I kept hearing about this book. I thought I knew what to expect but I was still surprised by how the story unfolded. Ryo doesn't feel comfortable as a girl and identifies as a male but is having a hard time coming out. He feels like he can't stand out and so he can't be free. A new student comes to class and when they accidentally reach for the same shirt at the same time at the story the new student, Jin, thinks they should start a fashion brand together. Ryo is very hesitant to go against the status quo but is so ready to be himself. They get started together with their new business and Ryo struggles with how to present their relationship to other students in their class. Ryo and Jin decide they need pictures for their website and recruit a classmate from photography club. This storyline really surprised me and I liked it. The photography classmate isn't too different from Ryo in how he feels about social norms but comes to realize he has the same views as Ryo and Jin and joins them. I'm interested to see where the story goes.

Boys run the riot nos narra una historia desde la perspectiva de Ryo, una persona que ha nacido como mujer, pero anhela ser físicamente como se siente: un hombre. Esta seguridad se la brinda la ropa, y mediante ella puede expresarse mejor con comodidad. Nadie sabe cómo se siente hasta que llega un chico nuevo a su colegio que cumple todos los estereotipos para ser clasificado como "chico malo"; sin embargo, será la primera persona que Ryo conozca que vive y se expresa libremente, así que es la primera persona a la que decide confiarle sus sentimientos sobre sí mismo.
Este manga lleva una historia con personajes queer muy bien representados, en una cultura asiática de discriminación y bullying. Me agrada que te den un poco de contexto de la vida de otros personajes, aunque Jin sigue siendo un poco misterioso. La construcción de personajes me parece muy buena, que a mi parecer, es más difícil conseguir en un manga ya que la mayoría es diálogo y contexto. Jin es mi personaje favorito, a pesar de no ser el mejor estudiante, vive la vida a su gusto, busca ser feliz con lo que hace día a día, le da un intento a las cosas que le interesan, es comprensivo, sabe comunicarse e impulsa a sus amigos para lo mejor.
Solo tuve problemas con que los dibujos cuando el personaje está mirando en diagonal, no le dibujan un ojo y se me hace raro. Lo otro es que en un inicio sentí que la historia iba bastante rápido, aunque al final no me ha incomodado.
La recomiendo totalmente, espero seguir con los siguientes volúmenes.
Este manga pude leerlo gracias a Netgalley, gracias.

Note: this review does contain minor spoilers!

Boys Run the Riot has been on my radar for the longest time and I am so happy that I finally got to read it! It absolutely did not disappoint.

This manga is an OwnVoices story of a teenage trans boy in Japan named Ryo and a rough-looking transfer student named Jin who band together to create their own fashion brand.

This manga is so special in the way that it not only discusses feelings of dysphoria but also explores what it feels like in general to feel out of place or to be someone who naturally gravitates to going ‘against the grain’ of societal expectations.

The first volume does a great job of introducing the themes and characters. I enjoyed the introduction of a third member to their brand project as well as the brief discussion of printmaking techniques, graffiti and photography.

At the end of volume one, we are introduced to Tsubasa, a genderqueer character who says that they haven’t had any contact with their mother in quite some time. I am interested to see where the following volumes take us with their character development and can’t wait to see how Ryo and Jin’s brand goes!

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for providing me with a digital copy in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

This one is a bit difficult, oddly, for me to review. I personally identify as nonbinary, trans-masc, so my identification is not the same as Ryo's, but reading a manga with a main character who is trans was definitely something I was interested in. And this was a bit of a mixed bag for me.

For starters, I personally didn't really like the art style. I loved Ryo's graffiti artwork, but otherwise I just found that it wasn't a style that I particularly gelled with - no harm done there, just not necessarily my thing.
After that, we get to the storyline. I thought Ryo talking about his experience was quite relatable, even if it's not exactly the same as mine, I found similarities that made me identify with Ryo a little more. However, it just never quite felt like me, so it was hard to know how I felt in general. I'm also not someone overly interested in fashion, so that kind of was somewhat uninteresting for me.
Finally, and this is just something that I really dislike, Ryo accused someone of being 'a waste of balls' and similar things like that, and I just hated that. I hate that kind of slur - if someone isn't brave, then they lack male genitalia? Why do we have to define people by what genitalia they have? Obviously something that I don't like, so I just couldn't get on with that kind of behaviour.

Anyway, overall I thought the general message was good about fighting for your dreams, and I liked the basic acceptance of Ryo by Jin, as well as the sheer fact that the main character is a trans man, but this one just didn't do it for me. I may still read book two, but I would recommend this more for people interested in fashion I think, as it just didn't quite jive for me.

I absolutely love this manga. I can relate to the characters and it gives me so much hope. I am so excited to read more of this series and author. I am so grateful I was given the opportunity to read it.

As a lot of reviews have touched on, I thought this book was going to have a much different focus -- more on personal growth -- but I'm pleasantly surprised by how engaged I was with the clothing line storyline. I would suggest going with caution, especially at the beginning I found it particularly jarring with the transphobia (it's, unfortunately, realistic however) and it can be quite gut wrenching in places, but on the whole this manga is lovely, rebellious and uplifting.

