Double Mints by Nakamura Asumiko

     Double Mints is a gloomy tale that involves two contrasting characters consisting of the same name: Mitsuo Ichikawa. Mitsuo 1 is a very angry, cruel person who calls Mitsuo 2, who is attributed with dog-like tendencies, informing him that he has killed a woman and that he needs help burying the body. They haven't stayed in touch at all after high school, yet Mitsuo 2 decides to help Mitsuo 1, which hints to readers that they were once very close friends. However, as Mitsuo 2 drives them to an area suitable for disposing the body, Mitsuo 1 remembers how he took Mitsuo 2's clothes and left him locked in the gym's storage room naked and desperate to use the bathroom. At the end of the day he returns and says that he will give back the clothes if Mitsuo 2 promises to be his slave forever. I don't understand why anyone would help such a horrible high school bully and the scenes where Mitsuo 1 beats Mitsuo 2 until he has scars to show for it makes me hope Mitsuo 2 is going to eventually get revenge.
     However, it is later revealed that Mitsuo 2 has his own masochistic tendencies and, in fact, gets turned on by the fact that Mitsuo 1 is so mean to him. And after the issue of the woman is dealt with Mitsuo 2 recalls how his girlfriend cheated on him with Mitsuo 1. Was he upset? Not really. In fact he called the girl up, asked for sex, and during the process he imagined he was with Mitsuo 1 instead of his now ex-girlfriend. You may be thinking "What a psycho!" but this development makes for a very interesting treat on how he deals with Mitsuo 1's mafia background and the growth of their relationship. At the beginning of the story you feel sorry for the guy, yet as readers begin to understand Mitsuo 2's mentality it makes for a very interesting S and M pairing that many, including myself, hope for a happy ending. The art is also very clean and precise, contrasting nicely with the darkness the storyline provides.
     However, I felt that the Mitsuo 1's participation in the mafia was unneeded and readers could easily be satisfied with the contrasts with the present and the past and the characters' growth together as lovers. The ending was also left open and I felt like Mitsuo 2 wasn't staying true to his character when he discovered the DVD taken of Mitsuo 1 being gang raped. Wouldn't he want to beat them up? Instead he just stands there and does nothing like a lazy dog who doesn't want to play fetch anymore. The theme of being somehow connected by having the same name and how it ties into the mythology of hermaphrodites was very interesting and should have had more presence in the story. I believe Nakamura Asumiko is definitely on her way to being a great mangaka, yet she still needs to refine her stories and create a central idea. If she wanted to have Mitsuo 1 be a gangster she should have introduced the mafia at the very beginning. For those of you who are interested in following a mangaka and enjoy reading angsty stories Nakamura Asumiko is for you. I would also suggest reading Double Mints. It's a good read and I give it a 6.7/10