Easily my worst trait. So, keep that in mind as you read this.
I didn’t need any more convincing to check out Saint Seiya: Dark Wing, it’s already Saint Seiya, it’s going to be great.
As an aging anime nerd, I watched the original DIC dub of Saint Seiya when it came to the United States… about 20 years after the original production concluded. The aesthetic is immediately recognizable as an anime from the mid to late eighties. I found it fascinating to watch as a kid, and I was so surprised that this franchise is actually still going. Maybe not in a regulated production kind of way, but every few years, something new contributing to the universe shows up, like the awful movie adaptation from 2023.
I say this to give the series some context; it is very difficult to summarize this universe because it is so long-lived. The most concise way I can put it is this: the Saints are 5 chosen ones – boys who wear sacred armor that are based on constellations, sworn to defend the earth from being taken over by competing gods.
It’s… a lot. And if you’re also into Greek and Roman mythology… uh, you’ll recognize a lot of names, but this series is not based on any of those stories, it is not a re-telling of those legends; it’s more along the lines of appropriation than anything else. Personally, I enjoy the surrealism of it all.
Set in high school, students’ fates are revealed as chosen ones, sworn enemies, divine figures, and all in the service of the battle of the gods. Our protagonist, Soichiro, goes on a school trip to the Mediterranean, but the ship is attacked and sinks into the sea as he tries to save his crush. But Soichiro is revived as one of the dreaded Judges of the Underworld, under the command of Hades. He is pitted against his twin brother, Sojiro, who is reincarnated as the Gold Saint of Gemini.
Dark Wing consists of 4 volumes in total. It is not-quite-linear, relies on dream logic, and honestly, I appreciate its updated setting of the modern world. The linework is clean and detail-oriented when it is called for—these pages have some very elaborate backgrounds when the backgrounds actually show up. It is delightfully nostalgic to look at; fans of the old Gundam Wing manga will recognize these 90s pattern and texture overlays. And maybe the best part of it all is the re-working of popular 80s design elements into a more modern aesthetic (those feathered up-do’s, I mean…).
I do want to be clear: I loved this next installment of the series, but I am fairly certain that a newcomer to this franchise is not going to know what’s going on if this is the first Saint Seiya book they pick up. It’s a good read if you’re willing to just let the story happen, wash over you as the reader. The mythic themes of destiny and fate and rising to challenges never get old for me.
It pains me to say it, but I don’t think this spin-off makes for a great addition to your library collection. If you can link it to some of the more foundational works in the franchise, I think that would be best. But, on its own, even with all four volumes, I’m not sure this is the way to go.
Saint Seiya: Dark Wing Vol. 1 By Masami Kurumada and Kenji Saito Art by Shinshu Ueda Titan, 2025 ISBN: 9781787747180
NFNT Age Recommendation: Middle Grade (7-11), Teen (13-16) Creator Representation: Japanese, Character Representation: Japanese,
In a world very like our own, despite fox-headed doctors and three eyed people being utterly ordinary, people know what happens after death. Crow gods meet the souls approaching purgatory, advising them how to cross harsh plains to reach the Gate of Rebirth. As a parting gift, they create a delicious dough that will last the 49 days the journey takes. Once the living learned of this practice they began to make funeral desserts for their loved ones. This manhwa follows two clients seeking special cakes for the recently dead from Margot’s bakery. Her interviews pull out essential characteristics of the deceased, then she and her assistant Miro—who appears as skeletal arms emerging from a sheet with eyeholes as she kneads dough—procure specialty ingredients, infuse words and emotions into the cake, and create a perfect, lovely dessert that lets their clients find a bit of peace as they continue on their own difficult grief journeys.
The first client is an author who helped a chronically ill blind woman love life again by reading her work in progress to her, whereas the second is a young woman who is unsure how well she knew her mother because the schedules of a truck driving vampire and high school student were nearly opposite.
This is an excellent title to entice fans of Japanese and Korean healing fiction novels such as Marigold Mind Laundry by Jungeun Yeun or The Curious Kitten at the Chibineko Kitchen by Yuta Takahashi. Even if they aren’t graphic novel fans already, they’ll be familiar with episodic tales tucked within frame stories beautifully exploring the bittersweetness of love and loss, the exploration of perspective power to temper regret, and the importance of finding people who understand.
It’s illustrated gorgeously, primarily in black and white but often incorporating shades of red to stunning effect, whether it’s a lovely pink sunset highlighting melancholy or a deep red fruit filling dripping from a cupcake. Many panels are intricately detailed, whether in the sense of emotion drenched portraits or full of tiny elements that expand the world building subtly. The dialogue is occasionally a little clunky or repetitive, presumably to match the original speech bubbles, but the prose on expository pages is uniformly lovely, creating a craving to know even more of this world. The perfectly plotted story is tender and sweet, despite the sadness that coats both women’s journey and readers will be eager to arrive at the reveals about why Margot engages in this work.
I’d certainly recommend this for any library collection, but especially for libraries engaging in book clubs or programming such as death cafes of grief support groups. As previously mentioned, this should be a good crossover title between prose and graphic literature. The story is likely best suited for adults, though loss is certainly something people can experience at any age. While people don’t need the grief experience to appreciate these stories, I believe that the experience adds an extra layer to the narrative. It’s an exploration of why and how everything matters, without pushing definitive answers or advice on readers.
With volume two releasing June 23rd, now is the perfect time to start the series.
Purgatory Funeral Cakes By Sanho Dark Horse, 2025 ISBN: 9781506751351
NFNT Age Recommendation: Adult (18+) Creator Representation: South Korean,
Amu Hinamora sometimes feels like an anxious mess, but seen from the outside, she’s popular and cool. It helps that she’s one of the Guardians: rare kids who have tiny magical companions called Guardian Characters, which grant special powers. In fact, where most Guardians have a single Guardian Character each, Amu has four. Perhaps it’s no surprise that she is chosen for a special mission: unraveling a mystery at a prestigious but strange middle school called Arcana Academy.
