Customer Reviews

Legal Drug, Vol. 1

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

First of all, Legal Drug has what strikes me as an unusual layout. The panels are large and spaced further apart than a normal manga. However, this also means the images are blownup, which isn't exactly a reason to be excited, as they are generally plain... there isn't any amazing detail to marvel over. But it's still nice. CLAMP displays its usual storytelling skills of suspense, action, and good-natured, slightly adult fun.

To get the best summary of the story, check out Tokyopop's website, but to sum it up the main character, Kazahaya, was found on the streets by a young man his age, Rukio. Rukio works at a pharmacy , where he lives and works with/for a beautiful pharmacist and his "friend". Kazahaya becomes Rukio's roommate and starts working at the pharmacy as well, but takes on strange additonal jobs for money. He seems to dislike Rukio, but they both have psychic powers that are needed for thier commissions.

The story was engrossing. Every page made me anticipate an answer for the pile-up of mysteries that overlapped as the story progressed. However, it skirts around... well, having a definitive point. Kazahaya goes out on his jobs, which all are problematic one way or another,but all of which imply that they are somehow connected to his past. However, this is never confirmed in the least and it becomes a little frustrating when the reader has to wonder if it's in the imagination. With such a surreal style and meandering focus, it seems very possible. But when a story is this aggravating in making the reader want to make absolute sure he has it right, it's obviously quite addictive!

The art looked as if it were compromise between a shoujo and shonen style- nice looking boys, but not too feminine, and straightforward clothing most of the time. Some leisure outfits were more unisex. The bodies portrayed male anatomy correctly- there was none of the slim willowy-ness that are typical in manga written by women. I didn't like how the pages sometimes looked a little empty- but I suppose other people would.

And as a warning- the manga ends on a cliffhanger, so if you buy, plan on completing the series for full satisfaction.

Okay, if you promise not to tell, I'm actually fourteen, it's just easier to use this feature.

First issue: rating. The Legal Drug series is rated OT for Older Teen or 16+. But it shouldn't be, the only reason that it is, is because of a) a general shounen-ai feel to the whole thing and b) because it does grow progressively worse, but in my opinion, probably shouldn't exceed the T rating.

Second issue: Why is it taking so long for them all to come out? Okay, 1/5 of the story is out in volumes 1-3, but the reason it's on a temporary hold is because the magazine which originally published the series got canceled. So, yes, there will be about 12 volumes in the future, so just be patient. Rikuo's and Kazahaya's full stories will be published eventually in English, don't you worry.

Third Issue: yaoi. In no way is this series yaoi. For one thing, yaoi is more of a sexual exploit, close to cartoon guy on guy pornography (to give you something to relate to, the Graviatation series by Maki Murakami has no yaoi as erotic as it is- but the remixes do.) It has a touch of innuendo into shounen-si variety though, even though CLAMP revealed that it wasn't supposed to be a Boy's Love manga.

Now, I just want to say that this manga is definately one to check out. As you know, CLAMP is always good. Legal Drug may not be as complex or flashy as other mangas, but it does demand respect. They're relatively quick and easy reads. Though it isn't categorized as comedy, it should be (I love the extra at the end of the first volume, buy it for that reason alone. Hilarious.) CLAMP also seems to like to dress Kazahaya in drag, and you don't find me arguing. The third volume will have you laughing like a spider monkey on crack, and that's an understatement (I read it in the book store and no one would sit near me because they thought I was 'touched').

So, enjoy this delightful manga, and run, not walk, unless you have scissors, to the nearest bookstore and buy it.

I actually recieved Vol 1 of this manga as a gag gift for Christmas. I was amused by the 'pinup' type art that decorated the covers and ridiculous poses the characters occasionally struck. However, when I READ Legal Drug, I was pleasantly surprised. Out of all the manga and manwah I've read, the panel transitions and dialouge of Legal Drug are the most natural and effortless. Even simple, popular items like Fruits Basket have occasionally given me cause to read back in order to understand exactly what's happening in a scene, but Legal Drug was clear, consise, and beautifully drawn.

The first few pages set the tone: mystery interspersed with humor and suggestive undertones. The interaction between the two main characters, Kazahaya and Rikuo, is genuinely amusing. Rikuo is the stoic, mysterious one and a great foil for Kazahaya, who(despite his serious appearance on the covers)is very much a 'spaz'. Plus, there are fun little extras to enjoy like a color page, a humourous "What If" section, and transparent sheet. One of the most enjoyable gag gifts I've ever recieved.

I decided to pick this one up and after regular giggles and being on a Manga binge I picked up the other two books. First of all, let me say that it improves. The characters become more developed, the storyline starts to expand and loose its monster of the week feel, and the artwork improves.

The first volume I found to be stark, but with volumes 2 and 3 the artwork improved at a fantastic rate and I'm already attached to the series. If you like supernatural, comedy and a hit of yaoi go for it, the hints become more and more and if you look at the chapter break drawings it really brings questions to the mind.

