Thank you NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Absolutely amazing! Really captures the teenage emotions of trying to find their place in the world versus being accepted by their peers. Although this has LGBTQIA representation (which was bloody brilliant and on point), any and all readers could identify with this powerful story of a group of boys taking charge of their destiny.

This was the start of a seemingly great manga. The main characters are heartfelt and intriguing and you just want to root for them as they figure out themselves and navigate through life. Even as they gather more people you consider "misfits" to join their little crew, it's remarkable to watch them grow and become stronger together. I can't wait to read the rest of the series.

Also this is one of the few main character transgender mangas I have ever read and I appreciate that.

Really charming and uplifting. It was great to see the topics of LGBT, fashion, and gender identity explored in manga. Each chapter ended with a big impactful moment too, hooking me more on the story.

I will love seeing how this series grows and am already hoping for an anime adaptation.

The interview included at the end was cool too. I always love little bonus features included in collected volumes.

Looking forward to Volume 2!

--
Also shared my praise on twitter -

Trigger warnings: bullying, transphobia, violence.
Boys Run the Riot is very different from what I expected when seeing the cover and reading the synopsis. There are lighthearted and inspiring moments, but it is also full of dark moments that made me sad, frustrated, and mad.
Ryo is a trans boy but he hasn't come out to anyone. It's heart-wrenching to read that he feels so lonely and out of place. Also, he has to deal with the unhealthy environment of high school, bullying from his colleagues, the girls' uniform, and his mom that keeps asking why he only "dresses like a boy". He finds in fashion and graffiti a way to express his true self and there are very emotional in which he talks about that!
The other main character, Sato, is a new student in Ryo's class. His appearance makes people think that he is a "delinquent" and "troublemaker", but he is the most friendly character of this story. He is very supportive when Ryo comes out as trans to him and it is a beautiful scene! He's funny and he's the cause of many hilarious and lighthearted scenes.
Ryo and Sato bond over their love for fashion and decide to start a fashion brand together! I was interested in Japanese street fashion when I was younger, so it was cool to see this theme in a manga. Ryo and Sato's friendship become stronger as they develop their first t-shirt and I loved to see their interactions and mutual support.
There's one more character that becomes part of the gang to the end of this volume, Itsuka. He's a member of the photography club and Ryo and Jin ask him to take some pictures of the first t-shirt they created. Itsuka has a lot of internal conflicts, he feels like an outsider but he is a part of the popular kids' group. And by helping Ryo And Jin, he's befriending the "weird people". Itsuka's arc goes more on the topic of high school dynamics and family relationships.
About the art, except when I read horror manga, I usually read cute and fluffy manga, so I was surprised by the art of this one. The screentone is very dark in the characters, character's clothes and it's heavily used in the background. This characteristic and the art that is more on the realistic side give this manga a more dark and serious atmosphere. And there are very dark moments, but also very cute ones! I think this is not the art style I would usually go for, but I'm looking forward to seeing more of it in the next volumes.
At the end of this first edition, there's a bonus part with an interview with the mangaka. He's a trans man and he was inspired by his own experiences to write Ryo. We usually don't know much information about mangakas, so it's interesting to read about his own experiences and opinions on art!
Overall, there're lighthearted, emotional, and dark scenes in this manga. Ryo's struggles seemed realistic but it can be distressing to read, so be aware of the trigger warnings. It's a manga about school and family dynamics, bullying, friendship, and expressing yourself even with hardships. I loved it and I'm excited to read more about Ryo and Sato! If you're looking for a more realistic manga about coming of age with a focus on friendship, I highly recommend Boys Run The Riot!]

This was such a good manga!! When I heard that this was about a trans main character written by a trans author, I knew that I had to pick this one up and it didn’t disappoint! The rep in here was so real, it hit deep and really resonated with me. I hope it resonates with cis people too, that they can see how it really is for trans kids everywhere.

We follow Ryuu as he is dealing with being trans in high school and having to deal with his schools expectations, his peers judgement and what he really wants to do. He wants to dress in “boy” clothes and is out shopping one day when he runs into the new kid in his class. The boy, Jin, asks Ryuu if he wants to create a clothing brand with him because they have similar style and it goes from there.

The found family aspects in this were so cute! Seeing Ryuu opening up to Jin and Jin being so accepting was great to see. It was nice to see Ryuu become more confident, to see him accept himself more and to slowly realize that what he wants matters and isnt pointless. That he can make a change in this world and sometimes that means doing it with friends. Jin standing up for him!!!!!!

I loved that as the story progressed, Ryuu and Jin collected more misfits into their group. I hope they find more people to join them in volume 2! Watching them and their clothing brand bloom will be so heartwarming!

