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Yellow #1
Yellow, Volume 01
Straight and macho Taki partners with feminine and gay Goh to form an expert team of bandits hired by the police to steal from the mafia. Lately, Goh has been more interested in acquiring Taki's feelings than the usual caches of arms and drugs. Will Taki and Goh form a new kind of partnership? Volume one of Yellow begins with a brewing personal interest between Taki and Goh, though Taki is still unwilling to answer to Goh's desires. A gangster's jealousy leads to Taki's kidnapping, and it's up to Goh's cunning and charms to save him. Working solo, it's also up to Goh to find the drugs he was hired to steal while sidestepping a police conspiracy powder keg.
184 pages, Paperback
First published November 5, 2002
About the author
Makoto Tateno
133 books123 followersName (in native language): 立野真琴
Birth Date: March 23
Also writes under the pen-name of Shinjuku Tango.
Makoto Tateno is an extremely prolific mangaka, having created 30+ series of manga in both the shoujo and BL genres. However, she is probably most well known amongst English-speaking audiences for her yaoi series “Yellow,” published by DMP. She debuted in 1986 with the short story "Yuraete Tamago Boys," published by Hana to Yume.
Birth Date: March 23
Also writes under the pen-name of Shinjuku Tango.
Makoto Tateno is an extremely prolific mangaka, having created 30+ series of manga in both the shoujo and BL genres. However, she is probably most well known amongst English-speaking audiences for her yaoi series “Yellow,” published by DMP. She debuted in 1986 with the short story "Yuraete Tamago Boys," published by Hana to Yume.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
October 23, 2011
I admit, I don't understand Makoto Tateno's popularity. This was an okay read, filled with many, many stupid clichés, and the art isn't quite my thing either. The second star is mostly because I liked Kanji a lot, and the scene when they finally get together was nicely done, I thought. And please note that the two stars are for the overall series - the first volume is hardly worth one star. Overall, definitely not a must read, I only finished it because I had the volumes here and it didn't take up too much of my time.
April 9, 2021
probably 4,5/5 but.... I LOVED IT?????? this was the first yaoi i’ve ever read (yeah, i don’t know why it took me so long either) and i really really enjoyed it!!! i want to read the second volume so bad!!
June 21, 2021
Manga recomendado: ''Yellow'', de Makoto Tateno. Ediciones La Cúpula, 4 tomos, completa. LGBT, acción, relaciones varias...
Me gusta el Yaoi, así que no dudé en comprar esta colección cuando salió en España.
No me equivoqué: su dibujo puede ser más sencillo; pero encantador a la vez.
La trama..., pues dos hombres se dedican a salir, digamos, de misterios varios: tanto ''laborales'' como personales.
¿Qué puede pasar cuando un gay y un hetero están demasiado juntos, a veces?...
Una historia plagada de acción, pullitas muy directas, misterios dentro de misterios emocionales, y sensualidad... Y dulzura.
Me gusta cómo se toca el tema emocional desde todos los aspectos, la culpa, la redención... Y me gusta cómo se cuidan los protagonistas. Y también los ''secundarios''.
¿Que queréis saber más?... Pues ya lo estáis leyendo y me contáis si os ha encantado u os ha encantado :)
Me gusta el Yaoi, así que no dudé en comprar esta colección cuando salió en España.
No me equivoqué: su dibujo puede ser más sencillo; pero encantador a la vez.
La trama..., pues dos hombres se dedican a salir, digamos, de misterios varios: tanto ''laborales'' como personales.
¿Qué puede pasar cuando un gay y un hetero están demasiado juntos, a veces?...
Una historia plagada de acción, pullitas muy directas, misterios dentro de misterios emocionales, y sensualidad... Y dulzura.
Me gusta cómo se toca el tema emocional desde todos los aspectos, la culpa, la redención... Y me gusta cómo se cuidan los protagonistas. Y también los ''secundarios''.
¿Que queréis saber más?... Pues ya lo estáis leyendo y me contáis si os ha encantado u os ha encantado :)
September 26, 2022
Dafür, dass dieses Büchlein schon 20 Jahre am Buckel hat, hat es sich erstaunlich gut gehalten.
January 4, 2013
NOTE: This is the rating for the whole series (I read it online, and a while ago as well, so I don't know the separate volumes)
This was just a really great, hot, action-y with a shitload of sexual tension and a gay-for-you theme going on. It was probably one of the first yaoi mangas I've read, yet remains one of my favourite.
Have fun blushing at the sexiness of this.
Note: They actually work up to the sex, it's not the kind wham-bam thank you for the orgasm with that quick and dirty sex scene. It'll make you squirm (in a good way).