I feel like a cheese for saying so, but I really fell in love with this manga. This is may be my favorite CLAMP title (at least so far). The basic plot is very simple: 17 year old Kazahaya Kudou-kun is poor and has run away from his home and sister, Kei-san, with whom he had a rather...erm, intimate realationship with. He was found unconcious in the snow by a HUGE seventeen year old called Rikuo Himura-kun, who carried him to his place of residence--The Green Drug-store. He is taken in by it's owner--the enigmatic Kakei-san-- and begins working there. However, this is a manga by CLAMP so of souse Kazahaya-kun has psychic powers and so does Rikuo-kun (Kakei-san and his...boyfriend Saiga-san have powers too, but you don't find them out in this volume). So, using their gifts, Rikuo-kun and Kazahaya-kun do "other" jobs for Kakei-san...but somehow always manga to get get jipped out of their pay! This series made me laugh a lot, and just one of the first pages was really funny. I think that all the characters in this manga are great, but there are quite a few sexual refrences (and of course the joke about how Kazahaya-kun is still a virgin), as well as some images of boyxboy. There are minimal refrences to drugs--it's mostly just an excuse to see cute guys argue, use psychic powers, and grope each other. And there is quite a bit of profantiy (Kazahaya-kun swares on each of the first four pages of the chapter). Not something most children would like, nor truly understand. This is a really good read if you're in the mood to laugh, but I got a strange feeling of deja-vu, beacause this manga just seemed a lot like Yami No Matsuei (only less gore, less violence, less, well... you know). Girls (like me)will dig the art style--lanky pretty boys with long hair, broad shoulders, girl eyes, etc. It is classified as a shojo manga, but who's to say that boys won't like it too? It's another highly addictive CLAMP series.

Legal Drug is excellent. I read a bit of ch. 1 via scanlations, but it gets SO good. The mysteries build in a way that keeps my interest piqued and keeps me turning pages to satisfy my need to know more... more about the characters, their powers, their situations, etc.

The story and characters have absolutely nothing to do with drugs... unless you count the fact that the two main characters work at a drugstore-- as in a Rite Aid/Revco/CVS type of convenience store/pharmacy.

The main characters have all been drawn together because they have psychic abilities. The psychic pharmacist employs his two stock boys to use their talents to find obscure stuff as side-jobs for bonus pay. These jobs are strange and surreal, but oddly compelling.

As far as shonen-ai or yaoi goes-- absolutely Nothing happens between the two main characters in vol. 1 but... let's just say the situation is ripe for it. ;] I'll definately be buying the rest of the series.

In a recent interview with CLAMP, they stated that Legal Drug is not intended to be shounen-ai. As for the age rating (16 and up), everywhere else in the world has given Legal Drug a teenage rating (in the US, 13 and up), so I have no idea what tokyopop was thinking(we all must wonder that sometimes, nay?). Anyhoo, Legal Drug is a great series. Great artwork (were we expecting anything less from CLAMP?), hot guys (Kazahaya is really quite the bish ~_0), and an original storyline (it's awesome) make Legal Drug quite the fangirls' dream manga. Despite the profanity, sexual refrences, and "yaoi" theme(that really isn't), if I were to rate it myself, I would say thirteen/fourteen and up, because, being a relatively normal thirteen year old myself, I can truthfully say that most of us would understand and love it (I know I do).

Peace Out!

CLAMP's only straight-out BL manga, not suggestive like their others. For some reason, Tokyopop has 4 volumes suggested, but after 2003, CLAMP haiatus'd it to do all that new crap they've been overhauling on. How many series are they working on at the same time? Who knows, maybe volume 4 is creeping it's way slowly through a manga-zine, or it could be years before they pick it up again (I've known some mangaka who didn't drop haiatus for 7 years!) Anyway, each volume is funnier & flirtier than the last. #3 will have you giggling like a hyper kid in a woopie cushion factory.

It took me years to notice the resemblance, but Gouhou Drug is eccentially a lite innocent comedy parody of Kazuya Mikekura's Wild Adapter, like how the Diabolo manga is a horror-BL parody of Ban & Ginji from GetBackers.

If your thinking Legal Drug is packed with hot yaoi action, then your wrong. In fact, it seems to just tease you with hinted yaoi-references, and it might dissapoint some readers. However. If we look at the true quality of the manga, you'll find the usual CLAMP amazingness. (For lack of a better word.) The (mainly male) characters are definetely errr... drawn well. You know what I mean, chicks will enjoy it. The plot isn't too complicated, it mostly involves little missions within each volume. The missions are all quite strange and very interesting to follow... for example, flying fish. Back to the loose story... there is some *slight* suspense thrown in about the character's past- but I suppose you'd have to feel for the characters to be intrigued by the mystery...
Overall, I think most will agree this manga is average for CLAMP, and overall a "Good" manga.

Yes!!! This book was in great shape when i got it and it got here pretty fast to. Very nice!! Would buy from this person again!!