Complex

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It's complex to grow up in a society that won't accept you. It's complex to be brought up by your own parents who won't accept you. It's complex to raise a child who won't accept you. Something so simple yet beautiful, like love. That, too, is complex.

Complex follows the lives of Junichi and Tatsuya and how their "complex" relationship affects them and everyone around them. How is it complex, you may ask? Well, they are both boys. Society as a whole have not always accepted homosexuality. With this mindset on both sides, several problems and issues must arise from that emotionally and physically. For example, ... Junichi once said that he is not gay, he just loves Tatsuya only. Why must questioning sexuality have to interrupt one's love for another? Unfortunately, that's how the world works. And the story does one hell of a job portraying such ideas with great depth.

Originality is key in Complex. Very rarely do I come across a yaoi manga that is not only about questioning falling in love with the same sex, but several other issues that are dealt with in this manga which greatly impact the story as well. Infidelity, depression, bretrayal, and doubt, to list a few. We hear many stories of these elements that involve heterosexual couples. However, in Complex, all sorts of life's troubles and tribulations are packed into the lives of a gay couple and that is very rare in all forms of media.

This is not your typical yaoi manga, they just don't hook up and "the end!" They have a whole life after that and and we walk each and every one of those steps together with the characters. After all, each chapter is greeted with a number of the age the characters are at. And there is always something special and/or daunting on each dash on that timeline keeping you interested throughout.

What stands out the most in Complex is how realistic the stories and characters are. As a homosexual man myself, I find many of the issues the protagonists endure are things I can relate to which helps me grow emotionally invested to them. It's as if I'm not reading a manga, I'm experiencing someone's life.

The romance, the drama, the comedy, the suspense, the sorrow, the joy all reflect real life into an artform. Complex holds an infinite capacity of what it has to offer. I encourage readers to use this manga as a learning tool which provides life-long lessons embracing the importance of family and protecting and flourishing love.

"Difficult times, fun times, sad times, happy times, we were always together." - Shinozaki, Junichi

Here’s an interesting question: what happens to the boys in BL after they’ve hooked up? In most series, we never know- the story stops right there. In Complex, however, we don’t get to just see the relationship, we follow the couple throughout their lives. It’s an ambitious idea, but it works. We see two boys grow up from being childhood friends to confused young men and to wrinkled old ones, with all of the drama that comes with it. Yes, there is sex, but the emphasis is placed more on the relationship than the fanservice. It starts a ... bit hokey (two boys becoming more than friends because of a pedophile teacher? Really?), but once the boys become adults, the situations the characters are in are depicted more realistically, making it something that is believable. From being scared of being “open” to society to nasty breakups to raising children, it shows the difficulties of being gay in society. At the same time, the series makes sure to depict characters as human, with no idealized exaggerations and sexualities that aren’t exactly black or white. Overall, Complex is a gripping romantic drama that shows that yaoi is more than capable of having depth, and is a must read for anyone interested in the genre.

Pros: Realistically played, tackles issues such as gay parenting, heart wrenching ending

Cons: Starts unrealistically, random shota thrown in (volume 2 chapter 7), rough art in the beginning

From the first chapter it may look like this manga is about a nasty teacher into shota-con, however that is only the Very Very beginning and shota-con has nothing to do with the story at all. That first occurrence is needed only to bring the two main characters closer together to prepare for their journey of life together.

This manga is one of the best I have ever read; it will make you smile with joy and bawl your eyes out from beginning, when they are just children, to the end when they are old men preparing for rest.

It shows the very seed of ... true love and how it conquers all despite all of the "complexes" that come up in one's life. The main characters may have a few falling outs, but as the red string predicts (metaphor), true love will prevail.

This is one of the most serious mangas I have had the joy of reading and one of the only ones I've seen that showed main character's life from beginning to end. It is heartwarming and even if the beginning throws you for a loop, once you get past that you will never regret sticking with it.

This title might be the most fitting one for a manga, ever. Because complex it is. And absolutely frickin' amazing.

This work proves the proverb that one shouldn't judge a book by its cover.
Literally.


It's been on my (huge and constantly growing) read list for many years. I added it because of the raving reviews but I just haven't been able to muster up the motivation for reading it--since the cover of volume one was so extremely offputting to my taste in comic art.
But in the name of research for recommendations to others--I decided to finally get it over with and read it.
I ended up ... reading all four volumes in one go, in the middle of the night.

