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Manga Review | Can an Otaku Like Me Really Be an Idol!? by Wacoco Waco

Title: Can an Otaku Like Me Really Be an Idol!?

Author(s): Wacoco Waco

Artist(s): Wacoco Waco

Takumi Suzuki is living a double life. By day, he’s an idol otaku who keeps to himself at school. By night, he goes online as Rumepi, singing idol songs and sharing his love for idols. He never intended to pretend to be a girl online, but because of his small stature and high tone of voice, all of his viewers just assumed he was, and Takumi couldn’t bring himself to correct them. Takumi’s love of idols is very public, in more ways than one, but this obsession leaves him pretty lonely in class. While cleaning his classroom solo, Takumi puts up a desk, only to discover some idol merch left behind. It isn’t his desk, which means that someone else in the class is a secret idol fan like him.

Wondering who it is, it isn’t long before Takumi’s fellow idol fan’s identity is revealed as they rush back in to get their missing merch. It is none other than Misaki Hayakawa, one of the popular boys in his class and none other than Takumi’s crush. Takumi is ecstatic. He can’t control himself and ends up spewing all manner of questions and compliments regarding idols and the merch, but Misaki is not interested in fanboying over their shared love. Instead, Misaki wants Takumi’s deepest, darkest secret. Why? So he can blackmail Takumi with it and ensure his secret love of idols stays a secret.

Takumi is very open about most of his preferences, so Misaki decides to create something. Misaki takes Takumi home, forces him into some girl idol costumes, and then takes pictures. But once Misaki sees Takumi dressed as a girl, he is mildly attracted to him. Likewise, Takumi, dressed as a woman, alone with his crush, finds himself wanting to take Misaki right then and there. Just what is stirring between these two idol otaku?

Title: Dear My Killer Tune

Author(s): Iyada

Artist(s): Iyada

Harutaka has one obsession in life: The Lazy Rats. When he was very young, his dad had VHS tapes with their concerts on them, and he has been in love with them ever since. He’s part of their fan club and attends as many concerts as possible. When he’s not working as a hairdresser, he spends his off days organizing all his new merch. His life revolves around The Lazy Rats. While he loves the entire band, his favorite is the guitarist Reiichi Himemiya. The moment he got the chance to take a picture with Himemiya, he broke down in tears, creating one of his greatest treasures in the form of his lock screen.

But this moment wasn’t just memorable for Harutaka. As it turns out, Himemiya remembers it too. So, when Himemiya comes to Harutaka’s salon to get a haircut, rather than asking for the owner as he intended, he wants to get a haircut from Harutaka instead. Harutaka can barely speak; how could he do his hair? Somehow, someway, Harutaka gets through it and leaves Reiichi looking refreshed. Harutaka is perfectly happy with this new memory and is pleased with his work, but this one-time meeting with Reiichi leads to another, and another… and another.

Suddenly, he is spending most days with his favorite musician, and the feelings he once attributed to being a fan have evolved into something more.

Title: Love or Hate

Author(s): Youngha

Artist(s): Bakdam

Haesoo is in a rut. He used to be highly praised as a young writer, considered a prodigy, and expected to do amazing things even at a young age. But after some good progress with writing smutty stories in a column, his work has become stale, and his column is gone. Frustrated but unsure what to do, Haesoo works freelance for a gossip magazine. His professional life seems to mimic his personal one, too. He’s also in a relationship rut with none other than famous actor Choi Joowon. But to Haesoo, Joowon isn’t an actor: he’s his stepbrother and casual sex partner.

The two have gone from mortal enemies in their teens to each other’s firsts, only to become whatever this cold and casual situationship is as adults. Haesoo loves Joowon, but he hates him, too. He hates that Joowon is more successful than he is, that Joowon still has this hold on him, and that he won’t ever love him. Haesoo jumps from relationship to relationship, but in the end, he runs back to Joowon – or Joowon runs back to him. It’s a neverending cycle of pleasure and pain that Haesoo can’t see a way out of.

That is until he’s tasked with interviewing mysterious and provocative photographer K. K, whose real name is Song Taekyung, is strange. He stares at Haesoo as if he’s looking at something Haesoo wants to keep hidden. But there is a strange magnetism between the two of them that Haesoo just can’t seem to shake. Is the photographer Haesoo’s chance to break out of this rut, both professionally and personally? Or will his obsession with Joowon hold him back?

Title: Kill the Lights

Author(s): Jang Ryang / Jangryang

Artist(s): Mync

Haley Rusk, real name Reese, is a wild child. He is well known for drug use, excessive drinking, and his unusual obsession with Noah Raycarlton, a well-known rich kid turned rich man. No matter how bad his public image is, Haley is only interested in his own self-interests. Unfortunately, while trying out the occult to get Noah’s affection, all of the damage to his body finally catches up to him. Haley Rusk, as he is known, passes away due to a heart attack.

