DearS

(Tokyopop, 2005-2006)
™ and © 2002 Peach-Pit
Right to left reading format; Graphic novel; B&W

Borrowing the concept of Alien Nation, aliens crash land near Japan. The aliens are incredibly good–looking teens whom the media tag “DearS” (enigmatic capitalization intentional) who assimilate into society. Average high school student Takeya lives alone until he meets Ren, a DearS who follows him home and promptly calls him “Master.”

Though this has all the ingredients (perverted female teacher; check) for a SF sex–comedy–romance, the results are unpalatable. No sparks fly between the leads, perhaps because instead of automatically cooking and cleaning (the way manga alien or android girls are supposed to), the amnesiac Rens needs his help. Even for a manga male, Tayeka is a loser: a selfish, sulky, xenophobe who actually objects to having a naked girl running around his apartment.

You’d think that with large–busted women wearing oversized dog collars and SF slave–girl lingerie with what sure looks like rubber nipples on the shoulders, there’d at least be loads of “fan service” art here. But the artist seems more interested in drawing grotesque facial contortions and super–deformity than all the pretty girls.

— S.A. Bennett

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