Notice for Review Requests

I receive review requests weekly. However, my personal schedule is hectic and I no longer review actively. (I also manage another blog called The Toronto Cafe and Food Blog). I do read every request sent but I apologize in advance that I do not reply to them all.

If I do take on a request, I will forewarn that it may take some time before I can review it. I am now looking to review adult fiction and self-help books instead of young adult fiction because I have grown out of it. If you are to request a review for either adult fiction or self-help, I will more likely to give it a shot.

In the meantime, Stop, Drop, and Read! serves as an archive book review blog. When I have the time, I may post a review. Thank you for understanding.

Monday, January 5, 2009

Masque of the Red Death by Wendy Pini

Title: Masque of the Red Death
Comic Artist: Wendy Pini
Age Group: Adults
# of Pages: 184
# of Volumes: 3
My Rating: 2/5

In the robotic-clean future, everything you see around you will be greatly advanced. People over a hundred years old look like they are only forty, there are machines that clear away the litter in the malls, and you can even change your skin colour to blue!

Anthon Prosper became heir to his father's grand fortune once he died. Using his power and money, he searches for the ultimate impossible: a way to beat death. Enter Steffan Kabala. This beautiful male wins over Anthon and changes his life forever.

Okay, the first thing I thought when I finished this comic was, "What in the world was everyone saying?". I felt like I was reading Shakespeare all over again. And I mean it quite literally. The way the characters spoke was a whole new language to me. Is it because I am not old enough to understand the words that could only be reserved for adults? Maybe.

The characters were drawn too masculine for my liking, especially since Anthon and Steffan are homosexual. I have read some yaoi (Japanese hardcore boyxboy manga) in the past and nothing annoys me more than two very manly men screwing each other. I also think the faces are too one-dimensional. The only character design that I like is Fronda, the daughter of Anthon's father's rival. I don't find the art appealing other than that.

There is no way I can ever pick up the next volume. If I have a sense of where everything is going, I would add more things to this review but I honestly don't. It's not my cup of tea.

Review copy provided by Go! Comi.

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5 comments:

MySharonAnne said...

I love your manga reviews. I just joined a manga challenge and I know nothing about this genre so your blog comes in very handy.

Diana Dang said...

Thank you so much! I'm glad to hear! <3

Anonymous said...

I think Pini is trying to make a world where everything is to the extreme. ****SPOILER WARNING****DO NOT READ ON IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW THE ENDING. It's a modern sodom and gomorrah and you know what happened to *that* city. If you've ever read "Masque of Red Death" by Poe, you'd understand where she was coming from. Basically everyone is the story dies a horrible death. No one escapes it.

Anonymous said...

I am pretty offended by your suggestion that it's "annoying" that the gay characters are drawn "too masculine." They're MEN. They're GAY MEN. Are all gay men supposed to look super-feminine? Gimme a break.

Diana Dang said...

I apologize that I have offended you. Her style is something I am not used to, therefore I could not find myself liking the art itself. Then again, it is my personal opinion so I am not judging the fans of the series.