(art by nuu for adamo)
Recently I had the honor of interviewing Schumie, editor for the upcoming boy's love anthology, adamo. She talked with us about the first volume of adamo, which debuts at YaoiCon at the end of October. Enjoy!
Tell us a little bit about the project. What is adamo anthology?
adamo is an original English-language BL comic anthology containing multiple one-shot stories and illustrations all based around a common theme. Volume 1's theme was "strange love" and the artists really did an awesome job with their interpretations and inclusion of the theme. We've got some sexy and very strange stories.
How did it get started? What inspired the project?
A few years ago me and my creative partner Nuu were hired to submit a story for something similar, a yaoi magazine, RUSH, by DramaQueen, but it went caput. I still loved the idea of an English yaoi magazine, however, and always entertained the idea of doing something similar once I knew enough people. The English-speaking yaoi market is practically nonexistant outside of licensed Japanese titles (besides for one or two companies like Yaoi Press) and this is really disconcerting and extremely annoying, in my opinion. With so many talented people out there, I thought it would be fun to get some of my personal favorites and friends together to make a book that showcases the BL talent outside of Asia. Something with a wide variety in artwork and solid storylines. Basically, show the world that the Japanese don't have a monopoly on gay comic talent.
So adamo is essentially one-of-a-kind?
I know that a month or two after announcing adamo, a BL fairy tale anthology began in the works. But as far as just general original English yaoi anthologies go, I do think adamo is the only one around currently. I feel like my head just grew three sizes. It is a good feeling.
Who are the artists/writers/editors involved?
We have artists from at least five different countries involved for Volume 1. The illustrators are Nuu, Rolic, Lawnmowerpants, Amei, Wredwrat, Lara Yokoshima, Metanomaly, and Ruuich4n. We also have two talented writers, W2 and Trillzey. I (schumie) serve as Editor, Funder, and Project Coordinator. Michi is the Webmistress of our fantastic website and supported me from the sidelines. I'm hoping to have an even more varied group for the second book.
What has it been like, bringing all of this together?
A real pain in the ass XD. There have been lots of problems. Many artists had to drop due to personal problems and the book was completely finished, ready for print, only to have our Chinese printer reject the project due to the adult content. Everyone's been very understanding and supportive though. The best part has been meeting and being able to get to know so many really kind artists. The yaoi community really is a sharing and caring one and I haven't met anyone I want to rip to shreds yet.
How would you best describe the first volume?
A Cornucopia of Cocks. Just kidding. Well, sort of. It's an amazing book filled with four very well-drawn and entertaining stories, and four fantastic original illustrations. We have telepaths, ghosts, policemen, and rock bands. It really is a book showcasing English-speaking yaoi artists' talents.
Would you describe the art for adamo as manga, manga-inspired, GloBL, or something else?
When we originally had 10+ artists signed up for adamo, the idea was to get the widest possible variety in art styles. I hope that the outcome still shows that variety. Each of the artists in the anthology have very unique styles. While the anthology was promoted as "BL," which generally gives the connotation of a Japanese art style, all of the submissions have unique characteristics and some of them are art styles (I feel) have never been seen in wide-spread BL or GLBT comics before.
Do you have a favorite story from the first volume?
I'm going to be very political and vague now because I don't want to be lynched by my new artists friends. I think every story in the anthology has something interesting to bring. None of them are similar, and that is the proof that these artists and writers are amazing. They were all given the same theme and created completely individual works in a very short amount of time. I'm extremely proud and simultaneously excited by all of them. Very excited. If you know what I mean.
Where can people buy this book?
The book can be ordered online at http://adamoanthology.com/ or purchased at Yaoi-Con Fan Market table 31 and at any other conventions announced on the website.
What are your plans for the future? Have you picked a theme for the next volume?
I definitely plan on coordinating a second volume in the future. We have not yet picked a theme for it, but I already have several artists in mind that I would love to have participate. I think this is a really great project and the sort of thing necessary to prove that non-Asian yaoi exists and it's actually really damn good.
Are you guys on twitter? Y!gallery? DeviantArt?
Yes, yes, and yes.
You can follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/adamoanthology
We have a club page on Y!gallery at http://yaoi.y-gallery.net/club/9485/
You can join and watch for updates and submissions on our DA project page at http://adamoanthology.deviantart.com/
And of course there is the website: http://adamoanthology.com
It was a pleasure to get to interview schumie, and I am super excited about the book. Be sure to order your copy on the website, or pick it up in person at YaoiCon!
Thanks for joining us! <3
Essentially, the male student in question bitches for roughly three or four paragraphs about how if you switch the gender pronouns in the club's description (thus making it a lesbian fanclub) everyone would hate it and the school would refuse to sponsor such a thing. On the one hand, I can see where he is coming from in that if a group of students started a lesbian fanclub that objectified women, people would be all over it to shut it down; what the author is missing is the fact that yaoi puts women on the powerhorse. If the tables were truly turned, and women had all of the power in the world (or if power was distributed equally among the sexes), then I would be ALL OVER the idea of boys starting a lesbian fanclub. But the problem is that there is still male power in place (aka "the patriarchy"--not exactly sexism with a purpose, but rather the glass ceiling that hasn't been disassembled yet). 
