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Posts Tagged Boys’ Love/Yaoi

PR: Limited Edition Makoto Tateno Yellow Cell From DMP

Gardena, CA (October 8, 2009) – Digital Manga Publishing, one of the industry’s most innovative and unique manga companies, is pleased to present this amazing limited edition cell of Makoto Tateno’s Yellow characters, Taki and Goh! Limited to a run of only 250 units, each cell is individually hand-painted in Japan, then signed individually by Makoto Tateno. Each will also be marked with its number out of the 250 run, and will be framed and matted. This is a unique opportunity to own a beautiful piece of framed, signed art, that will be run only once and in an extremely limited amount by a renowned mangaka! Beginning in December 2009, you will be able to purchase this lovely art only from Akadot Retail (www.akadot.com), and Yaoi Club (www.yaoiclub.com)! Each piece will run $195.

Since Makoto Tateno will be Digital Manga Publishing’s guest at Yaoi Con 2009, we will have available a limited amount of 30 cells just for Yaoi Con! And we’ll be offering the 30 available at a special price, $175! They’ll be the first 30 from the run, so if you’re a big Makoto Tateno fan, it’ll be your opportunity to own this cell in hand at Yaoi Con! It’ll be a great time to own some great new Yellow merchandise, the new Yellow Omnibus Vol. 1, collecting volumes 1 and 2 of the original series, and Yellow 2: Episode 1, the return of Taki and Goh after five years away, never before published in the US!

Read more…


Review: Mr. Flower Groom

Reviewer: Lissa Pattillo

Manga-ka: Lily Hoshino
Publisher: Yen Press
Rating: Mature (18+)
Release Date: October 2009

Synopsis: “The honeymoon’s not quite over yet… The Souda family tradition of marrying off its younger sons to male clan members leaves no generation untouched! Childhood friends Ritsu and Kouichirou may have taken their first, tentative steps into married life in Mr. Flower Bride, but now they have to wrangle with past loves, new misunderstandings… and each other (!!) to get to matrimonial bliss!”

A sequel to Mr. Flower Bride, Mr. Flower Groom follows the series’ newly wed couple – Ritsu and Kouchirou. They may still have their insecurities to deal with but it’s evident there’s more than just tradition binding the two together. But even with positive premise memories from the last book, are the characters themselves compelling enough to leave us fervent for this follow-up?

Read more…


Old Favourites Return For New Digital Manga Titles on Amazon

New From Digital Manga in April 2010

Amazon.ca brings us a handful of new boys’ love titles this Tuesday from yaoi-behemoth, Digital Manga. All these titles are from artists that readers will likely recognize from previous releases.

Drunken Love – Haruka Minami
(801Media, artist of My Paranoid Next Door Neighbour)

Mamiya Doll House – Kazuhiko Mishima
(June, artist of You Make My Head Spin)

Intense Rain – Shinri Fuwa
(June, artist of A Gentleman’s Kiss)

Alice the 101st – Chigusa Kawai
(June, artist of La Esperanca)

How To Control A Sidebar – Makoto Tateno
(June, spin-off of How To Capture A Martini, artist of Yellow and Steal Moon)

As with all Amazon listings, no series or releases are official until confirmed by the publishers themselves. While Digital Manga cannot confirm the licensing of these series, they did let me know that their big Yaoi Con license announcement is still under wraps and awaiting the eager ears of convention attendees. In the meantime there’s been lots of speculation on forums and blogs on what the title(s) will be, including potential license rescues from the yet-to-be-officially-bankrupt DramaQueen to the recently confirmed shutdown BeBeautiful.

For now fingers crossed we have these titles to look forward to, a great array of returning artists for some new works. I know I for one am really excited for another Chigusa Kawai title after a great finale to her previously June-released series, La Esperanca.

And remember boys’ love fans still have plenty to look forward to during Yaoi Con at the end of the month! Any titles you’ve got your hopes on?


Review: breath (Vol. 02)

Reviewer: Lissa Pattillo

No listing currently available

Manga-ka: Chifumi Ochi
Publisher: Yaoi Generation
Rating: Mature (18+)
Release Date: May 2009

Synopsis: “Yanagi and Arata’s encounter started off as a simple pick-up at a bar, but Arata – who balks at homosexual sex – upsets Yangai to the point of being blackmailed into a sex-slave relationship. It is Arata’s charming and innocent personality, however, that breaks through Yanagai’s resolve and deeper feelings begin to form between them. Just then, Yanagi’s sex friend and Arata’s younger twin brother, Takashi, notices Arata’s strange behaviour…”

One old boyfriend, an inquisitive brother and a relationship that begins to teeter between romantic and purely physical are boys’ love staples awaiting readers in this second volume of breath. Yannagi, still laid back and ready to go, may seem more apt to push forward but a sharp blast from his past puts a damper on his enthusiasm and begins a renewal of old concerns, levelling out the proverbial playing field of emotion between him and Arata.

