Highlights
- Boys Love sci-fi manga explores unique storylines and relationships in futuristic settings.
- “Which Me Do You Like The Most?” and “Rental Lover” explore same-sex love in unconventional situations.
- From androids to dystopian worlds, these manga offer a mix of romance, action, and melancholic sentiments.
Despite its current popularity, the Boys Love theme has historically been glazed over in mainstream media. While the anime and manga industry has made strides in bringing parity, BL narratives are still constricted to slice-of-life storylines, limiting the potential this dynamic theme has to offer. However, several mangaka have diverged from this norm, adding a touch of futurism to the usual BL antics.
Be it post-apocalyptic worlds or a setting far off in the future, sci-fi narratives serve as an intriguing backdrop for a budding BL romance. By intermixing these two themes, Boys Love sci-fi manga presents premises with unconventional conflicts set in futuristic worlds, resulting in nuanced tales that showcase the profound depth of same-sex love.
7 Which Me Do You Like The Most?
Anime-Planet Rating: 3.47/5
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Release Year |
2018 |
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No. Of Chapters |
1 |
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Author |
Tokishiba |
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Japanese Title |
Omae Gonomi no Ore wa Dore? |
Which Me Do You Like the Most? is set in the year 2117, a time period where an eccentric scientist named Youichi has achieved the feat of human cloning. Instead of using this technology for the betterment of humanity, Youichi selfishly makes two clones of himself with different personalities, all part of his plans to find his crush’s type.
If the premise wasn’t bizarre enough, things take a steamy turn after the clones start acting on their own accord. Even as a one-shot manga, Which Me Do You Like the Most? encapsulates all that the BL sci-fi subgenre has to offer through its solid storyline and a racy relationship.
6 Rental Lover
Anime-Planet Rating: 3.47/5
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Release Year |
2009 |
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No. Of Chapters |
8 |
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Author |
Mitori Fuji |
True to its namesake, Rental Lover revolves around a lonesome man’s efforts to shed his fear of intimacy by renting out a lover. However, Kurosagi never could have imagined his “rental lover” to be a life-like android who is well-versed in alleviating loneliness.
Rental Lover is a romantic account between man and machine, as Kurosagi ends up falling for his rental android. As a Boys Love sci-fi manga, Rental Lover showcases a world where machines can replace humanity, even for such an intimate purpose.
5 His Romance Of 500 Years
Anime-Planet Rating: 3.68/5
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Release Date |
Dec 10, 2010 |
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No. Of Chapters |
6 |
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Author |
Hiko Yamanaka |
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Japanese Title |
500-nen no Itonami |
His Romance of 500 Years is a dramedy that is laced with several nuanced subtexts. Torao Yamada ends up taking his own life after his lover passes away, but he opens his eyes once more, albeit 250 years in the future. By his side is an android with the appearance of his dead lover, making matters all the more bizarre.
The manga focuses on Torao’s journey of accepting loss and coming to terms with his new life. As a Boys Love sci-fi manga, His Romance of 500 Years hits all the right notes through its deeply moving romance that makes perfect use of its futuristic setting. Being confined to only five chapters, the manga can feel rushed at times, though it makes up for it through its fleshed-out characters.
4 Blue Sheep’s Reverie
Anime-Planet Rating: 3.77/5
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Release Date |
May 26, 1999 |
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No. Of Chapters |
35 |
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Author |
Makoto Tateno |
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Japanese Title |
Aoi Hitsuji no Yume |
Spanning over nine volumes, Blue Sheep Reverie is a relic from the late 90s that has aged into a classic sci-fi BL manga. While the manga begins with Kai seeking his wife’s murderer, he gets entangled with a gang after becoming a bodyguard for Lahti, a gangster with a ring that resembles the one his wife had.
With Lahti’s inclination towards men being a known fact, Kai seeks to seduce the man, turning the entire ordeal into one steamy mess. While the premise itself doesn’t feature any sci-fi elements, the manga’s dystopian setting is enough to give it a futuristic touch.
3 DistopiA: Mikansei na Sekai
Anime-Planet Rating: 3.81/5
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Release Date |
Feb 7, 2011 |
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No. Of Chapters |
7 |
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Author |
Shihan Ichinomiya |
While not exactly set in a futuristic world, DistopiA: Mikansei na Sekai takes place inside a VR video game, where an amorous epic unravels between Kirishima Haru and an NPC. Despite being relatively short and wholesome, the manga underlines a few melancholic sentiments, especially with the NPC being nothing more than pixels.
With just six chapters, DistopiA: Mikansei na Sekai manages to present a fleshed-out narrative. As a BL manga, a few explicit scenes are to be expected, though these panels only add more depth to this forbidden romance.
2 Hanger
Anime-Planet Rating: 3.85/5
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Release Date |
Nov 22, 2013 |
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No. Of Chapters |
44+ |
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Author |
Hirotaka Kirasagi |
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Japanese Title |
Hanger: Shikkounin |
Hanger is set in a dystopian future where crime is rampant and drugs are the norm. To combat this chaos, a task force is set up, and Hajime Tsukomo is one ambitious member of this newfound unit. His partner, Zeroichi, is an ex-convict who signs up to reduce his sentence. What starts as a professional partnership ends up with much more than camaraderie, leading to an audacious BL romance.
The initial premise of Hanger is all too reminiscent of the hit sci-fi anime Psycho-Pass, though the manga differentiates itself through its same-sex romance. With plenty of action-packed scenes, high-stakes moments, and a bit of comedic relief, this BL sci-fi manga has it all.
1 If The World Was Ending Tomorrow
Anime-Planet Rating: 3.86/5
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Release Date |
Mar 12, 2019 |
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No. Of Chapters |
1 |
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Author |
Yuriko Hara |
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Japanese Title |
Moshimo, Ashita Sekai ga Owaru nara |
If the World Was Ending Tomorrow is a tragic, albeit touching, one-shot BL manga. With the moon crashing down onto Earth, shelters have been set in place, yet two young men are unfortunate enough to be left off to die. As the two friends rekindle old memories, confessions arise, and suppressed sentiments unfold, leading to one last heartfelt moment between the two.
Despite its tragic undertones, If the World Was Ending Tomorrow concludes with a happy ending for the two characters, as they spend their last day with glee and satisfaction. The manga is laced with profundity, even forcing readers to question what they would do if the world were to end tomorrow.
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