Our Intern Aaron's LGBTQ Teen Manga Review Wrap-Up

Our Amazing Intern Aaron

Read on, Manga Fans!!!

Hey there! I can’t believe my internship with the coolest blog ever has come to an end! Thank you to everyone who took the time to read what I had to say, and thank you to Lee for sharing this incredible space with me. It was a blast!

I firmly believe that stories have the power to change lives. The manga series I read are full of moments that I’ll never forget- Haruna taking Chika to her quiet place by the lake in First Love Sisters; Subaru holding Seichiro on the Rainbow Bridge in X/1999; Letty breaking the mystical bonds that chain Tsumugi to her temple prison in The Caged Miko and the Whimsical Witch; Nakagama and Yokota holding each other in their first apartment in Same Cell Organism, praying their bond will last forever… These memories are a part of me and fill me with romantic fervor as I embark on new journeys in life. They remind me that healthy relationships are rooted in respect, compassion, and mutual-sacrifice; that people need to accept themselves honestly before they can fully embrace others; and that love is beautiful and precious and worth fighting for, no matter what.

Have fun exploring love in manga, literature, and the real world. From what I can tell, that’s what life is all about.

Peace!

Aaron

Here are the 20 manga titles Aaron reviewed:

Tokyo Babylon - A Gay Teen Supernatural Manga

First Love Sisters - A Lesbian Teen Manga Love Story

Ranma 1/2 - An Action-Romance-Fighting Manga that Plays With Gender

Voiceful - Two Teen Girls Overcome Tragedy and Find Love... With Each Other

Silver Diamond - A Fantasy-Action Manga With A Gay Romance

Cardcaptor Sakura - A Lady Hero Manga with Lots of Rainbow Love

The Cain Saga and Godchild - Gothic Mystery Mangas with a Misery-Laden Gay Love Affair

Hero Heel - A Raw Exploration of Desperation, Objectifying Others, and Losing Oneself

Maiden Rose - An Unsettling Study of Power, War and Sexual Assault

Rin! - A Gay Romance on the High School Archery Team

X/1999 - Hope that the World is Still Worth Saving, and that (Queer) Love Will Save It

Off Beat - A Manga in Which a Boy Genius Spies on The Dark-Eyed Boy Next Door

Same Cell Organism - Heartwarming Gay and Trans Manga Love Stories

Meeting You - Manga Stories of Gay Passion

Girl Friends - The Manga Story of a Friendship That Blossoms Into True Love

I Give To You - A Manga Wherein Two Lost Souls Learn To Love Again

The Caged Miko and the Whimsical Witch - A Manga of Magical Lesbian Romance

The Day I Became A Butterfly - Dreamy Queer Manga  Love Stories

Stop Bullying Me! - A Manga Where A Boy Falls for His Brother's (Not-So-Nice) Best Friend

Sailor Moon - A Manga Where Teenage Superheroes (Some of them Queer) Fight To Save Our World!


If you're just meeting our latest intern Aaron Walsh for the first time, you can go here to read his "Hello" post, from back in March.

Thank you for all the wonderful reviews, Aaron!

Sailor Moon - A Manga Where Teenage Superheroes (Some of them Queer) Fight To Save Our World!

Usagi (Sailor Moon)

Haruka (Sailor Uranus)

Michiru (Sailor Neptune)

Sailor Moon by Naoko Takeuchi

Sailor Moon is the classic story of Usagi Tsukino, a teenage superhero with a child-like spirit who leads a team of young women to protect the Earth from forces bent on destruction. Drawing power from the planets and their own hearts, the Sailor Soldiers stand firm as the champions of love and justice. Through epic battles and quiet moments of daily living, this manga explores the rich relationships of the characters, their moral struggles and conflicts, and their dreams for their futures and their world.

It is a personal honor for me to write a review of Sailor Moon. This was the first manga I ever read. At first, I was drawn by promises of magical powers and suspenseful action, but I quickly found myself falling in love with the characters. Of particular note are Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune, whose names are Haruka Tenoh and Michiru Kaioh. Haruka is a bold race car driver and identifies as both a man and a woman. Haruka’s girlfriend, Michiru, is an artist and a master violinist. This super-powered queer couple enters the scene during the manga’s third story arc. They are completely dedicated to their mission and carry each other through the overwhelming burdens of their duties and ethical dilemmas.

When I first read Sailor Moon, I had deeply internalized personal beliefs that made me see love between people of the same gender as broken, unhealthy, and wrong. Watching the tender affection and loyalty between Haruka and Michiru moved me deeply and forced me to question the authenticity of my beliefs. These characters opened my eyes to the beauty, diversity, and reality of love and launched me on a journey that would change my life. To them and to their creator, I will be forever grateful.

