 Nightlife – Dale Lazarov & Bastian Jonsson
Colors by Yann Duminil Review Copy Supplied by Author. As a veteran reader of romantic gay-theme comics from Japan, I can appreciate the works of Dale Lazarov and his chosen artists’ moreso I think than many of my western slash-reading peers. In its infancy, the BL fandom in North America reveled in comics we were unable to read, because many of us just didn't know the Japanese language. We didn't care to learn Japanese because we liked the romance, the intimacy, and the money-shots. To this day I avoid ‘bara/menslove’ scans that are translated because it takes all the fun out of it for me as a fan of “hardcore” yaoi. […the true meaning of “yaoi” being a story where men meet for no reason, and then screw for no reason]. Not one word of conversation ever need be understood…I was a proficient reader of facial expressions and hand gestures – often making up my own scenarios. 
That being said, it’s going to be impossible for me to NOT recommend any Lazarov title from Bruno Gmunder. Lazarov’s books appeal to that romantic and immature side of me, a side neglected since American publishers have seen fit to translate and publish nearly every Japanese series I’ve ever cared about. I look forward to a Lazarov book because I know it won’t have dialogue in word-balloons, or sound effects where I don't want them. I can make-up what’s being said before the sex, during the sex, after the sex. Interpretation is fun when left to me as the reader – and it's why I find Nightlife, irresistible. Spoiler <-- Do you know what this means? It means I'm going to tell you what happens in each story, so don't read any further if you don't want to know. My words above more than give you my thoughts on Nightlife...  Nightlife’s first story, Hard Cases, opens on open-mic night at the Tailpiece Bar, where an eclectic group of musically inclined creative types have gathered to entertain their local drinking buddies. In walks ‘Cute Guy’ with a guitar case strapped over his shoulder. He orders a drink and notices Tailpiece’s attractive yet busy ‘Program Director’ actually takes time to pause from his busy schedule to watch a guitar soloist perform. Our Cute Guy introduces himself to Director and is quickly added to the clipboard roster of performers. [Hey, a warm smile goes a long way!] Cute Guy takes the stage and strums his guitar, singing his way into the mind of Director. As another performer takes the mic, they spend no time breaking the ice. Soon, our attractive Director also gets his chance on stage, he’s a singer/guitar soloist also – a kiss is shared after his performance, and soon our Cute Guy and Director are on the train kissing. After fourteen pages of what I’d call hot and adorable sex [it’s like, too many sloe-gin fizzes sex…] the two part ways in the morning with a hug and our Director adding Cute Guy's number to his cell phone. Our next panel shows our Cute Guy on the train again, another night – guitar in hand…and in the final panel his guitar sits next to Director's guitar.
The next story is called Layover – and this one was weirdly hot for me because one of the men looks curiously like hook-for-a-hand Aquaman from the DC Comics. Layover is self-explanatory; two men [whom I affectionately dubbed Gilligan and the Skipper – and at the end you’ll understand why] are stuck in an airport one night because of bad weather. They meet, there’s dinner, and then a hotel room. There’s reversible sexy-sex, and condom breakage – which is always more exciting when it’s in fiction. They part ways at the airport, but on the final page – someone has a change of heart, and they end up taking a flight to the same destination; a tropical island getaway. Talk about a three-hour tour. In Closing Time, a burly older Bouncer comes to the rescue of a hip stylish Ruffian about to be gay-bashed by some frat thugs [this seems to be the ultimate nightmare for partying gay man on his way home – much in the way women fear gang of toughs on the subway as they’re on their way home?] As clichéd as this set-up scene seems, Closing Time does redeem itself in that it's all about getting past the surface of what we see, and finding the inner person, of those we meet. Our Ruffian takes his Bouncer hero home to what is probably the messiest apartment ever [the look on Bouncer's face is precious]; Ruffian could tell on their way to his place that his big bad Bouncer hero is dying to be a stylish and hip deb– but our man isn’t stupid enough to wear this aspiration out in public. Maturity comes with a price; no one – gay or straight – wants to be looked at as trying to ‘play young’ when you’re far beyond your prime. Yet in the privacy of Ruffian’s hovel, our Bouncer gets to do just that, and it’s very sweet. Think of the experienced girl who brings home an uptight honor student and shows her how to put on make-up and wear her hair so boys will notice... yeah, it's that sort of scene - but to see it played out here between this handsome older man and his hot edgy paramour is beyond fresh. There’s sex, and it looks like Bouncer isn’t exactly a pro – but it’s ok, Ruffian’s a slut and he dances him through every song. The end panel is nice, because we see the pair in a kitchen [too clean to be Ruffian’s!] as Bouncer reads his paper, and Ruffian reads his mail – discarding his envelopes on the floor, just to remind us that his colors never change – no matter how domesticated. I enjoyed Nightlife because it’s customary Lazarov – tender trysts that don’t require words for the reader to connect to, in order to enjoy the romance. While I preferred the art in Lazarov’s prior title ‘Manly’, illustrator Bastian Jonsson proves able to make the leap from illustrator to sequential story-teller; there are a few panel placements I would’ve questioned, but overall I think Jonsson came through perfectly for Nightlife.
Tina Anderson is an author of gay-themed graphic novels and has been published by Class Comics, Yaoi Press, and Dramaqueen. Volume one of her latest German language release ‘Games with Me’ has been translated and published online by Digital Manga Publishing eManga.com |