In the world of Shugo Chara!, every child has an egg in their heart that represents an ideal version of themselves that they want to be. Most children never discover their eggs, but some rare eggs hatch into tiny chibi people called Guardian Characters. Guardian Characters mostly hang around offering commentary, but they can also help their Guardians transform into powered-up versions of themselves.
Arcana Academy has a problem: students are losing confidence in themselves, which can turn their eggs into X Eggs. These hatch into not heroic and helpful Guardian Characters but mischievous and dangerous X Characters. As a Guardian, Amu specializes in restoring X Eggs. That’s her main mission at Arcana Academy, but she also has a secret assignment: to learn about the Academy’s powerful treasures, the Arcana Jewels.
This is a cute adventure with lots of humor. Amu is an entertaining protagonist: since readers can see her thought bubbles, we know when, beneath her Cool Girl exterior, she’s confused or panicking or paying less attention to her mission than to her crush’s cute school uniform. Her four Guardian Characters can also see her thoughts, and they have lots to say about them, which is often funny.
Guardian Characters are a fun element: each one represents an aspirational version of their Guardian, often in an over-the-top way. For instance, Amu’s crush has a princely, chivalrous personality; his Guardian Character is an actual king who gives him the ability to transform into a monarch in full regalia and use a defensive power called Holy Crown. Amu’s four Guardian Characters have personas ranging from artistic to athletic, and enable her to transform into four different superpowered versions of herself.
The supporting cast adds to the fun. There’s Amu’s crush, whose sweet personality contrasts humorously with his tyrannical Guardian Character. Another Arcana student, Niya, is a video streamer with a pair of cat ears (thanks to his Guardian Character being an anthropomorphic cat), lots of silly energy, and a crush on Amu. Amu’s new roommate is so shy and quiet that for awhile Amu doesn’t realize there is another person in her room at all.
The Guardians’ transformations and magical powers have major magical girl vibes, complete with elaborate outfits. The art throughout the manga is rich with detail, from the gothic architecture of Arcana Academy to the flowers, stars, bubbles, and sparkles sprinkled through the backgrounds. Playing card suits are a major theme: Arcana Academy’s four dorms are Heart Tower, Diamond Tower, Spade Tower, and Clover Tower, and are decorated with the corresponding symbols (“clover” being clubs). The four suits also appear on Amu’s four Guardian Characters and seem to be connected to the Arcana Jewels.
At the end of this volume is a collection of translation notes to clarify elements of the story that are otherwise hard to translate. For instance, the headmaster of Arcana Academy uses a Japanese counting word that implies that Guardian Characters are objects, while everyone else counts them using the word that is used for people. The notes offer a fascinating glimpse into the differences between Japanese and English and the ways translators try to bridge them.
There is a brief introduction to the main cast and the concept of Guardian Characters at the beginning of the book—a helpful reference, especially for readers new to Shugo Chara! With a new setting and largely new cast, this volume can stand alone or serve as an entry point to the series, though new readers may get a sense they are missing a little bit of context. Still, the story holds up well on its own as a light, fun magical-girl-style adventure.
Shugo Chara! Jewel Joker By Peach-Pit Kodansha, 2026 ISBN: 9798888777107
Amélie is a 16th century Dutch noblewoman fascinated by science and nature, but forced into an unhappy marriage by her impoverished parents. Her new husband, Hans, is dashingly handsome, loves animals, and is pleasant and outgoing in public. But in private, he belittles her and subjects her to sexual violence and humiliation. Her only respite occurs when Hans takes a business trip to Portugal, leaving her to freely study what fascinates her more than anything: flight.
Thinking of flight as both a glimmer of hope for escape and as a way to be closer to God, she studies the bones of birds, pours through books in her husband’s library, and crafts model flying contraptions. She ponders the way maple seeds spin in the air and is relieved to not hear a word from her husband for many months.
Things get complicated when Hans finally returns, accompanied by a beautiful young slave woman from an unknown place. He claims he saved her from a terrible fate and moves her into the house as his mistress. Amélie is both humiliated and fascinated by this woman, given the name Sahara by Hans after he acquired her. Hans is loving and tender with Sahara in stark contrast to his behavior with Amélie. She is quiet and cheerful, despite a deeply traumatic past, but tension develops between the two women. As they both adapt to life stashed away together in Hans’ house, they start to experience compassion and support for one another. They explore Amélie’s love of flight and begin work on a contraption that will change everything.
I am a complete sucker for historical dramas. I love a sumptuous setting, detailed costumes, and an exploration of life in a time that seems both unknown and absolutely familiar. Raging Clouds by South Korean author and illustrator Yudori ticks all those boxes for me. When I think of the art style, the first word that comes to mind is “exquisite”. I was absolutely captivated by every panel. There is so much attention to detail, particularly in the clothing. Yudori has a mastery over drawing the folds of fabric that really brings life to the art. There is detail everywhere, from the clothes, to furniture, to individual strands of hair. There are some historical inaccuracies here and there, but I can see due diligence was done to be true to the time period.
There is a lot of nudity in this work, but I really appreciate Yudori’s nuanced depictions. At times nudity is used to explore the beauty and desirability of the female form, while other times it’s employed to express dehumanization and subjugation, essentially the two extremes of being a woman under patriarchy. This is a deeply feminist work, and Yudori is not shy about showing the pain and trauma of being a woman under oppression.