It is also interesting to note three new Sailor Soldiers who join the manga during the fifth and final story arc. These Sailor Starlights, Seiya, Taiki, and Yaten, come from another planet to find and protect their missing princess. They are women while transformed into soldiers but present as men while undercover as members of a pop idol boy band. Their easy transitions between genders break down the myth of a static male-female binary and speak to an understanding of gender that is fluid, complex, and personal.

I’d also like to note that I am deeply inspired by the egalitarian relationship between Usagi and her chief love-interest, Mamoru. Many boy-girl love stories are steeped in unhealthy and unjust power dynamics that reinforce disempowering gender roles. Happily for us, Usagi and Mamoru break down these barriers, protect one another from harm, and fight side by side for the common good. They are an inspiration to all those who seek stories of two people coming together as individuals to build a relationship based on mutual respect and shared purpose.

Sailor Moon is currently being re-published in twelve volumes and two collections of short stories. There is some fantasy violence and brief moments of nudity. I would have felt comfortable reading this manga when I was thirteen years old.

The author of this manga, Naoko Takeuchi, is my hero. Learn more about her here:


Review by Aaron Walsh.  Add your review of "Sailor Moon" in comments!

Stop Bullying Me! - A Manga Where A Boy Falls For His Brother's (Not-So-Nice) Best Friend

Stop Bullying Me! by Natsuho Shino

In Stop Bullying Me!, simple and straight-forward Tomo can’t help but love his kind and popular older brother, Ei. Tomo follows Ei wherever he goes but is constantly harassed by Ei’s best friend, Izumi. Despite Izumi’s belittling words and light physical assaults, Tomo eventually realizes he has feelings for Izumi and must discover if love can blossom from their mutual animosity.

At first glance, this manga is a sweet and simple love story. There are many heart-warming romantic moments and deep reflections on how family relationships grow and change when people start new relationships. Perhaps the most compelling element of this manga is the faithful brotherly relationship between Tomo and Ei. Not many stories authentically portray a happy sibling dynamic, but Tomo and Ei’s loyal love for each other is real, precious, and inspiring.

My one concern with this manga is the light-hearted approach it takes with the very serious issue of bullying. (Get ready… I’m about to step on my soap box and rant for a while!) Being harassed as a young person or adult can result in significant damage to a person’s physical, emotional, and mental health. Like Tomo, some real-life victims of bullying develop confused feelings of attraction for their tormentors. In addition, many try to change themselves so as to become invisible or please those who hurt them. These painful realities often result in significant damage to self-esteem and can harm a person’s ability to engage in fulfilling relationships with others. I fear that stories like this manga, if taken too seriously, might reinforce rather than challenge a disempowering response to harassment. I don’t want to be too harsh- this manga was indeed a cute story! But rather than read about someone who falls in love with his abuser and lives happily ever after, I want a story where a victim of bullying finds the strength in himself to survive hardship, cultivate the support of allies, and create a safe space for himself where he can build love with someone who treats him with the respect he deserves.

Stop Bullying Me! is complete in one volume.  The book contains some suggestive language and I would have felt comfortable reading it when I was fourteen.

Review by Aaron Walsh.  Add your review of "Stop Bullying Me!" in comments!

The Day I Became A Butterfly: Dreamy Queer Manga Love Stories

The Day I Became a Butterfly by Sumomo Yumeka

The Day I Became a Butterfly is a powerful collection of queer love stories containing unforgettable gay, trans, and bi characters. The title story builds around themes of mortality and rebirth as the seriously ill transwoman Uka finds peace in the gruff honesty and surprising gentleness of her beloved, Mimi. Other stories reveal characters seeking healing through art, forgiveness, and love for one another.

This book has a unique and undeniable voice. I hesitate to give too many plot descriptions because while the stories are rooted in the real world, they hold a whimsical and romantic spirit that makes the manga read more like poetry than prose. Suffice it to say that the various stories delve into themes of claiming one’s own identity, power, and freedom, overcoming fear, and embracing intimacy without losing one’s inner strength.


This manga is complete in one volume.  Some stories include sexual scenes between characters who genuinely love each other. I would have felt comfortable reading this book when I was sixteen-years-old.



Review by Aaron Walsh.  Add your review of "The Day I Became A Butterfly" in comments!

