SUPER LOVERS 1

Super Lovers #1

by Miyuki Abe

Haru visits Canada to spend the summer holidays in the woodland house of his strict, strong-willed mother, Haruko. There, she burdens him with the responsibility of caring for his younger adoptive brother - a wild and unruly little boy named Ren who trusts no-one and prefers to wander in the woods with Haruko's dogs rather than associate other people. Haruko orders Haru to 'civilize' Ren.

As the young man strives to teach Ren how to live in human society, their relationship gradually improves - so much so that Haru plans on taking his 'little brother' to Japan with him once he finds a job.

Unfortunately, fate has a cruel habit of interfering with one's plans...

Genres: Manga, Yaoi, Romance, LGBT, M M Romance, Boys Love, Comics Manga

Paperback

First published July 31, 2010

About the author

Associated Names:
* 阿部美幸
* Miyuki Abe
* あべ美幸 (Japanese Profile)
* มิยูกิ อาเบะ (Thai Profile)


Name (in native language) : あべ美幸

Zodiac : Capricorn

Blood type : B

During 2010, she was on hiatus because she was republishing her old manga, in which she was retaining the original plot and updating the artwork.

Alongside with publishing in Kadokawa Shoten, her work is also published in Emerald which is a collaborative shoujo/BL manga magazine with Nakamura Shungiku (author of the renowned Junjou Romantica and more recently, Hybrid Child) originated from the manga Sekaiichi Hatsukoi.

Reviews

[Sheziss · Rating 3 out of 5]

So very cute.



I understand why people would have doubts pondering whether or not they should read this. I'm no different, I was suspicious. Age gap is no problem for me, but when you tell me one of the boys is 8 and the other one is 17, then I may have issues.

However, this story is not like I expected it to be. It's unbearably sweet. There are no graphic scenes, and no hint of sex until very into the series. I think the displays of affection truly begin when Ren is 15, and they are mostly kisses and hugs. So it may test the patience of more than one reader, but from my part, I'm hooked. The dynamics is so ambiguous, so significant but yet so very frustrating. It goes at a snail-pace, mind you.

Sometimes I wondered whether I was reading too much into this or not. Sometimes there is a big step forward that made my heart beat full force and my brain say "Awwww". Sometimes I just tried to go with the flow and try not to give labels, not to judge, not to expect this or that, not to focus on this on that, too much, or too little.

I found a new meaning to every little gesture. Maybe I think the world of them. Maybe.

The road is more important than the goal here, it seems.

Still, that wouldn't be enough to convince me, but I cannot in any way explain how this just 'clicks', how limits are so blurred you don't even get where that 'brotherly' affection ends and where the 'soul love' vibes start. It's so subtle, and so powerful.

It works.

And if it doesn't just stop reading it. No big deal.

There is a story beneath, even though it's not an epic story with big ups and downs. It's just the life of Haru, the oldest brother, with his two twin little brothers, Aki and Shima, and the youngest, newest adopted brother, Ren. Then we have Hary's mother, Haruko. And an unexpected guy so alike Haru, Natsu, who puts the things in jeopardy. Later, a Ren's nemesis, Akira, makes an appearance, and his imperturbable façade crumbles for once. Also, we have Ren's growing up, Ren's resistance at being considered a kid, and Ren's struggle to find his own place, to find his own space, and developing his own personality without being 'swallowed' by an overprotective Haru who may (or may not) see him as just a brother who needs to take care of him. On the other part, Haru's clueless loving behavior towards Ren was adorable but utterly annoying from time to time.

Slowly, they push each other apart but then they pull each other close, trying to find some leverage and balance. Trying to figure out what the other one means to them, what they do really mean to the other one.

*****

This is a review of the whole series.

*****

Read in Manga Rock.

Chapters and volumes:

Volume 10: Chapters 28, 29 - ?
Volume 09: Chapters 25 - 27.2
Volume 08: Chapters 22 - 24.5
Volume 07: Chapters 19 - 21.5
Volume 06: Chapters 16 - 18.5
Volume 05: Chapters 13 - 15.5
Volume 04: Chapters 10 - 12.5
Volume 03: Chapters 7 - 9.5
Volume 02: Chapters 4 - 6.5
Volume 01: Chapters 1 - 3


*****

Volumes in the series:
+ Volume 10 (ongoing)

[Luana_reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not used to writing reviews of manga series but I felt the need to do it beacuse I think Super Lovers is totally worth it.

