Art: 

I decided to do Yaoi Press Stories all under one heading though admittedly a few do really stick out.  I will discuss Story and art and Grade them accordingly by book or series.  A poorly put together story can be as hard to put up with as a poorly drawn story; however a well written story with poor art is still usually better than a poorly written story with good art.  The good art is pretty but without a good story it’s just dressing on something that’s crap anyway.  I have found that Yaoi Press teeters right on the edge often but once in a while it hits it right on the mark.  (I also suspect that the artists/writers are improving and so is Yaoi Press right along with them.  Click on Hyperlinked names to see samples of the Artwork and Stories mentioned below:

My Favourite Yaoi Press artists are: 

Studio Kosen: Stallion, Saihoshi the Gaurdian Omnibus Edition (hopefully with more future works)

Le Peruggine: Cain (volumes 1, 2, 3), Winter Demon (artists volumes 2 & 3)

Dany & Dany: The Lily and the Rose (and others)

These three also each has an artbook out which is available through Yaoi Press. 

My Favourite Yaoi Press authors are:

Studio Kosen: Stallion & Saihoshi (artists and writers)

Le Peruggine: Cain

Yamila Abraham: Winter Demon

Good artists and writers include:

Studio Kosaru artists (Winter Demon Vol. 1)

Yishan Li artist (Spirit Marked)

Colter Hillman (Spirit Marked)

There are of course other artists and writers (I no longer own the book(s) though) which is/are worth mentioning.  Team Insanity who did writing and art for Prisoner of the Immortal (a fairly good book both in story and Art...just not good enough to hold me)

Of course speaking about art, a story can of course hold you if it is good enough, but lets be real, if it isn’t really worth looking at chances are you won’t read it, after all we could just as well READ a great story and build our own character designs in our heads, so no matter how good a manga-esk story is the art still has to compliment it. 

When I first started collecting Yaoi Press books I was dubious of their success.  I decided to give them a chance though, based on the simple knowledge that often a new thing improves over time, like a good wine, it ages well.

I think my first YP book was Spirit Marked which came out in 2005, included with Spirit Marked was a short story called Clockwork Heart.  It was...horrible, (YP often includes these short stories in the books...I think they do this to fill up the usually too thin books).  Anyway I took a chance on Winter Demon which was drawn by the same artist as Clockwork Heart and what a difference a year made.  The artwork in Winter Demon Vol. 1 was indeed much better even though WD Vol. 1 and CH were drawn by the same artist, Studio Kosaru (of course I can also allow for the possibility that the Inks for CH were poorly done).

NOW on to Discussions and graphics for each story mentioned above. (Note graphic samples will be linked rather than displayed outright.  I will summary the stories than talk about the artwork of each.

(return to top)

SPIRIT MARKED: Release date 2005, story by Colter Hillman, Art by Yishan Li.  Spirit marked is an intriguing story based on the concept that people are protected by animal spirits and that each animal spirit rules a single clan, The bear, the Tiger, the Monkey, etc.  Each Spirit picks a Human who is worthy of being the leader of his/her clan and after passing a test, the clan for that spirit proclaims the Spirit Marked person their leader.  Tatsuki is the only survivor of a royal family when his home (the Imperial City) and his uncle (the Emperor) are attacked by the Demon Shogun.  He flees into the wilderness with the Demon Shogun’s minions on his heels and just as he is about to fall to his attackers the Tiger Spirit shows up and drives his attackers away.  The Tiger marks him thus choosing Tatsuki as his Heir to rule the Tiger clan.  However Tatsuki has a lot to learn and has many trials and tribulations along his journey.  He is captured by slavers and forced to join a circus-like exhibition where he meets Keo, who turns out to be spirit marked by the monkey.  Also in his dreams Tatsuki is pursued by the Demon Shogun who after meeting Tatsuki that way decides he would rather have him than kill him.  The pursuit is on.  Tatsuki wants his kingdom back, to do that he has to escape the slavers, become chief of the Tiger Clan and kill the Demon.  Keo helps him escape and in the meantime they fall in love, but in the back-ground the Demon Shogun is still haunting Tatsuki’s dreams and seducing him.  What will be the final outcome?  Read the story to find out.

Artwork for Spirit Marked is fairly nice, the characters are somewhat distinct (as in one doesn’t look like the next – no cookie cutter characters) and the visualizations were easy to follow.  The style is sort of soft, but certainly pleasing and definitely worth reading (IMO).

Rating: 7/10 (return to top)

CLOCKWORK HEART is the short story included with Spirit Marked: story by Lawrence Rider, Artwork by Studio Kosaru (Rel. 2005).  This story is about a clock repairman living in an alien setting.  He seems to be the only human around.  Clock repairmen fix robots as well as clocks, since robots seem to be nothing more than clockworks in this world.  Koji seems to be lonely and he has a robot crow that he talks to while he’s working.  One day at lunch time he leaves his workshop to have lunch in a nearby park, while he’s there he meets Ryu, things happen and eventually Koji and Ryu have sex.  Only Koji learns that Ryu is really a clockwork robot and horrified he runs away from Ryu...what happens next.  Pick up Spirit Marked if you are interested.

