Denkou Sekka Boys by Toujou (Tohjoh) Asami

number of volumes: 3 +?
comic line: Chara Comics
publishing house: Tokuma Shoten
size: B6

Major Characters:

The Story

Natsui is the geek-about-school that gets picked on like mad. When he tries to do things, he gets picked on a lot. It's like his glasses are a permanent 'kick me' sign, because once they're off, he gets treated a lot better.

Now, he first talks Yasaka Ritsu when he tries to get him to do something for school. Ritsu just Looks at him, and you know whatever it is that Natsui wants, the answer is "NO." And so Natsui chickens out, the doormat. We also meet Shigure, a highschool idol, and his and Ritsu's fanclub who call Natsui an otaku while snickering behind their hands.

There's a whole rigamarole that leads to the main reasoning behind the Natsui & Ritsu pairing, including Natsui and an upperclassman rescuing Ritsu from a bunch of seniors that think Ritsu is an uppity 1st year.

Natsui is trying to calm a crowd from a stage and gets his glasses knocked off. Ritsu passes them back to him, and Natsui recognizes the feeling of that hand! That same hand gave him his glasses back before when he got knocked over in the hall!

Perhaps Ritsu has really smooth hands or somesuch.

The whole story spreads from there, with the reader being plunged into a world of stars and modeling, where people pursue an incredulous Natsui that can't believe he's a bishounen. The pursuits tend to end in molestation of a sort, which are stopped before they progress to the point of no return. Nevertheless, he gets plunged into embarrassing incidents in every manga that get published in a very public manner, whether it's a video tape or a magazine.

All this time, he is being pursued by a very controlled, yet possessive Ritsu, who has a bit of a jealous streak. Even when he treats Natsui like nothing.

Each of the volumes has a short story at the end featuring the main characters. They're alot like outtakes or random shorts. Volume 1 has a version of Cinderella, who is obviously Natsui, with Shigure and Nanao as the siblings. Ritsu is prince charming who has a parttime job delivering produce, and who saves Ritsu from embarrassment at the gothy ball by altering his outfit. And, the glass slipper is ... Natsui's glasses.

Volume 2 has a freaky friday plot, where Ritsu and Natsui swap bodies. Rather funny, seeing their expressions on the other's face. Plus, Natsui-as-Ritsu wants to use the restroom, but is too embarassed because technically, the body is Ritsu's.

Volume 3, I cannot make out except it starts with a pissing contest between Shigure and Ritsu. Not LITERALLY, but figuratively. Attitude-wise. And, we get to see Nanao's brother and a misguidedly protective Shigure. It's rather cute.

Commentary

Toujou Asami's art is, as per usual, fantastic. The story makes me a bit incredulous, because Natsui is a bit too much for my tastes, but man. The comics are worth it for the fantastic inks and screentoning. The shading on the hair is just fascinating. Plus, there are several opening chapter images of Ritsu and Natsui doing sultry magazine-type poses. Simply fantastic.

I think the story is okay, and more than a bit far-fetched. How often will you see models still going to a high school, where they can get mobbed and chased by rabid fans?

Also, as mentioned, Natsui is a bit much. He's a bit placid in taking some of the advances, like a typical uke, but it doesn't go far for reasons unknown. But he will take it, even if it's not from Ritsu. Although, if it's not Ritsu, it will definitely stop. And, if it's from Ritsu, he will accept it, but not let it go so far for a long time. I'm a bit incredulous about this, since I think it's weird that Ritsu won't go far, like a good boy, but will still let things be done to him (or that the people accosting him don't keep going. I mean, Natsui is weak).

I like watching the protective Ritsu work though. It's the idiot fangirl with a soft-spot for romance in me. He's interesting to watch, and he doesn't push Ritsu much. He's a cool character (Not 'cool' as in, "you're so cool!" but cool, as in acting cold).

We don't see much of Shigure or Nanao, but for some reason, Shigure always manages to get his hands on the media that embarasses Natsui (I knew Shigure was here for a reason!). And, I like Nanao. Perhaps I have a thing for boys that see nothing wrong with wearing skirts and barrettes.

I'm waiting for volume 4, because I'm positive that Ritsu's mother will enter the fray beyond her superficial introduction. It should be interesting. Also, there's a teacher in here named Murakami that Ritsu calls 'oniichan." Yet, Murakami has this unhealthy obsession with Ritsu and so I don't think they're actually related. It's probably an older-friend thing. But, why on earth is Murakami mentioned? I have to know!

Graphicness? It has some nudity and a blatant graphic scene in vol. 3, but that's it. It's not like her really graphic comics, if you've seen XY or Renai Junkie. It's really non-issue with this one. It's more incidental to the story than it is essential to the story.