Loveless

Being a native English speaker/reader, I was extremely disappointed when the American Tokyopop branch seized producing manga, and the main reason being that I couldn't complete the Loveless series.
I started reading it a couple years after production started, and I instantly fell in love with the characters, plot, and story line. And to this day, I am in love with the series.
The characters were mysterious and charming, and the plot had a lot of depth and twists as the volumes went on.
I've tried reading it online, but it's just not the same, and I haven't found many sites that offer an easy way to read it, and if anyone has found a site that hosts an English translation of volumes 9 and 10, PLEASE send me a link, I'd loved to keep reading.
All in all, it's one of my favorite manga series ever.

I put off reading Loveless for ages due to its 'ongoing' status but just a couple days ago had nothing to read and shrugged myself into reading it.
It wasn't long before I'd really been captured by the story. It started off with Aoyagi Ritsuka being just the most adorable, smart and overall great character he was. The thing that really interested me to start with was his desperation to create memories with people and not be forgotten due to whatever happened two years ago.
He was just the first of many good elements though.
The story was really interesting and unique, the idea of having sacrifices and fighters and not knowing if you could really trust people. Character interactions could go between funny and cute to strangely intense and scary.
Soubi and Ritsuka are really fun to read about and their development is emotional and sweet. Usually I would've been worried about the character's ages but despite all the closeness between them it didn't seem weird or unwanted and there wasn't really a sexual element to it (despite the kissing). Soubi in fact had stated a few times in the series that he wasn't going to be interested in a little kid that way and it always seemed very close due to the sacrifice and fighter dynamics.
There were a lot of other interesting characters that were quite original and added a lot to the series. The artwork was beautifully done, simple in the right places and complicated during times that it should be.
I had a great time reading Loveless and upon catching up to the latest chapter wanted to reread it and find other people who liked it as much as I do.
The only reason this didn't get a 9 or 10 score was the annoying filler chapters that were constantly springing up out of nowhere and the shortness of the chapters. It's one of the first manga I've read that have done such a small amount of pages and it honestly just pissed me off that they spent that small amount on things that had nothing to do with the story.
But overall, Loveless is definitely worth reading, if only to watch Ritsuka develop and grow as an amazing main character.

Loveless is not a shounen-ai. It is not BL. It is not yaoi.

I mean this in the aspect of the genre, where thousands of manga that resemble each other and are very typical and romantic exist. This is why I mean Loveless isn't a shounen-ai. You could argue that there is romance, but I would say that there isn't if we're going by the relationship of the two main characters. A relationship of a twelve year old and a twenty year old. Their relationship is not easy, it is complicated and developing. The only reason this is considered shounen-ai is because they are both male. It is categorized as a shounen-ai so I'll still refer it to one, but it truly isn't.

Most people know this manga, and the reason it became so popular, from the cat ears that show people are virgins. That is completely secondary to the plot apart from making certain characters look cute.

Loveless holds a special place in my heart as one of the first "shounen-ai" manga I ever read. I went from gushing over Ritsuka and Soubi's relationship until the manga got to complicated. I was young.

I decided to re-read it, fully. I couldn't put it down. Loveless pulls you in and leaves you wanting more. Imagine how hard it is to be so focused on the story and it being on hiatus. The pain is real.

Loveless is a mystery. It focuses on Ritsuka and how he grows up, his relationship with Soubi, as he looks the reason of his existence. Years ago the manga was about Ritsuka searching for his brother's killer, and that has definitely change.

Loveless focuses on relationships, that is the main aspect of the plot. There's all types, from romantic, platonic and abusive ones. It is a story that deals with child abuse, rape, murder and identity in intricate manners without being explicit. Everything is implied but nothing is shown, and it works beautifully since we are essentially seeing the point of view of Ritsuka.

The art style is beautiful and one of my favorites.

I believe everyone should at least give it a try even for fear of it having no ending.

Loveless may be called its title, but I promise, I could see the love between Soubi and Ritsuka. I don't particularly like boys with cat-ears on, but Ritsuka was just so adorable, I fell in love with his character in an instant. The story mainly revolves on Seimei's death... this was the reason Soubi became Ritsuka's fighter, this was the reason why Misaki, or Ritsuka's mother, began to resent him.
I really felt for Ritsuka, whenever his mother beat him or abused him for "not giving Ritsuka back." I personally think it is not a practice mothers should use to discipline their children. There are lots of twists in the story, and lots of instances when a beloved one betrays someone he treated a friend. This matter complicates the life of Ritsuka further, and I really feel sorry whenever he is faced with more troubles yet again, just when he thought he had solved the last one. It is a relief to see that Yuiko, whatever happens, is always there to support him. Being a sixth grader, I feel like I can relate to the pressure of people disliking you because your family is torn apart, and because you have a dark background. I don't think this as a reason for judging people too easily.
Apart from those opinions, I think the action in the series is interesting, and I myself got hooked more to the fights. This is not your average love story, not only because love happens between two straight men, but if you want to find out more, it is a good option to find out for yourself.