Miles and miles away, Mason, a mercenary, is on a mission with two other mercenaries. His target is begging for his life, offering the code to a safe where there are possibly millions, if not billions, hidden away. Mason isn’t interested and takes out the mark, only to be shot by his teammate, who wants the money for himself. This is supposed to be the end of Mason’s life. But to his surprise, he ends up waking up in a hospital room where people talk about how they can’t wait for “Reese’s” inheritance.

Mason couldn’t be any more different than Haley Rusk, but somehow, he’s “reborn” or “transmigrated” into his body. Rather than be bothered or disturbed by the sudden change, Mason sees this as an amazing opportunity. He doesn’t have to do dangerous and horrific work anymore; he has enough money to quietly retire from show business and start a cafe, and if he decides to stay in the business, he can make loads of money in a short time. There’s just one problem: he seems to have kept some of Haley’s preferences. Specifically, his sexual preferences, and when he ends up running into Noah Raycarlton, who he used to protect back in his bodyguard days, he finds himself attracted to him.

Much to Noah’s surprise, this new Haley is pretty attractive to him, too. Haley now reminds him of the man who protected him all those years ago – the man he’s been obsessed with for as long as he can remember.

Title: My Bias Is A God!?

Author(s): Fuyu Touji

Artist(s): Fuyu Touji

Mamori is an idol superfan. His favorite group is Gods, a relatively new and temporary idol group. Despite their name, they aren’t Gods, but in Mamori’s world, Gods often live among humans, gathering worshipers in various ways, including the entertainment industry. But besides their superhuman abilities, such as mind control and flying, Gods don’t look any different from regular humans. And though Gods are a normal way of life for Mamori, he’s happy that his favorite idol group is comprised of regular, hardworking humans, especially his bias, Kamui. Mamori loves seeing Kamui grow and become the ultimate idol, and he’s especially excited to see him perform in person.

But during the concert, out of nowhere, it seems like Kamui talks to him and only him (despite being on stage in front of thousands of people). Kamui calls Mamori his ‘vessel,’ which Mamori doesn’t understand. Casting this off as a weird moment, Mamori is ready to go home after the concert, only to be approached by security and swept away to none other than Kamui’s home. As it turns out, Kamui is, in fact, a God, and Mamori is his chosen vessel. What is a vessel, Mamori asks? It is the person who will literally give birth to a God’s divine messenger.

And the only way for it to happen is to do it the old-fashioned way. So, not only is Mamori heartbroken that his bias is actually a God, but he’s now confined away and forced to have his baby. All Mamori wanted was to be a fan. What does this mean for his future now?

Title: Limited Run

Author(s): Eeej

Artist(s): Eeej

Yeon-oh is not just a struggling actor. As the eldest son in his family, he is compelled to try and pay off his father’s neverending gambling debt, constantly compounded and recurring thanks to loan sharks who willingly lend him money. They know his father can’t pay it off, but they also know Yeon-oh will do what he can to pay it off, including providing them sexual favors. His life is a neverending rat race, and he sees no end to it until he gets invited to speak to the CEO of the conglomerate Haekang. There’s no doubt what a CEO wants with a struggling actor. It’s a sponsorship, which equates to a celebrity being showered with gifts and opportunities in exchange for, often, sexual and physical favors. Yeon-oh initially wants to refuse, but after being pressured by his father, he decides to go.

The CEO, Jaehyuk, decides to make the offer. But Jaehyuk tells Yeon-oh what he expects. He doesn’t want just simple physical pleasure, though that would be part of it. He wants Yeon-oh to use his acting skills to pretend to be his boyfriend in public. As it turns out, Jaehyuk is determined to rebel against his grandfather and tear down the upper echelon of Haekang’s public image. The ultimate goal is to ruin his grandfather, though for what reason Yeon-oh doesn’t know. The two start off rocky, with Yeon-oh struggling to put on a front in public, but over time, it grows easier, and as lucrative work starts coming in, Yeon-oh’s life takes a positive turn. Neither Jaehyuk nor Yeon-oh realizes that there is a growing target on Yeon-oh’s back, not just from Jaehyuk’s family but all of the people watching Yeon-oh.

Meanwhile, Yeon-oh is beginning to struggle not with acting or being Jaehyuk’s bedmate. He’s struggling with his own feelings. What started as an act is slowly beginning to feel like reality. While he knows Jaehyuk has no intention of being with him for real, Yeon-oh can’t help feeling hopeful that Jaehyuk cares about him as a real lover somewhere deep inside.

Title: Scandalous M

Author(s): Kimdan

Artist(s): WnB hair

Chanbit is a superstar. He’s a beloved actor at the top of his game. He exudes perfection, and everyone loves him because of that. What the world doesn’t know that Chanbit’s longtime college friend and now-manager Baekyung knows is that Chanbit is gay, an insatiable sexual dynamo, and a masochist on top of that. Baekyung does his best to fulfill these desires so that Chanbit doesn’t risk his public image, but Chanbit frequently seeks satisfaction elsewhere. But what Chanbit doesn’t know is that Baekyung isn’t just bothered by his sexual escapades because he’s his manager. He hates it because Baekyung is hopelessly in love with Chanbit.