Artwork for Clockwork Heart (as I mentioned earlier) was dismal, certainly at that point I had no hope for Studio Kosaru and no reason to expect them to improve, but along came their next work and it was a vast improvement, as you will see.

Grade: 5.5/10 (return to top)

WINTER DEMON: Release Date 2006, story by Yamilla Abraham, art by various artists (will describe).  Winter Demon is a well written and interesting story, character driven and fully realized plot.  The main characters are Hakuin a beautiful Monk and Fuyu the Winter Demon.  Hakuin deals with the Demon to help save his village, promising to give himself willingly if Fuyu will destroy the three Fire Demons ravaging his home.  Unfortunately when they return to his village the fire Demons have already destroyed Hakuin’s monastery and when Fuyu meets the Fire Demons he realizes that he isn’t strong enough on his own to take on the Demons.  Hakuin leaves Fuyu to get him a weapon and while Fuyu is alone the leader of the Demons captures him and rapes him.  Fuyu only manages to get away a few hours before Hakuin returnes.  Fuyu though has learned a valuable lesson and reflects on his own evil deeds now that he has experienced being helpless before a greater force.  Fuyu was always bigger and stronger and suddenly he knows what he did to those he took before was wrong and evil.  Of course Hakuin also has something to do with changing Fuyu over the passing of time.  With the weapon Hakuin brought Fuyu destroys the three demons and then they begin a journey to opens up in Vol. 2.  Along the way they meet and help other characters.  Figaru is introduced in a short epilogue story in Vol. 1, Priest Shidan who created the weapon for Fuyu is also introduced in the epilogue.  Kiyoko has a recurring part in Vol. 1, 2 and 3; in Vol. 3 Epilogue we meet the Spring Demon Ryuuto and the Healer. Dr. Takuma who will have a greater role in Vol. 4 (Which I don’t own yet).  This is story about growth and love and deliverance.  The plot is great and artwork ranges from good to excellent, I will have to hold my opinion about Vol. 4 since a new artist is doing it. 

All Winter Demon Stories Are Written By Yamilla Abraham!

Winter Demon Vol. 1 is drawn by Studio Kosaru (A vast improvement their earlier work-see Clockwork Heart.  Included in Vol. 1 is the epilogue introducing Figaru the Incubus Demon who shows up in the later volumes and has a big part in Vols. 3 & 4 – see WD Vols. 2 & 3

WD Vol.2 is drawn by Le Peruggine (YUMMY!), such incredibly amazing art and great expressions and lovely intimate scenes...moan.

WD Vol. 2 2-part Epilogue (fits between Vol. 2 & 3), PART ONE is drawn by Irene Miranda, reasonably good story, a Figaro story showing how he’s affected by his incubi when he doesn’t get sex.  Pretty well drawn, it is worth reading.

WD Vol. 2 2-part Epilogue, PART TWO is drawn by Sara Spano & Valentina Principe.

WD Vo. 3 is drawn by Le Peruggine (refer to WD Vol. 2 comments!)

WD Vol. 3 EPILOGUE (fits between Vol. 3 & 4) is drawn by Rhea Silvan

WD Vol. 4 is drawn by Rhea Silvan (until I see how she handles the main characters I will hold my opinion of her work though as apparent in WD Vol. 3 Epilogue her style is good)

As I said, there are a lot of different artists and drawing styles for WD, so I will have to withhold my opinion about the story overall, but so far I am happy with it, though without a doubt Le Peruggine is the best artist the series has had.  Whaaaw, please come back.

Grade: 9.5/10 (return to top)

CAIN is written and drawn by Le Peruggine; it is a Dark Gothic Romance of soul-mates.  Cain is a great warrior called a Devil by his admirers and adversaries; he seems to hate the church even though he always wears a cross around his neck.  He takes a little thief in as his ward/servant and trains him to be a warrior.  The story revolves around Cain and Vanquisher and it is clear that there is much going on between them even though Vanquisher is but a boy and Cain is an adult, it seems as if they have already had a life together once before.  Of course Cain is not what he seems, he is in truth a demon who has been banished to earth for a Thousand years because he did something the riled another demon and banishment was his punishment.  He’s lived several lives always knowing who he was and always doing very well even though he seems to want little and doesn’t aspire in power for himself rather he uses his skills to help others and he thinks that humans are noble (huh?).  Sometime during his many lives he met Vanquisher and fell in love, he asked and Vanquisher agreed, for their souls to always be locked together, thus now they are always reborn and find each other in each new life.  The story is very good and well worth reading. 