Read more…


NYAF 2009: Tokyopop

Tokyopop at NYAF 2009

New York Anime Fest is happening this weekend and the mangaverse is ripe with all the newest info as it comes thanks to numerous dedicated bloggers and Twitter-folk. Anime News Network has its dedicated staff on hand to cover the big anime/manga news, and though sadly their servers aren’t holding up as well as their staff, they’re still the best up-to-date resource (past speedy Twitter-ers!) for all your NYAF goodies.

Tokyopop had its panel earlier today and had a bunch of announcement. Sadly their simulataneous broadcast was foiled by technical difficulties, but of course the show went on!

New licenses:

Songs and Laughter by Natsuki Takaya
.hack//Link by Megane Kikuya/CyberConnect2
Ratman by Inui Sekihiko
Qwasar Stigmata by Yoshino Hiroyuki/Satou Kenetsu

BLU Manga (TP’s yaoi imprint)

Croquis by Hinako Takanaga
Blood Honey by Yozakura Sakyou
Love Knot by Ichijou Lemon
Cute Demon by Madarame Hiro
Love Story in the Isolated Island by Duo Brand

Tokyopop staff were also greeted with positive response to repeated news that they’ll be returning to a higher quality paper print for their books and just in time for the return of some fan favourites, such as the fourth volume of Suppli and the eighth volume of V.B. Rose.

Along with an update on the upcoming movie-adaptation of the Tokypop released, Priest, they also shared word that they’ll be releasing graphic novels based on two Hollywood films, the recently debuted Shutter Island and the upcoming Joss Whedon written Cabin in the Woods.

Earlier this afternoon, Tokyopop also sent out a press release outlining their previously announced titles debuting in 2010. Lots of fun stuff on the horizon!


eManga.com Adds New Titles From Global Creators

Games With Me and Yaoi Hentai on eManga

Digital Manga has been busy since their eManga website had it’s fairly-recent revamp, adding numerous titles from DMP’s large library of titles. Lately however they’ve begun branching out, adding several titles from creators around the world.

Most recently they’ve added the first volume of Games With Me, a historical boys’ love story written by Tina Anderson and drawn by Linsley Brito. I’ve had the opportunity to read Games With Me and really enjoyed it. The characters are interesting, not falling into your stereotypical character molds, and the art is beautiful and really polished. I definitely recommend taking the time to read it and am thrilled that Digital Manga is working with the creators to offer it to English-readers for the first time (the story has yet to be published in English).

“Ex-Civil War surgeon George Callahan is a man haunted by his past. Unwilling to deal with the demons of his childhood, he turns to opium and finds back-alley employment with the heartless brothel keepers of San Francisco’s Chinatown. In Volume 1 of this gorgeously illustrated gay historical drama, Dr. George Callahan searches for a Chinese woman from his past, and soon finds himself unwittingly drawn to dim-witted male prostitute Jun, whose own life is complicated by the unwanted attentions of an aggressive bouncer named Roan Baxter.”

You can check out the complete press release sent out by Digital Manga for more information about the release and the creators.

Digital Manga has also added two Yaoi Press titles to their online manga rental website: Yaoi Press’s Yaoi Hentai, volume one and volume two. If you’re a yaoi fan and love a good comedy, there’s plenty for you in these books. They’re collections of short stories that range from funny to flashy and never without a heaping dose of 18+ material to earn the books their name.

And when you’re through there, of course don’t forget to check out the other eManga titles up for reading as well, including several books that haven’t been released yet (and most of which you can read a sample of for free!). Guaranteed to win you over to some fun purchases and leave you curious to see what titles will appear in their selection next.


Media Blasters Sneaks In A Few More Yaois, DtB Omnibus

AAAAnime and RightStuf have made some recent updates to their inventory lists and a few new titles have wiggled their way in. Plus, we don’t want to think I’m just an Amazon-splunker, right?

Media Blasters has two new-ish yaoi listings up, continuing their history of under-the-radar licensing. Both are set for release this winter:

Erotikku ni Oborero! by Higashino Yuu, titled under the name Drawn To Him. (11/24/2009)

“Tomoki was specifically requested by Tougo Tsubaki, popular romance novelist to do the illustrations for his novels. Tougo calls it “inspiration” and seduces Tomoki. A love that started from sex…! His heart is racing and his body is so hot! Drawn to him is a manga artist’s professional and private life, with lots of sex!”

