MADK

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MADK is essentially a lonely woman masturbation material done in exquisite art with perfect fantasy anatomy (as you would expect from Suzuri Ryo, who specializes in it). Cannibalism, sexual sadistic disorder, defying god, defying family, demonic intrigues, coercive sex, coercive prostitution, patricide, homicide, demon-i-cide, rape, lots of spilling innards... It’s dirty, dark, and twisted. It does picture abuse and violence. I was and still am reluctant to read it on most days. I am amazed by it and happy it exists. Because while most of its themes aren’t healthy and few of the fetishes click with me, it’s an honest, raw and generous part of ... someone’s sexual mind delivered on a pretty silver platter. And because the main demon has carefully drawn catlike toe beans.

Many people asked for MADK to be added to the database. And, I figure, I could take the initiative to hint on the why. Labeled by its editor as "a pillar of fallen morals" it’s a darker kind of yaoi, toying with deviant interests. But it’s so open about it, so dedicated to the goal and displays such quality that it feels strangely wholesome, and can be enjoyed for the journey even if it doesn’t actually make you moist.

In many ways because it distances itself from real life. The events are fantastical and quickly move to a hell, the characters are demons or occultly warped. They clearly have other societal rules and capabilities, the manga itself acknowledges they are not virtuous and practise bad things. Everything is clearly on the other side – of realism, of morals, of your bedroom door. Cause you as a reader too consented when you opened the book, you had been warned. The only moral judgement that this work is willing to give is to bigotry aimed at the different, which is fair and also applies to its consumers in a way.

I wouldn’t call this porn though, paradoxically. There’s functional plot about the protagonist advancing in the world of demons with heavy foreshadowing for another act of cannibalism in the end. The hero tries to establish himself in the new environment, his master toys with him relentlessly, and someone is going to eat someone in the end – but who eats who and in which order and how? The answer is something to look forward to, even though I don’t expect MADK to end up being as much of an epic as it could've been. Occasionally you witness dramatic moments, when the main character deals with self-acceptance and emotional turmoil, but human emotions may not be his problem anymore - and it's another conflict to follow.

Sex happens a lot, as in it's a constant presence, the narrative moves from instance to instance, but not much time is spent on individual sexual acts. It’s more about their context, the increasing weirdness and characters developing through them. It's like, if something is broken or torn off, you'll be likely shown, body parts going in orifices normally – not so much, acclimatization means the next step. And it's not that graphic gory, the punchline is how pretty the - reversible (so far) - damage is. It's more decadent poetry than butchery, velvety skin torn off with caresses rather than fountains of blood. Actually, I would say that taking flesh off is the main explored fetish.

The otherworld and the demons are the stars of the show. Their designs are masterful, varied and sophisticated. The range of animal features is much wider than usually – wings, horns, odd eyes are present, but there’re also plant-like and mushroom-like demons, and one noble demon is a giant octopus-dragon with a human head, who wears a dick-like turban. You’ll even get additional juicy anatomy details in specials. Clothes and interior designs also don’t disappoint, ornate and ethnically diverse, the main couple preferring opulent frills of XVIII century Versailles and rococo decorations.

Talking about dick hats – one thing I may actively dislike is chibi faces and jokes at inappropriate moments. The author gushing over their characters is understandable and deserved here, but it still rubs you the wrong way when someone’s is pictured as child-like adorable when he has just torn someone's head off, which happens a lot. The manga has a playful mood as a whole though, even if not often genuinely funny, it’s almost always entertaining.

The whole MADK is like that – an intelligent person retelling you their sexual daydream in an elegant fun way. A piece of a high-grade fujoshi experience shared rotten heart to rotten heart. The imaginary events are messed up, but it’s not like it’s a didactic novel, you discuss wanking. The fetishes are odd, but admitting them is an act of opening up, so you respect and cherish the moment. The fictional world is even more disturbing than the events of the story, but it’s a display of imagination and inventiveness you have rarely seen before. You may not like all the jokes and the downplaying of violence, but you chalk it up to trying being pleasant. The vocabulary and the literary qualities are astonishing. It does make you excited if not full-on aroused. And if you are honest – you know your fantasy worlds aren’t much purer. So you are not judging. You thank the storyteller profoundly, sip you tea, take notions of novel sexual anatomies and enjoy. If you know what I mean here or are simply open to experimentation within yaoi/guro/supernatural/monster dudes sphere, MADK can be one hell of a pleasure.

I haven't come across a story quite like this one, and that's why I enjoy it so very much. The characters, the story line, the art, all feels so original in its own way. I have no clue where the story is going and have yet been disappointed by where it has. All the characters are mysterious and full of surprises. Is it dark and twisted, some might say disgusting? Yes, but its those elements that make it all the more compelling. So far I'm eager to read more, and highly recommend if this type of premises appeals to you.

Quite possibly one of the most disturbing and grotesque things I've ever read. This was simply awful. Not awful in a 'this is bad' way, but awful in the most extreme sense ever put to words. The 'not reccomended' is because I cannot recommend any other person should ever read this, in good faith, and the low score is due to it being genuinely appalling. I definately hate this. And yet. I must also state that this was extremely fascinating in what it was and what it was communicating. Examining the nature of control through consumption and pleasure, and asking what is love? A lot ... of interesting questions and answers were provided. The artstyle ranges from morbidly cartoonish to a risque lavish style with vicious bite to it, and all of the character expressions are so piercing. Almost all of the characters are nauseating in some manner or another, design wise and personality. The story itself is outright nightmarish and provides scenerios of brutal 'eroticism'. Can it even be called erotic at this point? Was creating this is some form of insane voyeurism for the mangaka? After reading this, I was stunned, and the whole day I was left with a lingering disgust, like something had crawled its way into my stomach and nested there. Remembering it's existance makes me wince. But there must be something said about the fact that this manga caused me such deep disturbance, right? If you loved this, and found meaning in it, I commend you and respect you. I understand why it is loved by readers. Do not feel judged by my review. I hate it. The author starts this manga with a cheeky preface hoping the readers will have a 'pleasant time' with it. Perhaps some stories shouldn't be shared with the world. I wish I hadn't read it. I didn't have a pleasant time.