I've read all the 23 chapters available in English up to now (7 volumes and a half) but I'll try not to spoil anything for you.

Let's start with Miyuki Abe's drawing style.
it is amazing! I love how she draws her characters, places and other stuff. I think it's not easy to find a so well drawn yaoi series, especially if you are used to stuff like Junjou Romantica, which I love, but honestly, the art is not good. So the first thing I appreciated about this series was how good it felt to the eye.

the second thing I fell in love with was the potential of the story.
from the very beginning I was surprised by how unusual the characters were.
Haru, a beautiful 17-year-old boy that meets for the first time - and without expecting it to happen- his adopted brother, a distrustful 8-year-old boy that doesn't know how humans behave. Ren, this little boy, preferes wolves' company over that of humans and Haru makes it his mission to take down Ren's walls and "tame" him.
This may be considered the plot of the series, but there is much more than that just below the surface. And I love it.

Like in other yaoi series, there are a lot of funny scenes that will make you laugh out loud and, obviously, there is romance, but there is also a certain amount of darkness hidden behind that and I think this is what makes the story worth it.
Haru is not just that smiling and outgoing hot young man, he had to go through pretty tough times in his life and is much more damaged than he likes to admit. Ren, on the other hand, is not just a wild child that needs help. He is caring, he is wiser than people of his age, he knows what he wants, and what he wants is Haru's love... all the kinds of love he has to offer to him.

And here comes the love story. It may cause problems for those who are against incest or under-age relationships - not that Haru and Ren are blood-related, but still, to someone it may seem disgusting and I'm aware of the huge age gap between them, but don't worry, nothing happens between them until Ren is 15, and really, not much happens between the two of them anyway. There are kisses on the lips though, even when Ren is really young, so if it bothers you, do not read.

For me, the relationship between Haru and Ren is very interesting and powerful. The way their story slowly evolves, the way they first become brothers and then step by step turn into lovers is beautiful. They grow up, they face their problems and they do it because they are together... they make each other better and stronger.

there are also other characters that I really like. They are all very much human and three-dimentional and I really appreciate that.
I love the twins with all my heart. They are Haru's half-brothers and they are very important to the story. I've started to like Natsuo too, even though I hated him at the beginning. I love the doctor LOL and I'm curious about the new characters that were introduced in the last few chapters so I hope that someone will translate the next chapters very soon... plaese ç___ç

[Coco · Rating 4 out of 5]

REN ES TAN KAWAII!!

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

SWEET BABY JESUS!!!! WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ALL MY LIFE??!!!!
This was just sweet! UGHHHHHHh! Gosh is it good or what?!
Okay, first I would like to say Haru, oh my gorgeous Haru. <3 doki doki <3 Ren for a little kid is adorable/gorgeous!!!<---I swear I am not a pedo. He kind of reminds me of Natsume from Gakuen Alice. Aki and Shima are cute too (especially Aki)! So I give a HUGE thumbs up to Miyuki Abe's art! GOORRRR-GEEOOUUUSSSS!!!

The plot kind of sounds typical and cheesy but for now it is not yaoi yet. It just seems like a kind brother to brother relationship. I don't know where this manga is going but I hope they keep this sweet, lovingness (yeah that is not a word) throughout the manga.

I am having so much of "Watashitachi no Shiawase na Jikan" feels right now. This manga is just so much more! It has depth and it is not just some cheap, steamy yaoi. Like seriously, is this even consider a yaoi? Because I personally don't think so, it is more shounen ai. It is beyond sweet and it has just so much character, and substance.

AND GOSH! THE ENDING TO CHAPTER ONE?!!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME??!!! THAT, MY FRIEND, IS HOW YOU START A BOOK! Just from that one chapter I knew Miyiki Abe will be one of my favourite authors.


Gosh. Cannot. Simply. Explain. My. Love. You know I will go hunting for more of Abe's works right?

[Talia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is cute, cute, cute, cute, and more cute. And yet it's surprisingly not-fluffy in all its adorableness. There is a bit of an age gap (fifteen and twenty-something), so don't read it if that bothers you.

