Customer Reviews

Loveless, Volume 2

5 star:		(5)
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3 star:		(1)
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Volume 2 of Yun Kouga's popular series does not disappoint.

For those unfamiliar with this series, Loveless is a strange BL/Shonen-ai manga series by the same author as Earthian, which revolves around the story of a boy named Ritsuka who at the age of ten lost all his memories. Two years later his mother denies he is her son and beats him, and his only support, his brother Seimei, dies mysteriously. A mysterious man appears, Soubi, who claims to have known Seimei and cryptically implies that he knows more, but won't divulge anything. Soubi declares his love for Ritsuka and that he now belongs to the boy, and the two enter down a path for answers through mysterious battles using words as spells, secret names of power, and people as sacrifices and fighters.

For people only familiar with the manga, the plot thickens in volume 2 as Ritsuka and Soubi's relationship grows uncomfortably closer and Ritsuka finally lets down some of his guards and makes friends at school. His teacher becomes increasingly concerned about the bruises on his body. New enemies appear that have cryptic information for Ritsuka about Seimei and Soubi continues to dodge questions about it. Later, Soubi encounters even more powerful enemies without Ritsuka, but we'll have to wait for volume 3 to see how that battle turns out.

If you have seen the TV series, this volume covers the plot through volume 2 (eps 5-8) plus the side story from volume 3 where Soubi stalks Ritsuka out with his friends in Yokohama. Things to note that are a bit different from the TV series are in the BL themes of the relationship between Soubi and Ristuka. In the manga it goes a bit beyond the suggestiveness of the anime. During a particularly, I struggle with the desire to use the word "disturbing," scene where Ritsuka wants this note containing information about his deceased brother, he prompts Soubi to destroy the enemies holding the note using both stern orders, which he at all other times is unwilling to provide to the man, and a level of seductiveness absent from the anime. I can only imagine how the scene from volume three of the anime with Soubi and Ritsuka in Soubi's apartment will turn out in the manga. If the subdued sexual tension in the anime from the manga continues it should prove to be even more uncomfortable.

My only complaint about this series is the slow release schedule. I can't stand that it will be fall before we see volume 3, and even longer before we get into plot that takes us beyond what was revealed in the anime.

Ritsuka continues mourning of his beloved older brother, Soubi is funny and confident, protective and cryptic. Ritsuka is bullied at school and grows in his relationship with his protector Soubi. He's unsure of what to do about it, but becomes uncomfortable with it and doesn't know how to deal. People start to notice brusies of his body and they speculate. They don't know his mother is abusive and a little crazy at times. Ritsuka brushes it off, being more concerned with who killed his brother Seimei and why, taking care of his mother and learning how to handle his feelings for Soubi and figuring out why he and Soubi are connected. Soubi dodges the question and faces off against some super powerful enemies without Ritsuka or his permission..let the battle begin.

Yun Kouga, Loveless, vol. 2 (Tokyopop, 2003)

Now things are starting to get where they need to be with this series, I think. The original team stalking Ritsuka and Soubi has been pulled off the case, and a new team, the Zeros, have been tasked with their destruction. That's more of a subplot here, though, as much of the volume focuses on Ritsuka's relationships with adults (his teacher and his psychologist), with a little of the deepening of the relationship between Soubi and Kio. The series is getting a little more grounded, and that's a good thing. ***

I bought the anime after a suggestion from the now defunct ANIME INSIDER magazine and really enjoyed it. I wasn't in a hurry to aquire the manga, because I felt that if you've seen the anime you know what's what in the manga. Too bad the truth was further away than I thought.

The differences between the two products is mind shattering. During the fight with Sleepless in the anime Ritsuka told Soubi what he wanted and made it a somewhat order. However, in the manga Ritsuka beings using his power of Soubi both as his master and as a sexual being. Soubi's reaction to the not so innocent sexual exploration that Ritsuka uses to control him is priceless.

I can't wait to get the next volume and see what kind of trouble our two boys get into.

Loveless is one of the best manga ever. I loved it so much, that I rushed to buy every one the bookstore had one sale. Ritsuka is hilariously cute. Soubi is just hilarious in general.

I thought this was a great volume and I can't wait to get the next one!

Ths suspense of knowing more about the mysterious battle unit named Soubi is driving me crazy.