My pal Kris from down under, who has her own blog called Kris 'N' Good Books, is a big fan of Japanese Yaoi and graphic novels. I've never been really interested in reading them until Kris posted about a MM pirate romance adventure graphic novel called Black Wade: The Wild Side of Love.
Synopsis: The rough and merciless pirate Black Wade and his band are the scare of the seven seas. And just like his greed for gold is insatiable, his sexual craving knows no boundaries as well: When they board a British ship, Wade takes Lieutenant Jack Wilkins as a prisoner to satisfy his lust. At first Wilkins struggles with all his might, but soon he has to acknowledge that he actually has pleasure in the eager sexual encounters with the handsome pirate. In the meantime his fiancée Annabeth is waiting wistfully for the return of Jack, not knowing if he’s still alive. And on the pirate ship emotions are running high as well: Buccaneer Marak keeps a jealous watch over the prisoner Jack. He would love to polish Wade’s gun barrel himself. Due to the rising nervousness Wade realizes that he cannot allow himself the tender feelings he begins to have for Jack. To prove how merciless he is, he maroons Jack on a raft and relinquishes him to the forces of the wide ocean.
After reading Kris' thoughts on Black Wade and also reading a review from
Sarah at Rain of the Roof blog, I was more than intrigued because the essence of Black Wade is a swashbuckling pirate romance, but with two men.
As well as purchasing Black Wade, Kris kindly sent me my very first Yaoi by Hisami Shimada called
Maid in Heaven. This is a very different type of book from Black Wade and I had two very different reactions to each book.
Synopsis: In place of his ailing grandma, Midori must become a maid for the young and handsome Asagi. Midori spends every day with his master, servicing his every want and need. However, each time Midori gets close to his master's "satisfaction" they are interrupted. Will this pretty-boy maid ever get to complete his services? Find out in this unique, cute and very erotic tale of love!
In this discussion Kris and I talk about both books, as well as the appeal of Yaoi and other type of graphic or magna novels. A word of warning, our discussion is a bit
graphic, so beware!
Kris: After weeks and weeks of pimping, nagging and promising smutty treats, Katiebabs finally caved in (ie has the willpower of the size of an ant's leg) and tried her first m/m stories in graphic form. *wipes tear from eye* It was a very proud day for me... but not nearly as interesting for her Mumma who was reportedly very intrigued by what KB was reading. (I think that might be a post in itself. *hehehe*)
Anyways, being nosy, I wanted to know what she thought of the two books she read. Not only because I'm pretty sure these are the first she's read in this medium, but also because both represented very different m/m genres; one being a graphic novel in full colour and the other a yaoi manga. This was how our conversation went...
So, Katiebabs chook, I curious about what made you decide to take the plunge to try out these genres after all this time?
KB: Well, my friend from Oz, I’ve never been big into manga or yaoi before but after visiting a few blogs such as yours and the way you went on and on about the yaoi, I knew it was time for my cherry to be popped so to speak. I am all for trying a new type of reading experience and decided to give the yaoi magna a go.
Kris: *Translation: She couldn’t resist the temptation of pics of boy-on-boy action any longer.* Let’s talk about the graphic novel,
Black Wade, first. You already know that I adore it and recommend it for the lush sensuality of the artwork alone, but what about you, Katiebabs chook? First impressions? Good and bad.
KB: I have to admit when I opened to a random page from Black Wade, my eyes went wide and I had to close it for a moment. Lush and sensual are two perfect words to describe this graphic novel. Nothing is left to the imagination. Body parts, actions and bodily fluids are drawn in such a realistic way. But even though the graphics may seem a bit “graphic” to some, there is a great story with in these pages of high seas adventure, passion and romance. I really liked how Black Wade was drawn and I could get a very good sense of Wade's personality as well as Jack’s.
Kris: I think you’ve hit the nail on the head there. A good artist can convey so much in a single panel of artwork. Be it the setting, the colour or facial expressions; it all works to give the reader the impression, as a whole or in parts, of the story together with the speech bubbles and other text (usually associated with world/scene building). Did it surprise you how little text was actually involved?
KB: I was expecting more text or dialogue, but the artwork really portrayed everything perfectly. Blade Wade reminds me of an animated movie. I couldn’t look away from the pictures and took my time soaking everything in. Franze & Andarle are amazing artists! Is this your first time looking at their yaoi magna? What was your favorite section of Black Wade?
Kris: Yes, it was my first time actually reading their work, although I’ve been drooling over their stuff for a while now. That damned Sarah is a pimp. LOL. My favourite section of Black Wade would have to be the love scene between Wade and Jack just before Jack is set adrift. I thought there was a real poignancy to the artwork, especially that one panel where they’ve just finished having sex and are kissing. *sigh* I’m such a sap. *g*
Their work isn’t really yaoi manga though. Manga is a particular genre/graphic form in its own right and is used to refer to comics produced in Japan. You may have noticed that you had to read the book I sent you from what we westerners think of as back-to-front?? Yaoi too is a genre all of its own and is a popular term used for m/m written by and aimed at we girly perves.