The Caged Miko and the Whimsical Witch: A Manga of Magical Lesbian Romance

The Caged Miko and the Whimsical Witch by Fujieda Miyabi

At the beginning of The Caged Miko and the Whimsical Witch, world-traveling sorceress Letty Beetolihi discovers the temple where beautiful shrine priestess Tsumugi Tokigami is bound by a mystical barrier. The young woman has accepted her fateful duty to spend her life behind temple walls while awaiting the day her nation might need her power. Refusing to accept this state of affairs, Letty destroys the barrier and challenges Tsumugi to choose her own destiny. The two escape and set off on a journey to explore the globe together.

This is a beautiful story about the liberating power of love. Letty and Tsumugi consistently live out the values of genuine respect, open communication, and selflessly choosing the higher good for the other person. The story builds around compelling drama while also revealing the romance and joy that live in the quiet moments of daily life.

This manga is complete in one volume and relateable to people of all ages. I would feel comfortable reading it to my kids as a bedtime story or to my boyfriend on a cuddly couch date.

The Caged Miko and the Whimsical Witch is out of print and I had to track it down second hand. It is available to read online at this website

Review by Aaron Walsh.  Add your review of "The Caged Mike and the Whimsical Witch" in comments!

I Give to You: A Manga Wherein Two Lost Souls Learn to Love Again

I Give to You by Maki Ebishi

I Give to You begins with Iinuma wandering alone along the rainy streets of Tokyo. Betrayed by his lover and abandoned by his friends and family, he stumbles upon a quiet tea shop run by the mysterious Ren Shirakawa and receives a hot drink, a job, and a place to stay. Over time, Iinuma and Ren build trust and intimacy as they discover the other's painful secrets and impossible dreams. In the end, they must decide if they have the faith and strength to face the future together, side by side.

This manga is moving, romantic, and thought-provoking. Iinuma and Ren are authentic, complicated characters with subtle emotions and layered motivations. Running throughout the story is the search for redemption as the two men face their shame and open themselves to love.

I Give To You is complete in one volume and includes sexual scenes that are key to the development of the story. I would have felt comfortable reading this manga when I was sixteen-years-old.

Review by Aaron Walsh.  Add your review of "I Give To You" in comments!

Girl Friends: The Manga Story of a Friendship that Blossoms into True Love

Girl Friends by Milk Morinaga

In Girl Friends, studious and shy Mariko spends her lunch breaks reading by herself and her afternoons with school work until carefree and whimsical Akko reaches out and befriends her. Suddenly, Mariko’s life thrums with laughing, shopping, talking, and connecting with her new best friend. Over time, the girls learn each others’ secrets and Mariko’s feelings deepen until she wonders, and then hopes, if the connection they share can be more than friendship.

This manga is adorable and emotionally compelling. Mariko’s story is alive with those magical discoveries that bloom at the beginning of a relationship. She almost can’t believe how much her new friend likes and cares about her, and she grows up slowly before the readers’ eyes. Akko and Mariko are consistently supportive of each other, encouraging each other to stand up for themselves and live life to the fullest.

In gentle ways, this manga addresses serious issues. Both Akko and Mariko face pressure to date boys even though they have little interest in doing so. In addition, both young women struggle with body image and decide to go on a diet together. It is sad to watch two healthy teenagers worry about their weight. In addition, Mariko faces realistic fears about growing apart from her friends, and she is at first confused and troubled by her growing romantic attraction to Akko. Her journey through friendship into love is real, moving, and inspiring!

Girl Friends is complete in two expanded volumes.  The story includes underage drinking, sensuality, and some nude shots of ladies taking baths. I would have felt comfortable reading this manga at the age of sixteen.

Review by Aaron Walsh.  Add your review of "Girl Friends" in comments!

Meeting You: Manga Stories of Gay Passion

Meeting You by Mio Tennohiji

Meeting You contains three short stories of intense attraction between men. In the title story, sweet and naïve Touru falls for Himeshiro, a promiscuous jerk with secret insecurities.

Next comes How to Find a Gentle Kiss where old friends Senken and Sakuma rediscover each other after years of separation and explode in passion in an empty office board room.

In Mornings at the Bus Stop, Sunpei cherishes the moments he shares chatting with Kaoru before work while the two of them are waiting for the bus, and he dreams of the day they can grow into more than casual friends.

These stories revolve around carnal attraction and emotional infatuation. Some scenes reinforce unhealthy relationship dynamics by romanticizing submission and over-dependence. For example, when talking about his crush, one character literally says, “I don’t mind being his dog.” Such sentiments make me sad, as does the fact that in the stories, there is no consequence for men who exert extreme pressure on partners for sex. In addition, I always have a problem with stories that espouse the myth that cruel men will change if you love them. People can change if they choose to, but latching onto a bad boy with hopes that someday he’ll treat you right is a recipe for heartbreak and even violence.

