If you are new to the genre of yaoi manga, or you're looking for new artists and mangaka, yaoi magazines are a good place to start. There has been a recent explosion in yaoi magazines published, and most large manga publishers put out at least one, if not more. This guide is designed to give you an idea of what's out there. It is based on a list published by Puff magazine, translated by Cynthia Ma, and updated with new information for the current year. If you notice any errors, please informe us at webmaster@aestheticism.com.
| Title | Contents: | Size/ Frequency | Theme/ Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| June |
Shounen movie history, Rock info, Video guide, Manga guide, etc. More shounen-ai than yaoi | B5 Bimonthly |
June magazine is the originator of Yaoi magazines. Nowadays, fans simply refer yaoi matters as "June mono" (June stuffs), and the word "June" is also used as a noun in conversation. Famous manga artists such as Yoshida Akimi (Banana Fish) and Takemiya Keiko (Song of wind and wood) has manga published in June. Another manga "Ai no kusabi" by Yoshihara Rieko serialised in June was first animated in 1992, and the second anime will come out soon as well. |
| Shetsu June | Short stories, novels, manga | ||
| Gust | Manga, doujinshi info, Various experiences from manga artists (e.g. going to a haunted mansion, etc), etc. |
A5 Bimouthly |
Concept : The royal road to yaoi book. Probably the second most popular yaoi manga magazine. "Osakana wa ami no naka" serialised in Gust is just animated recently. |
| Generous |
A5 900yen Bimonthly |
Concept : All one-off bright and cheerful Yaoi manga. This magazine contains only one-off manga. | |
| BeXBoy Concept : Shoujo manga about "boys & boys" |
Info on CD and videos which are based on manga. |
A5 550 yen monthly |
This is probably the most easily available magazine in the US. There are
a lot of manga from good manga artists with wide varieties in this magazine. Fake and Douseiai are serialize in this manga |
| BeXBoy Gold | Info on CD and videos which are based on manga. |
Bimonthly | Also from Biblios, BExBOY GOLD contains more one-off manga than BeXBoy, and is also more explicit. Several popular series run in this magazine, including Kizuna, Rika the Breeder, and West End |
| Zero | Info on CD and videos which are based on manga. |
Bimonthly | Also from Biblios, this magazine contains mostly fantasy and stories with a mild shounen-ai slant. Fullmoon is serialized in this magazine. |
| Asuka Ciel: |
Contents other than manga and novels : movie and video info, CD info,houjo manga previews, fortume telling, info on Ciels official fanclub. | A5 500 Yen Bimonthly |
Concept : "Ciel" means "Sky", which is the main image as well. Bright and refreshing manga and novels published in high quality style and form. Ciel has an official fanclub which makes it unique. The editors put the readers in the top priority and organise parties and interviews with manga artists regularly. |
| Shy: |
Contents other than manga : 1-2 novels, doujinshi corner, manga artists interviews, etc. |
Quarterly | Bright, cute, healthy shounen stories. Virtually happy ending. Cover design usually cute. |
| Charade : |
Contents other than manga and novels : movie, TV, music, anime previews, doujinshi previews. |
Bimonthly | Carries a "pop" image, with a lot of one-off manga. Also
contains manga by current doujinshi artists. Contains some novels too.From school life to serious stories, it contains a variety of boys' love novels and manga. |
| Reijin |
Contents other than manga and novels : Reviews | Quarterly | Hard and heavy stuff targeted at adults. This magazine seems to be popular with gay men as well. |
| Ruff & Ruff : | Contents other than manga : doujinshi info & preview. | Quarterly | Delivering the passionate message of pure white shounen, with bright happy beautiful manga. Contains both hard and soft stuffs. Mainly one-off manga with 2-3 serialising manga. Mail order corner for doujinshi. |
| Mauria : |
Contents other than manga : doujinshi info, readers' page. | Bimonthly | A lot of "sexy" stories, in a trendy sense. |
| Homme : |
Contents other than manga : doujinshi previews, Murata Junko ("Kyaa--!")'s bishounen introduction page, manga artists interviews, readers' page, relay free talk of manga artists, etc. |
Bimonthly | Used to be called "Xi", this magazine contains works from more
popular manga artists with a lot of high grade one-off manga. Takaguchi Satosumi ("Hana no asuka gumi!") has a manga called "Lucky-kun" serialised in it. |
| Ranmuru : |
Quarterly | A new magazine with manga that has "personality" (!?). The
first issue contains a long interview with Yoshida Akimi ("Banana Fish"). Concept : A "shounen" manga for "shoujo" by "shoujo" (Please notice how indistinguishable between "shounen" & "shoujo" this genre is in comparing to the ordinary shounen and shoujo manga...) |
|
| Hanaoto : | Bimonthly | Focusing on the "storyline" of the manga, this new magazine
targets at readers who are a bit older.With the new feeling of the love & romance world with boundless beauty setting on the stage of fantasy in office & school about the love & friendship between boys. |
|
| Hanaoto Gold | Bimonthly | More hard core than Hanaoto. | |
| Comicimage | Bimontly | Mainly long stories, along with readers's page and essays, this magazine carries a trendy image with bright picture manga. |
|
| Menz Manix | Manga. | Bimonthly | Mostly one-off stories, fairly explicit, aimed at an older readership. This brand new magazine contains many artists from the new defunct "Breath". |
| Dear | Manga, novel | Bimonthly | A mixed novel and manga magazine from Shinshokan, this magazine is similiar to Ciel, and in fact often contain the same artists. People who like non-explicit shounen-ai romance would enjoy this magazine. |