The cover art and some errotic tension in the story might lure you into thinking this becomes a sultry queer romance, but as the author explains in an Instagram post, this is a story of failed attempts. As much as I love a queer romance, I also love a story of two women surviving through different aspects of patriarchy, seeing each other, and finding ways to lift each other up as the system tries to knock them down. It feels authentic and I want to see more stories featuring this kind of non-romantic love and compassion.
There are a lot of potential content warnings that librarians and readers might want to know about, some of which have already been mentioned, such as nudity and sexual violence, which includes rape and dubious consent. Several sexual acts are illustrated pretty clearly. There is also physical violence ranging from hitting to murder, although nothing very bloody is shown directly on the page. Amélie also experiences a lot of body image issues, which comes in the form of negative comments from others and negative self-talk.
As you might expect with a period piece, particularly one featuring people of color in Europe, there is casual and overt racism littered throughout the story and there are some historical terms for groups of people that are outdated by today’s standards. Sahara is a non-native speaker and her way of expressing herself could be interpreted as stereotyped. However, according to the author in another Instagram post, the inspiration for how Sahara speaks comes from her own experience as a non-native English speaker when she moved to the United States from Korea as a teenager.
There is also some animal harm at various points. A cat is the subject of a violent game among men and several dead animals are shown. There are no animal deaths, but as someone very sensitive to animal harm, the realism of the animals was slightly unsettling for me. It was balanced somewhat by an adorable pet cat doing very annoying (but still adorable) cat things, so the realism goes both ways.
While there are many challenging issues depicted in Raging Clouds, nothing feels out of place or unwarranted. This is definitely one for the adult collection, although some older teens might connect with it as well. I think it’s a beautiful and honest work exploring the lives of women in the past that is incredibly relatable to women of the present.
Raging Clouds By Yudori Fantagraphics, 2025 ISBN: 9798875001062
NFNT Age Recommendation: Adult (18+), Older Teen (16-18) Creator Representation: South Korean, Character Representation: Dutch,
In a world where supernatural being and humans tensely live in proximity to each other, a turf war between organized families of demi humans is the spark that will trigger a much larger conflict to come.
Gran Familia is the first serialized story from creator Louis Yamani and Titan Comics. The book introduces us to Leo, the somewhat haphazard but sincere manager of Goodfellas Bistro. Along with fellow employees Rose and Zach, Leo seems committed to keeping his head down and his spirits up as he runs a business amidst the growing threat of demi human attacks on humans across the city.
Through genetic mutation, these demi humans take a variety of forms—vampires, werewolves, mermaids, and more. It’s a bit like folklore meets superheroes. And whispers that a new family of demi humans is making a power play in the city have everyone tense. However, it’s not until this new family attacks a friend of Leo’s that readers learn the bigger picture; Leo is a part of the Gran Familia, the most powerful of the demi human families, and is a powerful vampire in his own right. But when Leo steps in to punish the upstarts who hurt someone he cared about, it sets off a series of consequences involving law enforcement and local criminals, all of whom have their own interests as well as a score to settle with a member of the Gran Familia.
Yamani balances episodic storytelling with a larger narrative in a way that serves the story well. Each section of the book finds Leo and friends caught up in the circumstances of the humans and demi humans that live around them. With each new adventure (or misadventure) readers learn more about the characters and the world as Leo can’t seem to stop himself from helping those in need around him even as he balances his demi human and human lives. At the same time, members of human law enforcement are on a quest to eradicate all demi humans, regardless of who they are.
As Leo’s interventions gain attention from unfortunate places, the narrative ups the stakes toward the inevitable confrontations. Overall, the idea of supernatural beings living alongside humans is not fresh, but this manga never makes the concept feel stale either. Leo’s clumsy affects do feel a bit like other manga characters we’ve seen before, but when the mask comes off and he leaps into action, he proves himself a hero worth following. Overall, the writing delivers an entertaining and packed first volume while putting plenty of pieces in place for these characters and the larger world.
Yamani’s art as well, is excellent. Sometimes sparse and sometimes full of fine detail, the visuals shift well from mundane sequences to highly stylized moments of supernatural action. There are a few rough moments where the visual sequence is a little hard to follow, but for the vast majority of the volume, the imagery is a treat to behold. Beyond the cityscapes themselves, some of the high points visually are when Leo and the other demi humans unleash their powers, changing form and dashing across the page—each character with their own distinct abilities and presentation. From start to finish, there’s a great deal to enjoy in the artistic storytelling, and Yamani shifts layouts and tones enough to keep that journey interesting.
Titan lists the age for the title as 15+. There’s some stylized but occasionally intense violence, scattered language, occasional mild fanservice, and some non-detailed nudity in nonsexual contexts. It’s nothing most older teens can’t handle, but definitely worth being aware of for those on the edge of that age range. As a first volume, Gran Familia isn’t necessarily doing anything groundbreaking, but it’s a whole lot of fun that manages to put its own touch on this blend of supernatural action and mafia-esque crime thriller. There’s humor to balance the more intense moments and a distinct cast of characters that propel each episode of the story along in a way that still manages to feel cohesive. There’s plenty here to delight readers of supernatural action manga, and the story is engaging but straightforward enough that this could be an excellent entry point for readers without much manga experience. Simply put, I had a fun time diving into this world and I hope to be there to see what trouble Leo gets himself into next.
Gran Familia By Louis Yamani Titan, 2025 ISBN: 9781787747135
Baki Hanma has just upset the annual karate championship and sent shockwaves through the world of martial arts. This wide-eyed, 17 year old white belt newbie shouldn’t have been able to face off against more seasoned fighters, yet somehow he toppled them all to win first place. What’s going on with this kid?
Originally serialized for the magazine Weekly Shonen Champion in 1991, Baki the Grappler is among the best selling manga in Japan, however the still-ongoing manga has never been officially translated for English readers until now. A Netflix anime adaptation was released in 2020, but that series covers a later arc in the overall story. This is truly the first time the earliest part of Baki’s tale has been readily available to English speaking fans.