SUCKERPUNCH!

It's official, I'm a shallow idiot.



I have never been so floored by a manga. (Except for Dokuro Yaryuu's "Endless World". Do NOT miss that one either.) The emotional rollercoaster it took me on, was so massive that I couldn't stop crying for a good while after finishing it. It's truly one of the best mangas I have ever read, all genres, and there is no doubt whatsoever that this is a 10/10 for me.
At the very least, I can confidently say, that this is one of the most BEAUTIFUL stories I have ever come across.


Before straying into my very long and philosophical review, I want to start by saying that reading this manga, one has to make the choice to overlook a couple of very disturbing things--but I still think that it's an absolutely essential read.

This work has one MAL's highest ratings among BL mangas--8.44/10--and it deserves an even higher one. It has some flaws, but as a whole, I can't call it anything but a masterpiece.



Before explaining why I think it's so amazing (my thoughts about the general stuff concerning this piece, are below this long pondering upon the content of disturbing elements);

I need to properly address the one thing that I find disturbing and wish wasn't there--but which also is the thing that leaves me brooding over the reason it's there in the first place--if I'm misinterpreting the intentions of the mangaka.

Pushing for this title is a rare exception to my moral standpoint of never recommending anything that involves shota in general--and sexual abuse of children in particular. However, when an artist chooses to include these types of things, it's a question about the intent, IMO.

I always hate seeing it, but there's a big difference between it having a valid reason for being in the story--as opposed to being exploitative and gratuitous. It's a very heavy subject and it needs to be handled in a serious and responsible way. I can't even begin to describe the disgust and anger I have towards the people who appreciate, read and support shota manga and anime. All people have their kinks, but when that kink is the actual sexual abuse of children, the fans need to take a serious look at their preferences.

I dislike any manga/anime art where characters of legal age look like children if the work contains even the smallest hint of sexual content, but I can take it as long as it's made clear that the characters are of legal age. But "real" shota is an entirely different story.



*** MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD--plus a trigger warning. ***



(HEAVY TRIGGER WARNING for graphic sexual abuse of children, in two chapters:

Vol. 1, ch. 1: Sexual abuse of children (11 year-olds), by a teacher. The disturbing content is connected to the chapter, so kind of a need-read. Skip those particular more graphic pages, if you're really disturbed by it. The whole incident is unnecessary but at least it's depicted as a crime. (Although taken far too lightly, IMO.)

Vol. 2, ch.7: The same teacher, at a later time, sexually abusing a very young boy (we're talking, like five-six years old...) My advice is to skip this chapter altogether if you can't stomach it. It has absolutely no point for the main story so you won't miss anything crucial. It's just a one-shot with the teacher.)


So--what about the intent of these elements?

At first, I was pissed and raging about the discomfort of having something so disgusting tainting this wonderful piece. My opinion was that this mangaka did not justify the content of abuse, but I still felt that I was willing to (reluctantly) overlook it since it's only a very small portion of the story and to condemn this amazing manga on the grounds of that one (albeit huge) minus, would be unfair and simply put: a huge loss.

But then, when describing it to a friend, I started thinking.

It doesn't make sense that a storyteller that can create a story with such depth and complexity, would haphazardly shove in gratuitous, disturbing child pornography. But she did. Why? There has to be a reason. All the more so, considering how graphic the abuse is. It's revolting.
So why the heck is it there?

I haven't got the slightest clue if my intuition might be on to something--but I started thinking about those scary misconceptions that some homophobic people have. That tiresome old thing about not wanting gay men around your children, because you're convinced that they're all child molesters and pedophiles. (No, a pedophile and a child molester are not the same thing. Far from all pedophiles ever even touch a kid. Google it.)
The teacher is portrayed in a humorous way, but it doesn't in any way mask what a lewd predator he is. The way he expresses himself is frighteningly unabashed, giving us detailed descriptions of what he wants to do to kids and how his schemes will allow him to do it.

The more I think about it, the more I get the feeling that Manda wanted to show how fucked up it is to compare abusive monsters, to normal men who just happen to be attracted to other men, by shocking the hell out of us--contrasting this teacher from hell with the loving, gentle main characters.


