2009 Readers Poll: Best New Yaoi Manga
Ah, the many moods of boys love manga! Sweet and heartfelt romances. Exotic and erotic trysts. Down and dirty encounters in the gritty city. But with all the lovesick schoolboys, lusty demons and rebellious rock stars in this year's batch of yaoi manga debuts, the one that came out on top was ZE, a sexy supernatural story by Yuki Shimizu.
See more of the best manga of 2009:
Author and Artist: Yuki Shimizu
Publisher: 801 Media / Digital Manga Publishing
for ZE Vol. 1
After the death of his grandmother, Raizou moves to Tokyo and gets a job as a live-in housekeeper at the Mitou family's mansion. Soon enough Raizou discovers that the Mitou family has more than their share of skeletons in their closets – or perhaps more accurately, some strange supernatural powers that are activated by sexual intercourse.More »
Author and Artist: est em
Publisher:NETComics
for Age Called Blue
Billy and Nick have been friends for years. Their shared love for music brings them closer together as they play in a band, even as Billy's unspoken passion for Nick smolders. But trouble brews when Billy's bandmates beg him to kick out the gifted, troubled, and rarely-reliable Nick.More »
Author and Artist: Rakun
Publisher:NETComics
for U Don't Know Me
While they’re not related, Seyun and Yoojin have been close friends since childhood, to the point where they think of each other almost like brothers. But as the two boys grow to become young men, Seyun finds himself feeling sexually attracted to Yoojin. The two embark upon a torrid affair that brings them closer together while forcing each to confront some uncomfortable truths.More »
Author and Artist: Naono Bohra
Publisher:Media Blasters
for Yokai's Hunger
Throughout most of his teen years, Norito has noticed that anyone who gets close to him gets more than their share of misfortune. Then he meets Koma, an older man who reveals to Norito that 1) he's a demon, 2) that he and Norito were lovers in a past life and are tied together today by a supernatural oath and 3) that Norito holds the key to great supernatural power so many other demons are out to get him. Will Norito's new/old demon lover protect him, or put him in even greater danger?More »
Author and Artist: Nase Yamato
Publisher:Deux Press / Aurora Publishing
for Cigarette Kisses
Yusuke and Soji have been pals since junior high -- but what Soji doesn't know is that Yusuke is in love with him. When Soji announces his marriage, Yusuke is crushed and the pair part ways. Cut to years later, as these two young men discover that they both work at the same company. As they rekindle their friendship over smoke breaks, things get complicated when a new (male) rival for Soji's affections appears.More »
Author and Artist: Lily Hoshino
Publisher:Yen Press
for Mr. Flower Bride
Shinji Souda discovers that his family has arranged for him to be married – to a guy! And not just any guy – his groom-to-be is his classmate Aoi. The rationale for this unusual arrangement is to ensure that the Souda family doesn't have to deal with inheritance disputes about the family bloodline. But can love bloom in such an awkward situation?More »
Author and Artist: est em
Publisher:Deux Press / Aurora Publishing
for Red Blinds the Foolish
Rafita is a rising star in the Spanish bullfighting world. Since making his first kill at age 12, he has faced fierce bulls fearlessly. But when he falls in love with Mauro, a butcher who rends the bulls Rafita has killed, his confidence begins to waver. This romantic distraction causes Rafita to feel fear and doubt in the ring for the first time, and it's causing him to make some dangerous mistakes.More »
Author and Artist: Tomoko Yamashita
Publisher:NETComics
for Dining Bar Akira
When his co-worker Yasuyuki confesses that he's attracted to him, restaurant manager Akira is beyond flustered. He's never thought of himself as gay, so he can't quite figure out whether to be creeped out or intrigued by the proposition. Things just get more and more awkward each day that he has to work next to Yasuyuki. Akira can't quite figure it out -- does he want this or not? If he doesn't, why can't he just turn it down?More »
Author and Artist: Hinako Takanaga
Publisher: BLU Manga / TokyoPop
for Liberty! Liberty!
