Comics / Manga / Yaoi Manga

Kabuki: Volume 2: Red (Yaoi)

By Leroy Douresseaux
May 9, 2010 - 07:10

Kabuki: Red cover image is courtesy of Anime Castle Books.

Drama/Romance; Rated “18+ Mature”

Kounosuke Kuga was an elite warrior, served by his loyal page, an obedient young boy named Kageya.  Before their deaths in a battle, Kounosuke and Kageya pledged to be reborn in the future so they could continue their affair, but that was during Japan’s Tenshou Era (1573-1592 A.D.).  Kounosuke reawakened in modern times, but his trusty page Kageya was nowhere to be found.  Then, he met three Kageyas – grandfather Rokusaburou, father Gorou, and son Shirou.  Which was his true love?

It was Shirou, but in this life, Kageya is the commanding adult, and Kounosuke is the mere child.  Now, Kounosuke has to deal both with being bossed around and with his own bitter resentment.  Will Kounosuke ever regain his heart’s one true love?

Kabuki, Vol. 2: Red finds two stubborn, ancient warriors reunited in the present – at least physically, if not emotionally.  Kounosuke continues to make advances on Kageya, but the older man won’t budge.  Meanwhile, meddlers from all around follow the duo’s every move and complicate an already complicated relationship.

First, the bold Spaniard, Adol, a former lover of Kageya’s, returns demanding to spill secrets if Kageya doesn’t restart their romance and have sex with him.  Next, Kageya’s cousin, Ichirou Kageya, enters the picture.  Ichirou is the same age as Kounosuke, and the two form a bond of friendship.  When things unexpectedly turn romantic, Kounosuke begins to wonder if he’s finally found “his” Kageya.

THE LOWDOWN:  I found the first Kabuki to be a pretty pedestrian yaoi manga-as-fantasy-romance.  Kabuki: Flower was low on sexual intercourse, but heavy on psychological character drama and conspiracy/mystery.  Kabuki: Red is more sexual in nature, almost raw and randy.  Most of the characters have an expectation of sex, either as the primary expression of love or as the obvious thing to do when two guys are attracted to or lusting for each other.

The romance is also stronger.  The emphasis is on yearning, doubt, playing hard to get, want, etc.  In that way, Kabuki: Red is as much teen shojo manga as it is yaoi manga, except that here, the teen, Kounosuke, is an unabashed horn dog, ready to assume the position for just about any male lover.  The romance makes Red a much better read than Flower, so much so that I was sad to see the story conclude.

POSSIBLE AUDIENCE:  Yaoi reader looking for strong romance and playful sexual escapades will enjoy Kabuki, Vol. 2: Red.

B+

For more of me, visit www.negromancer.com.

 

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12