365 Days of Manga, Day 19: Dash!

Today we have our first review by someone other than me. Several freelance writers helped write reviews for Manga: The Complete Guide (you can see their initials at the end of the reviews in the printed book), and one of them was Shaenon Garrity, the creator of Skin Horse, Narbonic, and many other excellent comics. Her work also regularly appears in Otaku USA magazine alongside my own. Shaenon did me an incredible favor by helping out with some of the reviews (specifically, Osamu Tezuka and yaoi manga reviews) under a tight deadline and I’m proud to present her reviews here on “Yaoi Sunday” at 365 Days of Manga.
DASH! （ダッシュ！) • Isaku Natsume • DMP (2007) • Ookura Shuppan (2006) • 1 volume • Yaoi • 16+
Akimoto, a middling judo wrestler, develops a crush on judo champ Saitou after watching him perform at a meet. Saitou’s response, shouted on the first page of Dash!: “Sweet! Then starting today, you’re my servant!” But the manga is too good-natured to descend into SM/dominance-themed erotica, or, for that matter, much erotica at all. Instead, it focuses on cheerful action and slapstick humor, as Akimoto’s feelings evolve from hero worship to romantic love. The volume also includes a backup story, “Cheeky,” in which two childhood friends are reunited as teenagers; one is now a clean-cut athlete, the other a bisexual gigolo. Both stories feature very little sex; a peck on the lips is a big deal, and any racier behavior is drawn briefly and discreetly. Natsume’s big-mouthed, spiky-haired, constantly grinning or grimacing characters look more like the heroes of a shonen fighting manga than yaoi lovers. (Shaenon Garrity)
** 1/2 (two and a half stars)
Today’s winner is Kate J. of Tennessee! Your manga is on the way!