Severely Underrated BL and/or Yaoi

[Kitsune-chi]

A lot of us, though maybe not all of us, have that one series that has little to no fandom. You're one of the few, the proud watchers/readers of its wonderfulness- or, at least, that you know of. There may not be a lot of fanart, there may not be a lot of fanfiction, hell, there may not be a lot of FANS, but you still like it.

There are a few reasons for this: One, it just isn't that good but you like it anyway.

Two: Lack of exposure and/or english liscencing.

For me, I think- er, hope- it's the latter with some of my favorites.

Examples?

-Seikimatsu Darling (End-of-the-century Darling)
-Love Mode
-Tsuyogari (No idea what this translates into)
-Koi Wa Ina Mono Myouna Mono (Love Is a Strange and Different Thing)

... I will admit I was exposed to all of these through scanlations.

*cough*

So! Do tell. Express some of the BL/Yaoi that you find is grossly underappreciated. Also: Is it frustrating they're so esoteric? Or is it actually kinda nice? How were you introduced to these lesser known titles? Are they liscenced, and if not do you think they should be? DISCUSS, YO.  

[muraasaki]

Sakendi Yaruze! (サケンヂ　やるぜ！)--> Shout Out Loud!  

[Skizzors]

I think it's better that they're a little unheard of. By no means would I freak out or complain if they were suddenly to become pinnacles of fandom (hell, if all the rabid fangirls watched Seikimatsu instead of Gravitation..!) but this way there's a nice little surprise when you run into another fan. Also, when things are too popular, they sometimes get spin-offs or sequels based off their popularity, and a lot of times it's just past their time: the door should've been left closed. (Heeeello, Gravitation.. I seem to be insulting you a lot today.)

Never heard of the last two on your list but I'll have to look them up. :3
habbawha--? You mean Seikimatsu has a manga?! O_O

I found whatever lesser-known titles I did through, usually, reviews on BL-based sites.. the main one of which I can't name due to some of the pictures in the yaoi reviews. ^^;

Last one I tried to watch was Close the Last Door, but it got really cliche and stupid and bad, so I started skimming through the videos.. looks like its only redeeming factor is a really cute semi-love interest. rolleyes  

[Kitsune-chi]

Skizzors

I think it's better that they're a little unheard of. By no means would I freak out or complain if they were suddenly to become pinnacles of fandom (hell, if all the rabid fangirls watched Seikimatsu instead of Gravitation..!) but this way there's a nice little surprise when you run into another fan. Also, when things are too popular, they sometimes get spin-offs or sequels based off their popularity, and a lot of times it's just past their time: the door should've been left closed. (Heeeello, Gravitation.. I seem to be insulting you a lot today.)

Never heard of the last two on your list but I'll have to look them up. :3
habbawha--? You mean Seikimatsu has a manga?! O_O

I found whatever lesser-known titles I did through, usually, reviews on BL-based sites.. the main one of which I can't name due to some of the pictures in the yaoi reviews. ^^;

Last one I tried to watch was Close the Last Door, but it got really cliche and stupid and bad, so I started skimming through the videos.. looks like its only redeeming factor is a really cute semi-love interest. rolleyes

I like it if they're lesser known, too. I mean, it's great if you find fanart and fanfics and stuff, but the more popular the fandom is, the more the badfic comes to kill it. If I have to see one more fic about some random male from the cast of Gravitation raping Shuichi and Shuichi, in spite of the emotional and psychological damage this would cause to anybody else, falls in love with them... GUH. Or those "OMG WILL YUKI EVER SAY HE LOVES ME" fics. Just... no. No, no, no.

*ohmygodyayanotherseikimatsufanwhee*

The reason I like Seikimatsu is its unique first trial of the relationship: Unrequited feelings? Freaking out over sexuality? No! It's the who-gets-to-be-top-routine! Ohnoez! But with Gravitation... I really do wish they had just left it alone after the twelfth volume. I bought Gravitation Ex, and urgh. Didn't like it. Don't even get me started on the art or the fact that everybody seems to have found some kind of reverse-aging serum or something. Shuichi looks about twelve, Tohma's just creepy, I barely recognized Hiro, and Fujisaki has a magically pattern-changing shirt at one point. It goes from striped to like, cow pattern. O_O Or vice versa. Also, Murakami seems to have lost the ability to STAY IN THE LINES OF PANELS. =_=

Yuki's still hot, I guess, but still.

And about the last two: Tsuyogari is, I'm gonna admit it, kind of cliche. I don't think it's enough to turn one off to it completely, because the characters were likeable enough and unique to a point. While the premises of the couples themselves were overdone a bit (The first story is student/teacher, but the student is seme, so that's a nice touch. The second story is the whole super-straight-playboy falls for another boy, angsting and sexual identification issues ensue, they end up together in the end) but it's the little things that make me laugh about it. Plus the art? Abso-freaking-lutely GORGEOUS. I'm pretty sure the tones are digital, though, but it's got a wonderful look about it. It's by Nekota Yonezou (I think that's it?) who did a helluva lot of Prince of Tennis doujinshi under the name Yamada D.