This is also one of the only manga that plays with the "almost incest" idea and it doesn't really bother me. Rather than feeling like a cheap plot device, this author takes the relationship between the two characters that developed at an earlier age and slowly transforms it into something else. A lot of drama comes into play meanwhile, with the whole nature of their relationship, so it's not just tossed aside either. The relationship is probably my favorite part, since the author took the time to really develop it, instead of just throwing them in a room together and yelling, "Now have sex!"

I also liked a lot of the cultural elements of this series, such as the fact that Ren speaks better English than he does Japanese, and therefore doesn't get a lot of the politeness and nuances that come with the language. His adoptive mother doesn't think this should be that big a deal, being raised abroad herself, and declares that he should study somewhere else, as "The highest form of education in Japan isn't all that impressive compared to the rest of the world." ...WHAT?? My whole life has been a lie! In all seriousness, Japan ranks fourth in worldwide education according to an article I found, so I really don't know what she's talking about. The other thing I found hilarious was that whenever someone saw the step-brothers (sort of) kissing, it would often be explained with, "They were raised in Canada, so they're practically foreigners." A translator's note said that it was a common perception in Japan that everywhere else in the world was more open with their affections, and kisses between friends and family were more common. It's funny because that's what I thought Americans think of the rest of the world, since whenever you take a Spanish class, kids seem to be weirded out by the idea that some cultures are more openly affectionate than our own, such as in many Latin American countries, where a kiss might be a form of greeting. And yet I've also been told by a girl from South Korea that we're very open with our hugs, much more than her culture is.

...Sorry to go on a tangent, I just think cultural differences are fascinating. That combined with the ADORABLE love story (even if I do wanna punch Haru sometimes) and the gorgeous art makes this one a must-read. (Assuming you like this kinda stuff, that is.)

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

To be honest, I have ambiguous feelings about this series, or rather, I'm still undecided whether I am comfortable with the relationship depicted in it or not. Two things I can say, though : a) that it's not shota (if it were, I wouldn't read this) and b) I trust the group that's translating this - their taste in manga is pretty reliable and the relationships depicted in the manga they translate usually don't feature non-con or anything like it. I am still not sure about the age difference, though. BUT. Despite all this, I just am completely in love with all the characters, which explains the four stars so far. The final decision will come once it's clearer how the character's relationship will develop and how that is handled, so we'll see. So far, it's really enjoyable, though.

[sunaina · Rating 1 out of 5]

WHY TF DID GOODREADS RECOMMEND THIS TO ME LIKE I WAS SO SHOCKED AND DISGUSTED. THIS WAS THE STUFF OF MY NIGHTMARES WHEN I WAS TWELVE. PLEASE STOP. WHAT THE FUCK.

turns out people defend this and actually love it????? what is wrong????? with people??????????

[bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this series up to volume 14 and decided to give the full review on this volume instead because the chances of people reading it are much higher ehe~

⚠️ This is going to be a long-ass review. ⚠️

1.) People highly might have doubts while they reading this. I do too, at first. I'm no different. I don't particularly have a problem with age-gap relationships or couples, but I still have some issues ((or you may say: boundaries)) about it, and an eight years old and seventeen years old is a BIG bold underline italic capitalize no-no. It's suspicious. A triple red flags 🚩🚩🚩. But the great artwork succeeded to lure me into reading this. One chapter, then BAM! I'm hooked. There is nothing sexual when Ren was a little kid. Everything was pure and innocent. But once he was a teenager ((he was fifteen years old i think)) the display of affection (kiss) and anything sexual begin to show ((well, since it was a yaoi/romance manga to begin with, it needs fan-services— i understand LMAO)). I can pretty handle it somehow.

2.) Still, Ren is a minor, while Haru is an adult. So, I don't condone any Haru wrong-doing ((—LOL yes you read it right)) as a good example. Just a little tips for the sake of enjoyment of reading: don't read manga to seek an examples of right or wrong in the real world. Differentiate between works of fiction and reality. Reading and enjoying the storyline is not the same as supporting or normalizing one's actions nor behaviors. Haru should restraining himself more, at least until Ren becomes an adult ((yeah, it's just a few years away Haru, you horny dude)). But still, it's a work of fiction. And if he does so, then the story would never had any progress, and that's not good for the plot.