I adored this manga and I can’t wait to read more. Check this one out!!

4/5 ⭐️

I can only speak about <i>Boys Run the Riot</i> from second-hand experience. Transgender isn't my particular branch of the LGBTQIA+ tree. But even if this book wasn't about my lived experiences personally, it is still remarkable in how it captures what it means to not fit in, whether that's with your classmates, your family, your friends (or "friends"), or even with yourself. Nothing shows this like the image lead character Ryo paints on a wall at the end of the first chapter, a picture of a boy emerging from the unzipped back of a high school girl in uniform. The image has connotations of coming out, both in terms of queer identity and of emerging from a chrysalis, and it perfectly captures the struggle the characters are facing. Ryo may have created it as an expression of his trans identity, but it could easily be shorthand for the volume in its entirety.

It should be stated that you don't need to be trans or queer to enjoy this book. Although it is about a trans protagonist and does deal with some of the things he's facing in his life (as of this volume he's only out to one person), it's more about learning that the old saw about the nail that sticks up being hammered down doesn't have to dictate your life. You find what you love and build a life around that, and if that means, to use a phrase that may be more familiar to English-speaking audiences, being the square peg that doesn't fit in the round hole, that's fine. It may not be <i>easy</i>, but it's not <i>wrong</i>.

"Fitting in" doesn't have to mean with everybody. Being yourself doesn't mean conforming to what you know to be wrong or inauthentic to yourself. At the end of the day, acceptance, of yourself and others as themselves, is harder than anything, but also the easiest and best thing.

Thank you to Netgalley and Kodansha for providing a copy.

I love that we are seeing more and more diversity in manga stories in the recent years. Boys run the riot is a story about a transgender boy Ryo, and it is an own voices story! I think this is the first time we get to say that about a manga.

Ryo knows that the confusion he feels about his own gender is called dysphoria and he did the research LGBTQIA+ kids usually go through: checking library books and online if what he feels has a name. Ryo realized that he is probably transgender and that he doesn’t like to be perceived a girl. He also hates dressing in feminine fashion so putting on the school mandated uniform with the skirt is a real struggle.

Unfortunately, Ryo cannot really confide in anyone about his struggles. His family wishes he acted and dressed more feminine. His classmates find him weird and he doesn’t really have any close friends. He has a friend in class and she is really nice but Ryo is afraid of telling her about personal things. Ryo tries his best to stand out as little as possible in fear of being bullied or ridiculed by others. The only form of self expression he allows himself is through fashion. He changes in public bathrooms so he can wear his jersey in school and when he goes out on the weekends he wears clothes that make him feel good.

One weekend he is really excited to check out a new fashion store and he is having a great time until he runs into one of his classmates. Ryo panics and runs off, given that he is wearing masculine clothing and does not want to be recognized. Jin, the new transfer student in his class does end up recognizing him and the two bond over their shared love of fashion. Jin proposes that they start a fashion brand together, since their tastes match so well and he always wanted to start one.

I really like the genuine friendship these two boys share. Jin is an outgoing boy who isn’t afraid to express himself and reach for his dreams. He doesn’t mind if people dislike him. Ryo is surprised time and time again by the sincerity of Jin, and the fact that he really wants to learn more about Ryo and wants to be his friend. It is sweet to see Ryo opening up to someone and realizing that not everyone will call him weird or ridicule him just because he is trans.

I liked the way these two bonded over fashion. It was easy to understand why Ryo was afraid to stand out or let anyone see who he really is. The flashbacks and the reactions from his classmates were awful. The way Ryo was allowed to express himself through art and fashion was great. I loved that in a way, making the brand was Jin’s way of the teenage rebellion against society. I could feel the joy that comes from making something with friends and dreaming about your future.

The boys also become friends with another artsy classmate. I liked seeing how Ryo changed thanks to Jin’s support and how they were able to reach out to another person who seemed to be similar to them. I was surprised by their classmates, and how serious the bullying turned out to be.

One thing I didn’t like was that the kids felt a bit rough, when they got emotional there was a lot of shouting and aggressive crying. I understand the emotional impact behind these scenes, but personally I don’t like such harsh reactions. And there was this somewhat weird sexist vibe I got when the male cast would talk about girls. But I could chalk this up to teenager ignorance.

Overall, I find this story portrayed well how tough it can be to be yourself as an LGBTQIA+ youth and how it isn’t easy for everyone to be openly themselves because others might judge them. The small everyday victories and the allies that accept you no matter what feel all the more meaningful thanks to this. I am really happy the author got to publish something that stands so close to their heart and I am sure this will be an important representation for a lot of people in the trans and genderqueer community.

