365 Days of Manga, Day 194: J-Boy by Biblos

J-BOY BY BIBLOS (Junk! Boy) ????????) • Various Artists • DMP (2006) • Biblos • 1 volume • 18+ (mild language, nudity, sex)
This anthology collects one-shots and spin-offs from the Japanese magazine Junk! Boy, a companion to the leading yaoi magazines Be x Boy and Be x Boy Gold. (Ironically, following Biblos’ bankruptcy in 2006, those magazines are now published by Libre, but the title “J-Boy by Biblos” remains on this English edition.) Of the sixteen stories included in this anthology, two are worth reading (Haruka Minami’s “Indecent Encounter,” about a nipple fetishist and Tsubaki Mikage’s “Go! Conflict Management Unit,” a quickie about a paranormal investigation unit that could have been much longer). The rest vary between mediocre and bad, and very few contain any sex. Some are downright disturbing, like the various stories that involve cute little animals turning into underage boys, or attenuated young men who also happen to be animals. While no actual sex is shown (though “Here in Magic Land” and “Getting Along” heavily imply offscreen sex), they add a rather uncomfortable ick factor to the mix. The other artists in the book include Homerun Ken and Naduki Koujima. (Review by Hannah Santiago)

Today’s review is by my yaoi-reading friend Hannah Santiago… and today’s winner is Stephanie A. of Pennsylvania! Congratulations, Stephanie! If you happen to be in Seattle this weekend, see you at Sakuracon!