TOP TEN YAOI REVIEWS - Blak Rayne - #7

TOP PICK - Number 7

I struggled the last few days, unable to choose which yaoi to post next. Finally, I picked ‘Midaresomenishi’ or in English ‘A Legend of Samurai Love’ for my number seven slot. Samurai Love by Kazuma Kodaka is probably one of her lesser-praised works. The manga is approximately two hundred and sixteen pages of moderate plot and sexual depravity–not as explicit as some bara I’ve read, but close enough. And, yes, I have read bara. I must confess the steroid pumped guys with anatomically incorrect body parts aren’t really a turn-on. Bara is strictly a ‘suck ‘n’ f*** fest’. I’ve yet to come across one with an actual plot that doesn’t include gang banging, rape or S&M. According to whomever (stats) bara is quite popular with men. I guess every man’s ultimate fantasy is to be forced? A shiver just ran down my spine. **shudders**

Anyway, getting back on track… Midaresomenishi is the story about Shirou, a red-headed, samurai warrior that has a taste for blood. Unknown to Shirou, his much younger brother Fujimaru follows him and ends up kidnapped by a sadistic, feudal lord, Sougetsu. In order to protect his brother, Shirou becomes Sougetsu’s sex slave, while devising a daring plan of escape. Subjected to humiliation and eventually the loss of this brother, Shirou finds himself falling for his captor and his captor falls for him. That’s a very brief synopsis.

Ms. Kodaka does a superb job as usual. Her artistry is second to none. But the plot…total cliché, unfortunately. Very ‘oh master hurt me’. On the other hand I found this to be a breath of fresh air for Ms. Kodaka–something completely different from her usual, though graphic as it is. And, I wouldn’t recommend it for everyone. There is a lot of forced sex. So if explicit, rough intercourse turns you off run the other direction. LOL

An offshoot to Samurai Love is a very short insert called ‘Midare Somenishi DJ Adesugata Emaki (Alluring Scrolls). Once again, if you need a sex overload, please indulge. It’s approximately twenty pages of Sougetsu doing Shirou. Period. So there you have it! I give this yaoi 4 out of 5 flames because I sincerely enjoyed most everything about it and the sex was hot! But the dialogue–not! Yuck. LOL

Happy Yaoi Hunting!

Blak Rayne ^_^!!

http://www.blakraynebooks.com

http://blakraynebooks.blogspot.com

Happy Holidays

I'm not terribly good with words except when I'm writing so I'm resorting to videos for this.
And yes I'm getting somewhat 'political', for which I do not apologize.

Bing Crosby & David Bowie - Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy 1977

Peace on Earth is a 1939 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer cartoon short subject directed by Hugh Harman, about a post-apocalyptic world populated by animals.

My Grown Up Christmas List

May there be peace and earth, and homes and love for all those who are without from this day forward.

Happy Holidays to one and all

Secretary Clinton's Historic Speech on LGBT Human Rights - "Gay rights are human rights"

Hillary Rodham Clinton’s address before the United Nations in Geneva will be remembered by history, with the Secretary of State unabashedly arguing to the world that LGBT rights are human rights.

http://youtu.be/MudnsExyV78

Top Ten Yaoi Reviews #6 by Blak Rayne

        TOP PICK - Number 6

The yaoi I’ve chosen for number six is ‘Starfighter’ and, I must say with this one, I’m very impressed, because it’s rare to find a North American artist that is exceptionally talented with her own distinctive style. Hamletmachine is taking the yaoi scene–quite literally, by storm. Everywhere I look, I find her banners and a growing fan base. This isn’t to say there aren’t other equally as talented NA yaoi artists such as Teahouse  and others. Just as eBook authors, there’s a new yaoi artist born every day and some do have a definite gift. But, for now, I’m sticking to the ones I know and appreciate.

Which brings me to the number order of my ‘Top Ten’ list. Some people are confused and have asked. The order in which I’ve listed the yaoi has no bearing on my ratings overall. I’ve just put together a list of my top ten favourite yaoi. As far as I’m concerned all are equal in quality.

Getting back to Starfighter, as you’ve probably guessed, I’m an avid fan. I first noticed Hamletmachine’s work @ Deviantart, where I’ve had a membership for several years. And I must mention, that my daughter got me hooked. When my daughter noticed I’d faved Hamletmachine on Deviantart, she told me about HM’s website and that I could read her comic online. My daughter’s a huge yaoi too. LOL Anyway, I immediately fell in love with Hamletmachine’s raw and gritty, but also unique style. Something about it caught my eye–it isn’t beautiful precision like Kazuma Kodaka or Ayano Yamane, but her work is still beautiful in it’s own right. Perhaps it’s the retro seventies movie poster feel, I’m not sure. Whatever it is, I’m in for the long haul.

