Very raw and real, a story about being able to express yourself and be yourself, regardless of what others think and how weird they label you. I adore the art style, and am very excited to see where this story goes as their brand grows and they help inspire more people to follow their dreams!!

thank you NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for this e-book!
this volume of Boys Run the Riot follows a trans teen through the anxieties and problems high school creates for him. he begins to use fashion and art as an outlet for how he feels.
this is a heartwarming book with a trans mc (much needed!) and shows strong and supportive friendships develop between new characters. the writing was very good and the art was a lovely style. the comic followed a realistic and interesting storyline making it a very easy read! overall the book was a delight to read, i did not give it 5 stars just because some page layouts didn’t flow that well but mostly it was good! the story felt personal and in touch with my feelings which helped create strong bongs to the characters in the book.
i would recommend this book to people who enjoyed Sasha Masha and On a Sunbeam

Boys Run the Riot is a manga about Ryo, a trans man, and his budding friendship/partnership with new student Jin. When Jin asks Ryo to form a clothing line together, Ryo struggles with his shame, hiding who he really is, and developing the courage to stand up strong in making their brand.

With quotes like "No shame in my game," and "We're just doing it to bite back at the world, society, convention, and our own lives", Boys Run the Riot reflects real struggles of understanding yourself, understanding others, and accepting that your differences are amazing and not shameful. Ryo and Jin's friendship is a wonderful display of the effect having even one friend to accept you can make.

I'm so happy that this book (and this series) exists.
This is volume 1 in a series about Ryo, a sophmore in high school who is transman. He is struggling with gender dysphoria and has no support system. But as he struggles to be himself inspite of how others treat him, he finds support from an unlikely ally, the new transfer student, Jin. Together they set out to start their own clothing line, trying to live as freely as they can while chasing their dreams.
I am so happy to see more positive trans stories! Especially with a transman as the main character! This was very well done primarily because gender dysphoria was depicted very well. Did I mention how the art is just AMAZING?!

this the first main character transgender in manga tha I have ever read.

it was an interesting insight into the character's life and his experiences at school. Ryo is a trans boy but he hasn't come out to anyone And now he also deals with all the issues of a teenager at his age: school, bullying, parents, etc.
Then we meet Sato a character whose criminal appearance does not reflect who he really is and there is Itsuka antoher friend with conflicts about his role in life.

The art was great, It's more realistic than I thought it would be, and is perfect for my taste.
overall it was a good read.

Thanks to netgally for the free copy.

Okay, I have had sufficient time to let this marinate. Actually, I ended up getting sick this weekend, but, whatever, I am ready to tell everyone about this!!!

I love it so much!!! But first of all, can we all admit that at one point or another, everyone feels awkward or feels like they have to pretend they’re someone they’re not?? Especially in high school?!?! Second, can we say that those who experience high school as a transitioning teen has been made to feel even more awkward and like they have to hide who they are?!?! This graphic novel is about Ryo, a teen who is transitioning, and unfortunately is totally unsupported.

Enter Jin, a dude who is just cool. Head to toe, is a very real character. And by that, I mean he doesn’t fall into high school traps of who’s popular or who he should hang out with or how he or anyone else should act. I love him and everything he stands for and how he brings out other characters.

Sometimes, being yourself is hard and it helps to have a person or a group of friends who have your back. Not to tell you who you are, but to stand with you when you decide to stand for yourself. I think that’s a strong message that is very well portrayed in this book.

Can I gush about the art?!?! I love it!!! The use of clothing is really great here and I adore how it brings out the group. I don’t want to get all spoilery, but it’s some pretty awesome clothing. Especially closer to the end.

So basically I love this graphic novel as a whole and I can’t wait to see where the series will go from here!!

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.

An enjoyable read throughout. The art style is good, if nothing spectacular, but it serves the narrative purpose well. Although, I must admit there are some panels that will steal your breath away. The best part of this manga is by far its storyline. It’s refreshing to finally have proper trans rep in a manga created by a trans mangaka. Because of the mangaka’s proximity to the identity to the main character, we are given a believable and accurate portrayal of being trans in modern Japan and what type of headspace a teen figuring out there gender identity would be going through. The story unfolds like a blooming flower, with each chapter building properly on the last and expanding the story to encompass more themes, ideas and characters. With just this first volume, I am enamored with the characters, who all feel wildly different and real, and am quite excited to see where else the story will go.

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.

This is an interesting one. The advertising and the plot descriptions focus on the fact that the lead is a transgender teen (also notable that the manga creator took aspects from his own life here). Indeed the first chapter of the book focuses on how uncomfortable he is with his life and how he can't tell his friend (who he's obviously got a crush on) and can't tell his family who constantly question why he doesn't wear dresses.

While this is important to the plot and the psychology of the character, it's not the focus of the book. The plot focuses on finding what you want in life, and in this case it follows Ryu and a transfer student as they try to create a clothing brand.

Really, in one way I understand why they would focus on the transgender aspect in terms of trying to sell it as that has more marketability in some ways… a manga about teens creating a clothing brand honestly doesn't sound that interesting in the slightest. If it hadn't been for all the buzz I've been hearing about this one, I likely wouldn't have been that interested in that plot description.

Which is why I'm here to try to let everyone know that it's a shockingly good series (based on the first volume at least). The artwork is fantastic and the psychology of our characters is fitting and interesting. It's a great character study and all the main characters are interesting thus far.

This one is well worth a read for fans of more realistic manga. It's a serious character drama, and a rather fascinating one. Highly suggested even if the plot doesn't sound like something that might immediately catch your interest. 4/5 stars.

My thanks to Netgalley and Kodansha Comics for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.