Well, no matter the reason for the disturbing abuse scenes, I still urge others to not miss out on this story, since it's absolutely unique in its narrative.



STORY AND CHARACTERS:

This piece starts where other romance stories usually are close to their conclusion. "Fall in love, confess, some trouble comes their way, things work out, happily ever after."

But that's when "Complex" really gets into a higher gear. We get to follow these guys throughout their whole lives. As children, as teens, as adults, as aging men--through all the stages of a human life. The dreams of a kid; the careless teens and the buzz of first true love; the exciting first steps into independence and finding your path in life; maturing and shaping into an adult when trying to handle life-altering choices and their consequences.

It addresses all those things that are so easily ignored in many BL stories--confusion about your sexuality, figuring out how to adapt to a relationship that deviates from the societal norm. Coming out, facing not only acceptance but also prejudice. The heavy decisions and sacrifices you eventually will have to make, no matter with path you choose, in a society that won't allow you to have both your sexual preference and a family of your own, nor bend the rules of convention: you made your bed, you have to lie in it--no room for a middle ground. (I can't explain that last part closer than that, without spoiling a major part of the plot.)



But more than about gay relationships, it's about human relationships. Romance, family, friends, colleagues, children, and parents. We love, we hate, we fight, we break up--and sometimes find our way back. No matter how much we love someone, we can make mistakes and hurt them. We can find ourselves loving more than one person--in different ways, but none less than the other. Sometimes things don't go as we would have wished for, nor planned--sometimes shit just happens. There are love and joy, there are grief and loss. Life has its ups and down and things aren't as simple as they are in manga... We can just try to make the best of life--since we only have one.

We should be thankful if we have the privilege of getting to walk through this one life together with people who love us as we love them. Family by blood--or family we have chosen.
If we are lucky, we might find someone to hold our hand--that someone who only comes along once in a lifetime--and experience that unconditional love that seems to last through every storm and never fades, no matter how much time passes or how many times we part ways and find our way back.



Another thing I really appreciate is how this story has a different take on the whole thing about labels and how a person's sexual preferences and feelings can overlap in different ways--or not overlap. Where goes the line between friendship and romantic love? What is it, exactly, that ultimately decides which way we go when the feelings are in the grey zone?

Here we see a different version of the "gay for you" thing. Here, it's not a cop-out to avoid being labeled "fag," but rather about love so strong that it could've gone either way--friendship or romance. In one instance, it tilts one way, in another, it tilts the other. And both are fine.


Also, I commend the fact that this story allows for something that's rarely seen--the right to change your mind. Or rather: the right to discover new things about yourself-- whenever in your life it might happen. Not everything is written in stone. This is something that I've noticed is totally taboo, both in the straight and the LGBTQ community, but especially so in the latter.

It's much more accepted that a (thought they were) straight person realizes late in life that they're actually gay or bi--than for someone who has always identified as gay, to realize later in life that they are actually bi. (I can't really imagine that it's very common that one would identify oneself as gay from a young age and then suddenly come to the insight that they're straight, considering the heteronormative society we all live in--it's a completely different thing to feel sudden attraction to the other sex later in life, if you've exclusively been attracted to the same sex, before.) It's kind of a "you traitor!" mentality. This is prejudice and bigotry--and this from people who really should understand how it feels to be prosecuted for whom they happen to love.

I personally have known several people who've always considered themselves to be gay, but suddenly fell in love with someone of the opposite sex. One of them, a "used to be" gay man, got a lot of flak from many around him, when he, at age 35, married a woman and got two kids. Although seldom being able to agree about anything, here, the LGBTQ people and the straight people all said in unison: "He's faking it, he's a fag, you can't wash that out--he's just trying to be normal."
He himself simply says that "I just didn't know that I was bi since I until then had never before been in love with, nor felt attracted to, a woman."

What you know at one point, might change at a later time, because you just don't know what the future brings. Of course, I don't mean that it's impossible to know for sure--many do. Perhaps even most. But not everyone.



Obviously, a manga consisting of only four volumes could never depict every minute of a whole human life, but somehow, this story manages to catch all those moments that build the frame, letting us fill in the blanks. The years roll by fast, but it doesn't matter since you feel the time between those glimpses.