Koi wa ina mono myouna mono (Say that five times fast. Hell, MEMORIZE it. I dare you. XD) is by one of my favorite mangaka, Taishi Zaou. She did Princess Princess under the name Miyoko Tsuda. The premise itself is hilarious: The main character has been having foreseeing dreams since he was a kid. They stopped happening until around junior high, but one night he dreams he does it with a guy. XD What's more, he's bottom. He doesn't think anything of it the first time, (well, he freaks out, but that's it) but then he has the dream again and again, and so he realizes he's going to turn gay. So, to counterract that, he constantly carries porn around with him to reassure his heterosexuality. Eventually he meets the guy he's doing it with in the dream at his school, and he spazzes out and avoids hiim like the plague. It just gets really funny from there. XD

Actually, Seikimatsu does have a manga! I got a hold of some of the scanlations, but they stopped after like, volume 1. It goes on longer in Japan though, methinks. I know there's more than a few volumes, from what I know. I did love the OVA, though, so that's enough for me.

I tend to find lesser-known titles or new ones in general from Amazon reviews or from scanlation sites. Or, occasionally, ones I see recommended here! :3

I've never heard of Close the Last Door. I'm guessing, from what you said, the quality is why. *giggle* The whole semi-cute love interest thing actually reminds me of Papa to Kiss in the Dark. (I watched it out of morbid curiosity. DON'T JUDGE ME. >> <<) One of the main uke- er, character's best friend ss in love with him, but boohoo, it goes unrequited. Even though they still have sex. With little to no contemplating as to why his best friend just boinked him. I remember thinking, "Okay, he's not related or twice your age, nor does he look like a carbon copy of Eiri Yuki, (Dude, Gravi again?) date HIM instead."

*sigh*  

[Skizzors]

I'm glad for Gravi's existence for nothing other than great music and a few really good fics that transcended the shittiness of the series itself. ..okay, and because it was my gateway manga into BL, like it was so many others'. I'll give it that.
Good ideas at first, bad execution, slowly dropping art quality, then lack of good ideas, then practically NO IDEAS.. I read Ex only in that magazine before it was licensed, and oh man, so bad. Three-page chapter? Random kid? Shuichi less male-looking than usual? Eep.

Yaaay, Seikimatsu! heart
I love Seikimatsu because of that, too. <3 I like many of the "build-up, build-up, angst, build-up, kiss/END" series too, but my absolute FAVORITES are generally the ones that either start with the beginning of the relationship, or continue on after. Seikimatsu, of course, Menkui, Kiss ja Tomaranai, Kusatta.

Yuki's hot, sure, but with all the backstory sucked out of him he's not much of a character anymore. My favorite characters were Tohma are Ryuichi, and from what I've seen from Ex discussion, Murakami's ******** them both up royally.

They both sound interesting, even though I have some issues with Taishi Zaou (in the Day of Revolution, when the main character was told he couldn't remain living as a man because his mother had already bought female clothes for him, it pissed me off no end. I know it's just a comedy, but still, going against someone's wishes regarding their gender and LIFE does not a happy Skizz make).. but I love her art, so maybe I can try this one. *shrug* Benefit of the doubt. XP Sorry to rant.

Awesome! Definitely gonna check it out. 3nodding

Yeeeah, I watched Papa too. Well. The first half an episode. I could tell it was pretty awful after that. Don't know how I didn't realize by reading the summary. rofl

Close the Last Door's story is basically what.. this guy's best friend is getting married, after the reception he's at a bar and starts complain about how the wife is a b***h and doesn't deserve him, she took him away from him, etc. etc. and the guy he's at the bar with (also from the wedding; one of the wife's coworkers) eventually takes him home because he's so drunk. They almost have sex, but then they don't, then the main character angsts about which one he likes. As far as I can tell. I didn't get past the almost-sex.

EDIT: Ah, Tsuyogari and Koi wa Whatever are both yaoi? I'm not much for reading porn on purpose, I'm not yet 18 so I still feel guilty about it. If they're really good otherwise with only a little sex it's alright, but..  

[Kitsune-chi]

Skizzors

I'm glad for Gravi's existence for nothing other than great music and a few really good fics that transcended the shittiness of the series itself. ..okay, and because it was my gateway manga into BL, like it was so many others'. I'll give it that.
Good ideas at first, bad execution, slowly dropping art quality, then lack of good ideas, then practically NO IDEAS.. I read Ex only in that magazine before it was licensed, and oh man, so bad. Three-page chapter? Random kid? Shuichi less male-looking than usual? Eep.

Yaaay, Seikimatsu! heart
I love Seikimatsu because of that, too. <3 I like many of the "build-up, build-up, angst, build-up, kiss/END" series too, but my absolute FAVORITES are generally the ones that either start with the beginning of the relationship, or continue on after. Seikimatsu, of course, Menkui, Kiss ja Tomaranai, Kusatta.

