my recommendations
Under construction as I formulate all my many thoughts...
※ Note on what we mean by "recommendation" ※
Just like on my manga/anime rec page (here), I do not presume to know you or your taste. What I mean by "recommendation" here is less "you will like this" and more "I liked this and I feel it has merit outside of my personal taste".
I would hope it goes without saying that these recommendations are sexually explicit and often deal with heavy human topics. I leave it up to you as a person capable of your own action to do your research and decide if you'd like to consume one of these.
My Star System
For some of these, you might think "huh, she only gave this BL a 2 but she says it's the best ever". And yes, you make a good point. However, I am under no obligation to cater to your star system haha. Here's mine:
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- 5/5 Truly iconic. Nothing compares. It's a pinnacle example in the category. Frankly, this is more of a 6/5 vibe.
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- 4/5 Very good. Actually, extremely good. I have no complaints and will probably use this as an example of "excellent" in this category.
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- 3/5 Good. I like it. No complaints. Stands up well against the other stronger points of the manga.
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- 2/5 It's overall good, but probably has some glaring flaw that I can't overlook or is just not that memorable. Maybe it's inconsistent or, compared to other categories, it looks especially weak.
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- 1/5Frankly, if it gets to this point, I probably won't have it on this list. And a 0/5 means I couldn't finish it and you'll never hear about it. My Categories
- Art & Design
- I think it's entirely fair and deserved to judge a book by its cover in this case. Both manga & anime are visual mediums. They're using art to tell a story. If the art or design wasn't a priority for the work, then it shouldn't have been a graphic medium. If the creator didn't think "Why did I choose to make this into a manga vs a book", then I think there's been a grave misstep somewhere. And, personally, I like an art style that is unique and memorable. Does it enhance the story? Is it interesting to look at? etc.
- Story & Writing
- This is more of a personal thing, but I'm not so tied up in narrative or setting as I am in characterization. In a manga, I'm interested in a unique story with unique characters, told in a way that's "realistic". I'm curious about unique people with compelling struggles. I'm interested in how they go about trying to solve their problems (or not).
- Grasp of Medium
- This is how well the artist utilizes the fact that this is a comic or anime to communicate the point of the story. Are there things being done here that can't be done in any other medium? Also, is it aware of its place in the genre? Is it self-aware?
- Eroticism & Sexiness
- I mean, it's BL. I'm expecting the sex to be exciting, emotional, or at least well-drawn. I'm absolutely not a "no-sex, no-read" type but I definitely consider it a significant aspect of the genre haha.
- Lasting Impression
- Do I keep thinking about it or do I immediately forget everything about it as soon as I finish it? Do I keep saying things like "ah, it's like [title]" or "in [title], he..."? Do I recommend it to people?
anime
Ai no Kusabi・間の楔 (1992-1994)
Creator: Rieko Yoshihara
originally published 1986
- art &
design -
- story &
writing -
- grasp of
medium -
- eroticism & sexiness
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- lasting impression
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- summary
- Ai no Kusabi is, roughly, about the forbidden relationship between two men in different societal castes: Iason, a bio-engineered ideal being created by a supercomputer, and Riki, a human gang leader from the slums. The two-episode OAV explores their relationship within the context of the dystopia they live under.
- tags
- #will_ruin_you_for_anything_else #scifi #incredible_animation #soundtrack #unhealthy_relationships #character_design #it_doesn't_work_out_for_them
- impression
- We watched Ai no Kusabi (”The Space Between”, not “ai” as in “love” much to my shock) mostly on a whim. Something along the lines of “I heard this is one of those Big Yaois. We should check it out”. We were completely floored. The animation is beautiful, the character designs are fantastic. I’m truly shocked that no one is really talking about Ai no Kusabi anymore except for the tossed mention in the context of “yaoi in the 80s and 90s” or the deserved “best yaoi of all time” but without any proof that the list-writer has even watched it. The staggeringly beautiful art is enough to keep this one at the top of the list for me. Unfortunately, I watched this early on in my BL journey and, frankly, nothing else even comes close to being as good, especially not in the animated side of things (happy to be proven wrong, though).
The plot is a kind of straight-forward dystopian, forbidden lovers. The OAV jumps through a lot of the world building that the novel by Yoshiara Reiko goes into in more detail. For a fresh viewer, it can be pretty confusing to remember who’s who and why they aren’t allowed to be happy (hint: no one is), but I think a quick wiki read will get you up to speed. Both Iason and Riki are interesting and don’t fall into the tired tropes of a lot of yaoi. I found the ending to be really memorable as well.
