2009 Great Yaoi Manga Gift Guide

Posted by miz on December 1, 2009 – 4:00 am

Okay, I am recycling this idea from my own personal blog, but as a general bl-fan, this is what I would push forth if the reader is in search for good bl-books to check out. I was initially inspired by Yuricon’s aka Erica Friedman’s initial call for bloggers to list graphic novels as gift ideas, since New York Times didn’t bother to recommend any graphic novels.

Not everyone is a boy’s love/yaoi fan. This genre is a very specific niche in terms of manga – where there is an acceptance on homosexuality relations and love between two men. Now this list will most likely be suited for 16+ and adult readers. This list will also be of interest to already reading or beginning to read yaoi manga. So be forewarned if this is not your cuppa tea. This list of books is also chosen from an assumption that these books will definitely be your best worth for what is definitely out there in terms of relevant Yaoi manga. (P.S. Not going to go into bara, since that is a little too out of the left field.)

Many of these titles are generally not available at bookstores, so if you look over this list and find what you like, best bet would be for going to Amazon or Akadotretail (Maegane recommends this) or Borders. Now why would I say Borders over Barns & Noble? Because in my experience, they are a physical chain bookstore, that offer a much better Yaoi selection, and members rewards on a weekly event – this is even with Barns & Noble currently having the Nook. Oh also Deux is having an incredible fan sale with titles going for about $5 to $9.

Also another nugget of though before I jump into this list, would be a tweet that NY_Anime_Fest actually tweeted several months ago:

Emo is moe for girls!

Read More »

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Be Beauitful finally goes

Posted by Maegane on April 30, 2009 – 12:29 am

ANN reports on a report of the liquidation of Central Park Media.  I admit that I selfishly stopped caring about them since the Youka Nitta scandal meant no more Embracing Love anyway, but it must be a bit of a relief to fans that Kizuna and Playboy Blues can get a clean slate elsewhere.  Good luck to all former (and current?) employees.

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Gakuen Heaven on PSP!

Posted by Maegane on April 25, 2009 – 3:50 pm


After companies started porting PS2 adventure games (which were sometimes ported from PC adventure games) to PSP and DS, I wondered why they weren’t doing the same with BL games. I can only hope that this is just a start and a flurry of other PS2 games I’ve always pined after are right behind, waiting to be reincarnated into PSP games.

A quick glance at the giant headings looks like the anime-only characters are making their way into the PSP version of Gakuen Heaven.

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Sean Michael- Velvet Glove – Part 1

Posted by miz on April 11, 2009 – 3:04 am

A while ago, my time has been consumed with reading original fiction by Sean Michael. Warning, his website is not really organized, and I find that he also writes on live journal.

I first learned of him, from my time of reviewing Torque Press e-books. So far, I am hooked onto reading more of his stories. I really like his possessive “One True Pair” pairings, with some exceptions.

I am actually not sure if this is the characteristics of a fujoshi… I imagine it is more like enjoying to read gay smut, with a bite to it. I actually have another post, that is similar to my thoughts about this subject. As a fan though, I am consistently trying to examine what makes something tick, hence my constant questioning on what makes a fan or a fujoshi?

Sean Michael has written over 100 various e-books for Torque Press, and some to my chagrin is only available on print. One of the series I have read from him is the Velvet Glove series, which is a Science Fiction world of an exclusive BDSM club for men. Currently, there are four volumes, and multiple side stories. Stories are connective, and it depends on a fetish if you would enjoy these type of stories. But mostly on nearly every page, there is scenes of sex or smut, and lots of loving. Quite similar to watching a porn…but interesting in how the character’s interact.

In Volume Three, the top actually reminded me of Gin from Bleach. I could just shiver as he gets very sado masochistic with his bottom, who reminds me of a strong teddy bear.

I can’t say I have a favorite pairing,  but somehow it amazes me on how many fetishes there can be. One of these days, as I don’t have something better to do, might just make one of those character trees, since there are so many inter-connected recurring characters in the Velvet Glove world.

This is a series that is much more fleshed out than his other contemporary series of Hammer, which is an exclusive BDSM club, he writes about. I can only say that I am always anxiously waiting for what next story will come from this author.