Starfighter: http://www.starfightercomic.com

When it comes to fully understanding the plot, you’ll have to read both chapters. Basically, you have a pair of young men who are given the task names–Cain (seme/the fighter) and Abel (uke/the navigator). These men live in outer space and work as a starfighter team. Their ship is the Reliant. Near as I can tell Abel is a virgin homosexual that has an attraction for Cain. He’s introverted and caring–at least he has a conscience. Cain is the local ‘bad boy’ so-to-speak. He’s supposedly the best fighter in the fleet and also rude, impetuous and demanding.

After they receive their assignment, the men argue. Abel’s attracted to Cain, but at the same time disgusted by the man. Abel’s feelings are typical in so many ways–he wants the bad boy, awesome sex, fuck me when I demand, but he’s fearful of the consequences a relationship with Cain could mean. At this point Cain and Abel receive battle orders and after destroying an enemy ship, they hear a distress call from the Tiberius. Abel decides to help though Cain refuses. Luckily they survive and salvage the Tiberius. Again, the men argue. Cain is rightfully pissed that Abel risked their lives. And this is when the bad boy more or less forces himself onto Abel and, is somewhat surprised to find, Abel’s quite willing and, what a bonus, he’s a virgin! The story does continue, but I’ll leave my synopsis were it stands.

Now to the best part… I love both characters and they do evolve, though subtle. My favourite is Cain and it’ll be interesting to see what happens in chapter 3, whether he develops more of a heart towards Abel or if he’ll continue to unnerve the guy. Cain comes across as a prick, but I sense underneath he’s capable of better–at least when it concerns Abel. Yes, be a prick in public Cain–I love it! But be a little nicer in private. LOL

Hamletmachine does a wonderful job. Her artistry is unique and quite addictive. Her characters are charismatic, anatomically correct and definitely likeable. And, the sex is explicit hot! LOL But… Yes, there is a ‘but’. From an author’s perspective, I will say the dialogue needs editing and the plot could use a touch more depth. Other than that, I give this yaoi four flames and I can’t wait to read the next instalment!

Happy Yaoi Hunting

Blak Rayne ^_^!!

http://www.blakraynebooks.com

http://blakraynebooks.blogspot.com

The Barber's Speech (Charlie Chaplin) from 'The Great Dictator'

I'd never heard this before. In fact I'll admit to never having seen the movie. It is a great speech which I think is very apropos for our times. You can find the scene from the movie on YouTube
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pK2WJd5bXFg&feature=related)

* * * * * 

I'm sorry, but I don't want to be an emperor. That's not my business. I don't want to rule or conquer anyone. I should like to help everyone, if possible, Jew, gentile, black man, white. We all want to help one another. Human beings are like that. We want to live by each other's happiness — not by each other's misery. We don't want to hate and despise one another.
In this world there is room for everyone. And the good earth is rich and can provide for everyone. The way of life can be free and beautiful, but we have lost the way. Greed has poisoned men's souls, has barricaded the world with hate, has goose-stepped us into misery and bloodshed. We have developed speed, but we have shut ourselves in. Machinery that gives abundance has left us in want. Our knowledge has made us cynical. Our cleverness, hard and unkind. We think too much and feel too little. More than machinery we need humanity. More than cleverness we need kindness and gentleness. Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost.
The aeroplane and the radio have brought us closer together. The very nature of these inventions cries out for the goodness in men, cries out for universal brotherhood, for the unity of us all. Even now my voice is reaching millions throughout the world — millions of despairing men, women and little children — victims of a system that makes men torture and imprison innocent people. To those who can hear me, I say — do not despair. The misery that is now upon us is but the passing of greed — the bitterness of men who fear the way of human progress. The hate of men will pass, and dictators die, and the power they took from the people will return to the people and so long as men die, liberty will never perish.
Soldiers! Don't give yourselves to brutes — men who despise you — enslave you — who regiment your lives — tell you what to do — what to think or what to feel! Who drill you, diet you, treat you like cattle, use you as cannon fodder. Don't give yourselves to these unnatural men — machine men with machine minds and machine hearts! You are not machines! You are not cattle! You are men! You have the love of humanity in your hearts. You don't hate! Only the unloved hate — the unloved and the unnatural!
Soldiers! Don't fight for slavery! Fight for liberty! In the 17th Chapter of St. Luke it is written: "the Kingdom of God is within man" — not one man nor a group of men, but in all men! In you! You, the people have the power — the power to create machines. The power to create happiness! You, the people, have the power to make this life free and beautiful, to make this life a wonderful adventure.
Then, in the name of democracy, let us use that power! Let us all unite! Let us fight for a new world, a decent world that will give men a chance to work, that will give youth the future and old age a security. By the promise of these things, brutes have risen to power, but they lie! They do not fulfill their promise; they never will. Dictators free themselves, but they enslave the people! Now, let us fight to fulfill that promise! Let us fight to free the world, to do away with national barriers, to do away with greed, with hate and intolerance. Let us fight for a world of reason, a world where science and progress will lead to all men's happiness.
Soldiers! In the name of democracy, let us all unite!

Whats goin on..

IM NOT GOING TO KILL MYSELF. I JUST NEED TO GET THIS OUT HERE