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UPDATE 06/16/10
Comments have been turned back on; there is a spam filter in place, but it shouldn't be visible on the user end.

We're having a meeting next week to discuss panel information at Kumoricon, at which time I will find out the panel times and dates for the "Making Manga" and "How to Draw Yaoi" panels!

In other news, I apologize for how slow-going all of this has been, but I have re-arranged my work schedule in a way that should allow me to spend more time focusing on accomplishing something here on Yaoi Briefs and HTDY. The beginning is in sight, friends! :D

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older post
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First of all, forgive me for my absence for the past month; it has absolutely no relation to yaoi, manga, or the internet, so it's neither here nor there. Just know that there was art and a party involved, and I don't really remember much of it except that when I woke up there was a canadian passed out on my couch that had multiple fake mustaches adhered to her forehead, so it must have been a good night.

That being said, I just wanted you to know that I am alive and working on the blog. I've found a module that will curtail the bot problem, I just have to install it and get it working. After that, I'll start the blog updates again.

How to Draw Yaoi (HTDY)
Also, (as you will know if you've read the about page), I run howtodrawyaoi.com, so I'll be updating the software for that and start updating the lessons possibly as soon as this week. I'm hoping to have quite a few lessons up in time for Kumoricon in September, since I will be doing a "how to draw yaoi" panel there (as well as a "how to draw yuri" panel; still trying to figure out if I will be posting those lessons online, and where).

Stay tuned for more updates on HTDY, or you can also follow the HTDY RSS feed.

....one more thing. BEWAAAAARE THE IDES OF MAAAARCH. Sorry, just had to say it. XD

Ugh.

I HATE THE INTERNET.

Okay, so comments are currently disabled because it seems that sometime recently, spambots found the blog. As mentioned on twitter, I am currently involved in a major project, thus the lack of updates. It also means that I can't babysit the comments section or work on a way to prevent it from happening, so I'm making the blog read-only for the moment.

Can't wait to share the project, though. It's pretty awesome :D

On the occasion (the rare occasion, but still) I hear opinions from the uninitiated about yaoi and how either it is bad, weird, badweird, or filth spawned from the throats of demons that are trying to draw you to the powers of hell and satan. Recently a (male) student of Hamilton College wrote an article for the school paper objecting to the existence of a school-sponsored yaoi fanclub that described itself as being "aimed mainly at women, though of course members of any gender or sexuality are welcome."

Let me sum up his thing 4 u:

"It's SO NOT FAIR that women get to objectify men and not the other way around!!"

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).

Not to mention, it's hard to see most yaoi as objectifying. So much of it is lovey gooey nonsense, and even the sex is usually very intimate and romantic. And you know, I think most people wouldn't have a problem with a club of guys that liked to look at girls cuddling. I wouldn't. It sounds like fun.

Another wonderful thing about yaoi is that it's a safe-haven for female fans. Even at my local anime store (and I live in a progressive town), it's a sausage festival every time I walk in there--which is not to say that the penis isn't a wonderful thing, but that sometimes, it's hard to break through the wall of guy-dome and VERY annoying when you are just trying to shop for your hobby. So I welcome yaoi clubs, cons and festivals that are predominately females oggling at fictional guys. No harm no foul, yeah?

So, how about u? Are yaoi clubs unfair because men can't have the same thing? Do you ever have issues with the male fanbase? Or is this argument over-complicating an issue when people should just be allowed to like what they like, whether that be lesbians, yaoi, nun exploitation films, or futanari? Inquiring minds want to know.

(props to Icarus Comics blog for posting about the article and giving me something to rant about)
*edit*
IC posted a reply to my reply (4th paragraph down), which lead to an interesting discussion about male sexuality in the comments. Be sure to check it out!

TheYaoiReview.com and Hamlet Machine (the mind behind Starfighter) have teamed up to bring you a Starfighter fanart contest that will award merits for ideas, not artistic quality.

If you are a fan of Starfighter, then you owe it to yourself to whip out a pen and get crackin'. Sucking at art is not an excuse. It is a proven fact: artistic ability doesn't have to get in your way when you really want to say something.

So it's not new news that Australian legislation censors everything that is cool and right with the world, but in 2010 they are looking at implementing a web filter so that anyone living in their country can't access child porn. Unfortunately, their definition of "child porn" also includes fictional characters--like those in anime, manga, and fanfiction.

An anonymous doc on Google warns of the implications of the new law, and urges fanfic writers and anyone remotely affected by the law to write in and tell them how awful it is. (Even those not living in Australia, seeing as potentially your readership is negatively affected.)

And in case you are a fanfic writer/fanship artist who is thinking to yourself, "Oh, no, I don't even like shota," please remember that any character under the age of 18 (and even implied to be under 18) would be considered a child. So no more SoraXRiku shipping, u guys, and that makes me :(

If the disaster in Haiti has you wondering what you can do for the cause, never fear--several artists and manga people have come forward to put their manga where their mouth is and sell their art for charity (or do other fun things to raise money for disaster relief). Check out these items up for bid to benefit Haiti Disaster Relief fund, as well as other online events going on to raise money for the cause.

