Lit of Comics & Graphic Narratives

 This. This is what representation looks like, not yaoi. This is not a romanticized work, although the bara men are very obviously the author's forte. This is fictional, yes, but one of the most wholesome representations of the gay community. I'm actually really glad Yaichi was homophobic at the beginning because a lot of the plot was centered around changing his ideals and considering the view of those around him. Lot's of great character development! I'm also so glad he included Kana because I read somewhere that said this really well- children learn discrimination from the adults around them. It's a thing they are taught and not something that they inherently believe unless told differently. So I'm genuinely so glad Kana was there to be an unbiased character who steers Yaichi in the better direction to understanding people who are not like him. Mike is just a big lovely man... I love how human he is. "He's not a thing," like Yaichi mentioned in ...

 I usually love media that expresses emotion. Emotion is one of my favorite things that we have as humans, and this manga made me feel a lot. I could relate a lot to the character in terms of depression and anxiety, but I also felt like I learned a lot about myself reading it. I think that was the author's indirect intention. She had such a hard time understanding her own thoughts, feelings, and emotions, that she ended up expelling all of the pent up anxiety about it into her work; this indirectly lets readers experience what life looks like in her eyes, and ends up making them sympathize/empathize with her a lot easier. That's what I assume at least, because that's what happened to me. Figuring out your life without having your expectations of your parents is no easy feat and something I can relate to very much. I'm really hoping she's feeling a lot better than when she started, although I'm aware mental illness is an inherent and chronic struggle for the rest...

 I wasn't sure how I felt about this comic when I started reading it considering it starts with Luna being executed and put into slavery... But it really grew on me the more I read. I started identifying themes and morals the story was trying to tell. Luna is the epitome of a kind person. She doesn't let Byouma die even whens he was trying to kill her for the entirety of the comic. She thinks everyone is a person with a life and soul and no one should be hurt if she can help it. I really appreciate the character exposition and growth we see from each of the characters as well. Eiji just wants to live his own life and resents his family in the beginning but once their father is assassinated and his mother is left to live in a much more humble home, he is reminded of how much family means to him. This goes for the entirety of the Kusuhara family- each of them is reminded what family really means by the end of the story, and despite them having next to nothing- it doesn't matt...