Yaoi manga's increasing popularity in the US (according to ranks)

[thelostyears]

This post is copied from Ayumi from Aarinfantasy. Of course, i asked for her permission.
I was happy to hear that yaoi sales have increased tremendously so i'd like to share this with other yaoi fans! We're definitely seeing more licenses in the near future!

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Have you guys seen the Graphic Novels Ranking for June 2006 and July 2006 on icv2? You can see the top 100 ranking here.


JUNE 2006

http://www.icv2.com/articles/home/8985.html

Yaoi is really getting popular in American. Just look at the chart, there are 6 yaoi manga on the top 100. Not to mention most of the books on the ranking are American comics.

YELLOW VOL 4 is at #43 with 1,928 copies sold. (The fifith best selling manga of the month)
JAZZ VOL 2 is at #63 with 1,592 copies sold.
OUR KINGDOM VOL 3 is at #64 with 1,561 copies sold.
LA ESPERANCA VOL 3 is at #66 with 1,531 copies sold.
CLAN O/NAKAGAMIS is at #70 with 1,462 copies sold.
LOVE MODE VOL 3 is at #97 with 1,087 copies sold.

That's 6 out of 19 manga on the ranking. And all of those are from DIG except for LOVE MODE, which is released under BLU(tokyopop)

And of course, LOVELESS is currently the best selling BL manga this year. It debuted last month with 2,681 copies at 31. It was the best selling manga by TOKYOPOP in May.

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JULY 2006

As for July, there are again, 6 yaoi mangas on the ranking. That's 6 out of 21 manga on the rank.

http://www.icv2.com/articles/home/9144.html

ANTIQUE BAKERY VOL 4 is at #57 with 1,817 copies sold.
GORGEOUS CARAT GALAXY is at #61 with 1,738 copies sold.
TIME LAG is at #70 with 1,590 copies sold.
KURO NO KISHI BLACK KNIGHT VOL 1 is at #74 with 1,556 copies sold.
CAFE KICHIJOUJI DE VOL 3 is at #79 with 1,510 copies sold.
ONLY RING FINGER KNOWS VOL 2 NOVEL is at #85 with 1,420 copies sold.


Keep in mind that over 80% of the graphic novels on the ranking are AMERICAN COMICS and only like 18-20 mangas are usually on the rank and yaoi manga are on the rank every month with 5 and up.

Do you think these results will cause more companies to take notice in yaoi manga in the US and we'll be expecting to see more and more yaoi manga licensed in the future?

[April-san]

This is embarassing. I purchased all the above listed titles except for Love Mode 3 (which I just special ordered this week). :P

It's a little surprising to find such a nice mix of BL and the more graphic Yaoi on the lists. I would love to see the age breakdown.

[Shiroxx]

^ I haven't read the LOVE MODE series too. I'm rather skeptical of it because I heard it's one shot stories. I'm not sure why but is it worth the cash?

[Animematt55]

I am getting sick of hearing and seeing Yaoi everywhere. The market is totally saturated, and well....there are better things out there.
(please see other threads here for more info)

[typhonblue]

I think it still has a ways to go before it challenges the ubiquitous "lesbian chic" for sheer... ubiquitousness.

But it looks like it's moving along. Good, Good. Soon Yaoi and I will rule the world. MUHAHAHA!

[Lockheart]

I am getting sick of hearing and seeing Yaoi everywhere.

http://c0venant.net/imagenes/troll-dontfeed.jpg

[DazzleKitty]

Hah, that's really awesome. I am really glad it's getting so popular. I bought all of those except Cafe Kichijouji De. I heard that it wasn't that good. Can anyone tell me otherwise?

[Carmel]

I read that on aarinfantasy~ ^_^ I hope because of its popularity they'll start looking into some of the longer 20+ shounen-ai/yaoi related manga.


(please see other threads here for more info)More like, please see other threads where I complain about the same stuff over and over. -_-

[Shiroxx]

It seems like the popularity of BL/yaoi manga impacted the anime industry more considering how 95% of the yaoi animes in the past few years have been licensed rather quickly. But the manga industry is picking up. I'm hoping they license something like "New York New York". The drama-filled yaoi titles.

