Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
The passion seems to be a bit on the low side, January 3, 2007
Compared to books 1-2, I can't help but feel there was a major loss of momentum. Not coming close to living up to it's 18+ rating (there is nothing in here that would warrent more than a 13+), the drawing style seemed rushed. Shima seemed to change in every panel (one minute older, the next looking like a teenager), and perspectives were off. Hikaru, while still having beautiful eyes, almost faded in and out, being drawn rather carelessly more often than not. The entire manga seem incomplete.
You could feel the strain and stress between them in books 1-2. You angsted with them over their love for each other. In this book, I felt like I was reading a doujinshi scribbled in a high school girl's math notebook while bored in class. Old themes were barely raised, lending little cohesion between the first two mangas and this one.
The 'introduction' of Hikaru's boss as an antagonist was forced. It reminded me of the Only the Ring Finger Knows novels, only not as well done. He seemed to come out of nowhere, and his motives are very muddy.
According to the author's note in the front of the manga, there should be another volume coming out. My hope is that it ties up all the loose ends from this volume and recaptures the taboo passion so prevalent in the first two volumes. And, I hope it doesn't take years to be released.
On a final note, The publisher June (DMP), needs to put a little more emphasis on the quality of their translations. The use of "Sir" and "Teacher" was a hinderance to those of us that prefer the use of honorifics. But if you're going to drop the honorifics, drop them completely. To have Morikawa call him Umino-kun sometimes (ch. 7) is the result of poor translations and quality checking. You should never go half and half like this.
If you're a serious fan of the series, you might as well purchase it. Just don't expect to walk away feeling satisfied.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Somewhat Disappointing, January 20, 2007
I have to agree with the previous reviewer. I'm rather disappointed with the offering in this first volume of the second two-volume series of Passion.
The supervisor character that seems to want to be the dramatic wedge to be lodged between the main characters' love feels forced (like the author realized she couldn't use the overplayed melodramatic tension for two whole volumes and added him in at the last minute). Like we are just expected to accept that he is the the problem they have to overcome to be happy together and I just couldn't figure out his motivation most of the time.
I was also a bit unhappy with the unstable nature of their relationship. The book feels incredibly overloaded with fretting and worrying and questioning of each man's love for the other, as if, also, that were the mysterious new thing that they have to overcome to be happy together. I like the idea that their relationship isn't perfect now that they are finally being honest about their feelings, but there could have been more done with plot instead of stretching things out so that the book had to be another volume longer.
I couldn't help but think just that as well as I closed the last page on a disheartening (in a frustrated way) cliffhanger. It wasn't a dramatic emotional cliffhanger, it was a pull-out-your-hair, why-can't-they-just-get-on-with-it, cliffhanger.
I know I'll be suckered into buying volume 4, if nothing else to be sated over the total lack of graphic bits in this offering. I'm glad that DMP understands the desires of fans enough to think to localize a continuation of a popular series, I just wish the quality of the sequel would be of the same standard as the original. I can't say whether I would recommend this title or not. I think it will all depend on volume 4. If volume 4 is spectacular and reinvigorates my own passion (ha ha) for the series, I will say suffering through this volume was worth it, but if it fizzles as well, I will have to nail a stake into the ground in front of it reading, "buyer beware." What I will say, is hold off on volume 3 until the reviews start coming out for volume 4. No reason for all of us to empty our pockets on something that might not be worth it.
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3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Save your hard-earned cash for more worthwhile reads, April 7, 2007
The first issue of this series, I somewhat enjoyed. Volume Two tested my attention span with its increasing lameness. But PASSION Volume Three is without a doubt one of the most B-O-R-I-N-G titles I've read to date. The story goes around and around in circles, with no real development in Hikaru and Shima relationship. To make matters even worse, there are no good sex scenes to compensate for the serious lack of an interesting plot!
One thing in particular that bugged me were the numerous phone conversation scenes throughout the manga. It seemed liked every other page, somebody was reaching for their cell phone to stare longingly at the touch pad. This is yaoi--Hikaru and Shima are supposed to stare longingly at EACH OTHER. Hopefully do more than just stare, actually. Some touching and *gasp* a little more kissing would've been nice.
The art also didn't really work for me. It felt rushed in some places, judging from the lack of tones or details in the background. (Perhaps the mangaka wasn't very interested in the story either.) And Shima always has this drowsy, lazy-eyed look about him that's most un-attractive.
Not only won't I continue the series after this volume, but I'll be getting rid of the copies I do have to make room for other books. The re-readability score for PASSION Volume Three is a 4 out of 10, at best, and certainly not worth the $12.95 cover price.
For some good teacher x student yaoi, check out BUT I'M YOUR TEACHER instead.
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