3.) The perks of reading this kind of manga, with a great mangaka as a story-teller, with a damaged characters and darkness hidden and lingering behind, with bad habits and troubled-dark-past, is that they made me not to give any labels, not to judge, and not expect this or that, and just focus on the plot and going with the flow. Try to be more understanding because anything had their own reason. How one's family is different from others. Of course, these super great reading experience are only happens if the mangaka does a great job at telling the backstory so readers can understand better and can be more sympathetic towards the characters. Not all mangaka can do this— AND MIYUKI ABE MANAGED TO DO IT BRILLIANTLY! She portrays all the emotions and the story beneath each character in a mesmerizing way and made the progress from brotherly-love to romantic-love (with their soul bind to each other) so subtle and natural. Nothing felt forced. So far, I'm satisfied with how each character relationships has developed and how it's handled.

4.) This manga is not just about "forbidden relationship", nor any typical/ordinary/cheap bl stories with too much fan-services and steamy lemon scenes. It has depth. There are much more than just below the surfaces. It's frustrating yet at the same times intriguing. The certain amount of darkness hidden behind, and all the characters dynamic was just insane ((especially the Kaidō brothers)). This had one of the best drama out of any romance manga I've ever read. The plot-twist was good. The characters' personalities, the emotions, the sentiment, the love (brotherly, romantic, any kind/shape of love you ever know), the inevitable circumstances, and the acceptance this manga hold is just [chef's kiss]. These are what makes the story worth it.

5.) They way Abe-sensei portrays the characters emotions is mesmerizing... I cannot, in any way explain how. I can't find any phrases that fully engulfed my description towards the artwork. Beautiful. Bittersweet. Devastating. Giddy. Nostalgic. All of that at the same time. It's just so good too good— [sigh] I cried.

6.) Actually, more than the romance thingies, I'm much intrigued with Ren's growth as a person. As his own person. How he matured. How he's struggling to find his own place—where he feel truly belongs. How he's developing his own personality. Yes. I decided to adopt him. He is my new cinnamon roll I want to dote and protect.

7.) Aaah, what a wonderful ride. What a wonderful reading experience. Definitely one of the best bl story I've ever read. If you accidentally end up here, reading this long-ass review, and considering but hesitated to read this series, I truly persuade you to read it. One chapter is all you need to read. If you hooked, then continue it. Good for you. I considered you are lucky. If you can't read another chapter, it's okay, just drop this series right here right now.

Happy reading!
Cheers~

[Alex Logan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fell in love with the kid that was so hard to handle. The host of a brother was great to. In the end I couldn't help but keep reading on to see what happens next.I mainly fell for it because it was just like an old school love story. Trouble after trouble but ending so sweet. Maybe you can tell but i have read way past volume1. It's a great yoai that left me wanting more.

[Bine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ein wirklich interessanter Einstieg. Für einen ersten Band ist dermaßen viel passiert... uff. Ich glaub, hier kommt eine ganze Saga auf mich zu. Aber ich bin bereit.

[Marta the Booktrovert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rereading this beautiful story!!
I could not find the English version so I bought the Italian one!

----

So, I went to bed at 4 AM two nights in a row because I was binge reading this manga. At the beginning I was really going to give up. If you felt the same you should not stop reading but keep going! You will regret missing this amazing story. The author is brilliant and manages just fine to avoid going into controversy. It is a sweet story with well developed characters. Sometimes there are just the usual clique... but I am hooked! Definitely a must read for the fans of the genre!

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first I thought I was going to hate this. The cover gave of that pedo feel and i was like 'Not again' but once i started reading it I fell in love with everything. The art is amazing. The characters are great. Most of all the storyline actually makes sense.

[Paris Whitehouse · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm confused and I'm sad and we are on dangerous territory with this age gap. (Imma still read on though...)

[| Shakshi | · Rating 5 out of 5]

I super love this series!!!


Sooooo muchhhh


Tooo Damn much!!!

Wait, more than Cherry Magic??
Well, no, not up to that... but still, quite a lot😃🙃🙂🙂

[Andegret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vol. 1~14 review

I've been in a very specific reading slump recently. Super Lovers came to occupy all my life, bestowing upon my soul that undescribable feeling of yearning and making me unable to concentrate on anything but this manga. At the same time I deeply dreaded the moment it would end, so I was trying to read it as slowly as possible to postpone the inevitable act of parting. Having finished it, I don't know what to do to fill up the void my soul has become.

