spine

OZ no Matenrou art by Takakura Rou (Row), story by Somei Yoshino

vol 1
vol. 1
ISBN4-19-960170-8

number of volumes: 1
comic line: Chara Comics
publishing house: Tokuma Shoten
size: B6

Major Characters:

Kudou Mari works as a private investigator and does the physical work for his company. Kaito Yuu is Miyuki's classmate and the current object of Mari's investigation. He's a high school boy with a down-trodden look on his face.
Oonishi Youichi does the computer and tech work for his and Mari's PI job. He's also a bit shameless, and Miyuki's boyfriend. Kudou Miyuki is Mari's younger brother who's in high school. Like Youichi, he's a bit shameless and forward. Very cute and comes across as well-meaning.

The Story

The comic opens with 2 guys asleep in bed, and after the alarm goes off, one rolls over and says, "Good morning *heart*. I love you, Mi. Yu. Ki."

Except, it's not Miyuki; it's his brother, and he's in bed with Youichi. It is, of course, a misunderstanding of sorts. And, of course, Miyuki walks in on them. However, he just thinks it's mean that the 2 of them got to share a bed. It looks like fun!

Anyways, Mari and Youichi investigate adultery and acts of perversion (getting this from mangabonbons) using a camera that transmits the video to Youichi's computer (how, I do not know). For some reason, Miyuki points out Yuu, and Mari moves towards him with camera at ready. Yuu gets felt up by someone, and Mari moves in (this person is, perhaps, the person mentioned in the mangabonbons summary; the one being investigated for adultery).

word of the day: 'chikan' is a molester of women and can also be used to refer to someone that gropes people on the train. Clearly, a good word to remember when reading yaoi comics.

Mari catches the chikan in the act, gets his name, and rescues the poor Yuu. Miyuki apologizes that Yuu got felt up by a perv, and introduces Yuu to Mari.

There is more to it than just the chikan though, as Yuu is still pursued by some nameless person, and appears to still be under investigation by Mari and Youichi.

Commentary

Beautiful comic with, I'm sure, a beautiful storyline that I cannot make out well enough.

To be honest, I'm not fond of Mari or Yuu; Youichi and Miyuki amuse me more, with their propensity of being caught doing the deed by Mari and their 'rabu-rabu' sound effects and assorted hearts when they're near each other.

Mari is the typical tall, dark, and handsome hero with his cheerful sidekick Youichi and his younger brother Miyuki. He runs to the rescue, he looks cool, etc. Yet, I cannot figure out much more about his personality.

Yuu is a bit of the wimpy heroine, I'm afraid, what with the running to danger and looking a bit helpless.

Miyuki, on the otherhand, while a bit ineffectual, has spunk and a bit of a mouth. Also shameless. It's amusing as heck, and matched by Youichi.

oh, my favoritism is showing.

sample image
Youichi, Miyuki, and Mari