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Age Called Blue
Age Called Blue follows two friends, Billy and Nick. These boys have been living as roommates while doing everything they can to promote their band.
Billy has been harboring feelings for Nick for some time, but hasn't yet found the nerve to try and move their relationship beyond the boundaries of normal friendship. In the world of struggling artists, trouble is always on the horizon, and is soon to rear its head as the other members of the band grow tired of Nick's free-thinking and easy-going ways. They want the "hippy" out of the band, leaving Billy with a heart-wrenching choice: Should he follow his life-long desire to make music, a career he's thrown countless hours of time into? Or, should he side with the boy who stole his heart long ago, his true best friend, Nick?
Billy has been harboring feelings for Nick for some time, but hasn't yet found the nerve to try and move their relationship beyond the boundaries of normal friendship. In the world of struggling artists, trouble is always on the horizon, and is soon to rear its head as the other members of the band grow tired of Nick's free-thinking and easy-going ways. They want the "hippy" out of the band, leaving Billy with a heart-wrenching choice: Should he follow his life-long desire to make music, a career he's thrown countless hours of time into? Or, should he side with the boy who stole his heart long ago, his true best friend, Nick?
200 pages, Paperback
First published January 17, 2008
About the author
Est Em
48 books34 followersAssociated names :
愛思雁 (Chinese)
残業手当
ESUTO Emu
S & M
SATOH Maki
VOSTOK
Zangyou Teate
Name (in native language) : えすとえむ
Circle(s): Zangyou Teate (残業手当), VOSTOK
She debuted with the tankoubon "Show ga Hanetara Aimashou," published by Toukyou Mangasha. Her works have been featured in josei magazines and BL magazines. She has written a book called "Orokamono wa Aka o Kirau" (also published by Toukyou Mangasha).(translated from Shodensha)
Her nom de plume has also been spelled as "est em" by Deux Press and her real name is Maki Satoh. The author's preferred romanization of her penname is not capitalized (esuto emu, maki satoh).
Also a former student of Matt Thorn. Her classmate was Sachiko Takeuchi.
Zodiac : Aries
Blood type : A
愛思雁 (Chinese)
残業手当
ESUTO Emu
S & M
SATOH Maki
VOSTOK
Zangyou Teate
Name (in native language) : えすとえむ
Circle(s): Zangyou Teate (残業手当), VOSTOK
She debuted with the tankoubon "Show ga Hanetara Aimashou," published by Toukyou Mangasha. Her works have been featured in josei magazines and BL magazines. She has written a book called "Orokamono wa Aka o Kirau" (also published by Toukyou Mangasha).(translated from Shodensha)
Her nom de plume has also been spelled as "est em" by Deux Press and her real name is Maki Satoh. The author's preferred romanization of her penname is not capitalized (esuto emu, maki satoh).
Also a former student of Matt Thorn. Her classmate was Sachiko Takeuchi.
Zodiac : Aries
Blood type : A
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 15 reviews
November 17, 2009
One of the things that amuse, and sometimes annoy, me when I read manga set in different countries other than Japan is the failure of the mangaka to understand the culture s/he writes about. But est em (this is how the mangaka chooses her name to be romanized) manages to make her work breathe a British feel and show a true rock spirit (not artificial, as in just to make the characters cool by sporting guitars, piercings, tattoos, and leather).
And I cannot help but to wonder whether est em had been inspired by the history of the London phenomenon, the now sadly defunct The Libertines.
Let's note down the similarities:
- The band is fronted by two best friends (Nick and Billy) that get to know each other because one of them used to date the other's sister.
- One of them stole his best friend's belongings.
- That same stealing person gets arrested and thrown in jail for DUI, drugs, stealing... yeah, yeah. PETE, READ THIS COMIC.
- The lads are fans of a legendary band, The Rebels (a name with a similar tone to 'The Clash'), the frontmen of which had a row in the past. The singer died, the guitarist lamented, he decided to produce Nick and Billy's band's album.
If it's all only a coincidence, I shall be very, very amused.
