Ranked #1759

Maka-Maka (Manga)

I loved this manga. I mean it is one of the most beautifully drawn mangas out there. It was smut (hentai) built on what I can call transcendent love. This most definitely not a mere friendship. This is dependency, adoration, companionship, tinged with a bit of obsession. The two female characters express these emotions through they're sexual union. This is most definitely a great romance and I can't compliment it enough. It is heavy smut, but if you can handle that, then I'm sure you'll enjoy the read. It was great fun and I plan on rereading it again. As, what I consider my official first yuri read, this is definitely an outstanding beginning to a great drama.

A cause of concern is why they are still in heterosexual relationships when it's clearly apparent not only to the reader but also to the characters that they are gratified and fulfilled only when they are with each other. It gives the feeling that they remain in a heterosexual relationship because of conventional social restrictions. Yet, these relationships seemed to have always been burdensome or are that way or just unhealthy. Another issue I had and this is something I've seen not in many yuri mangas, considering this is my second one, but just in general media adaptations of homosexual love---that it's by default they enter into these relationships. That is to say that they chose to be with another woman because of hateful or lousy men. It's unfortunate that's the case when many homosexual people will say they were born this way. It's like they're sexual orientation is undermined by these sort of stereotypes.

That however, doesn't take away from the love story that builds before your eyes. I will say the characters at times do however affect the story. I find the character of Nene, the short haired brunette to be the quintessential sex toy. She's objectified by men and she seems to like it. Most of the time she's being used by them and she realizes this but that doesn't mean she'd get out of the relationship even though it seems that Jun would devout herself only to Nene. It's a weakness in her character, the good side about this is that the creator tells you that she is intentionally meant to be portrayed in such a way. Jun, is a bit more difficult but definitely a great character. I was glad she wasn't depicted as butch, although at times I thought she was the masculine one in the relationship...until you would see Nene take charge and initiate some of their encounters. She's smart, artsy and well written, definitely a character one can relate with even if you haven't experienced a similar situation.

The friendship was poignant even though the story was undoubtably dominated by sex, it was just a reflection of they're love for one another and I felt the author carried that and brought it across well. Most hentai stories or smut stories are supposed to be about that...but most of the time it comes across as animalistic union. I find that in this story it is not the case. The great drawing, reasonable writing (if questionable translations) worked well together to show that it wasn't animalistic but a union found of deep love, adoration and admiration. Just a profound mutual respect and dependency upon one another that can't even be seen in live "romantic" pairs.

The story was well developed even if I had trouble with the translations. The bubbles were all over the place so I wasn't sure who was saying what at times. It was very unclear. But it wasn't too much of a negative so be aware you may have problems with that. As I stated characters were great even if I had problems with Nene. The art is the best I've seen yet, I think I enjoyed it more because it was in colour. There was a realism involved because of that. Great enjoyment and so much so I plan on buying the books in French (Thank God I read it.) and I plan on downloading and rereading if I can, this two volume set was just that good.

For a yuri fan, I thinkn they'll have a blast. Romantic lovers without problems with hentai or some hang ups on romance will also have fun even if they're not partial to yuri. Everyone else I would be ware. ^_^
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