Stigmata: Love Bites, Vol. 1

Stigmata: Love Bites #1

by Hidebu Takahashi

Homicide investigators utilize supernatural abilities to solve their cases while simultaneously investigating their own feelings for each other!

Officer Asako, part of a special investigations unit, has the unique ability to react to the residual thoughts of murder victims, replicating their wounds on his own body. Together with his partner, the reserved Detective Kuroiwa, he works hard to solve the toughest of cases.

In a shocking turn of events, one of the cases this unique team of investigators takes on is the murder of Superintendent Kuroiwa’s own ex-wife, Mari. Upon visiting the murder scene, Asako reacts by collapsing and bleeding profusely from a wound that suddenly appears on his back. But why are Mari’s final thoughts about her ex-husband Kuroiwa, and what does Asako’s surprising reaction to them really mean?

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

178 pages, Paperback

First published February 25, 2021

Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has one of the most unique premises in a BL manga I've ever seen. Asako has a condition that allows him to absorb the spirits of recent murder victims. He acquires not only their memories of the last moments of their lives, but whatever wounds were inflicted on the victim; these wounds recreate themselves on Asako's body. It's brutal and invasive, and my heart just breaks for him. But he's able to endure by using this ability to solve murders.

This volumes focuses on the murder of his work partner's ex-wife. As her spirit fills Asako, he starts to become aware of his own affection and attraction to his partner. It's a relationship that walks a fine line between sweet and tragic, and while I'm sure much of it is red herrings, there is also an undercurrent of creepiness that leaves the reader uncertain whom to trust.

I'm not sure how I feel about this being only a two volume series. There is so much potential here that I could see this carrying on for a while, so I hope volume two doesn't feel rushed.

The art style is this is very different from what you usually see in this genre. It's simple and heavy lined. I wouldn't call these characters attractive, but they are memorable. The author apparently has mostly written Shonen manga, so this works in that style. It looks like a detective comic, which it is as much as it is a yaoi.

Highly recommend this for both mystery and romance lovers who are looking for something different and a bit dark.

[Imanewreader ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

tw - sang, meurtres, mentions de viol

c'était pour la moins très déstabilisant..
l'histoire est hyper intéressante ! asako, jeune homme, peut "s'imprégner" d'un lieu de crime et absorber les pensées et la vue des victimes à leurs derniers instants tout en se vidant de son sang des blessures reçues par la victime.
une enquête va faire qu'asako aura les pensées de l'ex-femme de son collègue.. l'aime-t-il ou est-ce les pensées de la victime ?

très hâte de lire la suite (et fin) et savoir la fin de l'enquête !!

[Dylan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most unique stories in BL I've read in a while. We follow a 24-year-old man who has the ability to feel the emotions and relive the final moments of someone who's died. He's a private investigator and his boss is his partner. When his partner's ex-wife is murdered, he uses his abilities to find out what happens. Then he starts catching feelings for his partner, but are his feelings his own?
This was so good. Love the art style, the setup is so original and compelling. I need volume 2 now!

[Granny_Nyan · Rating 5 out of 5]

J'ai une tendresse toute particulière pour cette oeuvre et cette autrice. Elle exprime les émotions de ses personnages d'une manière subtile et pourtant évidente qui me fait toujours un pincement au coeur. On s'attache très vite à Asako et Hiroto qui sont adorables chacun à leur manière. Même les personnages secondaires sont attachants. L'histoire a beau être sombre, elle est équilibrée et nous emporte très vite. L'histoire d'amour aurait tout pour être toxique et pourtant parviens à surpasser toutes les attentes. Deux mots pour Stigmata : tendre et sensuel.

[marcia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cool premise, though the story falls a bit flat because of how dull the characters are. Typically, I'm all about embracing different art styles in manga. Unfortunately, the art here is off-putting and distracting. It's honestly jarring how the side characters look straight out of a shounen manga, whereas the leads are drawn in a more traditional BL style.