Yuki's hot, sure, but with all the backstory sucked out of him he's not much of a character anymore. My favorite characters were Tohma are Ryuichi, and from what I've seen from Ex discussion, Murakami's ******** them both up royally.

They both sound interesting, even though I have some issues with Taishi Zaou (in the Day of Revolution, when the main character was told he couldn't remain living as a man because his mother had already bought female clothes for him, it pissed me off no end. I know it's just a comedy, but still, going against someone's wishes regarding their gender and LIFE does not a happy Skizz make).. but I love her art, so maybe I can try this one. *shrug* Benefit of the doubt. XP Sorry to rant.

Awesome! Definitely gonna check it out. 3nodding

Yeeeah, I watched Papa too. Well. The first half an episode. I could tell it was pretty awful after that. Don't know how I didn't realize by reading the summary. rofl

Close the Last Door's story is basically what.. this guy's best friend is getting married, after the reception he's at a bar and starts complain about how the wife is a b***h and doesn't deserve him, she took him away from him, etc. etc. and the guy he's at the bar with (also from the wedding; one of the wife's coworkers) eventually takes him home because he's so drunk. They almost have sex, but then they don't, then the main character angsts about which one he likes. As far as I can tell. I didn't get past the almost-sex.

EDIT: Ah, Tsuyogari and Koi wa Whatever are both yaoi? I'm not much for reading porn on purpose, I'm not yet 18 so I still feel guilty about it. If they're really good otherwise with only a little sex it's alright, but..

I've actually seen some wonderful Gravi fics myself. But yes, Ex did get pretty horrible.

... OhmygodyoualsomentionedMENKUI. <3 I was just thinking about how I forgot to add that to my list.

And with Yuki, I just meant that he seems to be one of the only aesthetically pleasing characters in Gravi at this point. Ryuichi too, actually, but damn if his sudden attraction to Shuichi didn't seem random and unfounded. I kind of dislike all of them in one way or another now, which is a little depressing. Ahaha.

As for Taishi Zaou, I definitely see where you're coming from with Day of Revolution. To be honest, I haven't read it, but the premise of it altogether I didn't really like. And from what you tell me, it would have pissed me off a bit too.

Her art IS fabulous, though.

Papa to Kiss is one of those anime that you almost get bragging rights for having watched it, it's so messed up.

... Close the Last Door doesn't sound like my cup of tea either.

Oh! And so sorry! Yeah, both of them are yaoi, both contain sex. Not horribly graphic but... er, more so than Papa to Kiss, less than Sensitive Pornograph, to give an idea. (I couldn't even watch SP... >_> <_<) Actually, Koi Wa has extra chapters that weren't in the continuity of the book I got ahold of, and they're more or less JUST sex. If you're not looking for Yaoi, then I definitely wouldn't recommend them. I probably should have mentioned that earlier. I'm so sorry! That was noobish of me for not warning you.  

[eclipsed_love]

i love オズの摩天楼-skyscraper of oz and the pre-seires, やんなっちゃうくらい愛してる-can't stop loving you, from Row Takakura. both contain a cute love story an a lot of lovin'. i found a ton of new seies in 'j-boys' (it has a bunch of new titles) there are some in there i haven't even seen come through june' yet that look cute. getting along is another one i really like heart  

[Scribraven]

Innocent Bird
Soba ni oitene

Are two that come to mind. But, has anyone read a really sweet shonen-ai about two water nymphs? It's really, really good, and I don't know the name...

These are not out in the U.S, I don't think.  

[Skizzors]

Scribraven

Are two that come to mind. But, has anyone read a really sweet shonen-ai about two water nymphs? It's really, really good, and I don't know the name...

Tsuki to Mizu no Yoru? Haven't read it, but I recognized the idea and looked it up..  

[thecatsred]

Be Thirsty of Love is a good one that you can find in the Aarinfantasy forums. I heard about it when I was on a hunt for more manga that Yukine Honami had drawn. It's very good and is the only three-some I've come across so far.  

[eduardo galpaleano]

Crimson Spell isn't talked about all that much - but I prefer it to her other work (Finder Series); its being released in America next month though - so maybe it'll get talked a BIT more about. I hope, at least - I adore it so much;;


To stand on the edge of the knife;
Cutting through the nightmare from which;
I just cannot awaken;
Stand on the edge of the night;
Living inside a moment;
From which I will never awaken.

 

[YaoiBandit]

Black Knight...umm...not sure how much attention all the DMP yaoi mangas get, but them too.  

[[Romiette]]

I haven't heard of 90% of them sweatdrop . Just goes to show you how truely underrated they are.  

[Titaniana]

Demon diary. It's so cute, and you can't help but love it, all the characters are funny.  

[PlushieLovah]

Our Kingdom and Il Sato Gul G