Geekscape Reviews ‘Embracing Love’ Yaoi *Mature Content*

******WARNING***** Adult content discussed below!

Yaoi explores gender roles and sexuality and what better way to delve into that than to have the two main characters be adult film stars. Embracing Love by Youka Nitta (same author/artist from Spiritual Police) focuses on successful adult film actor, Iwaki Kyousuke, and young rising adult star, Katou Yoji. Both men want to expand their careers by working in more mainstream films and they get the opportunity when they are both asked to audition for a new erotic film. However, at the audition they are shocked when asked to have sex with each other to see who will get the lead role. Ambitious Katou rises to the challenge first but Iwaki will not be outdone by this young punk.

What starts out as a rivalry begins to transition into a romance when Katou starts having feelings for Iwaki. Will Iwaki embrace this new kind of relationship? What does the future hold for these two stars? Their developing romance is a pleasure to read but Iwaki’s self doubt about it all does drag on a little long. I found it interesting that the story is centered around people who have sex for a job and examines how they approach intimate connections.

The characters in this manga are drawn in an elongated fashion. I thought to call them daddy long legs because in some full body images their legs are impossibly long. Their faces are also extended — a sort of cross between an oval and a heart shaped face. Even though they may have long faces, they have chiseled jaw lines and big expressive eyes. The overall visual tone is rather bright with only minimal shading on the characters and blush lines to give any sort of 3D depth to the space. Their clothes and backdrops have nice textures and, in that way, the characters stand out against their surroundings. There is only minor censorship on the private parts; there is actually pubic hair and everything is drawn out, but in a more basic outline style rather than detailed.

I like that volumes one and two come together in a single book as it leads to a solid story arc and character development in one package. I am curious to see where the relationship between Iwaki and Katou goes. Will they be able to stay together? Will Iwaki be able to let go of his envy towards Katou’s mounting fame? Will other people come between them? Will they get to act in the films they always dreamed of? Hopefully the next few volumes will be just as entertaining.

Embracing Love (volume 1 & 2) is rated ‘M’ for Mature Readers, and retails for $16.99.

For up-to-date news and release information, please visit the SuBLime website at www.SuBLimeManga.com, or follow SuBLime on Twitter at @SuBLimeManga and Facebook at facebook.com/SuBLimeManga.