The age difference is questionable. I generally can tolerate a lot when it comes to romance but a relationship with 9 years of an age gap where the younger person is 15-16 throughout most of the story was indeed making me ever so slightly uncomfortable at places.

To be fair, the author does her utmost to make the relationship seem less creepy. In the world of Super Lovers no one seems to be especially disturbed by it anyway. Friends, family members, school teachers, the mother - they might get slightly surprised by the relationship upon learning of it, but no one really cares. "It's just what they do".

Throughout the whole series there was exactly one character (introduced in vol. 14) who doubted the legality side of the Haru-Ren relationship. He tried to share his concerns with other people around, but the only response he got was Yeah, I know. I'm almost sure it's consensual.

Also, Ren as a character wouldn't work as well if he was older, because the growing up and comming of age themes would be completely lost.

The elephant in the room addressed, now I shall proceed with expressing my undying love for the series.

As a matter of fact, it's my third time reading Super Lovers. Now that I think about it, it might be the fourth time. One thing for sure - I haven't re-read the series in at least four years. I always look down on my younger self, so I wasn't really expecting to particularly like the series. However, I did like it, very much so, to the point of utter obsession.

This is the least cliche-filled romance manga I can think of. Well, not really - there surely are the female rival trope and the amnesia trope (I'm looking at you, the infamous vol. 11). The right way to put it - it's the least unnecessarily cliche-filled romance manga I can think of.

In an average bl manga all those tropes are there for one reason - to serve as an obstacle for the main couple and, as a result, to artificially prolong the running time of the project. A new rival comes - we get another arc! And if the said rival is a childhood friend, the arc could be even longer, because the protagonist would have to deal with both love interest's and childhood friend's feelings!

In Super Lovers, on the other hand, the implemented tropes do not interfere with the main couple's relationship, they are there more so to strengthen it and to bring it to a new sincerity level.

Take the 'female rival' trope for example. In Super Lovers it goes like that: Haru, being an attractive ex-host, naturally attracts attention. Ren, out of his low self esteem and realization of their age gap, is worried about Haru choosing an abstract woman over him. The rival is abstract, mind you. Non-specific. Theoretical. She doesn't really have a face or a name - she's just an idea. This, in my opinion, makes the trope not annoying, but meaningful.

And that's how cliches in Super Lovers are.

Another part of the series which I really like is Ren as a character. Comming of age stories never worked for me, even when I was their target audience. The 'not like other girls' type protagonist with a distinct personality, a variety of hobbies, and a clear idea for the future is the most unrelatable thing ever - so I find 99% of growing up stories are unbelievable in their core.

With Ren it's another thing - he's relatable to the extreme for me personally. Someone with no special interests, whose only wish is that everyone would just let him be. His "university plan" is like that - I'll go wherever my grades allow me to, and then we shall hope that I'll make my mind eventually. That's literally how I picked a uni. Ren's 'scholarship kid' mentality is relatable as well - when your family tells you that they will pay for any school you choose, but you know you're smart enough to get a scholarship if you try so you live with this guilty mindset of wether or not you should try and save some family funds or give up and pay for school as everyone else does. My final year of high school in a nutshell. I still find Ren relatable, let alone 4~5 years ago, when I myself was Ren's age.

Another thing. This manga feels so warm and cozy and soft. Like spending an afternoon surrounded by warm blankets, hot cocoa and sleeping cats. Part of this is thanks to the found family vibes. Another part is thanks to the art style - exclusively soft lines, abundance of pomeranian drawings. Even the house plan and interior design has a soothing effect on me - I think it got engraved in my memory the previous times I read the manga, and now upon subconscious recognition it gives me the feeling of comfort.

Honestly, the only flaw in the series is its side characters. They hardly ever have their own storylines, and their only purpose is to offer couples therapy for the two leads whenever requested, or to help the leads self-reflect via meaningful dialogues.

Re-reading Super Lovers this time, I've noticed the symbolism behind the names I'd missed before. The family name of the most of the cast is Kaidō - 海棠 - Haitang. It's a flower which is translated into English as crab flower - a weirdly disturbing name for a plant, so I'll go for haitang, its Chinese name.

