Manga Digest – Yaoi
Everything is better when a guy is on another guy
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Yeah right, like I could ever forget manga recommendation. Ever wonder why anaaga never recommended any yaoi manga? I’ve been planning to make this post since one year ago, actually. The problem is, I’ve read too much yaoi to the point where I don’t know which one I should recommend. Not to mention the ones I bought in my Kindle, so it was really hard. But rest assured! I decided to stick with these titles to make the perfect recommendation for everybody, even yaoi n00bs! Who am I to say that, it would be a miracle for non-yaoi peeps to read this post. Anyhow, with the V-day celebrations, I thought to get this done and I hope this post is useful for those who want more than smut and sexy hoes with unbelievable penis shapes in yaoi. And if this works out well, I might recommend more yaoi too. If this works out well. IMPORTANT NOTE: THIS ARTICLE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH SCANLATION GROUPS. I’m sure everybody knows what YAOI is since it is a common subject touched by Metanorn team because over half of the team are yaoi fans. By the way Karakuri, did you read those yaoi I recommended long time ago? However, for the sake of a proper post, let’s start with this question: What is yaoi? It’s also known as BL (Boys’ Love), a manga genre about romance between two guys. In yaoi, one will see lots of guys sparkling doing sexy stuff with other guys. The sex scenes are ridiculously sticky, the stories are extremely cheesy, and the guys are 200% beautified rather than looking like real guys. It hurts to say this, but I have to. In short, yaoi is what girls fantasize about gay relationships. Girls do realize this, but we just refuse to wake up from our fantasies. Some might know that there are guys who read yaoi (such as chronolynx and Hotspot), but let’s face it, the majority of the yaoi readers are girls. Enough of me babbling. Let’s move on to the titles, shall we? |
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Title: Complex
Author: Manda Ringo Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance, School Life, Slice of Life, Yaoi Status: Complete | Volume: 4 | Year: 1996 Publisher: Asahi Shimbunsha, BIBLOS Summary: This is a story about two friends, from nearly the beginning to almost the end of their lives, who happen to love each other. It also explores the life of a child from one of them. [M-U] Thoughts: Like the synopsis said, this yaoi is about two childhood friends who developed a relationship into more than just friends until… I can’t say more than that because it would be a HUGE spoiler. By the way guys, don’t judge a yaoi by its first chapter, and this goes especially for Complex. This thing is just too underrated because of it. I can understand because the first chapter is about nasty pedophilia and shota, so you don’t have to read the first chapter if you don’t want to. That’s what I’m suggesting right now: SKIP THE FIRST CHAPTER. The first chapter is relevant, but it will be re-explained in the later chapters. This is probably the time where I shed tears more than I did for Hybrid Child (my first yaoi tragedy), and Complex is not even a tragedy. This yaoi is just SO. AMAZING. I’ve read hundreds of yaoi in my entire life, and this is one of the very few titles I remember even though I first read it three to four years ago (and didn’t re-read it until today). It’s just memorable in so many ways hasn’t left my mind even now. One thing that made me remember this manga until today is the story. It has lots of unexpected twists, which makes the story more dramatic, but surprisingly, those twists are unexpectedly memorable and realistic. Everybody, even heteros and lesbians, can relate to it. The story touches lots of aspects of this world, from friendship, marriage, loyalty, insecurity to misunderstood love. The only thing I regret here is the fact that it’s rushed, and the story-telling isn’t so great. Not bad, but the pace definitely needed improvement. But god the ending made the uncomfortable pacing worth it. It’s sad that people don’t read it because of the nasty first chapter or the art. //Keep reading |
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Title: ZE Author: Shimizu Yuki Genre: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Mature, Smut, Supernatural, Tragedy, Yaoi Status: Complete | Volume: 11 | Year: 2004 Publisher: Shinshokan Summary: In the weird house of Wakeari, Raizou has fallen in love. His object of desire is Kon. Even though Kon is an antisocial pretty boy, he does not laugh at Raizou. As the intense love scene of the tenants continues day after day, Raizou begins to like Kon more and more. At the same time, Kon is doing a secret “job” for clients that come to the house… The Love Destiny that you can’t escape from by Yuki Shimizu commences now! [M-U] Thoughts: I should make a yaoi post about the manga published in Dear+. Most of them are great and never fail to meet my expectations, and ZE is one of them. Familiar with Love Mode? That cheesy yaoi about mafias, and