The chapters are named by their age at that specific time, and it feels like looking through someone's photo album, all the moments that were important enough to be caught on film. Picture by picture, they grow up and age, every single snapshot carefully is chosen to highlight different defining times in their lives, to convey just about every single possible human emotion. The character development is nothing short of amazing--most likely thanks to the unique narrative. One would think that by showing only anecdotal moments of their lives would give less insight into the characters, but instead, it's the opposite.

When you're there, you're really there. At moments, Manda tells whole stories with just one single panel--cleverly chosen to convey so much more than the picture itself. The way the mangaka has weaved all these little pieces of a puzzle together--is visual storytelling at its finest--true craftsmanship.

The beginning is quite choppy and a bit rushed, but the story grows for every chapter, pulling you in more and more--maturing in pace with its characters. (And its creator.)


Towards the end, it's among the finest pieces of drama you will ever encounter. If some of the last chapters don't leave you in tears, your heart is made of stone.
Any reader, of any age, will appreciate this story, but perhaps one needs to have a few years of life experience, to fully comprehend the weight of some of the themes.



ART:

The art is... well, it's ugly. Super classic 90's shonen manga art--in all its glory.
You'll feast on people that all look like they have hydrocephaly and underbites, hair that grows in ways that defy all logic, yaoi chins and eyes the size of saucers.

In all fairness, the art does get nicer along the way. A lot nicer. And when you think about it, you realize that the style, for the most part, probably is an artistic choice. Because it is pretty realistic further on in the manga. In a distorted kind of way. Manda does know her way around anatomy and proportions, fairly well. But it's never exactly... pretty.

But it's okay, the story makes up for it a thousandfold.



WHY YOU HAVE TO READ IT:

I don't think any manga I have ever read, has affected me this deeply, on so many levels. I have read other amazing stories, that have made me bawl my eyes out and touched me deeply--but "Complex" is in a class of its own. It makes me laugh, it makes me cry, it breaks my heart and it makes me incredibly happy. I'm there, every step of the way, throughout the lives of Junichi and Tatsuya--loving, laughing and crying with them.

Even with its (small) flaws--this is nothing short of an epic.


This isn't just a slice of life--it's a whole lifetime. So it's complex.

READ IT!!! Beyond it being one of the best yaoi mangas it is one of the best stories I've ever had the pleasure and the privilege of reading. Teary eyes, runny nose, aching sides, cheeks sore from smiling and an indescribably warm feeling in my heart; that's what I have taken from the series. I am not a fan of shota, but there are two instances of shota. You must read the first chapter to understand how the gears switch in the main characters' relationship. This is a story for those who understand the draw of yaoi and how the societal taboos create built-in obstacles ... that give the stories an appeal and advantage that other genres lack. This is also a story for those who can really appreciate a well-planned story line and 3D characters that come to carve a place in your heart before the story is even halfway through. You'll love it!

First of all, I must admit, that at first I was kinda not interested to read it due to the shota scene and the arts (it's not really that bad tho' after a while) . I'm even tempted to stop reading it. However, I can't seems to do so and somehow my mind said, bear with it... you'll not regretting it!
It was right!
I'm not regretting to ever read this wonderful manga. It has such a great plot where I rarely (more like never once) encounter, furthermore, on Yaoi manga. It tells you from their childhood, their teens/adolescent march to their adulthood (well this ... plot is quite common). But! There's one thing that changes the common plot to the uncommon, is when the story moves ahead to their old-age time. It was very beautiful story , I dare say. It makes you think deep about life and stuff.
Two normal childhood friends, one harbor feeling for the other while the other one still in state of confusion. From that on, you see how the love and the relationship progressing on.
Well, i couldn't write much cause this manga plot is kinda deep and there's no way I can write without spoiling the content x3
But one thing that I can say for sure... I cried while reading this manga. *nods* yup.

This is my first review for any manga so excuse me for any mistakes.This is truly one of the best manga I have ever read and now one of my most favorite shouen ai and yaoi.I have to say this is one sweet loving yaoi story , and I love how they focus more on the relationship than the ecchi stuff like in more manga , and since they focus more on the relationship it feels more realistic and shows problems some people face in relationships.Also I like how this manga actually go through the main characters lives ,and not just stop once ... they are together in their 20's , you get to see what happens after the fact they are together and the problems they face.Lastly have to say one more time this is an awesome manga one of the best yaoi's to read.If you love sweet stories that focus on relationships this is the manga for you.

