Boys Run the Riot by Keito Gaku Series: Boys Run the Riot #1
Published by Kodansha Comics on May 25th 2021
Genres: Contemporary, Manga, LGBTQIA, Young Adult
A transgender teen named Ryo finds an escape from the expectations and anxieties of his daily life in the world of street fashion. This personal, heartfelt, fictional story from a transgender manga creator made waves in Japan and will inspire readers all over the world!
AT THE SEAMS
High schooler Ryo knows he’s transgender, but he doesn’t have anyone to confide in about the confusion he feels. He can’t tell his best friend, who he’s secretly got a crush on, and he can’t tell his mom, who’s constantly asking why Ryo “dresses like a boy.” He certainly can’t tell Jin, the new transfer student who looks like just another bully… The only time Ryo feels at ease is when he’s wearing his favorite clothes. Then, and only then, the world melts away, and he can be his true self. One day, while out shopping, Ryo sees someone he didn’t expect: Jin. The kid who looked so tough in class has the same taste in fashion as him! At last, Ryo has someone he can open up to—and the journey ahead might finally give him a way to express himself to the world.
I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher. This does not influence my thoughts on the book or this review.
I’ve heard about this manga months ago when the English translation was first announced and I’m so happy that it lived up to my expectations! I am a huge fan of ownvoices stories and seeing a manga about a trans teen written by a trans author made me so happy, especially as the plot revolved not solely around identity but around art and fashion.
Ryo is a transgender guy, trying to keep his head down and out of sight of his classmates. When a new student, Jin, turns out to be the only one who see Ryo for who he is, the pair starts working on creating their own fashion brand.
There are so many amazing parts to this manga that I don’t even know where to start. First, I have to mention that the art style is one of my favourites. I loved that the illustrations were crisp and really defined, which I sometimes don’t get to see in the manga I read. I also loved the friendship between Jin and Ryo, especially because Jin seems a bit of a bully on the outside but a single conversation with him shows that he is really genuine and sweet.
I also loved that the focus of this manga is on fashion. Fashion helps Ryo express himself and I think that aspect would be relatable to many readers, even non-trans readers. This focus on fashion also allows the manga to be not just about identity but allows art as expression to be a part of the manga.
This first volume also includes a fascinating exclusive author interview between the publisher and the author in celebration of an English translation. I also liked that there was an acknowledgements from the editor that talked about their connection to the manga and that they worked with an all transgender team to make this release possible.
Overall, if you are a fan of manga, I highly recommend this title. Even non-manga readers who appreciate books with unique characters that make you want to root for them will enjoy this release. I am so excited to see where this series goes next!