all of them are surprisingly gay? That’s one of Shimizu Yuki’s works. Just like Love Mode, ZE consists of multiple couples that are related to one another. Imagine Junjou Romantica, but with nicer art, more couples, and darker stories. Oh, and also super-hot sex scenes. There, it’s ZE. Now that I think about it, the reason why I love ZE so much is probably because of its dramatic plots and artwork. It’s just like any other yaoi. Seriously, after thinking about it again (big mistake), I don’t see the greatness of ZE at all. Why, why do I love this series so much? It’s not hard to realize though that its supernatural setting gives it more appeal over other yaoi, which is probably why I love it. The protagonists’ family hierarchy and their “jobs” are pretty… Unique. The setting makes the dramatic dark stories somehow more realistic, less dramatic, and of course, darker. The setting allows the readers to say, “It’s so dramatic, but since their circumstances is really unique, so it’s okay!” In other words, ZE lets the readers to indulge in their pleasure of drama and sappiness without making the readers feel guilty about it. //Keep reading |
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Title: Arashi no Ato Author: Hidaka Shoko Genre: Drama, Slice of Life, Yaoi Status: Complete | Volume: 1 | Year: 2008 Publisher: Houbunsha Summary: Sakaki, the president of an interior designing company, is determined to never get serious with anyone – fearing the heartache he feels that it is sure to cause. Much to his discomfort, he realizes that he is beginning to fall in love with his older heterosexual co-worker, Okada. Sakaki is shocked when he finds himself in Okada’s home one day, with no recollection of how he got there. At first convinced that he did not act out-of-line at any point, Sakaki feels more and more unsure of this as he notices the changes in Okada’s behaviour towards him. Will this storm that’s brewing on the horizon ever calm down? [M-U] Thoughts: Koisuru Boukun is probably the most successful yaoi where the homophobic dude is converted into full time gay. I do admit that it’s entertaining, but I prefer Arashi no Ato when it comes to the gay conversion. Somehow it’s more relatable, and the straight dude in Arashi no Ato didn’t get immediate boner when he was touched by the gay dude. Most people who read this yaoi would think that they’ve been trolled. They’re right, I feel like that too. While the ending is not something to be sad about, it’s just so ambiguous, some reader can’t help it but ask gazillion questions about it. Instead of making me feel mushy and sweet just like the usual yaoi, Arashi no Ato makes me feel hollow, as if something’s missing there. The relationship between the two characters is lacking in some way, and there’s just not enough attraction between the two. //Keep reading |
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Title: Namida mo Tooku – Aonibi no Nemuri Author: Honjou Rie Genre: Drama, Psychological, Tragedy, Yaoi Status: Complete | Volume: 1 | Year: 2009 Publisher: Libre Shuppan Summary: After the failure attempt of eloping with his customer, Shiki (Purple Ghost), a male prostitute, gave up his hope for love… until Ootori-sensei came along. Will Shiki finally find what he had been looking for…!? So what if there’s a huge gap on their social standings, what’s so wrong about living and loving for the moment? [M-U] Thoughts: This is one of the only two yaoi tragedy Honjou Rie has ever written. If, somehow, you’ve read Love Skit and Konna Otoko wa Aisareru, then it’s not hard to know that tragedy is just not Honjou Rie’s cup of tea. Please, Honjou Rie, stick with smut, drama, or comedy. Or just smut. Smut smut smut smut. It’s hard to say that Namida mo Tooku is better than Ame Nimo Mayuwanai (her other tragedy. It’s just one-shot, so do read it and cry). AmeNimo is much more meaningful when it comes to love, and its modern day setting makes it more relatable to the readers. Except the ***** part. Namida no Tooku is just a smutty drama about a prostitute that unfortunately got stuck in this world after World War III (the setting is in 2086, in case some people miss it and people do). Internet is rare [(╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻], trains are not used, and living is hard. 2086 sure is a depressing era. The story is a typical cliché that’s somehow twisted into a funny tragedy. God, the story sucks, seriously. It’s like a bad drama turned into something worse thanks to the failed attempt of trying to make it better. The characters don’t have enough depth to make me feel anything for them, especially the sexy uke Shiki. Shiki the Hoe is just… Shiki the Hoe, nothing more. The doctor seme is just horny horny horny and horny to the point where even his sanity is horny.//Keep reading |
