Back to itsden's Profile itsden's Profile

Boys Run the Riot is amazing for the topics it touches on and the bluntness of which it deals with them. Many animanga I find with trans characters, especially gender non-conforming women, are highly influenced by circumstance, fantasy, and overall confusion. While I don't think that kind of ambiguous exploration of gender and sexuality is a bad thing, it is incredibly refreshing to have a character flat-out say "I'm transgender. I am dealing with my struggles of being transgender."

The slice-of-life setting is simple and realistic. It's not spruced up by tropes or gags, it's just real people and real issues. Boys Run The Riot touches ... on a variety of trans experiences beyond the discovery and self-acceptance which I really appreciate. Dealing with a non-consensual outing, love and romance when you are viewed not as a man or a woman but as "other" by both genders, and pressure of self-identification are all topics covered in Boys Run the Riot and written from what is clearly intimate knowledge of the subject, either from the author's experience or interaction with the LGBTQ+ that allowed an understanding of the variety of experiences of others. Being trans is not a one size fits all experience, and by having 2 trans characters that directly fall into conflict with each other they're able to show that clearly.

Now here's the but. While I do think the subject matter covered in Boys Run the Riot makes it worth the read, some of the execution leaves much to be desired.

Artwork
I did not find the majority of the artwork appealing. The graffiti was gorgeous, so much so that I was shocked when I first saw it, but the rest of the art is pretty plain and uninspiring.

It's strange because in the initial version of Boys Run the Riot, the oneshot in which Ryou was named Miki, the art is much sharper and lends itself better to the themes of rebellion and counterculture. It's less polished, but full of more emotion. The rawness is a benefit rather than a downside.

In comparison, the art of the serialization is a lot more rounded out. It seems Ryou is the only character that is drawn with confidence, meanwhile, Jin has a pretty distracting head shape. Overall, the anatomy isn't that great, which honestly wouldn't bother me as much if I didn't know the author was capable of pulling it off by embracing a rawer more emotional style.

Story/Characters
The end felt both natural and abrupt at the same time. While the boys' story with their self-made brand comes to a satisfying stopping point, just chapters before there is new information given about Ryou and Jin's family lives that makes it feel entirely too open ended.

Readers are given a peek into Jin's history when his father is introduced and they witness several strained conversations between the two, but ultimately nothing really comes of it. At the exposition, there is the feeling Jin's father is now tolerating his pursuits, but we lack the full story of how Jin got interested in street fashion in the first place, how their relationship became that way, or how Jin became the guy he was.

Of course there's implications, but for a story that is all about subverting society's expectations it seems oddly underexplored, especially when Jin is such an important character. If it were not for him reaching out to Ryou and accepting him without question, there would be no story to be told.

Ryou also comes out to his family very shortly before the end of the manga. Interactions with his brother have been shown before to give us an idea of how he would react, but very little was shown between Ryou and his parents, leaving one to wonder how he would deal with their acceptance or lack thereof.

It's a strange detail considering Ryou's parents were invited to the exposition. We never see their reaction to Ryou's coming out beyond the initial shock and denial, and have no idea how Ryougoes on to make things work with his family. They also aren't shown at the exposition, possibly implying denial or rejection. If so much time was spent on focusing on acceptance from peers, why wouldn't family also be for consideration?

Realism Regarding Acceptance
This is actually something I will not criticize too harshly and will get a little personal about in my opinions. I think it is many people's instict to say "this could never happen" when Ryou appears to easily be accepted by his community, but I actually saw a reflection of my own experience in his.

Ryou is accepted to an extent, but it may be more acurate to say he is tolerated. Many people still do not understand him and he still struggles for respect and equality. He is out, and he is allowed to get by, but that does not mean life is perfect. Some people still see him as a girl, most just choose not to think about him.

In general I think there is a tendancy for people to be overly critical in what's realistic or what's accurate to "the LGBTQ+ experience," failing to realize everyone's journey is personal and independent, and while many may relate to each other, there will also be plenty of differences. For that reason I avoid commenting on whether or not I think those kinds of small details are accurate. I believe what really matters is that the author treat's their subject with a sense of respect, which Mr. Gaku clearly does.

End Note
Despite its faults I truly believe Boys Run the Riot is an influential manga and is worth the read. No story is perfect, and that should not discourage you from finding the value that exists among faults. I sincerely look forward to seeing what Mr. Gaku has to share in the future.

Story:
The pacing is rushed towards the end and it's incredibly obvious. It's unsatisfying and you can tell that the story was getting ahead of itself. It was simply abrupt and felt forced, I'm assuming because they were uncertain if there would be a continuation.

It really is a fun, compelling, and engaging story. Just not well paced towards the end.

Art:
I love the colors and design! It was very aesthetically pleasing and I enjoyed the landscapes that could be detailed without overwhelming the eyes.

Sound:
I have audio processing issues so I can't comment much on the sound, but I did really like the opening music. Usually ... I skip the intro out of impatience but I am obsessed with the saxophone in the end of the opening.

Characters:
Visually I think they were handled really well. In terms of development though, it got inconsistent towards the end and lacked natural progression. The events of the final episode were unexpected and not in a good way.

The overall cast is very lovable and varied. It's easy to find someone to become attached to.

Enjoyment:
I was completely consumed by this universe and may have neglected a few responsibilities here and there to catch myself up to speed. It's very energetic and exciting!

However, to get the most out of the story I really do think it's necessary to read the manga, but that can be it's own review.

I suggest if you are interested in Blue Exorcist to watch the anime first and then read the manga so you don't dwell too much on how the story is edited.

I think it's a very fun concept, thrusting a fearsome devil into the body of a scrawny human and make him live a typical life, but the execution left me wanting more.

It was definitely amusing, I'll say that. I thought the characterization was a bit strange though. Characters were very quick to drop their backgrounds, what made them interesting in the first place, and conform quickly to a slice of life style character. That in itself isn't exactly a bad thing, it just seemed weirdly out of place and kind of lazy.

If you're looking to get attached to the non romantic conflict between main ... characters, don't bother. It pretty much seems to just come and go weakly for whenever is convenient.

There's also a 16 year old girl trying to flirt with the devil aka a whole entire adult and naturally she's got giant boobs because fan service I guess. So fair warning if that kind of casual sexualization makes you uncomfortable.

If you can get past the questionable age gap and lack of emotional depth, it really is a fun concept to toy with. It made me laugh so I appreciate that.

I think the best way I can describe Gokushufudou is with one word, charming. The way the reader's expectations are subverted is simple but continuously entertaining.

The story is presented as separate events in each chapter. It's like reading a large collection of one-shots taking place in one universe with the same characters.

The art is gorgeous and fits the tone perfectly. It displays the toony charm seen in other anime and manga with well placed detail and realism to add drama.

The characters are easy to fall in love with and I would be a liar to say I haven't fallen head over heels ... with the protagonist, Tatsu. It's lovely to see a strong male character that genuinely enjoys a typically feminine role. Mark me down as adoring and afraid.

If you're looking for a nice laugh or perhaps to feel warm and bubbly, I'd highly suggest giving Gokushufudou a read!