Boys Love tag + Rising trend?

[theawkwarddreamer]

Honestly, if I could find a BL comic that wasn't 100% romance and just included BL, that'd be cool. I like representation. For me, the BL tag is more a warning to stay away from, since it's either complete romance that isn't bad, or written by a straight girl who thinks gays are sexy or something. There's no in between, I swear.

[NickRowler]

I know the BL label on the thumbnail is designed to draw viewers in but I tend to really avoid them.

I do not much care for boy's love. A lot of my issues have to do with them filled with anime tropes and romance cliches. I'm not crazy about the "lovey dovey", everyone is pretty, huggy-kissy kawaii-ness from hetro-romances and I feel the same about boy's love. Also, if the boys look too girly, I pretend it is a GL story.

I guess this is a bit ironic, seeing how I wrote a comic which some people may call a BL...Tho I call it "mild" because they never actually kiss.

[joannekwan]

A lot of my issues have to do with them filled with anime tropes and romance cliches. I'm not crazy about the "lovey dovey", everyone is pretty, huggy-kissy kawaii-ness from hetro-romances and I feel the same about boy's love.

My sentiments exactly! When I see the BL label I immediately think it's going to be filled with these, and they usually are.

[ToonDoctor]

The other thing no one has mentioned is that BL is a sure way for a comic to gain followers quickly even if it is mediocre. Most of the BL and yaoi material in web comics is mediocre but fans of the genres will dismiss other comics and support BL just because it says BL. I toy with adding the tag BL on my comic all the time just to gain followers easily.

Have nothing against BL as an genre. But I will say that for many creators it is a shortcut - most won't admit it, or will argue it's not really about putting out a comic quickly and getting 50 readers within a week....

Oh, and Smartjeeves is the place for heavy duty BL!

[alaingrey]

Most webcomics in general are mediocre, not just BL. The difference is there's an audience for lots and lots of BL so it gives more comics a chance. But it's really not disproportionally mediocre compared to other genres, and I think it's unfair to throw creators of that kind of content under the bus like so.

[ToonDoctor]

I did not write that all bl and yaoi is mediocre. The brunt of my criticism was based on the practice of many cartoonists to pump out bl material, or tag their comics as bl understanding that it's a quick way to build a readership, beyond mastering the foundations of making comics.

[Caelestie]

I would love to your responses to that! heheheh

My take on why BL is ever so popular is that there are way too many girl on the internet and generally girls are into BL more likely than GL. (There are girls who into GL me myself not really but several of my friends do)

Oh man I wish there was more gl it is so hard to fine! I am gonna stay in my lonely corner now!

[bakasama25]

Well, I don't find GL comics that much unless it's Korean.

[69Michi]

The funny thing is I feel like social media are more likely to accept GL over BL. Like many popular cartoon shows more likely have GL (well on the top of my head I know Steven Universe and Legend of Korra), up till now I don't think I have ever seen any proper but popular cartoon show that has BL.

[Caelestie]

well cartoon accept more a non sexual version of gl because bl is viewed sexual even tho it doesn't need to be! but you see the inverse in more adult shows where there is more Bl in general! Gl is treated pretty innocent compare to bl tho that isn't always true but most of the time!

Well, I don't find GL comics that much unless it's Korean.

I did have some in my reading list if you are interested:
https://tapastic.com/MemoriaCaelestie/reading-list
but yeah not really many! I am planning on doing one so yeah!

[infectedbloodcomics]

I got one! It's in Western style - I hope that won't stop you from reading.

[infectedbloodcomics]

We need MORE, especially lesbian ones!

[CelestialNavigator]

@joannekwan
Oh gods, like, why nobody ever remembers the gayest Ancient Greece and their shipping wars over Iliad?

[MissMagicGirl]

I wish there was mor GL-comics marked with GL. That way it would be easier to find. I only see comics marked BL but maybe I have been unlucky. ^^

My comic has a GL theme from time to time but I don't know if it is enough for me to mark it GL since romance is not the main focus. ^^;

[Caelestie]

well gl comic are pretty hard to find in general but I usually find them when someone subs to my comic and I look at their reading list! I found a lot gl comic that way!

I also get that most gl comic don't want to be just marked by being gl. They want to be more than that! I have that problem but also I have the problem of people thinking I am drawing bl when it is gl! No love for butches!

[shaneoid77]

I've never looked at one, I just can't help but think they attract a certain type of reader....

[Caelestie]

I would find it super interesting that it would attract old grandpas!
Tho it would not be typical bl if it was!

[MissMagicGirl]

Oh thats a good way of finding them I checked out your comics and I love your style.
@Caelestie

[Kura]

I would find it super interesting that it would attract old grandpas!

I don't think that they're saying BL attractes old grandpas, I'm pretty sure they're saying it attracts pedophiles and perverts, because if you know the show that guy is from, you know that character pictured is a pervert / pedophile

[Caelestie]

Ohhhhhhh ok well I was joking about that I know what demographic it attracts! I did not know about the character either! well then that just got a lot more creepy!