Despite these concerns, there are some moving and romantic moments in this manga, For example, there is a poignant scene about the importance of being honest and expressing oneself in a relationship. These moments humanize the characters and add some depth to an otherwise purely erotic collection.

Meeting You is complete in one book.  There is a great deal of explicit sexual content, so I would like to have been at least eighteen-years-old before reading it.

Review by Aaron Walsh.  Add your review of "Meeting You" in comments!

Same Cell Organism: Heartwarming Gay and Trans Manga Love Stories

Same Cell Organism by Sumomo Yumeka

Same Cell Organism is an inspiring collection of queer love stories. In the title story, deep-thinking and angsty Nakagama falls in love with his enthusiastic and open-hearted classmate, Yokota. The two learn in time that despite their differences on the surface, at their cores, they are the same. As they graduate high school and enter the real world together, they pray that they may grow together and that their love can last another day.

In another story, Kana and Yuji discover that they share a secret place in their school’s attic. Over time, they build a connection that transcends the rigid boundaries and expectations they are forced to endure every day. In yet another story, Sakaki wishes to be a princess and fall in love with a beautiful man, but the world labels Sakaki as a boy and calls her dreams impossible. Yuki, a mysterious angel boy, leaves heaven to be by Sakaki’s side as her prince and soul mate.

These gripping stories have many important things to say about love. Characters deal with realistic fears and issues, wondering whether love can last forever or how to deal with changing relationships as one builds a new family with someone else. But the various couples face these challenges together and give each other hope. They learn that it takes faith to make a relationship last, and that true love is worth the risk of loss.

Same Cell Organism is complete in one volume.  There is some sexual content shared between characters deeply in love. In my opinion, these scenes are drawn subtly and tastefully, and they add meaning and depth to the stories. I would have felt comfortable reading this manga when I was sixteen years old.

Review by Aaron Walsh.  Add your review of "Same Cell Organism" in comments!

Off Beat: A Manga in Which a Boy Genius Spies on the Dark-Eyed Boy Next Door

Off Beat by Jen Lee Quick

In Off Beat, nerdy and brilliant Tory Blake lives with his mom in New York and leads a boring every-day-high-school life until the mysterious Colin Stephens moves in across the street. Colin lives with a non-relative guardian and commutes to St. Peter’s Academy, a distant Catholic prep school.

Fascinated by his new neighbor and suspicious that Colin is hiding something, Tory begs his mom to enroll him at St. Peter’s so he can launch an investigation. As the mystery of Colin Stephens unfolds, Tory must eventually ask himself why he is so curious about this other boy, a boy who makes him blush whenever they cross paths.

This manga is a suspenseful page-turner and a compelling teen drama. All the characters are authentic, complex, and hilarious. At the heart of the story is Tory and Colin’s multi-layered and slowly-built relationship. In addition, scenes with fully-realized side characters make this manga really come to life. For example, due to stress and fatigue, Tory and his single mom live under a never-ending sense of tension that erupts in occasional fights. Despite this, they share quiet moments of tenderness, and Tory subtly expresses desire for a better relationship with his mother. In addition, Tory’s college-student neighbor routinely comes begging for food, and the two boys have a tempestuous, bickering friendship. Once in a while, however, the two young men show concern for one another, but of course they remain too prideful to overtly acknowledge that they care how the other feels. (Oh, how I detest the painful and isolating realities of masculine culture!) The nuances of Tory’s various relationships are revealed with sensitivity, depth, and realistic detail, making each scene a relevant and meaningful read.

Off Beat is composed of three volumes. This manga is delightful and I would have felt comfortable reading it at any age.

Review by Aaron Walsh.  Add your review of any or all of the volumes of "Off Beat" in comments!

X/1999: Hope that the World is Still Worth Saving, and That (Queer) Love Will Save It

X/1999 by CLAMP

Heart-racing fantasy action and soul-crushing drama fill the pages of CLAMP’s classic masterpiece, X/1999.

After the violent death of his mother, sixteen-year-old Kamui Shiro returns to Tokyo, the home of his childhood friends, Fuma and Kotori Monou. There he encounters the seven dragons of heaven and the seven dragons of earth, supernatural warriors who all have their own deeply personal reasons for either loving or hating the human race. In time, Kamui learns that the future of the planet lies in his hands. Will he choose to become a Dragon of Earth and destroy the world, or will he choose to become a Dragon of Heaven and save it? As the war for the future rages on the streets of Tokyo, friendships are forged, impossible dreams are cherished, and love struggles against all odds for survival and triumph.