The story does start out very focused on Ryo's problems for being a transgender student, both at school and at home, but it goes much further and touches on adolescent issues such as self-esteem, confidence, identity, family, friendly ties, and personality. It reads much faster than one would expect from a manga due to the simplicity of the style, which is another point in its favor.
Full review (May 5): https://tintanocturna.blogspot.com/2021/05/manga-boys-run-riot-vol-1.html

I fell in love with this completely!
The art style was amazing. And at the beginning I really loved the main duos friendship blossom, their dynamic was honestly amazing. I also really enjoyed watching the pov shift and see an outsider of the two.
I wasn't completely interested in the story line but I loved how it brought together all these interesting characters and do want to see them succeed.
Also it was so refreshing to see a trans character!
I can't wait to get my hands on the next volumns!!

Thank you to NetGalley and publishers for this free eArc! This is my honest review.

Loved it! Ryo and Jin are two incredible characters and I love how they face the world on their terms!
I hate bullies and jp mangas usually have lots of unlikeable ones and yes, here I hated them so much. Why can't they let people live however they like? Ugh, hated it!
I can't wait to keep reading the series!

Whoa. The first time I've heard about this manga I was immediately interested in it, so when I saw that it's not only getting released in English but also available for request on NetGalley I didn't waste my time. And I was not disappointed. All the characters were great, I loved Ryo and how much he grew even in this one volume. Even though I'm not usually that interested in fashion, I found following the boys as they try to make their brand very interesting, and I can't wait to see how the story progresses. The style was great too. It was more detailed and realistic than you usually see in high school manga and it fit the tone of the story really well. I'm really excited to see more mangas that don't treat queer characters as fetish fuel or the butt of a joke come out recently.

Boys Run the Riot #1 is amazing manga. It's character study on a young transgender teen coming to terms with who they are. Not only does this manga give you a pure slice of life, it has amazing artwork, compelling characters and some good panel shots. Highly recommended.

Ryo es un chico trans que se esfuerza en no llamar la atención sobre si mismo hasta que aparece Jin, un chico optimista al que no parece importarle lo que otros piensan de él. Juntos deciden abrir una tienda de ropa online a pesar de las burlas y opiniones negativas de sus compañeros de clase. Por el camino se les une como fotógrafo Itsuka.
Muy buen comienzo de serie. Creo que es el primer manga que leo que tiene como protagonista una persona trans. Me ha dejado con ganas de seguir leyendo.

When I read the synopsis I was immediately intrigued. This book didn’t disappoint, I enjoyed it a lot.

The story is about Ryo, a high schooler who’s struggling with being transgender. He’s afraid of sticking out and being hated and judged. Everything changes for Ryo when a new student comes to his class, Jin, who looks like a bully but Ryo slowly realizes that Jin is actually a friend whom he can trust and be open with. Together they decide to start a clothing brand that would make everyone feel comfortable in their own skin.

I enjoyed reading about Ryo and Jin’s friendship. I loved seeing how they’re completely themselves around each other. This was a great first volume and I’m looking forward to the continuation of this manga.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC.

This is a great manga for artwork and has some really lovely graphics and drawings that I think fit the story really well. Ifound the characters themselves to be interesting, and I definitely would beinterested in seeing where the story is going to go next as it ended in quite an intriguing way.

I enjoyed this book, however I feel the author has tried to incorporate too many storylines as there are points where character development is harmed by the over development of the plot, and the plot sometimes becomes a little convoluted with ideas and rushed in places. This is meant to be a book about expression and coming into one's self, but the individual stories sometimes got lost or weren't as developed as they could have been.

It is only the first book in the series, and it has an interesting concept that I would like to see the next installment of. Hopefully, some of the issues I had will be more developed in the next book, but it is nonetheless a great story about passion and finding your voice.

Boys Run the Riot is a highly relatable, much needed ownvoices manga about the transmasc experience and the struggle of living your most authentic self that I absolutely cannot wait to recommend to everyone. While queer stories are becoming more popular there's still only a few centered around transgender characters, and fewer still with trans male leads. I am so excited to see BRtR in English, and especially the care which obviously went into the editing and translation behind the scenes. I consumed this first volume immediately upon receiving it and eagerly await the the next! Thank you Kodansha and NetGalley for providing this advance copy for review :)

Amazingly written, I can't wait to see what direction it takes! It's always fun to have two main characters with such clashing personalities but that understand each other so well. I love how respectful his friends are of how Ryuu's chooses to present himself, and I hope this manga stays positive! It could be very helpful to trans youth

Realistic manga about a second year high school student as he struggles with being transgender and with that idea of fitting in and keeping his head down so as not to stand out and avoid being judged and despised. Ryo hates having to wear a girl's uniform and to hide from his parents that push him to be more girly.

