Zolabarth Bi

Released By: Yaoi Press

Author and Artist: Yamila Abraham/Himitsu Studio
Release Date: Out Now!
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

Rig-mertians are one of the most powerful races in the entire universe, and Maximus has to use one at his disposal to take out an army who had previously tried to use a mind-control device on him in order to make him work for them. He cannot forgive this slight, and has Zolabarth accomplish a task he can’t. Maximus has needs of another kind though, and when Zolabarth isn’t terrorizing an army of his choice, he can change his shape to suit his master’s every desire.

Zolabarth is annoyed that his master made him have a weaker form as when he changes from monster to humanoid, he takes on the form of a woman, and that satisfies Maximus’s sensual side. Rig-mertians as a species are rare, there are only six of them left and all of them work for Xenith, a very powerful woman ruler.

This sounds fine for the moment, but Zolabarth hides a terrible secret, one that could destroy any friendship they had – he slayed his other master for trying to make-out with him, and he could do the same to Maximus-if he isn’t careful. Maximus knows the risks he is taking, but he is so wrapped up in his desire to destroy the army that he is prepared to die if the Rig-mertian he uses accomplishes his task.

Despite the way Yamila makes Zolabarth sound dangerous and menacing, she gives him a great sense of humour. I found myself liking him instantly as a character as he knows what will happen if he disobeys his new master, Maximus, but he equally shows how uninterested he is in him.  Zolabarth has to make sure he is as loyal as he can be to him, or he could feel Maximus’s true wrath.

It seems that science fiction is also where the writer of this work wants to go with for now, and who can blame her with fleshed out characters who have their own agendas, and unusual aliens who can change gender – this story could go anywhere, and that is what is so appealing about Yamila’s work.

Yaoi Press have been changing their general look with their manga for a while now and have decided to go for a full novella length story with 8 manga pages within it to give readers and proud followers of the company what they want. Readers will no doubt find this is a good idea considering how many are out there who like the written story or novel and others who have always enjoyed the graphic novel side of manga.

Verdict: Yamila excels at Science Fiction and Yaoi, and this one will go to show how much she has put into the story, the characters and how the art should look. This is visually stunning and reads like a dream.