If I were to be unforgiving, I’d assume a modern audience (ie: an audience incapable of critical thinking or reading comprehension) might get upset at some of the elements of the dystopian society (slavery, dub-con, violence, etc.). And the dystopian setting and heavy world building falls into the typical rut of "explain by telling, not showing". But, I think, in the end, the beautiful animation and the compelling characters make this worth buying an overpriced DVD off Japanese Mercari so I can watch it whenever and the special edition Junes so I can gaze at it from a distance..
manga
Dick Fight Island (2019)
Creator: Reibun Ike
- art &
design -
- story &
writing -
- grasp of
medium -
- eroticism & sexiness
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- lasting impression
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- summary
- An island archipelago decides their leader by periodically hosting gladiator-style fights in which the first man to orgasm loses. Each island in the archipelago puts forth their most eligible fighter. One such fighter is Harto, just returning from years studying abroad in England and armed with a new fighting technique.
- tags
- #dick_armor #world_building #hilarious #♥Matthew♥
- impression
- This was the BL that, frankly, launched this whole thing. I have a funny story regarding this experience. I had been living abroad for 7 years and, upon my return to the states, happened to visit a Barnes & Noble and was SHOCKED to see the huge manga section. Back when I was a young manga-reader, you were lucky to have two full bookshelves of manga, so I was quite pleased. Further shock was the existence of shrink-wrapped BL just on the shelf in Iowa. One such shrink-wrapped package stood out by having the name "Dick Fight Island". Obviously, this prompted further exploration. A quick search returned the shock that it was extremely well-regarded and excelled in art style, plot, character development and world-building. I ended up deciding to buy it and realized, walking up to the register, that this was a brick-and-mortar store and I'd have to hand Dick Fight Island to a real, physical person who could look back at me. Luckily, upon picking it up, the staff exclaimed "Oh my god, have you read this? It's so good!" So, thank god for fujos everywhere.
Those reviews were correct. They hook you with the insane premise and follow through with extremely engaging world building, genuinely sweet character building and really decent art. Also it's just hilarious to have on the shelf. The sex scenes are too ridiculous (positive) to take seriously in terms of eroticism, but strong points for creativity. The translation is also matches the taking-itself-seriously-craziness vibe of the whole thing. And damn, if it doesn't leave a lasting impression.
Wrap up with the most memorable line in any BL I have consumed:
"Yep."
Oh! My Assistant (2018)
Writer: Mila
Artist: Angrymonster
- art &
design -
- story &
writing -
- grasp of
medium -
- eroticism & sexiness
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- lasting impression
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- summary
- A hentai manhwa artist struggling in the bedroom department hires an assistant. The relationship quickly develops from a dog-cat unlikely-coworking pair to a grounded, realistic romance, not without its challenges.
- tags
- #cute #healthy #cute_style #realistic? #cat-dog_boyfriends
- impression
- Man, this one is just cute. I started reading it for the art style and stayed for the really endearing characters and the realism of their relationship conflicts. Like, actual conflict that I've seen in real life. I like the characters a lot and even the one that I hate I can see as a realistic part of someone's life. The overall plot and style is fine, nothing too out of control one way or the other. The sex scenes are also fine, mostly cute. Also bonus points for the girl assistant popping in at the end. Love her.
Mostly, I think about this one conversation all the time:
かわいい… Seonho, you're the best.
神の船で眠る・Sleeping on Paper Boats
Creator: Yasuda Teki
- art &
design -
- story &
writing -
- grasp of
medium -
- eroticism & sexiness
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- lasting impression
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- summary
- A screenwriter finds that the subjects of his screenplays always end up dead. He's been dogged by the specter of death since he was involved in a traumatic cable car accidents as a child. Now, having sworn off writing forever and to avoid his visions of death, he falls into a life of drinking. At the bottom of the bottle, so to speak, he meets a handsome photographer who inspires him to write again. But, perhaps they've met before? And can he avoid Death?
- tags
- #gay_horror #psychological #beautifully_detailed_art #period_drama #uhoh_things_might_not_be_great
- impression
- I'll preface this impression by revealing that I am a huge sensitive baby when it comes to: scary stuff, violent stuff, psychological stuff, any sort of like true crime stuff, etc. However, I seem to have a special second stomach-type-a thing for Scary Stuff when it is Gay and Erotic.
