Beast Master Vol. 1by Sheena McNeilReviews may contain information that could be considered 'spoilers'. Readers should proceed at their own risk. Publisher
Credits Grade: 8 Yukio loves animals. She loves him so much ... it's scary. The animals literally fight to run away from her overzealous behavior. Leo Aoi is a new transfer student to her school, and he's like a crazy animal, violent, and bad with humans. Yukio can see how gentle and nice he is under that wild-eyed, rough exterior, and she befriends him (making her an awe-inspiring person at her school as everyone else is terrified of him). She quickly learns that he does have a dangerous side, but with protection, positive reinforcement, a little guidance, and — don't forget — love, she can protect and possibly tame this human-animal.This manga is crazy good. It's unrealistic fantasy, but it's a fantasy that many girls have - taming the wild beast of a man, teaching him to be responsive to only you and protective enough to kill (or be killed trying) ... and if of course leads to various bondage and fetish thoughts. Yes, Leo's character is really out there, but Yukio's is as well. Not only does she overreact to everything cute and fuzzy (or feathered or scaled), but she's got an in with the yakuza-wanna-be's at her school. They're tough guys until you get to know them, and then they're as sweet as candy. That makes the reading a lot more fun, but also adds to the "fantasy" of it all as Yukio is no one special, powerful, or smart — she just is. The story progresses at a good pace, and the humor and violence are spaced out nicely. There's a nice amount of blood which heightens the violence and danger of the situation without becoming gory. The art is variable enough to go from edgy to wispy to the uber shocked faces (with the square eyes/mouth and lines). Sometimes it seems a bit overdone, but it plays up the contrasting sides of both Leo and Yukio very well. I definitely enjoyed reading enough to buy volume 2 when it comes out ... especially now that we also have another guardian for Leo appear who knows his history but is getting to old for this (and can't get close to Leo the way a cute girl can). Written: November 23, 2009
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