long and useless

The list has been considerably refurbished and updated, though sadly, aside from licensing news and others, there's been precious few volumes of yaoi manga actually released. Financial difficulties abound.

Note: several publishing dates have been changed. Many titles have been pushed back or released later than anticipated. The dates of the unreleased manga is still very much up in the air, so don't kill me if it's distributed later than you thought it would be. Please?

One worthy manga to mention: Antique Bakery, by Yumi Yoshinaga. She's one of my favourite mangaka, though little known outside of the one above work and her yaoi manga volumes. Her artwork's detailed, her plots incredible, and Antique Bakery was one of those rare series that had slash elements but didn't let it take over the plot. The story is very much wrapped up around the owner of the bakery and the concept of the manga is wonderful. It takes events that happened in the past and she dances with how one action can affect characters for years to come. While I had known it was popular in Japan, no way had I thought it would get licensed over here. But I guess winning the Kodansha Manga Award (shoujo series) will get any manga series translated and very few better than this.

This series is not exactly for the hardcore fans of shoujo or those who are expecting lots and lots of slashiness. There's very little conventional romance and it's fairly painful and angsty. I really, really, really recommend this series. Seriously. For all those on my flist who read manga, if you enjoy foreshadowing, in-depth character development, an engaging plot, then Antique Bakery is an absolute must. At only four volumes, I consider it doable. (oh, all right, I'll bite. It does include a couple scenes for the yaoi fan).

Her previous work has included Gerard and Jacques. One of her notable specialties is historical manga, either in Japan's feudal past or in Europe's (often France or England) nobility-past.

This is an update of this list.

Warnings: This list contains manga that is explicit in slash, yaoi, bl, whatever one wants to call it. There's lots of boyonboy action, so if that's not your cup of tea, refrain from clicking on my pretty lj-cut. Flaming, ranting, and promises of hell will be laughed at.


News

Tokyopop confirms that they will distribute (but not publish, adapt, translate, license, or basically have anything to do with it until the dough starts rolling in) Blu Label, a line that will be exclusively yaoi manga. Acquisitions include Earthian, Love Mode, and Shinobu Kokoro: Hidden Heart. Thanks to aka_anonymous for the tip.

Thanks to jairigami! Gravitation is ending at V.12 and will be released 12 July 2005! *boggles* I always thought it went up to V.18 or something... but then again, there was that wide gap of six years where I didn't pay much attention... -_-;;



"Love Mode" (11 Volumes)
Yuki Shimizu
Blu
Start: November 2005 (rough)
End:
Link

"Earthian" (3 Volumes; special edition)
Yun Kouga (mangaka of "Loveless")
Blu
Start: November 2005 (rough)
End:
Link

"Shinobu Kokoro"
Temari Matsumoto (the artist who illustrates for the Kyou Kara Maou novels)
Start: November 2005 (rough)
End:
Link

"Beyond My Touch"
Tomo Maeda
Digital Manga Publishing
November 2005
Link

"Dost Thou Know?"
(Kimi Shiruya)
Satoru Ishihara
Digital Manga Publishing
November 2005
Link

"Our Kingdom"
Naduji Koujima
Digital Manga Publishing
Start: October 2005
End:
Link

"Jazz"
Tamotsu Takamure
Digital Manga Publishing
Start: October 2005
End:
Link

"La Esperanca"
Chigusa Kawai
Digital Manga Publishing
Start: October 2005
End:
Link

"Our Everlasting"
Touko Kawai
Digital Manga Publishing
Start: October 2005
End:
Link

"Alone in My King’s Harem"
Lily Hoshino
Digital Manga Publishing
September 2005
Link

"Antique Bakery" (4 Volumes)
Fumi Yoshinaga
Digital Manga Publishing
Start: July 2005
End:
Link

"Embracing Love"
(Haru wo Daiteita)
Youka Nitta
Central Park Media – Be Beautiful
Start: June 2005
End:
Link

"Yellow"
Makoto Tateno
Digital Manga Publishing
Start: June 2005
End:
Link

"RG Veda" (10 Volumes)
CLAMP
TOKYOPOP
Start: April 2005
End:
Link

"Finder Series"
Ayano Yamane
Central Park Media – Be Beautiful
Start: March 2005
End:
Link

"Level C"
Futaba Aoi & Mitsuba Kurenai
Media Blasters
Start:
Link

"Gamerz Heaven"
Maki Murakami
ADV
Start: November 2004
End:
Link

"Until the Full Moon" (2 Volumes)
Sanami Matoh
Broccoli Books
Start: October 2004 (Limited Release); February 2005
End: March 2005 (Limited Release)
Available only at Borders and Waldenbooks during Limited Release
Link

“From Eroica With Love”
(Eroica Yori Ai Wo Komete)
Aoike Yasuko
DC Comics
Start: October 2004
End:
Link

"Desire"
Maki Kazumi and Yukine Honami
Digital Manga Publishing
October 2004
Link

"Legal Drug"
CLAMP
TOKYOPOP
Start: October 2004
End:
Link

"Kimera" (out of print)
Kazuma Kodaka
ADV Manga
October 2004
Link

"Selfish Love" (2 Volumes)
Naduki Koujima
Central Park Media – Be Beautiful
Start: September 2004
End: November 2004
Link

"Hands Off!"
Kasane Katsumoto
TOKYOPOP
Start: September 2004
End:
Link

"Passion" (2 Volumes)
Shinobu Gotoh
Digital Manga Publishing
Start: September 2004
End: March 2005
Link

"Only the Ring Finger Knows"
Satoru Kannagi and Hotaru Odagiri
Digital Manga Publishing
August 2004
Link

"Skyscrapers of OZ"
Yoshino Somei and Row Takakura
Kitty Media
August 2004
Link (WARNING: Goes to a site for ADULTS ONLY)

"Golden Cain"
You Asagiri
Central Park Media – Be Beautiful
August 2004
Link

"Kizuna: Bonds of Love"
Kazuma Kodaka
Central Park Media – Be Beautiful
Start: August 2004
End:
Link

"Descendents of Darkness"
(Yami no Matsuei)
Yoko Matsushita
VIZ
Start: August 2004
End:
Link

"Tokyo Babylon" (7 Volumes)
CLAMP
TOKYOPOP
Start: May 2004
End: May 2005
Link

"Banana Fish" (19 Volumes)
Akimi Yoshida
VIZ
Start: March 2004
End:
Link

"Eerie Queerie" (4 Volumes)
Shuri Shiozu and Heidi Yamaguchi
TOKYOPOP
Start: March 2004
End: September 2004
Link

"Gravitation" (12 Volumes)
Maki Murakai
TOKYOPOP
Start: August 2003
End: July 2005
Link

"FAKE" (7 Volumes)
Sanami Matoh
TOKYOPOP
Start: May 2003
End: May 2004
Link

Once again, if there are any mistakes or anything I might have missed, give me a heads up.