LGBTQ content is limited at the beginning of the series, but it bursts forth with gusto around volume ten. Trust me, the wait is worth it. It is difficult to explain who loves who and in what way without spoiling shocking plot twists. Suffice it to say that angsty and passionate romantic tension builds between two characters of the same gender.   In addition, readers of Tokyo Babylon will be thrilled to discover that Subaru and Seichiro burst onto the scene half way through the series. How could one not be enthralled by the tragedy of the gentle exorcist and the heartless assassin?

Anyone struggling in the depths of despair must read this manga. Running through the story is the theme of hope, that despite the grinding forces of destiny which seem impossible to control, the future has yet to be decided. Kamui and Subaru and all the other unforgettable characters face daunting adversity and crushing discouragement, but they continue to find dignity in the choices they make and never stop fighting for a better tomorrow.

X/1999 is currently being republished in six multi-volume editions under its original Japanese title, X. 

This manga contains graphic violence and occasional nudity, so I would have felt ready to read this manga when I was sixteen-years-old.

This is the third title I’ve reviewed by CLAMP. Can you tell how much I love them?

Review by Aaron Walsh.  Add your review of "X/1999" in comments!

Rin!: A Gay Romance on the High School Archery Team

Rin! by Satoru Kannagi

Since he was little, sweet and anxious Katsura has soothed his fears and insecurities by asking for a tight hug from Sou, his older brother’s best friend. Now shooting together for their high school’s archery team, Katsura is ridiculed by homophobic peers for clinging to another man, and Sou’s gruff complaints about the touching indicate he’s growing tired of it. Dramatic moments of growth occur as Katsura and Sou explore their true feelings for each other and find the strength in themselves to love in a healthy way.

This manga holds fascinating insight into relationship dynamics. Both Katsura and Sou explore their issues with co-dependency and seek to discover whether love is about needing someone or simply wanting them by your side. The story realistically portrays the subtle but persistent reality of heterosexism in a modern high school. Often, the characters react in realistic ways by expressing embarrassment about same-sex affections. This may not be the most empowering manga, but it is highly relatable.

My largest concern with the first volume involves a scene in the bonus episode at the very end. In these pages, two characters share a sexual experience where consent is never given. It is not very graphic, but it is disturbing. In addition, it seems the author threw this scene in for erotic effect, which makes me concerned about the direction she will choose for the rest of the story.

Because of the sexual content discussed above, I would have been ready to read this at sixteen.

Review by Aaron Walsh.  Add your review of "Rin!" in comments!

Maiden Rose - An Unsettling Study of Power, War, and Sexual Assault

Maiden Rose by Fusanosuke Inariya

Maiden Rose is a military-action-romance about commander Taki Reizen and his loyal knight, Claus von Wolfstadt. Set in an alternate Japan in the year 1928, Taki and his soldiers defend their nation from foreign invaders in a seemingly endless war. For mysterious reasons, Taki refuses to pursue his affections for Claus, but remembering bygone days when Taki expressed his love, Claus continually forces himself upon Taki in hopes of arousing repressed feelings. Between moments of brutal intimacy, these two men fight side-by-side to hold their forces together and protect their people.

This manga delves deeply into the sacrifices that come with leadership, the pain of war, and the damaging effects of unequal power dynamics in relationships. The pages hold a sinister atmosphere augmented by the setting, style of dress, and weaponry, all of which point to the forerunners of the Imperial Japanese and Nazi armies of World War II. Theoretically, Taki and Claus are good guys in the story, but their resemblance to real life war criminals is disturbing.

In addition, the manga features several rape scenes which technically pertain to the story but are largely erotic episodes for readers that fantasize about such things. Whether literarily necessary or not, these graphic scenes are very unsettling and often denigrate the idea that sex shared between men can be tender, loving, and meaningful. Interspersed between these traumatic experiences are moments of tenderness between Taki and Claus. This addition to the motif that rapists are actually lovers tragically reinforces a culture that accepts rape. Let it be stated here clearly: sexual contact between people should always be mutually consensual; when it is not consensual, that is rape; rape is never okay. Not ever.

Maiden Rose is composed of four volumes. With all the graphic and violent sexual content, I would not have read this manga before being eighteen-years-old. In fact, were it not necessary to write this review, I probably would not have finished the first volume.


Review by Aaron Walsh. Add your review of "Maiden Rose" in comments.

Hero Heel - A Raw Exploration of Desperation, Objectifying Others, and Losing Oneself

Hero Heel by Makoto Tateno

At the beginning of Hero Heel, Minami Masaki is a young actor who lands his first lead role as a superhero on a children’s television show. At first, he feels far too cool for the part, but he soon finds himself trying his best to impress Sawada Kauomi, the experienced actor who plays the villain. Minami soon discovers that Sawada is secretly gay and spends his nights with various lovers. Over time, Minami becomes more aware of his own sexual orientation and grows more and more obsessed with Sawada. The story follows the two men as they alternate between hurting and clinging to each other in a twisted game of attraction and rejection.

