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Until the Full Moon, or Full Moon ni Sasayaite, ran in Be Boy Comics in 1998. It was first published in the states in 2005, and has now been re-released by Kodansha USA. A total of 2 volumes, Until the Full Moon is a fantasy yaoi manga that plays on humor and seduction to support its cliche character archetypes.
The Gist: Aristocratic vampires Marlo and David, friends since childhood, have been reunited after ten years in order for the boys’ parents to finalize an engagement. Yes, you see, Marlo has some funky werewolf genes that during the full moon transform him into a female! David doesn’t seem to care what gender Marlo is, he’ll seduce him all the same. Until Marlo suddenly goes missing right before the wedding, and David is out to find the culprit.
The Characters/Romance: David and Marlo make for a pretty typical couple, if you don’t count their werewolf and vampire traits. David is the more comfortable with his sexuality, as he doesn’t hesitate to try to kiss Marlo whether he’s male or female at the time. Marlo is torn by his attraction to David. He isn’t sure if he should reciprocate the relationship, since he is a guy most of the time. David plays the more dominate role and the author makes it obvious that Marlo is the submissive one.
Despite all the fantasy elements added to the story, Until the Full Moon is essentially about following your heart and accepting who you love, no matter preconceptions. This story was my first foray into yaoi. I chose it because I thought the transformation from male to female would make the story interesting. I’ll admit, however, that two guys kissing just isn’t my thing. Outside of that, the romance of this series caries the main plot.
I don’t have any other BL references to compare this to, but the fantasy elements make it a fun and interesting read.
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