[kimbeey13]

It's awesome that shounen-ai/yaoi is becoming more popular and hopefully we do see more licensed in the future, though I wish I could say the same for yuri.

[Animematt55]

I think it still has a ways to go before it challenges the ubiquitous "lesbian chic" for sheer... ubiquitousness.

But it looks like it's moving along. Good, Good. Soon Yaoi and I will rule the world. MUHAHAHA!
I am sorry to burst your bubble, but there is no lesbian stuff out there at all. The only thing that i can think of is 'The L word'. I never understood how all the yaoi girls say "OMG there are lesbian stuff everywhere!!one." WHen there isn't Only Steel ANgel, and KnM have been licenced, and they hve a much mor male audience (mecha, and such)

[Bernard_Monsha]

I am getting sick of hearing and seeing Yaoi everywhere. The market is totally saturated, and well....there are better things out there.
(please see other threads here for more info)


I think they heard you the last 5 bazillion times you said this. I for one am sick of getting complaints about you trolling please stop.

[GokuMew2]

I think this is great! But on the other hand, I'm a bit wary. I'm sure you all know the effects of popular anime coming to the U.S. and gaining more foreign exposure. I'm afraid of the same thing happening with yaoi, though I suppose to an extent it sort of already has, though not on as big a scale as regular anime.

[Defiled one]

I think this is great! But on the other hand, I'm a bit wary. I'm sure you all know the effects of popular anime coming to the U.S. and gaining more foreign exposure. I'm afraid of the same thing happening with yaoi, though I suppose to an extent it sort of already has, though not on as big a scale as regular anime.


Well 4kids and Yaoi must not mix...MUST NOT!! has long that this basic law of the universe isnt broken, everything will be alright with the balance of the universe :naughty:

[GokuMew2]

Well 4kids and Yaoi must not mix...MUST NOT!! has long that this basic law of the universe isnt broken, everything will be alright with the balance of the universe :naughty:
Haha. I doubt 4Kids would touch anything yaoi with a 100 foot pole. We're safe in that regard. So far licensed yaoi anime isn't too bad, since much of the time they don't even have a dub track, hehe. So I guess I'm not worried about what the companies do (though I've heard of some awful translations for manga and novels), I'm more worried about the fans.

[Magami No ER]

The market is totally saturated, and well....there are better things out there.

Says...you? O.o
People post increases in popular generes for a reason.
And I've seen those threads, they just consisted of some posts in which everyone's opinion causing conflict (what else is new). But Bernard said what I was thinking anyway....
As for me, I haven't bought any of those titles...maybe because I don't actively seek BL type materials in bookstores/online (exception being Gravitation.)
Just too many other titles I'm absorbed in currently.

[April-san]

With any manga, there has been some very good releases and some very bad ones.

I'm really enjoying Love Mode (even though I've only read the first two volumes). The first book focuses on Izumi, a straight high school student, who is mistakenly taken for a male escort (from B&B, a high class gay dating club) by Takamiya. After everything gets sorted out, Takamiya admits he has fallen for Izumi. After spending some time with Takamiya, Izumi tries to sort out his own feelings.
The second book focuses on Reiji, the owner of the B&B dating club. After discovering his girlfriend was cheating on him, he meets Nooya, a High School boy who has just lost everything. 90% of this book is sweet BL. However, the final short story returns us to Izumi and Takamiya from the first book, celebrating their first Christmas together.
Sweet plot, hot sex, and great characters. I recomend this series.

I wan't impressed with Cafe Kichijouji. It really didn't stand out. Five guys, each with their own special powers, unintentionally create mayhem at their job, a local cafe. I ususally can spot a BL pairing a mile away. However, I don't even see the pairings in this book. It was just a little too crazy for me.

I really wish a company would pick up Mirage of Blaze manga. However, I can see the companies playing it safe with one-shots while building a strong financial foundation. It doesn't matter if a single volume bombs. A 20+ volume series bombing is a different matter. For example, Tokyopop was a well established company before they decided to take a risk with FAKE and Gravitation. Now if new BLU was met with media attention and book bans (burnings?), they probably wouldn't stay in business very long. (Thank goodness that hasn't happend with YAOI, yet). Going through a protest line just to get into my favorite bookstore would force me to purchase on-line much more often.

One more thing...
I can remember just a couple of years ago when Fruits Basket first made it to the New York Times top 100 seller's list. It was a BIG deal.

[DazzleKitty]

I am sorry to burst your bubble, but there is no lesbian stuff out there at all. The only thing that i can think of is 'The L word'. I never understood how all the yaoi girls say "OMG there are lesbian stuff everywhere!!one." WHen there isn't Only Steel ANgel, and KnM have been licenced, and they hve a much mor male audience (mecha, and such)

Are you just talking about lesbian stuff in the anime/manga fandom, or in general?
While more romantic yuri isn't really popular in that fandom, I see plenty of romantic lesbian movies on tv. Heck, Lifetime, a network for women, has quite a few of them. I can recall at least three of them off the top of my head, and I am sure there are more new ones being shown on it now and then.
Most yuri anime does have a male audience in mind (except Maria-sama, but I heard they 'otaku-ized' it) because most of the yuri anime out there is male-oriented. If you want more shoujo-ai manga, get off your arse and start emailing various companies. I remember a couple ago when I signed lots of petitions and emailed lots of companies about releasing yaoi stuff. You alone may not be able to do it, but if you get a petition going, maybe it would work.

About Cafe Kichijouji, I am glad I held off then. It doesn't look like many fans liked it. I've heard it being compared to the Gravitation manga, which I didn't like very much.

[Animematt55]

Are you just talking about lesbian stuff in the anime/manga fandom, or in general?
While more romantic yuri isn't really popular in that fandom, I see plenty of romantic lesbian movies on tv. Heck, Lifetime, a network for women, has quite a few of them. I can recall at least three of them off the top of my head, and I am sure there are more new ones being shown on it now and then.
Most yuri anime does have a male audience in mind (except Maria-sama, but I heard they 'otaku-ized' it) because most of the yuri anime out there is male-oriented. If you want more shoujo-ai manga, get off your arse and start emailing various companies. I remember a couple ago when I signed lots of petitions and emailed lots of companies about releasing yaoi stuff. You alone may not be able to do it, but if you get a petition going, maybe it would work.

About Cafe Kichijouji, I am glad I held off then. It doesn't look like many fans liked it. I've heard it being compared to the Gravitation manga, which I didn't like very much.
But Lifetime is a female oriented network, why shouldn't they show programs that are good for women?

[DazzleKitty]

But Lifetime is a female oriented network, why shouldn't they show programs that are good for women?

What do you mean by that? How are lesbian shows 'good for women'? Some like to watch them, but I don't see how they are beneficial.
Sometimes you come off as being really...I don't know...is sexist or insane a good choice of words?

[Defiled one]

What do you mean by that? How are lesbian shows 'good for women'? Some like to watch them, but I don't see how they are beneficial.
Sometimes you come off as being really...I don't know...is sexist or insane a good choice of words?

I have heard of of many thing oriented for men, including that..but for women?..Nahh..they like to play the saint..."Hypocrate speaking in here"

[Animematt55]

What do you mean by that? How are lesbian shows 'good for women'? Some like to watch them, but I don't see how they are beneficial.
Sometimes you come off as being really...I don't know...is sexist or insane a good choice of words?
i ment it is programming aimed at women....What? you don't want TV shows for women?

[DazzleKitty]

i ment it is programming aimed at women....What? you don't want TV shows for women?

You know what I meant.
You said lesbian movies were good for women. I just think that's another one of your 'lazy excuses' not to bother typing a huge response.

[fujyoshi]

I heart loveless I can't wait to get it!!

[thelostyears]

^ Ditto. I think it's a great manga. I didn't think it would be better than the anime version of it, but now it has surpassed my expectations. It has beautiful art and the story is very compelling as the chapter goes by. I can't wait till volume 3 is released.

[typhonblue]

Why would lesbian movies be any better for women then yaoi?

[same_animefan]

^Matt just falls off his high horse every once and a while and says something so utterly stupid and nonsensical that he tries to cover it up like he meant something else that should have been 'totally obvious'. Such as the recent “Lesbian TV is good for women. What, you don’t want TV for women?” He can’t just admit he either phrased it horrible wrong or was just being an idiot.

He pulls real life into the equation when it suits him, or when someone else brings something purely fantasy up. When Real life doesn't suit his explanations and someone else is using it, than it becomes irrelevant (such as always taking the ‘there has always been a lesbian for men niche’ as strictly Yuri/Anime related. There has been far more real life lesbian porno’s and stories than there have for gay’s directed at women. Sure, yuri as an anime form has yet to become highly available and licensed, but in general, there are more lesbian titles for the men). Others, he blurs them together to make it sound like every girl doesn't know the differences between fiction and reality, even if some don't. Of course, there's NEVER been any men like that. The ones lost in anime or Dungeons and Dragon's who live it and can't function in real life because of it, thus stereotyping all the fans of the said thing.

This is why I rarely come to this forum anymore. I just read Matt's arguments these day's and laugh, because if you remember anything he's said in the past, at one point or another, he ends up contradicting himself and sounding like a hypocrite.

*shrugs* why he finds he must come into a yaoi thread and go on and on about how it isn't special, or this and that, I don't know. But you know what? If you ignore him, he won't have anything left to talk about. So yes. When Matt starts being an *** in an obviously Yaoi oriented thread, lets all just ignore him. Maybe he'll get the hint and just give up. He's already been complained about to the Mods lately. He keeps it up; maybe he'll just get banned for always stirring up trouble in the forums. Someone else phrased it quite nicely with a picture. “Don’t feed the trolls”—even if it’s tempting.

[DazzleKitty]

This is why I rarely come to this forum anymore. I just read Matt's arguments these day's and laugh, because if you remember anything he's said in the past, at one point or another, he ends up contradicting himself and sounding like a hypocrite.


I totally agree. I do not enjoy coming here at AN anymore because of him. This used to be my main forum and I would post several times a day, but now I just don't care for it anymore. It's not just this section of the forum where he flames fangirls - he'll do it every chance he gets, even when it's totally irrelevant to the topic.
I am going to a different forum now to talk about yaoi and anime, but unfortunately he found that one too once and started to flame all the fangirls there. I haven't seen him there for a while, thank goodness.

I have tried ignoring him. Usually people on the internet never really get to me and I brush the annoying ones off as idiots, but Matt just fries me. We used to talk on AIM, and he also insulted me on a more personal level (yeah, I know it's the internet, but what he brought up is a very sore subject with me). I just can't stand it. I almost wish he would get banned because maybe I would enjoy coming here again. I feel like a lot of people here think I am a b*tch because of him. He brought out the ugly side in me because he p*ssed me off so much. I guess I can try to ignore him again, but I don't know how long that will last.

I think same_animefan had a lot of good things to say. I agree with everything she said.

[Lockheart]

I've seen better trolls than Mattie (I'll give him +10 points for being clueless that he's being one), but... why drive away your source of entertainment? :| The mouse spews crap that makes me point and laugh at him. :'(

[same_animefan]

^There's Matt, and then the lack of threads that peaque my interest ^_~. Matt's only one of the reasons I don't post very often anymore. Granted, when I see a new thread on yaoi, I always skim to see what Matt complained about this time. It's interesting to see what points he's degrading things on yet again.

If we're doling out points, than I award another 10 for managing to get a person like me who is really extremly passive to actually get pissed off >_>. Congrats.

[GokuMew2]

The last few posts have been getting a little OT, hm? :P But I can understand. Just ignore him. I think you're making him happier by showing him how annoyed you are and how his presence lessens your enjoyment. To put it bluntly, he's not someone who deserves investing stress over.

I personally think there should be separate forums for yuri and yaoi, or just group yuri with the hentai forum since most yuri occurs in hentai anyway.

[Shiroxx]

This thread was supposed to be about yaoi's popularity in the US....but somehow it turned into a flame thread. Let's all get back to topic!

Anyway, i heard LOVELESS is currently one of the best selling TP manga this year. I wonder how much he has already sold.

[Haruhi]

Dammit Matt, leave the yaoi fans alone.

And I'm glad yaoi is appearing more. I can only hope that some other niche relationships start getting published as well. Like sibling relationships.

[Shiroxx]

^ I would so love the incest series "I'm in love with my sister" to get licensed. I watched the OVA and it surprised me.