GHOST's manga / #Drama(2)

Read up to chapter 61. I started this one a while back but let it sit to see more updates, and well, I was hoping things would get better. They only got worse. For context, I'm a gay guy. I love freaky ass BDSM, specifically the dominant role. I like seeing pain and pleasure in my lover's eyes. That being said, all in a consensual way. Masochist partners only really. Maybe a bit TMI, but this gives some background to how this shit goes too far. The art is totally my type of style, the characters too. Men with muscles on both ends. The character designs, the story theme (Gangsters, violence, tons of sex). It's all stuff I dig like crazy, but, as always it seems with these types of stories, you get tons of romanticized rape. Yeah, it's fiction, but that doesn't make it any less egregious. I always have been the type to condemn media that supports disgusting behavior, mostly in the sexual realm. It's one thing to have flaws and accept them, another to manipulate someone and basically give them Stockholm syndrome. Imagine if the MC, Soo I will call him, met a man who could give him just as much cock and sex, but listened to him, respected him, didn't constantly hurt him. If he met a man like that, any actual person would prefer that over what the Dom MC has put Soo through. Of course, if tested the author might be like "Oh he's a freak and actually likes to be forced", to justify it. Fuck off, it hurts seeing how much he yells "No" and "Stop it". Like I get it, that can be a kink thing, but it does NOT feel like a kink thing here. They treat it and represent it so twisted. What would be more interesting? Someone like Dom MC, cold murderer gang leader, but shows a soft caring side for someone like Soo-young. Maybe a few freaky moments, but not- RAPE. Not forcing him to be his "toy". It's really a fucking shame. I truly would be obsessed with this hardcore edgy story if it wasn't for the typical yaoi trope of making rape sexy or kinky. It's not. It's one thing to RP it- which I mean sure whatever, still weird but you do you, but to represent it like this, for what it is- God. I also love villains a ton, super cold bastard characters, paired with a seemingly more emotional partner, either roles sexual-wise or even better, switches. Alas, I still won't support a villain who rapes the person they "love", or anyone for that fact. It's just all so stupid. I'm not shocked either. I see this over and over again. I'm tired of potentially good stories ruined with this shit. I can only hope Soo finds freedom or someone eventually. Likely Dom MC gets a redemption arc though, as we see with every rapist "horrible backstory boohoo" Dom character. I'm tired of making it seem alright when it's so fucking toxic. I'll drop this one for now. Hope to god it finds some light, who knows though. Might end super fucked up like in one or both of the MC's death. lmao. At least that'd make it interesting if nothing else. No offense to anyone here btw. I know we all got opinions. I simply am just venting because I'm tired of this stuff. I hate picking up stories I'm so stoked for in art, story, characters, etc, but then get blue balled with the before-mentioned turn-offs. I don't look to start fights, I mean reply if you want if you're pissed at how I feel, but lol I prob won't reply, not to disrespect, I just don't have the energy for this fuckery. For those who like this crap though, enjoy I suppose.

Very long review, with some stuff that may seem like spoilers, so read at your own discretion. This work has exceeded my expectation for sure. Many with this sort of theme would be quite careless in how they handle the topics at hand, but not only does this work express certain issues and situations with care, but in a way that truly pulls on your heart strings. What I notice is how the author depicts all the aspects of the story in what feels like a more realistic way than other works. I am a gay man, who reads BL because its the most appealing to me, which typically is written by fems for fem people. This one feels different, like you really are in the shoes of a gay man, not some yaoi trope. It's not shallow or none-sensical like, unfortunately, many gay dramas I have seen, where characters act in ways that make you feel insane. The characters here feel real, like they really are thinking and experiencing this world. So, the depiction of gay and queer men, it's wonderful. Then the sex-work itself. Anyone can create a fictional stripper based story, and many like to make characters in that realm. As a young queer kid with high hormones, I probably did to at that age, where I just thought those people were confident, attractive, and living life to their best, whether it be enjoying the sexual liberty, or not minding it. Just making money with what you naturally got. I wouldn't know what I know today at the time, how turbulent it can truly be, and dangerous if not approached with a sound mind, personal rule-set, and such. This work depicts what I feel is a more realistic nature of sex-work, albeit, dramatized, but not in some perfect, sex dense, horny and happy people with care-free minds. While it is sex dense, and there is a lot of horny people, it shows how sex itself is dynamic in how people feel about it. Some reserve it only for love, or even if they think they see it separate from love, once they get knee-deep, like some of the women in the work, they can become irrational, negatively emotional, and closed-minded. Equating their money to love, or special treatment. Even the main character struggles with his love for the main lead, seeing him with these other women, he becomes insecure, feeling that the actions the main lead takes with his clients shows he couldn't love him. What does he do? Well, first, he follows him, which is a bit creepy, but, he talks to him. He gets a bigger picture, and opens his mind. There's still work that can be done there, but it feels rational, and satisfying to see him come to a sound conclusion. To accept how the main lead approaches his own life, and to respect that. Of course there is still room for drama in that regard, and what's a story without drama? This one is based on that. But I hope it will show again that he can approach the situation with reason and poise, and learn more, if it comes to that. It's okay to learn more. With all that said, it feels like such a breath of fresh air. It explores the sexuality of the main character, of others at times, their own experiences, or inexperiences, in which they pursue. The most dramatic part I suppose is the brother of the main character, who is messing with his life and causing issues out of pettiness. Other than that, most other things feel like a truly immersive experience, where we follow this man, his life, his relationship, his own development of changes and progression, and we yearn to see what's to come next, and for me, that is very satisfying. Of course, I am in truth a much bigger fan of dark fantasy, or true grimdark type stories, in which I usually go to novels for, but when I find a work like this which is more based on reality, slice of life, and does it in a way that does not break my immersion of seeing this as if it were a true story, that is special to me. This one is definitely one of my favorites, and I love how it has approached itself so far immensely. Silly and lighthearted at times, more serious and critical other times. The author seems to be very well rounded with seeing how they depict their characters, and I truly appreciate that. I wish more works in this genre were like this, but that's what makes this special.