Customer Reviews

Wild Rock, Vol. 1

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Some reviewers seem to be laboring under the misconception that this title is a shonen-ai manga, when it is most assuredly not, and there is a real difference between the genres. That Mature rating is there for a reason. This is real yaoi straight from the pages of BeXBoy Gold, not shonen-ai snuggling, and the entire point is the buildup and eventual consumation of a relationship. If you're looking for something softer with a focus on a seperate plot, you'd be better off looking elsewhere. However, if you're looking for beautifully drawn *real* yaoi in a refeshingly different prehistoric setting, this is your baby.

While the yaoi cliches are in evidence, the art style is so much better than the usual scribblety-scratch yaoi that's been translated domestically that the visuals alone would be enough to give this title a high rating. The internal art is just as nice as the cover work and even nicer, in some places. But the characters are likable as well, and the pacing is a delight in that it actually takes some time to build up the relationship and setting, not like other fluff Blu titles like Shinobu Kokoro which can't be said to have any plot at all. The love scenes are beautifully executed, immediate, passionate, and are not the same static poses that have been done a hundred times. The backstory involving the fathers of the two main characters is even better than the main story, and a little more bittersweet.

I remember reading this title years ago when it was released in Japan, and I am thrilled to finally own it in translation (which is localized nicely, as well). I hope Blu releases more high quality yaoi titles like this, and less of the poorly-drawn, doujinshi-quality, rehashed settings and storylines that seem to have been all we've been getting from distributors in the states.

A must read for any real yaoi aficionado!

there is something about a hot man in a loincloth that's just.... fascinating. since i have read the scanlation of this manga a while back, i'm well aware of its strengths and weaknesses. the cover alone makes it worth the money spent on acquiring a copy of this manga, although truthfully i had debated for a long while whether to buy it or not. the reason, simple - the plot is quite... mediocre to say the least. however, the visuals won out eventually and i ended up with a copy in my hands.

takashima-sensei's art is undoubtedly exquisite and beautiful. i love her art, hands down... her men are sexy, and even if her ukes are a tad too femme, they're still easy on the eyes. what i especially like is that her art is quite realistic, and the sketches included at the end proved to be very enlightening.

that said, the plot of wild rock is sadly... cliched. really, it's just like the blurb mentioned, a prehistoric, yaoi-take on the bard's romeo and juliet, sans poison and murder. at times the uke, yuen, is infuriating in his indecisiveness and weepiness...so nothing new there. emba, the seme, on the other hand, is the all-mighty-manly dude who thankfully, isn't a total neanderthal when it comes to his beloved. he's downright chivalrous, which makes one wonder about how much men has actually evolved (or not! *lol*). however, i can't stay angry at the story nor the mangaka, because the art is just utterly beautiful, and even if the story's a bit hum-drum, it is still comprehensible, unlike the too-beautiful-to-be-true and mind-bogglingly snooze inducing "alichino" (but that's another story).

like another reviewer mentioned, the back story involving the current leaders (and respective fathers of both yuen and emba) of the two tribes are much more touching and non-conventional... it's riveting, in fact. however, my favorite has to be the parody of the first part of the first chapter of this manga, drawn by takashima-sensei... it is utterly hilarious!

VERDICT: a stunningly depicted manga, although plot's quite thin. buy it if you love the art, or just saps for romantic stories. don't hold your breath for anything life-changing though. four stars for the gorgeous art, plot gets a three.

BEWARE: there is cavemen sex inside, and no, it's not as squeamish as it sounds. *lol* hence, mature readers only.

The blurb says it is love at first sight but it is mistaken. Only late in the story do you find out it was one-sided love.

The plot is not deep but that's ok because it does other things right. Love develops over time (instead of rape at first sight). The young men are beautiful, the damsel(silly uke) gets rescued, and there is a plot twist.

So on the yaoi scale it scores in what some of us read yaoi for. It gets points for unrequited love(!), one-sided love(!), romance(!!) and beautiful buff guys get happy(!!!!). The art is clean and attractive.

On my personal meter it also gets points for costumes(!!). (Authors please note: I love men in long hair and skirts.) No schoolyard teenage angst here!