This was just a really great, hot, action-y with a shitload of sexual tension and a gay-for-you theme going on. It was probably one of the first yaoi mangas I've read, yet remains one of my favourite.
Have fun blushing at the sexiness of this.
Note: They actually work up to the sex, it's not the kind wham-bam thank you for the orgasm with that quick and dirty sex scene. It'll make you squirm (in a good way).
September 13, 2013
Second read: I still don't like all the sexual assaults happening in the book, happening and being hand-waved and dismissed. I really don't get yaoi manga's infatuation with rape ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Original read: Beautifully drawn, true, but the stories were only so-so. I mean, you can make a manga about two men loving each other yet having a problem overcoming their natural inclination - see "Gorgeous Carat" or "Border" or "Kiss Me, Teacher" - without one character borderline molesting the other all the time or having every story about rape. Just sayin'...
Original read: Beautifully drawn, true, but the stories were only so-so. I mean, you can make a manga about two men loving each other yet having a problem overcoming their natural inclination - see "Gorgeous Carat" or "Border" or "Kiss Me, Teacher" - without one character borderline molesting the other all the time or having every story about rape. Just sayin'...
June 11, 2010
This is the first manga series I read, and it is still one of my all time favorites.
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June 14, 2013
Another early BL read from my highschool days. I recall enjoying it.
June 27, 2021
What a ride! Makoto Tateno gives us a complex story of murder and intrigue using a number of familiar tropes (corrupt police, damaged childhoods, murder for hire) but then gives them enough unexpected twists to keep the pages turning. Along the way, she also delivers a strange concoction made of a demented take on toxic concepts of gender, misogyny, and trans- and homophobia. Even stranger, this concoction is partially redeemed through the romantic relationships between the two main characters. I'm not sure if I need a psychologist, a philosopher, or a cultural critic to pick it all apart, but this is BL, after all.
Goh, a gay man, is partners with Taki, a straight guy. Together they are good-guy burglars who steal things for paying clients, who often turn out to be the police. Volume 1 of the series establishes their personalities, professional skills, and interpersonal dynamics in a series of stories involving the drug trade. We soon discover that, even though Goh has an unending series of young male lovers and Taki is a Don Juan with the ladies, Goh has a serious crush on Taki.
In the Omnibus Volume 2, we get the end of the series, which is mostly centered on Taki’s childhood, the reappearance of his adoptive parents, and the discovery that Taki was unintentionally involved in the murder of their handlers’ family.
All the typical BL emotions and story devices are used, with plenty of angst, yearning, regret, and the life changing realization that comes with discovering your true love. There's also plenty of violence centered on the strong, independent uke’s life being threatened, giving the seme lots of opportunities to display his unrelenting devotion.
One character is M2F trans, which normally would be good for trans representation. But the sex change here is motivated not by the inner truth of not being in the correct body, but rather by heteronormative values: the M2F character wants to be with Taki, the straight guy, so becomes female in an ill-fated attempt to conform with Taki’s straight male desires and society’s expectations. Along the way, this character also starts acting differently, exhibiting all the stereotype cliches of a woman scorned - jealousy, rage, maniacal fury.
This is all countered by a rather sweet, if formulaic, storyline of Taki sacrificing himself for Goh, once he realizes he loves Goh, and Goh overcoming all odds to rescue Taki, the love of his life. Unfortunately, Taki’s personality changes into the typical dewy eyed uke fawning over his seme - but, because it's near the end, and because some of Taki’s old personality still breaks through, it all ends up being all right.
The art is old school, with only marginal attempts at anatomical correctness, and instead most of the artist's effort is put into making each figure and panel read as emotionally intense as possible. Still, her visual narrative skill is impressive, with a number of two page spreads being visually arresting and the visual pacing adding significantly how I experienced the manga.
Overall, Yellow is more impressive than I expected, with a marginally fascinating crime drama interlaced with a high-stakes romance. Even though shackled a bit by heteronormative values, it still delivers a progressive, affirming message that can satisfy both male and female readers.
Goh, a gay man, is partners with Taki, a straight guy. Together they are good-guy burglars who steal things for paying clients, who often turn out to be the police. Volume 1 of the series establishes their personalities, professional skills, and interpersonal dynamics in a series of stories involving the drug trade. We soon discover that, even though Goh has an unending series of young male lovers and Taki is a Don Juan with the ladies, Goh has a serious crush on Taki.
In the Omnibus Volume 2, we get the end of the series, which is mostly centered on Taki’s childhood, the reappearance of his adoptive parents, and the discovery that Taki was unintentionally involved in the murder of their handlers’ family.