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Title: Katekyo! Author: Moegi Yuu Genre: Comedy, Romance, School Life, Yaoi Status: Ongoing | Volume: 3 | Year: 2008 Publisher: Core Magazine, June (English) Summary: Rintarou is bothered by the throbbing of his heart caused by his tutor, Kaede for unknown reasons. One day, Rintarou finds out that he’s actually in love with Kaede when he was receiving H punishment! But, without knowing Kaede’s feelings, Rintarou became anxious and–?! Little sadistic home tutor x natural high school student’s after class love. [M-U] Thoughts: This sounds familiar? Yeah, of course. It’s practically almost the same with Junjou Romantica, but the characters are waaayy prettier, and the uke is NOT an annoying tsundere. However, Katekyo! is similar to Junjou Romantica in terms of the plot only. Oh, and the super wealthy seme. Except those two, I don’t see it sharing any other similarities with Junjou. I personally find this better than Junjou and be the most applicable title I’ve recommended so far in real life. Of course, I didn’t think like that when I read the first volume. I thought it was just some random normal yaoi full of hot sex scenes. My thought grew stronger every time I flip a page. The guys are unbelievably beautiful to the point it was pissing me off at times (they’re more beautiful than girls!). The seme is a double-face who happens to be a little sadistic, and the uke is a dunce. Everything that happened in book one was just unbelievable! Especially that school sex. I still can’t get over how they didn’t get caught even though they were noisy. Where is the logic in that!? Then I read book two and three. The art is still sparkling, and the characters are still meh, but the story gets simpler. Suddenly it’s no more about a sadistic teacher and an airhead student. Now it’s all about two lovers passing their times loving each other more and more while having insecurities about each other just like how lovers usually are. In-laws are definitely involved, and both of them try to impress each other’s family. Their platonic love has been upgraded into something much more serious than some random teacher-student relationship. //Keep reading Show ▼ |
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This might be not the best recommendation, but I really do hope that this recommendation can somehow help someone out there who want to read good yaoi. If more recommendation is needed, feel free to ask me. Who knows, there might be another yaoi post in the future. Maybe it’s going to be about shounen-ai? Or bara (LOL)? As long as it’s anything involved with manga about guy on guy. Guy on guy is good, but with proper plot, it’s better right? Actually, no. It’s the opposite. Proper plot is good, but guy on guy makes it better. |
POWUH: Meta Team and Megane-chan with 3214 comments
Y-you remembered! I started some, was distracted by this other adorable yaoi about two guys growing up in a brothel… and then otome games happened. It’s a work in progress~. All of these were on there right? I still have the list saved =3
POWUH: and Yaoi Fangirl~ with 2320 comments
I am disappoint =( But oh well, since you give fabulous otome summaries, all is good.
But you still have to read them! >=D
POWUH: iLurker with 1 comments
Yaoi sucks
POWUH: 500-599 and The Trapolicious Treasurer with 599 comments
I’ll see about checking these out. I’ve read Complex, pretty good story.
Man, I haven’t read yaoi in a looonnnggggg time<_<;
POWUH: and Yaoi Fangirl~ with 2320 comments
You can start again with these titles. Please please pwease??? *puppy eyes*
POWUH: Lovely-pyon~ with 338 comments
And here I thought I had read it all!!! I don’t know any of these 0.o Totally, looking into Katekyo! I really like the art for that one.
Have you read the short story collection Othello? And the 3 volume series Yellow? (yes I put in useless words because those two titles rhymed XDDDD) They are my two favorites. The relationship in Yellow is so raw and loving it kills me ^__^
Yay for Yaoi thanks for this Anaaga its nice to have recommendations from kewl people.
POWUH: and Yaoi Fangirl~ with 2320 comments
Aww thanks, and you’re welcome *///*
Yeah, I’ve read Othello and Yellow. Othello is so-so for me, but I totally love Yellow. The relationship between the seme and the uke is kinda rough, and I like it *n*
POWUH: Novice (36-50) with 38 comments
Read. Read. Read. Check!
Some were good, some not. But the again, I’m a sucker for sexy art so if it’s not drawn well, it doesn’t impress me XD
*sigh..I read too much yaoi. I can’t find anything good I haven’t read T^T
POWUH: and Yaoi Fangirl~ with 2320 comments
Ah, too bad then because Songs of Self-Abuse‘s art is not that pretty, but the story is well done. I really liked that one.
Why don’t you start buying from Amazon Kindle? Digital Manga Guild released some cheap yaoi for the Kindle that haven’t been scanlated yet. I bought some of them, and they’re pretty good. For example, A Truthful Picture, The Song of Rainfall.
POWUH: Novice (36-50) with 38 comments
I read Songs of Self-Abuse some time ago. Re-read it now to remember. It was good, exactly my type. Similar to Fake Fur and I loved that manga. I even bought it. And that means a lot. Considering that even those on Amazon Kindle are expensive reported to my currency. I think I’ll wait till they’re scanlated to read the rest that you recommended. But thank you, I’ll keep them in mind.