When Kouki, a cameraman for a cable TV show finds Itaru, he's homeless, drunk and passed out on a pile of garbage. To make matters worse, in his drunken state, Itaru breaks Kouki's very expensive video camera. Against his better judgment, Kouki takes Itaru in, cleans him up and puts him to work on his TV crew. But will proximity turn the budding friendship between two mismatched souls into something more, or just create more problems for Kouki?More »
Author and Artist: Kairi Shimotsuki
Publisher: BLU Manga / TokyoPop
for Madness
Madness is a fantasy-adventure story that takes place 1,000 years in the future after the Apocalypse. Izaya is a naïve young priest who has been keeping an eye on his father's church. Part of his responsibilities is making sure that Kyo, the leader of a ruthless gang remains imprisoned in the church basement. Kyo is suffering from amnesia, so he doesn't remember his violent past – but a visit from a former foe awakens Kyo's bloodlust...More »
See more of the best manga of 2009:
WINNER - ZE
Author and Artist: Yuki Shimizu
Publisher: 801 Media / Digital Manga Publishing
for ZE Vol. 1
After the death of his grandmother, Raizou moves to Tokyo and gets a job as a live-in housekeeper at the Mitou family's mansion. Soon enough Raizou discovers that the Mitou family has more than their share of skeletons in their closets – or perhaps more accurately, some strange supernatural powers that are activated by sexual intercourse.More »
2nd place - Age Called Blue
Author and Artist: est em
Publisher:NETComics
for Age Called Blue
Billy and Nick have been friends for years. Their shared love for music brings them closer together as they play in a band, even as Billy's unspoken passion for Nick smolders. But trouble brews when Billy's bandmates beg him to kick out the gifted, troubled, and rarely-reliable Nick.More »
3rd place - U Don't Know Me
Author and Artist: Rakun
Publisher:NETComics
for U Don't Know Me
While they’re not related, Seyun and Yoojin have been close friends since childhood, to the point where they think of each other almost like brothers. But as the two boys grow to become young men, Seyun finds himself feeling sexually attracted to Yoojin. The two embark upon a torrid affair that brings them closer together while forcing each to confront some uncomfortable truths.More »
4th place - Yokai's Hunger
Author and Artist: Naono Bohra
Publisher:Media Blasters
for Yokai's Hunger
Throughout most of his teen years, Norito has noticed that anyone who gets close to him gets more than their share of misfortune. Then he meets Koma, an older man who reveals to Norito that 1) he's a demon, 2) that he and Norito were lovers in a past life and are tied together today by a supernatural oath and 3) that Norito holds the key to great supernatural power so many other demons are out to get him. Will Norito's new/old demon lover protect him, or put him in even greater danger?More »
 - Cigarette Kisses){kind=link}
5th place (tie) - Cigarette Kisses
Author and Artist: Nase Yamato
Publisher:Deux Press / Aurora Publishing
for Cigarette Kisses
Yusuke and Soji have been pals since junior high -- but what Soji doesn't know is that Yusuke is in love with him. When Soji announces his marriage, Yusuke is crushed and the pair part ways. Cut to years later, as these two young men discover that they both work at the same company. As they rekindle their friendship over smoke breaks, things get complicated when a new (male) rival for Soji's affections appears.More »
 - Mr. Flower Bride){kind=link}
5th place (tie) - Mr. Flower Bride
Author and Artist: Lily Hoshino
Publisher:Yen Press
for Mr. Flower Bride
Shinji Souda discovers that his family has arranged for him to be married – to a guy! And not just any guy – his groom-to-be is his classmate Aoi. The rationale for this unusual arrangement is to ensure that the Souda family doesn't have to deal with inheritance disputes about the family bloodline. But can love bloom in such an awkward situation?More »
 - Red Blinds the Foolish){kind=link}
5th place (tie) - Red Blinds the Foolish
Author and Artist: est em
Publisher:Deux Press / Aurora Publishing
for Red Blinds the Foolish
Rafita is a rising star in the Spanish bullfighting world. Since making his first kill at age 12, he has faced fierce bulls fearlessly. But when he falls in love with Mauro, a butcher who rends the bulls Rafita has killed, his confidence begins to waver. This romantic distraction causes Rafita to feel fear and doubt in the ring for the first time, and it's causing him to make some dangerous mistakes.More »
6th place - Dining Bar Akira
Author and Artist: Tomoko Yamashita
Publisher:NETComics
for Dining Bar Akira
When his co-worker Yasuyuki confesses that he's attracted to him, restaurant manager Akira is beyond flustered. He's never thought of himself as gay, so he can't quite figure out whether to be creeped out or intrigued by the proposition. Things just get more and more awkward each day that he has to work next to Yasuyuki. Akira can't quite figure it out -- does he want this or not? If he doesn't, why can't he just turn it down?More »
7th place - Liberty! Liberty!
Author and Artist: Hinako Takanaga
Publisher: BLU Manga / TokyoPop
for Liberty! Liberty!
When Kouki, a cameraman for a cable TV show finds Itaru, he's homeless, drunk and passed out on a pile of garbage. To make matters worse, in his drunken state, Itaru breaks Kouki's very expensive video camera. Against his better judgment, Kouki takes Itaru in, cleans him up and puts him to work on his TV crew. But will proximity turn the budding friendship between two mismatched souls into something more, or just create more problems for Kouki?More »
8th place - Madness
Author and Artist: Kairi Shimotsuki
Publisher: BLU Manga / TokyoPop
for Madness
Madness is a fantasy-adventure story that takes place 1,000 years in the future after the Apocalypse. Izaya is a naïve young priest who has been keeping an eye on his father's church. Part of his responsibilities is making sure that Kyo, the leader of a ruthless gang remains imprisoned in the church basement. Kyo is suffering from amnesia, so he doesn't remember his violent past – but a visit from a former foe awakens Kyo's bloodlust...More »