Oh the reason why this is a part 1 is because of how unwilling am I to let go of this author.. and who knows if I might be inspired to write another blog entry on my love for his stories. Now if I can only find other gay erotica author of the same scope?

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April Releases

Posted by Maegane on April 2, 2009 – 2:18 am

This month’s releases have been highlighted in a soothing green on the release list.  Happy hunting!

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release list

Posted by Maegane on April 2, 2009 – 1:56 am

I’m finally organized, so I can start posting again!  In keeping with my sudden non-clutterness, I made a release list to keep track what I should order and what I should pre-order and what I haven’t ordered already and should before it becomes unavailable because every few weeks I go nuts visiting all the publishers’ sites and cross-checking with Amazon.  With very few exceptions, the collector in me obsessively tries to get a hold of every boys love graphic novel and novel out there, which is frustrating when a lot of them seemingly go out of print three weeks after release.

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Slashable Couple: Watanuki/Domeki

Posted by miz on January 10, 2009 – 4:34 am

hyakuyon_by_nikki_aino

Okay the male leads from xxxHolic. Convention would label them rivals/best friends, but I imagine as a fujoshi – there is a depper meaning. There is obvious fan services with this pairing, and probably CLAMP even intended it to be so. Jilly believes that is the case, since she suggested this as a couple to talk about. I think they are very cute, as Domeki does actions that make Watanuki flip all over him.

Watanuki is considered to be the male lead, assisting with Yuko. He is her manservant, cooking and cleaning; obviously the uke-material. Still he says that he has a crush on Himawari, but that is his idea of being a normal high schooler, so what would happen if he doesn’t have that normal wish – and this is very common male trait with people who attract the supernatural, and want to run away from it all. Doesn’t this remind anyone of Haruto from Hunted Junction?

Enters Domeki is his supposedly rival, but there are moments in the anime that make me think – wow these are a nice match. Such as the times when Watanuki cooks, and this is usally Domeki’s choice. I recall one time, Watanuki started to blush after Domeki commented on it… so that is pretty cute. Domeki also has patience to counter Watanuki’s panic sessions. He’s so serious and quiet, that make me think of seme material. Any other ideas to think about this couple?

watanuki_x_domeki_by_maigune

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Review: The President's Time

Posted by miz on January 6, 2009 – 12:55 am
The President’s Time
Story and Art by
Tamaki Kirishima
Published by 801 Media
Price: $15.95 USD
ISBN: 9781934129197

I really like this release by 801 Media, they actually mentioned an small joke of Kinikuman… Still I thought it was quite sweet. The premises of this story is about Mutsuki Nagasawa and his attempt to live up to his dying father’s last wish: to be the evilest boss to walk on the planet! Unfortunately, Matsuki is everything that is not of an evil potential. He’s pretty timid and law abiding citizen. His idea of committing a crime is to jay walk, draw graffiti, or litter. Read More »

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January Releases

Posted by Maegane on January 6, 2009 – 12:19 am

801 Media
Don’t Rush Love by Mio Tennohji

BLU
Junjo Romantica vol. 8 by Shungiku Nakamaru

Deux Press
Take Me to Heaven by Yamato Nase

Juné
Desire: Dangerous Feelings by Maki Kazumi and Yukine Honami
Tricky Prince by Yukari Hashida
Double Trouble by Takashi Kanzaki
Junior Escort vol. 2: Love Code by Sakurako Hanafubuki
The Guilty vol. 2 by Katsura Izumi and Hinako Takanaga
Where Has Love Gone? by Ryoku Tsunoda

Not a BL release, and not even written for females, but Amazon claims that the third volume of Fujoshi Rumi will be out later this month, which can be a damn funny series for BL fans who don’t mind a little ribbing.

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Happy belated birthday, Ayase!

Posted by Maegane on January 5, 2009 – 11:36 pm

The cute little over-18 uke from Okane ga nai’s birthday was actually January 2, a New Year and birthday celebration!  While the couple celebrates with cake and more alcohol than Ayase can handle, Fujochic will celebrate with a new look!

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