Yaoi Timeline: Spread Through U.S.

Boys' Love / Yaoi, Academic

This is a first attempt at tracking the spread of boys’ love through the U.S., and I’d like readers’ revisions and additions; if you’ll make ‘em in Comments, I’ll update this page accordingly.

I’m primarily looking at official releases, although I’ll welcome information about “underground” releases — first scanlation groups, etc. I also need more information on significant anime and video game releases.

If you’re a boys’ love scholar, publisher, artist, or fan, be sure to look at the Call for Papers for a collection of works on boys’ love.

• 1996: Aestheticism boys’ love fanzine starts

• 1997: Aestheticism.Com goes online

• 2000: Gundam Wing, an anime canonical for a large number of yaoi fan fiction and artwork, was first shown on North American TV via the Cartoon Network.

• 2001: (October) First Yaoi-Con held in San Franciso

• 2002:
  • (Month?) Ariztical Entertainment releases first two episodes of Kizuna OVA. Its website calls it “the first gay male Anime to be released on DVD in the US.”
  • (May) Sin Factory Comix releases Sexual Espionage #1 by Daria McGrain. First OEL boys’ love comic book produced for sale in comic book stores (?).

• 2003:
  • (February) TokyoPOP licenses and releases Gravitation 1 in the U.S.
  • (May) TokyoPOP licenses and releases Fake 1 in the U.S.

• 2004:
  • (May) Yaoi Press founded (OEL)
  • (June) Anime18 Corporation, a label of Central Park Media, announces Be Beautiful imprint. First publications: Kizuna 1 and Golden Cain.
  • (August) Kitty Media’s BoyBoy line releases Skyscrapers of Oz.
  • (November) Digital Manga Publishing announces Juné imprint.
  • (November) ICV2 reports that 3 of the top 5 graphic novels sold in the U.S., as tracked by Amazon.Com, are yaoi

• 2005:
  • (March) Juné allows fans to vote on whether it should license the BL novel, Only the Ring Finger Knows; in September, Juné announces it will publish the novel.
  • (May) First Yaoi North held in Canada as “mini-con” under Anime North
  • (May) First Yaoi Press title released.
  • (June) TokyoPop confirms distribution of BLU label
  • (June) Drama Queen founded this year; releases first volume, Brother, in June
  • (October) TokyoPop showcases BLU line at Yaoi-Con. It is to be dedicated to more adult boys’ love titles.

• 2006:
  • (January) NetComics begins publishing manwha, including among its first three releases youth-oriented shonen-ai series Boy Princess and Let Dai.
  • (February) Iris Print founded (OEL)
  • (March) TokyoPOP releases its first licensed/translated BL novel, Gravitation: The Novel.
  • (March) JAST USA releases first yaoi game licensed in U.S. — Enzai: Falsely Accused.
  • (July) Yaoi Press licenses three Italian boys’ love graphic novels
  • (August) DMP’s owner Digital Manga, Inc. announces 801 Media sister company. It is to be dedicated to more explicit boys’ love titles.
  • (October) DMP announces it’s working on OJEL (original Japanese English language) yaoi manga releases, created by Japanese mangaka for the American market before being released in Japan.
  • (October) 801 Media launches at YaoiCon, announcing among its titles Ichigenme… The First Class is Civil Law, Love is Like a Hurricane and Bond(z).
  • (October) Central Park Media “rebounds” after February’s layoffs and lists 15 new yaoi titles (article)

• 2007:
  • (January) Wal-Mart pulls its yaoi titles from online store after The Consumerist blasts it for selling “porn” (article)
  • (February) Broccoli Books announces Boysenberry line, starting with Delivery Cupid, Pet on Duty, and Sex Friend.
  • (March) Media Blasters drops shōnen and increases boys’ love titles. (article)
  • (March) Japanese yaoi publisher Libre puts an announcement on its website accusing Be Beautiful of illegally translating and selling its works (article)
  • (June) Yaoi Press announces Yaoi Jamboree, a new yaoi convention
  • (June) Yaoi Press announces digital publication of titles through Net Comics.
  • (June) Aurora Publishing announces Deux imprint, with licensed titles Hate to Love You, Spring Fever and I Shall Never Return.
  • (June) Be Beautiful stops publishing new titles (to present).
  • (July) Seven Seas Entertainment announces its first boys’ love manga titles, In God’s Arms and OEL Invisible.
  • (September) DramaQueen stops publishing new titles
  • (October) Yen Press announces yaoi titles (article).
  • (November) Iris Print cancels launch of BL Twist yaoi magazine.

• 2008:
  • (January) First issue of OEL Yaoi Magazine released from Better with Boys Press.
  • (March) None of Seven Seas’ yaoi titles published yet; In God’s Arms removed from website without comment. (blog entry)
  • (April) DramaQueen interview with Publisher’s Weekly announces company reorganization and release of new titles in May. Nothing was released
  • (June) Yaoi Jamboree convention held for first time.
  • (June?) Yaoi Generation established, sets up website.
  • (June) Iris Print officially announces closure (article)
  • (June) TokyoPop lays off number of staff, puts Love Mode and Gakuen Heaven on its “postponed or canceled” list (article)
  • (September) DMP lays off staff and delays publishing certain titles (article)
  • (October) DramaQueen announces that it’s publishing again (article)

drupagliassotti @ June 2, 2008