[Alba · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
Un mélange assez intéressant et original entre BL et polar, avec une pincée de surnaturel ! Je suis curieuse de voir comment l'enquête va se démêler. Les dessins sont assez atypiques, anguleux, mais j'aime bien !
TW : sang, mention de viol, scènes explicites de sexe

[Say · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

Unique. I really liked the story. The ability of Asako in real life can be quite scary. But the lack of connection between the two leads (well for me) made me gave this a 3.5 instead of a 4.

[Sandy Arr · Rating 4 out of 5]

J'ai été étonnamment surprise de l'histoire!

[Amanda Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Refreshing art style and unique take on what I would call a more traditional bl premise.

[Aurora · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s a very quick read. I’m not the biggest fan of police stories. I think I’ll wait until reading the final volume before making up my mind about this series.

[Henli · Rating 4 out of 5]

A psychological crime drama with a unique art style and premise.

Officer Minami Asako, part of a special investigations unit in Tokyo, has a unique ability that allows him to resonate with the residual thoughts of murder victims. This ability also allows him to experience the victim's last moments, including their murder. He uses this ability to help solve these murders with his superior, Detective Hiroto Kuroiwa.

In this volume the two investigate the murder of Kuroiwa's ex-wife. As Asako experiences her feelings and emotions through his ability, he starts to develop feelings for Kuriowa. There is a period of time where he is not sure if these feelings are his, or if they are the result of the ex-wife's echo. As the story unfolds, there are some complicated feelings on both sides.

I almost didn't pick this up because I wasn't attracted to the art style. After reading it though, I think the art is really quite nice in its own way. Some of these panels are really beautiful. I'm glad I gave it a shot.

[Regina de tinta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nunca leí nada parecido, al principio se me vino a la mente la película Stigmata pero no tienen nada en común más que el uso del término estigma. Creo que es muy novedoso que el personaje principal utilice su “don” para trabajar con la policía y no que termine en la iglesia en busca de ayuda. Está muy bien pensado. A pesar de que estar encasillado dentro del género yaoi en ningún momento se insinúa algo por el estilo pero puede que esto cambie en el próximo tomo que todavía no tiene traducción al inglés. Básicamente me encantó.

5/5

[Kiwi · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars
so so so good!!!! i would have had no problem if it had just stayed as a detective series but the romance didn't really put me off either, it incorporated perfectly into the story. and the art work!!!!!!! it was so refreshing to see a unique art style. all i can say is takahashi actually cares about drawing men, not the abominations that seem to dominate the genre. god im just so in love with her art style (the way the blood was drawn....... (º ﹃ º ) ) the only thing i would change is make it longer

[Zuzu · Rating 4 out of 5]

I literally had to stop for a minute during chapter 6. That was something. I accidentally read the sequel first, and dw it has a happy ending (?). But my heart and heart hurts for Asako, to experience death so many times and so cruelly. My poor cinnamon roll :( I just want him to be happy and be loved

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one's weird, because it was published in 2021, set in 2014, and the characters and art style look like they're straight out of a 1970s detective drama. The hair, the clothes...I can almost hear it all coming off the page like some old classic cop show.

Takahashi has been drawing manga since the 1990s (starting out in shonen and eventually transitioning to BL), so maybe it's just an older style...but even the 90s feels a bit too modern. I wonder if it's just this one, or if all their art is like that.

Anyway, I didn't love the cover, and I thought the art inside might throw me off, but this ended up being a really interesting story. Does it entirely make sense...I mean, no. Asako resonating with the "echoes" of murder victims and manifesting their injuries on his own body is a really cool concept, but he lands in the hospital twice in this volume, due to blood loss from a simple stab wound to the back. What about more violent crimes, like dismemberment or something? It seems kind of careless to be dragging him around to crime scenes without medical teams on site.

But you have to handwave some of that, I guess, and focus on the important parts. Which are that (1) along with the injuries, he picks up the victim's emotions, memories, etc from their final moments. And (2) he's the one dragging himself to crime scenes, because he wants his weird, unsettling ability to mean something. To make a difference, by solving crimes and putting spirits to rest.