Coming fresh to the series, I expected this to be a one dimensional story about fighting and relentlessly beating opponents, and at first at first glance, that seemed true. Baki initially appears to just be an oblivious wunderkind with a lucky streak and a heart of gold. When asked directly, he can’t quite articulate his training goals, other than to say he’d like to become the strongest man on the planet. But there are hints that there’s more beneath the surface. Readers see him meticulously mark off photos of defeated opponents. His typically kind demeanor cools significantly when dealing with bullies, and betrays a cold and calculating side. There are also mysterious scars all over his body that strangely allow him to withstand even the most intense punches. He may even have ties to dangerous underground fighting rings. Clearly there’s much more going on with this seemingly happy-go-lucky kid. You don’t get all the answers in this volume, but I immediately wanted to crack open the second volume to see what makes Baki tick.
Almost every page is filled with action and the art is crisp and easy to follow. The manga style in this volume is a bit dated with rounder and softer lines than more recent iterations of the character, but it contributes to the classic feel of this manga. In terms of theme I’m reminded of other popular manga and anime series of the 1980s and 90s, such as Naruto and Dragon Ball, with their stories of (mostly) young men pushing themselves to be the strongest fighters in their community. There are no magical powers or fantastical elements for Baki, even if everyone’s muscles bulge just as unrealistically as Goku and Vegeta’s. Machismo practically drips off each page.
Other than the fighting that occurs in almost every panel, there are only a few content warnings. Some of the fighting turns more violent, with visibly broken bones and blood. There is a panel with teenage nudity and somewhat crude mentions of male anatomy. There is one awkward scene between 17 year old Baki and his attractive older landlady, where she is a little too eager to put her hands on him and he is visibly uncomfortable. The landlady and her teenage daughter are the only women in the first volume, and both are in supporting roles to the men.
The publisher rates this volume for older teens and I agree that’s probably where it fits best in a library collection. Adult readers might also enjoy it, and I could see it ticking the nostalgia box for fans of 80s and 90s manga and anime. While definitely aimed at a male audience, any reader that enjoys stories of perseverance, athleticism, and martial arts should give Baki the Grappler a try.
Baki the Grappler By Keisuke Itagaki Kodama Tales, Inc., 2024 ISBN: 9781966523000
Company Age Rating: Older Teen
NFNT Age Recommendation: Adult (18+), Older Teen (16-18) Creator Representation: Japanese,
Interest in BL (boys love) & yuri/GL (girls love) is on the rise, especially as publishers start bringing more over to the US. So what is it? Basically, it’s manga featuring same gender romantic and/or sexual relationships. There’s a long and complex history to both, so if you’re interested in learning more there’s books out there on the topic.
When it comes to choosing what to put on library shelves, the things you’re probably already doing with other manga like checking reputable review sites and looking at what other libraries collect still work here too. Hopefully this list can serve as a starting point, but there’s so many great series we didn’t have room to stuff in here.
Doughnuts Under a Crescent Moon
Shio Usui
Hinako says she wants a boyfriend to fit in with her coworkers, but doesn't feel happy with her work or life in general. In contrast, her coworker Asahi focuses on her work and her younger sister and doesn’t think she’ll ever fall in love. When Hinako crumbles under the pressure, Asahi offers her a doughnut and kindness. Soon, Hinako and Asahi find themselves spending time together and valuing each other more and more. But are they just friends or more than friends?
Appeals to
With its focus on the characters' exploration of love, Doughnuts Under a Crescent Moon is a tender read, ideal for readers seeking stories about characters navigating societal expectations to find happiness. While neither character is identified as asexual, ace-spec readers will likely find much to enjoy here. Readers who liked the gentle romance of She Loves to Cook, and She Loves to Eat will want to check out this series as well.
Content Notes
Internalized homophobia and struggles with amatonormativity; implied family death and familial discord
Recommended by
Megan Rupe
Even Though We're Adults
Takako Shimura
Ayano is a single elementary school teacher in her 30s, and one night, she meets the intriguing woman Akari at a bar, where they almost kiss. One thing leads to another, and the two of them begin to explore the idea of some kind of relationship. Then, Ayano discovers that not only is Akari not single, but she's actually married to a man and wants them all to meet. Adulthood truly is complicated. What makes this manga fantastic and a little unusual is that the main characters are both in their 30s and dealing with the usual adult life problems, whereas many yuri stories focus on teens.
Appeals to
Readers who gravitate towards stories filled with drama but prefer it to be more grounded will likely enjoy this one. Similarly, if they tried Run Away With Me Girl and wanted something a little more toned down, definitely give Even Though We're Adults a try. Because the story focuses on adults, it skirts many of the tropes of yuri in many ways, making it a good choice for readers new to yuri who want to give it a try. It's also refreshing to see adults navigating identities, and it can really resonate with some readers.
Creator Identities:
Japanese |
Main Character Identities:
Japanese |
Lesbian |
Recommended by
Shannan Prukop
I Hear the Sunspot
Yuki Fumino
Kohei desperately wants to connect, but his hearing loss impacts his social interactions. Taichi is a loud, ravenous guy who offers to be Kohei’s notetaker in exchange for free lunches. As they grow closer, their relationship begins to mean a great deal to Kohei.
A sweet story about navigating connection, I Hear the Sunspot will especially appeal to readers who are in the mood for a gentle romance.
Content Notes
Ableism
Recommended by
Megan Rupe
Kase-San And...
