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Shounen-ai for males Anonymous
Hi /cm/,

I figured this was a good place to come with these kind of questions. I've really tried for a long time to get myself engaged in reading shounen-ai, but I've never enjoyed a single one. Maybe I'm just not gay enough, I don't know, but this whole macho style the genre got going (playful characters, wide shoulders (what are these guys on anyway?), super tall, long limbs etc etc) just don't cut it for me. Not to mention they're generally (seemingly, as I've never read more than a few chapters of any serie) as dumb as a bag of hammers, or worse yet, as bad as any generic shounen romance serie.

I realise they are made for females, but on the off chance I'm in luck, are there any series written for, and maybe even by, males?

Thank you for reading, I'll stop the rant now. Here's some Yuki Kei from Moyashimon. I just watched the last episodes for the first time, and I wanted to scream at the best parts, but alas, living in a dormitory....
>> Anonymous
Not by definition, no. BL is a genre that is written almost exclusively by women, for women. There is, however, a type of manga that is written by gay males, for gay males, and generally portrays more realistic homosexual relationships, but that's a completely different genre alltogether.
>> Pic unrelated Anonymous
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Hm, this anon doesn't quite get what OP is asking for. (I've never been impressed by machismo, of all things, in BL, that's for sure.) If the OP enumerated his preferences, /cm/ would probably be more helpful.
>> Anonymous
>>BL is a genre that is written almost exclusively by women, for women

Thats why almost all BL manga sucks. Its not "stay in the kitchen" thing but seriously 90% of the so called yaoi and bl stuff is mass-produced generic trash (and this is true to EVERY manga regardless of the genre).
>> Anonymous
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I think he's referring to CLAMP grade BL.

You're probably better off reading shonen series and pairing up the characters in fandom, to be honest.
>> Anonymous
>>827419
Huh? I agree that it's mostly mass-produced generic trash because most manga is, but that has nothing to do with the fact that women write it.
>> Anonymous
>>827414
If you are referring to type of character, I really adore shy types. And that's about it.
>>827429
Yes, I think we're all familiar with doing that. It's a real shame. :(
>> Anonymous
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You might try Tsuki to Mizu no Yoru, 2 volumes, scanlated by Storm in Heaven. The gay is not shouted fro rooftops, but it's there. And it's a good story.
>> Anonymous
There's another short story I think you'd like, which I can't think of the title at the moment. It's about two boys in the hospital. One of them looks like Rock Lee. Does any recall?
>> Anonymous
>>827444
Thank you, this seems to be pretty good. I will definitely read it.
>> Anonymous
You'd be better off not reading any of that BL crap. Most of it is nothing but shitty shoujo romances with the woman simply replaced with a man.
>> Anonymous
>>827435
QFT. Most of every medium sucks, regardless of the author or target audience. I'd be interested in reading a manga that featured a gay romance that was written by a gay man, but as a side story, since I don't like romance that much.
>> Anonymous
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Hey dude read air gear!
Its got tits and homos! everybody loves air gear!
8D
Lovable characters, a cute art style and I dunno read for your self! The first chapters kinda suck tho...
>> Anonymous
>>827429
Sturgeon's law. 90% of ANYTHING is crap.
>> Anonymous
>>827447
OH! I know what you're talking about, give me a bit and I'll dig it up.
>> Anonymous
>>827652
Found it. Birthday, scanlated by Doki Doki. http://www.aragami.org/birthday.php

As for finding BL with guys that act like guys, forget it. I'm pretty found of Koi Cha no Osahou, but I have damned low standards when it comes to the BL genre. "They Too Love" is a mahwah that has a main character who's gay, though that's just a part of who he and isn't all made to be out to be a big deal. Which I think is the way this shit should be done, but hey.
>> Anonymous
>>827383
Try out shota, it's usually much cuter anyway and even a straight guy would fall for it...
Little Butterfly, Loveless or some anthologies will do it!
Air Gear is a nice start, too...
>> Atagamay
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Tezuka's MW has the two main characters' homosexual relationship as one of the main story elements, and I think it might be your poison. Gritty and intelligent with lovely old-school art that has semi-normal body proportions. And it was written and drawn by a male author for no particular demographic.

And it's fucking Tezuka, for god's sake. Of course it's awesome.

(Pic only tangentially related.)
>> Anonymous
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>>827383

Check out Yukikaze. Is not hardcore BL stuff (but Rei and Jack's relationship is canon), made by male (Kanbayashi Chohei!!!) for males. A little side note: PREPARE FOR MULTIPLE VISUAL ORGASM.
>> Anonymous
>>827406
Sometimes, I think bara isn't that different than the hardcore side of BL, to be honest other than trade in the metrosexual with the equally unrealistic overly muscular guy.
>> Anonymous
>>827383
If you want the creme of the crop of, Yugi Yamada, Naono Bohra, and Tsuta Suzuki are pretty good story and character wise, but I would avoid them if you can't take sex though.