Unfortunately, he gets into a bit of a mess when his more experienced detective partner, Kuroiwa, takes him to a crime scene that turns out to be the spot where Kuroiwa's ex-wife was murdered. In her final moments, Mari had not only thought of Kuroiwa, but had died while thinking of having sex with him. That part is a little...I mean, would that really be something you think of while you're bleeding to death? But it, along with the continuing warmth of Mari's feelings, makes Asako pay more attention to his own feelings.

It turns out that he's in love with Kuroiwa...but it's absolutely pointless, because Kuroiwa's feelings are all still for Mari.

This makes the story nicely angsty, even though there are little hints that show Kuroiwa has some level of attachment to Asako, too. He and Mari aren't terribly similar, but they do have certain elements in common, including some important selfless bits that had drawn Kuroiwa to Mari in the first place. And I liked the scene where Asako unknowingly echoed Mari's words from the day she gave Kuroiwa their divorce paperwork...she was tired of being a burden to him, of having him shoulder everything in their relationship.

Kuroiwa panics for a second when Asako says the same thing, but it's been five years since the divorce; he's learned some things he should've done better back then. Like bringing Asako into the meal prep so they're doing things together.

They are living together, incidentally, since Kuroiwa feels responsible for attaching Asako to his ex-wife's case. Asako's special power has another element to it, which is that his resonance with the murder victim doesn't stop until the crime is solved and the criminal is brought to justice. (Does this make sense with Asako having this power as a child, too? I mean...again, no. But oh well.)

Anyway, while the investigation is underway, Kuroiwa is keeping Asako close to him, and sharing a bed (platonically, for now) at night, since physical contact with a living person keeps the echoes at bay. Nicely convenient...for the readers. Not so much for Asako's growing feelings.

This is a series that seems like it could've gone on for quite a while, but since it ends in two volumes, it must just be wrapping up Mari's murder. And then figuring out how the dynamic between Kuroiwa and Asako will change. It'll be interesting to see how that plays out in the remaining space.

[Yoda Bor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Courte série en deux tomes, Stigmata n’a pas de temps à perdre avant de nous embarquer dans son histoire et nous pose rapidement sa situation.
Pour autant, ce n’est pas cette rapidité qui marque en premier mais le graphisme très ancien, presque daté, que ce soit dans les personnages ou les mises en scène qui sont à la fois très statiques et manquant de toute trace d’originalité. Dans le fond, il se prête assez bien avec cette histoire policière, mais personnellement je n’y ai pas du tout adhéré.

L’intrigue est assez intéressante mais on comprend rapidement qu’il va falloir aller très vite et elle est plutôt un prétexte qu’autre chose. C’est dommage parce que je pense qu’il aurait sans doute été assez intéressant de passer plus de temps avec Asako et découvrir comment son duo avec Kuroiwa fonctionne avant que cette affaire de meurtre leur tombe dessus.
Ici, ça ne semble être qu’un moyen comme un autre pour faire en sorte que les deux personnages s’éveillent un peu aux sentiments, et il m’en est resté essentiellement un sentiment de malaise. Je suis sceptique sur cette relation dans laquelle Asako et Kuroiwa semblent tout d’abord un peu coincés malgré eux et je ne sais pas ce que j’en pense réellement.

C’est finalement sur cette atmosphère à la limite du glauque, sur ce sentiment d’oppression qui m’a parfois prise que ce titre réussit à se démarquer pour moi, plus que pour son intrigue qui me semble assez anecdotique. Je ne sais pas trop s’il s’agit vraiment d’une bonne chose mais je me suis retrouvée face à quelque chose d’étrange et d’un peu malaisant qui donne envie de quand même revenir pour en apprendre la conclusion.

