3 Gay Comics That Prioritize Plot Over Sexy Time

It’s easy for one to see the covers of popular BL (romance comics featuring a gay couple) and assume that the stories are entirely sex-driven. With the precarious situations the characters are portrayed in, especially on the cover, that assumption makes sense. In some cases, plot suffers for the sake of more sexual moments between the main characters (and often a set of side characters as well). However, what is not safe to assume is that the plot of all BL is discarded for physical intimacy. Here are 3 BL's that have focused primarily on an intricate plot or delicately developing the romance between characters instead of ungodly amounts of intercourse.

Disclaimer: Although plot or building romance is the main focus of these stories, there still may be sexual undertones or scenes. I believe they do not take the forefront in these stories' priorities and act as a lovely bonus rather than a driving point.

At the End of the Road by Haribo

Status: Completed

This webtoon follows the story of Taemin who continues living even after his death. How is that possible? Through transmigration, which is the soul’s passage from one body to another after death, similar to reincarnation. Taemin’s soul is moved to Siwon’s body after Taemin is in a fatal car accident whereas what happens to Siwon’s soul remains a mystery. Although Taemin didn’t know Siwon previously, he soon finds out that Siwon is often severely bullied at school for strange reasons. Not only that, Siwon is close with Woojin, someone Taemin thought he would never see again. However, it doesn’t take Woojin long to notice that the Siwon he knew before is gone and his behavior is similar to someone he thought he had lost. Described as friends from the past, these two characters review the sorrows of their history together as well as unravel the past of poor Siwon, whose body Taemin now inhabits.

Overall, the best word for the romance in this story is everlasting. I am a sucker for love stories that prevail even through death. (I know it sounds impossible but these transmigration story writers get it right every time.)

Back to School by Oryu

Status: Completed with side story

While the art style may make it hard for you to believe that these hunky characters are teenagers, the setting of this story is actually in a high school and features three young men in an interweaving tale of betrayal, manipulation, and (questionably) forgiveness. Our main character Chiwoo returns to school with a dark past. Rumors often float around him and his classmates actively avoid him, but Chiwoo prefers it this way as he attempts to make it through school peacefully. The puppy-dog-like class president, Kyujin, can’t take seeing Chiwoo dejected and alone, so he promptly and determinedly interjects himself in Chiwoo’s life. However, this seemingly rosy story takes a gloomy turn as Jihyun, an old friend of Chiwoo’s, intervenes in their budding romance. The story unravels as we learn about Jihyun and Chiwoo’s past and it narrates the very real process of dealing with toxic relationships.

As a lovely extra treat, we also get a nine chapter side story covering the three main characters as they enter adulthood. This piece is titled “Back to School: All Grown Up,” and is a quick look into their lives as they attempt to move past the trauma of their history together.

I'd like to describe the romance between these characters as persistent but also as one that offers solace. I loved how Chiwoo not only found the most tender love but learned the importance of letting go, despite how tragic it may feel.

Fate Makes No Mistake by SHIN

Status: Ongoing

On the more supernatural spectrum of storytelling, we have our main character Eunjae who has been presented with the fact that ghosts, goblins, and the ideas of souls are actually real. Haunted by terrifying dreams, a demanding work life, and a tragic past, Eunjae’s life couldn’t get much worse. That is until he is staring at the front of a speeding bus. Although a man in a strange mask manages to pull him to safety in time, those in the underworld consider him dead. With a precariously attached soul to his body, Eunjae is at risk of really dying or even worse. The only thing that can help him is sticking with San, the goblin that saved him. With countless problems of his own, San finds Eunjae hard to deal with especially as he struggles with finding a way to obtain yang energy, which is the energy produced by humans when they feel pleasure. Ultimately, San can’t help going out of his way to help protect Eunjae as much as possible. Although a heavy dependency on each other keeps them together in the beginning, something more complicated than that starts to bind them even closer.

This story has the trifecta of key elements I love in any romance story; fantasy, tragedy, and the occasional comedic moment. The romance itself is fluid and healing. It also has a natural progression in the sense that it does not happen without hiccups and some fumbling about. I’m eager to see where this series will go and how the questions in the story will be answered.

All of these titles are available on Lezhin for chapter-by-chapter purchase. This feature is really convenient since it allows you to preview a few chapters to make sure they fit your taste instead of buying them all at once.

*This is not an ad although one would be greatly appreciated considering how much money I’ve spent there.*

Article edited by Lindsey Huddleston and Rochele King.