Hiromi Takashima
Kase is the cool and popular track star of the school, while Yamada is the quiet and clumsy one in the background watering the school's flower gardens. So when Kase catches Yamada's eye, Yamada assumes this could go nowhere. Kase proves her wrong, and over the remaining years of high school, their relationship continues to flourish. Then college comes, and now they have a whole new set of problems to navigate, such as dorms, curfews, and living far away from each other. This series falls into several yuri tropes, including the tall, dark-haired, cool girl paired with the more feminine, shorter, blond girl, and the denial of attraction because, oh no, we're both girls, though it doesn't do that one too badly.
Appeals to
This series is sweet, funny, and shows a couple as they transition from crushes to relationships, from high school to college. It's a fantastic pick for readers new to yuri, as it acknowledges its tropes but isn't bound by them, and slowly shows readers that these characters have depth. It is a slow-burning slice-of-life story, so readers seeking a faster pace may become frustrated by its gentle and gradual progression.
Content Notes
Some partial nudity, discussion of sex
Creator Identities:
Japanese |
Main Character Identities:
Japanese |
Queer |
Recommended by
Shannan Prukop
Old-Fashioned Cupcake
Sagan Sagan
39-year-old Nozue's life is all routine - work, sleep, repeat - and he's decided it's enough. But his coworker Togawa, ten years his junior, decides that won't do, and starts shaking up Nozue's routine. Over time, Nozue realizes just how sad he'd let his life become and how special Togawa is to him. It turns out, those feelings are mutual. However, whether this sweet relationship will sour over time due to the realities of work and their age difference remains to be seen. May-December romances are a kind of subset within BL (much like in romance novels), and this short series does it well. This series also falls slightly into the trope of the relationship being kept secret, but it is resolved in a way that is very modern and healthier than many other BL series.
Appeals to
Readers who enjoy slice-of-life romances will likely enjoy this one, though it does have sex scenes in it, so those new to BL may be a bit surprised, especially in comparison to many yuri series. There are also a surprising number of BL series that are slice-of-life stories centered around food, so if a reader enjoys series like What Did You Eat Yesterday or Confessions of a Shy Baker, they'll likely enjoy this one too.
Content Notes
Censored sex scenes, censored nudity, discussions of homophobia
Creator Identities:
Japanese |
Main Character Identities:
Japanese |
Gay |
Recommended by
Shannan Prukop
Our Dining Table
Mita Ori
Salaryman Yutaka lives a lonely and lackluster life until he runs into Tane and his big brother Minoru while eating lunch outside his job. Yukata shares his onigiri with Tane and loves how he makes it, so he goes over to their house to show them how he makes it. Minoru learns that cooking requires a little more care and finesse than his all-boys household is used to, and Yukata learns how to come out of his shell and be comfortable sharing his time (and meals) with people.
Appeals to
Fans of Heartstopper or Bloom will love this queer romance, centered around cooking.
Creator Identities:
Japanese |
Main Character Identities:
Japanese |
Gay |
Recommended by
Tayla Cardillo
Our Not So Lonely Planet Travel Guide
Mone Sorai
After Asahi has a health scare and needs surgery, with only his close friend Mitsuki by his side to support him, Mitsuki proposes that they travel around the world together. If they are still dating at the end of the trip, they should consider getting married. While always practical, Asahi agrees, he thinks their trip is more likely to end with him being alone than the two of them being together forever. This series follows their travels around the world and their growing closeness. It also explores both of their anxiety about being accepted as a gay couple by both their loved ones and the greater society.
Appeals to
Part travel guide and part slow-burning romance between 2 young men, this title will satisfy readers' wanderlust and their desire for realistic queer romance.
Content Notes
Discussions of Homophobia, alluding to sexual situations
Creator Identities:
Japanese |
Main Character Identities:
Italian, Japanese |
Queer |
Recommended by
Tayla Cardillo
Restart After Coming Back Home
Cocomi
After getting fired from his job in Tokyo, Mitsuomi returns to his hometown in disgrace. He meets Yamato, a cheerful young man who already seems better integrated into the town than Mitsuomi ever was. Although the two are opposites, they nevertheless find themselves growing ever closer.
Appeals to
With its story that balances a tender dynamic with coming-of-age themes, teen and adult readers who like a good grumpy/sunshine romance will want to pick up Restart After Coming Back Home. Restart After Coming Back Home has a satisfying conclusion, yet readers who enjoy this one will be happy to know that there is a follow-up called Restart After Growing Hungry.
Content Notes
Internalized homophobia
Recommended by
Megan Rupe
Sasaki and Miyano
Shou Harusuno
Great for folks new to the BL genre, Sasaki and Miyano is a cute romance between the meek and studious Yoshikazu Miyano and his more brash, delinquent upperclassman Shumei Sasaki. Miyano, despite having been primarily attracted to girls, is a fan of boys' love comics (comics mainly created by straight women for straight women). His upperclassman, Sasaki, catches him reading a volume at school one day and sees an opportunity to get closer to Miyano over a shared interest. Their friendship evolves into romance over the course of the series, with Miyano highlighting which real-life scenarios also mirror popular BL tropes.
Sasaki and Miyano are very cute and sweet; it does not contain explicit content. And since Miyano likes to compare everything that happens in his relationship to BL tropes he's seen in comics, it can serve as a sort of guide to popular writing clichés and scenarios commonly associated with the genre.
Recommended by
Al Marcellus
She Loves to Cook, and She Loves to Eat
Sakaomi Yuzaki
Yuki Nomoto, a woman living alone in Tokyo, is passionate about cooking. Although she has an engaged following on her food-centric social media account, she laments that her lack of friends is keeping her from cooking party-sized portions. After a bad day at work, Nomoto cooks up a storm, but with her small appetite, she isn't sure how to eat it all up before the food goes bad. She remembers an elevator ride with her neighbor from two doors down, Totoko Kasuga, and the bags of food she was carrying all for herself. Notomo takes the initiative, and she and Kasuga begin to share meals, forming a close bond. Notomo eventually begins to develop feelings for her hard-to-read, though very kind, neighbor. What other feelings and foods will arise in this new relationship? In addition to a lesbian love story (with perhaps some hints at an ace/arospec protagonist), this series also contains numerous cultural and social insights into Japan. Enjoy the slow bloom of affection between these two women as they navigate their feelings towards each other and their livelihoods. Slice-of-life stories about adults are relatively rare, and I wanted to bring this to the attention of potential readers.