[ℂ ✧ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Continuem la trama de スティグマタ─聖痕捜査─ Stigmata ─Stigmata Investigation─ , però en aquests dos volums només s'investiga un crim: l'assassinat de l'exdona del detectiu. Molt interessant la dualitat i l'ambigüitat de sentiments que ens planteja el fet que l'Asako tingui accés a la consciència de la difunta, perquè indubtablement es planteja si els sentiments que experimenta són seus o de l'exdona. Genialíssim el monòleg del detectiu sobre la bisexualitat i la pansexualitat, però no puc evitar pensar que està col·locat una mica amb calçador (només veient la resposta del cap queda clar i hauria encaixat molt millor en una conversa amb l'Asako). El final bastant abrupte, amb el desenllaç de la trama romàntica resolt en un parell de pàgines, poques línies de diàleg i les escenes hot que no estan a l'altura (com pot ser que els somnis de l'exdona fossin més suggerents que la realitat???). La narració té un ritme trepidant, però en els moments clau és assossegat i es complementa de meravella amb les fantàstiques il·lustracions ♥ Entre el 4 i el 4,5

[Rubious Macias · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the art style so much but I don't like Kuroiwa's hairstyle. Story wise, this is interesting. I did find the whole Asako having the ex wife's memories weird until it turned out to be his own feelings, so its fine. I don't like how they keep calling Asako "kid" despite him being 25 years old, and I don't like the implications that his love interest might be much older than him. I really hope they do not have a large age gap, and if they do, that they met as adults. The ending of this first volume confused me, did Asako really confess that he wanted to replace Kuroiwa's wife? or was that part of his dream? This first volume felt a little short but I am genuinely intrigued and might get the second volume. Personally I don't like how Asako gets treated, being called a freak, and seen as less than makes me feel angry. The art style is gorgeous though, and while I usually don't like mystery stories, I feel like this first volume has a decent amount of mystery as well romance in it despite only being 175 pages (its a Manga so its not all filled with text).

[salem · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really interesting premise. Asako is a detective with the ability to take in the "echoes" of a victims last moments after a murder. Just by stepping foot in a crimescene he relives not only the pain of their wounds, but their vision and thoughts during the crime as well. This doesn't impact him too much until he relives the final moments of his superior officers ex-wife, and discovers that her final thoughts were of her ex-husband Kuroiwa. Asako begins to see Kuroiwa through a new lens, and slowly the victims emotions become harder to distinguish from his own.

The premise is absolutely phenomenal, and easily one of the most unique BL plots out there. However the execution falls a little flat as the characters have little personality to make them distinguishable from each other. The beautiful watercolour cover art also leads you to believe the art in the story will be in a similar delicate style, but instead the art is rather unflattering with its harsh lineart and sharp angles. Asako has a few cute moments with his big white eyelashes that I adore, but otherwise the art feels out of place and offputting for a BL.

I'll be buying the second volume before I decide for certain how I feel about the story, but for now I'd say it sits at about a 3.5 star rating from me.

[Lou · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a fellow anemic, mentally stable blonde with a passion for forensics, "god I wish that were me"

Very cool idea, everyone on the team could get their own spinoff and I'd read about it.
Only a bit sad it ends up heavily revolving around romance, I wish we could see even more cases, but oh well.

Lots of blood loss so be warned, but it doesn't feel like gratuitous gore. If anything the depictions make it poetic.
I've seen people complain about the artstyle, and while it took me a few pages to get used to it, I ended up loving how bold it is. It's just out there, completely unashamed. Most of the characters are very angular, which is a pretty cool contrast with the circular depictions of blood droplets (again, also a very peculiar way to depict it, but that's what make it more accessible and less gory in my humble opinion).

All in all, very cool setting and premise, with an aesthetic that rounds it all up in its own weird world. Loved it a lot

Make that poor man eat more meat, frfr

[Clarke Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book completely blind & on impulse based off its premise alone. I loved the delicacy of the romance between the two leads while also balancing its soft horror premise. It felt nuanced and considerate of the situation they found themselves in and I'll always be a sucker for a weird plot/romance. I do think the earlier more, "Slice of Death" plots were a little weaker but I appreciate their role in the story as it fleshed out its own world and gave us a taste of the lead's dynamic. Once we were in the thick of it I couldn't put it down. It has been a week and I'm still thinking about this world and characters.

