Bl Metamorphosis, Vol. 1

Tsurutani’s first English-language release presents a refreshing intergenerational friendship tale in which one’s gender isn’t a restriction when it comes to being a fan of media about romantic relationships between men. Wanting to cool off, 75-year-old widow Yuki Ichinoi walks into a bookstore and unknowingly picks up and purchases a yaoi (boys’ love–genre) manga, thinking “the art is lovely.” The cashier, high school student Urara Sayama, is herself a yaoi fan, and hesitatingly offers a paper cover for the volume (which the older woman politely declines). Reminiscing about her time reading “a fair bit of manga,” Ichinoi is soon hooked on her discovery. “Oh, my...” she says, with a jump cut from her reading the romance in bed to hurrying back to the store to purchase its subsequent volumes. As she begins to bond with Urara, they meet at a café, chat about books, and find in each other kindred spirits. The plot unfolds at an unhurried pace, with nicely detailed art. Reminiscent of Princess Jellyfish, this female-centric view of a subgenre usually known for its steamier aspects offers an unusual and endearing twist to manga’s expected pairings. [em](Apr.) [/em]