Appeals to
Adults, older teens
Content Notes
Although I feel that this series is very appropriate for teens (there is nothing explicit), the story seems to have been written to appeal to adults who lack the social freedom for self-expression that kids typically have. Self-reflection is conducted independently of pop culture and social norms; these women are grown and working adults, and the story is mainly free of yuri tropes that might appeal to younger readers.
Creator Identities:
Japanese |
Main Character Identities:
Japanese |
Lesbian |
Recommended by
Al(lison) Dohhr
The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't a Guy at All
Sumiko Arai
Mitsuki Koga is a high school girl with an interest in dad rock (okay, okay...CLASSIC ROCK). She helps her uncle part-time in his record store, where she does her best to keep anonymous (note: high school is compulsory in Japan, and most schools restrict their students from working while still enrolled). She dresses androgynously, covers her face, and keeps quiet. Her classmate, Aya Oosawa, enticed by the music within the store, finds herself attracted to this shy shopkeeper. The series revolves around Mitsuki trying to keep her real identity as Aya's classmate a secret, while doing her best to maintain a friendship with her. They have a lot to learn about each other!
Appeals to
Teen girls
Content Notes
No explicit content - it's all hand-holding and blushing faces!
Recommended by
Al Marcellus
Whisper Me A Love Song
Eku Takeshima
Having an all-girl band play at your high school entrance ceremony would be pretty memorable on its own, but for Himari Kino, she also fell in love at first sight. After watching 3rd year Yori Asanagi as the lead singer of a band called SSgirls, she couldn't stop thinking about her. That means she's her biggest fan, right? The same day, she runs into Yori in the hall and tells her that she "fell in love at first sight" with her. Yori is left wondering if she really means it or is just star-struck. Meanwhile, Yori can't stop thinking about Himari either, her cute smile, her bubbly energy. Has lightning struck twice for these two teenagers, and do they feel the same way about each other, or is it just friendship for one of them and a hopeless crush for the other?
Appeals to
Readers who love the "grumpy/sunshine" trope will enjoy the dynamic between cool, older Yori and bubbly, naive Himari.
Many young people know what they want to do with their lives from the very beginning. Ema Asano is one such person. Most of her classmates are focused on fashion and dating. But Ema cannot be bothered with such things. She dreams of following in the footsteps of her parents, who were both police officers before their deaths defending their community. Until such time as she can become a real cop, Ema roams the streets of Tokyo as a vigilante.
Ema’s diligence leads her into the bad part of town one night after her older sister, Yuko, goes missing. To her horror, she discovers that Yuko was lured there by one of her co-workers, Tamaki, who is a vampire in need of a meal. Ema is ready to call the authorities, but is stopped by another of Yuko’s co-workers, Taiga, who also a werewolf.
That encounter marks the night when Ema’s vigil becomes something else entirely. For there are monsters in the shadows besides vampires and werewolves. And Tamaki and Taiga, despite nominally being on opposite sides of an eternal war, find they have more in common with each other than their own kind. Thus forms an unusual team, as the trio work to put down those monsters who cannot control their urges to kill.
On the surface, there is little to distinguish Outsiders from other urban fantasy series. Indeed, creator Akira Kanou freely admits to having been inspired by the Twilight Saga. And there certainly are innumerable horror series built around the idea of a rivalry between werewolves and vampires. Despite this, Outsiders puts enough unique spins on its mythology to mark it as unique. It also boasts some twisted artwork with a far lighter and sketchier style than one would associate with a horror shojo.
Outsiders defies expectations in other ways as well. Usually, a novel of this sort would inevitably feature a love triangle between the teen heroine and the two dashing older men who barely look older than her. There is no such romance in Outsiders. While Ema does show some casual interest in wondering what dating a vampire or a werewolf would be like, her feelings are not reciprocated by Tamaki or Taiga. In fact, most of the romance in this first volume involves subtle hints of a growing attraction between the vampire and werewolf. All these twists help to make Outsiders into something unique that may appeal to fans of the genre looking for something different.
Outsiders Vol. 1 is rated 12+ by Titan Manga. I consider that to be a fair grade for the content. There is a fair bit of violence and bloodshed, but nothing inappropriate to a T-rated Manga. As noted, there is no sexual content or nudity. Indeed, there is barely any hit of romance and most of that confined to meaningful glances between the two male leads that the heroine presumes mean something more. The closest any of the characters come to impropriety is Tamaki undressing and dressing an unconscious Ema in clean clothes after her own clothing is torn while trying to save her sister. Even then, he is a perfect gentleman, and explains he only did this because he couldn’t well let Ema (who is immune to his hypnosis powers for some reason) run off into the night in a bedraggled state.
Outsiders Vol. 1 By Akira Kanou Titan, 2025 ISBN: 9781787745711
Company Age Rating: 12+
NFNT Age Recommendation: Older Teen (16-18), Teen (13-16) Creator Representation: Japanese, Character Representation: Japanese,
Horror manga, like most horror subgenres, is a surprisingly deep and disturbing rabbit hole. A reader might read Junji Ito’s Uzumakior Ishida Sui’s Tokyo Ghoul series and then discover multiple authors, along with those authors’ twisted imaginations, who populate this genre. Indeed, one particular joy for a horror-loving librarian is being able to recommend a terrifying book based on the readers’ interests. For those librarians with patrons who are fans of manga and horror, they can suggest the stories lying in wait in Shintaro Kago’s collection Brain Damage.
