June is almost over, and that means Pride Month is coming to an end in some parts of the United States (some pride parades happen as late as August, after all). Looking for a way to celebrate LGBTQ+ people that incorporates our favorite medium, manga? Enter Comics Beat’s Pride 2025 manga reading list! Here is a cavalcade of titles to slake your thirst for queer manga. Did we include your favorite? Be sure and let us know in the comment section or over on our Bluesky page.
Our Dreams at Dusk by Yuhki Kamatani — Published in English by Seven Seas in 2019, this beautifully drawn 4-volume series tells the story of an outcast gay teenager finding community in a group that restores old houses in his coastal hometown. Kamatani explores a variety of queer lives from all over the LGBTQ+ spectrum, and while Tasuku is the viewpoint character for much of it, it really is an ensemble story. Kamatani’s illustrations are absolutely mesmerizing, making this manga a must-read for the art alone, but they’re even more incredible within the context of the emotional, dramatic storyline. This manga made me cry several times! And it’s been on my top 3 favorite manga list ever since. — MZ
I Think Our Son Is Gay by Okura — This 5-volume manga is a heartwarming and gentle story told from the perspective of a loving mother, Tomoko, who suspects her son Hiroki might be gay. The story is less about coming out and more about quiet, unconditional support. Hiroki is clumsy, endearing, and hilariously easy to read, while Tomoko’s quiet patience and empathy are touching. The manga subtly explores social norms and unconscious biases—often embodied by Hiroki’s well-meaning but outdated father—and raises thought-provoking questions about what things are considered “normal” to love. There’s no drama or big reveal. Instead, it is a slice-of-life story about acceptance, love, and the small moments that build trust. By leaving Hiroki’s sexuality unconfirmed, the manga beautifully reinforces that labels aren’t the point—love and support are. It’s simple, funny, and deeply sincere. You can buy all 5 volumes from Square Enix or read them digitally in the Manga UP! app. — MDLP
Syrup by Various Artists — This series of yuri anthologies tackle a number of topics and stories that span the yuri genre. Whether it’s about first times, domestic life, or forbidden love, this series has it all in spades. The characters in these stories doesn’t beat around the bush (heh) about finding women sexually attractive, and worth spending the rest of their lives with. Some of them aren’t my favorite, but as a whole, I love this series. — EBH
Blue Flag story & art by Kaito — An 8 volume coming of age slice of life with queer teens in a love quadrangle isn’t normally what you expect out of Shueisha and Viz Media’s Jump imprint, but Kaito did a damned good job at that! Blue Flag excels at capturing the intensity in emotion that teenagers experience, both internally with metaphors and through their physical expressions. That those emotions are allowed to clash and be felt in their honesty is what kept me engaged as a reader. Yes, these characters might be good representation, but they’re good because we feel them more as people than the sum of their parts or labels! Kaito’s storytelling allows the cast to develop emotional intelligence as they explore their own sexuality, in a tasteful and emotionally raw sense. — MP
The Guy She Was Interested In Wasn’t A Guy At All ⸺ There’s a lot to love about “the green yuri” by Sumiko Arai beyond the romance, but brother that romance is good. The posh girl who covertly listens to 90s American alternative and grunge is crushing hard on the mysterious SDRE vibin’ clerk at her go-to CD shop. Little does she know the feeling is mutual. Little-er does she know the clerk is the nerdy girl who sits next to her in class. Yeah, it’s a secret identity romance that would do Peter Parker proud, and gloriously devoid of boys aside from the shop owner (a sweetheart and source of comic relief). There’s girls love. And there’s girls’ love for thunderous drums, distorted guitars, tortured vocals, the two kinds of music: rock and roll. Green yuri’s got both. ⸺ AOK
Cosmetic Playlover by Sachi Narashima — Released in English digitally by Animate International, this eight-volume (and counting!) BL series starts off a bit rough but really blooms into an endearing, loving tale of a partnership between two rivals who work with cosmetics at a high-end department store. The first volume introduces beauty consultant Natsume Mamiya, who is recently replaced by his junior, Touma Sahashi, as the top seller. To make matters worse, Touma finds out Natsume is gay, and uses it to blackmail him into a sexual relationship. If you were to read that out loud, it sounds awful and certainly dubious. But trust me, if you keep with the series, the power plays disappear and the two become a serious couple who, despite their competition with each other, inspire each other to do better and to love as equals. It’s a complete turnaround for the two and is what makes this series great to read. — KEB
Keep up with all of The Beat’s Pride 2025 coverage by clicking here.
