The Tyrant Falls in Love (Koisuru Boukun)

Attention, DramaQueen! Here am I doing wonderful publicity for you guys, so when The Tyrant Falls in Love is finally released, I expect to get a free copy, k?

Well, it was worth trying anyway.

Now, if there’s a yaoi manga that I wholeheartedly recommend, it’ll be Tyrant. In fact, not only do I love it, Tyrant is the yaoi manga that was responsible for corrupting changing me to a yaoi observer to a yaoi lover.

Before, I read yaoi scanlations with a “Meh, so what?” or a “OMG!!” (Runs away) attitude.

But when I stumbled unto Tyrant, I fell deeply and madly in love with the characters.

Morinaga Tetsuhiro is in love with his senpai, Tatsumi Souichi, who is, to put it very simply: a terrifying person. (But cute, of course. I have a thing for long hair. hehe) He’s also … homophobic. Doesn’t like gay people much because his brother ran off to America with one – and to Souichi’s mind, all gay people are to be blamed.

Despite all that Mori loves Souichi, but is he in for a difficult time. One night, Souichi accidently drinks an aphrodisiac Mori was given (very long story, that) and … Mori takes advantage of, uh, the situation.

This is the oddest thing. There is a non-con scene in Vol.1. Yet … yet … the mangaka, Hinako Takanaga still makes it funny. Yes, it’s truly hilarious what happens “the day after”! I know, colour me amazed. Souichi demonstrates that he is no weepy uke despite the non-con. And that’s what I love about the guy.

After the whole non-con incident, Souichi is understandably enraged (a big understatement) and Mori is so guilty that he disappears for weeks. Surprised at his MIA-ness, Souichi begins to feel … anxious.

I won’t spoil the plot for you, and I don’t think I’m doing much justice to the story at all. Many would probably read it and say it’s another one of those yaoi things where the seme rapes the uke and they fall in love and live happily ever after. (shudder shudder)

The biggest pull Tyrant had for me was the comedy. I actually laughed out loud at certain scenes. My favourite parts were not the smexy scenes, but the small little incidentces like when Mori gives (or tries to) Souichi a haircut at the extra chapter in Vol.2 but gets overwhelmed by Souichi’s, uh, sexiness. Souichi of course … flips. And when he flips, blood is shed. Totally my favourite chapter ever.

(Though I have to say Takanaga really draws romantic smex scenes. No, I’m not kidding. Some yaoi have hot sex scenes, but it has a kind of dirty quality to it … this one makes you realise that there is some kinda love involved.)

Typically, the seme is always this broad-shouldered, manly, bullying type while the uke is a total girl. But Souichi, who is obviously the uke, is so bad-tempered and dominant that you really pity Mori for being in love with the guy. He’s arrogant, loud and short-tempered. (But he has a kind heart, really.) And Mori is a sweet, gentle guy who spends a lot of his time moaning at his bad luck for falling for Souichi (it’s funny, trust me) and weeping over Souichi’s exasperating behaviour.

The two are really sweet together, and part of me went, ARGH when I found out Drama Queen licensed it because I really wanted to read more now. But better they than any other publisher as DQ does good work with their published works. They come very well translated and in high-quality materials.
Vol.2 is my favourite so far – I’ve only read Vol.1 and 2 – because it delves into Mori’s angsty past. One has got to love that. We see how Mori’s family has turned their backs on him because of a scandal he was involved in back home that involved Mori’s brother’s best friend. Big bro is not too happy with Mori, and basically treats him like something you wipe your feet with.

Therefore, the real life issue of how homosexuality is not really an “acceptable” thing for some people and families is not swept under the carpet here. Very often we read yaoi where it takes place in a kind of alternate universe where everyone is so okay with homosexuality (that’s not bad, really) so it’s refreshing to read something real.

Again, it’s not the s3x scenes that do it for me but Mori’s relationship with his brother that I really found very touching. I want more of Nii-san! But not in the brotherxbrother way, okay?

Souichi is also a darling in this volume, as he comes to Mori’s defense. Awww.

The art is very nice … no complaints there. All in all, Tyrant is perfect to me. Comedy, romance, family angst … it has everything. Hopefully, some of you would like it as much as I do.

And yeah, of course I’ll buy the DQ copies when it comes out … barring the customs doesn’t seize it … because I’ll cry a bucket of tears if they do.