My Brother's Husband, Volume 1

(Hardback)

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Description

From one of Japan's most notable manga artists- a heartbreaking and redemptive tale of mourning and acceptance that compares and contrasts the contemporary nature of gay tolerance in the East and the West "When a cuddly Canadian comes to call, Yaichi-a single Japanese dad-is forced to confront his painful past. With his young daughter Kana leading the way, he gradually rethinks his assumptions about what makes a family. Renowned manga artist Gengoroh Tagame turns his stunning draftsmanship to a story very different from his customary fare, to delightful and heartwarming effect." -Alison Bechdel, author of Fun Home Yaichi is a work-at-home suburban dad in contemporary Tokyo, married to wife Natsuki, father to young daughter Kana. Their lives are suddenly upended with the arrival at their doorstep of a hulking, affable Canadian named Mike Flanagan, who declares himself the widower of Yaichi's estranged gay twin, Ryoji. Mike is on a quest to explore Ryoji's past, and the family reluctantly but dutifully takes him in. What follows is an unprecedented, revelatory look at and journey into the largely still-closeted Japanese gay culture- how it's been affected by the West, and how the next generation has the chance to change the preconceptions of and prejudices against it. (With black-and-white illustrations throughout; part of the Pantheon Graphic Novel series)

Reviews

When a cuddly Canadian comes to call, Yaichia single Japanese dadis forced to confront his painful past. With his young daughter Kana leading the way, he gradually rethinks his assumptions about what makes a family. Renowned manga artist Gengoroh Tagame turns his stunning draftsmanship to a story very different from his customary fare, to delightful and heartwarming effect.
Alison Bechdel, author of Fun Home

Heartbreaking yet hopeful, Gengoroh Tagames beautifully rendered meditation on the struggle for gay acceptance in todays Japan is quietly dazzling. I am already looking forward to part two!
Anderson Cooper, CNN

Beautifully written and drawnan eye-opening story about children and parents and how they affect each other. And Im 11 years old, so I should know!
Clara Ware

The art is crisp, and the characters faces expressive, allowing the reader to see their hurt, confusion, and relief . . . A sensitive exploration of the transition some families go through when a family member comes out and a possible entry point for those needing to start conversations of their own.
Booklist [starred review]

Not only is My Brothers Husband very touching; its also, for the non-Japanese reader, unexpectedly fascinating. Gay life remains largely closeted in Japan, and Tagames complex but deftly told story seeks to examine the effect such secrecy has, not only on those who must live it, but also on their wider family relationships.
The Guardian (London)

Gengoroh Tagames beautiful manga novel My Brothers Husband disentangles family secrets and homophobia with endearing grace . . . Thoughtful and fetching, My Brothers Husband is the first in a two-volume omnibus about grief, reconciliation and the strength to be who you are.
Shelf Awareness [starred review]

My Brothers Husband focuses more on the uneasy relationship between Yaichi, a single father raising his daughter, Kana, and Mike Flanagan, who was married to Yaichis recently deceased (and estranged) twin brother, Ryoji . . . Theres something beautiful in the careful way that My Brothers Husband handles Yaichis coming to terms with his feelings about his brother thats rarely seen in mainstream comics. Rather than treating the tension between Mike and Yaichi as a massively dramatic point on conflict, the book instead treats it like the complicated and messy holding pattern that it is . . . The message that Tagames trying to get acrossthat quiet, subtle bigotry can be just as harmful as loud, bombastic bigotryisnt always an easy one to process. Tagame understands that and hopefully, as the rest of the book unfolds, readers will too.
io9.com

My Brothers Husband is focused on normalizing a gay relationship to those who are uncomfortable with the idea . . . theres an audience and a need for works like this . . . The storytelling is straightforward, easy to read, particularly for those who might be new to the medium. There are plenty of panels that establish detail, so the reader gets a feel for this small familys daily life . . . Its charming and provides hope for the future.
Comics Worth Reading

The story provides a very interesting look at Japanese society through Yaichis struggle to come to terms with his brothers sexuality, revealing some of the struggles the Japanese gay community faces at the same time . . . One of the most notable things about Tagames artwork is just how vastly different it is from nearly anything Ive seen before. Not necessarily in terms of character designs, or settings, but in terms of the gaze itself. Its fascinating to see the male body portrayed through the gaze of a gay male creator . . . Theres a softness and warmth to My Brothers Husband that makes it incredibly easy to get into . . . theres a strong sense of heart, honesty and earnestness.
Sequential Ink

Refreshing. Transporting. Clever. Inspiring. If these are qualities that help books rise to the top of your summer reading list, your new number one is My Brothers Husband . . . The story moves along quietly and gently, Tagame cleverly evoking parallels between mutual misperceptions of gays and straights, older and younger generations, Westerners and Japanese.
Passport Magazine

This winsome look at culture clash compares the largely still-closeted Japanese gay culture with the West, underscoring a theme of universal yearning for family.
Library Journal

Author Bio

GENGOROH TAGAME is widely regarded as the most talented gay erotic manga writer-artist in Japanand has been drawing comics for more than thirty years. He lives in Tokyo with his husband and is a direct descendant of Samurai warriors. Seriously.