Meh, I read BL for humorous purposes and entertainment. I'm not looking for realism as much as the next shounen or shoujo. Human relationships are usually idealized in fiction anyway.

But I always felt that yaoi doujin were much better quality than original BL. Maybe that's because they're not under as much restriction as the original BL stories because most anthologies have a certain guideline of what they will publish.
>> Anonymous
>>828100
Where can I download it?
>> Anonymous
>>828145

I agree. Tsuta Suzuki is one of my favorite mangaka. If you can handle the sex, I'd check out 'Hand Which' which is scanlated by dangerous pleasure.
>> Anonymous
>>828100
Tezuka drew something like that?! o_o Isn't he the Astro Boy artist?!

That's like Walt Disney drawing yaoi. oh my gosh.
>> Anonymous
>>828466
If you think he only drew comics about cute robots punching things, you know shit-all about Tezuka. He created hundreds of different series, all widely varied in subject matter and tone; Astro Boy isn't the only reason he's called the God of Manga.

(Not that I can talk, I've only read a bit of Princess Knight, Blackjack and Buddha, but I'd love to read MW sometime along with the rest)

Courtesy sage for off-topic
>> Anonymous
>>828119
It isn't any different. Even in bara you still have one of them acting like a girly little faggot instead of a grown man.

Is it really that hard to find a manga where the characters don't act like 'roid ragin rapist or 8 year old girls?
>> Anonymous
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>>828145
Seconding Naono Bohra, in particular "Hinata" and its sequel "Midnight Sun", scanlated by Chi-Ran.
>> Anonymous
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>>828110
characters are still designed by the female yumi tada though. definitely a unique style.
>> Anonymous
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Yoshinaga Fumi. She's quite possibly the best writer and definitely one of the better artists currently doing manga about gay men.
>> Anonymous
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>>829278
seconding good writer motion, but while her artwork is pleasant it definitely has its flaws.

her men tend to cry during sex too. still, that shouldn't be a problem since it's rarely the main focus.
>> Anonymous
Can't say I really understand what OP wants, but here are some atypical BL titles you might be interested in:

Gerard and Jacques and Kinou Nani Tabeta? by Yoshinaga Fumi (check out Antique Bakery too if you don't mind reading something non-BL-centric for a change)
Sono Yubi no Tadoru Kizu by Tsurugi Kai (sad and beautiful)
The Other Side of You by Arina Toshimi (the art is not my cup of tea, but the story is good)
Demian Syndrome by Oki Mamiya (beautiful art)
Gokuraku Cafe by Mamahara Ellie (borderline BL, worth reading for the story nonetheless)
Kamakiri by Konami Shouko (macabre)
Neko Samurai by Kyuushuu Danzi (WTF-lulzy)
Last Client by Takashima Kazusa (dropped by the mangaka due to legal issues, sadly)
Vassalord by Nanae Chrono (ahahahaha)
Also, thirding or fourthing Tsuta Suzuki

One-shots:
Chrysalis by Inariya Fusanosuke (also, Giglio)
Dogla+Magla by Kotobuki Tarako (yes, the same person who brought you Sex Pistols)
From Dusk Till Dawn by Mamahara Ellie
Fushigi Amedama by Yukimura (PERSONAL FAVORITE the punchline always makes me laugh)
It's Castilla in Holland by Nakamura Shungiku (Junjou Romantica is my guilty pleasure)
Anything by Yumeka Sumomo is nice if you like slow, introspective stories
The Sound of a Bell Can Be Heard by Sasaki Kumiko (very sweet supernatural story)

[/tl;dr]
>> Anonymous
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It is one of my many goals in life to pimp this series as much as possible. Gorgeous Carat by You Higuri. Artwork is beautiful, and I personally think the BL is incredibly well done.
>> Anonymous
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>>829423Anything by Yumeka Sumomo is nice if you like slow, introspective stories

YES. And if you like superior art.
>> Anonymous
I would suggest:

The Tyrant Who Fall in Love <== is realistic, cute and funny.

Male yaoi mangaka:
- KUJOU Aoi
-SAKURA Haiji
-KISARAGI Hirotaka
-Sugahara Ryu (rumoured to be)
-Takagi Ryo (rumoured to be)
>> Anonymous
>>829566

WHAT. I DIDN'T KNOW THAT. But their works are no different from typical BL... Well I did enjoy some of Sakura Haiji's works but they weren't terribly realistic either.
>> Anonymous
>>The Tyrant Who Fall in Love <== is realistic, cute and funny.

Gah. It's cute and funny, but it's not realistic.