All the typical BL emotions and story devices are used, with plenty of angst, yearning, regret, and the life changing realization that comes with discovering your true love. There's also plenty of violence centered on the strong, independent uke’s life being threatened, giving the seme lots of opportunities to display his unrelenting devotion.
One character is M2F trans, which normally would be good for trans representation. But the sex change here is motivated not by the inner truth of not being in the correct body, but rather by heteronormative values: the M2F character wants to be with Taki, the straight guy, so becomes female in an ill-fated attempt to conform with Taki’s straight male desires and society’s expectations. Along the way, this character also starts acting differently, exhibiting all the stereotype cliches of a woman scorned - jealousy, rage, maniacal fury.
This is all countered by a rather sweet, if formulaic, storyline of Taki sacrificing himself for Goh, once he realizes he loves Goh, and Goh overcoming all odds to rescue Taki, the love of his life. Unfortunately, Taki’s personality changes into the typical dewy eyed uke fawning over his seme - but, because it's near the end, and because some of Taki’s old personality still breaks through, it all ends up being all right.
The art is old school, with only marginal attempts at anatomical correctness, and instead most of the artist's effort is put into making each figure and panel read as emotionally intense as possible. Still, her visual narrative skill is impressive, with a number of two page spreads being visually arresting and the visual pacing adding significantly how I experienced the manga.
Overall, Yellow is more impressive than I expected, with a marginally fascinating crime drama interlaced with a high-stakes romance. Even though shackled a bit by heteronormative values, it still delivers a progressive, affirming message that can satisfy both male and female readers.
December 23, 2021
Well... this was interesting. Problematic as hell, but interesting. I don't really know how to talk about this manga without them, so this review will contain minor character spoilers.
I chose this for my first yaoi manga because it looked less problematic than most. Both of the characters are fairly equal, and (despite what the synopsis says) they are both fairly masculine, and there is no seme/uke dynamic. At least, not so far. And while all of that is true, it still falls headfirst into all of the other yaoi tropes. Goh sexually harasses and assaults Taki constantly (though there was a moment where Taki may have initiated something consensual? It's really difficult to tell from the framing), there's rape (not between the main characters (yet)), a random incest subplot for no apparent reason, Taki insists he's straight but will openly admit to being in love with Goh (though not to Goh himself, obviously). It's interesting because Taki is in love with Goh, but still insists he's not physically attracted to him. So is he bisexual and in denial, or a biromantic heterosexual? Somehow, I doubt that Tateno knew what either of those things were when she wrote this, and the series will likely say he's gay while portraying him as bisexual. The plot is kinda fun, but nothing special, and nor do I particularly care about the characters themselves, though there is a side character who is fairly interesting and I quite like. As for the art, it's usually okay, sometimes really good, and sometimes awful. And the way the speech bubbles are laid out, it's sometimes difficult to tell who's talking. I will still continue the series, I think, because it's alright in that cheap popcorn kind of way. And, who knows? Maybe it gets better.
I chose this for my first yaoi manga because it looked less problematic than most. Both of the characters are fairly equal, and (despite what the synopsis says) they are both fairly masculine, and there is no seme/uke dynamic. At least, not so far. And while all of that is true, it still falls headfirst into all of the other yaoi tropes. Goh sexually harasses and assaults Taki constantly (though there was a moment where Taki may have initiated something consensual? It's really difficult to tell from the framing), there's rape (not between the main characters (yet)), a random incest subplot for no apparent reason, Taki insists he's straight but will openly admit to being in love with Goh (though not to Goh himself, obviously). It's interesting because Taki is in love with Goh, but still insists he's not physically attracted to him. So is he bisexual and in denial, or a biromantic heterosexual? Somehow, I doubt that Tateno knew what either of those things were when she wrote this, and the series will likely say he's gay while portraying him as bisexual. The plot is kinda fun, but nothing special, and nor do I particularly care about the characters themselves, though there is a side character who is fairly interesting and I quite like. As for the art, it's usually okay, sometimes really good, and sometimes awful. And the way the speech bubbles are laid out, it's sometimes difficult to tell who's talking. I will still continue the series, I think, because it's alright in that cheap popcorn kind of way. And, who knows? Maybe it gets better.
August 5, 2021
CW: Homophobia, Death Threats, Bullying, Pedophilia
I'm a bit hot and cold with this title. On the one hand, I really like the concept of a buddy cop romance. This just fell flat for me. It's very much a story of it's time, the cliche "gay man in love with straight man", but the homophobia is what bothered me the most.