This manga is the first manga I've read online... and to tell you the truth I fell deeply IN LOVE with it!! Though the manga is entitled, "LOVELESS", actually the whole story all about overflowing "BL". Though there maybe some girl/woman characters, most of the lovey-dovey are among the bishies, young and old, literally. The suspense of each chapter keeps me reading for more! The art here is just like the anime, but as any other manga they're black and white. The expression and protectiveness of the characters, especially those master-servant[fighter] situations like Soubi & Ritsuka, with each other are breathtaking. The unconditional love of the same sex as if they can't live without the other makes tears drop! The twists and thrill of the plot are really nice that you'll try to guess whether or not the ending you wanted to have will be it or will something come up and the whole story turns upside down. The character's emotions can be felt by almost all the readers who really read the manga from the heart. I recommend this! It's really enjoyable! ^_^

This is the manga that made me fall in love with manga. The story is engaging from the start - I love the intricacy of the word-battle system. The Fighter-Sacrifice system is brilliant and unique, and really provides a lot of opportunity for some gorgeous fight scenes. The art overall is incredible - beautiful characters without too much detail that it's distracting, but with just enough that it's captivating.

There's also a large cast of characters that really win you ever. It's also nice how loyalties change. No one is what they seem to be at face value - lots of mystery and intrigue in a complicated plot.

Of course, there is plenty of shonen-ai/boylove. Not full-blown yaoi yet, but getting there. The cat-ears as a symbol for virginity makes the sexual themes prominent but not explicit. I personally love Ritsuka and Soubi's relationship - one of necessity, yet founded on love? Is it real love? Very interesting.

There's also hints of brother-incest in Seimei's creepy obsession with Ritsuka. It'll be interesting to see where that goes.

Also a lot of comedic elements with Yuiko and friends. Overall, this manga has it all. One of my all-time favorites!

I won't go into the subject/plot of this manga, because you can find that anywhere. This story is brilliant and full of mystery with bad guys turning good guys and good guys sitting on the ambiguous side of the field. Intrigue! If you like intrigue, you will like this story. You care about the characters, good and bad, and yell about the injustices as you cheer on their achievements. Story aside, it is damned beautiful. The art, poses, scenes just hit you so you sit there and stare at a page for minutes not even aware of the passage of time. Yeah, this story has that.

Story - 10
Art - 9
Character - 7
Enjoyment - 7
Overall - 4

I know, I know, you probably ask me why overall is 4? At first, I loved this manga, I also loved anime. Loved the idea "how to tell if you're still a virgin", something quite new, and was absolutely necessary in this manga. Because of that and some awkward situations, a few times I got goosebumps. At first I got the feeling, that this manga will satisfy me, that something like "boom" is coming up. But then, at around 40-45 chapters, I just couldn't understand what is going on anymore. At one point there's a fight, feelings just flowing from the characters, and the other page is like a totaly different scene. I thought it's just for awhile, maybe author is feeling not so good. But it just continued, and continued, and continued.... Apart from this thing I really enjoyed it.. But I just couldn't give more than 4 overall, because I know, that this manga could've been much, much more better.

ah where to begin with loveless? this is a manga thats different from others somehow in a profound way, it shows a really deep character development that hasnt even been fully revealed yet. There's alot to look forward to in this manga and if your a fan of anime or manga in general it contains something for everyone (although girls usually are geared towards it, i have found many of my male friends enjoy it for its psycological themes) you have comedy,action,romance,somewhat of a mystery..and alot of characters that fit into a personality that is anything but clique. They artwork itself is worth looking at, with alot of two page full color spreads done in high detail. Even the pages on the inside are well drawn out with a style that is only yun kouga's. If you enjoy manga that has some gore or intense battles this is surprisingly good for that considering there's a large (and definately bloody)battle in almost every volume. Also
it is very thought provoking, it will most definately make you think and sympathize with the characters on an emotional level. Although a drawback of this manga is the long wait, for the english release it has been almost two whole years, as for the japanese its still not progressing much faster, a second drawback is the amount of yaoi (which can bother some people) otherwise
you should give it a read, the first 2 volumes are actually slower and less involved, when it hits volume three most of the main characters are introduced and the story moves in a more interesting direction.