*New!* From now until the end of the month, all Yaoi Gen web sale proceeds will go to support the relief effort in Haiti.

Yaoi Press Yaoi Bundle

Studio Kosen Original Art Apparently, this auction has ended. (I don't know Spanish!)

RE:Play Original Cover Art

Manga Updates Donation Challenge

Hello Kitty Online - Event to Benefit Haiti

(reblogged info from Yaoi Press, Anime News Network and Boy's Luv.com)

Let's start the new year off with some /bang/s and a whole lot of /bang/ing, shall we?

DokiDoki

January 13th
MILLENNIUM PRIME MINISTER VOL. 3

Sai, who ran away from Kanata and was being sheltered by Matsumoto, has been kidnapped!! And when it’s made public, not even Sai knew how big of a bombshell the truth behind the kidnapping would be!! Now it looks as though Sai and Matsumoto are becoming Kanata’s enemies. And what does this mean for Minoru and Kanata’s burgeoning romance…?!

January 27th
GREEN LIGHT

High school freshman Shotaro Izumi has a problem. That problem is his childhood best friend, Makoto Natsuki. Natsuki lives the life of a prince. Ever since elementary school, his perfect looks and sweet disposition have won the hearts of everyone around him and attracted a gaggle of fans. But Natsuki's burst into fame has plunged Izumi into hell. Five years ago Izumi's offhanded criticism of his friend earned him the hatred of all the girls (and boys) in school, and it's only gotten worse since. His friendship with Natsuki was destroyed over the incident, and the ostracism has seriously warped his personality. The more Natsuki becomes a star, the more Izumi becomes a bitter social outcast. So when Natsuki asks Izumi one day what he can do to make up for everything, Izumi flippantly says "Go out with me" just to get a rise out of him. But to his shock, Natsuki takes him up on the offer—and seems to take it very seriously...

June

January 13th
IN THE WALNUT VOL. 1

This is the story of Nakai, a filmmaking apprentice, and Tanizaki, the owner of the art gallery In the Walnut. The two of them have been friendly since their days studying art at university, and now their friendship is giving way to a burgeoning relationship. It's hard to get a grip on ordinary Tanizaki, and in reality there's another side to him—a con man side…! Touko Kawai provides a prescription for love in her latest popular series!

PHYSICAL ATTRACTION

I first met the cool and handsome Narusawa in college. Interested, I approached and said to him half-jokingly,"Let me do you next time." ...that very same day, he was the one who ended up doing me! Then, just when I thought I'd talked myself into believing ours was a purely physical relationship, I came to a sudden realization-I was in love with Narusawa! But I'm always the one calling to see him, and never the other way around. The booty-call has been our only connection-so how can I tell him,"I love you," now...?! -Kurata

January 27th
ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE VOL. 1

High school senior, Junya Sawa, gets a new classmate when Uzuki Kobayakawa, the heir to notorious crime syndicate, transfers to his school. The other students in Junya's class all keep their distance, giving Uzuki a wide berth, however Junya soon becomes good friends with him. Gradually, the two become attracted to one another, but Uzuki's educational "advisor" admonishes him, telling Uzuki that the world he must live in has no room for Junya, and the two are separated. Then, 8 years later, still holding that wound that never healed, the adult Junya reunites with Uzuki... Includes a bonus back-up story!!

HOW TO SEDUCE A VAMPIRE

Watanabe gathered up Mizuo's battered and bloodstained body, was forced to cooperate with the ensuing blood transfusion, and for his trouble was late for his part-time job, resulting in his termination. The mysterious Mizuo tells the now-unemployed Watanabe that he is a vampire, and offers Watanabe a position at his salon. Despite his feeling that Mizuo is a potentially dangerous partner, for some reason Watanabe cannot bear to be away from him... Includes a bonus back-up story!

Yaoi Prose

Available Now
INCUBUS MASTER PARTS 1&2

Jinady was forced to be a sex slave to a tribe of winged incubi for a year when he’s rescued by the regal demon Figaru. Figaru brings Jinady to a settlement of mortals. Jinady learns that Figaru is the king of this settlement, and that he’s been looking for a mate. Figaru’s adoring subjects start to match-make the two. Jinady finds himself falling for the noble demon king. He senses his feelings are being reciprocated. Then Jinady discovers Figaru’s former love interest Rowan is locked in a dark cabin with a magical ‘blood chain’ connecting his throat to a wall. Several demon allies are rallying to help Rowan, including Scor, the demon Figaru almost beat to death. Jinady seeks the truth about what happened between Rowan and Figaru, while trying to resist the strong seductive lure of the demon king.

...Also, I noticed while browsing around that Yaoi Club is having a mango sale with prices as low as $3. Jesus, I wish I had money.

Disclaimer: Excerpts were copypasta'd off of publisher blurb pages.

Also, if I missed any releases, please send an email to apple at yaoibriefs.com. Thanks!