This manga is very painful to read. Both Minami and Sawada hurt each other and themselves as they struggle with haunting desires and internal brokenness. Minami lacks the self-esteem to pursue a relationship where he is treated with tenderness and affection. Rather, he acts out of desperation, begging and threatening Sawada into providing scraps of attention that lack any real intimacy.

There is little of anything having to do with love in this manga. Rather, it is a sad portrait of the suffering that results when we lose respect for ourselves and others, when sex becomes something we do to feel good rather than show love, and when people are seen as objects for our satisfaction rather than human beings of infinite value. Minami and Sawada’s relationship is marked by insults, judgment, intimidation, and violence. The idea that these characters are playing out their dysfunctional relationship while acting in a children’s t.v. show highlights Minami’s continual loss of innocence. This story is tragic and awful and, saddest of all, incredibly real. It lays out almost everything one should avoid in a romantic relationship and proves that it’s worth waiting for the right person to come along, because no love is better than bad love.

Hero Heel is composed of three volumes. The series contains lots of explicit and graphic sexual content. In her liner notes, Makoto very clearly states that she wrote this manga for adults. I would not have felt comfortable reading it before being eighteen-years-old.

Review by Aaron Walsh. Add your review of "Hero Heel" in comments!

"The Cain Saga" and "Godchild" - Gothic Mystery Mangas with a Misery-Laden Gay Love Affair

The Cain Saga is a prequel to the gothic mystery classic, Godchild. Since the two series go together, I’ll go ahead and cover them both. Surprise! This time, you get two reviews in one!

The Cain Saga and Godchild by Kaori Yuki

Godchild follows the young and emotionally-damaged Earl Cain Hargreaves as he unearths family secrets and solves gruesome crimes in the grim society of early-twentieth-century London. Always standing by his side with caring actions and consoling words is Riff, Cain’s loyal servant and soul mate. The road is winding and harsh for the two men, and their paths are haunted by heartbreak, betrayal, and tragedy. The Cain Saga contains short stories of Cain and Riff solving crimes before the events of Godchild. Their relationship is not as fleshed-out in this prequel series, but they still share moments of gentle connection and understanding as they try to bring justice to a fallen world.

Both series are incredibly depressing. I’m not kidding. The characters endure unthinkable abuse, rejection, deceit, and cruelty, and the stories delve deeper into human misery than many would like to ever go. But while they are certainly not happy, these manga are compelling and might be meaningful to the right reader. Underneath the intense emotional landscape runs an ongoing criticism of classist and sexist oppression in British society. These themes inspire us to fight these evils in our world today. In addition, the complex and thought-provoking characters could potentially expand one’s understanding of human nature. Cain acts like he doesn’t care about anyone, yet he is constantly doing his best to help others. So is he a sociopath or a hero? And with all that Cain and Riff have endured, can they ever find happiness together? Is their love strong enough to withstand the forces that would tear them apart?

My major objection to these works is that they tend to romanticize suicide. Many characters seek death to escape pain or humiliation, and they are sometimes aided by the story’s protagonist. Suicide is a tragic symptom of mental illness that results in heartbreak for those left behind. It is never the right answer to any problem. Each life is precious, and there is hope for those who suffer. Drinking Shakespearean poison may seem poignant and poetic but it isn’t. True beauty lies in facing one’s burdens with courage and seeking the help one needs to make it through another day.

The Cain Saga is eight volumes and Godchild is composed of five volumes.

This series takes the reader to places of terror and anguish. The manga contains grisly violence, sexual references, and all sorts of disturbing imagery. This content is relevant to the story and by no means a recipe for voyeuristic thrills, but I would not have felt comfortable reading this manga before being eighteen-years-old. In fact, it still kind of freaks me out at the age of twenty-six!

While the actual story panels are endlessly serious, the author, Kaori Yuki, fills her liner notes with fun references to American pop culture. Her sweet, humorous messages are a welcome relief from Cain’s agony. Learn more about her at her wikipedia page or here.


Review by Aaron Walsh.  Add your review of any of the issues or the series for "The Cain Saga" and "Godchild" in comments!

Remember, if you or anyone you know is in crisis and needs someone to talk to, The Trevor Project can help.  They have a toll-free lifeline, 866-488-7386 that's open 24 hours, every single day of the year.