Kago is no stranger to disturbing readers, having penned works like Dementia 21, and the four stories here, propelled by Shintaro Kago’s singular vision, will burrow their way through the readers’ skin and into their brains. Follow four identical women wake up in a strange room and try to discover why someone’s hunting them. Meet a woman who devotes her life to helping the living dead move on. See a family fights to be remembered to keep from literally disappearing from existence. Discover how used cars carry the deaths of their owners with them.
While this book doesn’t have a wraparound story that ties all these tales together, the stories individually stand on their own and savagely shock readers by way of brutal twists.Those familiar with horror manga from creators like Ito and Sui should find familiar ground as reality unspools around these characters like cheaply woven thread. But in this realm, Kago’s satirical stories and pitch black humor raise societal, ethical, and existential questions, whether it’s questioning the ethical care reserved for flesheaters or the moral quandaries involved in stopping a horde of hungry automobiles. In this way, Kago’s fiction hearkens back to anthology pioneers like Rod Serling’s Twilight Zone, who revealed real-world issues to readers through the lens of the fantastic.
Fans of manga might be familiar with how many books use black and white images to tell their stories, which can seem an odd choice for a graphic novel, particularly among horror graphic novel fans used to seeing red ink all over the page. However, Kago’s decision to use black and white should not be viewed as restraint or self-censorship. This book does indeed have bodies being turned inside out and twisted in all sorts of directions (with black ink substituting for blood). Some of the more disturbing images in this book require no blood; there’s something disconcerting about seeing a hole with no ragged edges or blood spurting simply appearing in a person’s head or torso.
Brain Damage could serve, for many readers of horror graphic novels, as a bridge between manga and story collections and vice versa. For librarians in charge of adult collections looking for content to satiate your gorehounds and manga fans, this book could offer another author for your patrons to digest after they have devoured all of Ito and other manga horror authors in your collection.
Brain Damage By Shintaro Kago Fantagraphics, 2025 ISBN: 9798875000935
NFNT Age Recommendation: Adult (18+) Creator Representation: Japanese, Character Representation: Japanese,
We love our queer comics and graphic novels here at No Flying No Tights, but this pride month we want to specifically focus on queer manga. Below is a curated list of some of our favorite manga with queer characters or plot lines.
At 30, I Realized I Had No Gender
Shou Arai
At thirty, Shou Arai realized he didn’t have a gender; he found himself navigating living and aging as a queer person in Japanese society. This collection of comics explores these themes, mixing his own experiences with questions from readers.
Appeals to
Readers looking for stories about navigating presentation while aging as an older queer person will want to pick this up.
Content Notes
Nudity; frank discussion of sex
Creator Identities:
Japanese |
Intersex |
Main Character Identities:
Japanese |
Intersex |
Recommended by
Megan Rupe
Blue Flag
Kaito
Taichi Ichinose is just trying to get through his third year of high school as uneventfully as possible, but he ends up in the same class as shy and klutzzy Futaba Kuze. She admits to him that she has a crush on star athlete Toma Mita, with whom Taichi was friendly with in elementary school. She asks for his help in winning over Toma, and even though he's pretty sure she doesn't stand a chance, he helps her. The more they hang out trying to get Toma to notice her, the more Taichi starts to see her in a different light. Meanwhile, Toma has a secret crush on his oldest friend, Taichi, and the only person in their school who seems to have figured it out is Futaba's best friend, because she is in the same situation as Futaba.
Fans of slice-of-life series with high levels of interpersonal and romantic drama will devour this series.
Content Notes
Mild sexual themes.
Creator Identities:
Japanese |
Main Character Identities:
Japanese |
Gay, Lesbian, Queer |
Recommended by
Tayla Cardillo
Confessions of a Shy Baker
Masaomi Ito
One day at Toshimitsu's real estate company, his assistant suggests advertising the company as LGBTQ+ friendly. This puts Toshi in a tight spot because he's gay, but not out at work. In the evenings, he discusses the dilemma with his boyfriend, Gonta, while they enjoy Toshi's homemade treats, trying to decide how to navigate celebrating their identity while maintaining safety.
Appeals to
In many ways, this series is like a more lighthearted version of What Did You Eat Yesterday? with a couple much earlier in their relationship. There's also the appeal of seeing a gay couple in a slice of life series, much like Our Not-So-Lonely Planet Travel Guide. While the series does discuss being out or outed, the overall mood is one of humorous or quiet moments in their lives.
Creator Identities:
Japanese |
Main Character Identities:
Japanese |
Gay |
Recommended by
Shannan Prukop
Goodbye, My Rose Garden
Dr. Pepperco
Set in 1900s England, Hanako travels from Japan to meet her favorite author, but the publisher has been given explicit instructions to keep the author's whereabouts private. At this publishing house, she meets the upper-class Lady Alice, who hires her on the spot to be her maid, to help her learn how to navigate English culture. Soon after Hanako arrives at Lady Alice's home, she discovers that rumors are circulating through high society, suggesting that Lady Alice prefers the company of women over men. With Lady Alice's quick attachment to Hanako not only as a maid but also as a companion, she must decide whether to do the noble thing for her family and marry a wealthy man, or give in to her true feelings, including her growing affection for Hanako.
Appeals to
Both girls' love enthusiasts and historical fiction lovers will find something to love in this short manga series.
Content Notes
Time period typical homophobia and xenophobia, Minor mentions of suicide, and significant mentions of planning one's death.
