Yaoi: the gay manga
One part of popular culture I’ve often ignored is manga, but there is a growing subsection of these Japanese graphic novels that is worth attention: yaoi. The Vampire’s Portrait, Homemade Vampire and Pathos are three examples of yaoi vampire manga.
First we need to look beyond the misconception that some suggest that yaoi is a term for female-oriented fiction with a homoerotic focus. There seem to be many wikipedia pages devoted to clarifying that yaoi is a term used mostly outside Japan and denotes manga featuring male relationships written by women. Bara is the term used within Japan to describe gay manga (though I like the sound of “gei comi”, transl. gay comics), but also the style of bara is usually characterized by masculine or muscular men, normally beefcakes or bears. Yaoi characters tend to be more feminine and most seem to have long hair.
(As an aside, I always notice that the gay vampire fiction, normally through ebooks, that tends to show or feature men with long hair is written by women. Long hair, unless I’m misguided, is not currently a popular trend in the gay community).
Now let’s discuss the three yaoi books mentioned above. The following general summaries do give away a lot of the plot, so be fore warned.
I only recently discovered the Homemade Vampire. It’s a one-shot book based around the relationship between the two main characters, Harumi and Raito. Raito, who is western and half-vampire, comes to live with his uncle Harumi, and while Harumi is the older man (and straight) Raito is the one to initiate the relationship (and the sex). As the story goes, when Raito was a small child he cut his hand and someone the two exchanged blood while licking their fingers clean. Raito returns to Harumi explaining their exchange was like a contract (like marriage). They are drawn to each other and this ends with Harumi becoming a vampire.
Pathos follows the story of two vampires, King and J, who adopt a young human boy, Ace. The story spans two volumes as Ace grows from a boy to man. King acts as the kind and caring older brother to Ace. J on the other hand distances himself so as not to get too close to the boy. Ace becomes old enough to know he wishes to be a vampire and desires for J. He is sent to boarding school to keep him safe. When he is eighteen, Ace returns to King and J insisting he become a vampire. Rebuked, Ace attempts to end his life but is saved. Something else happens but as much as I am already spoiling the plot, I won’t spoil the ending.
Finally, The Vampire’s Portrait, which is only just heading into it’s second volume in December, is a far darker tale. Lou is a street artist in Paris and one day catches the eye of Sein who commissions Lou to paint his true portrait. Lou moves in with Sein but painting Sein’s portrait is difficult; Sein is picky and has outbursts where he destroys the canvases, he’s also so old he doesn’t remember how he looks but he’s also haunted by his true vampiric image. Lou soon discovers that Sein is a composer who knew his grandfather and that Sein is also a vampire. Another suitor for Sein’s affection, Adam, appears and manages to trick Lou away from Sein. Lou is finds himself unsure who to trust in the tangled web of lies.
Get Pathos Vol.1: Amazon.com
Get Pathos Vol.2: Amazon.com
Get The Vampire’s Portrait: Amazon.com
The Vampire’s Portrait Vol.2 coming Dec 2, 09 from: Amazon.com
Coming soon: How to Seduce a Vampire (Yaoi)
Other Yaoi vampire stories: Necratoholic (Yaoi)