Cardcaptor Sakura - A Lady Hero Manga with Lots of Rainbow Love

Cardcaptor Sakura by CLAMP

One of manga’s most enduring classics, Cardcaptor Sakura follows fourth-grader Sakura Kinomoto as she seeks to pacify the monsters accidentally unleashed when she opens the spell book of the legendary magician, Clow Reed. Along her journey to protect the people of Tokyo, she is aided by friends, family, and rivals, all of whom stir up the drama with their crushes and secret agendas. Fantasy action and emotional revelations grip Sakura as she unravels the mysteries that surround her.

This manga is unforgettable. The reader can’t help but fall in love with Sakura, the optimistic hero, Tomoyo, her loyal best friend, and Toya, her tough-but-always-there-for-her big brother. Yet the world of Cardcaptor Sakura is not all cherry blossoms and sunshine. Running throughout the story is an undercurrent of grief as the characters cope with the past death of Sakura’s mother. The story reveals how one person’s life touches many others as the Kinomoto family and their friends find healing each day through love for one another.

This manga consistently challenges gender stereotypes by depicting a young woman who discovers her own power and stands as a hero to save the world. While Sakura herself may never develop feelings for another girl, same-gender crushes and romances spring up at every plot twist. Over time, everyone falls in love with somebody else. We’re all used to love triangles, but by the third volume, this story is a veritable love hexagon! Not only is the complex dance of attractions riveting to the reader, but it also affirms the truth that tender affection can grow between any two people. Love isn’t about finding a set of body parts that compliments yours. It’s about finding that one human being you connect with, body, heart, and soul, and protecting that person from pain and defeat, and sharing a mission worthy of everything the two of you have to give. Ultimately, Cardcaptor Sakura calls us to find the strength in ourselves to stand up for justice and embrace love with courage.

This manga has recently been released in four thick omnibus books.  It's the second title I’ve reviewed by the team of four fabulous women authors who call themselves CLAMP.

This series is known for being compelling to readers of all ages. I was lucky to discover it for the first time in college, which was a very dark time in my life. Sakura’s innocence reinvigorated my child-like spirit, and Toya’s absolute-hotness convinced me that yes, I was in fact gay, and how could I not be when men like Toya Kinomoto existed?! I wish I had met these characters when I was just starting to read. They could have helped me replace angsty self-rejection with a hopeful love for life!


Review by Aaron Walsh.  Add your review of "Cardcaptor Sakura" - individual issues or the series - in comments!

Silver Diamond - A Fantasy-Action Manga With A Gay Romance

Silver Diamond by Shiho Sugiura

Silver Diamond is the modern-day fairytale of Rakan Sawa, a boy who mysteriously arrives in our world as a baby with his mother. Now a teenager and an orphan, Rakan hopes to lead a simple, gentle life with compassion and kindness. Adorable and happy but a little lonely, he lives alone, cooks, cleans house, and cares for the plants his mother loved. His world changes when rugged and mysterious Chigusa Senroh arrives from whatever place Rakan truly comes from. Chigusa is a freedom fighter and instantly recognizes in Rakan a potential ally in his struggle for justice. At first, Rakan is resistant to admit the magical, distinctly-non-normal implications of Chigusa’s existence, but over time, Chigusa’s kind soul, offers of protection, and unspoken need for companionship call Rakan to a shared sense of mission and, possibly, love. Secrets unravel around the origins of these two men as they face their destinies side by side and strive to save two worlds from destruction.

This manga is at once a powerful love story and a thrilling fantasy adventure. Its elements of magic and inter-realm politics are revealed through deep and suspenseful storytelling. Rakan’s struggles might be especially compelling to anyone who has had their “normal” life shaken by feelings for someone the world told them they weren’t supposed to love. His journey to understand and accept his true identity and calling is an inspiration to us all.

Admittedly, the portrayal of the romance between Rakan and Chigusa is sometimes inconsistent. Between moments of intimate connection are humorous scenes where Chigusa overtly pursues Rakan and is called a “pervert” for doing so. This inconsistency may indicate to some a negative attitude toward homosexuality, but I think it’s just an archetype in romance manga for the pursuer to be pushed away due to the embarrassment of the pursued. It is clear to me that the attraction between these boys is mutual. They are dedicated to each other and consistently treat each other with tenderness. My on-going hope as a reader is that the two will embrace their destinies and become a couple.

The series is composed of twenty-six volumes.

There are some swear words and violent scenes, innuendo, and Chigusa takes his shirt off every once in a while (swoon!), but there’s nothing too scandalous. I would have felt very happy reading this manga when I was thirteen-years-old.


Review by Aaron Walsh.  Add your review of any or all of the "Silver Diamond" manga series here in comments!