The art style is cool and the characters are engaging.

Boys Run the Riot tells the tale of an unlikely team-up between two boys to run a fashion brand called: The Riot. Ryo, a transgender teen struggling with his identity, is the designer. Jin, the tough-looking guy who was held back a year, is the business man & model. A wonderful manga with engaging art and positive messages about male friendship.

As a lot of reviews have touched on, I thought this book was going to have a much different focus -- more on personal growth -- but I'm pleasantly surprised by how engaged I was with the clothing line storyline. I would suggest going with caution, especially at the beginning I found it particularly jarring with the transphobia (it's, unfortunately, realistic however) and it can be quite gut wrenching in places, but on the whole this manga is lovely, rebellious and uplifting.

The art style is cool and the characters are engaging.

DELIGHTFUL! This is SUCH an inspiring start to the series. I'm excited to see more lgbtq representation in manga! Ryo just wants to be seen as a boy and uses fashion to feel comfortable, Jin enjoys creating and wearing fashion so together they create a brand of clothing on their own. The story weaves together a few characters stories and gives a great jumping off point to expect more to come in the next installment. I enjoy the morals and themes of the story, that even showing who you are and what you're excited about can be scary, but it's important to be authentic to yourself. I love that while Ryo can't come out at a man, Jin helps him feel comfortable by using their love of fashion to make Ryo feel like he's being true to himself.

Absolutely one of the best manga I've read. Having trans characters as the center of one makes me as a trans person feel very seen.

I received an eARC of this title through NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I LOVED this story. I did not fully realize it was the first in a series and when it ended I gave a cry of despair because I wanted to read more! Honestly, that does not happen often. This is a beautiful story of a transgender boy who is not allowed to dress or be seen the way he desires. The story is heart-wrenching and follows a few different characters and their life in high school including bullies and other hardships. The artwork is fantastic and the concept original.

I highly recommend this manga. It made me laugh, cry, and feel things I never knew I could.

Ryo Watari is a closeted trans boy, spending his life struggling silently with gender dysphoria and the overwhelming expectations of his peers and family weighing him down. He finds freedom in clothes, a form of self-expression and one of the only ways he truly feels comfortable in his own skin. Then third year transfer Jin enters his life, and Ryo finally finds himself with a friend who not only understands him, but his passion for clothing, and they start the long process of establishing a fashion brand.

This is a wonderful first volume. Full of heart, and with a character at its centre rarely shown so unapologetically confident in their trans identity, yet still feeling lost and at odds with themselves, you can't help but feel attached. As someone beginning to consider their own gender and the concept of gender performance, this manga came along at the perfect time to help me begin to look at my own identity and level of comfort in my own skin. I know there are more characters who come in that are part of the community, and I'm looking forward to seeing Ryo's relationship with the world and his friends begin to transform and develop as the series progresses.

"𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙣𝙖𝙞𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙨 𝙪𝙥 𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣."

When I first encountered this line, I thought it would be prudent to get some tissues. But this OwnVoices manga was not what I had expected. It was like sun peaking out on a winter morning.

We follow Ryo, a transgender teen, as he struggles against typical highschool stereotypes and the added fear of not being understood. Because he's different in more ways than one. But then he meets Jin, who's a delightful mix of badass and bold. And also basically sunshine in a bottle.

I loved how the found family trope in no way diminished the central theme of the story and yet, took its own space. And I had such a fun time reading this. Would recommend to flip through this with a cup of tea (may be?)

Boys Run the Riot is the first manga I've ever been able to find that focuses on a trans boy as the main character and is also written/illustrated by a transgender author. The rarity of such a title is reason enough to give it a read. However, beyond the fact that Keito Gaku is breaking down boundaries and spreading trans representation, this manga is also just a great read in general. It's written so that it will be easy to understand for people who have never read anything with trans characters in it before, but it isn't overly simplistic for people already familiar with what it means to be transgender. The main characters are all extremely loveable, with character designs that really reflect who they are and make them immediately pop off the page. The aesthetics of street fashion and graffiti art are also everpresent in this book, adding a very visual element to the themes of gender revolution and the decision each character much make of whether he wants to live his truth and stand out or take the path of least resistance. This really feels like the type of male empowerment that needs to be represented more in media. It's a type of empowerment that is non-normative and embraces trans men, artistic men, and anyone who doesn't fit society's mold for them. I am so, so excited to read more of this series as it comes out.

Boys Run the Riot is, in my completely unqualified opinion, a great manga featuring the story about an LGBTQ+ youth trying to find their way in the world knowing they don't fit into it the way society deems that they should. High schooler Ryo has always known that he is a he even though he was born a she, but Ryo doesn't know how, when or if he should tell his family and classmates the truth about himself. So he hides himself the best he can by avoiding wearing his school uniform and instead wearing his gym clothes to class. The problem is that Ryo prefers to hang out with the boys in his class as opposed to the girls and that starts to give him a reputation as a weirdo, so he decides to hide himself even further. But then Jin transfers into his class and he suddenly has someone who sees him for he truly is and not who society deems he should be, But after hiding his true self for so long how can Ryo start to show his true self, especially to Jin...

