Gender is an often very difficult subject to breakdown, especially doing it in a manga non-fiction format, unlike academic circles that tackle the issue with assumed familiarity, or queer circles where people have been forced to examine the topic for a chance at self understanding. When it comes to non-fiction tackling of LGBT issues, it is quite easy to come across as preachy and is easy to fall into the same rote default framing. Something like "It's fine to be LGBT, we're normal, society should change to accept us". There is nothing inherently wrong with this, all three of these claims are correct. But correctness doesn't guarantee intrigue, and there's so much more to the experiences of LGBT people to gender as a concept that can be explored, so it's refreshing when you find a niche title that really scratches that itch.

Last Gender is an excellent exploration into the titular subject of gender and LGBT identities. It's an episodic manga that focuses on a sex bar accommodating of everyone, and through this bar you get to meet a whole host of different people on the gender and sexuality spectrum and their unique problems and character arcs. The manga does a great job of flowing through these character arcs naturally from one to the other, and the execution of them all can vary but I found all to be delightful and insightful, and some very emotionally charged. I consider myself to be fairly knowledgeable on the subject matter, but even I learned some things from reading. Most importantly, it is a deeper dive into the subject that I have read, and goes an excellent job at deconstructing gender into what it really is. For the purposes of keeping this review spoiler-free, I will not be elaborating on the conclusions reached, but one could write a full analysis of that far longer than this review.

I think a big deal of contention with this manga will probably come down to whether you find the dialogue and it's general direct approach to the subject matter to be appealing or not. I can accept that there will be some who find some parts to be cringy, too direct, and unsubtle. And there is an element of truth to is. The very first words of the manga are "Gender is a spectrum". While I think everyone should give the manga a try, if you disagree with that statement, you will probably not enjoy this manga, but you'll definitely learn a lot, regardless if it reaches you. If you agree but find it too forward, I urge you to look past it to enjoy the wonderful stories this manga has to tell.

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I have to say, I was really impressed with this manga for really deep diving into each characters sexual preferences, their live stories and the challenges they face on a daily basis because of who they are as a person. We see that many characters come to this bar aka “BAR California” to explore their insecurities under a strange bartender named Yo (although later on, we find out she is actually Suki, the twin of Yo). I like the fact each character wasn't your typical over the top characters and most of them were pretty likeable. Although I want to get this out there that I didn't appreciate the force kiss from the first characters we saw. I just felt the author could have let the trans woman and the married woman talk more about their feelings of one another before jumping into the kiss. Remember folks, consent as well as communication are key regardless of who you are.



The most saddest story out of all the characters was definitely Yuki losing his lover to suicide. That really hit me the hardest, I can't imagine how tough it is to continue on with life with your lover not there anymore. The author was really good at giving me the feels like my god, the tears were nearly there!


I really wish towards the end that we get to see what each characters were up to after visiting the bar. I was just dying to know if Yuki found someone else cause poor guy had it rough! I mean of course Suki is the main protagonist here like she is important too and I am glad that she is still working in the bar regardless of her struggles as well as losing her twin sister.

Also can I just say, the close up faces on the characters were stunning like the art is so pretty man! I'm surprised no one has talked much about this manga yet, it is really good despite with the few hiccups I mentioned here.



HAPPY PRIDE MONTH TO ALL!

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