I had no idea of the depths you might go to with Manga. I feel like we've done you a diservice in that we didn't share more knowledge about it. Key is that the story Only the Ring Finger Knows is the only one by that publisher that I'll allow Rap to own. The others hit the trash bin. I screen any stores that link sex and violence very strictly; not even Lestat (as much as I love Rice's vampire novels) make it into the house.

There is a cute series called Gravitation that's fun if you don't mind reading through a romance that has it's share of misunderstandings and funny turns. There are lots of them, so you get lots of time to get to know the characters.

For animation, Anime, I really love the Saiyuki. It's got four guys, interesting bonds between them, and lots of possibilities even if nothing is overt.

Rap also likes a written series called Descendents of Darkness. It has an Anime series as well, but the books are better. (Of course.) Nothing overt, but the overtones and relationships, if you are mature enough to understand them, are clearly gay.

I have to say that Fake does the best of any series I've seen on building up anticipation and ya gotta love the kissing. I'd just buy Fake and enjoy it.

Well, you know, first, I have an obsessive personality. I mean, you've known me for 40+years, so this can't come as a surprise to you.

Second, in terms of "obsession" this is really a very minor one for me. I mean, I'm interested, don't get me wrong, but it's nothing out of the ordinary.

When I'm really obsessed, I'm...obsessed. :) The whole manga thing...I just have too much time on my hands at work, and not enough topics to blog about. And it's mostly about the drawing.

A real obsession requires that I become insane about a character-universe combination. The X-Files and Geeky Mulder, Once a Thief and Victor, BtVS and Spike, that kind of thing.

Thanks for mentioning the Ring books. I know now that where I read them was when Rapunzel loaned them to me. The borderline non-con I was thinking of when I wrote this post (at the office...my bad) was the "Selfish Love" books.

The non-yaoi that I bought was "Descendants of Darkness"! How funny. I only picked up the first two, just for comparison, and have to admit I enjoyed them very much.

I looked at Gravitation but until I decide how much I'm going to spend on this, I need to exercise a little self-control.

I don't know that I'll get into anime, but thanks for the info.