. Ai wants to go to the US to be a pro musician and Yumeji, well, he's just a big mass of confusion. With the four set to separate, where does this leave the budding love affairs? Nozomu has a crush on Ai, and Yumeji see his ex-girlfriend in Shouri. Will the one-time quartet separate into two duets? Set the stage, dim the lights and get ready for the show in Hard Rock!
This book isn't so much about a rock band, as it is about the lives of four schoolmates that have played together in a band for several years. It is divided into half chapters; chapter one, chapter one point five, chapter two, etc. The story begins with Shouri saying he is quitting. Never once does the reader see the group actually perform, rather the tale begins at the end of their time as a rock band. It's obvious from the start that Shouri and Ai hate each other. But, there is an impression there that perhaps there is more between them. This thought on the reader's part seems reinforced in the next part when Nozomu tells Shouri that Ai is planning to move overseas and become a pro bass player. Shouri actually cries and questions why Ai is so serious about playing now that they have disbanded. Shouri approaches a seemingly sleeping Ai in class the next day, and like some child throwing a tantrum, tells Ai there are way better bass players than him. There ends the first chapter. The next chapter begins with Nozomu spending the night with Shouri and asking if his friend has a crush on anyone. Shouri flashes back to a time in rehearsal when he and Ai get into yet another argument, as they seem to always be fighting. Again, the reader is being led down the path of the possibility of something more between the two combatants. So, it comes as a bit of a twist when, suddenly, the final part of the flashback shows Nozomu seeming to flirt with Shouri, telling him he loves his voice. Then the chapter concludes with Shouri staring at his sleeping friend and thinking how he does have a crush....on Nozomu. To add even more of a kink in the rope, the next chapter opens with Nozomu's point of view, and his pursuit and subsequent falling in love with Ai. Keep in mind that we have yet to see much of Yumeji. Two chapters move this direction, focusing primarily on the growing relationship between Ai and Nozomu. Until the reader arrives at chapter three, where the focus shifts back to Yumeji's point of view and his increasing, unrequited love for Shouri. At this point, my head was spinning.
As we move into the final chapters of the story, hearts are broken, love is discovered, and everyone moves on with their lives. An epilogue tries to tidy things up with a 'where are they now years later' scene, and it is here we get the one moderate sex scene. It shows nothing from the waist down, save possibly a thigh, and has me confused over the 18+ mature rating that this book has received.
The way the characters look on the front cover is pretty much the way they look throughout the book. Nozomu does do that fake smiling thing in several instances, but for the most part, morose and apathetic, with sporadic splashes of angry, are the general expressions on their faces. I didn't find a redeeming quality in any that would allow me to feel anything for them. The characters are attractive, but the drawing felt rough and sketchy. Of course, June Manga does a pretty good job with presentation. There is a glossy book jacket, as with many of their releases, and the size is their standard big which I always appreciate. The paper is a textured, almost bond like quality.
Others might appreciate the angst and depressing atmosphere. But overall, I found the book to be a rather dull read.