Review: HAPPY LESSON

Of course, I couldn't let the month pass without talking about a bad harem manga, but this one is both different from the rest and yet not all that different either.

HAPPY LESSON, written by Mutsumi Sasaki and Dengeki G's Magazine with art by Shinnosuke Mori.  First published in 1999 and first published in North America in 2004.

PLOT:

Susumu Arisaka is an orphan who has spent the last decade in an orphanage.  Now he's returning to his parents' home to attend high school.  Five of his teachers learn about his predicament and are so moved by his tragic life story that they decide to all become his "mama."  They move in with him, cook and clean for him, tutor him, all in the hopes of giving him a happy life...or a lot of chaos for poor Susumu.

Review: THE YOUNG MASTER'S REVENGE

Shojo manga is full of bad relationships, but what happens when you combine that with one of shojo manga's fluffiest creators? 

THE YOUNG MASTER'S REVENGE (Kimi no Koto nado Zettai ni), by Meca Tanaka.  First published in 2014 and first published in North America in 2018.

PLOT:

As a child, Leo was forced to play with Tenma because her wealthy family owned a fancy department store and Leo's family had a clothing company that wanted to get in good with them.  He mostly got dragged around by Tenma and got nothing for it but mockery from the other kids and turtle bite scars in an awkward place.

Ten years and one extended stay in the US later, Leo's family is fabulously wealthy, Leo is a handsome young teen, and he's ready to enact his revenge.  His plan: seduce Tenma with sweet nothings and princely behavior, only to dump her and leave her in misery.  Those plans get complicated when he learns that Tenma's family went broke and that she's ready to enter into an arranged marriage to ensure her family's future.  Leo's determined that no one and nothing is going to get between him and his revenge, even if it means financially supporting Tenma, teaching her about the world, and saving her from trouble at private school.

Review: FINDER

 We are rested and ready to return with a month's worth of bad romance manga!  Let's begin with...well, "classic" would be too strong for this series so let's say a notable one from BL of the past.

FINDER (Fainda), by Ayano Yamane.  First published in 2002 and first published in North America in 2005.

PLOT:

Akihito is a freelance photographer who wants to use his skills to expose the seedy underbelly of the criminal world.  Alas, he's quickly capture by the powerful gangster Asami, who proceeds to rape Akihito, ruin his film, and set him free.  Akihito hates what Asami did to him, but remains determined to fight crime in his own way.  Meanwhile, Asami finds himself increasingly drawn to Akihito, protecting the young man even as he pursues him for the sake of his own pleasure.