The haitang flower is the authors go-to way to fill in empty spaces between frames. It's basically on every other page in the manga. It looks like something between sakura, roses and daisies depending on the angle - maybe that's why it hasn't registered in my mind up to this point.

The haitang flower has two major meanings in East Asian culture. First, the character 棠 is read exactly like 堂, the character which among other things can mean family. And indeed, the family dynamics in Super Lovers are a huge plot point.

But also, the haitang flower due to its lack of smell is often opposed to other, aggressively smelling, flowers. So the haitang is the opposite to 'in your face' luxury - the subtle, but truly beautiful of this world. As in deep and multilayered relationship of Haru and Ren.

[Darkness · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trigger Warnings: Age Gap, brother x brother love story (not blood-related), child abuse (not by mine character but by some crazy girl)

This is reread for me. First time I read it in the first year of high school(so 4 years ago).It was recommended by my best friend when I wanted to read to yaoi so she gives me this, I loved it but it was ongoing and I don't read ongoing stories. I love the characters a lot. Ren is a boy who is close in himself but when he is with Haru, he is showing his true colors. He has some dark past who is unknown. Wild at the begging, dog lover and rice lover :). Haru is a guy who doesn't even know his feeling and he is really close to his family, everybody knows that so when he and Ren started to have a romantic kind of filing I think ppl realize pretty quickly. Twins are funny how one is calm and accepting of change and other is laud and who dint want to accept Ren as a brother just because their parents add him to family register before they die.

[Velouria Hemlock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saya jatuh cinta dan memutuskan untuk stalking serial ini semenjak... halaman terakhir chapter pertama yang cliffhanger mampus. Bacalah dan kalian akan menemukan chapter pertama yang indah--tapi siapa yang sangka halaman terakhirnya begitu?

First encounter dua karakter utama kita memang tidak 'doki-doki', mereka malah bertarung. Dengan si bungsu Ren yang siap mencakar si sulung Haru ketika saat mandi untuk Ren tiba. Brother-complex menjadi unsur utama yang kuat membaluri setiap halaman manga Super Lovers ini. Untuk volume pertama ini, kadarnya 80-20 antara family dan romance.

[ㅡ Sam • The Reckless Fan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The art! I love the art of this manga soo much!
Haru and Ren, they are the cutest.
Their first encounter with each other and the development between them was just *le sigh*
I loved that Haru was there to help little Ren when he was distant and withdrawn. Not many would give much effort to help someone like that.
Haru is distant to most, but when he cares for someone, he REALLY CARES FOR THEM.

[amomentsilence · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good grief!! WHERE HAS THIS SERIES BEEN ALL OF MY LIFE??? HALP. I CAN'T STOP READING. AHHHHHHHHHHHHH

[Marc D. ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hasta que al fin terminé de leer el primer tomo ;___;
Se me escapó una que otra lagrimita, en el anime me pasó lo mismo(?).

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Series ongoing.
Am I the only one confused by how much I love this?

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recommend the anime. The manga series is a bit boring to me. And the art sequence and the dialogues are really haphazard.

[MissFede · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not sure what to think of this yet. The age gap is uncomfortable to read and the relationship is too ambiguous. We'll see.

[Kathaflauschi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vielen Dank an den Verlag für das Rezensionsexemplar. Schon allein das Cover hat mich bei diesem Manga angesprochen und ich war auch sehr gespannt, was dahinter steckt. Eigentlich habe ich sogar gedacht, es geht hierbei um die liebe von Jungs, aber da lag ich total daneben. Hierbei handelt es sich um zwei Brüder, obwohl der Jüngere Ren nur adoptiert ist und ein totaler Sturkopf ist. Niemand kommt an ihn ran, bis Haru seine Sommerferien bei seiner Mutter verbringt und langsam an ihn herankommt. Noch während der Sommerferien verspricht Haru Ren zu sich zunehmen, sobald er mit seiner Schule fertig ist und einen Job hat. Doch alles kommt anders. Zurück in Japan wird Haru von seinem Vater und seiner Stiefmutter abgeholt. Während der Autofahrt passiert ein Unfall, wo Haru als einziger überlebt, allerdings eine Zeit lang im Koma liegt. Er kann sich an nichts mehr erinnern, was in den Sommerferien passiert. Ein paar Jahre später, hat Haru einen Job als Host in einem Club und aufeinmal steht Ren vor seiner Tür.

