Danica Davidson
February 28, 2022 
New York, New York is grittier and more tragic than BL manga tend to be. Sometimes BL manga will get in plenty of angst, but plenty of others are just about fantasy. What also stands out is that the angst in New York, New York feels more realistic than the sometimes soap opera-y stories in BL manga.
It takes place in New York in the 1990s, and part of the gritty realism comes from the fact that the main character, Kain Walker, is a cop. So crime is a regular feature in the book, as well as the dangers cops face. Kain wants to keep the fact he’s gay a secret from the force, though one other officer knows, because he’s gay, too. But then Kain falls hard for Mel Fredericks, and this eventually leads Kain to coming out of the closet. A big chunk of the book has Kain and Mel staying a week with Kain’s parents, and this part includes Kain’s more accepting father and his horrified and outraged mother. Along with crime, homophobia is an issue that rears its head often in this manga. It shows how many people are not accepting of Kain and Mel’s relationship, though some do come around eventually. The manga shares some sobering realities of how far homophobia can go, including when one man is attacked and bloodied up in a hate crime.
Another grittier aspect is the reality of HIV and AIDS, especially as one character succumbs to it. New York, New York isn’t all sadness and tragedy, but it has that essence, showing how hard life can be. This really isn’t an escapist read, like a lot of BL. This is a love story with a backdrop of prejudice, violence, sexual assault and rape. The American setting mostly feels right, though there are moments when it does feel as if more Japanese cultural ways of thinking come through.
New York, New York is published in an omnibus format, and the next volume comes out in July.
Story & Art: Marimo Ragawa
Publisher: Yen Press
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Danica Davidson is the author of the bestselling Manga Art for Beginners with artist Melanie Westin. She is also the author of its upcoming sequel, Manga Art for Everyone, and the first-of-its-kind manga chalk book Chalk Art Manga, both illustrated by professional Japanese mangaka Rena Saiya. Check out her other comics and books at www.danicadavidson.com.
