Bike's manga / #b-manga-hold(4)

Brief notes: inner monologue, school and homophobia, finding confidants in each other, slow burn Finished Volume 1 I liked it. It expresses the POV of both a gay man as well as a ‘heterosexual’ person (or at least a person unfamiliar with homosexual struggles) seeing homosexuality for the first time. The dialogue itself gets confusing at times, but I don’t particularly mind, as it addresses what it means for a person to be gay. It is a bit difficult, at times, to get into the mind space of a person unfamiliar with LGBTQ+ issues, as for me, I have seen it on the internet for a long time, during a time where it’s become more accepted. But I know there are other countries, where even in Japan, it’s still not being taken so seriously, and it heavily relies on the social space around you to feel comfortable. I feel that it expresses internalized homophobia well, especially in the context of a more conservative country. I feel as it’s gotten me, personally, to feel more comfortable about my ideas, as well as embrace other ones. I enjoyed the volume 1 for exploring sexuality, and discussing what it means to live in your adolescence. It is not afraid to embrace prejudice within the school setting, and is able to define what an ‘outsider looking in’ may feel like without pushing the discussion away from issues regarding homosexuality. I appreciate to see an MC who tries to understand, at least, rather than make the narrative about himself. * manga written in 2000

Besotted x Fucking Oblivious Tsundere It's cute, but I am slightly concerned with the ML and how he wants him to stay chubby. Better not to look into it too much, I suppose. Recommend: a light read, pretty wholesome, all things aside

Chapter 6 I think it's interesting, but I do believe the translation makes it hard to understand. Appreciate the translator for translating nonetheless.

Read up to 32.7 Like the perspective this manga provides on the porn industry (particularly in JP). Behind the scenes tid-bits (fake cum, camerawork, etc.). Fun reoccurring cast. While I'm not the biggest fan of the narrator (perverts aren't my thing. i say this reading this manga lmao), he's charming in a pathetic kind of way. I adore the frog design, it's so stupid-looking, haha.