A review by yliana
Boys Run the Riot, Volume 2 by Keito Gaku

challenging emotional informative reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

this volume honestly made me really uncomfortable. it really bothered me how ryo's coworker was pretty open with his unacceptance of ryo being trans and that it just kind of got brushed over ig. there's also just an overwhelming presence of gender roles that feels like it's going against the guys' mission of their brand being a breaker of stereotypes.
that all really bothered me but when i thought about it, it makes sense. society has such a rigid structure for gender roles that it makes sense to me that a trans person would do their best to fit into those roles. the strictness makes it so that ryo feels like he has to be the peak of masculinity 100% of the time to be seen, respected, and accepted as a man. so ultimately, that aspect of this series just makes me angry with the world. ryo is a man, regardless of whether he fits the stereotype of what a man is. end of story.
i'm so beyond nervous to read the next volume. the last page of this one made my heart drop and i'm so so worried omigod.

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