Kami no Fune is really interesting and refreshing, especially if you've been mired in the scrubbed-clean atmospheres of middle-schooler shoujo or the mass-market bl erotica. It will definitely give you a different taste of the different directions BL can go.
What I liked most about Kami no Fune was the atmosphere. The heavy black is extremely claustrophobic and you really get the sense that Kei is Not Okay At All. The scary parts are very scary but they are followed by really lovingly rendered and explored scenes of Yokohama in the 40s-50s. The dynamic and chemistry between Kei and Youichi is also really interesting and not victim to most fated-lovers tropes. The creator does a really good job making Youichi friendly and beautiful but with a somewhat sinister vibe? Kei is outwardly dark and brooding but does a poor job of trying to conceal the fear that dictates every choice he's made.
If anything, come for the exploration of an interesting time in Japanese history, but stay for the just-slightly unnerving atmosphere.
If you liked the vibe, I also recommend the manhwa The Black Mirror by Muhwa & Sugeun. It's similar, but way darker haha.
Coming Soon
Hold on. These are finished series that I have also finished reading, but I haven't had a chance to type up a review yet. Stay tuned~
- 君の夜に触れる・Touch Within the Abyss by Moyori Mori
I love Moyori Mori's art so much. I'll buy anything by them. This one is a one-volume story about an assasin, struggling to kill, and a blind boy who witnessed one attempt. How can their relationship evolve despite their circumstances? 
- 花と夏となっちゃんと秋と冬と僕・Spring, Summer, Na-chan, Fall, Winter, & Me by Sagan Sagan
A really lovely, let's say "exploration", of the relationship between Shima and Natsuo; two high school boys living in the countryside. I read a description that does it better than I could: "They are normal high school boys that you can find almost anywhere. However, their blissful love is unique only to them and cannot be found anywhere else." I love how naturally boyish they are. It's hard to find boys in BL that are like real boys. 
- ラムスプリンガの情景・The Scene of My Rumspringa by Kaya Azuma
"Seriously?" Yes.
Ongoing Manga
I'm hesitant to put a full review for ongoing manga, yknow just in case something weird happens and I don't want to be responsible for any horrible twists. Very likely, once I complete these in English, I will immortalize them above. Until then, here's what we are keeping track of:
ダブル・Double by Noda AyakoTwo actors and their uniquely dependent relationship. Truly an incredible mastery of the manga medium. The way she is able to pull your attention to certain panels and the nuances of the facial expressions is really arresting.
イグナートの花嫁・Bride of Ignat by Moyori MoriBeautifully-drawn story of a boy sacrificed by his village to the dragon of the mountain and how their relationship changes over time. The drawings of the boy's clothes and culture are really amazing. I like the deer too.
カメレオンはてのひらに恋をする・Love in the Palm of His Hand by RintekuThe relationship between two college students, one of whom is deaf, the other an actor. Really great work demonstrating the vibe of sign language in a static medium.
三ツ矢先生の計画的な餌付け・Mitsuya Sensei no Keikakuteki na Edzuke by Matsumoto AyakaSuper cute old man yaoi. An editor at a magazine starts a professional relationship with a food critic. What starts as kind of fear turns into respect and maybe more??
となりの百怪見聞録・Mysterious Encounters in My Neighborhood by Watanuki YoshikoA normal-ass guy wanders into a youkai market and gets marked as a ghost magnet. He's picked up as a protege by an eccentric old man and ghost-enthusiast (also develops a big crush at first sight). The ghost stories are spooky enough to give me a nightmare after reading them before bed. Love the art style and the characters!
엔네아드・ENEAD by MojitoA re-telling/re-interpretation of Egyptian mythology following Seth, the god of war, as his tyranical rule is challenged by Horus, son of Isis. The story gets more and more complicated as more gods are introduced, histories and relationships are revealed, and the relationship between Seth and Horus (and others??) gets more and more complicated. Love the art style, the story is very compelling. Keep that character guide handy for the first dozen chapters, though.
さよなら、ナナシのバイオリン・Goodbye, Nameless Violin by Ume-chiA story set in a world in which a "named" object gains consciousness. Sousuke is a music student, struggling to find his confidence and needing an instrument. He discovers a violin without a name and the two have to work together to create music. Really interesting visualization of music in manga!
キス７回・Kiss, 7-kai by Akai ShirafuAnother artist that I really love. This one I have yet to find an English translation of, but it's easy enough for me to decipher it. Shu and Hiroto are friends but maybe something else?? In order to confirm feelings, they decide to kiss once a day for a week. An excellent example of how slow pacing is the most erotic, I feel.