FAKE is one of those stories that most people wouldn't think to read. Admitedly, the art is a bit of a turn off since it does not follow the traditonal manga style and can be, at times, very awkward looking. But it really is a shame not many people will pick this story up!
Lets start with the plot. Although it has a pretty generic base (two NYPD detectives solving crimes and living life) it really is a lot more in depth then you'd think. Each case the characters solve adds to the story. Some of them introduce characters, some help the reader understand Dee or Ryo's past, and some just help bond the characters together. The love that blooms through out this story isn't your typical shouenen-ai, cheese ball romance either. It takes a long time for the characters to really start something, even starting it out as a bad joke gone array. The story chronicles the struggle of one man learning to come to terms with who he is.
Another thing I love about this story is the fact that, although Dee is particularly more dominent then Ryo, there was no defined uke/seme. Both men gave off a strong sense of masuclinity in two very different ways and there was no girly coup-out. Also, the sub romance with Bikky and Carol was abosolutely adorable and gave the non-shounen-ai lovers a nice refreashing pause from the hetic man-on-man hetctic police romance. It helped to show development in the people around Ryo and Dee and showed their effect on the others in their lives.
Alright, now lets talk characters. FAKE has a very diverse set of characters. From the hardworking and fatherly Ryo, to the lazy, goofy playboy Dee, to the protective and bratty street punk Bikky, to the sweet and outgoing Carol, and not mention the flaymboyant, jealous, and obnoxious JJ! These characters along with an outstanding supporting cast (I say outsanding because this is one of the few manga's I've ever read where the minor characters have actually stuck with me by name) set FAKE apart from any other manga. Each character grows and changes as the story progresses and they learn a little bit about themselves. Making the story feel more real then any manga I have ever read.
The romance between Dee and Ryo was an idea I never thought I could like. It felt strange looking at a yaoi in such a realistic lighr. Normally you see shounen-ai like Gravitation and Loveless where the story is either so ridiculously outlandish that it's hard to relate or that the realistic side of the story is masked in such high amounts of comedy. FAKE does a fantastic job of utilizing comedy but does so in just the right amount that the true story isn't hidden by it. Instead, we are left with with a realistic fiction that, to someone like me who has dabbled in only for yaoi's (all of which were almost purely plot based), it comes as a bit of a shock. But once you get past the fact that it's raw boy love, you start to really enjoy and relate to it. I found myself hanging on to the romance with every thread of my interest.
All in all, I highly recommend this story to anyone who likes a good romance (especially if you have a soft spot for yaoi) or to anyone that can relate to the story. In fact, I'd just plain recommend this to anyone who likes a well done story! The art may take some getting used to, but it certainly is worth the time!
