Massive: Gay Erotic Manga and the Men Who Make It Paperback – December 18, 2014

First, if you are already into this form of Japanese erotic story telling, it is a beautiful collection of varied styles that explores the intricacies of the individual characters and the narratives of their unique identities that the word "gay" simply can't completely encompass. It showcases a number of major artists of the form, engages in a very strong scholarly examination of the genre, features wonderful introductions/interviews with each artist (outlining everything from their personal stories, their understanding of their sexuality within a sexual community, and a very lucid study of their aesthetics), virtually censorship free (very rare for gay visual eroticism coming from Japan, the liberty of which is largely due to the support and appreciation shown by the editors to the artists and the artistic merit of their work), includes a very brief but thoroughly researched history of male same-sex desire in Japan (from far back in the country's past to the present day), and contains content that just wonderfully hot.For anyone not familiar with this art style but interested in becoming more acquainted with it on an extensively large number of levels, this collection of what is usually called in "Bara" in English is without question the best place you could start. As mentioned before, one of the great elements of this volume is how it is both an assemblage of different approaches to a particular genre of homo-eroticism through sampling so many talents and also a fine work of scholarship. I'm using the term "bara" for convenience's sake, but the term's usefulness in describing this art style (which I will say focuses on larger men, ranging from men with more-to-love type figures to hyper-muscled types and much more). The artists featured are in so many ways taste makers who gave articulations to desires that certainly existed but were/are not given much attention in many cultures because of cultural preoccupations with certain bodily "ideals." One way you can tell the editors knew what they were doing is by looking at the reverence that is shown to Gengoroh Tagame, who is the central figure behind this art movement and also the inspiration for the historical and aesthetic study that structures the analytical sections (Tagame is also a first-class historian of sexuality). It's hot, smart, a great introduction for the curious, and an invaluable volume for fans and advocates of this very diverse and bodily affirming style of illustrated sexual expression.Just to be clear, this is a great collection of very sexy short manga narratives. That alone, aside from all of the other wonderful things this great book achieves, makes owning the text a very seductive and raw investment.

So glad this collection was translated to English - hopefully, there'll be many more to follow. The format of the book, in that you start reading from the traditional, western "back page" to the "front" & then read each page from right to left, took a little adjustment, but was well worth the effort. The profiles of each artist also deeped the appreciation of the skill & meaning behind their work.If you have ANY interest in this sort of material, I would HIGHLY recommend the purchase!

I'm so happy to see gay manga start making its way to U.S. audiences. This book is a great primer, providing an introduction to a variety of artists, each with their own style and vision. Previously, non-Japanese speakers have only been able to access this material through fan sites, which don't compensate the artists and provide a poor quality product. This book is refreshing contrast, which quality printing, stellar translations, and artist introductions that really give you a better understanding of the where this is coming from.

Incredible artwork and editing. I always wondered how my favorite gay mangakas worked and what inspired them to pursue this career. It was certainly inspiring!I just wish it had a hard cover version, since the book ended a bit damaged due to all the handling (some pages and even the cover had some ears).

Having never read much manga, let alone gay manga, I found this to be a great introduction. It has a good variety of manga artists, and includes a little bio/interview with each one. I loved learning about them and the history of gay manga. The manga selected has a little something for everyone. One or two stories were a little too twisted for me, but I enjoyed most of them. I hope this is just the first of many volumes.

Has introductions of about 20+ Japanese gay erotica artists with samples and segments of their work. Many are new to me and I am an instant fan. Will be visiting their fan sites and buying more of their work. This anthology is HUGE. Lots of hot action art. And getting to know more about each artist is a new window into their work. Buy recommendation!

This book is amazing. Definitely a must have for anyone who is interested in this style of art. It is well composed and edited. It is a great combination of information about the artists, the history of this genre, and samples of the artists' works. It definitely leaves me craving more and I'm excited for any of Massive's future endeavors.

The collection of illustrations is great along with the comic book format. This book is very graphic so stand warned. Not that it bothers me and the other unexpected surprise is that the dialogue is actually almost sweet as much as it is comical. If you have any Tom of Finland books then you need this one.