Ich fand die Story wirklich interessant und schön zu lesen. Die Bilder sind detailliert gezeichnet und man kann sich wunderbar in die Story einfinden. Die erste Hälfte der Geschichte lernt man Haru und Ren kennen, die sich auch zum ersten mal begegnen. Haru ist dabei freundlich und offen und hat Ren auch schnell ins Herz geschlossen. Ren war der strümische kleine Junge, der Angst hatte. Aber Ren hat eine schlimme Vergangenheit hinter sich, über die er nicht reden möchte und so kommt die Frage, die sich alle stellen, was wohl mit ihm geschehen ist. Haru findet langsam einen Draht zu Ren und sie werden wie zu richtigen Brüder.

Ich hatte diesen Manga wirklich schnell durch, da es einfach flüssig zu lesen war und der Zeichenstil einfach klasse war. Ich bin auch schon gespannt auf die nächsten Bänder der Reihe und freue mich auch schon. Dabei hatte ich auch schon die befürchtung, nachdem ich fast am Ende war, dass der Manga nicht sehr schön endet, doch da habe ich mir geirrt. Ich möchte definitiv noch mehr von Ren und Haru lesen.

[78sunny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Den Manga habe ich mir erst vor kurzem gekauft, hatte ihn aber schon etliche Male bei BookTubern gesehen, die alle sehr begeistert waren. Daher wollte ich mir dann nun doch ein eigenes Bild machen.
Die Story ist eigentlich ganz süß. Es geht um Haru, der sich um seine Brüder kümmert und zu denen unter bestimmten Umständen, die ich hier nicht verraten möchte, ein weiterer Bruder (Ren) dazukommt. Ren ist ein wildes Kind und Haru ist wirklich toll im Umgang mit ihm und wie er den kleinen Racker etwas zähmt. Komisch wird es dann allerdings durch die Anspielungen, dass Haru vielleicht mehr für Ren empfindet und das finde ich mega merkwürdig, da Ren schon noch sehr jung ist. Das passt dann einfach nicht mehr mit dem besorgtem großen Bruder Verhalten überein und hat mir das ganze eher versaut.
Ebenfalls nicht so ganz mein Ding war das Charakterdesign. Alles wird hier wieder so überspitzt. Die total merkwürdige, ambivalente Mutter schießt dabei den Vogel ab, aber auch einer der Brüder verhält sich ambivalent ohne das dies logisch erklärt wird. Vieles wirkt dadurch auf mich eher kindisch.
Trotzdem hat es halt gerade durch Ren etwas, dass mich neugierig auf mehr macht. Ren ist so ein süßer Charakter. Vor allem in den Szenen wo er noch ein Kind und kein Teenager war. Allerdings fand ich, dass das Verhalten von ihm teilweise auch verschwamm und der Teenager mal wie eine Kind und dann wieder so erwachsen reagierte, dass es unrealistisch wirkte. Ich würde aber schon gern wissen, wie alles weitergeht und werde mal nach gebrauchten Bänden Ausschau halten.
Der Zeichenstil hatte etwas ganz eigenes. Er war sehr unsauber und dunkel gehalten, aber dann auch wieder richtig dynamisch und schön. Vor allem die Szenen mit Ren waren sehr schön gezeichnet und brachten Emotionen herüber.

Story 3,6/5
Zeichenstil 4,0/5
Erotik 0/5
Charaktere 3,0/5
Gesamt 3,4/5

[frau.meln · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aufmachung

Der Zeichenstil ist recht düster, detailreich aber dennoch relativ weich und passt damit perfekt zum Inhalt. Anfangs hatte ich so meine Schwierigkeiten in die Geschichte hineinzukommen, da es recht verwirrend war. Aber als ich dann einmal den Überblick hatte, war ich mega angefixt.
Ansonsten ist der Erzählstil toll, es gibt viel Text und man bekommt einiges an Input.



Protagonisten

Haru sorgt sich schon immer sehr um seine Brüder, denn Familie bedeutet alles für ihn. Zudem ist er sehr verantwortungsbewusst, sauber und ein guter Koch.

Ren hingegen ist ein echter Wildfang, stur und alles andere als umgänglich. Es lässt vermuten, dass dies auf seine Vergangenheit zurückzuführen ist, an die er sich jedoch nicht erinnert.