Creator Identities:
Japanese |
Main Character Identities:
Japanese |
Lesbian, Queer |
Recommended by
Tayla Cardillo
I Want to Be a Wall
Honami Shirono
Yuriko is an asexual woman who loves boys' love stories, but doesn’t fall in love. Gakurouta is a closeted gay man who has an unrequited crush on his childhood friend. During a matchmaker meeting, each finds an empathetic listener in the other, and they eventually decide to get married. Can these two virtual strangers form a meaningful relationship despite the pressures from society and their families?
Appeals to
With a sweet, platonic relationship at its center and a tender, and at times, intense plot, I Want to Be a Wall is an excellent exploration of what a relationship and marriage mean, especially for those whose identities are not accepted. Older teen and adult readers seeking stories about platonic or atypical relationships should pick up I Want to Be A Wall.
Content Notes
Some violence; anti-LGBTQ attitudes both directed at characters and internalized; alcohol consumption; and some heavy mental health moments
Creator Identities:
Japanese |
Main Character Identities:
Asexual, Gay |
Recommended by
Megan Rupe
Is Love the Answer?
Uta Isaki
Though many new experiences come with starting college, for Chika, one of those is not romance. At this point, she's pretty sure there's something wrong with her, as it's just never worked out or felt right for her. Then she learns the terms aromantic and asexual from new acquaintances, and finally, it feels like the puzzle pieces slide into place. Although the manga concludes with Chika still on her journey of self-discovery, the reader can see her transition from lost to more confident throughout the volume.
Appeals to
Although this manga lacks magical elements, it shares a similar mood with Our Dreams at Dusk, and readers of I Want to Be a Wall will appreciate another manga featuring asexual representation. The fact that Chika is a young adult sorting out life with relative strangers and figuring out relationships in general makes for a generally relatable read.
Content Notes
Attempted sexual assault
Creator Identities:
Japanese |
Main Character Identities:
Japanese |
Asexual |
Recommended by
Shannan Prukop
Love Me For Who I Am
Kata Konayama
Mogumo, who wears a girls' uniform and keeps their hair in pigtails, doesn't have many friends and is nervous about making them, so when Tetsu suggests they try working at a café called Question!, Mogumo isn't sure it'll work out but decides to give it a try. What Mogumo finds through their work at Question! is a community of friends across the gender spectrum, along with the support they need to address issues at home related to their identity.
Appeals to
Readers of series like To Strip the Flesh or Boys Run the Riot, who were hoping for more representation of people whose gender falls somewhere between the binary, and a cast of mostly individuals still figuring it all out, will appreciate this series. There are some complex topics here, but they're handled well, especially considering how few manga cover this ground.
Content Notes
Parental physical and mental abuse of children, depictions of self harm, transphobia
Creator Identities:
Japanese |
Main Character Identities:
Japanese |
Nonbinary |
Recommended by
Shannan Prukop
The Moon on a Rainy Night
Kuzushiro
Saki Kindaichi was walking to her piano lesson when she bumped into a girl with long black hair on the street. This girl helps her put herself back together, even offering her a band-aid for her cut hand, and then leaves without saying a word. The next day, she enters her high school class for the first day of school, and the girl from the night before is seated next to her. She discovers that her name is Kanon Oikawa and that she's hard of hearing. Their teacher is worried about Kanon needing extra support because of her disability, but Kanon wants everyone to leave her alone. Despite Kanon making it clear she doesn't want to make friends, Saki still tries to make her feel included. Will Kanon continue to push Saki away, or learn that making new friends might not be so bad?
Appeals to
Readers who love a sapphic romance that begins slowly, rooted in deep friendship, will enjoy this series.
Content Notes
Ableism
Creator Identities:
Japanese |
Main Character Identities:
Japanese |
Lesbian, Queer |
Hearing loss |
Recommended by
Tayla Cardillo
Why I Adopted My Husband
Yuta Yagi
There is no gay marriage in Japan, so Yuta Yagi and his partner Kyota decide that Kyota should adopt Yagi. Drawn in adorable chibi style, Why I Adopted my Husband tells their relationship’s story, the decision, and the adoption process.
Appeals to
Readers seeking stories about LGBTQ individuals in other countries will find "Why I Adopted My Husband" an engaging read. Additionally, Yagi and Kyota’s love for each other is clear as day, making this enjoyable for a reader looking for a sweet queer love story.
Content Notes
Brief discussions and portrayal of smoking and drinking; outing
ordinary, people know what happens after death. Crow gods meet the souls approaching purgatory, advising them how to cross harsh plains to reach the Gate of Rebirth. As a parting gift, they create a delicious dough that will last the 49 days the journey takes. Once the living learned of this practice they began to make funeral desserts for their loved ones.
Guardians: rare kids who have tiny magical companions called Guardian Characters, which grant special powers. In fact, where most Guardians have a single Guardian Character each, Amu has four. Perhaps it’s no surprise that she is chosen for a special mission: unraveling a mystery at a prestigious but strange middle school called Arcana Academy.
impoverished parents. Her new husband, Hans, is dashingly handsome, loves animals, and is pleasant and outgoing in public. But in private, he belittles her and subjects her to sexual violence and humiliation. Her only respite occurs when Hans takes a business trip to Portugal, leaving her to freely study what fascinates her more than anything: flight.
demi humans is the spark that will trigger a much larger conflict to come.
Baki Hanma has just upset the annual karate championship and sent shockwaves through the world of martial arts. This wide-eyed, 17 year old white belt newbie shouldn’t have been able to face off against more seasoned fighters, yet somehow he toppled them all to win first place. What’s going on with this kid?
classmates are focused on fashion and dating. But Ema cannot be bothered with such things. She dreams of following in the footsteps of her parents, who were both police officers before their deaths defending their community. Until such time as she can become a real cop, Ema roams the streets of Tokyo as a vigilante.