All in all, if you like manga, especially the ones with an edgy feel, try this one. est em's art is captivating and so is her story (and her way of telling it).
And I cannot help but to wonder whether est em had been inspired by the history of the London phenomenon, the now sadly defunct The Libertines.
Let's note down the similarities:
- The band is fronted by two best friends (Nick and Billy) that get to know each other because one of them used to date the other's sister.
- One of them stole his best friend's belongings.
- That same stealing person gets arrested and thrown in jail for DUI, drugs, stealing... yeah, yeah. PETE, READ THIS COMIC.
- The lads are fans of a legendary band, The Rebels (a name with a similar tone to 'The Clash'), the frontmen of which had a row in the past. The singer died, the guitarist lamented, he decided to produce Nick and Billy's band's album.
If it's all only a coincidence, I shall be very, very amused.
All in all, if you like manga, especially the ones with an edgy feel, try this one. est em's art is captivating and so is her story (and her way of telling it).
June 30, 2010
I was confused by most of it (hopping back and forth in time) and I just didn't care if they ever got together. I can't even remember if they did.
September 8, 2024
This is why I shouldn't listen to recommendations from random people.
I follow a bunch of publishers on twitter, and Sublime, I think, recently retweeted someone who was excited to find a copy of another Est Em book. Most amazing stories ever, they said, so I hopped off to look and found both that book and this one. And it's just...not for me. The other book came in shrinkwrap so I'm returning it untouched. I very much doubt I'll like it more than this one.
I understand why people would be into the solemn Real Life Tragedy of these kinds of stories, but even if I was up for reading about various people's lives and romances being ruined, it just wasn't written very effectively.
The main storyline is about a couple of guys in a British band: the guitarist, Billy, and his irresponsible addict boyfriend/vocalist Nick. I did like their backstory chapter, which came later: Nick was originally dating Billy's older sister, but ended up being far more drawn to the guy who sat in his room, writing music and playing a guitar. Billy's the one who taught Nick about music: how to play and sing and write. So it makes a lot of sense that their bond was so intense.
Nick, unfortunately, followed the traditional rock star path of sex and drugs, so we get to see him drunkenly running over someone with a stolen car - and going to jail for three years for it - but also sleeping (for money) with the aging rock star who's basically his counterpart in the band Billy idolizes. That's honestly weird on a few different levels, but also unpleasant for me because at this stage it was definitely cheating on Billy. Then again, Nick stole Billy's money and guitar the next day, so it's not like he was trying to be either a good lover or a good friend or a good bandmate.
It's mostly just stories about terrible people.
The other thing is that it was just structured confusingly. I couldn't actually tell if Nick recognized Pete? And then later on, Billy gets drunk at a bar with Joe, Pete's former bandmate/lover and the guitarist he literally got a matching tattoo for. And while they talk about Pete's death, it seems like Billy doesn't actually recognize Joe until the next morning.
We also don't find out how Pete died. Drug overdose or something? It was the day after he slept with Nick, and that encounter had caused him to reach out to Joe, because he and Nick were both "in unrequited love with their guitarists," even though Billy's love WAS requited. So in general, just. What. I honestly don't even know what was happening in some of these scenes.
Then Nick and Billy's band breaks up, I guess Joe is mentoring Billy in a solo career while Nick is in jail, and Billy is visiting Nick and playing music through the plexiglass visitor window. And then suddenly we move on to a couple of random other stories, about a professor cheating on his fiancee with her brother (a theme, I guess) and some Russian cosmonauts.
By the last story I was really just skimming, because I was getting pretty bored with all the plotless tragedy.
I did like the art in the cheating art professor story, but other than that, this was a real wash for me. At least I'd read the unshrinkwrapped book first so I can hopefully return them both.
I follow a bunch of publishers on twitter, and Sublime, I think, recently retweeted someone who was excited to find a copy of another Est Em book. Most amazing stories ever, they said, so I hopped off to look and found both that book and this one. And it's just...not for me. The other book came in shrinkwrap so I'm returning it untouched. I very much doubt I'll like it more than this one.