No matter how many times I read it (this would be my third) I'm amazed at how often I find myself smiling, laughing, and crying (mainly crying). I honestly don't think I've ever been moved by a story as much as I have by this.

Most love stories end when the main characters finally realize their feelings for one another, and seal the deal. But this story starts from the very beginnings, and follows them through the major ups and the major downs. All the way to the very end..

When I first started reading it, I almost completely dropped it after ... the first chapter. The style of the characters didn't appeal to me all that much, and the first chapter was not my thing at all. I thought it was stupid... but I'm glad I continued.

--slight spoilers--

It turned out to be far more than I could have ever expected. It wasn't just "another yaoi manga".. it was a long and complicated love story that just so happened to be about two men. Two men that grew up as best friends, who went through a traumatizing and painful experience as small kids, developed feelings for one another as teens, and eventually expressed those feelings.

In this manga, you get to watch these two characters grow up, mess up, raise a child, and grow old together. It makes a cold hearted cynic like me believe in love.

I hope those of you who have not read this series will give it a chance. I promise you won't be disappointed.. (just be sure to keep a box of tissues handy).

I was upset. I was captivated. I became emotional.

Being able to love means to stand up. Being able to stand is being able to know who you stand for. THAT IS JUNICHI.
He was able to recover still from what happened to him. I adore him.
find it out there :)

Tatsuya, MADE MANY MISTAKES.
INSENSIBLE.


... Being able to love is having strong attachments. In this story, reality is at its best. Being "likely" realistic doesn't mean its Tragic, the story gives its best approach on how and who we are in the contemporary society we are living in.
But aside from that.

Love never fails. :) The story is great. yet. so. disappointing. in my OWN perspective :)

One of the most beautiful, realistic, and most underrated yaois out there! I have never cried so much reading a yaoi manga as I did while reading this one. Do not let the art work put you off as many people said it did.... before they read it. Manga is not just about art! It is just as much about story and this manga proves it.

The characters are so real and so alive, the story is well paced and very well developed, no cliche yaoi stereotypes that seem to run rampant in so many yaoi stories.

You will gain so much reading this story ... and lose only time and tissues. It is well worth the read!

When I started to read this manga, until I got through the first chapter, I thought that it was absolutely horrible. I expected that the storyline will go on like that, following whatever happened in the first chapter. I said to myself, "There's no way I can read 24 chapters of this!" and wanted to drop it. Now I'm glad I didn't.

The story of this manga is, according to the title, the most complex story I have ever read. No other manga ever followed the main characters through their entire life as this one did.
The main thing this manga shows is life. In only ... 24 chapters, the author was able to picture two human lives, crossing each other than parting ways only to meet again sometime in the future. It shows moments of happiness and sadness of various kinds, goals and purposes and a never ending love.
In many works, being in love is idealized - not here. Complex intercepts that not all days are happy and everything has its pros and cons.

It made laugh as well as cry several times. I got the feeling that I actually know the characters. I thought I understood them; I've grown attached to them and was hurt when they died. I can't even express all the admiration for Manda Ringo for managing this.

I have to say I especially love this kind of art. The bodies and sceneries are very realistic, nothing is prettified. It makes an individual realize that what makes things unusual or beautiful are the feelings connected to them.

I've had read a thousand of yaoi manga and this was the only one that left a deep impact in my life. There were so much feels that by the end of the chapter it left me speechless and I've cried like a baby.

Art:
I've rated it 10. But actually I'm not a fan of old-style art. I was only bored at that time and had accidentally stumbled upon this manga. I was hesitant at first in reading this because the cover was pretty ugly and there were two young boys so I've assumed that it's gonna be another Shouta story. Good thing the reviews were ... positive and decided to push through reading it till the end. The story was good that's why the art doesn't matter in the end. It literally just grows on you.

Character: 10
Each character is unique. I've grown to love even the antagonist in the story. The protagonist is not also perfect and has flaws all throughout the series but that makes it more believable. I love how the character grows in the series. It was realistic and portrays how homosexual really are treated in society.

Enjoyment: 10 to infinity
As you can see I've already fallen in love with this manga. It will also remain in my most memorable and favorite manga of all times.

Overall: 10
Although this is an old manga. I hope more readers would come across and read this masterpiece. I've come to love this series and I hope more fans would get to appreciate this as much a I do.