Manga Review: Flower of Life Volume 1

[Jason]

Title: Flower of Life
Volume: 1
Mangaka: Fumi Yoshinaga
Originally serialized in: Wings (Shinshokan)
Genre: Shoujo
Licensed by: DMP
Price: 12.95 US

All right, I admit it. I am a yaoi junkie. I am shamefully indiscriminate in my consumption of boy-on-boy porn, though I humor myself by saying I don’t actually like all of what I read. However, I know this is merely a sweet lie to let myself retain a sense of elitism. I am as addicted to yaoi as any self-respecting 1980s housewife ever was to Days of Our Lives.

It is for people like me that Flower of Life was written—it appeals to that part of me that wants to remain separate from slavering fangirls (not that there’s anything wrong with that) by poking fun at that part of me that stays up late into the night, squinting at my 17-inch flatscreen monitor, and telling myself I’ll go to bed after just one more chapter. (Scanlations of non-licensed titles, whut?)

Fumi Yoshinaga is no stranger to yaoi—she’s famous for Ichegenme and Gerard & Jacques, among others (including The Moon and the Sandals, which I’ll be reviewing soon), as well as several non-yaoi titles like the Kodansha Award-winning series Antique Bakery. It’s with an extensive background in the genre and the culture that Yoshinaga enters this series, her tongue set firmly in her cheek.

That said, nothing about this series is yaoi. She constantly defies expectations (a tactic sure to endear her to me even further than she already was) and has fun doing it. There’s not much I can say about the story that won’t spoil one delicious surprise or another, but twist upon twist—including the unexpected intrusions of “real life” on her characters’ romp through their high-school years—kept me turning the pages, laughing until I couldn't breathe, and calling Firey to ask when the next volumes are supposed to be out.

Volume One introduces us to Harutaro Hanazono, arguably the main character. Due to a serious illness, he joins his high-school class one year and one month late. He arrives at school to meet his homeroom teacher, a flaming gay man—or not—and several new friends, including the teddy-bear cute Shota Mikuni and the strikingly handsome Kai Majima. Majima and Mikuni invite their new classmate to join the manga club, of which they—and Saito-sensei, the homeroom teacher—are the only members. This vehicle sets the stage for Yoshinaga to affectionately poke fun at her own profession and the fans who support it.

The first of Yoshinaga’s series that I read was Gerard & Jacques and, while I remember being very impressed with the story, at the time I was underwhelmed by the simplicity of the art. Her storytelling is just as charming as ever, but her art has improved by leaps and bounds. Consultation with more experienced eyes than mine confirmed that the delicacy of her toning along with more detailed background settings add a welcome new depth to her scenes.

Flower of Life is one of my very favorite new series and I’m flattered to have the opportunity to read and review it. And now, since Volume Three was the carrot Firey dangled in front of me to coax me into finishing this review, I’m off to collect my reward!

Reviewed by: mjules
Proofed by: The Mighty Highlord
Edited by: riseabove77

Order Flower Of Life Volume 1 (Yaoi) (Flower of Life) from Amazon.com!