For a solid short series I highly recommend it.

[Cha El · Rating 5 out of 5]

Très bonne découverte !

Le mélange de thriller et de romance est tout simplement extra.

J'ai passé un super moment devant cette lecture. L'intrigue reste relativement classique, mais j'ai trouvé que le point fort de ce mange était la relation des deux protagonistes.

Car cette ROMANCE, ohlala !
Vu mes (très) nombreuses déceptions en la matière, je n'aurais jamais pensé pouvoir dire ça d'un manga queer. Mais, ENFIN une relation basée sur le respect mutuel.
On a un goût de vrai, c'est plein de pudeur, et de RESPECT (it's again worth mentioning) !

[Papercut · Rating 4 out of 5]

Debo decir que al comienzo es algo extraño, pasa cosas que te hace cuestionar y rayos, pobre chico que debe setir todos los traumas de las victimas asesinatos; entonces llega el caso que le hace darse cuenta que siente algo mas que admiracion por el detective jefe con quien trabaja. Es el contacto fisico parte del amor? o es lo que recuerda que es real y no solo una idea.
Por otro lado tenemos al detective, el marido perfecto, pero que esa perfeccion lo convirtio en una cuadrado y no en el compañero que queria su ex difunta esposa.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The angst!! I love!

Honestly I kind of have a love/hate with the art. It's really pretty in some panels and kind of unsettling in others. Also it can be kind of hard to read sometimes. Idk it's jarring for me. I really love the tortured soul angst that ghosts bring in stories like this though. Like the wife's echo living in his body and being unsure if it's his feelings or the ex wife's and if Kuroiwa's feelings are for him or the ex wife?? The drama! I'm here for it.

[Frank Chillura (OhYouRead) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is so wholly original, which is such a crazy thing to think about. Every story I read has some remnant of another story I’ve read or movie I’ve watched. Never have I read a book where the MC relives the death of murdered people through what is basically the stigmata of their wounds.

The artwork was so immensely beautiful and I wish I could paint anything like the author. I’m jealous and in love all at once.

[Zian B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this early thanks to online fan-translated scans.
I found the premise of this manga very interesting and I liked the unique dynamic between the 2 main characters. I’ve very curious to see what happens in this next and final volume, especially since this volume ended on a rather intense cliffhanger.

[may · Rating 5 out of 5]

This gives me Hannibal / Sherlock vibes, I’m hooked! Wow, Kuroiwa is smart and truly perceptive / oh, he cares about Asako / “hasn’t anyone touched you” hasn’t sound so romantic before / such a sad childhood / please, don’t let go

[Tippy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to rate this higher, but to be very honest, I hate the art style. The story itself is really interesting and not at all what I was expecting based on the title. Asako is a detective that can experience the final moments of murder victims. Like, literally experience them. With the same wounds. With blood. He can see what they saw. Everything. He uses that to help his partner, Kuroiwa, investigate the murder of Kuroiwa’s ex-wife. But because Asako feels what the victim feels, he starts to develop feelings for Kuroiwa and, at first, can't separate if they feelings are the victims or his own. It was enjoyable story wise but I just could not get over the art. Asako is drawn like a somewhat thick woman and I hate it. Seeing him from behind, as he is often shown, kept confusing me because he looks so feminine from that perspective. That being said, I plan to read volume 2 because I really did enjoy the concept and I think it's worth reading.

[Zephorah Dove · Rating 3 out of 5]

I need a volume 2 before I can fully get my thoughts out. I'm really interested in where the story is going to go, and I like the mystery aspect and very intriguing power the MC has.

Thanks to the publisher for the DRC!

[Alan D.D. · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was an amazing concept, but the art and the execution were not what I was expecting. The art was too outdated, and the dialogues felt plain, vague sometimes, along with non-existent character development.