World Famous Comics: Ellie Mamahara: Alley of First Love
Ellie Mamahara: Alley of First Love
By: Ellie Mamahara Publisher: Blu Average Rating: Binding: Paperback Label: Blu Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 192 Publication Date: July 08, 2008 Reading Level: Young Adult Release Date: July 15, 2008
Very engaging and enjoyable one-shot. This one is very well done. The theme sounds familiar, 2 best friends since childhood, separated and now reunited yet failing to express their love for each other. But it is the way it is told, the gentle and lovely setting, the varied cast of characters around them, which makes this gay romance shines.
Both main characters are very likable. Shusuke Kuroda, son of "The Kuroda beer/sake shop" is a soccer jock. Atsushi Makino is the son of the nearby "Makino Soba shop" and by contrast he is an honors student, majoring in environmental science. They were separated after high school graduation when Atsushi left suddenly for England to pursue his studies under a professor he admired, much to the chagrin of a shocked Shusuke. Later we found out the reason behind Atsushi's sudden departure.
Six years passed. Shusuke now helps to look after the family sake shop after injury forced him to quit his professional soccer career. He is loved by neighbours, friends and his family of a widowed father and 2 brothers. One day Atsushi appeared just as suddenly as he left, with rumors flying around his reasons for leaving England.
I love how these 2 young men tried to reconnect after 6 long years of not hearing from one another. Not easy at all as they have not once admitted their feelings to each other even when they were once very close friends. They are 2 very appealing characters, contrasting each other nicely. Shusuke is the cheerful and carefree character and not very good at hiding his feelings from anyone, while Atsushi is the quiet one and so vulnerable and alone.
I also enjoy the cast of characters this mangaka has created around the lovers, from Atsushi's little twin nieces (Mimi and Momo who treats Shusuke as their fiance), to a nosy 82 year-old little old woman from a tobacco shop. And let's not forget Shusuke's widowed father and well intentioned brothers and all the caring but gossipy friends and customers of the sake shop. This colourful cast of characters helps to enrich this fluid story as they pop in and out lightening the atmosphere while the lovers try hard to resolve their awkward feelings and express their love.
This mangaka has her own very unique artwork style but it works and the expressions are vivid and lovely. Atsushi's sad and lonely expression just stands out as does Shusuke's embarassment and wistfulness.
Highly recommended for Yaoi fans who know how to appreciated a well crafted BL/soft Yaoi too. Blu has handled the translation of this one very well.
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