The artwork shows real growth and improvement from volume to volume.  The early work was a bit puzzling, I bought Cain after reading Winter Demon up to vol. 3 and of course with Vol. 2 & 3 being drawn by LP I had a good idea what to expect, however I was surprised by the underwhelming rawness and unfinished appearance of the first Cain vol.  Had I started with Cain (before ever reading WD) I may not have read WD and what a loss that would have been, however being fortunate enough to have seen the beauty of LP’s work in WD I persevered believing correctly that Cain would improve (assuming that it was actually an early work of theirs (yes LP is a pair) and I was right it did definitely improved. The following are examples of Cain changing with the progression of time:  CAIN Vol. 1 (very early work), and CAIN Vol. 3 1^st chapter (still has a look similar to Vol. 1 & 2), and CAIN Vol. 3 final chapters...it positively got yummy from then on...and the Epilogue with Cain and Lucifer-yow...mmmm delicious.  By the final Chapters it was clear that Le Peruggine had grown into the skill that shows in WD Vol. 2 & 3.  Take my word for it, Cain is worth reading first because it is a great story and second because the artwork grows to match the story.

Grade: 8.5/10 (return to top)

STALLION is by Studio Kosen. Stallion is a young (lovely) Native American warrior who is looking for revenge against the Cowboy Bill Tempest, a man who shamed and ruined his life while he was a boy.  Josey the Bounty Hunter is also after Tempest to make him pay for his crimes.  Tempest is the tempest between Stallion and Josey, and they find each other while hunting for Tempest, but Tempest turns the tables on them and though Stallion and Josey are enemies they come together (in more ways then one) and team up to bring Tempest down, along the way magic happens and they fall in love, a charming tale that is fun to read and well worth keeping.

The Art for Stallion is clean and crisp and very well done, Studio Kosen are very good artists (yes Kosen is a pair) and their work is always a joy to look at.

Grade: 9/10 (return to top)

SAIHOSHI the Guardian is also by Studio Kosen (originally it was released in two volumes (1 & 2) but an Omnibus volume is available – which I have).  An excellent character driven story full of strong dialogue and nice imagery.  Guardian Sastre is hired to protect Prince Anel as he travels to a neighbouring country to meet his intended bride.  Anel decides to use his lover/servant Kaleth as a decoy, having Kaleth pose as him while he acts as Sastre’s valet.  Kaleth is stunned and angry at what he sees is a death sentence as takes his anger out on Sastre even while the handsome young guardian is doing what he can to avoid Anel’s sexual overtures.  Finally the trip is underway with things going as planned for at least an hour or so, until they stop and Kaleth leaves the seeming safety of the carriage he’s traveling in to bath in a nearby pond. Sastre goes after him, leaving Anel unattended and the bad guys ambush the camp right about then.  The fun begins.  There are interesting Times ahead for all the characters, Anel meets Riot (the Bad boy), another Guardian (Yinn) shows up and squares off with Sastre only to later team up with him to help rescue Anel from the bad boy (Laugh!), Kaleth is captured, Sastre undergoes a special Guardian treatment, it’s all good.  Good reading and good work.  Just the right balance of drama, romance and yes comedy.  Highly recommended.

The Artwork of Saihoshi (sample 1, sample 2) is extremely good and flows nicely with the story.  Kosen is definitely a team worth watching for.  Another work by Kosen is Dæmonium, released earlier in 2008 from Tokyopop (I will review it at a later time)

Grade: 9/10 (return to top)

The Lily and the Rose is by Dany&Dany.  It’s the tale of two young males, a man of the church who isn’t quite certain of his path or his heart and a young con-artist out to seek revenge for the murder of his courtesan mother.  Christophe is of the church and has wanted to devote his life to God ever since he was a young boy, only one thing ever interfered with his devotion that being his feelings for his friend Alain.  Christophe meets up with Alain again after many long years of separation and all his suppressed feelings come to the fore again.  A gothic romance taking place just before the French revolution Christophe and Alain are caught up in each other while others scheme to use them for their own purposes.  An excellent story driven by character and plot.  Thoroughly enjoyable. 

The artwork of TL&TR is exemplary; the main characters are strikingly beautiful, while the supporting characters range from the lovely yet devious Comtesse to the outright monstrous and disgusting Ducos.  I understand that Dany&Dany use the look of the same main characters over and over again in their works which can be a bit disconcerting; still they are so beautiful that I will go along with them and say that they are simply favoured actors utilized again and again for these main roles.  I will be acquiring another Dany&Dany work soon and hopefully it will be so different that even with the characters looking the same the story itself will be sharply different.  We will see.

Grade: 9.5/10 (return to top)

You noticed that I didn’t grade any story 10/10, I think that Winter Demon would have made it if it wasn’t for the confusion of Artists, if they had started and finished with Le Peruggine I would very likely have given WD 11/10...LOL.  Anyway, I will add to this list as more YP books come available and I would recommend any of the above if you want to take a chance on Western style Manga.  I have noticed that like any (Japanese) manga they have good and bad stories and good and bad artists too.  The choice to read is completely up to you, but hopefully you won’t regret making it.

Mi.