We follow two private investigators who collect drugs from criminals. One is gay, and the other is so hetero! The gay guy is also interested in minors, and that really rubbed me the wrong way. I might continue reading, but I'm not crazy to start the next volume.
I'm a bit hot and cold with this title. On the one hand, I really like the concept of a buddy cop romance. This just fell flat for me. It's very much a story of it's time, the cliche "gay man in love with straight man", but the homophobia is what bothered me the most.
We follow two private investigators who collect drugs from criminals. One is gay, and the other is so hetero! The gay guy is also interested in minors, and that really rubbed me the wrong way. I might continue reading, but I'm not crazy to start the next volume.
October 4, 2025
I reserve my judgment for this series until I've read them all. If all the other volumes are like this one then it's pretty mediocre and insignificant. If it is building up to something better then the early volumes could bask in the glory of the later developments. This first volume doesn't really inspire me. One guesses where it is going simply because there doesn't seem to be anything highly original going on. I'll have to wait and see if there are any surprises.
January 16, 2026
Super old-school Yaoi x,D das weder wirklich hübsch gezeichnet ist, noch irgendwie spannend ist.
Die ganzen alten Tropes stören mich jetzt ned so sehr, wobei hier wirklich alles vertreten ist - versuchter Rape, Sexdrogen, Hetero zu Homo umzwingen, Underage-Sex, Incest etc *snort* die ganze Bandbreite. Aber es ist eher so ultra edgy und super dramatic, das ich eher nur die Augen am Rollen war, und das ganze Geleber über die ewige, tiefste LIebe... blah.
Die ganzen alten Tropes stören mich jetzt ned so sehr, wobei hier wirklich alles vertreten ist - versuchter Rape, Sexdrogen, Hetero zu Homo umzwingen, Underage-Sex, Incest etc *snort* die ganze Bandbreite. Aber es ist eher so ultra edgy und super dramatic, das ich eher nur die Augen am Rollen war, und das ganze Geleber über die ewige, tiefste LIebe... blah.
July 9, 2022
3.5 stars.
Funny, with some action and violence sprinkled on top, with a near-constant, semi-creepy sexual tension (better not take it too seriously). The banter between the main character, while nothing original, is kind of fun (I look forward to seeing where their dynamic evolves). The art is quite lovely most of the time.
Funny, with some action and violence sprinkled on top, with a near-constant, semi-creepy sexual tension (better not take it too seriously). The banter between the main character, while nothing original, is kind of fun (I look forward to seeing where their dynamic evolves). The art is quite lovely most of the time.
October 19, 2025
idk 3.25?
i may read the rest. but i was getting a little confused by who was who, cause i kind of forgot what some of the characters looked like, and the art/their faces were similar.
it was interesting enough. but some of the "jokes" i was like 🤨🤨🤨
but i know not all characters need to be likeable.
i may read the rest. but i was getting a little confused by who was who, cause i kind of forgot what some of the characters looked like, and the art/their faces were similar.
it was interesting enough. but some of the "jokes" i was like 🤨🤨🤨
but i know not all characters need to be likeable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 29, 2019
Some of the lines in this made me cringe so hard my face almost broke.
Still not the worst thing I've read.
The story was okay enough I guess, but something about some hardened assassins just walking away from an actual DETECTIVE just seems like a shitty plot device.
Ah well.
Still not the worst thing I've read.
The story was okay enough I guess, but something about some hardened assassins just walking away from an actual DETECTIVE just seems like a shitty plot device.
Ah well.
March 8, 2018
All the worst parts of BL together in one volume.
December 28, 2018
"The fag of all fags" is gonna be my trampstamp thanks to this book.
((Yes, it is an actual quote))
((Yes, it is an actual quote))
February 3, 2019
This was my first yaoi manga, and I happen to find it by chance. Being a snatcher sounds like an awesome job, and I love Taki and Goh's story. This is one I keep rereading over the years.
March 13, 2021
War spannend, mit Rätsel zum mit raten.
March 4, 2022
Omg I love this series and the mangaka has done an amazing job! Anything by Makoto i will definitely read and read again as its soo good!
December 16, 2022
This was a good read I cant wait to crack open volume 2 and see where this partnership goes.
February 8, 2023
Goh messing around with underage boys..eww..and then we got Hatozaki and Yukiya who are BROTHERS that are in love with each other and not in the brotherly way sadly.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 29, 2012
Taki and Goh are undercover “snatchers”, people who snatch drugs. That means working together. It’s not so bad except Goh is gay and keeps hitting on the straight Taki. However, is Taki as straight as he says he is? The way he fights off Goh would seem to indicate it. Action, sex, treachery, crime and adventure are realistically portrayed and the UST between the two men is heightened just enough to keep the reader guessing. The artist draws her characters with heart-shaped faces, sloe eyes and rounded chins, occasionally surrounded by the usual manga traditional flowered background. Goh and Taki are undeniably attractive. They also appear to be clever as well, using brains as well as strength to solve crimes. There’s definitely more than simmering passion going on, making this a worthwhile beginning to this four-volume series.
