Take a photo of a barcode or cover
maiakobabe 's review for:
Boys Run the Riot, Vol. 1
by Keito Gaku
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
High schooler Ryo knows that he's trans, but doesn't feel like he can tell anyone; it seems safer to repress this part of his identity. His school system requires gendered uniforms and Ryo hates wearing skirts, so tries to get away with wearing his PE track suit to school as often as possible. But he also fears standing out and the potential judgement of his peers. The only time Ryo feels like himself is after school when he roams the city in his own chosen street style, expressing his frustration and yearning through graffiti art. When Jin, a rough looking older boy who had to repeat a grade, joins Ryo's class, Ryo plans to steer clear of him. But then Ryo runs into Jin in a store and it turns out they share a taste in fashion and buried desire to break out of the molds society has built for them. Jin urges Ryo to start a fashion brand and tell his truth to the world at last. I was excited to try a manga series which centers a trans character, and which is also written by a trans author. This first book was a little shaky for me. The emotional beats felt clunky and rushed, and the antagonist boringly stereotypical. Nevertheless, I like the premise a lot, and will probably read at least one more volume to see if the writing smooths out a bit farther into the series.