Voiceful - Two Teen Girls Overcome Tragedy and Find Love... With Each Other

Voiceful by Nawako

Voiceful tells the story of Kanae, a painfully shy high school girl who finally finds the strength to leave her house by listening to the heartbreaking music of the mysterious Hina. No one has ever heard Hina sing in person, but one day, Kanae meets her by chance on the street. They begin a friendship that inspires both of them to face the pain of the past. Over time, their relationship deepens and challenges the two young women to overcome the fears and insecurities that keep them from fully living.

This manga points to the hope that always shines through suffering. Kanae and Hina endure tragedy by carrying each other’s secrets and finding new happiness together. Every moment of the story is heavy with emotion as the characters grow, heal, and encounter one another in love.

The story is complete in one volume which also includes several short stories. It is amazing how much intensity is written into so few pages.

There is no explicit sexual content at all, but there are implications of child abuse and other heavy thematic elements. I would have felt ready to read this manga when I was fourteen-years-old.

Voiceful was written by Nawako. It’s difficult to find information about this author online, so I challenge all of you internet-geniuses to put your detective skills to use and find out more about her!

Review by Aaron Walsh.  Add your review of "Voiceful" in comments!

Ranma ½ - An Action-Romance-Fighting Manga that Plays with Gender

Ranma ½ was written by the famous manga artist Rumiko Takahashi.

Ranma is a teenage martial artist betrothed against his will to the feisty and powerful Akane, whose family runs a dojo in Tokyo. When training in China, Ranma fell into a well which “cursed” him with the power to become female when covered with cold water and male when covered with hot water. This manga explores many interesting aspects of gender. It often challenges the world’s strict man-woman binary but sometimes subtly reinforces conformity to certain stereotypes. Clearly, the entire concept boldly plays with the idea of gender and argues that being male or female is not a static condition. In addition, despite the fact that Akane is pressured to act traditionally feminine, to fight less and date more boys, she stubbornly refuses. She is a strong woman dedicated to living life as she chooses.

That said, there are bland homophobic comments made once in a while. For example, people assume that Ranma cannot be engaged to Akane when Ranma is a woman. However, a subtle romance builds between Ranma and Akane, and key moments in the growth of their relationship take place during times when Ranma is both a boy and a girl. In addition, Ranma often expresses how he prefers being male to being female, which might reinforce a culture that values masculinity over femininity. However, a more queer-positive perspective is that this aspect of Ranma’s character reveals the frustration that comes with living in a body that does not conform to one’s gender identity. Ultimately, whether male or female, Ranma is always Ranma - strong, bull-headed, confident, and protective of loved ones. All of the characters are deep, loveable and fully-realized people that transcend static gender roles, ultimately making this manga an empowering achievement.

The series is composed of thirty-eight volumes. There is no explicit sexual content, but there are plenty of nude shots exposing Ranma’s body in both male and female form. In addition, there is light sexual humor, such as lecherous men sneaking peeks at women’s underwear. (My feminist impulses are screaming in rage!). All things considered, I would have wanted to be fourteen or older when I first read this manga.

Here are a few more Ranma ½ covers:

 

Review by Aaron.  Add your review of any (or all) of the volumes in "Ranma ½" in comments!

First Love Sisters - A Lesbian Teen Manga Love Story

First Love Sisters' art was drawn by Mizuo Shinonome, the concept created by Mako Komao, and the design done by Reine Hibiki.

First Love Sisters is a gentle love story set at the prestigious Tsunokamizaka Girl’s Academy. From the moment they meet, sweet and enthusiastic Chika Matsuzato falls for beautiful and mysterious upperclasswoman Haruna Kizaki. Secrets and insecurities quickly arise to keep them apart, but Chika remains hopeful as she dreams of growing closer to her first love.

This manga is uplifting and adorable. It explores various relationships between women - sisterhood, friendship, rivalry, and romance - by revealing the depth of quiet moments in daily life. Chika is endearing and relatable. She courageously faces her fears about seeming childish and unlovable as she pursues Haruna. A notable element of this manga is that, at least in the first volume, the story isn’t about issues surrounding the discernment or revelation of one’s sexual identity. It is a pure story about two people fighting through their brokenness to find each other. It’s about love, plain and simple.

The series is composed of three volumes. The remaining two volumes have not been officially released in English. (Who wants to start a letter-writing campaign?) Fear not, for the first volume closes in a satisfying way.

I do not understand why the publisher suggests this manga for readers sixteen and up. So far, the characters do nothing more physical than holding hands and kissing. Honestly, when I have children, I plan on reading this manga to them as a bedtime story.

Review by Aaron Walsh. Add your review of "First Love Sisters" in comments!