Fazit

Wie bereits erwähnt, hat mir der Anfang Probleme bereitet. Wahrscheinlich lag es an der Informationsflut, die man nur schwer einordnen konnte.

Die Geschichte entwickelt sich sehr langsam. Gott sei Dank, denn Ren ist hier noch ein kleines Kind und ich hatte zu Beginn etwas Sorge, doch sie war unbegründet. Explizite Szenen sucht man deswegen hier (noch) vergeblich.

Ich bin absolut angetan und begeistert und so gespannt wie das weitergeht. Meine Freude, eine längere und interessante Yaoi Reihe gefunden zu haben ist wirklich groß.

[Juliet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my faves.
I love everyone, ren, haru and the twins... Haru's mum... Srsly I love how they just "know" what's going on between the two and be okay with it.

Ren behaves more like his wolves, being raised the way he was. And it breaks my heart to think of the abuse he suffered during earlier years. (How could they hurt someone so precious. if they dont want him imma take him if not for Haruko adopting him 😭)
Ren meeting Haru is just so hearwarming. It's more like imprinting which I really love.
He is so mature, smart and devoted ❤️ I totally agree with him about Haru's eyes, how can they be so pretty 😭 (in the anime).

Haru's love for his family is 💯❤️.
He's the perfect oniichan. And I'm with him for falling in love with that baby (how can you not).
I love that scene when he left ren in the bathroom telling him not to go out and forgot about it for hours, and ren being the way he is just stayed there... 😭❤️
And when his memories of Ren slowly return after the amnesia... ahhh~ satisfaction ❤️

I love the art, the expressions ...
and even though there is that age gap and the issue of being brothers because of the adoption... it hardly matters to me/ doesn't bother me because the way it was written is beautiful it's almost poetic.

Even though it's BL, it's so pure 😭
I have so much love for these characters.

[kell_xavi]

Adding memorable yaoi/BL I’ve read. I’ve read all the volumes that are out. I’ve always felt a bit uncomfortable liking this one: I read it when I was about 16, and craving intimacy, and Ren was an important character for me at the time. His aloofness, loneliness, and childhood desire drew me in, in the ways it reflected mine.

This series has what is undoubtably an odd premise, some mental gymnastics with consent that very much fall short of ethical with the age gap and Ren being a dependent on Haru. Haru can be insensitive and Ren, justifiably upset, which leads to many more chapters of their stubbornness and different ways of expressing themselves coming into conflict. Much like the relationship itself, the narrative can be annoying and dissatisfying to read, but does offer a sought-after sense of comfort.

I’ll always approach Super Lovers with the greatest ambivalence.

[ℂ ✧ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Em va generar moltíssima curiositat que una sèrie iniciada el 2009 encara aparegués en el rànquing setmanal de còmics més venuts al Japó, així que li vaig donar una oportunitat. El principi d'aquesta sèrie és força problemàtic per la diferència d'edat (que en realitat és de 9 anys, però en uns moments vitals en què suposa un abisme) i la relació tan ambigua entre els protagonistes. Si soc ben pensada diria que tot comença amb una amistat fraternal, però llavors hi ha certs comportaments que no encaixen (el parell de petons a la boca que són culturalment del tot inacceptables...). És un culebrot bastant melodramàtic i exagerat, però és cert que el rerefons i el context dels protagonistes són molt interessants. Veurem com avança que, pel que he llegit, no hi ha cap comportament que es pugui considerar il·legal. Ara bé, serà èticament qüestionable? ^^'

[Ares · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m repulsed and I don’t care if my opinion offends anyone. Or more likely: facts.

This is creepy, minor and siblings. Their relationship looks like a dad with his son but jumpscare right away there is touching, flirting and you feel icky.

Ren is incredibly young, and even if they made him 18, anymore that isn’t ignorant knows who this is aimed towards. He looks like a 5 year old at the start and later on 8-10. He never looked close to hitting puberty, it’s straight up pedo stuff. Any adult reading this should feel alarmed. Later on he grows up but the touching and grooming still exits.

The sibling thing is bad as well, biological factors don’t matter since they’re not having a child, incest is still wrong. It’s abuse. Step siblings still have a sibling relationship and thus they are, the cheap defences are irrelevant.