rainsometimes | (Reply)

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I only know of Claymore from watching some episodes of the anime with my offspring - but that "feelings under the surface" thing you mention definitely came across even in the little but I saw.

My two recs to add to your "C" are very very different.

Ayane Yamano's Crimson Spell is, by definition, a fairly hard yaoi manga ... but it's not exactly what most might expect. Set in a lush fantasy setting, for one, it's the story of Prince Valdrigr, who, after taking up a magical sword to defend his kingdom from a demon army finds himself cursed to turn into a demon at night. ~ Seeking to have the curse broken, he goes to Halvir, a reclusive, somewhat mercenary magician. ~ Halvir soon discovers that the demon - like the prince in appearance, except for fangs and tribal tattoos -- can be "calmed" in a certain way. A way that the Prince has no memory of in the morning. (grins). ~ Yes, the story - 6 volumes and ongoing - has sex, but is mostly action-adventure-romance, as Halvir and the Prince slowly traverse the kingdom as well as a rocky road to love. ~ Aside from the gorgeous, gorgeous art, this title has humor and a refreshing lack of the usual cold seme/weepy uke trope found in so many yaoi titles (i.e., Vald is not feminized; he's a kickass Prince 90% of the time.) ~ The cast has expanded to include Rulca, a magical rabbit who can transform into a pink-haired bishonen as needed; Halrein, a dour ex-classmate of Halvir's; Marse, a jovial thief with a sketchy past; and Rimris, a magically-inclined scholar with secrets of his own. ~ Don't let the sex in early chapters make you think it's just a skinfest - this series has definitely developed a complex, intriguing plot that lifts it far above the initial classification as eye-candy.

The other "C" title I recommend is Cromartie High School, a quirky, at times surrealistic high school with robot students, gorillas, and recurring cameos by "Freddie" ( as in Freddie Mercury). Note that the anime for this is quite faithful, and the English dub is surprisingly good.