What did you think of your first yaoi,
Maid in Heaven, Katiebabs chook? Was it difficult for you to work out how to read it?
KB: Why, my favorite section in
Back Wade was yours also! I loved how Wade and Jack kissed and snuggled. The same goes when I read. I love lots of kissing and snuggling.
Maid in Heaven was a trip. First of all, I had to get used to reading it, because I didn’t know with yaoi, it I meant to be right to left. Also the cover is a bit deceiving because it looks like a man and a woman on the cover, when it is two males. I wonder if that is the norm in yaoi where one character looks more feminine over the other? Also I had to read slower because there was more dialogue and figuring out who said what and what came first.
Kris: LOL. Yeah, it takes a bit to get used to reading yaoi. Not only can it be confusing at times, but some translations leave a lot to be desired. It can certainly make for interesting reading.
To answer your question, it is generally the case that one character may look more feminine than the other, especially in the stories set during high school and college. Also, the yaoi formula for protags is based on the seme (the attacker/the seducer/the top) and the uke (the receiver/the innocent/the bottom). Artwork, dialogue and actions all tend to exaggerate the differences and power plays between the two roles/characters.
I think it’s actually the dub con (dubious consent) aspect of the seduction of the seemingly more weak of the two by the more powerful partner, which makes yaoi either love or hated by readers. I admit that this can come across as extreme is some of the more explicit yaoi, but in others it is clear that the dub con is meant to indicate the seme’s strong feelings.
Does that help explain some things about
Maid in Heaven, although I did make sure to start you out on something that was relatively tame?
KB: Maid in Heaven reminded me much like a cartoon, especially with the reactions of the character. I did get a nice feel for the power play of the two characters. Exaggeration seems to be key here, especially when the couple is engaged in sex. Got to love the drawing of fluids being thrown around and the sound effects! LOL. What should I expect with more explicit yaoi?
Kris: More. Much more. *g* You’ve also seen me talk about O_o things such as self-lubing arses and copious amounts of cum so prepare yourself. LOL.
Getting back to expectations; were
Black Wade and
Maid in Heaven in particular what you expected? I’m also curious to know how you felt about seeing an m/m story played out in artwork, especially as the sex scenes leave nothing to the imagination.
KB: Blake Wade was an eye opener. Quite a sight to see Wade and his crew not minding how they hung out and walked around without a care. Lot of penises and using them in many ways. When Wade first forces Jack to take him in the mouth and behind the butt-butt, I couldn’t believe how authentic things look. Did make me a bit uncomfortable at first but then I lost myself in the story.
Maid in Heaven was just too cute, especially the way Midori, the maid acted with Asagi in the bedroom.
I noticed the yaoi has a habit of showing a great deal of fluids being licked, sucked and swallowed. Is this the norm?
Kris: Oh, yeah. Lots of cum and sweat all over the place in yaoi. It’s a wonder those boys don’t suffer more from dehydration. *snort*
I just recently read a yaoi novel where the guys went at it 8 times in a row. WTF?! As if. For some yaoi, it’s certainly a question of suspending disbelief… either that or throw the book at the wall because the chick writing it is so far into boy love dreamland that she probably thinks that cock-in-arse is the equivalent of the magical hoo-haa.
So, do you think you’ll be trying more yaoi? If you are, there’s this little thing called
The Great Yaoi Swap that might interest you. ;)
KB: From the two yaoi it is a major suspense of disbelief! The fantasy of it all : )
I would love to join in on the Great Yaoi Swap. Perhaps you can go into more detail about it for those that are unaware?
Kris: Well, unaccustomed to pimping yaoi that I am ;)… basically it involves one huge book swap fest in which people who enjoy reading yaoi share books with each other. It is open to anyone and the books travel across the globe so if you’re willing to pay postage costs feel free to join in the fun. There’s about 10 of us who are doing it and we have nearly 50 books being circulated at the moment. New ones get added all the time cos some of us are unrepentant Book Sluts. LOL.
Shall I sign you up then, Katiebabs chook?
KB: I think you can pat yourself on the back because I maybe joining the Great Yaoi Swap and seeing as I am a Book Slut…
What are some of your favorite Yaoi or authors/artists?
Kris: *Yay me!* I must admit that I don’t much about m/m authors and artists of graphic novels/comics, although I’ve recently discovered, which is a YA superhero serial comic that I’m enjoying.
As for yaoi… God, where to start. *g* One of my favourite author/artists is Lily Hoshino. She is an autobuy for me. I heart her. Other series I would recommend are Ayano Yaname’s The Crimson Spell, Youko Nitta’s Embracing Love (Haru wo Daiteita), Hajin Yoo’s Totally Captivated and Makoto Tateno’s Hero Heel. These are all firmly on my keeper’s shelf. Before you go shopping though sweet ;), try a couple more yaoi books first. Some weirdos peeps decide they don’t like the genre after they’ve read a few. Be warned, however, that you may be struck off friends’ list for such misguidedness. Just sayin’.
So... anyone interested in some Yaoi to read?
