Idols
The main character or multiple leads are idols as their primary source of income.
Manga Review | Heat x Beat: I May Be an Omega, but I’m Going to Be an Idol! by Ken Homerun
Omegas Can’t Be Idols, So Omega Pretends He’s Not
Manga Review | I’m a Pop Star, Now Expose Me! by Hokke Shima
Title: I'm a Pop Star, Now Expose Me!
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?
Manhwa Review | In My Closet by RISA LISA
Title: In My Closet
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?
Manhwa Review | Aporia by Seontae
Title: Aporia
Goo Ja-wook is hopelessly in love with the infamous Yoon Gyum. Their relationship began by pure chance. Ja-wook just happened to be scoping out the exclusive club for BDSM enthusiasts, not because he was interested in BDSM, but because his company was being hired to design the space for an upcoming renovation and subsequent event. Ja-wook innocently took a seat at the bar to take down notes and sketch up plans when he was approached by none other than Gyum. Gyum was immediately smitten with Ja-wook, assuming he was a club patron as well, and intent on finding out how compatible they are in the bedroom, invited Ja-wook up to his room. Far too enraptured by Gyum to realize what he’s walking into, Ja-wook happily agrees.
After a steamy night, Ja-wook wants nothing more than to be with Gyum, but rather than be asked out officially, Gyum has a different arrangement in mind. Gyum intends to form a dom-sub relationship with Ja-wook. The main stipulation? They never pry into the other’s personal lives. What Gyum doesn’t realize is that Ja-wook has no interest in being a sub, much less a masochist, but he does have a vested interest in Gyum. Ja-wook agrees for no other reason than that he wants to be with Gyum in any way he can, even if at the risk of his pride and health.
So begins Ja-wook’s nosedive into the world of BDSM.
Manhwa Review | My Bias is Showing?! by Nabit
Title: My Bias Is Showing?!
Aejoon is a superfan of K-pop idol group A-One. More specifically, he is a stan for member Siyeol. Siyeol is his bias, and Aejoon shows his love and devotion for his favorite idol through his bedroom, which is decorated from wall to wall with Siyeol merch. Unfortunately, that’s as far as his expression can go. As a teacher, Aejoon feels he can’t be his true fanboy self in public without risking his professional image. Thankfully, while his students discuss K-pop occasionally, his coworkers don’t seem to know a thing about it, making it easy to blend in with his colleagues.
His two worlds are set to collide, though, when it turns out his school has been chosen to be the set for an upcoming variety show starring none other than Siyeol. Aejoon is simultaneously overjoyed and horrified. He’s not confident that he can continue to hide his fanboy nature when faced with the idol he loves above all others. Unfortunately for Aejoon, Siyeol intends to draw that love and devotion out of him, but not for the reason Aejoon might assume.
Siyeol is in love with the former leader of A-One, Jooha, but Jooha has been in a relationship with Kyusung, leaving Siyeol without a chance. That is until Jooha confesses that he thinks Kyusung is seeing someone else on the side. Siyeol is furious, and in passing, he sees Kyusung on a video call with none other than Aejoon on the screen. With the identity of Kyusung’s paramour, Siyeol is determined to get revenge for his unrequited love, Jooha. What Siyeol doesn’t realize is that Aejoon and Kyusung are cousins, and Aejoon ends up being much more attractive to Siyeol than he ever could have imagined. Will this relationship based on a lie survive? Or is it destined to fall apart?
Manga Review | Midnight Stranger by Bohra Naono
Title: Midnight Stranger
Roi is a goat spirit born from the wants and desires of humans. While the purpose of his existence is to protect and heal humanity, his looks scare all of the people around him. Unwilling to trust in this being, the humans end up sacrificing Roi in a fire to the gods, hoping they will gain favor for their offering. Instead, they end up calling upon the god of fire, Xiu. Xiu is far from impressed by the human’s offering, scaring them off with his power. Now that Roi has been sacrificed to Xiu, Xiu has no intentions of letting the goat spirit go, instead rebuilding his form into something cute for Xiu to enjoy.
Centuries pass, and the importance of gods in the modern world has faded. Xiu and Roi are still hanging out in the human realm, with Xiu becoming an idol to pay for their lifestyle among the humans. On the other hand, Roi continues to work for his master, Xiu, whom he cares for much more than a servant should. But as much as he loves Xiu and follows his every command, Roi can’t help but still be drawn to the humans who betrayed him so long ago against Xiu’s advice. So, during the night, in the cute goat form, Xiu made for him, Roi goes out to rid humans of illness and spirits.
While this is Roi’s purpose for living, would he be able to live if Xiu found out he was still protecting humanity?
Manga Review | Love Stage!! by Eiki Eiki
Title: Love Stage!!
Izumi doesn’t fit in with his family. His mother was a model and is now a famous actress; his father was a stage actor and founded the SenaPro talent agency, and his older brother is the frontman for a famous band. It would be an understatement to say he has talent running through his veins. However, no matter how much innate talent he may have in the entertainment industry, Izumi has no interest in pursuing a career in that field. Instead, Izumi has dreams of becoming a mangaka, just like the creator of his favorite series, Lala Lulu. There’s just one problem: he’s terrible and has no idea.
That’s the least of his worries, though, as he is now faced with a new issue. His mother wants nothing more than to act alongside one of the hottest actors of the time: Ryoma Ichijo. Fortunately, the opportunity arose as she asked to reprise her role in a wedding commercial she, Izumi’s father, and Ryoma starred in a decade ago. Unfortunately for Izumi, he’ll only take the role if the original cast returns. He hopes that he’ll get to meet the little girl he worked alongside in the commercial, as he’s been in love with her since they met all those years ago. Unbeknownst to Ryoma, that little girl was none other than a cross-dressing Izumi.
After some convincing and bribery with Lala Lulu merch, Izumi agrees to take the job. How will he handle Ryoma’s advances? More importantly, though, how will Ryoma handle finding out the woman he’s held a torch for all these years is actually a man?
Manhwa Review | Lack of Love by Okdongi
Title: Lack of Love
Hajin Park is trying his best to start his online fashion store, but it’s a lot more complicated than he realized. His sister, a dentist with her own business, offers to help him out and set up his store online, but only if he does her a huge favor. She is a huge stan for the idol group 89, and while she has a ticket to one of their meet and greets, she’s unable to attend due to work. So, she asks Hajin to go instead to get all of the members’ autographs. While Hajin isn’t looking forward to it, he agrees.
As Hajin is the only man there, he draws a lot of unwanted attention, including from the members of 89. To escape some of the crowds, he goes to the bathroom. While trying to find an open stall, he runs into Hangyum, the hottest member of 89, in quite a compromising position. After escaping the awkward encounter and the meet and greet, Hajin is all set to put all this idol business behind him when he is pulled aside by the manager of 89. The manager noticed how put together Hajin is and wants Hajin to become the personal stylist for the 89 members because their style is seriously bad.
Hajin is hesitant at first, but after discussing it with his roommate and sister and finding that it would eventually help his online business, Hajin calls back the manager’s number. The manager is not the one who answers, though. Instead, Hangyum picks up and ends up personally striking a deal with Hajin. As a result, Hajin becomes Hangyum’s stylist while also assisting the other members from time to time. But Hangyum doesn’t intend for Hajin to just help him with styling. Hangyum and Hajin have a past, and Hangyum intends to heal the wounds they share.