Not only is this without a doubt the most beautifully illustrated manga I've ever read, it is my absolute favorite! Even of all the yaoi and other style manga's I've read! The story line is absolutely adorable, and it has the most beautiful twist that you find out about halfway through! Unlike most yaoi manga's, which are written for the sake of the boy on boy and have either choppy plots, or repetitions of the same thing, this seems to have been written for the romance factor and the simple and pure love of the art. A very important addition to ANY collection! You won't regret buying this!

I'll pretty much reiterate what all the other reviewers have said first. This manga is undeniably and spectacularly cliched. You've got the masculine, capable seme and the extremely effeminate, emotional uke. There's never any plot twist that seems particularly daunting and every action is predictable. Even in moments that were supposed to be tense, I never had any doubt about how the story was going to end. And, come on. Leopard skin loincloths? It's laughable, to say the least.
And frankly, I don't care one bit.
I'll say it, I'm a sucker for flowery romance, which Wild Rock has a great amount of. It's the kind of love story that makes you all sigh-y and glowy for a day. And the art, it's nothing short of stunning.

Overall, even if the plot is cliched and predictable, it's made me happier than a lot of mangas I've read recently. I consider it worthwhile.

This title is a Blu title (they work with Tokyopop) and are releasing Yaoi, BL and Shonen Ai Manga to the fans. They currently are the newest Company releasing Yaoi and probably won't be the last.
Someone before me gave this Manga a bad review. I can't see why. It's a Yaoi Classic.
This Yaoi story goes further out there then others, while most of Yaoi Manga situates around a school or business this Manga features prehistoric boys in loincloths as the main story.
First, is the story of a man from a different tribe who is managing to catch the best prey in another tribe's hunting grounds, annoyed the chieftain of one tribe asks his son to dress as a woman and seduce him. Though the other tribesman knows that it is the son of the chieftain and wants nothing more then to be with him.
The next story is of the two chieftains when they were younger and how they met and fell in love.
This Manga is a defiant get, it is only one tankoban so you won't be forking out huge amounts to buy a series, so give this title a try!

Wild Rock is one of my favorite mangas ever. Sure some of the plot in the stories are a bit weak, but the cuteness of the romance makes up for it. There is some guy on guy action, but it's done beautifully and tastefully. The art is fantastic to boot.

All I can say is that it is a good thing that my main interest in manga is the art. The art in this book is beautiful. The people and backgrounds are beautifully done, the frames flow well from one motion to the next. On the other hand the stories left me wanting. Maybe it's because this is a one shot deal, instead of a series, but there was not alot of character development. The stories were brief and didn't really hold my interest. So if your looking for beautiful art I recomend this book, but if your looking for an interesting story with deep characters go elsewhere. Wild Rock is worth buying, just not for its plot.

Well like what some other reviewers have said about this book it's very well done.the graphics are beautiful and very well drawn and I found the whole tribe/hot caveman theme a very nice change from the norm of the school boys falling in love theme that you read about in majority of manga.Now this is the kind of mange were the lead uke is pretty feminine but since that's actually what he's trying to do so he can trick the prince of the tribe his tribe is against that he's a women it actually works well with the main story.also the second story in this book is great to because it's actually a prequel of sorts to the main story.Now as for sex the manga does have a couple of real hot sex scenes in it that are great without being to overly graphic.Honestly the only issue I have for the magna is the ending because without giving to much of the ending away I'll just say it was very shocking and a little confusing to say the lest and really the only reason I didn't give this book five stars but still over all this is a great manga and I really recommend it to anyone looking for something a little different lol.

Okay, I first bought this because the guy on the cover was soo hott! I started reading, and was a bit dissappointed that the uke looked soo girly, but, I have to say that despite my first impression, I just love this story! I am usually one to like the sexy, seductive, thrilling type manga's (ex. Yellow) but this one just wormed it's way into my heart. It's not exactly the style I usually like, the story is kind of short, a little cheesy, and as I mentioned, the uke looks incredibly girly, but it was really a good read. Not thrilling or fast-paced, but it's just soo sweet. As the relationship between the two characters develop, it really has the aura of true, deep feelings. The artwork is beautiful, the sex scenes aren't extremely graphic, but they are quite lovely and just plain sweet. The emotions in this are very strong and clear without being overly dramatic, it's kind of refreshing in it's origionality. It's one of those that just leaves you with a good feeling after reading. Overall, I'm quite happy I bought it, even though it's not a type of story I'd intentionally look for, and I'd reccommend at least giving it a chance.