Everything changes when a new boy comes to his class - Jin Sato-, he has lost a year, wears piercing and edgy hairstyle, and Ryo wonders "how can he walk around attracting attention like this?", and, we have to say it, Ryo also has his own prejudices thinking bad of the other boy without even knowing him. Ryo uses the baggy clothes to hide himself, but to Jin is a form to expression, of freedom. So Jin talks Ryo into starting a brand tshirt business because likes the graffiti of Ryo. It's sort of naive and wonderful. Especially when Jin atracts on purpose the target of the bullies into himself.

As one commentator says, Jin Sato is the friend that we all need to be able to dare to leave our comfort zone, and even to realize those dreams that we could not even think we had.

As is the first wolume we lack the bacground of some characters, especially Jin, and I'm the most curious abut him.

Treats with dysphoria, misogyny, and prejudices.

As I am a very bad person, I will say that I did not love the drawing, especially with the profiles.

But it's a good message for everybody. Be yourself.

At the end of the volume, the creator offers a short interview (ownvoices). And there are also some notes about the translation.

+Digital ARC gently provided by Netgalley and publishers in exchange for an honest review+



Reading Progress
April 28, 2021 – Started Reading
April 28, 2021 – Shelved

I've added it to my potential list for graphic novel ordering when the next fiscal year starts! We have a relatively small manga collection in the adult section - I feel like this could be YA with this first volume though. Bibz has it listed as adult, but it might be listed as YA elsewhere.

I enjoyed this story and the mix of characters. I like how the focus is moving from one character to the next as the brand and band of misfits grows. Interested in reading the next volume.

If I had to summarize this manga, I would say that Boys run the riot is a story about learning to be yourself, and finding the confidence to do it without the opinion of others, nor their expectations or pressures, influencing how you present yourself to the world and how you relate to others.

Ryuu is a teenage trans boy who has always felt that he doesn't fit in; therefore, he lives alone, without being able or wanting to talk to anyone about whom he really is, or how he feels. That is why Ryuu tries to go unnoticed in his High School, existing apart from those around him. Only through art and clothing can Ryuu feel like himself, truly showing who he is, but only in the anonymity that the city streets give him.

Everything changes when a new student arrives to his classroom, Jin. Jin is not a good student, he is repeating a grade, and has a rebellious / bad boy aura that makes people judge him without daring to know him. But Jin absolutely does not care about what others think and say about him. He has a dream, to create a clothing brand, and he is willing to do anything to pursue it. Thus, when Jin unexpectedly bumps into Ryuu in a clothing store, he ends up convincing him to work together and create a brand.

The relationship between the two begins with mistrust, Ryuu is too used to going unnoticed, but little by little they begin to forge a friendship where they can be themselves and there is no one to judge them. Just like that, Jin and Ryuu star working together to make their dream of creating a successful clothing brand come true: "Boys run the riot". And along the way they will find new friends and new enemies but, most importantly, they will find themselves.

The manga, as you can imagine, deals with issues related to adolescence and high school life, friendships, identity and relationships; all this in a very real way and with which it is very easy to feel identified.

Adolescence is not an easy time for anyone. And I imagine that even less if you are a trans boy or girl, or a person who goes beyond what is considered "normal". At the end of the day, it is a time when you are still trying to find who you are. However, it seems that the world is not willing to wait for you to find yourself. Instead, it insists on fitting you into certain categories, which it seems like you have to accept if you want to fit in. But that could not be further from the truth.

It is not easy to be true to yourself and show yourself like this to others, since you are also showing yourself to their looks, their judgments and their whispers. It is not easy to talk to others about your concerns or your problems, it is not easy to express your feelings, it is not easy to want to fit in but feel that you cannot. And that's why stories like Boys run the riot are so necessary. They show that aspect of reality, yes, but, at the same time, they also present a hopeful message that, without being naïve, prompts us to put aside our fears, our shame and our regrets. Not everyone is going to accept us, not everyone is going to respect or love us, but it is only up to us to decide how we want to live our life. And for this, it is vital to have people who support you, listen to you and help you to be a better person, as in the case of the protagonists of this story. I wish I could be like Jin, and don't give a damn about what other people think; or meet someone like Ryuu along the way, with his energy and his way of expressing himself through art. Hopefully we'll never have to give up and, despite adversities, we'll be able to live free and happy.



*This review is a translation of a text originally written in Spanish, sorry if there are any errors.