Rating: 4 🌟
First and foremost, I'd like to express my gratitude to Netgalley and Kodansha Comics for providing me with an e-ARC of this manga.
This is my first time reading a manga on transgender, and I must say that the author did a terrific job at portraying the subject. The concept of being yourself and standing for yourself is addressed in this manga.

I loved this manga! Besides having a trans high school boy as its main character, this manga does what I've only seen manga/anime does well: make a concept that seems boring into something exciting!

Ryo is a transgender boy who feels disconnected from his classmates and cannot show his true self. A new classmate Jin becomes a quick friend as they decide to start a fashion brand together. The manga shows the journey of Ryos trans journey and well the beginning of the fashion brand.

The art in this manga is great and clean. You can see exactly what is going on without too much distraction and see the emotions on the character's faces. I cannot wait to see what the designs will be on future fashion items. Since this was written by a trans author, the perspective was real and poignant. I loved the friendship that grows between Jin and Ryo and the passion they both share. They felt realistic and unique. I am hooked and can't wait to read more!

Boys Run the Riot is a super interesting and addictive manga by Keito Gaku, set in the Japan of today, with the views of its nowadays society on people who are different. The protagonist is Ryo, a transgender teenager that struggles to find his place in high school and among his peers. Until Jin, a new transferred student, arrives in his class and shakes his world. This guy is a weirdo for all the class, but he catches the attention of Ryo who, one day, bumps into him in a clothing store. Jin notices Ryo instantly because of the situation they meet: they grab the same shirt at the same time in the same store, and the teenage boy is surprisingly interested in Ryo. But not for the reasons everybody seems to believe: he wants to create a brand with him! Despite a very clumsy start, where Ryo is moving between hiding his true identity, revealing it to the right people, and the identity society expects him to be, the two boys eventually embark on an unexpected journey; the boys are ready to run the riot.

I loved this first book! Actually, I didn't expect to like it that much; I didn't really new into what I was diving. But I really loved this first manga. I was super curious to read about a transgender student because I never took the opportunity to read a story on transgender people and, knowing that some people in my high school actually were in the process of transitioning, I wanted, perhaps, to hear their voice through this manga.

All characters are very different from one to another. Ryo is very defensive where Jin is pushing him to be more open to people and actually tell what he has on his heart. There really is a part of socialisation between the two that helped grabbing how difficult the position Ryo was into was. I couldn't say I related to him, as I wasn't in his shoes, but, in a way, I felt his anxiety all through the first manga. Perhaps by the end of the book, I think he was a bit more open to people around him. Thanks to Jin, he finds his way around people and wants to drag people like him, like them, I mean people that are different, into their circle to win back their voice in society.

Jin is a normal guy, on the whole, but he is so open to society, so open to reveal who he is, what he likes, what he wants, that it makes it weird to others. I really liked his character, the fact that he was encouraging Ryo, who was shier, to let all the colours inside him burst out of himself and be revealed to people. Another character that is a bit like that is Ryo's teacher, I don't remember her name but she was encouraging Ryo a lot to do what he wants and be who he wants. I think these are the people everybody needs to find himself on the right path and with the best version of themselves.

There are other characters that come along the duo and that, eventually, will add themselves to the group like, for instance, the photographer Todo Istuka, or Chikaa! But I won't reveal too much of them so that you can discover the story by yourself!

On the whole, I really reallllyyy appreciated this story, or at least the beginning of it! I think everybody should give it a try and let themselves get surprised while reading it. It is a story about self-love, self-confidence, self-discovery, and friendship! As for me, I'm considering continuing it to discover more its characters. And, let's be honest again: the drawings are way too pretty not to be appreciated!

Thank you Netgalley and Kodansha Comics for letting me read this eARC! Boys run the Riot is already available since may 2021, but I urge you to not waste any more time to read it!

Ryo has never identified with the girl’s body he was born into, but street fashion helps him feel more like his true self. A chance encounter with a classmate leads to a business opportunity, a partnership, and support from an unexpected quarter..

Boys Run the Riot is an encouraging, inspiring story of friendship, identity, finding your passions, and learning to live without shame.

Thank you netgalley for providing me with an eARC!!

This manga/book follows trans boy Ryoko Watari, he’s not out to the world yet, and clearly struggles with other peoples views of him while also being scared what others will think of him.

As the story goes on, Ryoko meets Jin Sato. Together they start a new clothing brand. Ryoko is the designer for the clothes, while Jin takes care of the marketing for their brand. They might not fit in the ‘cool groups’ at school, but they don’t let that define them, and on the way they make some good friends.

I really loved to read this, the art style is beautiful and the story is interesting enough to want to keep reading it. It also plays in a realistic world, which makes me feel more in contact with the thoughts of the characters and the characters themselves.

I’m excited to see how this will continue in the next volume, and to see if Ryoko will get the courage together to really be himself around everyone.