Our Kingdom [R]
by Andrew S. AKA 'Yaoi Dude'
Saturday April 12th, 2008
Our Kingdom (See Wiki Entry)
Review through volume 5, spoilers for volumes 1-4.
Sex rating: R
Art: B+
Story: C+
Action: B+
OVERALL: B
The fact that it's eccentially aromance between two cousins is the least WTF thing about it.
Let's play pretend: suppose you are an orphaned 15 year old living with your maternal grandmother where you have a peaceful existence in the countryside. All is well, until Grandma dies herself. At the funeral, while you are stressing out about just what will become of you, you're approached and told that your father's family desires to take you in. What's there to do but pack up and go with them, right? Well, that's where our main character Akira Nonoka finds himself. Scratch that, he finds himself related to one of the biggest money making families in Japan and staying in their mansion. Sound good, right? Wrong.
As it turns out, you were searched out because you are in the running to inherit your family's empire, the place is so big that Akira finds himself getting lost trying to navigate it, not to mention that, within the first few hours, Akira is dismissed, then completely embraced, then hung by his arms off the top of the building by the same person.
That person? His cousin Rei Basil who forms a disturbing attachment to him almost immediately. The best way to describe Rei is 'co-dependent'. Scarily co-depenent. Through out the whole series, if he isn't kissing, or trying to kiss all over Akira, Re's got to have him near him, otherwise, he worried that he's not 'enough' company for Akira. And this is before we mention his rivalry with his same age nephew, Raoul, who's hell bent on showing Rei up. They fight over Akira and for what is technically incest, It doesn't feel really all that creepy. In fact, you just sort of forget that they are related, which is the intent.
To sum up the plot, it seems like it's supposed to be a 'prince and the pauper'-esque story, only turned into 'prince meets and becomes obsessed with pauper'. But mostly, it's just...eh. confusing? 'Hard to follow might' be better. and the characters are such extremes! Rei is either super horny or super angsty. Akira, in turn tries to be strong willed but always sort of falls into whatever role Rei may need. It's supposed to be cute, I guess, but their romance isn't a healthy one, and not because their related. Rei expects Akira to be in love with him automatically, when really, they've known each other a month, two months tops, but Akira just goes along with it, so I guess they're the perfect match? And then there's all the trouble Akira gets into. He's very niave, and the others around him use it to their advantage. He's kidnapped and manipulated several times, leaving Rei to go all 'hulk smash' on the opposing party. On his own though, Akira shines and has a knack for persuading others to see his point.
By the end of volume 5, we seem to have not really gotten anywhere. Yeah, Akira knows some secrets about Rei's past, but they never do get to a healthy space in their relationship. The only noticable growth is in Raoul, who seems to have finally let go of his rivalry. Overall though, Akira and Rei are a couple you want to root for as much as you want them to break up, sort of like Shuichi and Eiri from Gravitation. One great thing about the series though, is that they take time out to focus on romance between other characters, most notably between Rei and Akira's bodyguards Shigure and Okumiya, tohugh there is also a mention of their uncle Yuuji.
Art wise, if you're a fan of big eyes, then this might be the series for you. I just wish the characters looked more distinct. Naduki Koujima seems to divide the characters into varied hair colored versions of ukes and semes, though they all seem to look alike, even when we get a visit from Raoul's little sisters, they seem like child versions of the other characters with different hair. But back to the story. I seriously question the mangaka's definition of a healthy relationship. The way this craziness ensues, it's like she thinks this is how most relationships work. No one in the story really says how unhealthy the dynamics of the Rei/Akira relationship is, which i would've liked. Overall though, if you like tortured semes and the ukes that are weak for them, pick up this series.
Mangaka: Naduki Koujima
Publisher: DMP
MSRP: $12.95
Censorship: body parts obscure the important parts
Warnings: roundabout incest, mind games, confusing in general
Saturday April 12th, 2008
Our Kingdom (See Wiki Entry)
Review through volume 5, spoilers for volumes 1-4.
Sex rating: R
Art: B+
Story: C+
Action: B+
OVERALL: B
The fact that it's eccentially aromance between two cousins is the least WTF thing about it.
Let's play pretend: suppose you are an orphaned 15 year old living with your maternal grandmother where you have a peaceful existence in the countryside. All is well, until Grandma dies herself. At the funeral, while you are stressing out about just what will become of you, you're approached and told that your father's family desires to take you in. What's there to do but pack up and go with them, right? Well, that's where our main character Akira Nonoka finds himself. Scratch that, he finds himself related to one of the biggest money making families in Japan and staying in their mansion. Sound good, right? Wrong.
As it turns out, you were searched out because you are in the running to inherit your family's empire, the place is so big that Akira finds himself getting lost trying to navigate it, not to mention that, within the first few hours, Akira is dismissed, then completely embraced, then hung by his arms off the top of the building by the same person.
That person? His cousin Rei Basil who forms a disturbing attachment to him almost immediately. The best way to describe Rei is 'co-dependent'. Scarily co-depenent. Through out the whole series, if he isn't kissing, or trying to kiss all over Akira, Re's got to have him near him, otherwise, he worried that he's not 'enough' company for Akira. And this is before we mention his rivalry with his same age nephew, Raoul, who's hell bent on showing Rei up. They fight over Akira and for what is technically incest, It doesn't feel really all that creepy. In fact, you just sort of forget that they are related, which is the intent.
To sum up the plot, it seems like it's supposed to be a 'prince and the pauper'-esque story, only turned into 'prince meets and becomes obsessed with pauper'. But mostly, it's just...eh. confusing? 'Hard to follow might' be better. and the characters are such extremes! Rei is either super horny or super angsty. Akira, in turn tries to be strong willed but always sort of falls into whatever role Rei may need. It's supposed to be cute, I guess, but their romance isn't a healthy one, and not because their related. Rei expects Akira to be in love with him automatically, when really, they've known each other a month, two months tops, but Akira just goes along with it, so I guess they're the perfect match? And then there's all the trouble Akira gets into. He's very niave, and the others around him use it to their advantage. He's kidnapped and manipulated several times, leaving Rei to go all 'hulk smash' on the opposing party. On his own though, Akira shines and has a knack for persuading others to see his point.
By the end of volume 5, we seem to have not really gotten anywhere. Yeah, Akira knows some secrets about Rei's past, but they never do get to a healthy space in their relationship. The only noticable growth is in Raoul, who seems to have finally let go of his rivalry. Overall though, Akira and Rei are a couple you want to root for as much as you want them to break up, sort of like Shuichi and Eiri from Gravitation. One great thing about the series though, is that they take time out to focus on romance between other characters, most notably between Rei and Akira's bodyguards Shigure and Okumiya, tohugh there is also a mention of their uncle Yuuji.
Art wise, if you're a fan of big eyes, then this might be the series for you. I just wish the characters looked more distinct. Naduki Koujima seems to divide the characters into varied hair colored versions of ukes and semes, though they all seem to look alike, even when we get a visit from Raoul's little sisters, they seem like child versions of the other characters with different hair. But back to the story. I seriously question the mangaka's definition of a healthy relationship. The way this craziness ensues, it's like she thinks this is how most relationships work. No one in the story really says how unhealthy the dynamics of the Rei/Akira relationship is, which i would've liked. Overall though, if you like tortured semes and the ukes that are weak for them, pick up this series.
Mangaka: Naduki Koujima
Publisher: DMP
MSRP: $12.95
Censorship: body parts obscure the important parts
Warnings: roundabout incest, mind games, confusing in general