I understand why people would be into the solemn Real Life Tragedy of these kinds of stories, but even if I was up for reading about various people's lives and romances being ruined, it just wasn't written very effectively.
The main storyline is about a couple of guys in a British band: the guitarist, Billy, and his irresponsible addict boyfriend/vocalist Nick. I did like their backstory chapter, which came later: Nick was originally dating Billy's older sister, but ended up being far more drawn to the guy who sat in his room, writing music and playing a guitar. Billy's the one who taught Nick about music: how to play and sing and write. So it makes a lot of sense that their bond was so intense.
Nick, unfortunately, followed the traditional rock star path of sex and drugs, so we get to see him drunkenly running over someone with a stolen car - and going to jail for three years for it - but also sleeping (for money) with the aging rock star who's basically his counterpart in the band Billy idolizes. That's honestly weird on a few different levels, but also unpleasant for me because at this stage it was definitely cheating on Billy. Then again, Nick stole Billy's money and guitar the next day, so it's not like he was trying to be either a good lover or a good friend or a good bandmate.
It's mostly just stories about terrible people.
The other thing is that it was just structured confusingly. I couldn't actually tell if Nick recognized Pete? And then later on, Billy gets drunk at a bar with Joe, Pete's former bandmate/lover and the guitarist he literally got a matching tattoo for. And while they talk about Pete's death, it seems like Billy doesn't actually recognize Joe until the next morning.
We also don't find out how Pete died. Drug overdose or something? It was the day after he slept with Nick, and that encounter had caused him to reach out to Joe, because he and Nick were both "in unrequited love with their guitarists," even though Billy's love WAS requited. So in general, just. What. I honestly don't even know what was happening in some of these scenes.
Then Nick and Billy's band breaks up, I guess Joe is mentoring Billy in a solo career while Nick is in jail, and Billy is visiting Nick and playing music through the plexiglass visitor window. And then suddenly we move on to a couple of random other stories, about a professor cheating on his fiancee with her brother (a theme, I guess) and some Russian cosmonauts.
By the last story I was really just skimming, because I was getting pretty bored with all the plotless tragedy.
I did like the art in the cheating art professor story, but other than that, this was a real wash for me. At least I'd read the unshrinkwrapped book first so I can hopefully return them both.
June 1, 2021
I stopped reading Yaoi for a long while. I got tired of how sanitized and reductive it became the more mainstream it got in popularity.
I missed the grittiness and uncertainty in the narrative and pace that can either go into a crescendo or a sudden grand pause.
Age called blue, is a sequel to the previous author debut: “Seduce mar After the Show.” A brilliant short stories collection of adult queer love stories with a variety of themes and intrigue.
It almost feels like a French new wave graphic novel in its nonchalant ambient, the lack of structure, no beginning or ending; the frailty of being human and overwhelming power of emotions is universal, but hardly portrayed right in fiction.
From messy British punks, to French boho artists, and even Russian astronauts, the uncertainty of time and resilience of love remains the strongest force in the collection; nothing Is conclusive because life goes on, and so does our love. That’s the kind of theme I seek to read and the sort of stories I yearn to read.
A perfect 5/5.
I missed the grittiness and uncertainty in the narrative and pace that can either go into a crescendo or a sudden grand pause.
Age called blue, is a sequel to the previous author debut: “Seduce mar After the Show.” A brilliant short stories collection of adult queer love stories with a variety of themes and intrigue.
It almost feels like a French new wave graphic novel in its nonchalant ambient, the lack of structure, no beginning or ending; the frailty of being human and overwhelming power of emotions is universal, but hardly portrayed right in fiction.
From messy British punks, to French boho artists, and even Russian astronauts, the uncertainty of time and resilience of love remains the strongest force in the collection; nothing Is conclusive because life goes on, and so does our love. That’s the kind of theme I seek to read and the sort of stories I yearn to read.
A perfect 5/5.
August 27, 2017
Not a fan of the art or stories from this mangaka, I gave it a couple tries but its not for me.
