BLog reviews recent boys love, yaoi and LGBTQ+ English translation manga.

Fangs Vol. 1
Story and art: Billy Balibally
Translation: Christine Dashiell
Publisher: TOKYOPOP
Release Date: July 6, 2021

One of my favourite BL subgenres is the “excuse to draw this” genre.

I think of Thigh High, an excuse to draw cute boys in schoolgirl skirts (and bras); Our Dining Table, an excuse to draw cute boys and food porn, or; Dick Fight Island, an excuse to draw… well, cute boys on an island of dick fighting.

My guess is that Billy Balibally (a fantastic pseudonym) said, “I want to draw really, really beautiful, fashionable boys and also want to write a horny vampire story.” Fangs is the result.

The story follows En, the sole survivor of a vicious vampire attack that left him recently turned. Ichii, an employee with the Health and Welfare Department, Protective Services, has taken on the role of guardian and mentor as he enters the new world of “fangs”–“vampire” has a loaded history, so it’s a strategic branding. The titular organization, Fangs, is a benevolent vampire bureaucracy meant to encourage the peaceful coexistence of fangs and mortals. They offer counselling and group therapy services, social gatherings, “pairing” parties (more on that later) and a blood-based Meals on Wheels program.

Fangs are immortal humans whose looks are frozen in time, their incisors extended and their ears pointed. They can still eat and drink, but the only sustenance that satisfies their thirst is blood, be it human or another fang’s. Going too long without blood, a vampire frenzies–which is apparently what happened to En, the alleged victim of a fang who’d been partying too hard and attacked everyone. The 19-year-old En is overwhelmed by his place in this new world. He learns at a fancy pairing party that fangs are encouraged to couple up to monitor one another’s physical and emotional health, make sure they’re getting enough blood so they don’t frenzy. En is a “virgin”, a single fang with the smell of human still on him who has never tasted the blood of another fang, which leaves its own mark. Scent is one of a fang’s most heightened senses, among powers of charm.

On top of his introduction to this new world that exists just out of sight of humans, the tension in Fangs is the developing relationship between En and Ichii. As he meets other fangs and learns the unique relationships and compulsions they navigate, the young fang struggles with how he feels about Ichii, and his new existence. He finds it strange just how at ease he is with everything. The mystery, perhaps a bit too understated in volume 1, is that the attack that left En turned is exceedingly violent and rare… although no one seems too bothered about it. Further, the mystery that is Ichii; he’s an old fang, although we don’t know how old, he was paired once, but we don’t know with who or what happened to them, nor do we know the reason for the cross tattoo on his right forearm, covering up a long scar. He’s been single for a long time, and overstates the official requirements for him to take care of En, including moving the young fang in with him.

The good is that Fangs is an incredibly beautiful manga, the character design and overall look and feel is unique, I can’t wait to see more English-translation manga from Balibally. The sexiness doesn’t hurt either, one of the saucier manga of the year, and the sex is beautiful, elegant and HOT.

Where Fangs stumbles is pace and action. It’s a strangely bucolic (although slightly melancholic) stroll through a vampire mystery, a slow introduction to the world and the genteel domesticity of immortal creatures that crave blood. Perhaps volume 2 will ramp up the action, but despite the introduction of the mysteries, En’s violent turning, Ichii’s background and role in the world, stakes feel pretty low by the end of it. I was reminded of a moment in My Androgynous Boyfriend volume 3 where a fictional mangaka is agonizing over the story he wants to create about two beautiful androgynous boys. He has the look down, but can’t figure out the action. He doesn’t want to make it a romance, nor does he want to make them fight or go through difficulties. He just wants them to be beautiful, living in a beautiful world. Sure, stories have been written about less, and that’s definitely where slice-of-life writing comes in. Still, it can make for dull reading, a character who starts with everything, enjoys their life with everything, and ends with everything they could ever want. Even My Androgynous Boyfriend introduces the silly little drama around Meguru’s rising androgynous stardom, and the minor tensions it creates in his friendships and relationship.

Fangs doles out just enough tension and mystery to put it above simply being indulgent “really, really beautiful, fashionable boys and also a horny vampire story”. The characters are adorable, the art is lush and gorgeous, the relationships interesting, the challenges of being an ethical vampire a fun little bit of world building. I’d read further volumes even if it ended up being nothing more than a sexy slice-of-life vampire story, all of that plus the art makes it a satisfying read. The hope is that the mystery and action will pull En and Ishii into a bit more of an active story. All of that being said, if you come to Fangs wanting little more than really, really beautiful, fashionable and horny vampire boys you will walk away from this one sated. I’m still thirsty (pun intended) for a little more action.

Level of Problematic: Department of Virgin Fang Protection; there’s a minor bit of creepiness around En’s “virgin” status, and some weird jealously and controlling behaviour in the character of Aogiri, partnered with the slutty, cheating Utsugi, but for all I know that could be building into something.

Level of Adorable: Department of Fang Recreation & Board-Based Sports; surfing vampires? It’s more common than you think! En is genuinely the most adorable little baby vampire and, again, the excuse to draw fashionable, cute, skateboarding vampire boys is very much appreciated!

Level of Spiciness: Department of Sexual Transmitted Blood; Fangs takes manga that speed through the sexy parts and says, “Why do in one page what you could do in ten?” And it is appreciated.