POWUH: Novice (36-50) with 38 comments
Great. My comment was lost into the ether.
Well, bottom line, I read Songs of self-abuse. It was good.
If you liked it, you should try Fake Fur.
The products on Amazon Kindle are too expensive reported to my currency, I’ll wait. I’m a patient person 😛
I wrote it better in the first comment, but I’m too lazy to replicate it exactly the way it was XD
POWUH: Meta Team and Ringleader Extraordinaire~ with 6433 comments
Not lost, just eaten by our spam monster. It has been rescued. :3
POWUH: Novice (36-50) with 38 comments
Thank you. I’ve seen it happen before to others :)) The little spam monster is a bit too hungry I say :)) what are you feeding it?
POWUH: Meta Team and Ringleader Extraordinaire~ with 6433 comments
It hungers for new blood every damn day! I’m keeping it in check with daily dose of protein and vitamins but it usually gets out of hand when spam bots go bonkers about our servers. Though, usually our Editors and/or I rescue genuine comments from it. :3
POWUH: Novice (36-50) with 38 comments
:)) that sounds like a tough job. gokurosama deshita!
POWUH: and Yaoi Fangirl~ with 2320 comments
I’ve read Fake Fur, but I didn’t like it. It’s realistic, but somehow I find it being too dramatic. Meh. Don’t know why.
I’ve probably read everything just like you, that’s why I’m buying all these yaoi titles now. They have the titles that are not scanlated yet =D
POWUH: Meta Resident and Metanorn's Hime-chan~ with 1758 comments
Wow, I haven’t read any of these!! Well, I’m a little bit familiar with ZE, because once I heard you ramble about it or something, and then, saw it in Shimizu Yuki’s manga list after readinc ‘Recipe’. Katekyo looks so good *~* I think, I will read it first. :3 I’m all in for wealthy, megane semes <3
Though too bad that in real life, gay relationships are so different. TT^TT They should take yaoi manga as an example
POWUH: and Yaoi Fangirl~ with 2320 comments
Katekyo is cute and light-hearted, so it’s a good start ^^
Yes, too bad real life gay relationship are not as sweet as yaoi. But if relationship is that sweet, it’s not real life I guess? And some people do prefer rougher relationship 😉
POWUH: Meta Resident and Metanorn's Hime-chan~ with 1758 comments
I read it, but didn’t like it that much, really. I only loved the last pairing, where the teacher is uke. He was so cute~ .>
Yeah, that’s true. But I hope for one thing : I don’t want to know a gay when I see one. Idk about the rest of the world but here, guys have it written all over them. How they walk, talk, dress ………. OMG that’s obnoxious -___-
POWUH: and Yaoi Fangirl~ with 2320 comments
Ah, you’re talking about guys that are blatantly open about their sexuality? I don’t mind that, but I never like it when that becomes a topic to show off about. I find that very unintelligent
POWUH: Meta Team and Ringleader Extraordinaire~ with 6433 comments
Yes, I remember, how you almost bribed me to read ZE. xD It was good though; an arc made me quite emotional.
I haven’t read the rest except for Katekyo! so will give them once over. A tip for Arashi no Ato, it has a prequel and a spinoff, both of which are quite good so you gals can check ’em out too.
POWUH: and Yaoi Fangirl~ with 2320 comments
ZE is good! And the sex scenes omomnom =9 I’m planning to buy the RAW since the english version of book 7-11 aren’t out T_______T
I remember Signal. It was good, but I didn’t like the whole “special monthly cocktail” thingy. Sounds like prostitution to me, yo. But then again, I recommended a title about a prostitute… xD
POWUH: 1000-1099 and Critique with 1024 comments
The drama CDs for Ze are hnnnng, not that I’m biased or anything due to a certain someone voicing Kon…no, not at all. Anyway, it made me check out the manga and it was pretty goood!
Katekyo and Arashi no Ato have such nice artwork, I read them a while ago and trolled around for more like them. Problem with me is I read loads but never remember their titles because I read so quick xD
POWUH: and Yaoi Fangirl~ with 2320 comments
ASDFGHJKL FukuJun voiced Kon!? Holy shit now I have to listen to it now
I bet you skimmed the pages so you can get to the sex right away
POWUH: iLurker with 3 comments
[…] FINALLY bring out a manga post after having not written one in a year! In my absence though, Anaaga and Hawthrone have both graced Meta with their own awesome manga recommendations that are still […]
POWUH: iLurker with 6 comments
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