July 28, 2013
Meine Meinung:
Wieder einmal ein Manga, der mir zwar vom Zeichenstil gut gefiel, aber von der Handlung her nicht. Der Zeichenstil war recht gut und die Proportionen stimmten, aber die Charaktere sahen sich so ähnlich, dass ich oft nicht wusste wer das jetzt war. Dann änderte sich auch einfach mal die Stärke der Haarfarbe eines Charakters, was das Ganze dann noch komplizierter machte.
Die Story war actionlastig und grundsätzlich auch unterhaltsam, aber die Fälle wurden von dem Super-Duo Taki und Go viel zu schnell gelöst. Die ganze unerwiderte Liebessache oder besser Lustsache, war mehr als nervig für mich und wurde zu allem Überfluss auch noch wieder manga-typisch ins lächerliche gezogen.
Also ich werde die Reihe nicht weiter verfolgen.
Meine Wertung:
3,4 von 5 Sternen
Wieder einmal ein Manga, der mir zwar vom Zeichenstil gut gefiel, aber von der Handlung her nicht. Der Zeichenstil war recht gut und die Proportionen stimmten, aber die Charaktere sahen sich so ähnlich, dass ich oft nicht wusste wer das jetzt war. Dann änderte sich auch einfach mal die Stärke der Haarfarbe eines Charakters, was das Ganze dann noch komplizierter machte.
Die Story war actionlastig und grundsätzlich auch unterhaltsam, aber die Fälle wurden von dem Super-Duo Taki und Go viel zu schnell gelöst. Die ganze unerwiderte Liebessache oder besser Lustsache, war mehr als nervig für mich und wurde zu allem Überfluss auch noch wieder manga-typisch ins lächerliche gezogen.
Also ich werde die Reihe nicht weiter verfolgen.
Meine Wertung:
3,4 von 5 Sternen
July 31, 2009
I've tried reading this over and over and OVER, trying desperately to enjoy the story. And surprisingly, my persistence paid off. :) I finally slowed down enough to notice the art and the details, the little things that make the story sort of awesome. Honestly, I still have to ignore some of the more ridiculous, over-the-top aspects of the genre, but even those things slowly started to grow on me as I got past my initial hesitation and got involved in the story. Already halfway through Volume 2 and will have to eventually get the last 2 volumes.
While I doubt I'll ever be a die hard yaoi or manga fan, this is good.
While I doubt I'll ever be a die hard yaoi or manga fan, this is good.
May 5, 2011
Wow!!!
Very good!!! I loved the partnership of Taki and Gou, and their work??? SO COOL!!!
Perfect, the balance between Gou, very proud and happy gay man, and Taki, in the closet... BUT well, read it to discover how much Taki can enjoy being French kiss by Gou... BTW, great scene! I liked it so much!
Loved it, 5 stars
Very good!!! I loved the partnership of Taki and Gou, and their work??? SO COOL!!!
Perfect, the balance between Gou, very proud and happy gay man, and Taki, in the closet... BUT well, read it to discover how much Taki can enjoy being French kiss by Gou... BTW, great scene! I liked it so much!
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Loved it, 5 stars
January 26, 2013
Excellent introductory manga for a four part series. The art for this manga is rather nice, and I think "Yellow" is one of the best translated mangas I've read. None of the writing or dialogue seemed awkward. The stories were clear and interesting, and the characters distinct. Probably the best yaoi manga out there, in my opinion. I even have thoughts of this manga series translating well into a movie or TV series.
December 17, 2014
Sometimes I just feel like a good yaoi manga, and bought this a few months ago in Canberra. This one reminds me a lot of my favorite manga, Fake. It seems like a fun storyline, and the similar gay man chases hetero man with unknown results. The tension is awesome, waiting for them to finally get together might take some time.
Very cute art, I'm glad I have a few more in the series to read as well!
Very cute art, I'm glad I have a few more in the series to read as well!
April 1, 2012
I love Yaoi, the Japanese term for female authored boy loves boy stories. Yellow is the perfect example of a great Yaoi read. Goh and Taki are undercover partners out to infiltrate a drug ring. Goh is gay and sexually attracted to Taki but Taki is straight and oblivious to Taki's feelings. Or is he?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews