Mar 19, 2022
Mentaiko Itto is currently one of the biggest names in "bara" or rather "gei komi" (gay comics) in Japan. Unlike BL, which shows male gay romance by straight women for straight women, this genre is by gay men for gay men. It thus differs in many ways: the artstyle is more masculine, leaning on the Seinen side instead of the BL-shoujo-bishonen, and will tackle topics such as LGBTQ+ acceptance, social issues, patriarchal structures and toxic masculinity.
"The Boy Who Cries Wolf" is the story of a high schooler who is in the closet, coming out is not an option for him. When graduation comes around
...
the corner, he is looking forward to maybe starting is new gay life far away from his hometown.
In the final night, hanging out with his male friends, he can let his homosexuality out in a playful manner, he is drunk, he kisses one of his mates, what a big good time.
However, later that night, said friend comes out to him... but our protagonist can't. In the following sex scene, we see an intense and honestly heartbreaking inner monologue about him not being able to be who he wants to be, but also, even in the act of gay sex, cannot deal with the shame. Neither can he emotionally support his gay friend. The internalised homophobia is too strong.
Another review on this site called this scene a "rape scene", however, I disagree with this reading, as it is fully consensual, yet struggles with its own identity and intention: which is the whole theme of the story. (It also portrays gay anal sex in a realistic manner, it can severely hurt if one is not well-prepared, unlike in the BL genre where lube or foreplay is often non-existent.)
The story ends positively, with the two friends being able to reconnect and talk about it many years later, and both apologising and making up for it.
What also leads me to this conclusion is the afterword by the author himself, which is included in my physical copy by the Bruno Gmünder publisher: Mentaiko Itto says that this story is quite autobiographical, he was in the closet for his whole youth, and now as an adult, severely regrets that he couldn't support gay friends who came out to him in his school days - he feels shame for letting his fellow gay friends down, and not having been true to himself.
As the story itself ends on a positive note, his own afterword also ends in a positive one: I'm out to the world now, and I'm happy. And I think that is wonderful.
"The Boy Who Cries Wolf" is a tough read, an emotional turmoil that many LGBTQ+ youths all around the world face, and I will recommend it highly for that.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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