Chanbit can’t fathom anyone loving him beyond the love his fans have for him because of a traumatic relationship he had in college. That relationship also awakened in him a need to be dominated, and he generally enjoys BDSM. As a result, he spends a lot of his off time hunting for partners to satisfy his needs. So, most of Chanbit and Baekyung’s relationship is spent with Baekyung trying his best to protect and satisfy Chanbit while hiding his feelings, and Chanbit doing everything he can to keep a safe distance from love and romance, focusing entirely on sex. This tenuous relationship works until a new CEO is announced for Chanbit’s agency.

It is none other than Youngha Do, the man who abandoned and traumatized Chanbit in college. They’ve grown so much since then, so surely Youngha isn’t interested in Chanbit anymore, right? Wrong. Youngha is back and fully intends to tie Chanbit to him through any means necessary — through violence, sex, and blackmail. Chanbit wants to protect his career, so he willingly goes along with everything Youngha wants, except for one thing: firing Baekyung. All the while, Baekyung tries his best to figure out what is going on with Chanbit, unaware that his charge is selling himself to the CEO to protect his career and Baekyung.

Title: Heat x Beat: I May Be an Omega, but I'm Going to Be an Idol!

Author(s): Ken Homerun

Artist(s): Ken Homerun

Asahi Amaya wants to be an idol. He’s longed to become someone that the masses could love and support so he can entertain them and bring them joy in return. His inspiration comes from a long-retired actress and singer who had to leave because she got pregnant. Of course, he admires her talent, but he admires her even more for being one of the few famous omegas. Why would this matter? Because he is an omega.

But he doesn’t let anyone know, as omegas are heavily judged for their biology, often going into heat and, as such, “seducing” others. Asahi makes it all the way through auditions and is placed in a new unit dubbed B-Marks, but on the day he meets his fellow idols, he finds out one of them is an alpha. Instantly, the two recognize each other, and Asahi is forced to confess that he is an omega. Thankfully, his management will let him stay in the group, but he has to keep his identity as an omega secret.

Asahi will do anything to keep his dream alive, but Madoka, the alpha, is a huge obstacle. Can Asahi keep his secondary gender a secret while his groupmate constantly causes him to go into heat? Or will he end up just like his inspiration, forced to quit altogether?

Title: I'm a Pop Star, Now Expose Me!

Author(s): Hokke Shima

Artist(s): Hokke Shima

Yukinari Miyata is a photographer for a tabloid. He spends most days staking out hotels, looking for celebrities so he can report on their personal and intimate lives. This wasn’t the life he expected to have, as his dream was always to report on sports. But the tabloids are always busy, and getting a job in that department was much easier than any other. With the promise of the chance to transfer if he gets a big scoop, Yukinari swallows his pride and stalks celebrities.

It’s another night of no new scoops when he sees the popular idol Subaru Nagare, known as “The White Prince” because of his impeccable reputation, with a woman, another celebrity, on his arm. Seeing this as his chance, Yukinari panics and pulls out his phone, inadvertently alerting the couple to his presence due to the shutter sound. Subaru approaches, telling him to delete the picture, but just as Yukinari tries to devise a way to keep his evidence, Subaru exclaims, “Hey, I know you!” As it turns out, Subaru’s real name is Kota Adachi, and he went to school with Yukinari.

Yukinari has no memory of Kota but goes along with it. Unfortunately, Kota does get to delete the image during their interaction, much to Yukinari’s chagrin. But not all is lost. After grabbing a drink with Kota to catch up, Yukinari and Kota end up at a hotel together, and the two have sex. In the midst of it all, Kota tells Yukinari to film him, giving Yukinari the scoop of a lifetime on a silver platter. But when all is said and done, Yukinari isn’t sure he should expose Kota. Is Yukinari’s dream worth destroying the life of someone else?

Title: In My Closet

Author(s): RISA LISA

Artist(s): RISA LISA

Sua knew he was gay from the moment he saw his first love: Jung, an idol at the same agency Sua was training in. It’s enough of an intense moment that Sua nearly quits his training, afraid of what these feelings might mean for him in the future, only to be convinced to stick with it. Thankfully, he does and ends up being part of the successful idol group L. Boys. All is well in the world until the group’s new manager is introduced.

As it turns out, it is Jung who had quit being an idol some time ago for unknown reasons. Suddenly, all of those quietly kept feelings come bubbling back up. Unlike in his youth, Sua is no longer terrified of these feelings. If anything, he sees this as an opportunity. It has to be fate that has brought them back together, and Sua isn’t going to let the moment pass him by. Sua is determined to seduce Jung and make his first love his forever. But will Jung take the bait?

Entertainment Industry

Manga Review | Dear My Killer Tune by Iyada

Manhwa Review | Love or Hate by Youngha

Manhwa Review | Kill the Lights by Jang Ryang

Manhwa Review | Limited Run by Eeej

Manga Review | Heat x Beat: I May Be an Omega, but I’m Going to Be an Idol! by Ken Homerun

Manhwa Review | In My Closet by RISA LISA

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