July 17, 2020
3.5/5 stars. Might change after some thought
November 19, 2023
Colección de historias cortas, creo que ninguna tiene un final feliz, a pesar de eso el manga entero me gusto bastante, pues pude sentir la tristeza de los personajes y deseaba con todo mi corazón que al final alcanzaran la felicidad.
January 3, 2012
Est Em is well known for the ability of making wester culture real as it can be in yaoi mangas. The settings and behavior of the characters are well composed and drama is ensured on every page. However it is not the text, which makes the manga strong and appealing, it is the way how characters are drawn or the gesture here and there, which does the magic.
The main story is accompanied by two bonus stories, which are on my opinion far more better then the main story.
The main story is about two rockers Billy and Nick ... good and bad guy relationship. Billy was hardworking guitarist, who wanted to do his music with band and be something after countless hours with his guitar. Nick, on the other hand was talented, but painfully reckless and selfish alcoholic, drug abuser and petty thief who even stole from his friends without remorse. Still he was loved by Billy in which life Nick was making tornado in Billy's life. Living fast meant, living dangerous and Nick hit the wall pretty hard. However it made him realize something very important.
Bonus stories:
J'ai vu le bleu: Artist found a perfect model. The little homosexual adventure was marked with intense need and revelation that sometimes one would slip in conformity despite love or desire. There is the most erotic lovemaking scene I have ever seen in manga.
Ni Pukha Ni Pera: Old man was walking puppy in the park and puppy ran in to young jogger. They started to talk and story of two boys who grew up in to the men who almost reached stars was breathtaking even if sad in many ways.
The main story is accompanied by two bonus stories, which are on my opinion far more better then the main story.
The main story is about two rockers Billy and Nick ... good and bad guy relationship. Billy was hardworking guitarist, who wanted to do his music with band and be something after countless hours with his guitar. Nick, on the other hand was talented, but painfully reckless and selfish alcoholic, drug abuser and petty thief who even stole from his friends without remorse. Still he was loved by Billy in which life Nick was making tornado in Billy's life. Living fast meant, living dangerous and Nick hit the wall pretty hard. However it made him realize something very important.
Bonus stories:
J'ai vu le bleu: Artist found a perfect model. The little homosexual adventure was marked with intense need and revelation that sometimes one would slip in conformity despite love or desire. There is the most erotic lovemaking scene I have ever seen in manga.
Ni Pukha Ni Pera: Old man was walking puppy in the park and puppy ran in to young jogger. They started to talk and story of two boys who grew up in to the men who almost reached stars was breathtaking even if sad in many ways.
May 6, 2011
Another story collection by est em. I gotta say, I really like how her strongest stories in both collections when read together are fleshed out into fuller stories. I'm glad I read this one right after Seduce me after the show so that the stories are fresh in my mind. I liked this collection better because it's missing the cats stories. :)
All the other info I wrote for seduce still fits for this story. Now must find her other work...
All the other info I wrote for seduce still fits for this story. Now must find her other work...
August 25, 2010
Continuing my exploration of yaoi, Est Em's tale of two aspiring musicians that fall in love is heartwrenching. The story isn't anything new or original but her artwork is amazing and transcends the typical yaoi style.
January 4, 2013
Superlative love stories, drawn in est em's achingly beautiful style, and written with just enough grit and complexity to seem all too real. Essential for any yaoi fan that enjoys stories of more realistic situations and ambiguous endings.
October 31, 2016
All Est Em's stories, this anthology included, are beautiful. But awful. They always leave me unsatisfied, with a sense of incompleteness, grunting at the last page, "That's it?" I never did like melancholic poetry, despite seeing its intrinsic, ephemeral beauty.
November 26, 2010
The art is amazing and sensual. The episodic story got a little confusing because of all the different characters, but that didn't stop me from reading.
March 30, 2011
Eh? Where are the matadors, dancers, artists or nekos? Anyway, this is a pretty good story about aging rockstars and young punks trying to fill their idoru's shoes.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 15 reviews