Douse, Koi Dakara by Naoka Kasuga, titled under the name Because of Love. (12/16/2009)

“Could you stop acting like my older brother already? I told you not to tease me, didn’t I? I’m not going to stop even if you beg me now.” Hana always seems to catch Nodoka at the most unflattering moments. I don’t like Hana treating me like his little brother. I’m not in high school (middle school) anymore. Tempted by Hana’s flirtatious demeanor, Nodoka takes Hana by force and…?! A story about a guy pursuing his older crush. (Heart) This book contains many short stories.”

There’s also a recent listing for Ellie Mamahara: Baseball Heaven, a boys’ love title licensed by Tokyopop’s yaoi imprint, BLU, which has been on hold for some time now. BLU’s website, rarely updated, doesn’t currently have the book dated for release but AAAAnime lists it for September 1st, 2010.

And on the not-yaoi side of things, there’s a listing up for a Darker Than Black omnibus from Yen Press. On their website Yen Press currently has two volumes listed for the series, each one priced at $12.99 at 192 pages while the listing on AAAAnime is priced at $18.99.


Review: Junior Escort

Reviewer: Shannon Fay


Manga-ka: Sakurako Hanafubuki
Publisher: June
Rating: Mature (18+)
Release Date: November 2008

Synopsis: “Ayukawa is a hot up-and-comer in the flashy world of celebrities…but he pales in comparison to the superstar Mizuhara! It’s impossible to pass a newsstand or television set without seeing Mizuhara’s perfectly chiseled features or delicious body. So, when Ayukawa agrees to a special “transaction” involving his incredible idol, he figures it’s just part of his rise to the top…but is there something (or someone) lurking behind the velvet curtain?”

Male modelling is the backdrop for the main story in this collection of boys’ love tales, but unfortunately the manga-ka doesn’t take full advantage of the story’s setting. Making your main characters models raises the bar in terms of character design: if you’re going to make them models, they better be pretty darn hot. Ayukawa and Mizuhara may be good looking, but nothing makes they extra special. There are better looking couples in the book, many of whom also have a more interesting plot line.

Read more…


Review: Tale of the Waning Moon (Vol. 01)

Reviewer: Lissa Pattillo


Manga-ka: Hyouta Fujiyama
Publisher: Yen Press
Rating: Mature (18+)
Release Date: September 2009

Synopsis: “After a night of serious boozing, a jilted young man named Ryuka speaks his wish for true love atop a starlit hill. His words reach the ears of Ixto, the spirit of the last quarter moon, who decides to grant Ryuka’s wish. Unfortunately for Ryuka, Ixto’s handpicked selections to be the young man’s lover are all men themselves! Critically-acclaimed boys’ love mangaka Hyouta Fujiyama lends her copious talents to this wacky, role-playing fantasy-romance that will tickle your funny bone and tug at your heart!”

Heartbroken and rejected, Ryuka spends a lonely evening drowning in alcohol to leave his pain behind him. Walking atop the ‘Wishing Hill’ to sober up, he instead finds his deepest wish heard by an on-duty spirit, Ixto. Ixto comes down to Earth and offers to Ryuka a selection of hand-chosen young men to soothe his aching heart, but Ryuka’s not gay! Or at least not yet, as Ixto takes it upon himself to console the man, even if he doesn’t want it, and puts in a place a powerful magical spell that sets Ryuka on a road of choose-your-own-adventure antics of bandits, cat boys and lusty-maybe-lovers.

Read more…


Digital Manga Picks Up License to Maiden Rose

Maiden Rose

A Digital Manga Twitter-point to their updated 2010 releases revealed a new boys’ love license – Fusanosuke Inariya’s Maiden Rose! (Yay!!) The series was previously licensed by DramaQueen, along with the other recently exposed license Omen by Makoto Tateno, and both are listed for release in early 2010. Maiden Rose will be released under Digital Manga’s June imprint and is the story of two soldiers who share a master/servant relationship amidst the violence of war.

Maiden Rose has been one of the most anticipated license-saves among boys’ love communities and has garnered further fandom as of late due to the recently released Maiden Rose OVA in Japan.

Digital Manga also continues to entice their fans to speculate on a big license announcement they’ll be making at the upcoming Yaoi Con. Amane Yamano’s Finder series, lost along with the death of BeBeautiful, is one of the most guessed title with Hinako Takanaga’s Tyrant Who Falls In Love coming in close second. Digital Manga has already released several books by both artists across their multiple imprints. Both titles are highly anticipated and will undoubtedly be met with much excitement if either are the big news (from myself included for sure!). Anyone else want to offer some guesses?

Edit: Digital Manga has just tonight sent out a press release with more information regarding their Little Butterfly and Yellow omnibus books, including news that they will both be available months early to attendees of Yaoi Con.


Take me back to the top!