Just Finished YELLOW - A Surprisingly Good Series!

[Milky Mixer]

I just finished reading YELLOW, the 4-volume release by DMP about "snatchers" Taki and Goh! I wasn't sure about this series before I picked up volume 1... kinda sounded like a cross between Fake (which I thought was waaaay overrated) and Skyscrapers of Oz (which I loved and wish had been a series). You know, Taki and Goh seemed like they were going to have the same profession as the boys from Skyscrapers but with the whole "one's gay, one's straight, will they or won't they?" nonsense from Fake. And like Fake, neither lead character seemed to clearly be the cute girly uke type. After reading the first volume, I wasn't sure if I was going to continue with the series and put off buying volume 2 for months. In fact, I think I picked up 2 and 3 around the same time. Long time considering DMP's release schedule. I just got volume 4 this week and couldn't wait to see how it all turned out. What a good series. I enjoyed the artwork (another issue I had with Fake, I just didn't care for Sanami Mathoh's angular faces) which didn't overdo it with the mushy flowery trappings of some yaoi. I thought the characters were both likable. In the beginning, it's enjoyable to watch them flirt but there's a part of you that thinks "no way these two should get together" but by volume 3 you're really rooting for them. And the twist with Taki's past and the "crime" he committed was really good... I thought, wow, how can the character be redeemed? But not only that, the choice he makes in trying to find that redemption (I'm trying to avoid spoilers here for those who haben't ready the series) also help add more dimension to Goh's character as he pursues Taki. I'm glad I gave this series a second chance as it turns out it's more like Skyscrapers than Fake (even without the cute girly uke) and I'm glad that I have it on my bookshelf. I'll certainly read it again.

Another DMP series I'm also enjoying is JAZZ.

[kiyomi]

Dang it MM..I just started on Yellow! I'm going to try and find volumes 2-4.

I really like this manga and the art work is done beautifully, I think. I even shed a tear ate the end of Vol 1,because of what Taki had to do. (Don't want to write that down tho..spoilers.)

Can't wait to read the other volumes.

I never thought I'd get into a Yaoi series..but, looking at some of the Yaoi manga that's out there with the beautiful art work and storyline, not to mention great characters, I got hooked.

Here's to happy reading and more to come...

[DazzleKitty]

I really liked it as well, but I must disagree about FAKE. I really enjoyed that manga and this one doesn't even come close to it, in my opinion. I can definently see the similarities in both the story and the personality of the characters. I thought the ending was nice, especially for Taki because of that 'crime' you mentioned.

[Milky Mixer]

I figured some people would disagree with my opinion on Fake, and that's cool. I know there are a lot of fans who love that series, but to me it seemed to go on forever with the "will they or wont they?" between the characters and by the time volume 7 came along, I really just didn't care anymore. I thought Dee was a bit too obnoxious, and like I said, I didn't care for the art style. Also, I think I was a bit put off by them being cops in New York rather than, say, cops in Tokyo or somewhere in Japan... But like I said, I know a lot of people adore Fake. It just wasn't all that great to me. I liked Yellow a lot more.

[same_animefan]

I agree. Yellow is much prettier to look at than FAKE, though I still like the art in FAKE as well. I loved Dee and Ryo's relationship, though I didn't always like the jumps in the timeline very much between volumes or even chapters. Such as with Bikky and Carol. One chapter, their 10 and 13, next their 17 and than 12 again 0-0 I mean, really.

Yellow, is just perfect ^_^ it's always interesting, and I love how neither of the Characters are really 'girly'. Very pretty, but not girly in the slightest. Of course, that's just my opinion ^_^. I only recently got the fourth volume, but I haven't had even the SLIGHTEST bit of time to read it x-x By the time I get home and finish whatever I have to do, I'm just too tired >_>.

[Milky Mixer]

I agree. Yellow is much prettier to look at than FAKE, though I still like the art in FAKE as well. I loved Dee and Ryo's relationship, though I didn't always like the jumps in the timeline very much between volumes or even chapters. Such as with Bikky and Carol. One chapter, their 10 and 13, next their 17 and than 12 again 0-0 I mean, really.

Yeah, that was something else that bugged me about Fake... those useless backup stories that had the characters' ages changing constantly. Bikky = annoying, too. I don't regret selling my set of Fake on ebay. But Yellow... I think I'll keep Yellow around.

[same_animefan]

^ Yeah, Bikky annoyed me too. It got to a point where I would just ignore chapters purely of Bikky and Carol. Dee and Ryo never got boring for me though. Even so, that was one of my first Yaoi series, so I have a soft spot for it still :P.

[April-san]

Bikky = annoying, too.

I agree 100%. If Bikky and Carol were cut from the series, FAKE would only be about 4 volumes long.

But FAKE also has a soft spot in my heart. Volume 7 was my very first shrink wrapped YAOI. I was so nervous bringing it up to pay for it. Now, shrink wrapped YAOI is a staple in my weekly reading.

I also enjoyed Yellow more than I thought I would. It kept the right pace and didn't have too many side characters. My favorite part was the part in vol 4, where Goh went to rescue Taki. It was sweet, romantic, so dumb of him, and heart-pounding (the bad guys are coming...darn it!). I need to re-read the series now that I just got vol 4.

[DazzleKitty]

I also thought Bikky was annoying. I remember the first time I read the first volume; I wanted to KILL him. His little side-stories with Carol are boring and I find him to be so annoying that I don't care what happens to him.

[same_animefan]

^I agree very much. Though, I must admit, that the little chapter about Carol's 18th Birthday was rather cute. Of course, there was way too much of the pointless side stories with them. Would have been way better without *nodnod*

[typhonblue]

I didn't mind Bikky and Carol. For some reason they never crossed the edge into hideously annoying for me.

The relationship angst in Fake was pretty attenuated. But, then, that makes it even more satisfying when its finally resolved.

[Milky Mixer]

Back to YELLOW for a sec... I thought the earring transmitters were a nice touch to the story and characters, as everyone just assumed the guys were so close they simply split a pair of earrings to wear. But of course the earrings are secretly part of their job. Also kinda funny how Taki (the 'straight' one) had the earring in his left ear but Goh (the gay one) wore his in his right ear. There was a time wearing an earring in the right ear was sort of a tipoff to someone being gay, but I gotta say, I'm gay and I only wear an earring in my left ear - just seems more aesthetically balanced for some reason.